Evangelion: A Fool's War
Written by AgentKaji
Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any of its associated properties/materials. Evangelion belongs to A.D.Vision and Gainax and any other companies associated its creation and development.
Author Note:
SO SORRY for late update! I finished the Second Prologue, after this the story will commence proper.
And thanks to Chibi Fenrir for your review. I'll keep in mind what you said, it helped a lot. Thanks(Thumbs Up)
Prologue II: First Impressions
-Tokyo-3-
"Can you get a car train ready for us? An express of course…"
Shinji listened half-heartedly as Misato spoke over the phone, his mind still taken aback from what he saw earlier. He still found it hard to believe. Maybe I've gone crazy he mused lazily that at least would be a logical explanation. It's not everyday you find yourself in something straight out of a film or anime Shinji thought. Not being able to take the silence much longer he opened his mouth to ask Misat-
"You want to know what just happened. Right?" Misato said with a small smile, surprisingly her eyes still on the road.
Staring at her with wide eyes, he nodded dumbly.
Misato, manoeuvred through the entrance to the Geo-front and onto the car train. As the wheels clicked into position, she relaxed into the seat, hands behind head.
Pausing, trying to think how best to explain it, Misato opted for the simple approach. Ritsuko can over any details I missed…
"That… was an Angel. It's an entity that…well we don't really know where it comes from, but I can tell you that they have the ability to destroy the whole world. Stopping them is our top priority, by that I mean NERV, the organization I work for. The… 'robot' that you saw is ours, Eva Unit-01 and it is controlled by specially selected pilots. How they are chosen is really complicated but, it seems you are one of them."
"What! Are you serious!" Shinji was not one for practical jokes, this, he mused, was definitely one.
"Yes. And that is why I am taking you to your father…" As soon as she said it his eyebrows creased into a frown, and turned his head to stare out the window. So, you don't get along with your dad, eh?
"You're just like me…" She whispered.
"What?" Turning his head, at what he thought he heard. Misato remained silent.
Shinji, mood still sour, turned his head back just in time, to see the train leave the dark corridor and enter a vast chasm. Light and colour filled his vision as he took in the immense sight of the Geo-front in all its glory. His eyes moved from one place to another, the shimmering crystalline lake, the dense overgrowth of vast forests and right in the middle, a massive pyramid like structure that was Nerv Headquarters.
"Is this…is this a Geofront!" he got out, as a wide smile lit his face. Misato watched him, as his demeanour almost became that of an excited child, and couldn't help but smile in return.
Soon Misato was leading Shinji through the secret base, pointing out anything of interest, and it seemed, to her at least, that his mind was off the touchy subject of parents. As soon as she had gotten an I.D. card for the Third Child, she made a beeline for Ritsuko, confident to get answers from the Doctor. However as they were about to enter the Eva cages, two men in dark suits swiftly intercepted them.
Shinji didn't know what was going on, Misato had taken them a couple of feet away and from what Shinji could tell, she was not happy. Not entirely sure what to do, he kept quiet and pretended he wasn't eavesdropping Not that I am, and tried to see something interesting in the wall pattern.
"What! On whose orders?" The two men, unfazed by her outburst, replied quietly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of them turn towards him, panicking he quickly looked up at the ceiling. Coincidently, he missed the worried glances Misato sent him.
They were talking once more, as he overheard, his mind trailed to other matters. Nerv…my fathers agency…what would he want with me now?...Why did I eve-
"Shinji Ikari."
Looking down, he saw that somehow they had come right up next to him without a sound. Briefly looking over them, he noted the dark suits, ties and sunglasses, but most of all, the expression on their faces. It wasn't the fact that it was funny or scary, more like they didn't have one, a total blank…
"…erm, yes?" Behind the two he could see Misato, her shoulders hunched, and an unreadable expression on her face, as she saw him look at her she mouthed something and then walked off, he lost sight of her as a pair of doors closed. Where is she… A cold voice interrupted his musings.
"You are under arrest, for trespassing on government property and unauthorized entry into a secure facility. You are to come with us. Refusal to cooperate will result in severe consequences. We are authorized to use whatever force necessary to detain you."
