Interludes After Jet Alone

Gotham City (mid year 2002)
Iceberg Lounge, Secret Basement.

"Gentlement, a little bird has confirmed the news. The chiroptera has flown to the Great Beyond."

A murmur crossed the room. Not even one of the present people dared to imagine it was true.

Two strikes of a gavel silenced the whispers. "Order in the room! I demand order in the room!" Two-Face pointed the gavel at the Penguin. "Cobblepot, it's not the first time we think the Bat is dead, what proof do you have to show?"

"Personally? None at all, Harvey." The Penguin shrugged. "But not only Batman hasn't been seen for more than two months, not even one of his birds has shown a single feather in that same time. Plus, my source is quite reliable. According to her, Ra's al Ghul was trying to finish the job Second Impact left halfways, and he was stopped by the Bat's flock. And now, not only the Batman, but all his sidekicks are vulture food." He chewed the end of his cigarette holder, dropping ash to the floor.

New whispers from the astounded criminals. Two-Face called order again, twice, for good measure. "I need a second confirmation."

"Of course, but I won't be the one who calls my source a liar." Oswald Cobblepot replaced the cigarette, looking around. "In my opinion, and even conceding it could be a trap, we could take the chance to..." he took his monocle off, and carefully, cleaned it before putting it back in its place. The Penguin had always appreciated a good dramatic pause, "move discreetly. No crime waves, no garish hits, waugh! Not even costumes! Let's be subtle for once in our lives. Let's be selective. After all, if the heroes are dead, we have all the time in the world, and if they are not, let's let them deal with other villains in other cities. Let's make our egg nests big and plump."

Most of the Gotham City Rogues Gallery was present, from rank-and-file gangsters like Rupert Thorne, aand their mooks; up to the most absurd costumed criminals. Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Firefly, Catwoman, the Scarecrow, Black Mask, Harley Quinn, Clayface II and IV, Deadshot, Killer Moth, the Riddler, Hugo Strange, even Cluemaster were there. There were two notable absences, Poison Ivy, whom her closest associates Catwoman and Harley Quinn said didn't know her current whereabouts; and the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker himself. Except for Harley Quinn, all the presents were actually relieved the Joker had not deigned himself to assist to the gathering.

The Joker had been invited, of course, no one wanted to offend him, as he always got even with any offense with a smile. A dead rictus on the face of whomever had offended him. It was also the reason all the criminals in Gotham reserved a cut of their ill-gotten gains for him.

To the relief, and dread of everybody, the Joker had not shown his face ever since his escape from the ruins of Arkham Asylum, knocked down in the aftershocks of Second Impact. Harley insisted that Mr. J. Would appear when he was ready, and that he had a grand plan; but she had gotten evasive when the Riddler asked for any details. The Harlequin of Hate was unpredictable in the best case; and it seemed this time, he would play his cards very close to the vest.

By the time the meeting ended, and after long discussions, refereed by the Penguin and Two-Face, Goitham City's underworld had cut the city in pieces, establishing their own personal domains. Several of the more especialized crooks decided to not claim a territory, but work with the land-holders, or for them, if they had need of their services.

The next months were very profitable. Penguin's strategy had worked even better than they had thought. The last heroes had prioritized the rescue efforts, or were dealing with the villains on other cities. Ironically, had somebody taken the time to compile statistics, Gotham City would have seemed to be one of the safest places in the country. Of course, that would have been a mere illusion. Corruption and crime had simply imposed order onto chaos. The only thing going down was the number of criminal reports.

2013
A Nameless Dimensional Plane

A window floated in the turbulent air, showing the images of two children. A redheaded girl, belligerant, agresive, bold in word and action. And a chestnut haired boy, mild-mannered, protective, easygoing.

Two voices spoke in harmony, although they were completely opposite. One was guttural and wild, the other, cultured and deliberate. "What do you think? They are the best candidates so far." The guttural voice was clearer.

The same voices answered a moment later, but now, the cultured voice was clearer. "They will do, but they are not ready yet."

Both voices answered, both equally clear, "We shall wait. In due time, the chance will present itself."

Present Time
Katsuragi Apartament.

Shinji studied the picture Asuka had sent him. Something in it was disquieting. Leaving apart the implications of her letter, there was something in the picture...

"You're gonna wear that out if you keep looking at it like that."

"Misato!"

"Ah, relax, Shinji." Misato took a beer can out the fridge, opened it wit practiced ease, and emptied in a single move. "I won't be needling you too much."

"Uh?"

