"The Universe, so far as we can observe it, is a wonderful and immense engine; its extent, its order, its beauty, its cruelty, makes it alike impressive" – George Santayana - 1916
One Week after Third Impact… In the Ruins of Tokyo 3
Shinji Ikari slowly limbed up the broken blood stained steps of the NERV apartment complex that they had once called home, and now simply call shelter. He opened the unlocked door and smiled when he saw the red hair seated on the couch of the living area. "I'm back, Asuka," Shinji said fumbling with the bag in his arm. "I found some more cans; we'll be eating well tonight."
Asuka glanced away from the blank screen of the TV to look at Shinji with her uncovered eye. "Can food's disgusting…" She said with a frown, "Even the Not-So-Invincible Shinji can make that crap taste good."
"There's been some more people rise from the Sea," Shinji mentioned as he started to put the cans away. "Finally getting some people we know. Kensuke was among the risers. Hikari and I both were happy to see him, bet Toji will be back soon too."
"Whatever…" Asuka said with little interest.
Shinji frowned and glanced down, "Hikari asked if you'd want to help out once you're feeling better…" Asuka shrugged, "I'm just happy people are coming back, aren't you, Asuka? Never know, Misato-san could be coming back soon, too. Maybe even Kaji…"
"You really are stupid!" Asuka shouted, pounding the arm of the couch with her good arm, "Kaji was dead before you screwed up this planet, Ikari," Asuka spat, standing and turning toward him. "And Misato died before it, too. They're gone, and I'm stuck with YOU!"
"I'm…" Shinji started to say as he stared at his feet.
"Don't you dare, don't you freakin' dare apologize!" Asuka stormed toward him, "Apologizing doesn't bring Misato and Kaji back! It doesn't bring back my mother, but knowing you, the all mighty savior Shinji will get his mommy back sometime!"
"Asuka, I know I just…" Shinji shuffled his feet, "I don't know what…"
Asuka growled and lifted her hand to slap him, when the door swung open. Both faces turned to see who had interrupted the German's latest tantrum. "Misato?" The croaked in unison.
In the door way, wearing only a thin coat of LCL, and rubbing her eyes and temples, "I don't know what the hell happened but… I feel like my head was blown off my shoulders…"
Shinji sniffled just a moment before he ran toward her, hugging her tightly. "Misato! You came back! You came back!" He cried, hugging her tight, and she returned it gently, still confused but welcoming him anyway.
Asuka stared at the two for a moment, before a tear slid from her uncovered eye, and she ran toward them as well, throwing her arms around Shinji's shoulder and around Misato's back, burying her face in Misato's bare shoulder.
The three held each other tightly for several moments, crying happily. Finally Asuka turned her face toward Shinji and smiled darkly. "Hey, Shinji-kun, you're hugging Misato."
"I think I figured that out, Asuka…" Shinji frowned, turning his eyes to look at her.
"She's naked, Shinji…" Asuka grinned at his sudden horrified expression.
Shinji jumped back, stammering various words without forming a single sentence as he moved quickly away while covering his eyes.
"You had to bust up the moment, didn't you, Asuka," Misato glanced to the young redhead. "I was hoping he'd notice a nipple or 'accidently' cop a feel of my magnificent backside first…" Misato sent Shinji an impish smile. Shinji released a cry of shock, before he tossed her shorts and tank top at her face.
"GET UN-NAKED!" Shinji yelled, hiding his eyes.
"Wow…" Asuka stepped back, trying to make a look of disgust, but couldn't remove the smile from her lips. "I don't know who's the bigger pervert, Misato… you or him…"
Once Misato was dressed, Shinji went to work in the kitchen, making the best meal he could come up with, asking a barrage of questions toward Misato, how she felt, if she was hungry, thirsty, tired, etc.
Misato sat at the table with Asuka, as Asuka rambled about what she had missed since Third Impact. Shinji piped in every so often, which often led to a much more good natured argument. A smile crossed his face, for the first time since they had returned, he felt at home. He felt as if he was a part of and with family. He felt nothing could happen to them anymore. He felt that the worst was behind them…
He was wrong.
