Shinji Steel

by MichaelCross

Shinji Ikari is taken in by Josh McGrath and becomes a new hero years afterward. However, he soon finds that he's to fight in a war that has a shadow of a long-gone foe lurking in the shadows. Can Shinji, his beloved and allies win the war for survival? Shinji/OC pairing, with lemons, multiple pairings and OCs.

71. Chapter 71

Shinji Steel 71

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

(New Nagasaki; N-2 depot; same time)

"Find it, Watts!" Stalk's fury is overflowing while the hacker searches around the N-2 racks. "The video showed they didn't take it with them, so it has to be here!"

"I'm looking, I'm looking! But they seem to have hidden it somewhere out of sight of the camera! It could be anywhere in here!" The sound of growling from Stalk's throat gets an audible gulp from his throat before he says, "Too bad the video doesn't show every bit of this place!"

"It will be too fucking bad for you if you don't fucking stop fucking yakking and fucking find that fucking prototype and fucking get to fucking work!" At the amount of invective, Watts hastens his pace, electing to look at the vent grates to see if any of them had been disturbed.

'After all, I looked everywhere else. What've I got to lose?'

(En route to Professor Kirishima's beacon; Asuka's Sparrow)

Shaking her head in amusement, Asuka can't help but snort.

"Still can't believe the challenge/reply I gotta use."

"I know. Berto told me about that." Shinji's tone has amusement as he adds, "The sun is shining." Asuka can't help but snort at that again.

"But the ice is slippery." Rolling her eyes as she smirks, she adds, "Little problem with that and that is the nearest ice planet wide is at the remnants of Antarctica."

"Don't tell me you've never seen 'The Shadow', Asuka!"

"That's where that came from? An old radio show?"

"Yeah, but they made it into a movie."

"A favorite of yours, I take it."

"Yep, and of Kat's. When we get home, we'll all make it a movie night and watch it." Asuka chuckles at that before she sighs.

"Yeah that sounds good. Who knows what's going to happen next?"

"The Shadow knows. HAHAHAHA!" Shinji's laughter then takes on a crazed tone as it continues. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Asuka can't resist the urge to chortle at that while shaking her head again.

"I walked right into that one." Getting herself under control, she then asks, "Are you going to dress as 'The Shadow' any time soon?" Much to her relief, Shinji's mirth is under control now.

"I might. Though you gotta admit, we do kinda work like 'The Shadow'. Only without telepathy on our enemies."

"Yeah, that's true." All of a sudden, rapid beeping from the console at her right side gets her attention. "Coming up on the beacon now, Berto. Touch me down, bitte."

"Touching you down in five, four, three, two, one."

With that, the Sparrow comes to a gentle landing on the ground as the VTOL ducts blow lukewarm air onto the ground to prevent possibility of fire. Opening her canopy, she looks to the side and sees Shinji's Sparrow touch down 15 feet away from hers. Upon seeing the canopy open, she sees he'd switched to Max already before looking to in front of them. Next thing she knows, Professor Kirishima and a young woman emerge from the brush ahead of them. She can't help but notice the young woman's clutching her midsection and winces in commiseration.

"Irina?" At the name, the young woman shakily, yet unsurely, nods before Asuka proceeds. "The sun is shining." She then sees a soft smile drift onto Irina's face before she speaks.

"But the ice is slippery." Clutching onto Professor Kirishima, she then asks, "Did Michael send you?"

"Michael? Who's Michael?" Next thing she knows, Irina brings out a gun from behind her back and aims it at Asuka. "Whoa! Whoa!"

"Michael's the only one that would greet me like that. Even on my worst day. You knowing the challenge phrase, yet not Michael, galls me to no end. So if Michael didn't send you, who did?"

"I can find out if he did as I was only given cursory details. But only if you stand your gun down." Irina considers it before pointing it down toward the ground. Letting off a sigh of relief, Asuka activates the Sparrow's comm. console. "Agent Langley here. We've a situation. Contact made, but party queried if someone named 'Michael' sent us." Irina then hears a strong male voice come from the small aircraft.

"Hold on. I'll get Jo on the line and find out." A tense two minutes go by before the voice comes back with, "Yes. Simmons, Michael, Officer, UNP-NM." Irina can't help but laugh giddily as she drops the gun onto the ground with tears dripping from her eyes. "Agent Langley, is the situation resolved?"

"Affirmative. Irina's laughing and ready to get out of Dodge."

"Acknowledged. Is the other prototype with them?"

"Agent Steel here. Prototype is not present." Looking at Professor Kirishima, he then asks, "But you know where it is, don't you?"

"Indeed, Agent Steel. Irina and I placed inside a vent at the N-2 storage depot for the area. About 5 miles back. Irina and I had to stop several times to get our bearings and in case someone was nearby."

"Okay. Which vent did you leave it in?" Irina takes that opening.

"East side of the depot, 5th vent from the back. Each vent is spaced 50" apart." Max and Asuka both nod before helping Professor Kirishima get Irina into the back seat of Asuka's Sparrow.

"We're sending Professor Kirishima and Irina your way for debrief and relocation. Agent Langley and I will proceed to recover the prototype."

"Hopefully it'll still be in place when you get there. Stalk wasn't very happy with me when she learned the prototypes were Mana's doing instead of mine."

"Stalk? As in Interpol Inspector Evelyn Stalk?" At Professor Kirishima's nod, Asuka can't help but groan.

"I know the feeling, Agent Langley. I never did like that bitch." Nodding toward the gun on the ground, Irina adds, "You can use the gun there if you like. The serial number's totally gone. Not even acid etching can recover it."

"Stalk's handiwork, I gather?" At Irina's nod, Max adds, "Thanks, but no thanks. We have our own arms." Looking to Asuka, he says, "Open the upper port storage bin on yours."

"Got it." Going to the spot, she sees a small latch and presses on it. When the bin opens, Asuka gasps at the sight of the H&K MP7 PDW in there. "But… but how?"

"You showed a deep attachment to the gun during firearms training." Max grins as he extracts an IWI MTAR-21. Looking back toward her, he adds, "I figured why not let you bond with it even further in the field." Asuka can't help but grin at Max for that. "Okay, Professor. This plane will take you and Irina for debrief by our colleagues. It'll be on autopilot the whole time, so no need to worry."

"Thank you, my young friends." With Asuka's help, he gets into her Sparrow's front seat. As the canopy closes, Max and Asuka move back just as the VTOL thrusters come on line. Within seconds, the Sparrow's flying away and fading into a dot.

"Okay. Lock and load then put on 'safe'." The sound of magazines locking into place and weapon bolts loading rounds into chambers before safeties are engaged pass by quickly. "Alright. Let's get that prototype out of evil hands."

"Roger."

(N-2 storage depot; same time)

"Nope. No sign of disturbance here either." Watts can't help shake his head as he goes to the next grate. "I'm a dead man if I don't find it." As he gets close to the grate, he sees gouges on the grate's frame. Fresh appearing gouges. 'Could it be?'

