Return, Part 2
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it.
Notes, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English.
Day Twelve
The Dreaming
Lord Daniel's Palace
Tea Room
"Welcome, Young Lady Soryu, Cain." The slender pale man gestured towards the empty chairs. "I am Lord Daniel of the Dreaming, you already know my beloved sister, and our other guests. Please take a seat. We have important matters to discuss."
Asuka curtsied, deftly maneuvering the white fluffy skirt that made a sharp contrast with her midnight black dress and stockings. "Thank you, Lord Daniel." She nodded towards Death, repeating the curtsy. "Lady Death." She sat down next to Kyoko, while Cain took the seat between Asuka and Abel, who discreetly wriggled away a couple of inches. "Please accept my apologies in advance, I fear I am not really familiar with the proper protocol."
Death leaned forward, her interlaced fingers supporting her chin. She smiled cutely. "Ah, don't worry much about that, my dear child. I will make sure my brother won't act rashly should you stumble."
Daniel shrugged, "You are confusing me with my previous self, sister." (1) His eyes, dark like a starry night, seemed to flicker towards the bust of a thin man, with messy long hair. (2) "I like to think I possess much more… equanimity."
"I trust you have enjoyed the Dreaming's hospitality." Daniel turned his attention back to Asuka and Kyoko. The latter giggled.
"We have, Lord Daniel! Even when I was split in twain, I loved to be your guest. And I'm very grateful you have allowed my daughter to visit your domains. I couldn't ask for a better place for a reunion with my daughter."
Asuka followed. "I have received much to think about, Lord Daniel." Asuka had caught on the way her mother addressed the master of dreams. (3) "My visits to the House of Secrets, "she smiled at Abel, " the House of Mystery," she nodded towards Cain, "and the graveyard between the two," she nodded at Death. "will be always among my most treasured memories."
"I'm sure they will figure in your dreams." Daniel said simply; he waved a hand, and a fully stocked tea service appeared on the table. Several maids coalesced into existence, served tea and pastries, and vanished again. "I understand you want to return to the waking world, Young Asuka." He said, as he stirred a small spoonful of honey into his cup of tea.
"I do, Lord Daniel. Your realm is amazing, but I fear I wouldn't be worthy of staying if I abandoned my responsibilities."
Death clapped enthusiastically. "Oh, that was good, Child! Well done!"
Asuka elbowed Cain, and spoke from the side of her mouth. "I told you I had seen Death to the eye, didn't I?" (4)
"Yeah…" Cain mumbled, as he put something nasty into Abel's glass. The rotund man pushed the glass away, sweating visibly. Billy Batson exchanged his glass with Abel's.
Daniel cleared his throat. "Back to the present matter, there are some decisions to take. Let's begin with you, William."
"Um… yes, Lord Daniel. I've been thinking on the options Lady Death told me about. I really don't have much left on Earth." He shrugged, "My family is gone, my friends too. I would like to be Shazam's apprentice. That way, maybe he could chose a new champion."
"Lovely, my dear!" Death said. "Good choice. I'll arrange matters with my old friend." She took a scroll from a jeweled case, and wrote a short note. "Matthew? Would you be so kind to take this to the Rock of Eternity?"
The raven shook his head, and skwaked, "Awk! Do I look like a British owl?" He took the scroll anyway, "Anybody who even thinks of calling me Hedwig will get some droppings dropped on them, I swear." He glanced at Daniel, who nodded discreetly.
"Perish the thought!" Death smiled as Matthew the Raven took flight.
"Lady Kyoko? Young Asuka?" Daniel said, taking a biscuit. "I'm afraid you two will have to part ways. Soon."
Asuka took breath, but Kyoko put a hand on her daughter's forearm. "Asuka, if I go back with you, SEELE will probably take me away, one way or another." She said softly. "I will look for you from EVA-02's core. Your boyfriend will look over you too, I am sure. Maybe there will be a way to get me out someday, but in the meanwhile, I'll protect you as I have done." A tear rolled down her cheek.
The Second Child broke down in sobs, releasing tears she would have fiercely contained any other time.