"I must go back to NERV and check on Unit-02's trip here. It's because oif the time difference with Europe."

Shinji needed a moment to understand. "Oh. I'll leave you dinner ready on the fridge, and set the microwave oven. You'll only need to put the containers in, and push the button."

Misato sighed tiredly, and stretched like a cat. Shinji heard her vertebrae realign. "As I've said, you are the best roomie!"

Shinji smiled, and put the picture back in it's envelope.

"Uh... ¿Misato? I want to ask you something, but I don't want to offend you...

"I'm not going to be your third girlfriend, or is it fourth? I can't keep track anymore." She counted with her fingers. "Let's see, Rei, Asuka, I think Hikari has been eyeing you..."}

"Misato! NO! I haven't gotten a girlfriend! It's something else."

Misato pouted and looked at him with big, teary eyes. "Y-y-you don't want to be my boyfriend..?" And laughed happily at seeing Shinji stutter.

Realizing he had fallen into Misato's trap, Shinji huffed his indignation. "One! Rei is like a sister to me! Two! I haven't even met Asuka in person yet, and Three! Hikari likes Toji, not me!" He covered his mouth with both hands, realizing he had said more than he had intended. "...oh, crap..."

Misato laughed again. "Yep, I had noticed, I think the only one who hasn't is Toji himself. Aaaand Kensuke. And now that I think it, Hikari! Man, you kids are a mess! Now, what did you actually want to ask me?"

"Ah... yessss..." He took breath, "What happened with you and Mr. Kaji?" Immediately, he raised his hands in a concliatory gesture. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to!"

Misato looked into the distance. "Maybe I'll tell you one day. You wouldn't understand it now." She seemed... sad...

'Well, at least she didn't get angry.' he thought. 'I hope they can at least work together. If Mr. Kaji was in the vision the Phantom Stranger showed me, he might stay for a while. And I'll need him on my side.'

Present Time
Somewhere in Poland
Trans-Syberian Train Route

Asuka Langley Soryu closed her laptop. She had been comparing the performance stats of all three Evangelion Units, and neither Unit-00 nor Unit-01 held a candle to her Unit-02. Only the Third Child was a remote threat to her supremacy as the best Evangelion pilot. Good. She had hoped the Third would be a potential rival. She needed a challenge. And an easy victory just wasn't satisfactory.

Analysing the tapes of his battles, she was surprised to notice that Ikari seemed to have two very different sides. In his letters, he was always nice, kind and deferential. In combat, he seemed to change. Even with each battle. His first sortie, he was lucky to get out the plug alive. Asuka grimaced at imagining just how painful Sachiel's attack must have been, with its energy spike going all the way through Unit-01's head! After that, Ikari had gone completely berserk! She drummed her fingers on the little table in her train compartment. And she was sure there MUST be Something wrong with the cameras. It seemed like Unit-01 first had a broken arm, but later it was perfectly whole and functional.

The second fight had been even more worrying. In Asuka's professional opinion, having the other two Stooges in the plug must have added so much static in the mental interface, Ikari had gone into a nervous breakdown, acting with suicidal bravery. He had disobeyed Misato's orders to retreat to a safe place! Hmm... She though it would fall to her to make sure he didn't do anything that stupid again. By hook or by crook.

The third fight things were looking much better. This time, Ikari had acted with cold blood. He held his position even under attack. Impressive. Especially considering he had been practically boiled alive a few hours before. The First Child had shown an acceptable level of discipline in her first combat mission. They had made a good team, she had to admit.

The fourth battle had been strange, to say the least. Not against an Angel, but versus a giant, nuclear powered robot, built by some japanese company which clearly had no idead of what their wind-up toy would be facing against Angels. This time, Ikari had actually shown some tactical planning! And to think just before the incident, Misato had wrote she would put her life in Ikari's hands. No one would have thought she would literally do it.

She was starting to feel a grudging respect for the Third Child. Despite having been, basically thrown into the deep end of the pool, he had adapted quickly to the role, and according to Misato, he was taking his training and school performance, very seriously.

Yes, the Third Child was really improving with each battle. It didn't matter, though. She was so much better. As long as he and the First Child accepted she was the best, they would work together just fine.

She looked out the window, taking the chance a long curve offered her to look at the enormous car that contained her beloved Unit-02. The tracks had to be reinforced to accomodate the weight of an Evangelion Unit, at a great cost, surely. But in the end, such an investment would make easier for bigger cargo trains to go from one side of Europe to the opposite extreme of Asia.

She put her laptop back in her luggage, and went out to look for Kaji.