Kneeling down, he eagerly grasps the grate and pulls on it. Two minutes later, the grate comes out of place and the back of Watts' head makes contact with a nearby N-2 storage rack.

"Owowowowowow." Gingerly rubbing the spot, Watts looks within the space and grins triumphantly. "I found it!" Snaking his hand into the vent, he grasps the handle and slides the case out. Rising to his feet, he strides toward Stalk, grin on his face still. Only for it to fade at Stalk's scowl.

"Fucking took you fucking long fucking enough!"

"Do you know how many vents there are in this place? Huh? Do ya? I had to inspect every single grate to see if any of them had been disturbed recently. So how about you cut me some fucking slack?!" Much to his surprise, Stalk gives him an amused smirk before bringing out a pair of handcuffs and tossing them to him. "What're these for?"

"To make sure you never lose track of the case again, Watts. Attach one end to the handle and, when we're ready to leave, the other end to your wrist." Watts does so with the handle before noticing one detail.

"Where's the key at? So I can remove it when I have to take a shower."

"On the middle link of the chain." Her amused smirk becomes a seductive one as she adds, "Although the thought of you taking a shower with a compact N-2 is kinda something of a turn on for me." Inwardly, Watts can't help but shudder.

'I so didn't need to hear that!' Clearing his mind, he gets back to business. "Okay. Since the good Professor left without telling us what we need to know, why don't we demonstrate our power by detonating every single N-2 bomb in this place? The large ones, I mean."

"I get it. Since it interacts with them wirelessly, it'll still be useful." Going into the office, she brings out the instructions. "I don't get why we didn't try this before."

"We aimed too high and crashed while not looking ahead of us." Stalk can't help but roll her eyes at that as Watts turns on the power switch.

(1/2 mile away from N-2 depot; same time)

Max and Asuka move quietly and quickly on foot along the ground. When the depot comes into sight, they get an urgent call from Berto.

"Guys, the compact N-2 prototype just turned on. About ½ mile away from you."

"Damn. We're gonna have to be sure they can't activate that thing, then. Let's go, Asuka."

"Right." As they hasten their pace, Asuka asks, "Any chance you can monitor what they're doing, Berto?"

"Already on it, Asuka." A minute later, he comes back with, "They've just entered the detonation codes for the large N-2s. Oh shit!"

"What's wrong, Berto?"

"Max, every single large N-2 has just gone active. I'm counting 500 in the building with a time of 30 minutes." A gulp is then heard before he adds, "Even worse, they set the maximum yield. With 500 large N-2s detonating at the same time, it'll devastate the planet even more and kill every single person with the concussive waves. With Japan being the worst hit." Asuka can't help but grin fiercely at that.

"Then we better keep that from happening."

Without thinking twice, as they draw near the door, Asuka aims the MP7, sets it to full-auto and quickly empties the 40 rd magazine into the doorknob. Dropping the magazine out of the well and locking a fresh one into place, she then shoulders the door. Bashing it open. Keeping her footing as she falls sideways through the doorway, Asuka sees Max arriving out of the corner of her left eye before he yells out.

"UNITED NATIONS NUCLEAR INCIDENT COMMAND! STAND THE WEAPON DOWN NOW AND PUT YOUR HANDS UP!" He can only roll his eyes as Stalk and the man at the case bolt away. "I hate when they do that. Stalk's yours, Asuka. I'll get the case."

"Roger." Setting the fire switch of the 4.6x30mm weapon to 'semi-auto', Asuka takes off after the Interpol disgrace. "Get back here, Stalk!"

Max sees the man calmly close the case and snap a handcuff over his wrist. Grinning cheekily, the man then bolts away, Max in hot pursuit. Aiming the MTAR at just above the man, Max switches the fire switch to 'semi-auto' before firing off a round. At the impact, the man ducks away and to the left. Next thing Max knows, the guy screams in pained shock. Moving to where he heard the man, Max slows his foot speed before shaking his head in bemusement and slinging the bullpup weapon over his right shoulder.

The man had caught the facility's safety railing by his midsection and wound up flipping over it. Only to grab hold with both his hands. With the case opposite of him, dangling from his right wrist. When the man sees Max, he smirks and has one thing to say.

"You can't stop the glorious demise to come to humanity!" With that, he lets go of the railing, intent on taking the case down with him. Only for Max to bolt forward and grab the case. Feeling the cuff bite into his wrist, the man hisses out in pain.

"Let me go, dammit!"

"You can go to a funny farm when I get your crazy ass back up here. But I won't let you cause a planetary disaster." The man gives a smirk before guffawing.

"A hero-wanna-be, huh?! HAHAHAHA! You really want to be a hero, save this pitiful world and all of its' equally pitiful fools?! HAHAHAHA!" Reaching up for the mid-link of the chain, the man goes on. "Here's your big chance, my boy. But you have to do it the hard way seeing as I disrupted the wireless interface to disarm the large bombs." Snatching the key off of the link, he jabs it into the keyhole of the cuff on his wrist.

Next thing Max knows, the cuff unlocks and the man plummets downward. Max uneasily looks down toward the floor and sees two grisly sights. One being 50 skeletal remains of JSSDF personnel with varying causes of death, be it stab marks in their uniforms or bullet holes in their skulls. And the other being that the man had wound up impaled onto an empty N-2 storage rack's vertical support struts. As the strut juts out through the man's chest, Max can't help but grimace at the man's grinning face.

"I don't know what's more disturbing. How he chose to die or the fact he was grinning while he died."

'Same here, Berto. I was wondering where the depot's personnel had been all this time. I'm going back to disarm the N-2s now. How best to do so with the wireless being disrupted?'

"Get to a central part of the room for optimal range. You'll have to slide the case along the floor until I tell you." Next thing he knows, he hears the sound of rapid gunfire, along with Stalk's angry yells waft along the building's walls.

'Asuka's having trouble. Better help her.'

"No Max. Concentrate on disarming those things. Asuka's tough. She can take care of herself."

'Got it.' Max nods, hoping that the feisty redhead can hold her own against an older, and much more experienced, opponent.

(Asuka vs Stalk; ten minutes later)

"Stop right there, traitor!" Incensed at the younger woman's words, Stalk snaps around as she comes to a stop. Facing the young redhead.

"You… dare… call… me… a traitor?!"

"Involvement in international terror while a member of an International Law Enforcement Agency. That screams 'traitor' in my book." Stalk can't help but feel amused at the redhead's words.

"Oh, Agent Langley. How utterly naïve of you. To seek and reveal the truth, one must often do unsavory things. Including having a side job." The redhead gives a snort at that.

"Your idea of a 'side job' is nothing more than an expression of just how pathetic you really are." Putting the weapon on 'safe', she then lays the weapon down on the ground before taking up a martial arts stance. "How about we settle this like mature people? That is, if it's even possible for you to be mature." That in itself causes Stalk to see red.