NEON EXODUS YAMATO
Chapter 2: The Power of Wave Motion
Present Day…
"We will be leaving Earth orbit in forty Five seconds," Maya reported from her station.
"Prepare to close the glide wings," Misato ordered from the captain's station, her arms crossed as she watched the actions on the bridge as well as the gauges. "How's she handling, Mr. Suzuhara?"
"Smooth, VERY Smooth," Toji replied shifting the control wheel and stick slightly to keep the Yamato flying straight. "She's got a hell of a lot of power pushing her."
She studied the readouts and saw that they'd be facing the old NERV moon base. "Let's give the Moon Base a fly by, they're the ones that constructed the Wave Motion Drive and the Yamato's engines," Misato nodded toward the blood-stained moon. "Let's let them see the fruits of their labors."
The battleship broke orbit of earth and its three thrusters roared, glowing a bright golden yellow as it pushed farther into space.
The bridge was silent as they approached the moon except for the beeping of instruments. A small smile crossed Misato's face as she leaned back into her seat. "Fly me to the moon," She sang softly but loud enough to perk everyone's ears. "And let me play among the stars…"
"Won't you let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars," Maya added in with her.
"In other words, hold my hand," other bridge crew began to join in, "In other words, Darling, kiss me."
"Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forever more," Toji added in, surprising everyone with the best singing voice on the bridge, earning a quirked eyebrow from Shinji. "You are all long for, all I worship, and adore,"
Shinji shook his head before joining in completing the bridge crew in song. "In other words, please be true…"
"In other words… I love you." They finished with laughter.
"Good stuff," Misato shook her head with a smile. "Very impressive, Suzuhara," she noted, causing a blush to cross the pilot's nose.
"Since when did you learn to sing?" Shinji glanced at his friend.
"I have many secrets," Toji stuck out his chest, "I could teach NERV and SEELE a thing or two."
"Captain, Moon Base is hailing us," Maya spoke up.
"On the main screen," Misato ordered, and a group of scientists appeared on the large monitor above the forward windows of the bridge. "Hello, Gentlemen. Greetings from the Yamato."
"Captain Katsuragi," the lead scientist greeted, "She's… beautiful."
"Speaking of the ship or her captain, gentlemen," Misato gave a playful wink.
"Both…" the flushing scientist replied.
"Good answer," Misato nodded, "We're about to engage the Wave Motion Drive, any last minute advice before we warp?"
"All reports say you are good to go, Captain," the lead scientist replied.
"How's this work anyway?" Toji asked as he manned the controls.
"It's an odd mix of complexity and simplicity actually," the scientist replied, "Through information gained from the Advisor, we've learned that the dimensions, such as our own isn't actually a flat plane, instead it's more like sharp waves made of tachyon energy. Normally as you travel along you move in sync with the tachyon waves, smoothly going up and over and down, no problems." He took a moment to make sure they were following him. "When the Wave Motion Drive is activated, it uses draws power from tachyon waves and uses them to push the Yamato out of sync, and it will allow it to punch through the space-time, moving far beyond the speed of light."
Toji glanced to Shinji, and then nodded toward the scientist on the monitor. "Magic, got it." Toji stated with a thumbs-up, and Shinji face-palmed.
"Alright then, are we ready to give this thing a shot?" Misato asked glancing around the crew.
"One warning, make sure you hit the timing just right…" the scientist advised, "You don't want to come out in the middle of an asteroid, planet or star… or worse case… miss the other end completely."
"Where would we end up?" Maya asked, a hint of nervousness in her tone.
"We… don't know," The scientist shrugged, "It might be best not finding out."
"Good advice…" Misato sat back and crossed her legs. "Ok, Engineering… engage Wave Motion Drive," She ordered on her microphone. Engineering replied and the ship engines shut down for a moment before a distinct roaring began to echo throughout the ship as the Wave Motion Drive came online. "Mr. Suzuhara, punch it."
