Evangelion Shinji and Warhammer40k
- Thread starter bluepencil
- Start date
Actually, Orks and Tyranids are about even at the moment. The problem with Orks is that once they seed a planet, you aren't getting rid of them without blowing said planet up. And for all their power, the Tyranids lose horribly in the numbers department.
It's the same reason why the technically superior Space Marines can't get the upper hand over the Orks - there's so many of them and it's so hard to get rid of them, it's just not worth the effort and time.
It's the same reason why the technically superior Space Marines can't get the upper hand over the Orks - there's so many of them and it's so hard to get rid of them, it's just not worth the effort and time.
Considering for every Ork you kill, unless you sterilize the whole area you will get 50 more in short order... As I said, unless the Tyranids decide to forget about consuming and just commit themselves to planetary destruction, they aren't getting rid of the Orks.
And it WAS mentioned that the fight between the Leviathan hivefleet and the Orks it attacked can still go either way...
And it WAS mentioned that the fight between the Leviathan hivefleet and the Orks it attacked can still go either way...
Does it really matter who wins? Does it matter if the Tyranids win and get some nice chunky orc DNA, or if the orcs win and consequently attack whoevers left bigger than ever?
Cause whoever wins, Humanity is still fucked. :mellow:
Besides, sterilize worlds? Tyranids do that and better. If the tyranids overrun a planet there won't be anything left on it that could be confused for life. Dead chunk of stone desribes planets after a tyranid infestion rather nicely.
Cause whoever wins, Humanity is still fucked. :mellow:
Besides, sterilize worlds? Tyranids do that and better. If the tyranids overrun a planet there won't be anything left on it that could be confused for life. Dead chunk of stone desribes planets after a tyranid infestion rather nicely.
tyranids destory every world they can really, but consuming it utterly. On the GW site, it talks about a world they striped to bedrock in under 100 days, reducing the planets diameter by like 5%, carting off trillions of tons of material, how they pulled it off itsn't understood.
They woudl just eat the ork spores along with everything else.
They woudl just eat the ork spores along with everything else.
Slight error there, it's what they do to any world they've managed to take over. The Tyranids don't give a damn about the planet itself other than for the resources that they then strip away and move on. They behave more like locust, leaving what they pass stripped bare of anything remotely useful including the atmosphere.
This was the childhood of Shinji Ikari. It could have been worse, and he
was thankful for it. He had friends. He had family. He had friends. He had
accomplishments. He had friends (it bears repeating). But soon enough,
it had to end.
Years passed, he grew, and graduation time was around the corner. He
entered his teenage years. In its confusion not even his plastic
advisers, being extensions of his perception, could help. The ork never
had to worry about puberty, the Space Marine had genetic enhancements
for that sort of thing, to Chaos it was just mutation, and the Farseer
was a girl. Strange urges, mood swings, and the world being suddenly so
slow... he needed someone other than himself to tell him how things made
sense. Books helped, to an extent. But here Shinji realized he needed
his father.
Surely his father would come to his graduation, right? As the day grew
closer, Shinji became more and more expectant. It's something that only
happens a few times in a person's life after all. The boy had actually
managed up to second in school, just below Houko Minase in grades and
everything else. Many of his teachers believed he could have been more,
had he been a bit more focused. He was such an absent-minded kid.
He couldn't visualize that future, as he actually had very little idea
of how his father looked like anymore or of what he did.
A few days before graduation, there was a knocking on the door. Shinji
answered it, and found there two men standing. They had one crisp black
suits, black sunglasses, and each carried a small black suitcase. One
seemed older than the other, pale and grey-haired. The other had the tan
of someone who spent much time in the beach or open seas.
"Wah! Yakuza!" cried Shinji, at seeing them.
"See? See? That's what I'm talking about." The younger, and taller man
said to his companion. "Just once, just once! I'd like to have someone
NOT think we're the goddamn Yakuza. Why can't we wear white suits
instead?"
"What, and have people go 'AAAAH! It's the Gay Mafia!' It tends to scare
them even more."
"... you tried that once, didn't you?"
"... shut up, Jiro. If you've been in this business as long as I did..."
He turned to the boy and asked him in a gravel voice. "Are you Ikari,
Shinji?"
"Y-yes sir."
"I am Agent Kentaro, and this is Agent Jiro. Section Two. Is your uncle
in?" There was nothing there, no expression at all as he talked, only
the boy's own nervous face reflected off his sunglasses. "We'd like to
talk to him. Official government business."
"I.. I'll go see." Shinji bolted away from the door.
As it turns out, they WERE government agents. And they were THERE on
official government business. Only this had the stamp of Gendo Ikari all
over it.
"We're here to check on the boy." his uncle was told. "How's he holding
up?"
"What, Gendo can't even see how it is about his own son? You know he
hasn't bothered even once these years to ask, so why should he care now?"
"Mister Ikari is a very busy man." replied Agent Kentaro. "He cannot just
drop his important duties for something so small. It would be dangerous
to show so much attachment, his child could be used as a hostage against
him. This is why he cannot risk coming here and revealing his location."
"Bullshit." his uncle said. "The bastard can't even show ANY attachment."
Agent Jiro looked from the relative to his own partner. "Uh.. look, I
know he's... difficult to get along with sometimes, but could please not
say things like that about our direct superiors to our faces? It might..."
He stared long and hard at his partner's cold professional facade.
" ...complicate things. Mr. Ikari requires respect."
"Phff. The name Ikari used to mean better things..." Shinji's uncle
leaned back on his chair, but his hands were shaking slightly.
"Answer the question, please. How is the boy?" the other continued.
"Shinji?" His uncle thought carefully. Gendo wouldn't send his thugs over
for something so small, sadly enough about family that was true. "He's a
pretty normal kid. That's about it."
"Are you sure? He has not been... mistreated in some way?"
"Just what are you implying?" he bristled.
"Mister Ikari only wishes to make sure that his son recieves all the
proper attention due to him." Very little, but not too little. It was a
large part of his plan. "It would be unfortunate if he was damaged in
some way."
Shit. The way they went on about Shinji as nothing more than an object.
Just what was going on here? "He's a kid, that's about it. Ask around.
Ask him. Gendo threw him here to keep him out of the way, and if that's
the furthest he can show about his concern then he can just go fuck
himself."
"Please!" said Jiro suddenly. "Not to our faces!"
Crap. 'You're both wired, aren't you?' he mouthed. They nodded.
"Gendo? You're an asshole!" Shinji's uncle shouted at them, his words
in no way mistakable to their recorders. "And I thank the gods in heaven
that your son is absolutely NOTHING like you!" Then looking up to their
faces. "That's it. Now get out."
That seemed to satisfy them somehow. "We'll be in touch."
Hiding and Listening in by the door, Shinji took in deep breaths. He had
always believed his father had some reason for leaving him, and sometimes
he had bleak thoughts about it. It was his first direct confirmation of
being unwanted, though. He was too much a burden.
Silently, he went back up to his room. He just didn't know how to feel
about that.
In post-Impact Japan, just because school was ending and most of the
tests were done, was no reason for the children to start slacking off.
The school board devoted the final weeks towards community-building,
sending the children out in various cultural pursuits designed to bring
them closer to the society they belonged. Usually this meant cleaning up
the still-standing pre-Impact buildings, planting new trees, and various
other tasks in free labor.
He pitied the boyz outside. Eh, he'll pick up a watermelon later.
Shinji and the others in the music club were luckier in that they were
allowed to stay indoors; being part of the artistic side of the school's
contribution. He grinned a little at a joke their pianist made. Music
was the only real common interest he shared with normal children. He had
succeeded in his plan to become friends with Minase, and in her friend
Ayane found someone he could more easily talk to. He wasn't blind. He
could see her liking for him; but she was just so... plain. Her hair,
her glasses, her dress, all made her seem stumpy in direct opposite to
Minase's tall lithe form.
He lost what she was trying to say as he saw the agents... well, they
were just so nondescript that even he had difficulty remembering their
names; agents J and K at the school courtyard. From the second floor, he
could just make out that they were talking to his English teacher.
Interrogating most of whom he knew wasn't the sort of attention you gave
to someone unwanted. He tuned out the world. It was a paradox, and the
Eldar in him hated paradoxes.
After school, he cornered Hisoka-sensei again. It was well know that he
favored Shinji above most students, mostly because they seemed to have
the same reserved, retiring personalities. He always just let Shinji
initiate these little interactions, to himself amusedly surrendering
control.
"Do you know my father?" Shinji asked then.
The teacher licked his lips. The boy had the oddest habit of asking such
simply-phrased but difficult questions. "No, Shinji. I do not know your
father."
"Those men you were talking to earlier. They work for him."
He nodded. He had long since stopped wondering how Shinji knew about
things. The boy was so naturally curious, his thoughts drifting to the
oddest of things. He never imagined it could possibly be calculated to
provoke a specific response. "They were asking about you. I tried not to
be too effulgent in my praise."
That was a private joke. They both knew just how much Shinji hated to be
the center of attention.
"My father sent them. If he wants to start noticing me again, I should
know something about him." the bitterness in the boy's voice was
unfeigned.
"Shinji..." Why was it that he felt so utterly out of his depth when he
speaks to this child, no.. young man? It puzzled him and exhilarated him.
He shouldn't feel so challenged by someone at least a decade younger.
"Your father is an important man. For you to realize how important, know
that almost no one knows ANYTHING about him. He doesn't appear on the
lists of the world's most important people. He never goes on TV. Very
few even know what he LOOKS like. I only know because he tried living
here for a while."
"He did?"
"Yeah, at your uncle's house. Your uncle threw him out pretty quickly.
It was a short time, while he was between jobs and your mother had to
support him." He shook his head at the boy's wide-eyed expression.
"Sorry, Shinji. I never even knew your mother. Her sister only married
into this town."
The boy flinched as if stabbed, but nodded for him to continue.
