Evangelion The Angel of Doubt

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#26
So... it's been a while. I've suffered from a couple of bouts of writer's block as well as a kind of series of conflicting ideas. I know exactly where this story is going, and I think that's my problem. I have the ending all planned out and in my mind and in a rather gibberishy text file. Anyway, that's off topic, but I am trying to get here is, as this first snippet of chapter came about, I slowly found myself writing a few things I didn't really expect, specifically regarding Rei in regards to Arthur. (Yeah... that freaked me out, a little, actually. But I'm gonna run with it.)

I have to say, I am not at all sure what I think of this chapter so far, except for the fact that I have that sinking feeling that I might have missed the mark. Regardless, this is just the first part, because, by the end of the next chapter, Chapter Four, I plan to have Shinji and Ford embark on Ford's little planned trip.

I'd like to add to my own wall of text preface that I am happy I finally got to the first of a few changes I wanted to make to all the characters, most notably for starters, Rei. The wardrobe change might strike you as a little random and WTF but... You know... I have a purpose behind it, someplace. I'll explain it later. (I'll also quickly note I think I actually might have successfully pulled off some foreshadowing here in this snippet, maybe.)

So... to cut my rambles aside, here is the First Part of the Third Chapter of The Angel of Doubt. Enjoy!

****************
The Angel of Doubt
****************
Chapter Three
****************

In a stark contrast to Heathrow, Tokyo-3 International Airport remained constantly busier than most would have though possible in the years following Second Impact, thanks mostly to the comings and goings of the organization known as NERV. It was also a great deal smaller than Heathrow, as well as one of the only semi-civilian airports left in existence following the last series of wars to be heavily guarded with Anti-Aircraft defenses. All and all a warming and welcoming place, the main concourse of the airport was adorned with plants and couches and attractive women to greet weary travelers and helpful multi-lingual signs to the airport bar that simply read ôThe booze flows from here.ö in seven different languages, followed by a helpful arrow. All in all, Arthur Dent figured this was probably the most warm and welcoming airport he had ever been in. The train of thought, however, led to a conclusion Arthur would have rather not reached. As he walked rather lazily through the airport concourse, Arthur keep feeling a nagging little itch in the back of his mind that told him something was amiss about this situation. The further he got from his departure terminal, the greater the itch became. Finally, it hit him like a proverbial ton of bricks.

ôBUGGER ME!ö shouted Arthur at the top of his lungs, slapping his forehead in frustration. ôI have no idea where to find Ford!ö

Yes, despite being a relative veteran of intergalactic hitchhiking, with nothing to go on but the obviously manufactured alias of ôF.P. Kajiö on the envelopes he was sent, Arthur had no clue how to find Ford. Even if ôF.P. Kajiö wasn't an alias and was indeed an actual person, the previously forgotten specter of the language barrier came flooding back to the forefront of Arthur's mind. This was, alas, yet another rash decision in a long string of rash decisions that usually sprung up around Arthur's good friend Ford. With hope draining from his heart as he resigned himself to the impasse he had arrived at, Arthur sighed and slinked away towards one of the many couches that dotted the concourse like small, comfortable islands in a sea of confusion. He also failed to notice he had a companion on the proverbial island he had marooned himself on. Next to him sat a teenage girl with light blue hair, wearing what he assumed as a school uniform, (as it fit in with all the whispers he had heard about what got the men of this country excited) furiously writing in a notebook. She didn't seem to take notice of Arthur's presence, but Arthur took note of the one feature of hers that struck him as odd, her blood red eyes. While certainly an unusual color on Earth, Arthur had seen many strange eye pigments in his travels, most curious to him being a group of humanoids he had encountered with stark white eyes that claimed to be able to see three hundred and sixty degrees with them. (Though for all their talk, the only creatures with three hundred and sixty degree vision that Arthur knew of lived in a cave on a planet locked almost entirely in perpetual nighttime.) The possibility that this teenager next to him was not from Earth danced around inside Arthur's head, but he didn't think he could ask without looking insane. The girl would probably call the police if he tried to ask her something along the lines of ôHey there, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are red. Are you an alien or did you just hit your head on the deep end of the gene pool?ö However, Arthur wouldn't have to worry about breaking the ice this time.

ôI would like to thank you, sir.ö said the blue haired girl in a quiet monotone.

ôPardon?ö asked Arthur, not noticing his babel fish had translated the girl's native tongue. ôWhy are you thanking me?ö

ôIs it not customary to offer thanks to someone when they have rendered you a service?ö

ôWait... you speak English?ö Arthur asked, his human genealogy causing him to state the obvious.

ôI am fluent in five languages.ö replied the girl, her tone changing ever so slightly, as if to convey annoyance. ôCorrect me if I am wrong, but is it not considered impolite to answer a person's question with one of your own, completely dodging the original question?ö

Arthur furrowed his brow. ôYes, to both your questions, actually. But... still, what have I done for you?ö

ôYou have given me inspiration, and for that I thank you. It is not often my subjects come close. I generally only see them from a far.ö

Arthur again noticed her notebook. ôSo... you drew a sketch of me?ö

ôNo, I have been writing poetry. As of late, I cannot resist the urge to do so.ö

ôP..p..poetry, eh?ö asked Arthur as a shiver went down his spine, recalling briefly past experiences.

ôWould you like to hear some?ö

ôNo! No... that's okay, I'll pass. I'm terribly jet lagged and I can never listen to poetry while I'm jet lagged. No appreciation for the arts with a headache, you know?ö

ôHmm...ö was all Rei said, apparently deep in thought. ôI need a title. What is your name?

ôMy name is Arthur Dent. How about you?ö

ôI am called Rei Ayanami.ö Rei scribbled something in her notebook. ôThere, Arthur and the Airport. That is what it shall be called.ö

ôRather fitting title, isn't it?ö

ôIndeed.ö Rei paused and looked at Arthur. ôIs it possible that you will sign the back of the poem, so others will know that this poem is about Arthur Dent?ö

ôOf course!ö Arthur said with a smile. He took the offered paper and pen and scribbled ôArthur Philip Dentö in a script that some doctors would have a problem reading. ôThere you are, Arthur Philip Dent. Now you have my John Hancock, as the yanks would say.ö

ôI do not understand, who is John Hancock?ö

ôEr... um... He's just this guy, you know?ö stuttered Arthur, moving to hand Rei her pen back. It was at this point that the fabric of the Universe decided to have a little bit of a hiccup, causing Rei's black ink pen to shatter in her lap, covering her school uniform in splotches that would have confused Hermann Rorshach himself. ôOh, damn it all!ö

Rei looked impassively from her ruined uniform to the ink dripping off Arthur's hand and back again. Red eyes met brown as Rei, unsurprisingly, was at a loss for words.