The same stone faced looked graced his featured as he talked. Shinii was beginning to dislike them more and more, but decided to keep that thought to himself.
"What? But I-"
"You will be taken to a cell, until further notice. Come with us."
Shinji dropped his head in resignation and nodded. He did this not only because he saw the hopelessness of the situation, but the man behind the speaker had put his hand inside his suit, he could just make out the butt of a gun.
He was escorted through various hallways and doors, the maze that was Nerv Headquarters. Both of the security men, one in front, one behind were silent the whole time, and it was this silence that was making Shinji extremely nervous. He guessed it was 10, maybe 15 minutes later that they went through a set of double doors, more heavily reinforced, with no windows. On the others side, he guessed (rightly) that they had arrived at the prison section of the base.
The first thing Shinji noticed was the smell. He couldn't identify it, but what bothered him was the fact that it seemed to permeate from every inch of the dank, dark hallway. What little light there was, provided by two small tubes overhead, suggested that this section wasn't nearly as looked after as the rest. The walls in particular were a little off colour from the uniform grey, as if tinted yellowy/brown. The floor itself was slightly damp, like someone had spilt a large container of water and didn't bother to mop it up. Trying not to breathe through his nose, they stopped outside one of the numerous heavy metal doors. It was number 24. Pulling out a large assortment of keys, one of them opened the door.
Shinji wrinkled his nose, as the smell got stronger. He couldn't see much of the inside of the cell, the light from the door didn't extend too far into the cell, although he could make out the edge of what looked like a bench or bed. Looking fearfully at his escorts, they motioned for him to get in. He hesitated, still unsure of why he was being locked up. They gave him a rough shove and he went sprawling to the floor. The light evaporated and he soon heard a click as the door was locked. Deciding to get off the floor, he lifted and stretched his arms to reach for the bench. As soon as he made contact with the cold metal, he slid his whole body onto it.
He noticed his hands were slightly wet, bringing them to his nose, he sniffed and immediately wiped both hands on the edge of the bench.
"Ugh…" What have I done wrong? Sighing, he decided to wait pulling up his knees and arms around them, wishing he had put on more than a school uniform. And so it was a complete surprise to Shinji Ikari when he heard a voice.
"Who are you?"
Meanwhile Misato resolutely made her way towards the Commander's Office, although she knew how powerful he was, she couldn't stand by and let an innocent boy be put in prison. Certainly not for the reason the Section 2 agents had given her. "Unauthorised access by a civilian." my ass… he's the Third Child for god's sake.
Turning into the main hallway that led to his office, she noticed Ritsuko walking in the opposite direction, cigarette in mouth and looking down at a clipboard. Narrowing her eyes, she decided to confront her 'friend'. Not even greeting her, she asked what had been on her mind for last hour.
"Who-"
"Piloted Unit-01?" Ritsuko interrupted. She didn't even look up from her clipboard, and was busy scribbling something down. For some reason this angered Misato.
"Yes, I thought we didn't have pilot for Unit-01. Did Rei pilot it?"
Looking up, Ritsuko sighed at the inquisitiveness of her friend.
"Misato, you know Rei's condition. We wouldn't let her near the cages, let alone an entry plug."
"Then who-"
"I believe you should ask Commander Ikari." Her countenance grew cold at that last part, and then continued on walking.
"Hmph…fine, well see what the commander has to say." Misato whispered. Taking one last look at her departing friend, she turned round and walked towards the double doors.
At last, when she came to them, she knocked twice and waited. Several seconds later, she heard the Commander's voice allowing her to enter. Stepping inside she briefly looked around the massive room, the large windows giving an impressive view of the Geofront. The frames, leaving dark lines in the floor against the backdrop of light streaming in through the ceiling. She noticed Sub-Commander Fuyutski, as always by the Commanders side. They were both now looking at her as she stopped and saluted. Despite her anger, she felt it best to follow protocol.
"Sir."
"Yes, Captain Katsuragi?" Commander Ikari, his face emotionless as always.
"Sir, why has Shinji Ikari been detained? He is the Third Child, as such would it not be more useful for him to pilot Eva Unit-01?"