"YOU… LITTLE… TART!" Charging her opponent, Stalk quickly feels a slender leg rocket right into her midsection. Swinging out her fists, she grins when she hears a yelp come from the younger woman. "Now we're even." A flat bass tone is then heard three times, getting a grin from the redhead.

"Think again, old hag."

Stalk can't help but roar furiously as she recovers her wind and charges again. Only to feel a booted foot make contact across her face. Falling to the side from the impact, Stalk's fury is still red hot as she charges full tilt toward the redhead once more. Only for the redhead to move aside, avoiding Stalk's charge. Stalk, however, winds up going over the railing behind her, with the redhead trying to grab her foot but missing it. Screaming as she plummets down toward the lower floor until her face meets the concrete floor. Asuka can't help but wince at the sight of Stalk dying in such a manner.

"This is why you should not fight angry. It blinds you to your surroundings." Going back to the MP7 and picking it back up, she goes looking for Max.

'Hopefully he had better luck than I did.' Very quickly, she sees him. Hunched over the case. Looking around and not seeing the other guy, she asks, "Where's the other one at?"

"He picked suicide and wound up on the lower level, impaled on a rack's support strut. Yours?"

"Dead on the bottom floor. Tried to catch her foot, but I just missed it." Looking around at the live N-2 bombs, she gulps. "I take it you're having a hard time getting these shut down."

"Yeah. Managed to shut down 250 so far on the other side over there using the emergency cut-off. Granted it took about five minutes to get an optimal transmitting signal going on here and another five shutting them down. Over here, however…" Asuka nods in understanding before Max yells out in triumph. "Yes! Full signal strength! Hitting the cut off now!" Hitting the cut-off button, Max and Asuka watch the timer on the nearest N-2 with trepidation until…

BOOP BOOP BOOP

Max and Asuka both share a relieved smile as the N-2s on their side of the building shut down. The relief is bolstered even more when Berto's voice comes up.

"Great going, guys. Both walls of N-2s are now inactive. And with only 8 minutes left." Next thing Max and Asuka know, Berto comes back with, "Max, General Kotsubaki's about to arrive. Along with 500 JSSDF troops arriving right ahead of him."

"Good to know." Grinning, he adds, "Heading out now, Berto. How far out is he?"

"Just under a mile."

"Got it. Let's go, Asuka."

Nodding, Asuka follows him out of the building. With JSSDF vehicles becoming visible to their eyes as they exit the door.

Once they're outside and heading for the Sparrow, a long JSSDF staff car pulls up alongside them. The staff car's dark-tinted left rear passenger window then slides down halfway, revealing a wide grin on a pudgy face.

"UNNIC Agent Steel, a small world, huh?"

"It would seem so, General." Seeing the General's eyes are on Asuka, he clears his throat. "General Kotsubaki, this is my partner, Agent Langley. Agent Langley, General Kotsubaki."

"How do you like working with Agent Steel, Agent Langley?"

"Never a dull moment with Agent Steel around, General." Kotsubaki's grin goes even wider as he nods, only for the grin to become a smile as he lays his eyes on the case in Max's custody.

"Is that what I think it is, Agent Steel? The prototype compact N-2 by Professor Kirishima?"

"That it is, General. That it is." Next thing Max knows, the window slides down the rest of the way.

"Hand in the case and get in. I'll give you two heroes a lift."

"No thanks. We've got a ride just down the way here. We'll just walk to it."

"Well, at least hand the case in."

"I think I'll just hang onto this until the UN's higher ups get the politics of these things figured out."

"You can't possibly be serious." Max gives a wry smirk before lifting the loose cuff up to his carrying wrist with his free hand and snapping it into place. Tightening the cuff, he looks back at Kotsubaki as if asking 'Still think I can't possibly be serious?'. Rolling his eyes, Kotsubaki then says, "Max, this is… nice of you. But you can't do this. Alone, I mean." Next thing he knows, Agent Langley chimes in.

"Then we'll simply take shifts." Now increasing their strides, they walk away from the staff car, ignoring the General's calls.

"Agent Steel! Agent Langley!" Upon seeing them still walking away, he can only shake his head before smirking in amusement. "Kids these days. Wouldn't you agree, Prime Minister Saconaga?" The wise elder can only smirk as he nods his head.

"Indeed, my good General."

(Max and Asuka; same time)

"So what's the story on General Kotsubaki, anyway? Is he one of ours?"

"He's JSSDFI, but he's N-Tek's middleman when we need his Intel or he needs ours. It's worked out pretty well so far."

"I don't doubt that. Anyone else know about him?"

"The Japanese Prime Minister. In fact, he and Rachel have been collaborating quite heavily in the past few weeks in the wake of the arrests of all but one of SEELE's members."

"Lorenz Kiel, aka John Dread." At his nod, Asuka suddenly grins and asks, "Just out of curiosity, how many 'hats' do you wear, exactly?"

"I can't exactly put it to a number, but I can tell you what 'hats' I do wear. UNBI, UNDEA, UNATF, UNP, UNSS, UNDSS, UNCIS, UNSWAT, UNNIC, UNMS and UNSAR."

"That's a lot of 'hats'. I can get what most of them are. I can actually see you wearing those 'hats'. But what about UNSS, UNDSS, UNCIS and UNSAR?"

"United Nations Secret Service, mainly investigating financial fraud and protecting UN Officials if needed to. United Nations Diplomatic Security Service, protecting foreign dignitaries from countries not aligned with or are part of the UN. United Nations Criminal Investigative Service, investigating crimes in all branches of the UN Military. United Nations Search And Rescue. Need I expand on that?"

"Nah. I got the gist of it." Grinning even wider, she then asks, "Was that 'balls to the wall all out' or what?"

"Not quite there, but it was a good start." Her blue eyes bulging, Asuka blinks to get them under control before chuckling.

"Oh come on. It doesn't get any 'ballsier to the wallsier' than that." Max can't help but arch both his eyebrows at that.

"I don't think 'wallsier' is even a word, Asuka."

"You know what I mean!" Max can only chuckle softly.

"Admittedly Asuka, that was a good start. But you've only just begun to chip at the tip of the iceberg." Upon hearing a snarl from Asuka, he hastens his pace before he starts running.

"Get back here, Steel!" At the sound of his laughter, Asuka can't help but chortle herself while chasing him. "I'm gonna get you and I'm gonna tickle you until you can't hold your bladder anymore!"

(Old Osaka; N-Tek building; twenty minutes later)

Nervously, Irina sits in the small room at a table with a plate of donuts on it. While she's feeling hungry, she doesn't think they'd appreciate it if she was to eat without permission. When the door opens, she sees a slightly rotund African-American man enter the room and frown upon seeing the plate of donuts.

"Not hungry?"

"I am hungry, sir. I just didn't think I should eat without permission." The man scoffs at that before replying.

"Consider yourself permitted to eat, Miss." He blinks and the plate of donuts is on the table. Totally empty of donuts. Blinking again, he remarks, "You must've been really hungry. I haven't seen donuts vanish that fast since my adopted son's 15th birthday party." Irina barely manages to stifle a giggle before the man smiles warmly. "It's alright if you want to laugh. Considering what you've been through, you more than deserve it."

