Chapter 04: I am the newest pilot of the Dai-Gurren Brigade, SHINJI IKARI!
"Simon! So this is where you were!"
Having been laying down outside to idly watch the cloudy-sunny sky above, Simon blinked as his view got replaced with Nia, her usually flaming hair cut short.
"Is something... wrong?" Nia asked as she appeared upside-down to him, the wind gently ruffling her features... and nearly giving him a panty shot thanks to her short skirt.
"N-No." Simon blushed as he sat up and turned around to face her. "I was just thinking of how your appearance has sort of changed."
Other than her appearance, Simon also meant the way she carried herself. While personally defeating Adiane had finally earned Nia camaraderie from even those in the Dai-Gurren Brigade who still had some doubts about her, Nia herself seemed to be taking her loss a lot better than Simon had with how she still went about with her genuine smiles.
(He still wasn't sure of whether or not to confide in Shinji or Yoko about Nia quietly crying herself to sleep after sneaking into his room and bed that night.)
"So it's weird, after all?" Nia looked at her new jacket with some uncertainty.
"It's not weird, not at all!" Simon hastily corrected his words. "I just meant how... refreshed you look! I like how better you look when you smile!"
A second later, Simon reddened and wished that he could drill a hole through his past self of five seconds ago.
"Really? That's good, then!" Nia beamed, causing Simon to forgive his past self and praise his luck.
"By the way, Simon..." Nia knelt down before him, copying how Shinji and Rei often sat while kneeling. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Wh-What is it?" Simon stuttered from how serious her tone had gotten.
"The truth is, I... I want to work."
Simon gawked in disbelief. "Huh?"
"Everyone is always working so hard around me, and yet..." Nia frowned a bit. "I'm the only one who doesn't do anything. I can't accept that. Even Shinji and Rei have jobs now, with Shinji now the head chef while Rei went from being one of the firearm users to being Watashi's pilot. I too want to be useful to everyone somehow like they are."
Shinji was head chef now? Well, the food he always made were really delicious... Wait, not the time. "B-But... you're a princess, Nia-"
"I'm no longer a princess!" Nia cut him off firmly. "Adiane and Guame have certainly proved that fact verily enough!"
"I-I guess that's true..." Simon sheepishly confirmed as he rubbed the back of his head, trying to think of a role for Nia. As the Commander and her superior, this was kinda part of his job, right? "Uh, let's see..."
"Simon!" Yoko came stomping over to him, causing him to lean back against the railing as she loomed over him. "Dayakka and Kittan told me they didn't see you in the mess hall during breakfast! Did you skip again?!"
"Ah, it's okay, really." Simon assured her. "I'll eat when I get hungry. Shinji always has something set aside for me."
"That's no good!" Yoko rebutted. "You're the only one who can pilot Lagann. Considering how our pilots' appetites spike after overusing their gunmen, what would happen if you got hungry at a crucial time again?! Are you going to make Boota cut off more of himself to feed you like he had to do last time?!"
Boota squeaked in heavy protest, jumping off Simon's shoulder to hide in Yoko's boobs, the girl giving no care as she kept rebuking Simon. "Eating is also part of your job!"
"Eating... is part of a job?" Nia suddenly spoke in realization, causing Yoko to realize her presence.
"Ah, sorry..." Yoko stood upright. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Not at all!" Nia cheered. "I've found my answer!"
Simon looked at Nia in confusion. She'd gotten an idea of which job she wanted to do? Well, that was a relief-
"Anyhow..." Yoko began walking back inside, dragging Simon along by his ear while ignoring his cries- yells of pain. "You're going to eat. Jeez, you're always such a kid."
Shinji stared in befuddlement as Rossiu got carted off by Cybela on a stretcher before looking at the distressed Nia beside him.
Then he turned his gaze to the meal Nia had just cooked. To his own view, it looked strange but both him and Nia had taste-tested it themselves.
And it had been surprisingly delicious, especially as Nia had admitted it to be her first time ever cooking. So why had Rossiu collapsed upon taking just a single bite?