Billy looked awkwardly away.
Day Thirteen
Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront, NERV HQ
Gym 2, Boxing Ring
Free Form Fight
"Hey, Ikari!" Toji shouted from his wheelchair. "Don't hurt my gal or I'll have to get rough!"
Hikari shot him a glare. "Toji! I'm not a fragile flower!" She raised her guard, while the combat trainer jumped around the two.
Shinji feinted a right hook, Hikari didn't fall for the trick, and managed to land a jab on Shinji's face protector. He smiled approvingly. Hikari spun over her right foot, and kicked at Shinji's exposed thigh.
He managed to partially dodge the blow, stepped back and walked the numbing away. "Good shot." He wheezed. "A bit more and my whole leg would be tingling!"
"Hey, Hikari!" Toji shouted from his wheelchair. "Don't hurt my pal or I'll have to get rough!" He chuckled.
"Oh, pick a side already!" Both shouted back, while Rei watched the fight with interest.
Toji grinned, and turned to Rei. "What do you think, Rei? Are they good?"
"Yes." She answered, not taking her eyes from the ring. "Both are good fighters. Pilot Horaki seems to be anticipating most of his moves, despite her short time in training. It's clear she has a natural talent."
"Either that or Shinji is telegraphing his attacks."
Rei turned towards him. "He does know Morse Code."
"Uh?" Toji tilted his head, "No, no. I mean Shinji's attacks are too obvious; she notices, and reacts."
"Ah, another colloquiallism. I hadn't heard that expression before."
"Rei, you need to watch more TV." Toji pontificated, while Shinji threw a series of lightning fast punches at Hikari. The pig-tailed girl seemed overwhelmed by the sheer amount of punches.
"I yield!" She said, guarding her face as she stumbled backwards; immediately, Shinji stepped back, while Usagi interposed herself between the two.
The trainer lifted Shinji's hand. "The winner of the match!"
The four pilots gathered at a corner of the ring. "Man, I wish I could get up there and feed you a knuckle sandwich, Shin-man!"
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Another colloquial expression?"
Shinji showed his still gloved hand. "It means he wants to punch me in the mouth."
Rei's face became thunderous. Toji raised his hand in surrender! "It's not literal! It's just banter! I swear! When I can get up to spar, I swear I'll abide to the gentlemen's agreement!"
Shinji took a sip from his water bottle; from atop the ring, Usagi commented. "A sporting fight. Obeying the rules."
Rei nodded, and her face returned to her usual bland expression. "I see. I think I need to familiarize myself with this… banter."
"Hey, watch the Rocky movies." Toji said. "Box is not my favorite sport, I'm a basketball guy through and though; but the movies are good. Rocky even befriends the guy who pummels him in the first movie! Much like me and Shinji, but we got along with less pummellin'."
Shinji opened the ropes for Hikari. She descended, and after taking off the face guard, wiped her face with a towel. She kissed Toji on the cheek. "I better get to the showers, be back in a moment!"
"I better do the same. There's a full staff meeting, including all active pilots."
Toji followed Shinji, the motorized wheelchair humming. "Maybe they are ready to get Red back."
Shinji and Rei nodded, she spoke softly. "After Pilot Horaki made contact, Dr. Akagi refocused her efforts. It's very probable she thinks there's a way to recover Asuka."
Toji released the joystick, and the wheelchair stopped. "Uh, Rei? Why so formal now?"
"The matter is official. Due ranks should be used."
Toji pushed the joystick forward again. "Yeah, I get that, but you don't call Shinji or Asuka 'Pilot' anymore."
"We have been deployed in combat together. Traditionally, after a battle, closer terms can, and should, be aknowledged."
"Sooo…" Hikari said, "I'll go on being 'Pilot Horaki' until I have fought an Angel, right?"
"Correct. However, in matters unrelated to NERV, I'll keep on calling you Hikari. Is that acceptable?"
Hikari and Toji laughed, "Sure!"
He added, "You guys better think of a good call sign fer my gal."