"I just might take you up on that. After I'm debriefed, that is."

"Ah yes. Debriefing. Part of a rich full day." Sitting down on the other side of the table, he sits back and asks, "You mind telling me why the Russian SVR sent an operative to work on Japanese soil?"

"It was to monitor the activities of a loose group of cultists that wanted to acquire the prototype compact N-2s to annihilate the Evangelion Pilots. On a side line, I was to extract Professor Kirishima and take him to Mother Russia so he could continue his work on the compact prototypes. For them." Her eyes misting with tears, she adds, "But I couldn't do that to him! There was no way I could!"

"So Professor Kirishima told us when we debriefed him just a little while ago." Leaning forward, the man says, "I'd like to know your thoughts of the cultists before you left their company."

"They didn't really act like cultists." Frowning, Irina goes on. "If anything, it was more like they were working to overwork the international community into a frothing frenzy."

"Our collaborative Intel agrees." Looking at her intently, the man then asks, "What do you want to do with your life now, Miss Blavoski?" Seeing her blink repeatedly, the man chuckles softly. "Oh yes. We know exactly who you are. We looked up your file at the SVR through a back door contact. He said while your performance scores were average, as were your academic scores, he felt that wasn't the place for you. Said you have too much heart."

"I think I lost that when I started my last assignment, sir." Tears dripping down her eyes, she goes on. "When we took over the N-2 depot at New Nagasaki, it was after the time of the 12th Angel's attack. Watts stabbed half of the personnel multiple times, in the same spot, ensuring they died painfully. He also used head shots on the other half. He was like a savage animal, gleefully killing them."

"And the incident at the UN Building?"

"Watts did the killing. I wanted to render them unconscious but alive. My handlers told me I had to be ruthless to get ahead, let alone survive. But I decided I shouldn't kill those just doing their jobs." Shuddering, she adds, "If it's all the same to you, sir, I'd rather die than do that over again. If I go back to Mother Russia, the SVR will surely, and gladly, kill me."

"You won't have to. You did what you had to in order to survive. Including unsavory acts. So I ask again. What do you want to do with your life now?"

"Go back to Michael, heal my psyche and become one that 'Serves and Protects'. That kind of thing." The man nods before speaking again.

"You've got incredible skills and a compassionate heart. We have an agreement with various Law Enforcement Agencies the world over. However, that agreement doesn't reach into isolated areas like, say, Roswell, NM." Irina's attention is grabbed by that before the man goes on. "We have need of a Regional Liaison Officer in the NM area. Every state in the continental US has one. It'd be a shame to waste your potential and skills."

"What would I be doing?"

"Coordinating between our organization and the UNP should an assignment of ours cross into UNP's path."

"What organization are you, exactly? I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I agree."

"Understandable. Our organization works under the authority of the UN. In situations where interaction with Law Enforcement occurs, we have reciprocal agreements with most of the organizations. We also do the occasional headhunting when it comes to potential recruits. They'd still be working for their own organization, but they'd be contingency Agents should a need arise." Irina mulls it over before smiling softly.

"Is there any kind of training I need to go through?"

"Oh yes. All Agents designated as Law Enforcement are to through UNLETC in Billings, MT. The next training cycle is in 3 months time."

"I'm in." Chewing her lip thoughtfully, she then asks, "Any chance of a stop along the way to NM? There's someone I want to see, let know I'm alive still." The man smiles warmly once more.

"I think we can arrange for that." Rising from his seat, he adds, "We'll arrange your transport. While you wait, would you like some more donuts? Or something a little more substantial?"

"I think I'll wait until after I get back to Michael. I haven't had his cooking in three years."

The man nods his head before opening the door and exiting it. Once the door's closed back, Irina reaches into her outfit and brings out a small picture of both herself and Michael. She can't help but smile warmly at how Michael's arms are around her. Pressing her index fingertip to her lips, she then puts it against Michael's face.

"I'll see you soon, my love."

(N-Tek building; Sparrow hangar; fifteen minutes later)

As the Sparrow touches down within the confines of the building, its canopy opens, revealing a smiling Max and Asuka. As they exit the small craft, Max hefts the prototype out and both silently walk along the hallway until Asuka breaks the silence.

"So just how do you manage to wear all those 'hats' anyway?" Max smiles softly at that before replying.

"N-Tek has reciprocal agreements with nearly all Law Enforcement agencies planetwide. To further aid the agreement, and their covers as LEOs, all N-Tek operatives designated as such go through UNLETC."

"That must be difficult, keeping track of the operatives. Do any of the Agencies know who the operatives are within them?"

"Oh yes. Usually one high up on the command chain. On paper, the operative is listed as an Officer or Agent in good standing. Some of them even earned commendations and citations. But no records of the Agent are kept in the system should anything go wrong on an N-Tek assignment and something happens to the Agent. Paper only, with only the higher up knowing where the info is stored."

"Any within Interpol?"

"Rachel and Dad thought about that some time back, before I came into Dad's life, but ultimately decided against it."

"That explains why Cochrane didn't want anyone with the UN there that night. A political pissing match." Max's nod gets an eye-roll from Asuka before she asks, "Have you ever gotten a commendation or citation from any of them?"

"Yes, and he'd always declined them. But they're listed on his record anyway. And they're even stored under his true name at the house here in Old Osaka." Josh's voice gets a sheepish grin from Max before he switches back over to Shinji. "Good job, you two. Pity you couldn't bring in Stalk or Watts from what General Kotsubaki told us."

"We're as disturbed about it as you are, Dad. It was like they were determined to take their reasons with them to their graves." Asuka shakes her head at that.

"Watts maybe, but Stalk was more like an unfortunate accident. She was so pissed, she likely didn't see the railing until it was too late."

"General Kotsubaki agreed. The JSSDF troops recovered 52 bodies. Two of them being Watts and Stalk. Stalk's expression had horror on it while Watts had a deranged looking grin. The other fifty were the N-2 depot's personnel. Ms Blavoski already told Jefferson about it and the incident at the UN Building."

"Blavoski? Blavoski? Shinji, why is that name so familiar?"

"It's the last name of the guy that's protecting Rei. Ivan 'Hairy' Blavoski." Josh gives at nod at Shinji's reply before expanding on it.

"She's Ivan's younger sister. Blackmailed into serving the SVR because of Ivan's involvement with the Kamenev family." Giving Shinji a grin, he then asks, "How's your day babysitting Yachiru gone so far?"

"Pretty good. She was taking a nap when I got the call. Rits is with her right now."

"Good, good." Looking Shinji over, he adds, "You might want to check your T-juice level. You should be down to mid-yellow by now." Nodding, Shinji does so before smirking softly.

"I don't see how you do that when you've got the 1st gen and I've got the 2nd gen."

"Easy. Berto told me when you two landed in the hangar." Shinji lets out a chortle while Asuka giggles. Grin on his face, Josh then says, "To the reactor for you, bud. When you're done, you and Asuka are to get yourselves ready for transport duty."