"Maybe it was an allergy?" Shinji wondered.
Nia blinked. "What's an allergy?"
"An allergy is basically when a human has a bad physical reaction to various substances that wouldn't normally harm others." Shinji explained to the former (technically shut-in) princess. "They're especially troublesome as not only do the effects range from mild to fatal, but even back home, there's still no cure for them. Sure the affected victims can get treatment to stop the bad reactions, but we still can't remove the allergies themselves."
"So Rossiu-san has an allergy for my cooking?" Nia realized in concern. "How do we treat it?"
"Let's just leave that to Kiyal." Shinji assured Nia, a little glad that the youngest and most excitable of the Bachika siblings had somehow gotten interested in commandeering the medbay. She'd even gone as far as trying to memorize all of the books that had been in there.
(KingVessel: Kiyal surprisingly has the littlest of roles among the Black Siblings, so I'm making her the Dai-Gurren Brigade doctor. I can only pray that it grows into fanon.)
"As for us, we need to-" Shinji never got farther in saying anything more when something feathery quietly dived through the kitchen's open porthole and dropped a smokebomb.
A familiar smokebomb to Shinji that immediately had him and Nia collapsing while losing control of their breathing and limbs.
"This is Lieutenant General Mona speaking." Their assailant walked over to the kitchen door and locked it, before turning around to face them while fiddling with her earpiece. She looked like a girl at Shinji's age with long black hair and wore goggles that made her eyes look rounder than they probably were, with just a teal top and cutoff pants as her clothes, except she had talons instead of feet, and black feathered wings instead of arms which had exposed thumbs like a bat, each ending in a sharp black claw. "I have encountered and subdued Princess Nia and the other human... Understood, sir."
"They both got abducted?!" Simon yelled in shock. "Nia and Shinji?!"
"Yes." Rei replied, feeling just as upset over the scenario as Simon appeared. "It seems that the culprit must have been a reconnaissance agent observing us for weaknesses."
"But why Nia and Shinji?!" Kittan kicked over a chair in frustration. "No offense, but they're not Simon, or me, or Yoko-"
"Nia-san may still have some clout amongst the beastmen." Rei pointed out. "Many of the beastmen still refer to her as her title despite everything and have always hesitated to attack her directly. It is possible that Shinji-kun may have just been captured for the coincidence of being next to her at the time-"
"The radar's picked up something!" Kinon shouted from her seat, causing the others to gather around her and the display. "It looks like another fortress-type Gunman, but by this coordinates... it's flying...?"
"A-A flying Gunman?" Dayakka muttered in disbelief. "There's no way, right?"
"The radar is functioning normally." Leeron immediately disproved. "But if there's an enemy attacking from the sky, that would explain how we missed Nia-chan and Shinji-kun getting abducted."
Rei's fist clenched even as her face didn't betray the storm of emotions she was feeling. Enemies from the skies were always the most troublesome. This produced a new feeling in her, a pinching feeling between the bridge of her nose and her forehead, and the urge to bare her teeth at everything while her fingers repeatedly clenched and unclenched.
Rei promptly surmised that she was feeling rage, stronger than she had ever felt it before. Her mind came to the conclusion that this feeling would not go unsatiated and would be best utilized in tearing apart every beastman and gunman that would bar her rescuing of Shinji.
She was unaware where such a violent thought originated from, but that could be contemplated later.
So Rei Ayanami pondered and planned as she headed towards Watashi. After all, violence couldn't inflict itself without an avatar or tool.
In other universes, various incarnations of Asuka Sohryu Langley startled, utterly blindsided by a sudden surge of pride in somebody other than herself.
Unfortunately, it immediately became overshadowed by unyielding rage at such a thing occurring.
Fourth-Tier Aircraft Carrier Fortress Gunman
DAI-GUNTEN
High above the skies, Cytomander's personal Fourth-Tier Gunman carrier soared above their targets.
"The time to behold my power... has finally come." Cytomander preened from his pedestal. "My lieutenant has returned with Princess Nia, of course?"