"Aye-aye, Captain," Toji replied, pushing the throttle. The Yamato pushed forward as a long blue burst of swirling energy trailed behind it from the main thruster.
"Prepare to jump on my mark," Misato ordered as space itself began to ripple around the ship. "Five… Four… Three… Two… One… JUMP!" And in a flash the Planet Mars appeared directly in front of them.
"Whoa…" Shinji breathed as the crew gasped at the lurching stop.
-NEY-
On board the massive carrier ship over the Planet Mars, a crew of blue skinned human-like aliens stood upon the bridge as their drone warships attacked the Terran base. "Commander, we've detected another ship, as well as Wave Jump signature."
"Why would Lord Desler send another ship?" the commander narrowed his eyes.
"This isn't one of our ships, Sir," the crewman responded, "It warped from the direction of the Planet Terra."
"Very curious…" the commander rubbed his chin, "More survivors of Instrumentality? It's unheard of… And how could these barbarians have warp technology?"
"Orders, sir?"
"Ignore the Terran base, and focus on this ship. Destroy it then bring the pieces on board to examine."
-NEY-
"We got incoming," Maya replied, "They're coming in hot."
"Introduce them to our main batteries," Misato ordered, "activate missile and pulse laser defenses."
"Yes, ma'am," Shinji nodded hitting some keys and speaking into his radio. "Shock Cannon Battery One, Two, and Three target incoming ships and fire at will. Prepare side missiles and pulse lasers to fire at any that make it past initial barrage."
The three gun towers at the front of the Yamato lifted each three barrel set and fired heavy beams of energy at the incoming ships, ripping through them as if they were made of plastic. What few made it past were easily destroyed by the side missile launches and walls of pulse lasers along the side of the ship. "First wave neutralized, Captain." Shinji reported.
Onboard the mothership the commander nodded in appreciation. "The unidentified warship has some teeth it seems… send in all fighters along with all remaining warships."
Back on the Yamato, Maya reported the next wave coming. "Launch the fighters," Misato ordered.
Shinji nodded at the order, and lifted his microphone, "Red Tigers, launch and attack incoming ships." Shinji hesitated a moment, "Hey, Asuka."
"What is it, Commander Baka?" Asuka's annoyed voice replied.
"Give them hell," Shinji smiled.
"Please, like I was going to give them anything else, dummy," She replied, as her fighter hit the air along with her squadron.
The fighters along with the Yamato's heavy weapon systems held fast, but they weren't making any progress. The crew gasped as a single fighter, damaged from Shinji's Shock Cannon barrage spun out of control straight toward the First Bridge. Before anyone could do anything it exploded violently and Asuka's fighter made a close flyby. "Hey, Commander Baka? I'm thinking of keeping a score on my fighter of the times I save your ass. Probably get a larger count than even my impressive kill count. What do ya think?"
Shinji just smirked then gasped when an explosion hit close to the ship.
"This is getting to close," Misato frowned as she oversaw the battle. "Shinji, order all fighters to clear from the forward of the ship. Toji, line us up with the enemy command ship. We're going to put a stop to this, right now."
Shinji and Toji did as told, and the Yamato turned to face the enemy. Ritzuko's face suddenly appeared on a window of the main monitor from where she was stationed in the Third Bridge. "Misato, the Gun hasn't ever been tested! This thing could backfire and blow us all the way back to earth… IN PIECES!"
"If we don't these guys will pick us apart till we're pieces…" Misato shook her head, and then made the order, "Ready the Wave Motion Gun!"
"The what?" Shinji asked as Misato triggered an alarm.
"See that covered switch on the side of your console? Open it up, and hit that red button." Misato pointed, and Shinji did as instructed. After he hit the button, the top of his console opened and what looked like a hand gun on a joystick and a small powered down targeting screen rose before him. "Alright, Shinji, with that pistol you have full control of the ship. Activate the target scope, get a target lock, but don't pull the trigger until I tell you. When you're ready tell Engineering to deactivate the safeties."