"Sure. What's the transport?"

"Ms Blavoski, of course, Asuka. But first, Shinji?"

"Yeah Dad?"

"You might want to uncuff the case from your wrist before you go into the reactor." Asuka can't help but become a helplessly giggling wreck again. Chuckling himself, Shinji brings out the key that had been left in the cuff by a falling Watts before putting it into the keyhole and unlocking it. Once it's unlocked, he hands the case over to Josh.

"I'll take this to Berto so he can see about disabling this thing for keeps."

"Good to know. Professor Kirishima?"

"Just left with Kat in a Global Hawk to Moscow to be reunited with Mana, Asuka. From there, they'll head back to Old Yokohama."

(WA; Wheeler cabin; same time)

Rousing awake from his slumber, Scott smiles softly at a peacefully sleeping Shizuka before softly getting out of bed and putting his slacks back on. While the two had, out of respect for their hosts, refrained from having sex, it didn't stop Shizuka from being sultry or playful at all. Exiting the room, he hears the sound of metal parts being put together. Curious at that, he follows the sound until he sees Mark reassembling an H&K MP5.

"You going to stand there and watch me or join me for a little chat, Scott?" Grinning slightly, Scott goes toward Mark before Mark nods his head toward an easy chair. Once Scott's seated, Mark begins. "First off, I want to thank you for not engaging in 'hanky panky' under my roof. Though you two weren't exactly quiet about what you were doing in place of it."

"We were that loud?"

"Not really. You just confirmed what I thought." Scott can't help but chuckle, with Mark right behind him. Once their chuckles taper off, Mark adds, "Honestly, though, Scott, she's a very lucky girl."

"I think I'm the lucky one, Mark." Mark can only give him a nod with a grin.

"Believe me, Scott, I felt the same way with Jamie many times. Every day, I look at her and wonder 'Just what did I do to get to be so lucky to have such a wonderful woman in my life with what I'd done in the past?'. I could never stop asking myself that question, even with how happy we are." Getting up and stretching, Mark adds, "You might want to get some more shut-eye, Scott. You two have a long drive ahead of you. But, before you leave, let's shoot together. You, me and Alex. Shizuka too if she'd like."

"I'm sure she would, Mark." Getting a nod from the man, Scott turns back toward the room and goes into the bedroom. Seeing that Shizuka hadn't awakened, Scott takes his pants back off and climbs back into bed. With Shizuka snuggling tightly back into him.

"Mmm, Scott." Softly kissing the top of her head, Scott closes his eyes and soon dreams of two children. A boy and a girl, playing together.

(Tokyo-3; Treadwell Industries; outside; thirty minutes later)

"What the heck happened here?" Kensuke can't help but blink behind his glasses while Emily snorts at the sight. An agitated man lambasting a tow truck operator for not moving fast enough. With a white SUV with a desk embedded in the vehicle's roof behind the truck.

"Looks like karma finally caught up to that schmuck. Especially with all the times he'd been told not to park there by Dad." As they go inside, neither of them notice the sedan pulling up to the building and parking in a 'No Parking' zone. Inside the sedan, the man sees the SUV and the 'No Parking' sign before smirking.

"Don't want that happening to me. So let's find somewhere more appropriate to park, huh."

(Kamenev safe house; fifteen minutes later)

Ivan stretches out his limbs before hearing a knock on the door. Curious as to who'd be visiting, he goes to the door and opens it. Only to see someone he hadn't ever expected to see.

"Kitten?" Irina rolls her eyes at him before smiling softly.

"Yes, Ivan. It's me. Yipe!" As Ivan grabs her up in a bear hug, Irina gasps and giggles before wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you too, Bear!"

"Oh, Kitten!" As he holds his little sister close, he can see Max Steel Jr and the young woman that was with him that night in Moscow standing by a blue off-road coupe. Gently setting her down on the ground, he brokenly asks, "How… where… what happened to you?"

"I can ask you the same thing, brother." Reaching up to his head, she frowns and says, "I find it hard to believe you went bald in the time we'd been apart."

"I tore it out in the wake of Second Impact when I thought you'd died." Unable to help himself, he grabs her up in a hug again, with Irina returning the hug. Tears of joy dripping from her eyes before he sets her down again. "How long do you have here?"

"Not long. Only a few minutes so I don't miss my flight."

"To where? Back to Mother Russia?"

"No. America. Roswell, NM. I have a boyfriend that's worried to heck about me." Seeing flames erupt in his eyes, Irina giggles. "No need to worry, brother. He's a good man."

"I don't doubt that. It's just that… you're my cute little baby sister." Irina softly puts a hand to his cheek before smiling softly at him.

"I always will be. Ivan, please, get yourself out of the mafiya lifestyle. It doesn't really suit you."

"What can I do, though?"

"You can always help train the Section-2 Agents do their jobs more effectively. Agents Steel and Langley told me on the way here that four of you had been posted to guard the Evangelion Pilots." Looking back toward Max, and seeing him gently tap his wrist, she winces before turning back to Ivan. "I better go, brother." Ivan gives her a soft nod before hugging her one more time.

"Tell your boyfriend I'll turn him into an inside-out pretzel if he breaks your heart." Irina can only giggle again before pecking his left cheek.

"I'll pass the message along to him." Ending the hug, she says, "I hope to see you again, Bear."

"As do I, Kitten." As Irina walks back to the coupe, Ivan addresses Max and Agent Langley. "Take good care of getting my baby sister to America, Max Steel Jr and Agent Langley!"

"We will, 'Hairy'!" Ivan can only chuckle while shaking his head at Langley's retort before Irina gets into the coupe's rear seat. With Max and Langley getting in behind her. As the coupe pulls away, Ivan can only watch as his little sister leaves his sight again. Only with a tender smile on her face. Becoming aware of Strabo coming up behind him, he looks back at the eyepatch wearing man.

"You alright, Ivan?"

"I'm fine, Strabo. It's just that, seeing my little sister again, after all this time of thinking her dead…"

"At least now you know for certain she's alive." Clasping Ivan by his arm, Strabo goes on, "Let's have a celebratory drink of vodka and toast to a happy life for her." Ivan gives Strabo a nod before following the man back inside. With Mikhail and Sergei waiting anxiously.

"Is everything okay, Ivan?"

"Everything's okay, Sergei."

"Anything we can do because you look like you're about to let loose."

"I just need some time, Mikhail. Thank you." Smiling widely, he then says, "Bring on the vodka, Strabo!" With that, Strabo brings out the vodka bottle and pours it into four shot glasses.

"How far down should we drink it, Ivan?"

"Just two shots each, Sergei. For tomorrow, we visit with Section-2 Captain Sychola and offer our services to train Section-2 Agents. Just like Irina said." If he'd expected objections from the others, he doesn't get any for they nod in agreement with him.