"Yes, sir!" One of his officers replied. "She has placed them in the brig and is personally overwatching them with Lieutenant Viral!"
"Good." Cytomander smirked before typing his mic to address them all. "May the Spiral King Lordgenome watch over our victory while the humans flounder over the disappearance of the princess! All units, scramble!"
At his command, dozens of flying Gunmen deployed to eradicate the Dai-Gurren Brigade.
Once and for all.
"So will you finally be telling me why you've captured Nia and I?" Shinji asked of the beastwoman that had captured them, the girl approaching them while munching on the food Nia had earlier cooked. "Also, that isn't for you."
"I don't mind." Nia stated while sitting beside him. "Does it taste well, at least? I'm trying to learn how to cook."
"It tastes wonderful, Princess Nia." Mona swallowed the rest of the meat with a happy gulp before striding forward to regard Shinji through the cell bars, her eyes peering down at the boy. "You, state your name."
Shinji blinked at her strange question. "Eh?"
"Your name." Mona rolled her eyes. "I cannot keep regarding Princess Nia's new steward as 'extra'."
"Steward?!" Shinji gawked in surprise at his designation. "I'm her friend, and her cooking teacher. Her steward's Coco, that old man who likes to dote on her for some reason."
"Coco..." Mona hummed in acknowledgement. "I suppose that tracks. Hard to just stop being loyal to your charge."
Shinji's confusion got even worse. What was that supposed to mean?
"Loyalty is always to be admired, Mona." Slamming the door open, Viral entered the brig to glare at him. "Kamina and his followers at least believe in that."
"Even as you've kept losing to them?" Mona innocently asked, which caused Viral to twitch. "There's no pride in losing to the humans we're supposed to keep subjugated, Viral."
"Then I'd like you to feel how I feel after suffering losses like I have." Viral snapped back.
"Is that an indirect desire to wish for my defeat, Viral?" A third voice spoke up, the most flamboyant beastman Shinji had ever seen narrowing his eyes at Viral.
"Not in the slightest, General Cytomander-sama!" Viral, along with Mona, immediately saluted in acknowledgement of his presence.
"Cytomander..." Nia muttered as the General of Air strutted towards them. "You look as I remember."
"Thank you, your High- Nia." Cytomander corrected himself, smugly twirling one of his feathered locks. "Now, I'm sure that you're both questioning the reasons I had you appropriated from the enemy."
"Yes, the thought had occurred to me." Nia replied. "Do you wish to induct me into your army like Adiane considered?"
"I had considered that, but I have a much better idea." Cytomander posed with a fingersnap. "I shall instead have you join my band as my new guitarist!"
"...eh?" Shinji let out while Nia's eyes widened. This guy had a band?
"...your band?" Nia murmured. "Yes, I remember that you would play music on your vacation days with a group of your soldiers, and one of them taught me how to play his instrument. That is a band?"
"Indeed." Cytomander preened on apparently being remembered for his music. "Unfortunately, Jay got beat to death by some maniac human in a clownishly ugly attire, but you can replace him! Even if you're not good enough, I can train you up!"
"Wait, then what am I here for?" Shinji asked the man. "What was the point of taking me along?"
"You're simply Nia's personal roadie." Cytomander huffed, not even deigning to glance at him while the mildly respectful tone he'd used for Nia was completely gone. "Consider it an upgrade from your previous status as a rebellious fool-"
*BOOOM!*
The entire craft shook as a whole, causing them all to stagger in place.
"What just happened?!" Cytomander demanded into a nearby panel.
"Enemy Gunman Gurren-Lagann just slammed into our hangar with a modified Gunman indicating Seirun's signature!" A bird beastman reported. "They are completely tearing through our defenses, sir!"
"They're here with Adiane-sama's personal Gunman stolen just as they did to Dai-Gunzan?!" Viral growled as he immediately stalked for the opened door. "I'll shall finally deal with them!"
"Shall I provide assistance to him, sir?" Mona asked.
"Not yet." Cytomander recovered with a huff. "I'll need to return to command my men. You shall first escort Nia and her roadie to the automatic escape flier so that they head straight for our base with further delay. Afterwards, go forth into battle from there."
