Shadows
ch. 9
This being the fourth day he had been up, Shinji was ready to leave. The treatments on his new leg were all done. In fact, aside from the scar that wrapped around it, he could not tell that is was not the original. Being a direct clone of that body part, it was a perfect match. And the weird machine they used on it forced it to fully heal in just two days.
Now Shinji was all well, and just waiting on Al. Ritsuko and Chris, along with Al, and a few technicians decided to stop telling Shinji the progress and let it be a surprise.
So in all, Shinji was bored. Really bored. There was a stash of old video games and video game systems to mess around with at the base. Apparently Chris likes to hold monthly matches or tournaments between fellow colleagues, with different games every month. One game he found fun, called Guitar Hero.
He would also watch old reruns of American TV shows. But only what was in the computers data banks. He admitted that Saturday Night Live skits were funny, but could only hold his interest for an hour or so.
Aside from that he had very little to do other than sleep, and he was tired of sleeping. He could not leave the base. It was underground so it had no windows to see out of. He was allowed to go to the mess hall and eat, and that was about it.
So in all, Shinji was bored. Really bored. And Chris knew this.
At first Chris gave all the news they knew of the three girls to Shinji. They were still living together in a single house. Misato just ended a relationship with a big breakup apparently. But in all, not much more then Shinji already knew. They were trying to stay out of the lime light and live a normal life, Shinji guessed.
Chris on the other hand had business to do. Trouble was starting, and he was the one in position to stop it. At first he was to handle it like he always did, but after seeing Shinji laying there, bored out of his mind, Chris had an idea.
"Hey Shinji."
Shinji turned away from the little TV he had in the room. Even Saturday Night Life reruns could not pass the time faster.
"Want to go on a little trip?"
Shinji started to get up. He didn't care, but just wanted to get out of there. "Where to?"
"I'll tell you in a little bit. Come on."
Chris led Shinji, back toward the area where Al's body was being developed. They got on the same elevator as before, but instead of going down, Chris had the elevator go up.
Once the elevator stopped, Chris led Shinji around a corner and through a door that led to a hanger. It was a dark room, the hanger. A large dark room. Lights were not on, making the room very black, but Shinji could make out something rather large taking up a lot of space in the room.
They went to a small control station. "Here we go." Chris said as he flipped a switch.
The lights in the room flipped on with a load clank as each one individually lit up. The room that Shinji thought was big, was much larger then he thought. It went on for what seemed like meters and meters. The room seemed to keep going.
In front of Shinji was a large, black, airplane. It was triangle shaped, a delta wing design. It seemed to flow with smooth curves and sharp ends. Though not recognizable, one could tell where heavy design elements came from. If Kensuke were there he would comment first at how awesome it is, but then at how it looked like a scrunched up B-2 Spirit bomber.
"What is it?" Shinji asked.
Chris walked forward and held out his hands to present the aircraft to Shinji. "Remember when I told you that we where your insurance?"
Shinji thought a moment. He vaguely remembers Dangerheart saying something around those lines, in Tennessee. "No."
Chris threw his hands and head down, and sighed. "Your ruining it Shinji."
"I'm sorry."
Chris stood up straight and looked Shinji straight in the eye, his enthusiasm gone. "When I told you we where watching you when you where in Nerv. When I said we all know who you are?"
Realization struck Shinji. "Oh yeah. I remember now."
"Well this was your insurance policy. The United Nations put all their hope and money in the Eva program in Japan. America did not believe in the Eva program, but us getting involved would be in violation of laws and we'd get in big trouble. So we were on stand-bye during every Eva sortie, during every angel attack." Chris let out a little chuckle. "Let me tell you, you kids really scared us with the fourteenth and sixteenth angels. In fact with the fourteenth, if you had not shown up in about twenty seconds, we where going to take out the angel."
Shinji remain quiet as he listened. Chris went on. "There are many version of this craft, but this one is known as the AFB-91. The Attack Fighter Bomber 91. Sometimes called 'True Angel', but most people refer to the plane with it's first and original name. I give you the Aurora."