"Which means one of us will have to tell Lady Kamenev we're leaving her employ. While she'd been interesting to work for, and with her current status…"

"Agreed. We'd only be in the way." Strabo's words bring them pause as he goes on."But what of Madam Kamenev? How will she take our leaving the family's employ?" Ivan snorts at that.

"Chances are she'll be relieved that you and I are both gone, Strabo. Sergei and Mikhail, however…"

"I don't think she'll be relieved, Ivan." Sergei smiles softly at Ivan and Strabo both before going on. "There was a reason she extended the job offer to you two before you joined our ranks. There's a reason she kept you on the payroll even though she had gotten incarcerated in the gulag. She sees us all as family. Not just criminal, but actual family." Holding up his shot glass, Sergei finishes with, "To the ladies Kamenev. May they live their remaining lives with no regrets!"

"Cheers!" With that, they quaff down their first shot. As Mikhail pours the next and last shot, they all wonder what to toast next. Ivan's face then lights up in a broad grin.

"I've got our toast for the next and last shot, comrades." Seeing his grin gets the others to grin as Mikhail finishes pouring the shots. Once they all have their shots in hand, Ivan goes on. "To the Evangelion Pilots! Without them, the remainder of humanity wouldn't have made it this far!"

"Cheers!" Quaffing their shots, they all grin dopily before falling asleep.

(Roswell, NM; UNP office; five hours later)

"Simmons!" Bolting upright and blearily wiping his eyes, Simmons sees his Duty Sergeant looking at him with a concerned look on his face. "Were you here all night working? Again?!"

"I was, Sergeant Rollins." Sergeant Howard Rollins, an athletic Caucasian man, rolls his eyes at Simmons before smirking.

"I hope you got a good reason for being here overnight before I make you take that five months worth unpaid leave you'd accrued. Or at least send you to sleep in Iso because you look just terrible, Michael." Michael blinks at Rollins before smiling sheepishly, getting the Sergeant to softly snort.

"Baker. Help Simmons into Iso so he can get some sleep. Rogers, take any calls for Simmons, let them know he's indisposed." Both Officers nod, with Officer Henry Baker reaching for Simmons just as Simmons' phone rings. Before Michael can even move for the phone, Officer Amanda Rogers answers it.

"UNP-NM, Officer Rogers speaking. Yes, he's here. I'm sorry but he's indisposed right now. Uh-huh. Okay, just a moment." The thin Asian woman looks toward Michael and says, "Call for you, Simmons. The voice is distorted, says they'll only speak to you."

Michael looks at Rollins and gets a nod. Helped to the phone by the slender African-American Officer, he accepts the phone from Amanda's hand.

"Simmons."

"Look outside, Officer Simmons. Incidentally, you might want to take the next Detective's exam." With that, the call ends and a puzzled Michael puts the phone back on the hook.

"Hank, any chance you can help me outside?"

"Sure thing, buddy."

As the two make their way to the door, Michael sees Baker and Rollins move alongside them. Intent on seeing why Michael needs to go outside. As they open the stained-glass door, Michael's jaw drops at the vision before him. Irina, wearing a blue sundress and sneakers.

"Irina." Her eyes dripping with tears, Irina walks toward Michael, seeing how tired he is. Once he's in front of her, she can't help but softly stroke his right cheek before asking one thing.

"Don't you ever sleep anymore?"

The next thing she knows is bliss as Michael wraps his lips around hers, with Irina fervently returning the passionate kiss. As he wraps his arms around her, Irina can't help but smile against his mouth before wrapping her arms around him and tapping his lips with her tongue. As his tongue meets hers, she faintly hears cheers and hooting before giggling. Ending their first French kiss in years, Irina looks into Michael's eyes and sighs happily.

"Oh how I've missed you."

"Likewise." Before they can kiss again, however…

"Ahem. I hate to break up this lovely reunion, but you two are making a bit of a scene." Rollins' voice gets them to blush before he adds, "So Simmons, if you're feeling up to it, why don't you drive your future wife to your flat and resume your face-sucking in private."

The two chuckle sheepishly while Rollins chortles and both Baker and Rogers give them both 'thumbs up' before going back inside.

Rollins then sticks his head back out and calls out, "There's a nice little chapel on the outskirts of town if you want a small, private wedding! When you're ready to get hitched, let us know!" Laughing raucously, Rollins then ducks back inside. Irina and Michael both blink before looking at each other and smiling softly.

"You want to, Irina? Today?" Irina shakes her head 'no', a loving smile on her face.

"Tomorrow. After you've eaten and slept." Snaking her hand into his left pants pocket, she grins as she brings out his car keys. "Seeing as how tired you are, I'll drive. I don't fancy us dying when we've only just gotten back together again." Michael can only nod groggily before grinning at Irina.

"Yes, dear." Irina can only giggle as Michael pecks his lips against her right cheek repeatedly as they walk to his car. A blue '68 Camaro convertible.

Helping Michael to the passenger side, she watches as he opens the door and gently helps him into the seat. Ensuring his legs are clear of the door, she closes it before going to the driver's side and opening the door.

"I can't believe you still have this car." Sliding into the seat, she closes the door before putting the key into the ignition.

"I can't believe you finally got away from those SVR jerks." As the Camaro starts, he looks over at Irina and asks, "You did get away from them, right?"

"Yes. With a little help." Smiling softly, Michael yawns.

"That's good. But I couldn't find anything on the ones that helped you. From what I can tell, though, they prefer to work in the shadows. With everyone else free to live their lives without fear of horrendous happenings."

"I got that kind of feeling as well." When she doesn't hear him reply, she looks toward him and smiles softly at the sight of him deep asleep. Smile on his face. 'I'm gonna feel shitty when I wake him up to get him inside. But I know a way to make us both feel so much better!' In the rearview mirror, Irina sees the massive plane that brought her to NM lift off into the sky before flying away.

"May you and yours continue the good fight and stay safe." That said, she continues driving. Not knowing what turn her life will take, but determined it will be much better than if she'd continued doing what she did before.

(In the air above Africa; Roilson's B-2; same time)

Doctor Greg Roilson's desperate. He'd found the information regarding the procedure used on the patient Dragonelle had brought him months ago. Once it'd been learned that he'd been the one to snoop around, he'd started getting threats. Often from the same distorted voice. The voice had been angry, telling him not to meddle in affairs that do not concern him. He'd retorted that the sadist needed to be stopped before more minds can be altered or damaged through such a cruel means.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Henri's voice snaps him out of it as Henri calls out, "Maurice and Jamal have finished the downloads and are transferring them onto flash drives as we speak!"

"Very good, Henri! What's our radar looking like?!"

"Still jammed! We could be attacked by missiles right now and not even know it!"

"Don't say that! You'll jinx us!" Henri can only chuckle sheepishly before Roilson chuckles as well. "Keep me posted as to Maurice and Jamal's progress on the transfers! Every bit of data transferred is crucial if we're to have any hope to stop that lunatic!"

"Yes, Doctor!" Two minutes later, Henri comes up into the cockpit, flash drives in hand. "Maurice and Jamal have finished the transfers, Doctor."