"Look, the most I know is that your father is out doing something very
very important for a very very big organization." He decided to add
something for the boy's sake. "It might even save the world."
****
His graduation was supposed to be a joyous time. Parents were supposed
to bask in their children's achievements, and the children in passing
that treshold realize how they changed and be prepared to be treated
differently. But mostly it was about celebrations. Life in the post-
Impact era had little to celebrate, as the planet and its people would
take a long time to heal. The progress, the confirmation of a new
generation to carry their legacies was well within that reason to exult.
Shinji brought all four of his favorite miniatures to school. He had
somehow managed to keep his toys a secret from everyone; the furthest
anyone ever went was the boys those years ago... and they were entirely
too willing to blank out the experience.
He fidgeted in his seat. The rites were perhaps unnecessarily long, full
of speeches about future and glory and hope and coming together and
please vote for me next election. He drew emotional support from the
presence of Warboss-sama, Space Marine-dono, Chaos Marine-kun and Farseer
-sensei. Their snarky remarks all through the proceedings made it all
worth it somehow.
It dragged on until it was time to hand out those little slips of paper
that would permanently kick them out of their classes. He felt as if
electrified until it got up to his name.
He went up to the stage to recieve it, met by his uncle who gave him a
deep bow. He bowed back. Then, back to his seat.
The feeling didn't fade, not until the very last instant, the very last
congratulations, and they were all outside in the sunset. He winced as
a sunbeam got into his eyes. Dramatic, yeah right. He regretted not
asking for those damn orange-tinted glasses, even if he'd outgrow them
rather quickly. Even if he'd look silly in them. He rubbed at his eyes.
He looked around, past every happy parent and simply exhausted young
teen. His guardians let him even roam around a little.
Shinji returned, his face an emotionless mask. "He didn't show..." he
muttered numbly.
"I'm sorry, Shinji." said his aunt. Shinji looked nothing like Gendo
right then.
"I shouldn't have Hoped." the boy continued. "I really shouldn't. I had
no way of *knowing* wheter or not he would show up."
Shinji's uncle clasped the boy's shoulder and patted it reassuringly.
"Not to worry, we're here, ah? I don't know what your father must be
thinking but he's going to regret not being here. Come on, let's get
something to eat. Chin up! You're a high schooler now!"
Shinji tilted his head, as if listening to something. His eyes cleared.
"Yeah, courage. I'm a high-schooler now!" He even grinned. "Excuse me,
uncle. I have to do something."
It didn't take long for him to find Minase and her parents. They were
rich and stood out out from the sea of sensible clothing. He steeled
himself and walked right up to them. "Houko-san!" he shouted, his voice
breaking at the end.
Three sets of calculating eyes turned to him. He repressed a squeak. It
was like being in the presence of the Inquisition! Shinji turned his
gaze down and adressed the girl. "May I talk to you, Houko-san?"
"Mina, who's your little friend?" cooed her mother, almost a jade
figurine herself in all that green lace. Her father seemed to look past
the boy, instantly dismissing him.
She sighed. "Mother, father, this is Shinji Ikari. Please excuse us, we
won't be but a moment."
They moved aside and there the girl waited with narrowed eyes. She'd
been brought up to consider her time as precious, specially when it is
spent in the company of her parents. It was simply rare when they were
all together; a condition shared by many families in the scattered
employment of post-Impact industries.
"So, we're like high-schoolers now." he blurted out. "And I thought
maybe now we could go out... as friends! As friends! Um, yes. Celebrate
and eat strawberries or something." He was feeling a double dose of
embarrassment. Not only did he burn in his own daring humiliation, his
four other pieces were groaning with and AT him. "We can invite Acchan
if you want..."
Minase sighed and looked above his head to where her parents were; their
eyes twinkling with merriment. He sighed again and grabbed his arm. She
pulled him off to a more private spot, uncaring of how that might look.
And there, she took a deep breath. She looked straight into his oddly
hopeful eyes and said; "Look. You're right. We're teenagers now. And
I've just had about enough of your little elementary attentions!"
Shinji's mouth hung open.
"I tolerated it back then because it was kinda cute, but it's getting
annoying. I don't want you following me around in junior high. Don't
take it too hard. Why should I go out with a short little weirdo like
you when there's already someone cool waiting for me at the next school?
You're only going to make yourself look even more foolish trying to
compete.
Why don't you just go out with Aachan and get it all over with? You both
deserve each other anyway."
She flicked back her hair and walked away. She nodded to herself. Yes,
fast, hard, clean. It was the kindest thing she could really do. Better
have him hate her a little than pine away uselessly. That way her two
friends can actually move on.
It was going to be high school, after all. Things would be a lot
different; more people, more things to reach for. She could find better
ones, more suited to her.
"Let's go, mother, father." she said in her sweet voice. "Best not to
waste any more time here."
****
"T-that was..."
"What in the Warp?"
"Waddahel? Wadda wada!"
"I... am speechless. Completely, utterly, speechless."
Well, that was totally unexpected. A miniscule part of his brain prodded
him about being totally spontaneous, acting on his feelings. He never
saw THAT coming.
The shock was wearing off. And there's the pain. And now the "WHAT DID
SHE SAY?!"
"Shin-"
"None of you will talk. None."
The young teen stalked over back to where everyone else was, his limbs
hesitant as rubber. Someone recognized his small frame easily.
"Hey! Boss! Hey!" Kobayakawa gleefully made his way over to him. "How's
it feel, hey? We made it! My parents really like my grades now, thanks
for that, boss." He nodded, though Shinji had yet to respond. "I saw yas
going with Minase. First rank and second rank, sounds good huh? How'd
it go?"
Shinji looked up with a hollow gaze. "..."
Though round and considered somewhat stupid-looking, he wasn't that dumb
about matters right outside the books. "Ouch." He scowled. "You want the
boyz to do something?"
"No." Shinji shook his head slowly, trying desperately to clear his
thoughts. "Neva hits a girl. Only puny grots need to slappa someone
weaker."
Kobayakawa nodded. He swallowed Shinji's words like gospel. It was he
that started the trend of calling Shinji boss. However, it wasn't until
the boy forgot and lapsed into another mode of speech that it really
stuck in. Shinji was a scary little dude when he had to be. That however
was nothing; to da boyz he was scary in how much he knew. Whatever
question they asked, he had an answer for. He set them up a standard of
behaviour that had them using their strength to help others rather than
push them around. Da Boyz, as they became known, were anti-bullies. They
went around stompin' da respekt back into other would-be thugs.
Shinji was Da Boss. No ifs, no buts. What he says goes. It was very
small gang that knew, and that was the secret that bound them together.
Outside, the world saw a polite, obidient little boy growing into a fine
young man. When around his boyz and no one else, he could relax, laugh
and shout. And he told great stories. 'Ere we go!' was Da Boyz chant, as
they walked the streets. 'Ere we go, were we go, not gonna knows till we
gets dere!'
He owed Shinji more than he felt he could actually repay. He actually
got da respect from the littler kids and gud feelins' from those bigga.
Kobayakawa could never gotten that the old way of doing things. Da Boyz
got their own subsidiary formations of littler boyz, and the Gretz as
a messenger squad. It was a community within a community, a select
brotherhood of, well... boys (plus a few particularly awesomely ferocious
girls), and it felt good.
"She sedd somefin' about a high-skoola waitin' for her." Shinji said
absently. "Have a lookat dat."
"Sure thing, boss!" Kobayakawa enthusiastically replied, almost snapping
into a salute. "You want us to stomps on him for a little bit?"
"Nah, just... curious. Just gather information." His gaze was so far
away again. Da boss had a tendency to space out like that. The boyz
took that as a sign of dismissal.
Da Word passed quickly, and even as they went home they were happy at
getting a direct order for a change. Things to do tomorrow, some hearts
were singing. Things to do! Purpose and sense of belonging post-Impact
fulfilled a most basic human need.
Shinji returned to his guardians, a fake smile plastered to his face.
"Okay, that's done. Let's go home."
*****
He was not going to go throwing things. He was not! Mostly because the
only things he could throw were his figurines and they were too valuable
to waste on some little fit.
Shinji grabbed at the sheets of his bed and pulled at it until almost
tearing. "rrraaaaAAHHHH!!" he snarled out. He then slammed his face into
it, letting it soak his tears.
He had never felt anything so ugly. It swallowed everything. He dimly
remembered saying it was better when there was nothing he liked. When
you valued nothing, you were like, invulnerable.
"So you would rather not feel anything at all? That is foolishness."
counseled the Farseer. "Nothing remains unchanged by the music of
creation."
"Leddit out, lil'boz. Nuddin's going to makes ya feel better dan a good
STOMPIN'! WAAAAGH!"
"How could she do that to me?" the teen sobbed. "Am I really such a bad
person? Sure, I'm scrawny and weak, but..." He wailed. "Shinji is a Good
Boy!"
He felt a mental slap.
"Get ahold of yourself, commander! You're getting emo! You're breaking
the fourth wall!"
Shinji stopped to catch his breath. He blinked.
"wait... what did you say?"
"I said.. uhm." The Space Marine seemed to squeeze his face in
concentration under the dim night lights. "Get ahold of yourself. You're
granted some ammo. Prayer may cleanse the soul, but pain purifies the
body. What does this prove, but that the soul is weak? Only in pain and
suffering do we stoke the fires of our spirit."
"Endure." said the Eldar softly, as if her pain resonated with his. "And
in enduring grow strong."
The young teen sat back up on his bed and sat there cross-legged. He
took several deep breaths. No. The pain was still there. The rage was
still there. Nothing he could do would simply make it go away.
"Why do you all sound little more respectful now?" he asked after a
while. "You never gave me titles before."
"Am I not your protector? Am I not born from the depths of your mind?
You are the Primarch of my will, the bastion of my discipline! Command
me, and I obey."
"Wez ya thoughts, hummie. Ya saids to shaddap, so we did." The warboss
radiated disdain at the wordy gothic parlance. See? Short, to the point,
orky. That was da proppa way to talk.