Quickly trying to alleviate his guilt, Arthur looked at the notebook still in his lap. ôWell... at least the poetry is safe. Right?ö

ôInk does not wash out easily, does it?ö

Arthur shook his head. ôNot so much, no...ö

ôI see...ö

The proverbial lightbulb went off as Arthur noticed his rather convenient proximity to the Duty Free shop. ôListen, wait right here... I'm going to go wash up and to make it up to you I'm going to buy you something new to wear home, at least.ö he cracked a small smile. ôCan't get the boys to listen to your poetry if you look like you just fought a copy machine!ö Arthur wasn't exactly sure that Rei was the kind of person who wanted to attract boys, but the adrenaline his brain was pumping into his body told him that this avenue of flattery would perhaps stop Rei from getting him thrown into a foreign jail cell less than ten minutes after arriving in the country.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about Adrenaline. Epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline, is a hormone found in the nervous systems of various humanoid species, most notably Homo sapiens, that controls a fight or flight reaction. Adrenaline is usually released in response to moments of stress or surprise to the being in question, to prepare the body for an emergency situation by suppressing the immune system and reportedly, blocking some pain receptors. It should be noted that a chemical with a similar effect is secreted during arousal and consequent sexual gratification. This being said, most species that have adrenaline have a sub-set of it's population that has been dubbed ôadrenaline junkiesö by some, who go about putting themselves in dangerous situations for the orgasm like high they feel. Most sane individuals would find this utterly crazy because it's much safer and cheaper to just have a romp in the sack. It should also be noted that adrenaline has an effect on the mind, and can often lead to extreme knee jerk reactions to situations that almost never required the kind of immediate response they received, for this response is usually the exact opposite of what should have been done.

Rei just looked on impassively as she silently waited for Arthur to return. Normally she would just go home as is and not worry, but she had been told to wait, and she was not about to disobey an order, even if it was from a strange man who somehow made her stomach feel slightly warmer deep down in the pit, much to her confusion. A thought crossed her mind and a new idea was birthed in the annuls of Rei Ayanami's mind, a new poem that she at the moment could not jot down, thanks to her wearing her weapon of choice. Idle thoughts and silhouettes of ideas danced inside Rei's mind like any sort of wispy, wistful imagery, probably clouds or something of the like. One of these small wisps begged the question why the strange foreigner Arthur Dent had suddenly become what she had her referred to as a ômuseö, seemingly invading her creative conscious and putting down roots in the back of her mind, as if he fully intended to stay awhile, perhaps long after dinner had passed. Rei resolved that she would seek out help in deciphering just what this all meant. Her wispy, cloud-like thoughts were pushed aside however, as Arthur came jogging back carrying a large bag.

ôOh good! You're still here.ö panted Arthur, desperately trying to catch his breath. He placed the bag on next to Rei on the airport couch. ôRight... well, I kind of just guessed sizes as best as I could... There is a shirt, undershirt short pants, belt and a uh, free pair of sunglasses thrown in there by the store clerk. Seems I caught a package deal of sorts.ö Arthur rubbed the back of his head. ôI had a teenage daughter once, you see... Never really got the chance to...ö He found himself talking to thin air as he saw the retreating form of Rei heading to the Women's Restrooms, presumably to change, and not call the authorities, something Arthur silently dreaded.

As he anxiously waited for Rei to return, Arthur's thoughts drifted to his daughter Random, who was almost the polar opposite of what Rei appeared to be. While Random was brash, rebellious and all in all disillusioned with life and the universe, Rei seemed to be quiet, stoic and more obedient than a trained poodle, as evidenced by her lack of running off, staying put when told. Arthur harbored few regrets, he figured, about his life, but the fact that he felt he somehow could have done better for Random, despite not even knowing she existed, stuck with him. Putting these thoughts side, out of the corner of his eye he saw the returning form of Rei Ayanami, and he could not hold back his awkward cough. The blue haired teen approached him, wearing a bright two-tone blue and purple Hawaiian shirt with a white undershirt and tan cargo shorts, and a simple leather belt holding said pants up. Still wearing her standard issue school socks and shoes, she cut a rather odd figure, topped off by the free pair of blue tinted, thin rimmed sunglasses that gave her eyes a purple color.

ôEr, hello, Rei. How does everything fit?ö

ôIt is adequate.ö replied Rei, as she set the bag containing her soiled clothes down on the couch. ôThough this gesture was entirely unnecessary.ö

Arthur blinked at her reply and looked her over again. ôI don't think so. I ruined your clothes, I got you some replacements. Granted, this isn't as swanky and posh as it could be, but they were bought at a Duty Free store, mind you.ö He cleared his throat. ôBesides, it's a huge improvement. It gives you a look more fitting of a person with the uh.... Soul of a poet, so to speak.ö

If anyone else who had known Rei for longer than half a day where present, they'd surely believe the world had stopped. Rei was blushing ever so slightly, which highlighted her pale skin. ôThank you, Mr. Dent...ö Her blush faded and the conversation fell dead in the air like a trapeze artist that had suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack.

ôWell... I suppose I should be going, Rei.ö said Arthur, breaking the silence. ôI have to track down Ford, or F.P. Kaji or whatever the bloody hell he is calling himself these days...ö

ôI know a Kaji.ö

ôPardon?ö

ôI happen to know a Kaji, perhaps he can provide information on the one you are looking for.ö

Arthur, ever the Englishman, objected as quick as he could. ôNo, I couldn't possibly impose.ö

ôI have nothing scheduled. You will not inconvenience me.ö

Purple tinted eyes met Brown and Arthur smiled. ôIf you are certain, then I thank you. Lead the way.ö

And so the odd couple of the six-foot plus tall, towering foriegner and the slender, oddly dressed, blue haired teen departed Tokyo-3 International Airport with nothing but his luggage, her poetry, and the promise of possibly helping Arthur Dent finally meet up with his estranged friend Ford Prefect and perhaps, finally learn just what was up with the test results in the envelope he had received.
 

Supermutant

Well-Known Member
#28
Temjin-On said:
In fact, if she existed in a dimension than the one she does,
Maybe a little late to be suggesting corrections to the previous piece, but I think that should read, "a dimension other than"

Asuka let her mouth engage before her mouth, (which her talent at is unparalleled.) and blurted out a defiant challenge before thinking things through.
I figure that should be, her mouth engaging before her mind or brain perhaps? At which her talent is unparalleled.
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#29
Supermutant said:
Temjin-On said:
In fact, if she existed in a dimension than the one she does,
Maybe a little late to be suggesting corrections to the previous piece, but I think that should read, "a dimension other than"

Asuka let her mouth engage before her mouth, (which her talent at is unparalleled.) and blurted out a defiant challenge before thinking things through.
I figure that should be, her mouth engaging before her mind or brain perhaps? At which her talent is unparalleled.
I had actually fixed those when I posted to FF.N... Well, the mouth before mouth one, thanks for pointing out the typo on Dimension other than the one she's in.
 

Harlequin

Well-Known Member
#30
I like this story. It's intriguing. Though, just to prevent me from going more insane wondering about it, Asuka isn't Random is she?
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#31
Harlequin said:
I like this story. It's intriguing. Though, just to prevent me from going more insane wondering about it, Asuka isn't Random is she?
No, she isn't. Random may or may not be alive, but no, Asuka and Random are two different people.
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#32
I got another chunk of a snippet here, this one's been another one where I've had some writer's block and I feel like it kind of dragged on. In fact, I'm not sure if I should stop here or if I should write the final snippet, going for how I planned to finish this chapter and have Ford and Shinji meet up with Rei and Arthur, before the two set off on their as-yet-to-be-revealed trip.

Alright, so here's Part two of Chapter Three of The Angel of Doubt.