Katsuragi Apartment
Three Days Later, Homework Reunion

"Man! We are done! I can't believe we finished it so fast!" Toji Suzuhara stretched his arms over his head, under the disapproving eye of Hikari Horaki.

"Suzuhara! Behave yourself!" She slapped him on the shoulder.

"Oww…! Class Rep! I…"

Shinji intervened. "It's no problem, Horaki. I myself really would like to stretch my legs."

Kensuke pushed his glasses back up his nose, enjoying his friend´s predicament. "What do you say we all relax a bit? I just picked up a new DVD set in the way here, and I'm really impatient to see it!"

"Homework is done, I should go back to my apartment." Rei startled everybody but Shinji. She had been so quiet they had almost forgotten she was there.

Shinji stood up, and held up his hand to help her stand. "I think you should stay a little longer, Ayanami. It looks like it will rain soon. Let me prepare some food, and I'll walk you home afterwards."

"That is… acceptable; I will stay. However, I must say I don't eat any meat."

"No problem, I can make some salad and mushroom soup."

"Thanks." Rei smiled her shy little smile. Shinji smiled back at her.

"Hey, Kensuke, what series did you get?" Toji was already on his feet, and, hesitating just a bit and blushing a little, helped Hikari to get up, just like Shinji had with Rei. She blushed too.

Kensuke was already digging in his backpack, taking out a boxed set. He showed it proudly, "Bio-Armor Jade Warrior! Season One!" The cover of the box displayed two figures, their poses matching with each other; in the foreground, a kid about eight years old, wearing a striped shirt and a baseball cap, looking defiantly up; and behind him, an imposing robot-like figure, looking severely in the same direction as the boy. He was heavily armored, strong, his chest was crossed by what looked like two crimson bandoliers. Something in the big figure seemed familiar to Shinji, but he couldn't put a finger on it.

"Looks cool!" he said, while Hikari shrugged and exchanged a look with Rei, that practically screamed "…boys…", Rei looked intrigued by the cover.

"Let me help, Shinji." Hikari went to the kitchen after Shinji.

"Sure, thanks!" After a brief discussion to decide what would they prepare, they started working in the meal. While Shinji cut the ingredients, Hikari was already preparing the pots. Toji watched them for a moment, amazed on their teamwork. It actually looked like they had done this before. Not preparing food, of course, but working together; he knew Shinji was a decent cook, and that Hikari had taken the mother role for her family; now they looked like they had practiced together before, both moved in perfect tandem! He actually felt a little jealous.

Meanwhile, Kensuke and Rei were preparing the living room for an improvised movie afternoon. He turned on the TV set. "Hey, guys. Which channel? While the food is done, I mean."

From the kitchen, Shinji answered. "What about the news? Just to check the weather."

"Sure thing!" he zapped the remote, until he found what he wanted. Usually, the weather report came at the end of the slot, so they would have to wait a little while.

Toji was a bit at a loss about what to do, he was rubbish in the kitchen, the living room was all set, and he wanted to help with something. "Hey, Shinji! You want me go get some sodas? Pop corn? I can do a trip to the minisuper if you need something."

"Yes, please! I had no time to get everything. Let me get some money."

"Nah, man! It's on me, it's the least I can do after helping me save my grade with this homework!" Before Shinji had a chance to argue, he was already out.

Toji came back just as Hikari and Shinji had finished their work, all that was left was wait for the food to be cooked. Shinji stayed at the kitchen watching the pots, while Hikari sat on the couch with Rei.

The jock maneuvered into the kitchen with two bags full of sodas and snacks, and deposited his bounty on the table. "Hey, Ayanami; it seems you'll have to stay a while after all. It's starting to rain, and I think it will be quite a while."

"Oh." She said simply. "It is okay."

Meanwhile, the newscast was running a "Where are they now?" feature. "…Today, it's been 13 years since the disappearance of Yuchiro Takata, founder and main stockholder of New Concept Industries, and a well known philanthropist since his retirement. After Second Impact, Takata–san ran several charities and free clinics for refugees, and his work was of great importance to reestablish an orderly society in Post-Impact Japan. He was last seen during the re-inauguration of the Okinawa General Hospital. Reportedly, he went home; but his car was found abandoned in a side street, simply closed, with no signs of violence. Many volunteers helped in the search, but to date, no trace has been found of Yuchiro Takata or his fate."

"Oh. I hope they find him." said Hikari, sadly; while setting the plates. "My grandfather used to work for him, and he always said he was the kindest boss he ever had."