"Never have we been anything but your helpers, Shinji." The Farseer
seemed to curtsy. "What pleases you, pleases us. What hurts you, hurts
us."
"We felt it aall." came an oily presence. "All of us. Your pain! It is
OURS." Shinji looked up at the Chaos Marine standing on the shelf, its
bolter still crossed over its chest. Its scarred face still looked
fierce, but also oddly at peace. "She HURT you, and we know how it is
to hurt. The only way to make it go away, is for HER to hurt back."
Imaginary shouts erupted all around the room.
"Foul spawn of Chaos!" The Space Marine was understandably the loudest
among them. "I knew this! I knew this day would come. I knew you would
wreak your temptations, but I say NAY! You will not succeed this WAY!"
"Wot da zog?" The Warboss seemed to stare cross-eyed at the lyrical
turn. "Look, just come down so I can stabs ya." he told the Chaos
Marine. "Ma lil'boss is no squig-head to go stompins no puny feemale."
"He will not turn" the Eldar said in all confidence. "It is easy to See
the failed methods of Chaos."
Shinji hadn't realized it until then, but it was raining outside. In a
brief flash of lightning, the Chaos Marine seemed to turn its head and
sneer.
"So he is to just accept it? Become a whipping boy? He is meant to be
abused and be glad for it, a martyr without a cause?" The Chaos Marine
began to laugh, booming for such a tiny figure, competing with thunder
outside. "Where is the respect, ork? Where is the justice, astartes?
And where, you soggy old witch, is his choice?!"
The three could not answer.
"She disrespected you, bright lord, and it is only justice to let her
see the error of her ways. It is your choice to be a WIMP or heed the
call of POWER. Your education is incomplete, intentionally so. THEY
wanted to keep you WEAK."
"That is a lie!" screeched the Farseer. "I taught him all that he needed
to know!"
"Did you? He may have needed only that much THEN, but this is NOW. Can
you teach him all that he CAN do?"
"Just because one can... does not mean one must..."
"PAH! You all disgust me. I can complete your education, bright lord,
and show you how to command rather than be commanded, to take rather
than be deprived, to be revered rather than reviled!"
"Um... isn't all that like, evil? I'd rather not do anything that will
get me throw in prison, thanks anyway."
"You *know* us, Shinji. Evil is a LABEL that only given by the other
side. It cannot be TRUSTED to be impartial. People will tell you that
evil is a slippery slope, and good a mountain. It is hard to do good,
while so many do evil. This only says the natural state of man is EVIL."
The Chaos Marine seemed to grin. "Are YOU evil?"
"Hell, no I'm not evil!"
"It can also mean INSTEAD that there are great goods, little goods.
Great evils, little evils. There are many things, EVIL THINGS one can do
to serve a Greater Good, but one must ask WHOSE good? The Imperium and its
corpse of a God, the Orks and their ongoing widescale murder, the Eldar
and the many souls they so easily send to ignorant doom - MANY might
call us ALL evil. We are only GOOD in the sight of those we serve.
Methods are equal, it is the goal that casts it all in its light."
"Those are excuses. I'm not going to start worshipping Chaos and wishing
harm to Minase-san." said Shinji with conviction. "I don't like the Dark
Gods you serve."
The Chaos Marine laughed even more. "Bright lord, it is YOU that I serve.
I am only EVIL if and when you are evil. I am your SERVANT and only your
will is my CREED. I am CHAOS! I am neither Good nor Evil. Chaos bids me
serve you, and serve you I SHALL. I ask for NOTHING. I require for you
to do NOTHING.
I give you ALL, for such is the favor of CHAOS. It is already IN you, my
bright lord, and it is how I speak. It is in you my bright lord, and it
is the POWER that you SEEK."
"W-why do you keep calling me bright lord?"
"Are you like the Dark Gods I once served? You are bright and limitless
my lord. I will not ask as to their GOOD or EVIL, you shall shine either
way. Ask for justice, and I shall give you justice. Nothing more. Nothing
less. CHAOS shall serve you well."
Shinji was dumbstruck. He *knew* these conversations were all just in
his head, he *knew* he did so to entertain himself, he *knew* their
advice so far had been useful as they opened up possibilities he normally
wouldn't think of. ACCURATE is the only way he could have described them
thus far.
Outside the rains still fell, and the sounds of a wounded nature
continued to be the breath of an enraged wolf at his windows.
He had never expected his fantasies to turn out to be so thorough. He
HAD been doing it for years now. He exhaled and sat up. "What can you
do?" he asked it.
He could feel its triumph. He could also feel the truth in every single
thing it said. Chaos was not an evil separate from him. His figurines
could not, ever, force him to do any action against his will. It was his
delusion, and it was only his choice to allow said delusions.
"The last half of what the Eldar has wrought. That which continues to
escape you."
The young teen stood up.
"Wassat? Whys you lissnen' to dis Chaos-boyz? No need to make stuff all
complicated and wot. Just bash somefin'! You'll feel betta, you'll see."
"Commander, no! Chaos promises many things, and always have they led into
ruin. Even the greatest of us all could not stand uncorrupted by its
touch. Do this, and forever will it hold a piece of your soul."
"Shinji! Remember!" the Farseer cried out, the most desperate among them.
The Eldar knew its warping influence. Against it even their Sight could
avail them not. Only the mon-keigh and their defiance of fate seemed
able to beat it back; but always at cost of in themselves being the
monsters they battle. "We may only offer our advice, but ultimately it
is you who must do these things. It is you and only you that must suffer.
Turn back now and or these thoughts will consume you!"
"I don't care!" shouted Shinji. He shot up to his feet and snatched the
Chaos Marine off its shelf. He walked over to the window and stared at
the howling darkness outside. He put the figurine down.
He stared at his own reflection in the glass. He was barely more than a
boy just yet, his frame without physical power. The Chaos Marine stood
there in mute steadfast obeisance.
Lightning flashed. Everything in nature, everyone he has ever seen,
seemed more capable and more powerful than he was. No one truly wanted
him; his guardians ached for their son, his father had no need for his
own, and the first one he ever opened his heart to ripped his hopes to
unrepentant shreds.
"Show me."
"As YOU desire, bright lord..."
He slept well that night, no dreams at all. He stewed in his own newly-
discovered brand of hate. In another time, he would have known it much
earlier. But only here was it pure and malleable.
****
It was a bright and fresh morning. There was nothing like a little light
rain to make the world seem clean and new. Colors seemed more vibrant,
the air clear and sweet. Shinji woke up late, for once. His guardians
had let him sleep in as a recognition of his slow change. He was no
longer a child to be coddled so.
He woke up and all was silent. "...guys?" his looked over to his plastic
miniatures, and in the morning glow they were motionless plastic. It was
the first time in many years that Shinji was alone in his thoughts.
Even the Chaos Marine had nothing to say. Fear gripped Shinji.
"Oh come on. Do you all hate me or something?" There was no response. The
young teen sighed. He shook out the last scales of sleepiness from his
body and walked over to the window. He opened it up and let the air in.
He took a deep breath.
The world was all anew. Yesterday seemed so far away. Yes, he supposed
he was just being silly. He could easily live without Minase. He was to
be a high-schooler. He supposed he was just growing up, and no longer had
to rely on something else to do his thinking for him.
"Congratulation, Shinji." said his uncle over breakfast. "How do you
feel?"
He paused and really thought it over. "Empty, somehow."
The man smirked. "Yeah, it's because you've been doing the routine so
long that you don't know what to do without it. But change is good,
Shinji. Now you can do exactly only what you want. You're going to go
back to the old habits when the classes start again anyway." He waved
at the air. "Best to enjoy this while you still can."
Shinji nodded, agreeing utterly.
Mitsugane Ayane knew where Ikari Shinji lived. She been over to it a few
times, but it as the first she would head over alone and on her own
volition. Her nerves were at a chaotic frenzy as she walked the path.
"What will I say?" she asked herself. "Oh, this is so hopeless." She
barely had any concentration left over to avoid puddles in her path.
Music drifted from Shinji's window. It was fast, as usual perfect in its
chain of notes, but somehow now held more passion... angry, bursting with
energy, was the only way she could describe it.
She didn't know what expect at seeing him, and was relieved he looked
calm and without puffy eyes. Of course, she thought, boys don't cry
themselves to sleep as she had. She wished if only she could suffer it
for him; oh my could it have actually worked?
"Mitsugane-san, hello." Shinji smiled politely, but he seemed diminished
somehow."
"Uh, we're out of classes now, Ikari-kun. There's no need to be so
formal."
Little bits of amusement showed in his eyes. "Kinda hypocritical of you
isn't it, Ayame-chan?"
"Oh you; Shinji-kun." She looked away and fought off a blush. She looked
at him from the corner of her vision, and his relaxed stature. Maybe
even too relaxed? Was he in denial somehow?
"So, what brings you around, Ayame-san?"
She huffed. She supposed that was the most she could get out of him.
"Can we... talk?"
Shinji looked back over his shoulder. His guardians had seemingly all
but vacated the premises. They were giggling like mad when a girl came
to visit him. He supposed grownups were weird that way. So easily
amused. It was pathetic, really.
"Oh, Shinji. I heard about what Minase did to you. That was such a mean,
nasty thing to do! You deserve better than that!"
"Oh. So I suppose she told you, then?"
She hesitated. "Well, it wasn't that much, but everybody saw the
difference in how you looked before and after your talk. Oh, Shinji!"
she felt her eyes tearing up. "Everybody knows!"
He winced. And he imagined Kobayakawa would have gone blabbering on
about it to his closest friends, and with a Gretchz nearby it was certain
a rumor would be flying all over the town.
He shrugged. "Oh, well. There's nothing to be done about it."
"You shouldn't say that!" she almost yelled. "Just because she's pretty
and rich doesn't mean she gets to treat the rest of us like we don't
matter. What she did to you was just... wrong.