-----

(Elsewhere, on the other side of Tokyo-3)

Ford and Shinji were currently in what seemed to be the latest in a endless series of elevators, this time on their way to Shinji's apartment, the domicile he shared with Asuka, Misato and Pen-pen. Shinji absently shuddered at the thought of the familiar scenario looming ahead of him. Asuka was going to be pissed, which was par for course, but she was also hungry. These two things coupled together meant he might as well prepare the ice packs now. He had heard Misato say that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, and he figured it was pretty much the same thing with Asuka. Not that Shinji would ever dare compare her to a man, mind you. Despite his rather bleak outlook on things, Shinji nevertheless liked being alive quite a lot.

ôShinji, I need to ask you a favor.ö said Ford, stroking his chin.

ôYes Ford? What is it?ö

ôCall me Kaji while around Misato and Asuka.ö

ôWhy?ö

ôIt's to keep up appearances.ö he popped a breath mint into his mouth, giving one to Shinji. ôIt's a lot easier for them to not know what is going on.ö

ôI see...ö Shinji sighed. ôI'm not even sure what is going on, anymore.ö

ôAh, yes, don't worry about that. You're fine.ö

ôAm I now?ö

ôYes, Shinji.ö said Ford as reassuringly as he possibly could muster, putting a hand on Shinji's shoulder. ôEverything is cool and froody, you just have to follow my lead.ö

ôWhy do I get the feeling this isn't going to end well?ö

ôStop worrying so much! You gotta learn to let go once in a while. My god man! Where's your sense of adventure?ö

The elevator dinged open to reveal the familiar sight of Shinji's home floor. Ford added bit more of a swagger to his step that he was accustomed to doing while acting the part of Kaji. Shinji just swallowed his mostly dissolved breath mint, whispering a silent prayer to anyone who'd listen that Asuka was going to be in a good enough mood by seeing Kaji that she might just forget to beat him senseless. Or at the very least, was delayed in doing so. And so they went, Ford swaggering confidently down the hall, with Shinji sulking behind, his eyes fixed to the floor in a way that only years of emotional distance could possibly imbue. As they drew nearer to the apartment door, both fully expected to hear the rage of a certain red-haired girl, but surprisingly, things were mostly quiet. Nothing to indicate a massive existence failure on the horizon for Shinji, and nothing to indicate a rabid fan girl attack for Ford. Neither knew, however, if this false sense of security would hold up when Ford reached to ring the doorbell. Only to be interrupted by Shinji.

ôWait, why are you ringing the doorbell? I have a key.ö

ôNo you don't.ö Ford said, giving Shinji a slight wink, the gesture completely lost on the boy. ôYou've forgotten it.ö

ôNo I haven't, it's right here in my pocket!ö

ôNo it isn't, and please, notice the wink this time.ö Ford winked again. ôYou haven't got your key. What do I have to do, a bloody Jedi hand wave?ö he sighed. ôYou are nowhere near equipped to deal with this situation. I however, am. So please, once again, follow my lead.ö

ôAlright, I'll do my best.ö

ôThat's the spirit. Now, just act casual.ö Ford reached up and pressed the doorbell button, letting loose a chorus of bells and chimes, alerting all inside that they had a visitor.

A muffled yell from beyond the threshold responded to the doorbell, accompanied by the stomping of feet. Coincidentally, Shinji felt a familiar bit of fear swell up from his stomach as the footsteps grew nearer. Suddenly the door slid open, revealing a flash of red hair and anger that could only belong to one person.

ôIdiot, did you forget your key again!?ö barked Asuka, who was attempting to stare a hole right through her fellow pilot. ôI shudder to think that I am going into battle with you backing me up! Why I wouldn't be surprised if you forgot how to deploy an A.T. Field or fire the pallet rifle! You are lucky I am the best pilot NERV has or the world really would come to an end!ö

ôLecturing again there, Professor?ö asked Ford, cocking his trademark Kaji smile. ôI wasn't aware that a lecture on the Ego was on the syllabus for today.ö

Asuka took a deep breath, immediately letting any and all traces of anger fall from her face and back into the deep pits of her body she kept all those pesky little emotions bottled up in, and flashed the best smile she was able to on such short notice. ôKAJI! I didn't expect to see you here! Please, come in and make yourself comfortable!ö Asuka turned her head quickly to glare daggers at Shinji as he was ushered in behind Ford. To further drive her point home, she quietly growled, ôWe will finish discussing why I was forced to eat Misato's cooking later.ö as he passed by.

Just beyond the threshold of the apartment and into the kitchen, Misato sat at the table, twirling a pair of chopsticks around with her fingers, eyeballing an apparently uneaten meal of instant ramen. ôAsuka, are you sure you aren't going to finish your dinner?ö

ôIf you feel your body can handle the punishment that is dished out by that failed attempt to pass raw sewage off as food, then by all means, by my guest.ö Asuka grumbled, quickly shifting her mood back to cheerful. ôBesides, I have to watch my figure, so I can look my best for Kaji!ö

Misato turned her head and smiled what she thought was her most devious smile, or at least the most devious smile she could get away with outside of the bedroom, when she observed Asuka with Ford and Shinji. ôOf course you do, I'd hate for you to somehow fail to get his attention...ö She let the last word fall dead, fully intending to let the weight of her sentence remind Asuka of her previous boasting, and the little matter of her betting her entire next paycheck on her ability to seduce Ryoji Kaji.

It didn't take her college education for Asuka to understand Misato's implications. The universe had sneezed and her path had crossed with Kaji's, and there was no time like the present. It is now or never, do or die. In truth, Asuka didn't know much about seduction, not that she would ever admit that she didn't know something, her pride would not allow that. While she did not know seduction, Asuka did know what she had read in text books back in Berlin, and that is what she would base her attack on. ôYou know Kaji, it really is good to see you again. You never come around anymore...ö

ôYeah... About that.ö replied Ford, sitting down at the table across from Misato. ôThe Commander has had me running to and fro, you see. Been terribly busy.ö

ôIt's almost as if you don't want to get to know me any better than just little old Asuka.ö On that note, Asuka stretched her arms above her head, pushing her breasts slightly together, accentuating them in a manner she found very sexy. If she had been paying attention she would have found that Shinji found this very sexy too, and that Ford wasn't even paying attention.

ôNo no, I never said that.ö Ford leaned slightly over the table, reaching for Misato's open can of beer. ôI'm sure there are a great number of things that you have improved upon about yourself.ö

ôHey!ö Misato shouted, slapping Ford's hand away from her beer. ôGet your own! I don't recall this Yebisu being for you.ö

ôAh yes, but I wanted that one. So as to share an indirect kiss with a beautiful woman.ö

ôYou know, that reminds me of something I once did a paper on in college, Kaji.ö Asuka sighed contentedly, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. ôResearch shows that the best way to get to know someone is through kissing them. There is all sorts of emotion and communication through such a simple gesture, it's easy to tell what kind of person your partner is simply by kissing them.ö

ôAhh kissing, the Gateway Drug of Sexuality.ö sighed Misato, failing to hide a rather unladylike burp.