"Food is ready!" Shinji said from the kitchen.

As they ate the entrees, they shared an easy camaraderie, joking and laughing. Rei was even opening a bit; she still was almost monotone in her speech, but she was warming up to their friends.

Shinji was content, not only because he actually had friends now, but also because he was glad he had taken the Phantom Stranger's advice. He felt much better with himself and with life in general. Of course, he was still angry with the Commander and SEELE for what they had done and still planned to do, but he hoped the Phantom Stranger would help him to foil their plans. It would be so easy to lose himself in anger and revenge, but he refused to go that way.

'Now it would be a good moment', he thought. 'I'm glad I talked it with her.'

"Friends, I want to tell you something." They all looked at him with curiosity. "As you know, both Rei and myself are Evangelion pilots, but we are not the only ones." Kensuke's eyes shone behind his glasses. He took out his camera and prepared to tape Shinji.

"Is NERV recruiting, Shinji? Where do I send my curriculum?"

"Erm… no, Kensuke. Not that I know."

"Bummer… Could you put up a good word for me if you get the chance?

"Uh... sure. Anyway, the Second Child is on her way here. I've been writing to her, and would like to introduce her to you when she arrives and gets settled."

"Is she cute?" blurted Toji.

"Suzuhara!"

"Uh… sorry..?" he smiled sheepishly at Hikari. For some reason, she seemed miffed at him.

"Well, I sent her a few pics of us, and she wants to meet us too." Shinji said as he served the soup

"Ah, those mystery pics you had me and Horaki take!" added Kensuke.

Shinji smiled. "Those pics in fact. I hope you can be her friends too."

"Sure, man. I think I speak for everybody here. Any friend of yours is a friend of ours. We´ll reserve a place for her at our table at school." Toji looked at the others, confirming that.

"Glad to hear that, Toji. But I don't think we will be seeing her at school, she already graduated from college."

"Whut?"

"She's a certified genius. Still, I think she will need to be with kids her age. We can all hang out after school."

2009
A pocket dimension
Barter's Store.

"So, it's agreed." The heavy set man took out a jewel from a box, showing it to his client over the tea set. "You bring me the Emerald Eye of Ekron, and I will give you the Piercer of the Veils."

"Yes." The Phantom Stranger examined carefully the jewel in Barter's hands. "The Piercer's energy is mostly spent, however. I insist on it being delivered to me with a complete charge."

"Of course, but it will take time to accumulate enough energy. I'll keep it for you in the meanwhile, for a nominal fee of small mystic trinkets; nothing too fancy. As we have agreed on a deal, I won't trade it, it's off my inventory until you deliver the Eye or cancel the deal."

"Understood. I'll come to collect it when the time is right."

"A pleasure making a deal with you, Stranger. You don't just jump in without asking the right questions. Do you have any idea how many of my clients have the unmitigated nerve of getting angry after they get exactly what they asked for?" Barter slammed a fist on the table, shaking the teapot and the cups.

The Phantom Stranger looked at Barter from the deep shadows that hid his eyes. "I'd say most of them. They tend to be in some urgency, don't they? We had time enough to haggle to both our satisfactions. You drive a hard bargain."

Barter served another cup of tea for himself, the Stranger signaled he had had enough. "Part of the job. You know how it is. Still, it was good to do business with you. Things have been too quiet since Second Impact. Most of my regular clients are either dead, in exile, or simply gone."

The Stranger nodded, took a last sip from his tea, put the cup back on its plate, and put his hat back on. "I'll be in contact." He stood and in a blink, disappeared.

Quintessence's Dimensional Plane
A few hours later.

"So, how did it go?" Deadman asked.

"Better than expected. We reached an agreement, the Piercer of the Veils is what I need to get through the barrier."

"You don't look so happy about it."

"It will be delivered to me almost at the end of the Angels War."

"Cutting close, eh? And what do we do in the meanwhile? I'm not exactly good at knitting."

"We look out for the children. As always. I need you to guide me to NERV. To the holographic room, to be exact."

"Sure." Deadman jumped from his inexistent seat. "What will you do?"

"Follow the past. I need to see for myself how the events came to be."

Author's Notes

The Emerald Eye of Ekron will be the weapon of choice of the Emerald Empress, a long-time enemy of the Legion of Superheroes, in both the XXX and XXXI Centuries. It's basically a floating green eye, about the size of a basketball.

The Piercer of the Veils is no part of the DCU, there might be a relic that would serve the purpose I have in mind for it, but really couldn't remember one... And, it sounds kinda Lovecraftian.