Why not you? You're kind, and smart and gentle.... and cute...." And she
was actually now crying. "...and you don't deserve to have your feelings
thrown aside just like that! You should... you should know that you're not
disliked by everbody. You should know that there are others who can care
for you as much as... you were so brave, at least. I wish I could be so
brave.."
"Ayane-san..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but-"
"I already know."
She looked up sharply, her eyes wide behind her frames. "What?" she
gasped. Her face burned. Of course he would know. But then, why didn't
he ever say anything before? That was cruel, too.
"But there's really someone else."
The girl nodded, and took out a handkerchief. "I know that too. I just
can't compete can't I? I'm not as smart or pretty or sophisticated
and..."
Shinji can sense she was about to enter into familiar territory and
decided to head her head off at the pass. "No. MINASE has someone else."
He shrugged. "So I can't stand in the way of that."
Ayane looked up again, her face open with shock. "She does?"
"She does." Shinji didn't know exactly why, but gave her word for word
what happened. He relished it, though he had been humiliated he felt
some delight at sharing the ugliness of her personality.
"T-that's scandalous! How long do you think this has been going on?"
The supposed best friend stood up and began pacing. "Seriously! What
could she have been thinking! We're too young. You only asked her out to
eat..."
"Strawberries."
"Eat strawberries." the girl nodded. "That wasn't a date. To have someone
waiting for her already in high-school? What is she thinking?! What is
she doing?!"
Shinji shrugged again. "Likely, she initiated it. It's a status symbol
for her, to reach above her apparent social caste. The other, I think,
would just enjoy having someone of her family status linked to him. Both
don't really know what they're doing." He sighed. "We are too young."
"You... don't sound young." said Ayane. That had always been what drew
her to him.
Shinji laughed, but sadly and at himself. "A part of me always feels
like ten thousand years old." He took a deep breath and leaned. "Or it
might just be undigested cheese."
The girl didn't know what to do with this more casual, more playful
Shinji. She felt guilty, but it was perfect. It was like everything was
made for this chance.
"No, I don't think we should be going out." said Shinji, still with
his head slumped back over the chair and almost asleep.
Ayane felt her heart stop. So THIS is what that felt like. She could
finally, truly emphatize.
"What are we, Ayane-san? Friends? We ARE too young, why change that? Why
mutate this comfortable distance we have to something we can't really
See?" He raised a hand, and made little flitting motions. "Feelings
are like butterflies... let them fly as they wish, and they return to
that flower time and again."
She smirked. How so utterly, wisely Shinji-kun of him. "Usually people
say that about horses; set it free and if it returns, it's yours forever."
He lifted his head. "They do? I didn't know that."
She giggled and sat back down, kicking her her leds. She copied his
lazy slouch on the chair.
"So... what should I do?" she asked him, while staring at ceiling too.
"Hmm? Do?"
"Yeah, you're free, Shinji-kun. Whatever you want, let's do it. What you
want me to do, I'll do it. We're friends and that's what friends do."
"Umh, you're describing more like a minion, actually."
"Then command me, your most loyal minion!" She giggled again.
Shinji sighed and let his eyes remain closed. He was pretty sure he had
one of that already, but said nothing to spare her feelings. The future
was closed to him. What did he want? Others made it their choice to make
his wants their wants. The more accurate question would be what could
he possibly want from another?
"Ayane-san?
"Yes?"
"I need you to go now." He didn't need to see her face to know she looked
hurt. "I *need* you to go out and tell Minase I don't hate her. I need
*you* to tell her to be careful. No, don't stand up. Not exactly now.
Go home and think carefully about what you'll say. We both know she's not
going to take it kindly. She will mock you. She will mock me. So prepare
yourself well."
The words, the MANIPULATION, it was so there and so obvious and she
couldn't see it. She refused to see it. What could only be described as
sheer determination filled her. Joy, at simply being needed. Power, as
if his will and wisdom was pouring into her being.
"I will..." she said. "T-thank you, Shinji-kun."
Still looking up, still distant in his gaze, he smiled thinly.
Sometime later, it was Kobayakawa who arrived. He bounded into the house
with his usual fervor, moving deceptively quickly for someone so large.
"Hey, boss! Got news boss!" he called out after being shown in.
"More of your friends, Shinji?" said Shinji's aunt. "I have some more
rice cakes. Would you like some?" he asked the rotund boy. The expected
happy nod pleased her.
"I think we should take a walk. Please wrap a few in a plastic bag."
Shinji led him a good ways out from the house, near beaten cliffs over-
looking the devouring ocean. Kobayakawa followed content in having rice
cakes to munch on. He waited patiently as Shinji stared off into the
distance.
"What have you found?"
Oh, so it's to be THAT sort of of Shinji, eh? Well, he couldn't expect
da boss to be fun about this sort of thing. "We gots the Gretchz workin'
boss. One'a dem saw Minase stop at a call booth to phone someone instead
of using her cell phone. She ducked into a store and came out looking
different, hair up in bun and everything. Dude in a bike came by and
took her off."
"You know, I SHOULD be feeling some dismay at how you have kindergarten
kids stalking people, but I just can't seem to raise it right now. I'm
impressed though, they're surprisingly patient and hard to fool."
Kobayakawa lifted his double chin up. "My Gretchz are da best, boss. No
one ever notices a little kid. Have four of dem squatting in a corner
and nobody cares what dey do. It's like derr invisible. If dey look
playing, they can do anything."
"Good job. Now what's about dis runty squig? I don't think the Gretz can
follow dem on a bike, can they?"
"No need ta, boss!" His voice then brightened. "We gots dis little Gretz,
we call 'im Bike Boy. He knows the bikes of EVERYBODY in dis town. If
its on two wheels, he knows it. Dat cause his brudda runs da bike shop.
He works da Gretz on messenger service. We gots him and other shops on
it, so we always haz a stash of candy for all da boyz back at da hut.
No toyz is too expensive if ya can share it. No one messes wid da mob
without da rest chippin' in."
Shinji nodded approvingly. Da Boyz were actually loved by the merchants
downtown. Let them grow up a bit more and that cut off an entire
generation out for 'protection'. Da Boyz would actually protect these
people.
"We gots some bad news for ya, boss. Da squig's Kotaru Jishin; he's in
high school, third year. Now HIS brudda's Yakuza. He's in prison right
now so the squig's behavin'. He's 'ard though. Runs da junior high mob,
nutting like OUR mob." Kobayakawa seemed to shrink into himself. "If we
gets at him, a lot of da boyz are gonna get hurt."
"So? Don't. I only asked you for information."
"But you're DA BOSS! Who hurts ya hurts all da boyz. Who don't respects
da don't respects da boyz! We should stomp him! STOMP HIM GOOD! W-"
"DON'T!" Shinji turned, his eyes glittering madly. "That word is NOT to
be used so lightly, so foolishly. Do you understand me?"
Kobayakawa took a step back. "Uh, sure boss."
"The Waaagh! is sacred. It is not for the boyz to waste. Da Waaagh! is
to be done when and only when da world needs turnin' back to the right
and proppa. You smacks someones, you stomps someone. But you don't call
Da Waaagh! without a warboss! And you don't have a warboss until you
HAVE A WAR! Do you hear me?"
"Boss! I hear yas!"
"When you calls a Waaagh!, I expects there to be nothing left! You will
stompz da target until it is gone, you will breaks der stuff, you will
digs der landz up until nobodys can remember where dey once waz; you
will send da boyz and da boyz will not stops until da odda side is all
right and propa and OURS! DAT, IS DA WAAAGH! Do you getz it?!"
"Y-yes, boss. I getz ya, boss." Kobayakawa had an expression which
could only be described as religious awe. "You Da Boss."
Shinji stepped back, and sighed heavily. "So, don't say it."
"...not gonna say it."
"Something has to be done about this Jishin. He's got that broody bad
boy image young girls love." Shinji steepled his fingers, and held it
up to just under his nose as he thought. "He wants her money. He wants
her body. He will use her, he will break her. I can See it."
And I can just let it happen. Wouldn't that be perfect?
He sighed again. "Send someone to follow him and Minase around, ready
to call the cops." Crap. He had sent Ayane out. "You know Mitsugane
Ayane? She's my friend. I need you to watch out for her. If she's in
trouble, I don't care what, jump in. Protect her."
"Yes, boss. Sure thing boss..."
Shinji turned and smiled now. "Auntie makes good rice cakes, doesn't she?
It's the sliver of cheese she puts on top. Come on, let's get you some
more."
"Thanks, boss!"
-tbc-
It's not just humor anymore. Ah well. That one change in the timeline kinda snowballed away from me, hurtling and building even beyond my expectations. AAAGH! My fingers hurt. Just... imagine for a while what this might be building into. Just as there were different ways of approaching the original crack premise, so am I feeling somewhat overwhelmed with ideas. Meh. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's the treatment, the Sit Down Shut Up Get It Done that matters.
Ow. Must rest for a few hours. The rest later, or tomorrow.
edit:
Can I just ak you then to bear it, rather than have me delete breaks line by line? Consider it a... mental block of mine. Chunking keeps me from writing even longer prose, helps me handle literal bricks in building plots; and like an old dog it's simply what I grew up with.
was thankful for it. He had friends. He had family. He had friends. He had
accomplishments. He had friends (it bears repeating). But soon enough,
it had to end.
Years passed, he grew, and graduation time was around the corner. He
entered his teenage years. In its confusion not even his plastic
advisers, being extensions of his perception, could help. The ork never
had to worry about puberty, the Space Marine had genetic enhancements
for that sort of thing, to Chaos it was just mutation, and the Farseer
was a girl. Strange urges, mood swings, and the world being suddenly so
slow... he needed someone other than himself to tell him how things made
sense. Books helped, to an extent. But here Shinji realized he needed
his father.