ôAh. That is interesting.ö Ford smiled, then quickly shot a wink at Shinji. ôDon't you think so, Shinji?ö He nodded dumbly, trying not to anger the beast, so to speak. ôStill not sure I follow, though.ö

ôAre you saying you don't want to get to know me better?ö Asuka formed her face into the best pout she could muster. ôI'm hurt, Kaji.ö

ôOh what the hell, what could one kiss hurt?ö

Asuka's heart skipped a beat, her body yelling silently in triumph. She had won the bet! ôYes! In your face Misato!ö

ôRyoji Kaji!ö barked Misato as she watched Ford get up from the table. ôYou really have stooped low, haven't you?ö

ôRelax, Misato. It'll be good for her, trust me. Better from me than some sex pervert...ö He flashed Misato a smile and hoped she would catch on. ôNow, Asuka, I also recall reading some of this research, and it stated that you get to know someone better by keeping your eyes closed, so as to get to know the person without any presumptions.ö

Asuka nodded her head and closed her eyes, as she leaned back against the kitchen wall. ôI'm ready when you are, Kaji.ö

Ford walked over to Shinji and gently grabbed him by both his shoulders, leaning in and whispering ôFollow my lead, yeah?ö. He then lead him over to Asuka as best as he could. ôJust a second, Asuka, I have to make sure that Misato is witness to this, just to say you finally reached that landmark in your young life.ö He noticed Misato had produced a Polaroid camera from a drawer and was focused on the pending spectacle. At that, Ford couldn't help but smile. ôAh right then, here I come.ö

Asuka actually shuddered with anticipation, this truthfully being her first kiss. It was a win-win in her book, getting her first kiss from the object of her affection and winning a month's worth of Misato's NERV pay. Or at least, she assumed she would have it, because kissing would have to lead to sex at some point, right? After what seemed like an unending eternity, she felt a pair of lips meet hers, setting off a torrent of sensations and a feeling of total warmth all over her body. The only thing Asuka's mind could form into a sentence was ôMein Gott! His lips taste slighty minty and salty! And who knew Kaji's face was so soft!ö It took a split second for her to fully assess what bothered her about the statement hanging in her mind. ôWait a minute? SOFT?ö Asuka's eyes shot open in an instant to see the face of Shinji Ikari connected to hers, Ford standing behind him grinning like a madman and Misato behind both of them shaking a developing Polaroid snapshot. She pushed Shinji backward and into Ford's arms, and bolted to the other side of the Kitchen.

ôHa ha! Way to go Shin-chan!ö cheered Misato. ôOh, Asuka... It looks like you lost our bet. But don't fret, I'm sure Shinji would be more than happy to comfort you!ö

Asuka pointed a wild finger at Ford, in the universal sign of accusation. ôYou... YOU TRICKED ME! BASTARD!ö

ôYeah... I guess I did. But don't you feel better now that you've gotten to know Shinji better?ö

Asuka turned her rage filled eyes toward the boy who was still leaning up against Ford, obviously shell shocked from what happened. ôThat isn't the point! The point is that Shinji-baka just cost me an entire month's pay!ö She stormed straight for him just as he got back on his own two feet, and punched him through a surprisingly thin wall, which the Japanese are inexplicably fond of using in home construction. ôDIE!ö Turning back to Ford, she glared once again. ôYou're lucky I'm the forgiving type, Kaji! You could have broke my heart!ö And with that, Asuka stomped off to her room and slammed the door.

ôAh... Kids. Remind you of anyone, Misato?ö

ôDon't think one brilliantly executed prank is going to get you out of the dog house, Kaji.ö

ôWho, me? I'd never think that!ö he laughed heartily. ôOh, and while we're on the subject, I'm supposed to inform you that Shinji is going to be coming with me for a few days on official NERV business. So, you'll be down to just Asuka and Rei for your Angel stomping needs.ö

ôWhat?!ö blurted Misato, spraying beer all over her table. ôWhy? On who's orders?ö

ôI have clearance from the Sub-Commander, so it's all kosher.ö

ôHow come I haven't been told about this?ö

ôYou just where, actually...ö

Misato sent an empty can of Yebisu whizzing past Ford's head. ôCan it smart-ass! Just tell me where the hell are you going anyway?ö

ôThat isn't important, you just have to trust me.ö

ôThe hell it isn't important! Why should I trust you anyway?ö

ôThree words: Large-Mouthed Bass.ö

Curiously enough, Large-Mouthed Bass was exactly what Misato looked like as she gaped at the mention of the move that, unbeknown to her, was quietly making her famous in certain circles in the Universe. ôSo you're going to blackmail me with that, eh? Fine then. I'll let it go.ö

It would be a good time to note that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this to say about blackmail. Blackmail is perhaps the most widely accepted business practice in the known Universe. While blackmail gets a sort of bum-rap from many places, if you are involved in anyway with politics or business you almost have to blackmail to get ahead. In one sector in the Crab Nebula, an entire secondary economy is based on how well you can blackmail those around you. While generally more accepted than outright extortion, in some places in the universe, you can still be punished in some rather painful and deadly ways for blackmailing someone. So use with caution.

ôI'm glad you see things my way.ö Ford cleared his throat. ôShinji! When you get a chance, pack a bag and then we'll have to be off.ö
 

Jim Starluck

Well-Known Member
#35
You really have managed to capture the tone of the HGTTG books perfectly. Quite well done.



Also... Rei + poetry = ...

...this forum needs a smiley for sheer absolute terror.



Edit: Any other HGTTG characters going to be showing up? Zaphod? Trillian? Whats-her-name the love interest from "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish" who was unceremoniously crushed by a falling bridge?
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#36
I have not decided on what to do about Fenchurch yet, but rest assured Zaphod is coming after Ford and Co get back from Norway. Trillian will return, too, I just dunno when.

So it's finally wrapped up and on FF.N. So here is the Last Snippet of Chapter Three of The Angel of Doubt.

---

A groan came from the Shinji-sized hole in the wall as the poor boy pulled himself back into the kitchen and onto his feet. ôArgh... Did Asuka just punch me?ö

ôYes, yes she did.ö replied Ford solemnly. ôBut hey, on the bright side, you've taken your first step to manhood. I'm proud of you.ö

ôI don't think Asuka liked it too much...ö

ôNonsense, she enjoyed it more than you know. After we get back from our trip you'll see her point of view will have changed.ö

ôIf you say so...ö

ôI just, didn't I? Now go on and get a bag packed, we've got a ride to hitch.ö

Shinji nodded and sort of half-limped toward his room, causing Misato to redouble her efforts in objecting to Ford's scheme. ôShinji isn't in any shape to travel! What is so important he has to come, anyway?ö

Ford simply chose to ignore Misato's latest inquiry, mainly because, as fate would have it, his cell phone rang. ôKaji's phone, how can I help you?ö He paused slightly. ô... Rei? How are you? You're kind of the last person I'd expect to hear from.ö Ford's eyebrows shot up slightly. ôDo I know an F.P. Kaji?ö He looked over his shoulder at a leering Misato. ôYeah... I do, actually. Listen, is there someone with you? Okay, meet me at the Bridge by the Train Station in one hour.ö He clipped his phone shut and dropped it in his pocket.