Shinji nodded. "Tell you what. Let's not wait for an Angel to fight. Once Asuka is back, we will vote on a sign."
"Man, you really trust Dr. Akagi and her staff!"
"That, and I am certain Asuka won't stay in the core for a minute longer than needed."
Outside regular Time and Space
The Rock of Eternity
"Hey, Shazam! You got mail!" Matthew the Raven announced his presence with a loud squawk.
As he passed over the statues of the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man (5), the bird took the chance for some petty vandalism, and relieved himself over Pride's statue, hitting it right on the eye.
Quintessence Plane
"Stranger." The ancient wizard waited for a few minutes, until the mysterious man appeared.
"Shazam." The Phantom Stranger materialized in the dark void, next to the spinning globe, and nodded respectfully. "A new development, I think."
The old wizard showed the scroll, looking happy and more at ease than he had been in a decade and a half. "My champion! My champion is coming home!"
"Tell me everything, old friend." Two chairs materialized on the black space.
Metrópolis, USA
Lexcorp Building
Executives Meeting Room
Though he wasn't precisely a young man, Lex Luthor, former President of the USA, genius, philanthropist, entrepreneur; had a powerful presence.
In Lexcorp, his word was law. No one would ever think to oppose him.
Luthor sat at the end of the long meeting table, looking alternatively at his still arriving staff, and at his Lexpad. In his private moments, it amused him that the only other person with the same mania of naming stuff after himself was the long gone Gotham vigilante.
Finally, the buzzer sounded, marking the start of the meeting. Everything would be recorded in multiple media.
Luthor cleared his throat.
"(I'll cut to the chase. I have received a memorandum from NERV Japan, asking for the delivery of an ungodly amount of Lexglass. Why haven't we started with the shipments?)"
"(Ah, yes, sir.)" One of his accountants raised a hand. "(There's a shortage of prime quality ingredients. We are making as much Lexglass as we can with our reserves at Shanghai and Singapore, but the transport costs are prohibitively high. I suggest we wait for the Quartz price to drop before buying the required amount.)"
Luthor nailed the man with a glare. "(Are you telling me we should delay delivery of urgently needed building materials to the city that's the only line of defense Earth has against those aliens because it is expensive?)"
The man gulped; "(Um, yes, sir. The cost…)"
"(Buy in bulk. Buy out the mines if needed.)"
"(But, Mr. Luthor! The price will rise as soon as we place the order! Further shipments will be even more expensive! The shareholders!)"
Luthor stood up, and leaned on the table. "(We are not talking about some luxury toys, Mr. Tyler. The very existence of the human race hangs from NERV having the resources to fight. If NERV requisitions a shipment of rubber ducks, we send them a shipment of rubber ducks along with a nice fruit basket. Is that understood?)" (6)
"(Y-yes, Mr. Luthor.)" The man nodded shakily.
"(Now, what else do we have?)"
Day Fourteen
Tokyo-3, Japan
Katsuragi-Ikari Apartment
"Shinji, could you prepare one of your calming teas..? I don't think I will be able to sleep in the state I am. The nerves are killing me!"
"Sure Misato. Just have some faith, will you, please?" He put the teapot on the stove, and began to mix the proper mix of brands. A recipe he had committed to memory.
"I wish I could…" she rubbed her forehead. "All I can think of is the amount of things that could go wrong! Hikari is a good girl, but untested as a pilot. Unit-02 is not as temperamental as Unit-01, or Kami forbid it, Unit-00 back when you arrived, but it still can… you know."
"I know. But Asuka has a very strong will. You'll see she comes back as soon as the way is clear."
Minutes later, Shinji put the mug of tea on Misato's hand. It was the one he had gifted her months ago, still showing her caricature. "Thanks, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep…" she paused, "but at least my hands stopped trembling. I don't know what you put in that mix of yours, but it's really strong…" She leaned back on the sofa, looking at the ceiling. Thinking.
A minute later, she was snoring peacefully. Shinji retrieved the mug, put it in the kitchen sink, and covered Misato with a blanket.