Surely his father would come to his graduation, right? As the day grew
closer, Shinji became more and more expectant. It's something that only
happens a few times in a person's life after all. The boy had actually
managed up to second in school, just below Houko Minase in grades and
everything else. Many of his teachers believed he could have been more,
had he been a bit more focused. He was such an absent-minded kid.
He couldn't visualize that future, as he actually had very little idea
of how his father looked like anymore or of what he did.
A few days before graduation, there was a knocking on the door. Shinji
answered it, and found there two men standing. They had one crisp black
suits, black sunglasses, and each carried a small black suitcase. One
seemed older than the other, pale and grey-haired. The other had the tan
of someone who spent much time in the beach or open seas.
"Wah! Yakuza!" cried Shinji, at seeing them.
"See? See? That's what I'm talking about." The younger, and taller man
said to his companion. "Just once, just once! I'd like to have someone
NOT think we're the goddamn Yakuza. Why can't we wear white suits
instead?"
"What, and have people go 'AAAAH! It's the Gay Mafia!' It tends to scare
them even more."
"... you tried that once, didn't you?"
"... shut up, Jiro. If you've been in this business as long as I did..."
He turned to the boy and asked him in a gravel voice. "Are you Ikari,
Shinji?"
"Y-yes sir."
"I am Agent Kentaro, and this is Agent Jiro. Section Two. Is your uncle
in?" There was nothing there, no expression at all as he talked, only
the boy's own nervous face reflected off his sunglasses. "We'd like to
talk to him. Official government business."
"I.. I'll go see." Shinji bolted away from the door.
As it turns out, they WERE government agents. And they were THERE on
official government business. Only this had the stamp of Gendo Ikari all
over it.
"We're here to check on the boy." his uncle was told. "How's he holding
up?"
"What, Gendo can't even see how it is about his own son? You know he
hasn't bothered even once these years to ask, so why should he care now?"
"Mister Ikari is a very busy man." replied Agent Kentaro. "He cannot just
drop his important duties for something so small. It would be dangerous
to show so much attachment, his child could be used as a hostage against
him. This is why he cannot risk coming here and revealing his location."
"Bullshit." his uncle said. "The bastard can't even show ANY attachment."
Agent Jiro looked from the relative to his own partner. "Uh.. look, I
know he's... difficult to get along with sometimes, but could please not
say things like that about our direct superiors to our faces? It might..."
He stared long and hard at his partner's cold professional facade.
" ...complicate things. Mr. Ikari requires respect."
"Phff. The name Ikari used to mean better things..." Shinji's uncle
leaned back on his chair, but his hands were shaking slightly.
"Answer the question, please. How is the boy?" the other continued.
"Shinji?" His uncle thought carefully. Gendo wouldn't send his thugs over
for something so small, sadly enough about family that was true. "He's a
pretty normal kid. That's about it."
"Are you sure? He has not been... mistreated in some way?"
"Just what are you implying?" he bristled.
"Mister Ikari only wishes to make sure that his son recieves all the
proper attention due to him." Very little, but not too little. It was a
large part of his plan. "It would be unfortunate if he was damaged in
some way."
Shit. The way they went on about Shinji as nothing more than an object.
Just what was going on here? "He's a kid, that's about it. Ask around.
Ask him. Gendo threw him here to keep him out of the way, and if that's
the furthest he can show about his concern then he can just go fuck
himself."
"Please!" said Jiro suddenly. "Not to our faces!"
Crap. 'You're both wired, aren't you?' he mouthed. They nodded.
"Gendo? You're an asshole!" Shinji's uncle shouted at them, his words
in no way mistakable to their recorders. "And I thank the gods in heaven
that your son is absolutely NOTHING like you!" Then looking up to their
faces. "That's it. Now get out."
That seemed to satisfy them somehow. "We'll be in touch."
Hiding and Listening in by the door, Shinji took in deep breaths. He had
always believed his father had some reason for leaving him, and sometimes
he had bleak thoughts about it. It was his first direct confirmation of
being unwanted, though. He was too much a burden.
Silently, he went back up to his room. He just didn't know how to feel
about that.
In post-Impact Japan, just because school was ending and most of the
tests were done, was no reason for the children to start slacking off.
The school board devoted the final weeks towards community-building,
sending the children out in various cultural pursuits designed to bring
them closer to the society they belonged. Usually this meant cleaning up
the still-standing pre-Impact buildings, planting new trees, and various
other tasks in free labor.
He pitied the boyz outside. Eh, he'll pick up a watermelon later.
Shinji and the others in the music club were luckier in that they were
allowed to stay indoors; being part of the artistic side of the school's
contribution. He grinned a little at a joke their pianist made. Music
was the only real common interest he shared with normal children. He had
succeeded in his plan to become friends with Minase, and in her friend
Ayane found someone he could more easily talk to. He wasn't blind. He
could see her liking for him; but she was just so... plain. Her hair,
her glasses, her dress, all made her seem stumpy in direct opposite to
Minase's tall lithe form.
He lost what she was trying to say as he saw the agents... well, they
were just so nondescript that even he had difficulty remembering their
names; agents J and K at the school courtyard. From the second floor, he
could just make out that they were talking to his English teacher.
Interrogating most of whom he knew wasn't the sort of attention you gave
to someone unwanted. He tuned out the world. It was a paradox, and the
Eldar in him hated paradoxes.
After school, he cornered Hisoka-sensei again. It was well know that he
favored Shinji above most students, mostly because they seemed to have
the same reserved, retiring personalities. He always just let Shinji
initiate these little interactions, to himself amusedly surrendering
control.
"Do you know my father?" Shinji asked then.
The teacher licked his lips. The boy had the oddest habit of asking such
simply-phrased but difficult questions. "No, Shinji. I do not know your
father."
"Those men you were talking to earlier. They work for him."
He nodded. He had long since stopped wondering how Shinji knew about
things. The boy was so naturally curious, his thoughts drifting to the
oddest of things. He never imagined it could possibly be calculated to
provoke a specific response. "They were asking about you. I tried not to
be too effulgent in my praise."
That was a private joke. They both knew just how much Shinji hated to be
the center of attention.
"My father sent them. If he wants to start noticing me again, I should
know something about him." the bitterness in the boy's voice was
unfeigned.
"Shinji..." Why was it that he felt so utterly out of his depth when he
speaks to this child, no.. young man? It puzzled him and exhilarated him.
He shouldn't feel so challenged by someone at least a decade younger.
"Your father is an important man. For you to realize how important, know
that almost no one knows ANYTHING about him. He doesn't appear on the
lists of the world's most important people. He never goes on TV. Very
few even know what he LOOKS like. I only know because he tried living
here for a while."
"He did?"
"Yeah, at your uncle's house. Your uncle threw him out pretty quickly.
It was a short time, while he was between jobs and your mother had to
support him." He shook his head at the boy's wide-eyed expression.
"Sorry, Shinji. I never even knew your mother. Her sister only married
into this town."
The boy flinched as if stabbed, but nodded for him to continue.
"Look, the most I know is that your father is out doing something very
very important for a very very big organization." He decided to add
something for the boy's sake. "It might even save the world."
****
His graduation was supposed to be a joyous time. Parents were supposed
to bask in their children's achievements, and the children in passing
that treshold realize how they changed and be prepared to be treated
differently. But mostly it was about celebrations. Life in the post-
Impact era had little to celebrate, as the planet and its people would
take a long time to heal. The progress, the confirmation of a new
generation to carry their legacies was well within that reason to exult.
Shinji brought all four of his favorite miniatures to school. He had
somehow managed to keep his toys a secret from everyone; the furthest
anyone ever went was the boys those years ago... and they were entirely
too willing to blank out the experience.
He fidgeted in his seat. The rites were perhaps unnecessarily long, full
of speeches about future and glory and hope and coming together and
please vote for me next election. He drew emotional support from the
presence of Warboss-sama, Space Marine-dono, Chaos Marine-kun and Farseer
-sensei. Their snarky remarks all through the proceedings made it all
worth it somehow.
It dragged on until it was time to hand out those little slips of paper
that would permanently kick them out of their classes. He felt as if
electrified until it got up to his name.
He went up to the stage to recieve it, met by his uncle who gave him a
deep bow. He bowed back. Then, back to his seat.
The feeling didn't fade, not until the very last instant, the very last
congratulations, and they were all outside in the sunset. He winced as
a sunbeam got into his eyes. Dramatic, yeah right. He regretted not
asking for those damn orange-tinted glasses, even if he'd outgrow them
rather quickly. Even if he'd look silly in them. He rubbed at his eyes.
He looked around, past every happy parent and simply exhausted young
teen. His guardians let him even roam around a little.
Shinji returned, his face an emotionless mask. "He didn't show..." he
muttered numbly.
"I'm sorry, Shinji." said his aunt. Shinji looked nothing like Gendo
right then.
"I shouldn't have Hoped." the boy continued. "I really shouldn't. I had
no way of *knowing* wheter or not he would show up."
Shinji's uncle clasped the boy's shoulder and patted it reassuringly.
"Not to worry, we're here, ah? I don't know what your father must be
thinking but he's going to regret not being here. Come on, let's get
something to eat. Chin up! You're a high schooler now!"
Shinji tilted his head, as if listening to something. His eyes cleared.
"Yeah, courage. I'm a high-schooler now!" He even grinned. "Excuse me,
uncle. I have to do something."
It didn't take long for him to find Minase and her parents. They were
rich and stood out out from the sea of sensible clothing. He steeled
himself and walked right up to them. "Houko-san!" he shouted, his voice
breaking at the end.
Three sets of calculating eyes turned to him. He repressed a squeak. It
was like being in the presence of the Inquisition! Shinji turned his
gaze down and adressed the girl. "May I talk to you, Houko-san?"
"Mina, who's your little friend?" cooed her mother, almost a jade
figurine herself in all that green lace. Her father seemed to look past
the boy, instantly dismissing him.
She sighed. "Mother, father, this is Shinji Ikari. Please excuse us, we
won't be but a moment."