"I will decide whether he is useful or not Captain. As for Unit-01, it has no need for a pilot. Doctor Akagi has developed a system, that bypasses an Evangelion's need for a pilot, therefore Pilot Ikari is useless."
Useless…he called his own son… frowning Misato, just about stopped herself from shouting.
"But, sir-"
"I have made my decision, Pilot Ikari will be removed from-" It was, Sub-Commander Fuyutski who interrupted, surprising Misato.
"Sir, if I might add, perhaps we should keep Pilot Ikari. The Dummy Plug is still in its infancy, and as Doctor Akagi has not formally approved its use, it would be beneficial for the Third Child to pilot Unit-01 temporarily."
Commander Ikari sat and deliberated for a few seconds, time which Misato used to process this new information. Dummy Plug?...An autopilot for Eva?...Why wasn't I told? Once again Misato found herself questioning her friendship with Ritsuko.
"Very well, Pilot Ikari shall be allowed to remain for now. Captain Katsuragi, you will assign him living quarters."
"Yes, sir… Sir, why wasn't I told about this new system…as Operations Direct-"
"I am fully aware of your status Captain Katsuragi. I had deemed it classified even from you, until Doctor Akagi had assessed its combat readiness. You would've been told in due time. Dismissed."
"Then why was it used in combat against the Angel, if it hadn't been approved?"
"Because we had no available Pilots to send out…" He looked severely at her "I authorised use of the Dummy Plug. Perhaps next time Captain, we will have Pilots ready when they are required. Dismissed." His voice left room for argument. Misato accepted the reprimand.
"Yes, sir." She couldn't believe it He's blaming ME, for not having a pilot! I was in the middle of ANGEL attack, what was I supposed to do… Several rather humorous scenario's entered her mind, she barely suppressed a laugh as walked out of the Commanders office, intent on finding the Third Child.
"Who are you?"
Shinji jumped at the voice, his eyes scanning the darkness for anyone. He couldn't see anything. Hearing voices in my head… and returned to his thoughts. After a few moments, he heard it again.
"Who are you?" Visibly startled now, his eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Looking across to the far end of the cell, he could just make out the outline of a figure, he didn't know it if was male or female.
"…erm, who's there!"
"I have asked first." The voice was quiet like a whisper, but carried almost effortlessly across the room, definitely female his mind reasoned.
"…er, Shinji Ikari. Who are you?" Shinji felt extremely nervous, he didn't know why, but for some reason, he was uncomfortable.
"Shinji Ikari, the Third Child. Why are you here?"
"I don't know… Misato told me that I was going to pilot some robot, then when I get here they lock me up… I don't understand." He ignored the fact that she ignored his question.
"You will."
Shinji didn't know how to reply to that, so he kept quiet. He still looked in her direction, trying to make out any distinguishing features. He then realised that she would probably be doing the same, and quickly looked away. They both sat in silence, Shinji didn't know for how long, until…
Click
Shinji looked up as the door was unlocked, squinting and shielding his eyes as light poured in. Just beyond the entrance of the door, he could make out the unmistakeable silhouette of Misato Katsuragi.
"C'mon Shinji, you can go."
"What? Misato?" his faced visibly brightened as he recognised the familiar face.
"I've arranged for your living quarters. C'mon, unless you don't mind sleeping here for the night."
He got up and quickly walked towards the door, just as he reached the threshold, he turned round to his companion. Not knowing what to say he uttered a meek "Bye" and left.
As they walked towards the parking lot, he asked about the girl in the cell. Misato, looked at him for a moment and then answered.
"Oh, her? That was the First Child, Rei Ayanami."
"…"
As they made there way towards Misato's car, both were quiet, reflecting on the days events.
End of Prologue II
Author Note:
There you go second prologue finished. Hopefully you found the format more bearable in this chapter. As I've got Christmas holidays for about 2-3 weeks I'll be able to update much quicker. Once again once the story starts flowing, all elements of the story will be explained.
Please Review, constructive criticism is welcomed. Don't flame me.
Until the next chapter…