ôRei, huh? What exactly are you doing with the First Child?ö

ôNothing, really, it's the Man she's with that I'm interested in.ö

ôWHAT?!ö

ôYeah, old friend of mine from England, she happened to run into him at the airport.ö

ôWhat was she doing there?ö

Ford shrugged. ôBeats me. You should probably ask Section-2ö He noticed that Shinji had come back out of his room with a backpack slung over his shoulders. ôHey... ready to go? We've got some people to meet.ö Shinji nodded. ôAlright then, say goodbye to Misato, maybe you should give her a goodbye kiss, you will be gone a few days.ö

ôKAJI!ö snapped Misato, who then did a personality flip and smiled sweetly at her charge. ôTake care, Shinji. I'll see you when you get back.ö

ôBye, Misato.ö Shinji blushed slightly. ôAnd... please say goodbye to Asuka for me as well. I... don't think she'll be too happy to see me right now.ö

Before Misato could answer, Ford clicked his heels together and pushed Shinji towards the door. ôWell then, we've got to be off. I'll catch you later, beautiful! Light a candle for your wayward lover and wayward son!ö

With the closing of the door, Misato slumped back into her seat and nursed her open can of beer. She thought back to her days in college and the actual first time she had met Ryoji Kaji and realized that it bore a striking similarity to the somewhat mysterious and random way he had arranged for this sudden and unexpected trip. She eventually reached the conclusion that she really didn't understand her former paramour, but all the same there was still something there that she couldn't quite place her hand on. He just seemed so out there, as if he was completely foreign. Shrugging it all off, Misato put her thoughts out of mind and got up to go tell Asuka that she would have endure her cooking for a few more days.

(An hour later, at the bridge...)

Shinji and Ford had made the journey from the apartment to the bridge with nary a word spoke between them, which seemed like it was quickly becoming the norm for the two of them. Finally, Shinji found something to say, which turned out to be, to Ford's utter lack of shock, a question.

ôFord, you still haven't told me where we are going.ö

ôI told you, to see a very old man about some very old computer coding.ö

ôYes, but why?ö

ôWhy not? If we don't do it, who will?

Shinji sighed. ôI don't know...ö

ôYou see, easy as that.ö Ford coughed. ôWell, first off we have to go see Rei. She has someone with her I very much need to see.ö

ôWho would that be?ö

ôFriend of mine, you'll love him. If you weren't so Marvin-esque all the time, you'd remind me a lot of him.ö Ford came to a stop and looked across the bridge. ôAh, I think that's them over there.ö He waved his hands in the air so as to draw attention to himself. ôOi! Over here!ö

Two figures walked over the bridge toward Ford and Shinji, the two striking a rather odd profile, seeing as one was almost two feet taller than the other. One the left was a man that Shinji had never seen before, obviously Ford's friend and on the right was a girl he swore couldn't have been Rei, yet the hair color was a dead giveaway. In his mind, there was no way that he could ever picture Rei in a brightly colored Hawaiian short, shorts and tinted sunglasses but there it was right in front of him. She looked more like the bastard child of Jimmy Buffet than the pilot of Unit-01.

ôPilot Ikari, it is good to see you again.ö said Rei as she walked up to him.

ôEr... hello, Rei.ö was all that Shinji could manage, as he was still in shock from seeing his comrade dressed so outrageously.

The man beside her spoke up as he eyed Ford with an odd look. ôYou can't possibly be Ford Prefect, you look all wrong.ö

ôWhat a terrible thing to say about a friend, Arthur.ö laughed Ford as he ran up and gave Arthur a sort of glomping-hug. ôThough you have changed yourself. Much younger, good for you!ö

ôWho's your companion over here?ö asked Arthur, pointing to Shinji. ôDid you finally settle down and have yourself a child?ö

ôHeaven's no! No, that's just my latest project.ö Ford went over to Shinji and put a hand on his head. ôArthur Dent, meet Shinji Ikari.ö

ôIs he the one you were telling me about?ö

ôNo... But we'll get to that in due time. First things first, we are going to Norway.ö

---
Read the fully completed chapter on FF.N here.
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#38
It's been a few unproductive months, but now I have a little something to show.... Not much, but a snippet is a snippet!


******
The Angel of Doubt
Chapter Four

ôNorway, Ford? What in Norway is so important to rush off like this?ö Arthur Dent asked the rapidly retreating form of the man he was now certain was Ford Prefect. ôI just got into this bloody country and now it's off to another? Why?ö

ôYou see Shinji, I told you that you reminded me of him!ö

ôFord!ö

ôOh alright.ö Ford turned around and faced Arthur, now blindly walking backwards. ôThere are powerful forces at work right now. So, we've got to see someone about some programing.ö

ôPowerful forces? You mean these Angel things I keep hearing so much about?ö

ôVogons, Arthur. The Angels are Vogons.ö

Arthur stopped dead in his tracks. ôBut that doesn't make any sense!ö

ôThat's what Shinji said, and I'd have to agree with you if I didn't know what I do.ö

ôAnd what's that?ö

ôLook, there is some sort of ass-backwards conspiracy afoot on Earth right now, I'm sure you've heard of Second Impact and everything, right?ö

ôNo, I have been completely out of the loop about the past fifteen years or so, Ford.ö

ôOh well, you see. Second Impact was when-ö

Arthur cut him off abruptly. ôYes yes, I was being sarcastic! I understand about Second Impact just fine.ö

ôDo you? I'm having a hard time keeping tabs on it myself now that I know that it was all Vogons.ö

ôWhat is there to keep tabs on? It seems pretty straight forward to me; Vogons want to destroy the Earth because of reasons not yet ascertained.ö

ôYes, but that throws the entire business of Instrumentality completely out the window. Seems to be some solid backing facts on that as well.ö

ôInstrumentality?ö Rei asked quietly, jumping into the conversation. ôSpecial Inspector Kaji, how exactly did you come about this information? I do not believe you possess the requisite clearance.ö

Ford took a page out of his friend Arthur's behavior guide and abruptly stopped. ôI suppose you are going to run to the Commander now, aren't you?ö

ôWould it not be the correct course of action?ö

Ford shrugged. ôNormally, yeah. Reporting security breaches is what a dutiful soldier would do. But, I would strongly suggest that you did not.ö

ôWhy?ö

ôRei, I know things about you that you don't know about yourself. And Shinji does too, if that's any additional leverage here.ö

ôAnd this is reason enough for me to withhold information?ö

ôYes, it certainly is. Unless you want everyone to know about your special talent.ö

ôTalent?ö

ôYeah, you know, musically. I'm talking about your banjo playing abilities.ö

Rei looked puzzled, or what would certainly pass as puzzled on her normally blank, nearly-emotionless facade. ôThis is supposed to stop me?ö

ôWell yes, that and my knowledge of your genetics. Mostly gathered from the MAGI and a bit of input from Marvin, who was surprisingly useful for once.ö

ô.... I see.ö Rei pondered this for a moment, and then nodded her head. ôI don't believe that this is cause enough to prevent me from doing my duty.ö

ôThink about it, the Commander will be, to be blunt, extremely pissed about this.ö Ford retorted, hoping to appeal to the First Child's sense of compassion, rolling the proverbial dice on if she indeed possessed that quality against the possibility that the Vogon in her had suppressed such thoughts. ôShinji, he knows things, and while he is too useful for the Commander to toss aside, he will be severely punished. Myself? I'll be killed, but not before the Mad Doctor Akagi tears me apart to learn more about my own dubious genetic heritage. And lastly, Arthur? Well he doesn't know anything but I'm certain that ol' Gendo will have him killed... Well, just for giggles, really.ö