They moved aside and there the girl waited with narrowed eyes. She'd
been brought up to consider her time as precious, specially when it is
spent in the company of her parents. It was simply rare when they were
all together; a condition shared by many families in the scattered
employment of post-Impact industries.
"So, we're like high-schoolers now." he blurted out. "And I thought
maybe now we could go out... as friends! As friends! Um, yes. Celebrate
and eat strawberries or something." He was feeling a double dose of
embarrassment. Not only did he burn in his own daring humiliation, his
four other pieces were groaning with and AT him. "We can invite Acchan
if you want..."
Minase sighed and looked above his head to where her parents were; their
eyes twinkling with merriment. He sighed again and grabbed his arm. She
pulled him off to a more private spot, uncaring of how that might look.
And there, she took a deep breath. She looked straight into his oddly
hopeful eyes and said; "Look. You're right. We're teenagers now. And
I've just had about enough of your little elementary attentions!"
Shinji's mouth hung open.
"I tolerated it back then because it was kinda cute, but it's getting
annoying. I don't want you following me around in junior high. Don't
take it too hard. Why should I go out with a short little weirdo like
you when there's already someone cool waiting for me at the next school?
You're only going to make yourself look even more foolish trying to
compete.
Why don't you just go out with Aachan and get it all over with? You both
deserve each other anyway."
She flicked back her hair and walked away. She nodded to herself. Yes,
fast, hard, clean. It was the kindest thing she could really do. Better
have him hate her a little than pine away uselessly. That way her two
friends can actually move on.
It was going to be high school, after all. Things would be a lot
different; more people, more things to reach for. She could find better
ones, more suited to her.
"Let's go, mother, father." she said in her sweet voice. "Best not to
waste any more time here."
****
"T-that was..."
"What in the Warp?"
"Waddahel? Wadda wada!"
"I... am speechless. Completely, utterly, speechless."
Well, that was totally unexpected. A miniscule part of his brain prodded
him about being totally spontaneous, acting on his feelings. He never
saw THAT coming.
The shock was wearing off. And there's the pain. And now the "WHAT DID
SHE SAY?!"
"Shin-"
"None of you will talk. None."
The young teen stalked over back to where everyone else was, his limbs
hesitant as rubber. Someone recognized his small frame easily.
"Hey! Boss! Hey!" Kobayakawa gleefully made his way over to him. "How's
it feel, hey? We made it! My parents really like my grades now, thanks
for that, boss." He nodded, though Shinji had yet to respond. "I saw yas
going with Minase. First rank and second rank, sounds good huh? How'd
it go?"
Shinji looked up with a hollow gaze. "..."
Though round and considered somewhat stupid-looking, he wasn't that dumb
about matters right outside the books. "Ouch." He scowled. "You want the
boyz to do something?"
"No." Shinji shook his head slowly, trying desperately to clear his
thoughts. "Neva hits a girl. Only puny grots need to slappa someone
weaker."
Kobayakawa nodded. He swallowed Shinji's words like gospel. It was he
that started the trend of calling Shinji boss. However, it wasn't until
the boy forgot and lapsed into another mode of speech that it really
stuck in. Shinji was a scary little dude when he had to be. That however
was nothing; to da boyz he was scary in how much he knew. Whatever
question they asked, he had an answer for. He set them up a standard of
behaviour that had them using their strength to help others rather than
push them around. Da Boyz, as they became known, were anti-bullies. They
went around stompin' da respekt back into other would-be thugs.
Shinji was Da Boss. No ifs, no buts. What he says goes. It was very
small gang that knew, and that was the secret that bound them together.
Outside, the world saw a polite, obidient little boy growing into a fine
young man. When around his boyz and no one else, he could relax, laugh
and shout. And he told great stories. 'Ere we go!' was Da Boyz chant, as
they walked the streets. 'Ere we go, were we go, not gonna knows till we
gets dere!'
He owed Shinji more than he felt he could actually repay. He actually
got da respect from the littler kids and gud feelins' from those bigga.
Kobayakawa could never gotten that the old way of doing things. Da Boyz
got their own subsidiary formations of littler boyz, and the Gretz as
a messenger squad. It was a community within a community, a select
brotherhood of, well... boys (plus a few particularly awesomely ferocious
girls), and it felt good.
"She sedd somefin' about a high-skoola waitin' for her." Shinji said
absently. "Have a lookat dat."
"Sure thing, boss!" Kobayakawa enthusiastically replied, almost snapping
into a salute. "You want us to stomps on him for a little bit?"
"Nah, just... curious. Just gather information." His gaze was so far
away again. Da boss had a tendency to space out like that. The boyz
took that as a sign of dismissal.
Da Word passed quickly, and even as they went home they were happy at
getting a direct order for a change. Things to do tomorrow, some hearts
were singing. Things to do! Purpose and sense of belonging post-Impact
fulfilled a most basic human need.
Shinji returned to his guardians, a fake smile plastered to his face.
"Okay, that's done. Let's go home."
*****
He was not going to go throwing things. He was not! Mostly because the
only things he could throw were his figurines and they were too valuable
to waste on some little fit.
Shinji grabbed at the sheets of his bed and pulled at it until almost
tearing. "rrraaaaAAHHHH!!" he snarled out. He then slammed his face into
it, letting it soak his tears.
He had never felt anything so ugly. It swallowed everything. He dimly
remembered saying it was better when there was nothing he liked. When
you valued nothing, you were like, invulnerable.
"So you would rather not feel anything at all? That is foolishness."
counseled the Farseer. "Nothing remains unchanged by the music of
creation."
"Leddit out, lil'boz. Nuddin's going to makes ya feel better dan a good
STOMPIN'! WAAAAGH!"
"How could she do that to me?" the teen sobbed. "Am I really such a bad
person? Sure, I'm scrawny and weak, but..." He wailed. "Shinji is a Good
Boy!"
He felt a mental slap.
"Get ahold of yourself, commander! You're getting emo! You're breaking
the fourth wall!"
Shinji stopped to catch his breath. He blinked.
"wait... what did you say?"
"I said.. uhm." The Space Marine seemed to squeeze his face in
concentration under the dim night lights. "Get ahold of yourself. You're
granted some ammo. Prayer may cleanse the soul, but pain purifies the
body. What does this prove, but that the soul is weak? Only in pain and
suffering do we stoke the fires of our spirit."
"Endure." said the Eldar softly, as if her pain resonated with his. "And
in enduring grow strong."
The young teen sat back up on his bed and sat there cross-legged. He
took several deep breaths. No. The pain was still there. The rage was
still there. Nothing he could do would simply make it go away.
"Why do you all sound little more respectful now?" he asked after a
while. "You never gave me titles before."
"Am I not your protector? Am I not born from the depths of your mind?
You are the Primarch of my will, the bastion of my discipline! Command
me, and I obey."
"Wez ya thoughts, hummie. Ya saids to shaddap, so we did." The warboss
radiated disdain at the wordy gothic parlance. See? Short, to the point,
orky. That was da proppa way to talk.
"Never have we been anything but your helpers, Shinji." The Farseer
seemed to curtsy. "What pleases you, pleases us. What hurts you, hurts
us."
"We felt it aall." came an oily presence. "All of us. Your pain! It is
OURS." Shinji looked up at the Chaos Marine standing on the shelf, its
bolter still crossed over its chest. Its scarred face still looked
fierce, but also oddly at peace. "She HURT you, and we know how it is
to hurt. The only way to make it go away, is for HER to hurt back."
Imaginary shouts erupted all around the room.
"Foul spawn of Chaos!" The Space Marine was understandably the loudest
among them. "I knew this! I knew this day would come. I knew you would
wreak your temptations, but I say NAY! You will not succeed this WAY!"
"Wot da zog?" The Warboss seemed to stare cross-eyed at the lyrical
turn. "Look, just come down so I can stabs ya." he told the Chaos
Marine. "Ma lil'boss is no squig-head to go stompins no puny feemale."
"He will not turn" the Eldar said in all confidence. "It is easy to See
the failed methods of Chaos."
Shinji hadn't realized it until then, but it was raining outside. In a
brief flash of lightning, the Chaos Marine seemed to turn its head and
sneer.
"So he is to just accept it? Become a whipping boy? He is meant to be
abused and be glad for it, a martyr without a cause?" The Chaos Marine
began to laugh, booming for such a tiny figure, competing with thunder
outside. "Where is the respect, ork? Where is the justice, astartes?
And where, you soggy old witch, is his choice?!"
The three could not answer.
"She disrespected you, bright lord, and it is only justice to let her
see the error of her ways. It is your choice to be a WIMP or heed the
call of POWER. Your education is incomplete, intentionally so. THEY
wanted to keep you WEAK."
"That is a lie!" screeched the Farseer. "I taught him all that he needed
to know!"
"Did you? He may have needed only that much THEN, but this is NOW. Can
you teach him all that he CAN do?"
"Just because one can... does not mean one must..."
"PAH! You all disgust me. I can complete your education, bright lord,
and show you how to command rather than be commanded, to take rather
than be deprived, to be revered rather than reviled!"
"Um... isn't all that like, evil? I'd rather not do anything that will
get me throw in prison, thanks anyway."
"You *know* us, Shinji. Evil is a LABEL that only given by the other
side. It cannot be TRUSTED to be impartial. People will tell you that
evil is a slippery slope, and good a mountain. It is hard to do good,
while so many do evil. This only says the natural state of man is EVIL."
The Chaos Marine seemed to grin. "Are YOU evil?"
"Hell, no I'm not evil!"
"It can also mean INSTEAD that there are great goods, little goods.
Great evils, little evils. There are many things, EVIL THINGS one can do
to serve a Greater Good, but one must ask WHOSE good? The Imperium and its
corpse of a God, the Orks and their ongoing widescale murder, the Eldar
and the many souls they so easily send to ignorant doom - MANY might
call us ALL evil. We are only GOOD in the sight of those we serve.