"As you wish." Mona saluted as Cytomander exited before unlocking their cell. "Step out before me, Princess Nia and roadie."
From there, Mona directed them through the metallic halls, undisturbed by the constant shaking around them.
"So what are your thoughts on our group?" Shinji found himself asking. Noting that he hadn't been struck or chastised for speaking, Shinji continued to question Mona. "I won't ask your opinion of humans in general, but what do you think of the Dai-Gurren Brigade?"
"Ah... To be honest, I appreciate your existence." Of all answers, Shinji hadn't expected Mona to reply with that while smiling. "Make no mistake, you humans will always be below us beastmen. But the simple matter is... we're an army. Human uprisings come and go, but none of them have ever provoked such response from His Majesty's forces. None of them have even warranted the attention of a General. And now, not only have you claimed victory over two Generals, you've also recruited our King's most likely heir and gained his full attention."
By now, Mona's smirk had become rather proud and feverish. "We will always win against you humans, but this? Be assured, roadie, we will never forget the Dai-Gurren Brigade."
While Shinji stared back in morbid realization, Nia herself spoke up. "So what you're saying is... the Dai-Gurren Brigade essentially grants everyone the opportunity to fight."
"Indeed, your Highness." Mona calmed down as she looked away from Shinji. "It's hard to explain, but there are times when peace itself frustrates me. It may be because of the animal in me, but I always feel my best when I'm on the hunt for prey."
That made some sense, as Shinji noted her owl features. Normal birds would probably hate being restrained in every possible way, with it being worse for predatorial birds.
Even Pen-Pen had often acted similar, no matter how much the penguin liked Shinji. Speaking of birds, Shinji finally noticed that they had finally arrived at the hangar, now seeing Gurren-Lagann and Enkidu fighting while Watashi tore through the enemy Gunmen.
Shinji let himself breathe easier at the near presences of Rei and Simon(along with whoever that had replaced the sick Rossiu), with even Nia beaming at them.
"I'll need to deal with that soon-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" Mona's words halted in her throat as Shinji immediately stomped hard against her leg, hating the loud crack and the scream that followed before scooping Nia into his arms and leaping over the railing.
Thankfully, they landed well on another catwalk before they both ran forward. Unfortunately, they only made it halfway across before something fast, feathery and quiet slammed into Shinji hard enough to fling him clean off the catwalk and against a large metal gate.
Not done, Mona used her sole functioning leg to slam him down into the ground, hard enough that Shinji felt something crack in his chest.
"Interesting, I thought I'd dropped with enough force to cave your chest in." Mona hummed even as she crouched down to peer into his pained eyes. "Oh, well. A prey that's hard to kill is better to hunt-"
Shinji's fist slammed into her cheek before she could finish, somehow having the strength to send her off him while he heaved and got up. Judging by how hard and painful it was to breathe, Shinji confirmed his damaged ribs and moved to lean back against the gate and tapped at it's panel.
The moment it opened, he tapped it close again before smashing it with his knee and hobbling in just as it closed shut again, leaving Mona to fruitlessly slam against it. While she snarled at him and went to another panel to probably call for reinforcements, Shinji looked behind him and found himself beholding a Gurren-Lagann-sized Gunman with wings and two orbs right below it's feet.
Judging by how fancy and sleek it looked, this was no doubt Cytomander's personal Gunman. If there was ever an opportunity to rid the beastmen of an advantage...
But that meant... that Shinji... would have to pilot...
"No... why... why, why, why, why, why, why, why?!" Shinji cursed as he grabbed his hair in frustration. Why did this have to happen?! There were no monstrous Angels to fight, but in a way, this war was worse! At least the Angels hadn't been sentient! He also couldn't use the 'only chance' excuse as basically everybody (excluding Darry and Gimmy) were just as capable at piloting as he was.
*BAM!*
"Roadie!" Mona's voice screeched from beyond the metal gate, a worryingly noticeable dent in it. "You better not be trying what I think you're about to try! That gunman has no business being piloted by somebody like you!"