Shinji did as told, and wrapped his hand around the handle of the pistol. A twirling targeting system appeared on the HUD screen before him, and as he twisted the handle, the maneuvering rockets moved the ship in time with it. A shrilling beep sounded that he had a lock. He picked up his command mic and brought it to his face as he maneuvered the ship with the pistol "Target Scope open, Engineering, deactivate safeties." He said as he brought the mothership into the center of the scope.
"Safeties unlocked. Wave Motion Drive at 90% power and charging," Chief Engineer Aida reported. "100% charge…"
"Wait for it…" Misato leaned forward.
"105%... 110%...115%... 120% we're maxed out, Captain."
"Fire at will, Shinji," Misato ordered, "All hands, brace for Flare and Recoil!"
Shinji and everyone else on the bridge pulled out dark goggles and placed them over their eyes. "Firing in Five… Four… Three…" Shinji counted down, focusing on the target, an odd feeling filling his stomach. Rei's words about not using "it" as a weapon returned to his mind. Was this what she was talking about? Should he refuse Misato's order? If he doesn't, they'll all be killed and any hope for earth will be lost.
"Shinji, fire! We're out of time!" Misato called as the attack warships were closing in. "Two, one! Fire…" Shinji pulled the trigger. And for a fraction of a second nothing happened. Then a hum began sound from the front of the ship, that grew louder and louder till finally a massive pillar of light erupted from the opening at the front of the Yamato. The warships, most of the fighters, and the command ship were completely engulfed in the massive beam of destruction, leaving nothing to even explode. What enemy ships dodged the actual beam was forced to explode just from the tachyon energy radiating from the beam.
"Holy shit…" Asuka breathed as her fighter team gapped at the powerful blast. She never even saw the chunk of broken, burning steel spinning down toward her from above.
"Majority of the enemy was destroyed, three warships escaped and are regrouping," Maya reported.
"How soon can we warp out?" Misato asked.
"Ten Minutes for a recharge enough to take a jump," Aida replied.
"Shinji recall the fighters," Misato ordered, "Maya, send a message to Mars base to power down all electronics. We're going to jump out and fire off a short range EMP mine to finish off those three. Just gotta draw them in close. Get ready to move, people!"
Shinji nodded, "Red Tigers, return to base. Excellent job."
Shinji watched his readouts as each of the ships were electronically checked back in as they docked in the rear fighter hatch of the ship, just below the engines. All but one ship checked, "We're missing Tiger Leader, Maya?"
"I'm picking her up on radar… she's not moving." Shinji's eyes widened at Maya's report.
"How much time till we jump?" Shinji asked.
"We have seven minutes…" Misato frowned, "Hurry, and bring her home, Shinji."
Shinji nodded and started for the door. "If you don't make it, power down when the EMP fires, then try to land at Mars base."
"We'll make it back," Shinji stated, before running out the door.
-NEY-
"Damnit… Damnit…" Asuka whispered softly as she tried again to restart her fighter's engine. It was dead in the water, and she was fighting down panic as she saw her Oxygen levels dropping below 10%. Still wasn't as bad as the last time she died. Suffocation was slightly better than being stabbed to death then ripped apart by smiling, winged, demonic Evangelions. Just slightly. Was this why she had a second chance at life? To die out here in space? This wasn't in her plan. Not much of this was, anyway.
Baka-Shinji had come back into her life, and there was still so much she wanted to say to him, after she was finished being angry at him, then hitting him a few times. So much undone and unsaid. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Maybe, she should have hugged him, kissed his cheek, and let him know she missed him when they met on that dock bay, seeing as kicking his ass again didn't have the same feel-good effect it used to have.
"Shinji…" glanced up the battleship Yamato in the distance, thinking back at the time she was falling into hopeless doom in that volcano. But there was no Invincible Shinji and his Evangelion Unit 01 to pull her back from the brink this time. It was over. "Goodbye, Shinji…" She forced through difficult breath, "I…"
"Need a lift, Asuka?" Her eyes widened in shock at the radio message.
"Shinji?" Asuka sat up in surprise.
"Does your ejection system still work, Asuka?" Shinji asked, and she glanced to see a green and purple fighter approaching rapidly.