"Good. Now all we have to do is get to the UNMA so they can see about yanking that quack's license!" Next thing they know, a massive shockwave rocks the B-2 Spirit from behind. Both men can clearly hear the wind blowing throughout the aircraft, resulting in the need to yell. "Henri! Check on Maurice and Jamal! Be sure they're alright!"

"Right away, Doctor!" Handing Roilson the flash drives, Henri goes back toward the body of the aircraft before shakily returning. "They're gone, Doctor!"

"How do you mean, Henri?!"

"They're dead, Doctor! That shockwave appears to have broken their necks while they were seated! And it gets worse!"

"How so?!"

"The Medical wing is on fire and the fire-control system's offline! I figure we have another ten, fifteen minutes before mid-air detonation!"

"Then I guess we'll have to eject and let this bird crash in the waves! Initiate fuel purge while I make a Mayday call!" Henri nods and does so while Roilson begins. "Mayday, mayday! This is 3598-Y! My bird's going down! I repeat, my bird's going down! Mayday, mayday! This is 3598-Y!"

(N-Tek Behemoth; en route to Japan; same time)

"Shinji, I'm getting a Mayday call on Freq 76."

"Alright, Chuck." Tuning the comm. to the freq, Shinji listens intently. He can hear wind whistling loudly over the comm., yet he can still make out what the caller's saying.

"Mayday, mayday! This is 3598-Y! My bird's going down! I repeat, my bird's going down! Mayday, mayday! This is 3598-Y!" Electing to use the Behemoth's call-sign for an emergency requiring SAR, Shinji keys in.

"3598-Y, this is UNSAR 65. What's your status, over?"

"UNSAR 65, be advised I'm minus two in a crew of four! Had an explosion on the outside of the plane that killed two! Over!"

"Understood, 3598-Y. What's your location, over?"

"UNSAR 65, I'm currently flying over Africa and dumping fuel! I'm trying for a feet wet eject and ditch! Please advise, over!"

"Okay, 3598-Y." Hearing the thrum of the Behemoth's engines pick up power, Shinji goes on. "We're on our way to you now. ETA at present speed, fifteen minutes. We expect to meet you at the western edge of the Sea of Japan. Over."

"UNSAR 65, I acknowledge the last. Over."

Once contact ends, Shinji brings up the stricken aircraft's profile and arches an eyebrow.

'An old B-2 Spirit, huh. I thought those things had been mothballed three years after Second Impact.' Shaking his head, he turns toward Asuka. "Hey Asuka. Ever thought of trying your hand at being a rescue swimmer?"

"Can't say as I have, but I can take a try at it."

"Alright. In the compartment by your head, there are a mask, snorkel and fins."

"Okay. What about a wetsuit?"

"The jumpsuit you're wearing doubles as a wetsuit as it's made of the same materials."

"Got it." Opening the compartment, she asks, "So what's going on?"

"Got a B-2 Spirit going down. Estimated site of impact is the western edge of the Sea of Japan."

"B-2 Spirit? But I thought those things had been decommissioned." Shinji can only shrug as Asuka puts the mask and snorkel into place before asking, "Where do you want me to jump out from?"

(Ten minutes later; 100 feet from western edge of Sea of Japan; Roilson's B-2 Spirit)

"Is all in readiness, Henri?"

"Yes, Doctor. According to my calculations, the plane should splash down two minutes after we eject."

"Very well, Henri. Strap in." Henri nods and does so. With Roilson watching the altimeter. "When we reach 300, we punch out."

"Yes, Doctor." After a moment, he adds, "It's been an honor working at your side, Doctor."

"Likewise, Henri." When the altimeter reaches 300, Roilson calls out, "Punch out!" Both pull on their ejection handles, where time seems to slow for them. The B-2's roof panels blow off from the charges in place before the ejection seats follow suit. Only for an explosion to suddenly envelop Henri's seat in the apex. The resultant flames cause Henri to scream out in agony before going silent.

Roilson can only scream, "HENRI!" Once his seat's parachute's deployed, Roilson can only watch in anguish as Henri's seat splashes down into the water before sinking. Henri still secured in the restraints. Its chute not having been deployed. "HENRI!"

Severing himself from the seat's restraints, Roilson splashes down into the water, intent on getting Henri back to the surface. Seeing the seat rapidly descending underwater, Roilson frantically swims down until getting to his remaining crewmember. Deftly undoing Henri's restraints, he pulls the handle on the emergency inflatable life vest on Henri's torso before pulling his. Rising to the surface of the water, he can see a massive airplane approaching his position before swimming to a limp Henri.

"HENRI!" When he gets to Henri's side, he sees Henri's face is covered with 3rd degree burns. "HENRI!" Looking back toward the aircraft, he sees it coming to a hover five feet away from them at ten feet up before a slim figure wearing a blue wetsuit and snorkel gear drops out of the plane's belly. Swimming its way to him, it quickly reaches him. As he clutches Henri close to him, the form begins to call to him. A young feminine voice with a prominent German accent.

"You've got to let him go, sir!" When Roilson doesn't release him to her, she repeats, "You've got to let him go, sir!"

Reluctant to let Henri go, Roilson nods does so. He then watches as the rescue swimmer takes Henri into her care before swimming back toward the plane. Roilson can barely see a rescue sling being lowered from the plane until it reaches the water. He can only watch helplessly as the swimmer deftly puts Henri within the sling before swimming back to him. With the sling being reeled back up before vanishing into the plane. When she reaches Roilson, the sling comes back down.

"Your turn now, sir!" Roilson nods at the young woman before allowing himself to be taken into her care. As the sling reaches the water, she then gets him into the sling and calls out, "Just hang on tight, sir!" Nodding, Roilson can only do so as he gets a look at her. Young appearing with long red hair and bright blue eyes. Once he's reached the plane's belly, he looks up and sees a young Caucasian man reaching toward him.

"Just a moment, sir, and I'll get you a blanket!" Roilson nods at the young man as he pulls Roilson into the plane and removes the rescue sling from his body. He then looks around the plane before seeing a shroud covered form on the floor. His gut can't help but clench at the sight.

"He's dead, isn't he?!" The young man hesitates before nodding. "HENRI!"

Roilson can't help but break down at the loss of his surrogate family, barely feeling the promised towel being draped over his shoulders. In the background, he can hear the rescue winch operating and looks back. Hoping the young woman was alright. When the rescue sling comes back up, he sees the young woman has a grim expression on her mask-covered face. Once she's fully up in the plane, the young man closes the hatch before setting her down onto the floor panel. As she removes her gear from her form, the young woman looks toward Roilson and sees his anguish.

"Verdamnt!" As the young man hands her a towel, she nods at her companion before looking at Roilson. "So what happened?"

"Three weeks ago, I learned the identity of a twisted and sadistic individual that devised a cruel method of personality and mind control through electric current directly into the frontal lobes." Starting to shake in fury, he goes on.