ô...ö was the only response Rei could manage (which coincidentally sounds simultaneously like a sneeze, a sigh and a gasp.), her calculating mind and it's logic thoughts clashing with an entire other side of her mind that she was not at all familiar with. Part of her mind trumpeted her duty to the Commander and his orders, while the new, more foreign part of her mind was telling her that she could not let these people be harmed. One was a friend to her (if not more), another merely a Co-worker and the other was something else to her entirely that she could not quite place. And while this grand struggle played out in the recesses of Rei's mind, unbeknown to her or anyone else, one facet of the Vogon part of her heritage was stubbornly giving up ground and causing a change deep inside her body. It is possible that this change is what tipped the scale in Ford's favor. Finally, Rei relented. ôI will withhold this information, Special Inspector Kaji, though I have my reservations.ö

ôThank you Rei, I promise once I know more about the situation I will let you into the loop. In exchange for your full co-operation and support, of course.ö
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#40
Well, again with the unproductiveness. This was the one part I have been having trouble with. I got lots for when they arrive in Norway and what big plot significance can come from that. So here, I figured I'd try my hand at ship teasing, mostly because lots of people love Rei and I need to put this part of the chapter behind me as quickly as possible to overcome that bit of writer's block. (Just as a quick note, by ship teasing I don't for a moment mean that this story will feature a mutual Arthur/Rei relationship anywhere... It's just something I find to be interesting enough to run with.) So here's the next part of Chapter Four.
-------------------------------------------------------

Rei however, remained silent, simply pointing up to the sky. ôI believe your ride has arrived.ö

And much to Ford's surprise, it had. Above the merry band a low whine came into the audible range of hearing of everyone present. Not dissimilar to that of a standard NERV VTOL, the sound actually belonged to small, red and inexplicably banana shaped aircraft. Designed in companion to the supersonic jet liner The Cavendish, The Red is a smaller, and yet slightly faster version of it's big brother that is generally marketed as the next generation in business travel. Curiously, it has one distinct advantage over it's slightly older sibling, in that it has the ability to take off and land vertically, making it the first supersonic passenger aircraft that is VTOL capable. It should come to nobodies surprise that the organization known as NERV bought several of the first production models of The Red for their own VIP transportation fleet.

Ford observed the aircraft carefully as it continued it's descent. ôHmm... He lent us his own personal shuttle? Kudos to you, Mr. Sub-Commander.ö As the aircraft deftly came to a halt on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and random particulate matter from the asphalt, the NERV logo came into sight on the side of the craft, with the name The Quadruple Plantain appearing right after it.

Arthur looked the Plantain over. ôYou know, I think I invested in this project.ö

ôInvested? Didn't think you were the type of guy to take that kind of risk.ö

ôLet's just say that once you acknowledge the fact that you had spent a bit of time dead, and then come back as if nothing happened, your priorities tend to shift a little, Ford.ö

ôWell, how did that work out for you?ö

ôI'm what some people would consider moderately wealthy. Well uh... Pretty damn wealthy by today's standards, actually.ö

Ford whistled appreciatively. ôGood to know. You're certainly going to need all that money very soon...ö In the interest of being terribly cryptic and foreboding, Ford quickly opened the stairway to the Plantain's cabin and began making ushering motions with his hands. ôNow, let's get along, much to do!ö

Reluctantly, Shinji filled into the cabin upon Ford's urging, finally resigned to whatever fate awaited him upon his arrival in Norway. Arthur went to follow him, but he found that the previously unnoticed grip on his arm was making it remarkably difficult to advance further into the craft. Turning to face his hindrance, he came face to face with Rei.

ôEr, something I can do for you, Rei?ö

Rei stared unblinking at Arthur with purple-tinted eyes, any emotion she might convey through this eye contact was overwhelmed by the sheer ocular loudness of her new attire, the sunlight causing the already vibrant colors of her Hawaiian shirt to roar intensely like a newly rainbow colored lion the day after a prank at the zoo. ôYou are leaving?ö

ôYeah, I'm coming back though. While I don't put it past him, I doubt that Ford would leave me in Norway.ö

Though nigh-undetectable, the faintest hint of sorrow danced across Rei's eyes as she spoke again. ôBut will I ever see you again?ö

Arthur shifted his feet awkwardly. ôI'm sure you will.ö Subconsciously, Arthur must have noticed what he thought was a tear coming from Rei's eyes. (And subconsciously, he was right.) So his body acted on impulse and pulled Rei into a hug. (The kind of awkward hug you generally only get when you hug your first girlfriend in your youth, or when you hug that Great Aunt you don't really know, but a hug just the same.)

Upon being released from the hug, Rei simply stared back, a mixture of shock and happiness meeting Arthur's own rather sheepish and awkward expression. ôGoodbye, Arthur Dent.ö

ôUh, yeah! Goodbye to you too Rei...ö Arthur shrugged and headed up the stairway without looking back, almost fearful to see what she would do next. Once safely in the craft's cabin, Arthur sat next to Shinji and breathed a sigh of relief.

With all of his ducks in a row, Ford leaned out to wave at Rei. ôThank you again for your cooperation, Rei! And I promise I'll take good care of Arthur for you!ö And with that, he retracted the stairway and closed the door to the craft, feeling pretty pleased with himself. Turning toward the passenger seating, he soon found that Arthur was not nearly as pleased with him as he was with himself.

ôAnd just what was that about?ö

ôI don't know, you tell me. Seems like you'd have more answers about your love life than I would have.ö

ôLove life? Shes what, fourteen? Why in the hell would I be in love with a teenager?ö

ôYeah, I was kind of having a problem with that part, doesn't really sound like you.ö Ford scratched his chin as if he was thinking hard. ôDoesn't explain why you hugged her, though.ö

ôIt's a hug, Ford. It's not like we snogged right there on the sidewalk.ö Arthur snapped. ôBesides, it was just to make her feel better, I think. And I do like my hugs a great deal less awkward thank you.ö

ôRegardless, you need to be careful. Not only is she a Pilot she is also part Vogon.ö

Arthur's face blanched whiter than the tray table he sat in front of. ôBugger me! I almost let her ready me some of her poetry!ö
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#43
Slow going as ever on the work, I've found more time now to really buckle down and write a bit more. Right where this snippet ends is the scene transition to Norway, or that's how I have it planned so far. Hopefully I'll get there soon. Anyway, I've invented a small bit-part OC as an excuse to try my hand at some rough Zaphod dialogue, I want to keep him as believable as possible.

I must also say that I recently read Eoin Colfer's attempt at the bookend of the Hitchhiker's Series and I was not too pleased. He tried, but the unnecessary love story and the ability to make me completely dislike Random Dent as a character all together kind of ruined the story for me. It's an alright read, eh. Whatever. The only thing it really did for me was give me the drive to go back to this story. Anyway, here goes nothing! New part of Chapter Four!

---------------

ôWell, since she is only part Vogon, I have no idea what effect her poetry would have on a person. Perhaps we'll have to test it out sometime.ö

ôI'd rather we didn't.ö

ôOh don't worry, we'll just use Shinji!ö

Arthur cast a glance toward his fellow passenger and found no significant reaction to what Ford had said. In fact, Shinji was just staring blankly at the back of the seat in front of him, eyes unfocused.

