Interludes After Jet Alone, Part 2

Note, the parenthesis indicate languages other than Japanese, in this case, German.

Tokyo-3
Present Day

Shinji Ikari stood on the sidewalk, paying no attention to other people walking past him; looking intently at an ad recently posted on his bus stop. He stared at the main figure of the poster, a brightly clad man; wearing a strange green, yellow and red costume, complete with a yellow and red mask, and a long, high collared green cape; the man was wrapped in chains, kneeling under a hanging rock, he even had three sets of handcuffs on his wrists. The rope that held the rock was about to be cut by a chainsaw, wielded by a tall girl standing on a raised platform; she was clad in a strange blue and yellow armor.

Proudly, the ad proclaimed: "C.C. Haly and Norton Bros. Circus Proudly Presents: Mr. Miracle! The World's Greatest Escape Artist! In his first World Tour! Defying Death in Every Act! Soon at Tokyo-03 Auditorium!"

"One of yours, Shinji?" Toji's voice distracted him.

"Uh?"

Toji pointed his thumb at the brightly clad figure. "This guy looks like one of your metas. But what would a superguy be doing in a circus?"

Shinji shrugged. "Even superguys have to eat, I guess… There was a Mr. Miracle in the JLI, but this guy doesn't really looks like him; he seems younger, skinnier, and shorter, and the costume is different. But look here," he tapped his fingers at a corner of the poster, there was a white haired dwarf with long sideburns, operating a winch. "this guy looks like Mr. Miracle's helper, Oberon. This Mr. Miracle might be an apprentice of the original, or maybe his son or another relative. And that girl's armor looks like the one Big Barda used to wear, but without the cape."

"Big Barda?"

"Mr. Miracle's wife; she was very strong and powerful. They did a stint at the JLI together; until the group was dissolved. Some time later, she was part of another line-up of the JLA."

Toji scratched his head. "Man, you really know a lot about them."

Shinji smiled, "And still want to know more." Shinji smiled apologetically, then a sudden inspiration stroke. "Hey, do you think the girls will want to watch the show?"

Toji's face was suddenly red. He covered his blush with a cough. "I don't know… We-we-we will have to ask them."

Shinji slapped his friend's back. "Don't worry! The worst they can say is no."

Trans-Siberian Route
Somewhere in the way to Moscow.

"(It feels like autumm in Germany, doesn't it?)" Asuka grabbed Ryoji Kaji's arm, smiling happily.

"(Ah, yes. But soon we will be going into the cold part of the trip.)" Kaji was between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, Asuka's attentions were getting bolder every week, and on the other, he didn't want to reject her openly. Her emotional state was key for her performance with Unit-02; and Asuka, despite her claims to maturity, was very fragile inside and didn't dealt well with rejection. He tried to inch a little away from her, but it was useless, she scooted closer to him anyway. To repeat the maneuver, he would have to go through the cabin wall; he was trapped, and both knew it.

Once again, he cursed the genius who had designed a weapon that could only be operated by teenagers. That should be a job for professional soldiers. But no, the human race had had the colossal bad luck of needing a weapon that could only be piloted by people born after Second Impact, because of some techno-mumbo-jumbo he didn't really understand.

At least the Angels had the decency to wait until said pilots had grown a bit. He shuddered to think of what would have happened if the Angels had appeared in 2005, for example…

Asuka mistook his introspection for surrender, and snuggled even closer to him. Kaji couldn't wait until this job was over and he could go back to his apartment in the USA. Well, he might say Hi to Misato and try to patch things between them. She had been a very important part of his life, and they had parted in a bad way.

NERV
The Commander's Lair

"So, the Third Child's scores have been rising regularly since the Fourth Angel." From behind his steepled fingers, Gendo ikari smiled with all the warmth of a predatory reptile.

"Yes, and despite the incident before the Jet Alone sortie, he seems to be achieving better control over the EVA than expected. If he continues like this, soon he will surpass the Second's score." Dr. Akagi checked her notes on Rei's projected progress. "However, the First Child is lagging behind. Whatever method Shinji has been using, he hasn't shared it with her."

"The incident was caused by his jealousy of her;" the Commander put the matter to rest with a simple explanation, "and in any case, he quickly reasserted control over Unit-01; I doubt he will lose control again, Unit-01 and him have finally bonded, just as planned. About this synch focus he seems to be using, I'm sure he will share it with Rei if she asks. Let's put their bond to a simple test. Either he will share his method, or he won't. If he does, our two current pilots with increase their synch scores; if he doesn't, we will know their bond needs some reinforcing."