"I downloaded every scrap of information about the procedure and the monster that devised it. He claimed to be a Doctor of Brain Sciences, but my late companion, Henri over there, seriously doubted he ever went to Medical School." The young man and woman both can't help but let a light snicker escape while Roilson lets out a chuckle.

"That was my reaction as well." Starting to shiver, Roilson tries not to let it show. Only the young man notices it.

"Two mugs of hot chocolate coming right up." The young woman gazes thankfully at the young man while Roilson nods his thanks. "Chuck, make for the Old Osaka office, if you please."

"Got it, Max." Roilson feels the massive aircraft bank to the left and turns back toward Max as he walks toward a shaking Roilson with a steaming mug of hot chocolate in hand. Roilson looks toward the young woman and sees that she's carefully sipping the hot chocolate.

"When we get to Old Osaka, sir, we need to get your statement and record it. Are you up to it?" Max's query gets a nod from Roilson, getting Max to nod right back.

(Moscow; N-Tek field office; same time)

"Daddy!" Mana's delighted cry brings a smile to Professor Kirishima's face before Mana wraps him in a hug. "Oh I've missed you!"

"We were only apart about three days, my daughter. But I missed you as well." Looking toward the woman standing behind Mana, he nods his head. "Thank you for watching over my little girl, Ms…"

"Uramov. Natalya Uramov. It was my pleasure. Mana turned out to be quite adept with nutritional formulas." Beaming with pride at his only child, Professor Kirishima holds her closely.

"That's my Mana for you. An exceptionally bright girl." Mana's face is beet red, yet it doesn't stop her from smiling up at him. Looking toward Kat, he then asks, "What's next, Agent Ryan?"

"Well, the other prototype's been recovered and should be disabled by now. The ones that sought to use them and you for their own agenda are either incarcerated or dead…"

"What about Irina?"

"By now, she should be in NM, free from the SVR's grasp, Professor." Mana can't help but blink at that.

"Who's Irina?"

(Old Osaka; N-Tek; holo-con room; twenty minutes later)

As he looks around the room, Roilson can't help but be awed at the amount of technology in the room around him. Right then and there, he realizes that where he is most certainly is not a standard SAR outfit. Noticing Max's presence beside him, Roilson looks toward him and nods his readiness.

"Very well, Doctor. Let's start." Crossing to a panel on the wall, Max types in a code and Roilson's surprised to see three holographic projections appear in the middle of the room.

"Secretary General Leeds-Nez, Attorney General Nunez and Surgeon General Morris, this is Agent Steel with the report of today's incident. Are you receiving?"

"Yes, Agent Steel." Rachel's words are accompanied by nods from a woman of Portuguese descent and a Caucasian man. "You may proceed when ready."

"Thank you, Madam Secretary General." Turning toward Roilson, he says, "Please state your name and occupation."

"Gregory Roilson. Up until today, I worked as an Underground Doctor with neutral leanings. My primary specialty, however, is prosthetic limbs."

"Neutral meaning?"

"I treated anyone, be they Law Enforcement or outlaw, Mr Surgeon General." Morris nods before Secretary General Leeds-Nez goes on.

"Agent Steel, please describe the incident you are now briefing us on."

"Yes, Madam Secretary General. At 1550 Japanese time, UNSAR 65 received a distress call from an aircraft. A B-2 Spirit, airframe number 3598-Y. Our flight made as good a time as possible. But by the time we'd reached the estimated site, the B-2 had already gone down. Agent Langley donned rescue swimmer gear and retrieved one casualty from the site. Doctor Roilson's the sole survivor."

"Doctor Roilson, how many crew did you have altogether?"

"I had four, Madam Attorney General. Two of them died before the crash. Henri and I ejected when we were 300 up. But Henri was caught in an explosion, resulting in his seat's inability to deploy its chute. When my chute deployed, I watched in horror as Henri's seat splashed down, top first, and begun sinking. Without thinking twice, I undid my restraints and splashed down into the water before searching for Henri. Once I found him, I undid his restraints and inflated his life vest before inflating my own. When I reached the surface, I got a look at Henri's face. It'd been covered with 3rd degree burns and he wasn't breathing. I suspected he was dead, but didn't want to admit it to myself."

"Agent Langley, did you take vitals on Henri at any point?"

"I did, Madam Secretary General. Though it was a moot point. Henri's neck had been broken. Even if he'd survived the fire that burned his face, then he would've died when his seat hit the water." The UN Secretary General's expression goes grim before she turns toward Roilson.

"Doctor Roilson, could you tell us what happened to cause today's tragedy?"

"Yes, Madam Secretary General." Reaching into his pocket, he brings out three flash drives. "I'd been looking up a most hideous procedure in regards to personality altering and possibly mind control through electro-induction. I gathered what information I could while being threatened to keep my nose out of matters that don't concern me."

"Yet you defied the threats." Surgeon General Morris can only smirk before chuckling. "You've got balls to spit in the face of the source of the threats. So to speak." Roilson can only shyly chuckle at that while Secretary General Leeds-Nez and Attorney General Nunez roll their eyes.

"As 'amusing' as your comment is, Surgeon General Morris, I'm sure you can find a better word to use than that." Yet the Secretary General's eyes are dancing with mirth before she turns to Roilson again. "Doctor Roilson, does your research include the name of the person responsible for such hideousness?"

"It does, Madam Secretary General. Agent Steel, if you'd be so kind?" Max nods at that and inserts the flash drive Roilson hands him. As the prompt comes up, Roilson guides him. "Okay, click on 'Electro-induction' and open it."

Once Max has done so, he adds, "On 'Project head', click open." Max and Agent Langley peer intently at the screen as it shows the name.

Doctor John Sondare

Behavioral specialist

"I've never heard of such a man. I'm doing a search right now, to see if there's any record of him at all." As the Surgeon General does the search, Max peers intently at the name before frowning.

"Madam Secretary General, what are the chances of 'Sondare' being an anagram-based pseudonym for another name?"

"Like a pen name of sorts?" At his nod, the Secretary General mulls it over before replying. "It's not exactly unheard of, Agent Steel. But the big question is what, if there is one, is the Doctor's actual name?" Next thing they know, Surgeon General Morris slams his fists down in frustration.

"There are no matches to that name whatsoever! Agent Steel, I suggest you find the real name of the 'Doctor' so charges can be levied against him for crimes against humanity and unauthorized experiments! Of course, there'd need to be veritable evidence of such research. Doctor Roilson, what prompted you to research such hideous research?"

"A former US Marine Gunnery Sergeant. He had a functioning half skull, with electrodes positioned at his frontal lobes and optic lenses. He was brought to my care by a woman that had helped me out long ago. My late staff and I were able to heal him and constitute a new skull. Only without such cruelty and barbarism within it."

"The name of the Gunnery Sergeant?"

"Peter Sychola, Madam Secretary General." The UN Secretary General nods her head before turning to Max and Agent Langley.

"Agents Steel and Langley, you are to commence 'Gamma Protocol' ASAP, and get Dr Roilson into protective custody. I trust you can find somewhere." Max and Agent Langley both nod in agreement.