ôI think you've already broken the poor boy, Ford.ö

ôGood, you gotta break something before you can fix it.ö

ôJust what are you trying to accomplish, Ford? What's so special about that boy?ö

Ford smiled at Arthur, trying his best to seem as innocent as possible. ôNothing, there is absolutely nothing special about him. Sure, he pilots a giant biomechanical robot, but... No, there isn't anything special about him. That in itself is the point.ö

ôSomething about this whole thing is really troubling, Ford.ö

ôAh... yeah. Don't worry about it. Truth is, I'm in the dark as much as you are.ö Ford turned towards the cockpit and sighed. ôWell, time to get this show on the road. See if you can't befriend Shinji a bit, eh?ö

Arthur, hazarding another glance over at his fellow passenger found, much to his surprise, that Shinji was still intently trying to stare a hole through the back of the seat in front of him. (Though the combination of his unfocused lenses and humanity's overall lack of irradiated vision made this a task the boy would not be able to win.) Upon a closer inspection, he found that the boy wasn't just staring, Shinji was passed out, strangely with his eyes still open, making a conversation impossible. Arthur sighed, bracing the back of his head on instinct as the aircraft jolted upward, signaling takeoff, he silently mumbled. ôAt least this will be a comfortable trip...ö In his mind, Arthur found this to be a large step up from his wandering years, when he would simply stick out his thumb and hop into the dingy cargo hold of any passing space freighter going to parts unknown. Here however, he had a chair, and a extremely plush and comfortable one at that, and that was enough for him.

(Across the universe...)

Zaphod Beeblebrox has been called a lot of things over the course of his lifetime. Such noteworthy descriptors include; Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe, the best Bang since the Big One, one hoopty frood, and even President of the Galaxy. But no one has ever dared let the words ôDistinguished Gentleman and Statesmanö pass their lips when talking about this man, for to do so would almost be considered an insult. Everything about Zaphod Beeblebrox screamed out loudly in several languages that he was the absolute antithesis of a gentleman, with an ego that was unrivaled throughout the expanse of the Universe. Yet, despite all this, a few people spoke in hushed tones that maybe Zaphod Beeblebrox had finally slowed down. From all outward appearances, it looked like Zaphod was actually doing work fitting his office of Galactic President, marking the first semi-legitimate work he had been witnessed doing in a few decades. Though this work mainly entailed voyages on board the Presidential Starship, The Uncorrupt Parliamentarian (whom many thought was simply a myth.), putting in face time with his voting populace. Many people held a small shred of contempt towards their duly elected leader because of his deft ability at exploiting the Galactic Constitution to his own benefit. It turns out that after being declared a criminal and fugitive from justice for his extremely public theft of the starship Heart of Gold, he couldn't technically be removed from office until he had been arrested or his remains had been officially identified. Since neither of these things happened, upon his return to the Megabrantis Cluster, he immediately yelled his official pardon of himself for his crimes, and further went on to issue a Presidential Order stating that, in so many words, that the President of the Galaxy was above normal law. (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy states that his exact statement was; ôRules are for squares, man. And a President as hip as yours truly doesn't answer to the Law of the Squares. So yeah, screw the rules, I'm too froody to be incarcerated.ö) Some people who are a great deal more in the know about politics feel that Zaphod should still be firmly in jail because the Office of the President of the Galaxy truly lacks the power to do anything at all. These people, while right, are seen by most as conspiracy theorists and are shunned along with the rest of the socially unaccepted nuts and wackos by mainstream society, their opinions falling on deaf ears. Despite lacking actual power, Zaphod still held sway with countless numbers of citizens across the galaxy, and occasionally he used this sway to make laws and statutes on the fly that were almost instantly accepted by the masses. But perhaps the most shocking thing about Zaphod Beeblebrox's Presidency is his successful campaign to find planets in the galaxy not yet advanced enough for interstellar travel and helping them along with funding and various shady black market deals. While bringing new civilizations into the Galactic Government has been a generally beneficial thing, these new worlds seem to also become increasingly militarized, and more than one of these planets has professed a willingness to die for Zaphod Beeblebrox. The question has been raised if Zaphod is intentionally building his own private army for malicious reasons or if in fact has any idea this army exists.

Regardless of his true intent, this was the stated reason Zaphod had loaded up The Uncorrupt Parliamentarian and set off toward Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha. Zaphod had told his crew that their destination was a small planet in the orbit of Barnard's Star, but now nearly through with the voyage there, he stormed onto the bridge of the Parliamentarian and barked at his captain, Commodore Blithe Bantastica.

ôYou there! Blick! Blithers! Whatever your name is!ö

ôIt's Blithe, sir, but I'd really prefer if you called me Commodore Bantastica, or just Commodore.ö Blithe replied, irritated that the Galactic President always seemed to forget his name.

ôOops, sorry mate, Commodore Buntantric! I'd like you to set a new course!ö

Trying to shrug off the complete disregard for his name and rank, Blithe plowed on with the conversation. ôWhat is the destination, sir?ö

ôDo you have the headings for Earth in the navigational computers?ö

ôYes sir, I do. But why?ö

ôI feel like a vacation, you know? Some place out of the way. Lots of booze and loose women.ö

ôI can think of better places than an unknown backwater to find those things, Mr. President.ö

ôAs do I, but that isn't the point. Point is, I'm going to Earth.ö

Blithe furrowed his brow. ôCouldn't you have taken the Heart of Gold, sir?ö

Zaphod shook his head, and put a hand on the Commodore's shoulder. ôBlithe, baby, who says I am not going to? Improbability is a harsh mistress, even for me.ö

ôSo... I've just been an intergalactic taxi driver this whole time?ö

ôHey, your words, not mine.ö Zaphod chuckled. ôAt least you've gotten to enjoy my company, eh?ö

Internally, Blithe spat in disgust, outwardly, he smiled. ôQuite right, Mr. President. But let me ask you once more to satisfy my own curiosity. Why Earth?ö

Zaphod flashed what he called his ôPresidential Grin #2ö and replied. ôCommissar Banchinko, have you read about a supposed sex deity named Misato Katsuragi?ö
 
#44
I really should learn that any impulse to listen to Hendel's Messiah is clearly a sign of an epic story being posted.
 

grant

Well-Known Member
#45
Delta Green Friendly said:
I really should learn that any impulse to listen to Hendel's Messiah is clearly a sign of an epic story being posted.
Really creepy, I was just at Mass with a guitar-playing priest who really should be in South America staring down military dictators. I get back online and this has been updated.

On another note, very few people get Adams' style right; this is one of them.
 

crazyfoxdemon

Well-Known Member
#46
*Tilts head to the left* *Tilts head to the right*


This story confuses me... But in a good way :yay: :yay: It's just like reading through the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy all over again.... Keep it up :mmm:
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#47
So, this isn't so much an update as a kind of omake kind of post. I found this thing lying around my harddrive a while back and just never got around to posting it. This is of course isn't as funny as I would have liked it to be, but hey, it helped get the juice going in my brain.

(Omake #1)
-----

Supreme NERV Commander Gendo Ikari is not a dumb man. He knows a good deal about cash flows and how things should run, and a greater deal about how to lie to most manner of secret cabals that are running the show behind the scenes. But even he had his limits, and when he discovered that several billion dollars had mysteriously disappeared from NERVs coffiers and into the bank account of a genetics corporation's research and development branch, he knew that he would have to justify just how this money was being spent. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but he had no idea why the money was being spent in the first place. So, he did what he always does in these situations, confer with his Sub Commander.