Methods are equal, it is the goal that casts it all in its light."
"Those are excuses. I'm not going to start worshipping Chaos and wishing
harm to Minase-san." said Shinji with conviction. "I don't like the Dark
Gods you serve."
The Chaos Marine laughed even more. "Bright lord, it is YOU that I serve.
I am only EVIL if and when you are evil. I am your SERVANT and only your
will is my CREED. I am CHAOS! I am neither Good nor Evil. Chaos bids me
serve you, and serve you I SHALL. I ask for NOTHING. I require for you
to do NOTHING.
I give you ALL, for such is the favor of CHAOS. It is already IN you, my
bright lord, and it is how I speak. It is in you my bright lord, and it
is the POWER that you SEEK."
"W-why do you keep calling me bright lord?"
"Are you like the Dark Gods I once served? You are bright and limitless
my lord. I will not ask as to their GOOD or EVIL, you shall shine either
way. Ask for justice, and I shall give you justice. Nothing more. Nothing
less. CHAOS shall serve you well."
Shinji was dumbstruck. He *knew* these conversations were all just in
his head, he *knew* he did so to entertain himself, he *knew* their
advice so far had been useful as they opened up possibilities he normally
wouldn't think of. ACCURATE is the only way he could have described them
thus far.
Outside the rains still fell, and the sounds of a wounded nature
continued to be the breath of an enraged wolf at his windows.
He had never expected his fantasies to turn out to be so thorough. He
HAD been doing it for years now. He exhaled and sat up. "What can you
do?" he asked it.
He could feel its triumph. He could also feel the truth in every single
thing it said. Chaos was not an evil separate from him. His figurines
could not, ever, force him to do any action against his will. It was his
delusion, and it was only his choice to allow said delusions.
"The last half of what the Eldar has wrought. That which continues to
escape you."
The young teen stood up.
"Wassat? Whys you lissnen' to dis Chaos-boyz? No need to make stuff all
complicated and wot. Just bash somefin'! You'll feel betta, you'll see."
"Commander, no! Chaos promises many things, and always have they led into
ruin. Even the greatest of us all could not stand uncorrupted by its
touch. Do this, and forever will it hold a piece of your soul."
"Shinji! Remember!" the Farseer cried out, the most desperate among them.
The Eldar knew its warping influence. Against it even their Sight could
avail them not. Only the mon-keigh and their defiance of fate seemed
able to beat it back; but always at cost of in themselves being the
monsters they battle. "We may only offer our advice, but ultimately it
is you who must do these things. It is you and only you that must suffer.
Turn back now and or these thoughts will consume you!"
"I don't care!" shouted Shinji. He shot up to his feet and snatched the
Chaos Marine off its shelf. He walked over to the window and stared at
the howling darkness outside. He put the figurine down.
He stared at his own reflection in the glass. He was barely more than a
boy just yet, his frame without physical power. The Chaos Marine stood
there in mute steadfast obeisance.
Lightning flashed. Everything in nature, everyone he has ever seen,
seemed more capable and more powerful than he was. No one truly wanted
him; his guardians ached for their son, his father had no need for his
own, and the first one he ever opened his heart to ripped his hopes to
unrepentant shreds.
"Show me."
"As YOU desire, bright lord..."
He slept well that night, no dreams at all. He stewed in his own newly-
discovered brand of hate. In another time, he would have known it much
earlier. But only here was it pure and malleable.
****
It was a bright and fresh morning. There was nothing like a little light
rain to make the world seem clean and new. Colors seemed more vibrant,
the air clear and sweet. Shinji woke up late, for once. His guardians
had let him sleep in as a recognition of his slow change. He was no
longer a child to be coddled so.
He woke up and all was silent. "...guys?" his looked over to his plastic
miniatures, and in the morning glow they were motionless plastic. It was
the first time in many years that Shinji was alone in his thoughts.
Even the Chaos Marine had nothing to say. Fear gripped Shinji.
"Oh come on. Do you all hate me or something?" There was no response. The
young teen sighed. He shook out the last scales of sleepiness from his
body and walked over to the window. He opened it up and let the air in.
He took a deep breath.
The world was all anew. Yesterday seemed so far away. Yes, he supposed
he was just being silly. He could easily live without Minase. He was to
be a high-schooler. He supposed he was just growing up, and no longer had
to rely on something else to do his thinking for him.
"Congratulation, Shinji." said his uncle over breakfast. "How do you
feel?"
He paused and really thought it over. "Empty, somehow."
The man smirked. "Yeah, it's because you've been doing the routine so
long that you don't know what to do without it. But change is good,
Shinji. Now you can do exactly only what you want. You're going to go
back to the old habits when the classes start again anyway." He waved
at the air. "Best to enjoy this while you still can."
Shinji nodded, agreeing utterly.
Mitsugane Ayane knew where Ikari Shinji lived. She been over to it a few
times, but it as the first she would head over alone and on her own
volition. Her nerves were at a chaotic frenzy as she walked the path.
"What will I say?" she asked herself. "Oh, this is so hopeless." She
barely had any concentration left over to avoid puddles in her path.
Music drifted from Shinji's window. It was fast, as usual perfect in its
chain of notes, but somehow now held more passion... angry, bursting with
energy, was the only way she could describe it.
She didn't know what expect at seeing him, and was relieved he looked
calm and without puffy eyes. Of course, she thought, boys don't cry
themselves to sleep as she had. She wished if only she could suffer it
for him; oh my could it have actually worked?
"Mitsugane-san, hello." Shinji smiled politely, but he seemed diminished
somehow."
"Uh, we're out of classes now, Ikari-kun. There's no need to be so
formal."
Little bits of amusement showed in his eyes. "Kinda hypocritical of you
isn't it, Ayame-chan?"
"Oh you; Shinji-kun." She looked away and fought off a blush. She looked
at him from the corner of her vision, and his relaxed stature. Maybe
even too relaxed? Was he in denial somehow?
"So, what brings you around, Ayame-san?"
She huffed. She supposed that was the most she could get out of him.
"Can we... talk?"
Shinji looked back over his shoulder. His guardians had seemingly all
but vacated the premises. They were giggling like mad when a girl came
to visit him. He supposed grownups were weird that way. So easily
amused. It was pathetic, really.
"Oh, Shinji. I heard about what Minase did to you. That was such a mean,
nasty thing to do! You deserve better than that!"
"Oh. So I suppose she told you, then?"
She hesitated. "Well, it wasn't that much, but everybody saw the
difference in how you looked before and after your talk. Oh, Shinji!"
she felt her eyes tearing up. "Everybody knows!"
He winced. And he imagined Kobayakawa would have gone blabbering on
about it to his closest friends, and with a Gretchz nearby it was certain
a rumor would be flying all over the town.
He shrugged. "Oh, well. There's nothing to be done about it."
"You shouldn't say that!" she almost yelled. "Just because she's pretty
and rich doesn't mean she gets to treat the rest of us like we don't
matter. What she did to you was just... wrong.
Why not you? You're kind, and smart and gentle.... and cute...." And she
was actually now crying. "...and you don't deserve to have your feelings
thrown aside just like that! You should... you should know that you're not
disliked by everbody. You should know that there are others who can care
for you as much as... you were so brave, at least. I wish I could be so
brave.."
"Ayane-san..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but-"
"I already know."
She looked up sharply, her eyes wide behind her frames. "What?" she
gasped. Her face burned. Of course he would know. But then, why didn't
he ever say anything before? That was cruel, too.
"But there's really someone else."
The girl nodded, and took out a handkerchief. "I know that too. I just
can't compete can't I? I'm not as smart or pretty or sophisticated
and..."
Shinji can sense she was about to enter into familiar territory and
decided to head her head off at the pass. "No. MINASE has someone else."
He shrugged. "So I can't stand in the way of that."
Ayane looked up again, her face open with shock. "She does?"
"She does." Shinji didn't know exactly why, but gave her word for word
what happened. He relished it, though he had been humiliated he felt
some delight at sharing the ugliness of her personality.
"T-that's scandalous! How long do you think this has been going on?"
The supposed best friend stood up and began pacing. "Seriously! What
could she have been thinking! We're too young. You only asked her out to
eat..."
"Strawberries."
"Eat strawberries." the girl nodded. "That wasn't a date. To have someone
waiting for her already in high-school? What is she thinking?! What is
she doing?!"
Shinji shrugged again. "Likely, she initiated it. It's a status symbol
for her, to reach above her apparent social caste. The other, I think,
would just enjoy having someone of her family status linked to him. Both
don't really know what they're doing." He sighed. "We are too young."
"You... don't sound young." said Ayane. That had always been what drew
her to him.
Shinji laughed, but sadly and at himself. "A part of me always feels
like ten thousand years old." He took a deep breath and leaned. "Or it
might just be undigested cheese."
The girl didn't know what to do with this more casual, more playful
Shinji. She felt guilty, but it was perfect. It was like everything was
made for this chance.
"No, I don't think we should be going out." said Shinji, still with
his head slumped back over the chair and almost asleep.
Ayane felt her heart stop. So THIS is what that felt like. She could
finally, truly emphatize.
"What are we, Ayane-san? Friends? We ARE too young, why change that? Why
mutate this comfortable distance we have to something we can't really
See?" He raised a hand, and made little flitting motions. "Feelings
are like butterflies... let them fly as they wish, and they return to
that flower time and again."
She smirked. How so utterly, wisely Shinji-kun of him. "Usually people
say that about horses; set it free and if it returns, it's yours forever."
He lifted his head. "They do? I didn't know that."
She giggled and sat back down, kicking her her leds. She copied his
lazy slouch on the chair.
"So... what should I do?" she asked him, while staring at ceiling too.
"Hmm? Do?"
"Yeah, you're free, Shinji-kun. Whatever you want, let's do it. What you
want me to do, I'll do it. We're friends and that's what friends do."
"Umh, you're describing more like a minion, actually."