Once in his Lovely Suite, he switched the computer on. "Boston-San? Are you here?" He whispered.
"Hey, buddy. Yeah, keeping an eye on you. So, tomorrow is the big day, eh?" The text appeared on the screen.
"Yeah. Dr. Akagi thinks she has a good chance to recover Asuka."
"Yeah, about that. My boss sent me a message about her. Good news. She will be ready to get out of the EVA's core tomorrow. So the attempt should work 'Sin problemas' (7), as my buddies in Mexico would say. Though they were the ones who saddled me with the name 'Dantón', so there's that. (Wink)"
"Thank you. I can't imagine how it is for Misato. I know the attempt is rigged in our favor, and I'm still a bit worried. She is worrying herself sick and I can't tell her why I'm so sure it will work."
"We would like to recruit her in our little anti-conspiracy, but she's not ready, same for your sister. Aaaanyway, the Stranger and I will be there to watch over the proceedings. Maybe lend an unseen hand, if you know what I mean."
"I do. Thank you both."
Day Fifteen
Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront, NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages
The red Titan stood rigidly in its support cage. The lead-lined bandages had been removed, and replaced with the red helmet with green glasses. The rest of the armor consisted of a mish mash of red, orange, black and blue pieces. (8)
Major Misato Katsuragi observed the procedures with heavy heart. She really wished Kaji was at her side, but the ever scruffy man had been called by his bosses. Anyway, Commander Ikari wouldn't have authorized his presence.
Instead of Kaji, it was Shinji who stood next to her. "Trust me, Misato. The Huntress will come back home." His eyes flickered towards his shadow, a long patch of darkness projected against the far wall of the cage. Its shape was not the right one, a change that would have scared almost anybody else, but that only reassured him. The shadow showed a fedora, and a high collared cloak.
The shadow of the Phantom Stranger.
Both pilot and chief of operations stood silently for long minutes, lost in their thoughts, until the PA System crackled. It was Dr. Akagi. "Misato, Shinji, to the control room. We are almost ready to begin the recovery process."
Tokyo-3, Japan
GeoFront, NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages
Control Room
(Spiritual Plane)
"Okay, Dr. Dyejob." Deadman quipped from his place, sitting Indian style over the computer link to the MAGI. "Do your stuff. I'll be watching and award points for style."
Author Notes:
(1) Daniel is the successor of the previous Lord of the Dreaming. Due to some strange metaphysical stuff, he is both a new Sandman, and the old one. Or something like that. He is the same entity, but his personality has some changes. Much like the Doctor after a regeneration in Doctor Who.
(2) Morpheus, the previous Dream.
(3) A little bit I stole from one of my favorite novels, "Captain Vorpatril's Alliance" from the Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster-Bujold. During an audience, the titular Captain Vorpatril's warns his in-laws to not address the Emperor as "Sire" as that would put them, legally, as his subjects. Something neither he or them actually wants, as it would complicate matters terribly.
(4) In the previous chapter. Cain wasn't aware of Asuka having met Death in the graveyard.
(5) The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man are basically the Seven Cardinal/Capital/Deadly Sins, depending on the source. The statues at the Rock of Eternity are not only mocking caricatures of said sins, but are also their prisons. The original Seven Deadly Enemies of Man were listed as Pride, Envy, Greed, Hatred, Laziness, Selfishness, and Injustice, while the sins are are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. The different lists are a consequence of self-censoring on part of the original publisher, with Pride, Envy, and Greed being the same in both lists, Laziness being equivalent to Sloth, Hatred taking Wrath's place, Selfishness taking Gluttony's, and Injustice displacing Lust.
(6) OOC Luthor? There's a reason for that.
(7) Literally, "With no problems." Probably Terminator 2's "No problemo" is better known, but it's also very, very wrong. Curiously, in Spanish, "Problema" is gendered as masculine, "El Problema" as singular firm, or "Los problemas" as plural. "Problemo" is not a valid word.
(8) At the moment, Unit-02's armor was replaced with some parts made for it, and some that came from the spares sent for Unit-03.