ôSensei, do you know anything about a corporation named InGen?ö

Fuyutsuki coughed as he momentarily chocked on his coffee. ôInGen? I think I've heard of them, yes. Their man Henry Wu worked for GEHRIN for a time shortly after Second Impact. Supposedly a master in genetics. Might have been a student I remained in correspondence with.ö

ôAh yes... Supposedly played a role in the so called 'InGen Incident.' I remember hearing about that in passing.ö

ôIkari, you're fishing for answers you already know. Go ahead, ask me about my tenure, however brief with InGen shortly before the incident in 1989.ö

Gendo simply nodded his head from behind his folded hands. ôGo on, then.ö

ôI met John Hammond at a symposium in the mid-Eighties. Interesting man, reminds me of you in many aspects.ö the Sub-Commander deftly left out the part that none of those aspects were good. ôHe actually succeeded in making his vision a reality.ö

Gendo's impassive mask formed into a small smile. ôHe cloned them?ö

ôYes. He built Jurassic Park, but it went terribly wrong.ö Fuyutsuki rubbed his temples. ôThe park and the islands connected where mostly destroyed after Second Impact, but... Shortly after a run-in with Beeblebrox, John contacted me through Wu and well...ö

Gendo's smile got wider. ôShow me.ö

(120 Miles off Costa Rica.)

The NERV VOTL shook as it roared across the sky with a low whine and rumble en route to approach of Isla Nublar. Inside sat Commanders Ikari and Fuyutsuki, accompanied by Zaphod Beeblebrox, whom had come along strictly for reasons of his own design. Also along was Arthur Dent, much to his own dismay, as he was, of all people, a potential investor in John Hammond's NERV founded redeux of his old theme park/nature reserve. Finally, as spry as ever, was the Eighty-Four year old John Hammond, his amber tipped cane in hand, smiling as charmingly as he could at Arthur, whom he had been informed was a very rich man.

ôJust where in the devil are we going, anyway?ö asked Arthur, whom was a little uneasy from the way the old man across from him was smiling at him. ôNobody was really forthcoming with details about this little trip.ö

ôDisinformation is NERV Standard Operating Procedure.ö Commander Ikari piped in gruffly. ôYour presence here may or may not be directly related to a joint venture between NERV and the InGen Corporation.ö

ôNonsense, Gendo! The man has a right to know the truth!ö John Hammond interjected, his pearly whites sparkling in the light of the VTOL's cabin for no adequately explained reason. ôMy good man, you are about to see something that you won't soon forget!ö Outside the starboard window, a large volcanic island rose from beyond the horizon. ôUp from the ashes of the past, and awoken from an eternal slumber, I present to you, Jurassic Park!ö

ôThat's all well and good but it doesn't explain why I am here...ö

ôAh Earthman.ö chuckled Zaphod. ôI was just telling Ol' Hammond over here how you've got loads of money. Right?ö

ôI'm not some sort of bank, Zaphod! You can't act like you have carte blanche over my money. I mean come on, my own daughter doesn't even do that!ö

It was at this point Fuyutsuki decided to pipe in. ôTo be fair, NERV pays her quite well for her services.ö

ôTrue...ö Arthur paused, looking over to Zaphod. ôWhy are you even here, Zaphod?ö

ôI can answer that.ö Hammond managed through his rather large grin. ôPresident Beeblebrox has donated a rather considerable portion of money to one of our newest attractions.ö

Arthur would have replied, had the aircraft not begin a sharp decline down around the volcano and onto a heliport that was positioned just below a waterfall. From here, the party disembarked into a set of two SUVs adorned with a slightly redesigned Jurassic Park logo. A short ways up from the heliport, a large fence could be seen, but before it was a small dome shaped building, and this is exactly what caught everyones attention, which is preciously what it was designed to do.

ôIs that... an arena?ö asked Fuyutsuki. ôJohn, please tell me that isn't...ö

ôKozo my friend, you don't need to worry. We've taken all the required liberties with that building. We've come a very long way since 1989.ö

ôOh man, that's pretty far out, Hammond! You actually did it!ö Zaphod jumped a little in his seat. ôI've outdone myself this time!ö

ôIs there some way I can get off here?ö Arthur asked, panic filling his voice. ôI'm not sure I want to see what Zaphod is so happy about.ö

Unfortunately, like so many times before in his life, Arthur Dent was again shafted by the hand of fate, for no sooner had this thought left his mouth when they pulled to a stop in front of the arena shaped building, which was in reality a large open amphitheater. As he slowly stepped from the SUV he could see what the fuss was about. The floor of the amphitheater was filled with various types of dinosaurs, all of which were being ridden by Rei clones in coconut shell bikinis. The only member of the group who wasn't shocked by the sight was Gendo Ikari himself.

ôWe are going to make so much money.ö he grunted. ôHammond, when we reach your office, we will discuss the terms of our deal further.ö

----

Alright, aside from all of this, I can say that while I have been inactive for what feels like forever, I'll have Chapter 4 done soon. It's a good one, and I am working on the fight scene with the two Angels as we speak. I've never been good with action scenes so, we'll see how that pans out. I hope to really get most of that done tomorrow after I get off work, but we'll see.
 

sworded

Well-Known Member
#48
Great to see an update for this story, but it would have been better for the areana to be filled with dinosaurs with lasers mounted on their heads fighting gladitorial deathmatches.
 

Whiteagle

Well-Known Member
#49
While this is a good fic, there is something that's been nagging me...
People keep saying how you've captured Adam's style... but I'm not seeing it.


...But who am I to judge?
I only got to reading 'The Restaurant at the End of the Universe' last November, when I was trapped in the Psych Ward...

...Which is a brilliantly ironic place to be when you get to the bit about the Psychologist.

Also, you probably have one of the most moe Rei's I've ever read.... I JUST WANT TO GIVE HER A HUG!!!
 

Temjin-On

Well-Known Member
#50
Bet you all figured you'd never see this one again. Whats up TFF, its been entirely too long. For anyone who may have been following this 2-3 years ago, lemme just fill you in. For the past few years, I've kinda dropped off from writing fics, mainly because I have become heavily involved in my local competitive Fighting Game Community. (Currently a Community Manager for our local tournament series, as well as the tournament organizer of a new series focused solely on "anime" or airdash based FGs.)

The other problem is I simply ran into a large block with this fic, as I seem to do with all fics I attempt to write serially. The Angel of Doubt has been this fic I've put a lot of thought and planning into, and that has continued since the updates to the story went dormant. I've known where I wanted to start and where I wanted to end up from the beginning. The problem has always been the little bits in the middle on how to get to where I wanted to go. I toyed with this being a single story to stand on its own, but the ideas and things I wanted to do simply wont fit in that way. So about a year and a half ago I started mapping out details and elements of a next fic in the series, to hopefully try to give me more insight on to just how I wanted to fill in the holes and gaps that I have been wracking my brain over since I started this fic ages ago. I have probably solved the problem, and if not screw it I really, really want to get back to this and finish it and get on with where I want to take it because I really, really enjoyed where it goes.

I still need to get all the original files off of a PC that I need to fix a problem with so it will boot again. Seeing that most, if not all my work is already on this forum, I am not worried at all. There are some good parts I gotta go fishing for though. That being said, after I fish that up and have the files on this harddrive, its back on.

Three Year Hiatus OVER. The Angel of Doubt is coming back to life and, for better or worse, it is going to go where I want to take it even if it doesn't want to.
 
Top