Shinji winced as another dent appeared in the gate.
"Shuzack belongs to Cytomander-sama, the General of Air!" Mona punctualized with another denting slam against the gate. "You may be part of the Dai-Gurren Brigade, but I know that you of all those humans are no pilot!"
Shinji clenched his fist as her words washed over him, his teeth baring slightly. He already knew all that!
Still... how much further could he be like this?
"Just who the hell do you think you are?!"
"What are you doing here?"
At the unwelcome sound of Gendo Ikari's voice speaking up from his memory, Shinji's eyes lit up crimson while emerald energy sparked-swirled out of them.
"I am... the ex-pilot of Evangelion Unit 01... Shinji Ikari."
Shinji hobbled forward and began to climb up to the Gunman's cockpit, ignoring his chest pain as he strove forward.
"I am... the head chef of the Dai-Gurren Brigade... Shinji Ikari!"
Getting into the cockpit, Shinji grabbed the foreign-familiar control handles and yanked, the massive mechanical behemoth roaring to life."
"I am the newest pilot of the Dai-Gurren Brigade, SHINJI IKARI!"
And power-will-drive beyond anything he'd ever felt prompted Shinji to move forward- to push ahead-to ARISE.
Shinji took a step forward.
Shuzack took a step forward and erupted into cosmic green and transcended.
"Sir, Lieutenant Mona here! Your gunman just got stolen by the humans!"
"WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!"
Shinji would later almost consider everything that happened afterwards like a dream. Stealing a Gunman, reuniting with Rei and the others while safely carrying Nia along.
Dai-Gurren running up a mountain to land a vicious spinning back kick on the airborne Dai-Gunten what the fuck?
It was slightly terrifying to once again realize that the Dai-Gurren were full of people that Misato would happily get along with for their insane ideas.
Then again, was he any different now?
As Rei overtook the others racing to dogpile him and drew him into a shuddering hug(which hurt his ribs more, but Rei was hugging him so he kept his mouth shut), Shinji Ikari decided that he most likely wasn't.
Besides, 'Nigenai' now looked a lot better than it did as Shuzack, standing beside Watashi in their hangar.
"How the hell could this happen?!" Cytomander raged while Dai-Gunten burned and whined around him, cursing Viral's stupid honor as well the vile roadie that had STOLEN HIS SHUZACK!
"So this is where you were, Cytomander-sama." Lieutenant Mona stated as she landed beside him, still limping from her broken leg. "Where is Viral?"
"I've had him locked up in the brig! I'll be taking that fool straight to His Majesty!" Cytomander huffed before looking at his direct subordinate. "Have you had your leg checked, Mona?"
"Yes, sir." Mona replied, her gaze directed at Dai-Gunzan in the distance. "Still, I can now understand Viral a little..."
Cytomander stared in disbelief. "And what do you now understand about that fool?"
Mona's teeth bared into a little snarl of her own. "How frustrating it is to have my prey escape."
Simon stared in confusion as everybody wilted from Nia's cooking, happily accepting when Kittan gave him a little from his own plate- No, wait, he was emptying it entirely while Boota kept chewing voraciously.
Beside him, Shinji and Rei ate just as eagerly, the latter having refused to leave his side for any reason.
"Um, Simon, are you guys okay?" Kiyal asked as Kinon gave her roll a tentative lick before shuddering and dropping it. "Your stomachs are fine, right?"
"I don't get what the problem is." Shinji murmured after pausing to take a drink of water. "This stuff tastes great. Any food that makes you go even hungrier while eating it is got to be great. Right, Simon?"
"Yeah!" Simon agreed vigorously after finishing off his ninth plate. "So good~!"
"...they gotta have guts of whatever metal Lagann's made of." Weirdly enough, nobody tried to correct Kittan's declaration.
KingVessel: I hope I did Shinji's character well, considering he's still riding off a lot of positivity while haunted by a lifetime of the opposite. Also, google translate 'Nigenai'. I dare you to find a more fitting name for Shinji's new Gunman.