"Very well, sir. On another matter, Shinji seems to be better adjusted than expected. Apparently he is finding his way out of the Hedgehog's Dilemma; the agents report he is at least in speaking terms with most of his class, even the girls; and in close association, aside from Rei, with two boys and a girl from school. Hmm… the same two boys Captain Katsuragi authorized to enter Unit-01's plug during the Fourth Angel battle." Akagi frowned, remembering how close they had been to losing Unit-01 that day, due to the young Ikari's reckless charge; and how long had taken to repair to the Evangelion. She had to work extra shifts for a whole week to get the EVA back to battle readiness. She continued. "And the girl is the Class Representative for their group."

"It seems the Third gravitates towards people he knows beforehand, and in a small way, people with power over him. Let's keep an eye on them, for as long as it doesn't interfere with the scenario. The moment it does, I want him isolated from them, except for Rei. She will become his beacon and guide him in the right path for the success of the plan."

Gendo Ikari sat back on his chair, thinking. After a few seconds, he added, "I want to see their files. They might be useful later. By the time the Dummy Plug System is ready. I want to know which one is best suited to be discovered by the Marduk institute as the Fourth Child, and which levers we can use to convince them for the role." Akagi nodded. She would not write down such an order, but she wouldn't disobey it, either.

Gendo added, "I'll see you at the usual time later this night." Akagi understood what he really meant and nodded, a mix of fear and excitement in her mind.

NERV
The Commander's Lair
(Spiritual Plane)

The ghostly acrobat jumped down from his seat on top of the only lamp in the Commander's office. 'I bet the Stranger will want to know this. Especially about this oh so mysterious Dummy Plug System.' He scratched his chin thoughtfully. 'It might sound like an alternative band's name, but knowing these guys it must be something for the C&S file; as in Creepy and Sinister.' He rubbed his hands together in anticipation of ruining their plans.

As he prepared himself to cross dimensional barriers, he finally understood the Commander's last words. Deadman sweatdropped, and hissed back at them. 'I really didn't need to hear that last bit… Now I need some brain bleach.' He pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes, trying his best to not imagine anything.

Tokyo-3
Several days later
Hayashibara Books

"My deepest apologies, Ikari; my agent confused the titles, and she sent me the wrong book." The old clerk held up a book, titled The Life Story of the Flash (with a somewhat blurry man on the cover, proudly wearing a red suit and hood, with a yellow lightning bolt crossing diagonally a white circle). "I have no idea how it happened, she's usually very reliable, and the titles aren´t even close to each other. I can reimburse you while she gets the right book."

Shinji looked at the cover, he had recognized the man on it immediately. "No need, Hayashibara-san. I still want The Atom's Farewell, but I'll buy this one too."

"Are you sure, Shinji? It's kinda banged up." Kensuke asked, while checking a big illustrated book about the Atlantic Fleet.

"Yes. I don't care if it's not in mint condition, as long as it is complete and readable." He took his NERV card from his wallet, and the clerk ran it through the terminal.

"If it isn't complete, I'll get you another one or give you a discount on your next order if I can't find it in a reasonable time. You two are among my best clients!" Hayashibara smiled at both kids. Kensuke paid for his book in cash, and put it carefully in his backpack. Although he had to take a couple of school books out to make enough space for his new acquisition.

While they waited for their train to arrive to the station, Kensuke asked. "So, what's the story with that guy?"

"He was the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive. He was one of the most active metahumans back in the JLA days, founding member, and all that." Shinji had taken out the book, and was looking at the foreword. He knew Kensuke wouldn't be offended about him paying any attention to his new book. His friend was just as impatient to check his. Except that he wanted to unwrap it with due ceremony.

"Cool! His wife wrote it!" Shinji exclaimed. He had quite a bit of information about the career of the second Flash (and much more on his successor, a more public person), but he didn't know he had been married, or that his wife was a reporter.

"He was a forensic detective!"

That night, dinner at the Katsuragi Apartment was a little overcooked…
…Even Misato noticed.

Xxxx

Joseph Kerr's Happy Farm (aparently abandoned),
30 miles away from Gotham City
(August 2002)

Down in a secret basement, a deathly pale man, dressed in lurid purple and yellow filthy clothes, sits on a tall, elaborate chair, and broods. A lonely light bulb tries futilely to dispel the darkness, but only manages to make the shadows even deeper. At the man's feet, several envelopes lie trampled in the dust. His right hand holds limply a jeweled goblet, about to fall down and spill its content on the dirty floor.