"Then command me, your most loyal minion!" She giggled again.
Shinji sighed and let his eyes remain closed. He was pretty sure he had
one of that already, but said nothing to spare her feelings. The future
was closed to him. What did he want? Others made it their choice to make
his wants their wants. The more accurate question would be what could
he possibly want from another?
"Ayane-san?
"Yes?"
"I need you to go now." He didn't need to see her face to know she looked
hurt. "I *need* you to go out and tell Minase I don't hate her. I need
*you* to tell her to be careful. No, don't stand up. Not exactly now.
Go home and think carefully about what you'll say. We both know she's not
going to take it kindly. She will mock you. She will mock me. So prepare
yourself well."
The words, the MANIPULATION, it was so there and so obvious and she
couldn't see it. She refused to see it. What could only be described as
sheer determination filled her. Joy, at simply being needed. Power, as
if his will and wisdom was pouring into her being.
"I will..." she said. "T-thank you, Shinji-kun."
Still looking up, still distant in his gaze, he smiled thinly.
Sometime later, it was Kobayakawa who arrived. He bounded into the house
with his usual fervor, moving deceptively quickly for someone so large.
"Hey, boss! Got news boss!" he called out after being shown in.
"More of your friends, Shinji?" said Shinji's aunt. "I have some more
rice cakes. Would you like some?" he asked the rotund boy. The expected
happy nod pleased her.
"I think we should take a walk. Please wrap a few in a plastic bag."
Shinji led him a good ways out from the house, near beaten cliffs over-
looking the devouring ocean. Kobayakawa followed content in having rice
cakes to munch on. He waited patiently as Shinji stared off into the
distance.
"What have you found?"
Oh, so it's to be THAT sort of of Shinji, eh? Well, he couldn't expect
da boss to be fun about this sort of thing. "We gots the Gretchz workin'
boss. One'a dem saw Minase stop at a call booth to phone someone instead
of using her cell phone. She ducked into a store and came out looking
different, hair up in bun and everything. Dude in a bike came by and
took her off."
"You know, I SHOULD be feeling some dismay at how you have kindergarten
kids stalking people, but I just can't seem to raise it right now. I'm
impressed though, they're surprisingly patient and hard to fool."
Kobayakawa lifted his double chin up. "My Gretchz are da best, boss. No
one ever notices a little kid. Have four of dem squatting in a corner
and nobody cares what dey do. It's like derr invisible. If dey look
playing, they can do anything."
"Good job. Now what's about dis runty squig? I don't think the Gretz can
follow dem on a bike, can they?"
"No need ta, boss!" His voice then brightened. "We gots dis little Gretz,
we call 'im Bike Boy. He knows the bikes of EVERYBODY in dis town. If
its on two wheels, he knows it. Dat cause his brudda runs da bike shop.
He works da Gretz on messenger service. We gots him and other shops on
it, so we always haz a stash of candy for all da boyz back at da hut.
No toyz is too expensive if ya can share it. No one messes wid da mob
without da rest chippin' in."
Shinji nodded approvingly. Da Boyz were actually loved by the merchants
downtown. Let them grow up a bit more and that cut off an entire
generation out for 'protection'. Da Boyz would actually protect these
people.
"We gots some bad news for ya, boss. Da squig's Kotaru Jishin; he's in
high school, third year. Now HIS brudda's Yakuza. He's in prison right
now so the squig's behavin'. He's 'ard though. Runs da junior high mob,
nutting like OUR mob." Kobayakawa seemed to shrink into himself. "If we
gets at him, a lot of da boyz are gonna get hurt."
"So? Don't. I only asked you for information."
"But you're DA BOSS! Who hurts ya hurts all da boyz. Who don't respects
da don't respects da boyz! We should stomp him! STOMP HIM GOOD! W-"
"DON'T!" Shinji turned, his eyes glittering madly. "That word is NOT to
be used so lightly, so foolishly. Do you understand me?"
Kobayakawa took a step back. "Uh, sure boss."
"The Waaagh! is sacred. It is not for the boyz to waste. Da Waaagh! is
to be done when and only when da world needs turnin' back to the right
and proppa. You smacks someones, you stomps someone. But you don't call
Da Waaagh! without a warboss! And you don't have a warboss until you
HAVE A WAR! Do you hear me?"
"Boss! I hear yas!"
"When you calls a Waaagh!, I expects there to be nothing left! You will
stompz da target until it is gone, you will breaks der stuff, you will
digs der landz up until nobodys can remember where dey once waz; you
will send da boyz and da boyz will not stops until da odda side is all
right and propa and OURS! DAT, IS DA WAAAGH! Do you getz it?!"
"Y-yes, boss. I getz ya, boss." Kobayakawa had an expression which
could only be described as religious awe. "You Da Boss."
Shinji stepped back, and sighed heavily. "So, don't say it."
"...not gonna say it."
"Something has to be done about this Jishin. He's got that broody bad
boy image young girls love." Shinji steepled his fingers, and held it
up to just under his nose as he thought. "He wants her money. He wants
her body. He will use her, he will break her. I can See it."
And I can just let it happen. Wouldn't that be perfect?
He sighed again. "Send someone to follow him and Minase around, ready
to call the cops." Crap. He had sent Ayane out. "You know Mitsugane
Ayane? She's my friend. I need you to watch out for her. If she's in
trouble, I don't care what, jump in. Protect her."
"Yes, boss. Sure thing boss..."
Shinji turned and smiled now. "Auntie makes good rice cakes, doesn't she?
It's the sliver of cheese she puts on top. Come on, let's get you some
more."
"Thanks, boss!"
-tbc-
It's not just humor anymore. Ah well. That one change in the timeline kinda snowballed away from me, hurtling and building even beyond my expectations. AAAGH! My fingers hurt. Just... imagine for a while what this might be building into. Just as there were different ways of approaching the original crack premise, so am I feeling somewhat overwhelmed with ideas. Meh. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's the treatment, the Sit Down Shut Up Get It Done that matters.
Ow. Must rest for a few hours. The rest later, or tomorrow.
edit:
Can I just ak you then to bear it, rather than have me delete breaks line by line? Consider it a... mental block of mine. Chunking keeps me from writing even longer prose, helps me handle literal bricks in building plots; and like an old dog it's simply what I grew up with.
Thanks. However, it is just halfway into the actual story/section I planned. That's not an ending yet.
By the way, about the Orks; did they completely retconn that bit in Rogue Trader about how no matter how far in the universe the Adeptus Mechanicus probed, they could get an orkish transmission? Leading them to think that no matter where it was, the orks could likely have gotten there first? They're never gonna escape the orks.
Ahh. That and the Snotling Launcher was just what made them pure awesome to me.
By the way, about the Orks; did they completely retconn that bit in Rogue Trader about how no matter how far in the universe the Adeptus Mechanicus probed, they could get an orkish transmission? Leading them to think that no matter where it was, the orks could likely have gotten there first? They're never gonna escape the orks.
Ahh. That and the Snotling Launcher was just what made them pure awesome to me.
This story just reminded me of the story where the native american comes alive while being put in a cupboard(sp?). What was that called Indian in the cabinet or cupboard or something. Any way I somehow feel cheated that there is no Tau faction in this. I mean a Por'el could have been interesting to see how Shinji talked with it but whatever. Well can't wait for the next part of the story. I love this.
It's early yet little Tau, He might get new advisors once he enters Tokyo-3 proper.
Thou with the setup of the high schooler/yak wannabe entering teh fold I see a WAAAGH! incoming or worse... Necron Lord!Shinji... *brr*
one request.. that IG!Shinji be the one to do the sniper mission aganist the 4th angel.
EDIT: You have been Sigged...
Thou with the setup of the high schooler/yak wannabe entering teh fold I see a WAAAGH! incoming or worse... Necron Lord!Shinji... *brr*
one request.. that IG!Shinji be the one to do the sniper mission aganist the 4th angel.
EDIT: You have been Sigged...
I like what you have done with this. Depth with some humor works for me. Now for a proofreading and comentary pass:
That first one should either be, "He had friends," or be deleted.
If he goes for the elfin etherial type, Rei is going to blow him away.
The strangest thing about this inherently odd set up may be that I keep picturing Shinji looking at his father during their first meeting and calmly saying, "I understand."
The MIB bit was good, but this is even better.
Everyone needs to come to terms with their dark side eventually.
I'm afraid I lost track in this bit of dialog. Is the first part Ayane talking to Shinji, or Shinji talking to Ayane? The "and she was actually now seems like Shinji's thoughts about her, but the following "Ayane-san" sounds like him breaking in to her gushing speech.
Again, I'm seeing Shinji telling Gendo he understands where he's coming from.
That first one should either be, "He had friends," or be deleted.
If he goes for the elfin etherial type, Rei is going to blow him away.
The strangest thing about this inherently odd set up may be that I keep picturing Shinji looking at his father during their first meeting and calmly saying, "I understand."
The MIB bit was good, but this is even better.
Everyone needs to come to terms with their dark side eventually.
I'm afraid I lost track in this bit of dialog. Is the first part Ayane talking to Shinji, or Shinji talking to Ayane? The "and she was actually now seems like Shinji's thoughts about her, but the following "Ayane-san" sounds like him breaking in to her gushing speech.
Again, I'm seeing Shinji telling Gendo he understands where he's coming from.
OMAKE
"Now then Shinkii just work on..."
"Princeps."
"Huh?"
"The commander of a battle titan is addressed as Princeps Captain."
"Rigggghhhhtttt. Well Princeps just work on walking Unit 01..."
"Imperio Dictato. Battle Titans require a name. Unless you wish for the machine spirit within to take offense?"
"Now then Shinkii just work on..."
"Princeps."
"Huh?"
"The commander of a battle titan is addressed as Princeps Captain."
"Rigggghhhhtttt. Well Princeps just work on walking Unit 01..."
"Imperio Dictato. Battle Titans require a name. Unless you wish for the machine spirit within to take offense?"