"Go back to the ship, Shinji, you don't have time to get me," Asuka said in reply.
"Have you forgotten I'm Commander Baka? I give the orders!" Shinji asked, "Now answer the question, Pilot, can you eject."
"Yes, I can eject…" She said, beginning to struggle to breath, and she saw the oxygen level was at 1%.
"Then get out of there, Asuka, I'll catch you," Shinji replied, "Let's get out of here."
Asuka reached down and found the lever under her seat, and jerked it. Immediately the canopy of her fighter flew off, and she was thrown into space. Shinji's fighter Cosmo Zero One swooped in, and a pair of mechanical arms extended from the bottom and gently grabbed and pulled Asuka's space suit close to the fighter. Shinji turned the fighter quickly and rocketed back toward the ship. He saw the waves beginning to form around the ship and knew it was close to jumping, and the three warships were approaching it quickly. "Hang on, Asuka, we are going to make it!" Shinji pushed the throttle and aimed toward the open back hatch of the Yamato.
He barely dodged the launching of the EMP mine and landed just as the ship made its jump.
The EMP mine exploded sending out an anti-electronic wave. The three enemy ships were caught in helpless against the EMP wave. They instantly lost all power and slammed into each other, exploding violently.
"Did they make it?" Misato asked with concern.
"Cosmo Zero One landed just in time…" Maya reported, everyone on edge, "And he has her!" the applause rang out on the bridge, as Misato sat back roughly, pulling her hat over her eyes.
"I'm getting too old for this, you two…" Misato groaned toward Shinji and Asuka.
-NEY-
On Mars Base, Kodai and Yuki watched the battle, Yuki slightly amused as Kodai stared at the Yamato like a child watching a cartoon. "I would love to command a ship like that…" Kodai breathed with a smile.
"Maybe you will," Yuki replied with a playful smile. Kodai gave her a curious, hopeful look, "In another life anyway." She said cheekily, earning a shove from her husband.
"Hush and help me bring our systems back online," He grumbled going back to work.
-NEY-
In the Yamato's hanger bay, Shinji jumped from the Cosmo Zero One's cockpit and moved to help Asuka from the ship's arms. He was filled with concern as he lowered her down and realized she was lying limp.
"Asuka?" He asked, pulling off her helmet, and listened for breath. His eyes widened in terror as he felt nothing. "Oh no, you don't…" He said pulling open her flight suit, exposing her pink bra. Not even bothering thinking about it, he began chest compressions, "Don't you dare die on me, Asuka…" He said, pushing on her chest, and then lowering down to do mouth to mouth.
One of Asuka's pilots yelled for them to call the medics, but Shinji didn't even offer them a glance. He was completely focused on the redhead laying before him. "C'mon, Asuka, don't leave us…" He said, moving in for another breath of life, "don't leave me…" He breathed again, and rose back when she gasped into his mouth. "Asuka?"
"Mein Gott, Baka-Shinji…" Asuka breathed hoarsely, her blue eyes glanced to him, barely focused, "after all these years… your kissing still sucks… pervert…"
Dr. Sado and Sakura arrived a moment later, and Shinji helped them load her on a stretcher. Shinji reluctantly let go of Asuka's hand as they rolled her away, and he glanced down at it. He hadn't even realized he took her hand in his. He released a deep breath of relief knowing they had made it.
He glanced up to see them rolling her toward the elevator. He felt a longing to follow, to stay by her side. He glanced back down to the gloved hand that had instinctively clung to Asuka's. He needed to be by her side, and a part of him felt she needed him to be there, too.
Shinji turned and walked in the other direction with his head lowered. "I guess as much has changed… some things stay the same…" He whispered to himself…
…as he ran away from her again.
To Be Continued…
Not too crazy with how I ended this chapter, it was actually a bit longer, but felt it was getting a bit too long and drawn out so I split it here. Next chapter a few more old friends will make their presence known on the Space Battleship, as well as more detail on how Shinji and Misato and Asuka parted ways. And don't forget more fanservice ;) more to come!