The smell of rot permeates the air. Decaying food and drink cover the long table, decorated with the same playing cards motifs that cover the walls and floor. A swarm of flies covers the plates, buzzing a droning monotone. Some of them, more daring than the others, walk on his face and hands, eagerly lapping the oils from his skin. And promptly die, victims of the poison that seeps from his body in minute amounts. The legacy of a lifetime dedicated to the most extravagant crimes a human mind could conceive.

He doesn't care at all. He feels nothing but absolute apathy. There's nothing to live for anymore. All his dreams and hopes were ground into the dirt by an interloper with no sense of style, no sense of fun, NO SENSE OF HUMOR! And to top it all, he and his brainwashed flunkies had the colossal gall of DYING before he could kill them!

A grimace crosses his disfigured face, his ruby red lips part behind the growing green-tinged beard; showing yellow, rotten teeth. His breath reeks to cheap alcohol. Slowly, he raises his bloodshot eyes, until he sees the picture hanging from the opposite wall. A dark blue cowl covered the face of the man who was at the same time, his bitter nemesis and the closest thing to a friend he remembers. Years before, a knife with a clown shaped pommel had been thrown right between his two blank eyes. It remains there to this day, a reminder of their twisted relationship.

Sure, they had their disagreements. That was true. But who hasn't ever argued with his friends?

But now, he mourns. The Old Bad Bat is gone. As gone as their rivalry. Gone forever. He had always been there for him. To chase him in a never ending merry-go-round. Even if one of his little birds had survived to take the mantle, it would never, NEVER! be the same again.

And he would know, in the deepest, darkest, and most insane corner of his soul if it was an impostor. Just as he had known the Bat had died.

They were both connected

They were both… unique.
Singular beings.
Each was one of a kind.
Two sides of the same coin.

Coin.

Coins.

Money.

Jewels.

All the riches he had accumulated. The jewels stolen from the idiotic collectors. The trophies cast or remade in his own image. The deadly traps and lethal tricks fashioned after playing cards, jokes, or clowns. The exorbitant tribute those vulgar bores in Gotham's underground paid him to stave his wrath.

All was worthless without Him.

All he has left was to wait for death to claim him. A sad, pathetic punchline to the greatest duo act of a clown and a straight man in the whole history of the world.

Finally, he allows the goblet to fall from his grip. The sound it makes is like a funerary bell toiling in the dark.

He looks down, the expensive envelopes catch his eye.

He picks up one at random, and opens it with a dagger.

Author's Notes

The Haly Circus has a long story in DC, it was here were the Flying Graysons used to perform.

I'm not too clear in the subject in DC canon (need to check the original Deadman stories…), but at least for this version of the DCU, this is the same circus where Deadman was murdered while performing his trapeze act.

Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, and Oberon were created by Jack Kirby in his Fourth World stories. By the end of the Mr. Miracle original series, Scott Free, the titular hero, had more or less adopted a kid to be his apprentice, Shilo Norman.

As Shinji deduces, the Mr. Miracle touring with the Haly Circus isn't the original. The Young Barda look-alike who acts as his stage assistant, is Scott and Barda's daughter. She might be a younger version of the Ms. Miracle character, barely seen in Kingdom Come, who wore an armor styled after both her parents uniforms. Maybe we will get to know more about them and Oberon in a few chapters; but I don't promise anything, beyond saying right now that she is unable to pilot an Evangelion (she would probably break the controls anyway).

BTW, technically, Scott Free was actually the second Mr. Miracle, in the first issue of the original series he adopted the stage identity of a murdered escape artist, Thaddeus Brown. Therefore, Shilo would be the third Mr. Miracle.

Personally, I first knew the characters through the Mexican reprints by Editorial Novaro, which had a weird policy about translations most of the time. In this case, instead of translating Mr. Miracle as the literal "Señor Milagro" or the respectful "Don Milagro", which don't really sound impressive enough in Spanish, Novaro used a nonsensical word and a tagline, so the name was now "Maxisol, el Hombre Milagro" (Maxisol, the Miracle Man). It might simply be that 'Milagros' is a relatively common female name.

The second publisher, Editorial Vid, which got the DC licenses in the middle '80s, just used Hombre Milagro, or Milagro, for short.

The book Shinji got, The Life Story of the Flash, really exists, it was first introduced in The Flash book as a plot point, and to foreshadow very important events to happen later. DC published a physical version of the book, in hardcover. Sadly, there's no real world version of The Atom's Farewell, as far as I know.