"Wait. The Aurora?" Shinji remembered Kensuke talking about the plane or a plane with a similar name. He remembered it being a myth.
"The most expensive, and secret airplane in the world. One plane alone could equal the cost of an Evangelion. Though never truly tested against an angel, it did out perform Eva's in simulations performed by a Magi."
"You can't be serious?"
"Oh. I am. You see, this plane had a rather rough life, being canceled, and brought back, then canceled again. Second impact and the dead sea scroll's brought this baby back to life. Originally designed for surveillance, it was abandoned in favor of spy satellite's and unmanned aircraft. But once Antarctica blew up, it was brought back and modified to battle the angels."
"How would it battle the angels?"
"It would fly in real fast, and strike the target, killing it, before the angel could generate an AT field. Though untested and in the prototype phase, we do have a missile, that theoretically could penetrate right through an AT field. But we really did not have anything to test it on, since info on the Eva's or anything that could generate an AT field, was a closely guarded secret at Nerv."
The plane did look cool Shinji thought. Looked more like a space ship, then a plane. Looked fast and expensive. Shinji was not big on airplanes, but he had to admit, this one was the coolest one he had seen.
Looking away from the plane and down the hanger he noticed this was not the only one. The room was filled with similar aircraft. Over twenty of these Aurora's all appeared to be on stand by, awaiting their time to be activated.
Chris continued proudly as if the plane was his own son. "They call the F-22 and F-15's air superiority aircrafts, but in reality this is the only one. Fastest airplane ever to fly, it can reach speed's of up to Mach 18, but slow down to engage in a dog fight. Best handling plane I have ever flown. And nearly one-hundred percent stealthy. Though at high speeds it looses that advantage, it gains another, for no plane or missile can keep up with it."
Shinji got up closer to it. It wasn't black, but a real dark gray. The metal panels looked more like layered paper then metal, and lay along the body more like skin. "Why are you showing me this?"
Chris smiled. "Suit up, your going for a ride."
Shinji sat in the third seat of the aircraft. Why it needed a third seat he did not know. Chris took the second, weapons control and co-pilot. Another man who seemed to be real kind and cool took the pilots seat. Shinji himself sat between the two, and a little behind them.
The seat's and suit he wore where weird. Odd to say the least. His helmet was locked into place on the seat, not allowing him to move it much. Controls, which he had been instructed to not touch where all down by his fingers. He could operate all of them without even moving is hands. Just his fingers.
The plane left the run way, vertically Shinji noted. Right now, they were flying at a relatively slow speed., slowly leaving the hidden base.
The pilot talked to Shinji through his helmets radio. "Hey kid. Your the third child right?"
Shinji looked over to Chris for an answer. Chris knew and replied to Shinji. "It's okay. He's with me." Truth was Chris chose this pilot for his skill, and his opinions on the government and the children from Nerv.
After a bit of hesitation Shinji answered. "Yes."
"Oh! Dude! I totally called it! Do you mind if I get your autograph? I mean I am a big fan! BIG FAN!"
Chris was having a hard time holding back his laughter as Shinji did not know what to say. "I'm sorry, but I am 'dead'. And I would really like it if everyone thought I was dead now."
"No,no,no. It's okay. I'll just say that I got it before you died. Please!?"
Chris waved at Shinji to go on. "Alright, ounce we get back."
"OH YEAH! Wait until I show the kids this. And then there is the wife, oh and not to forget the neighbors. Plus church, and the comedy club."
Chris gave out a fake cough to get the pilots attention.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Just the wife and kids." The pilot calmed down and began to look more serious. Before Chris or Shinji could correct the pilot he began. "Alright. Hold on to your butts."
The pilot then began adjusting setting for the plane, using touch screen controls. "Alright Shinji." Chris said through his helmets microphone, "Ready for the world most expensive thrill ride?"
Shinji did not get to answer as he was thrown back into his seat. Shinji had never felt such force push him back. The plane rocketed forward, reaching speeds so high and so quickly that it seemed impossible. Shinji heard screams through his helmet. Not screams of pain, but screams of joy and pleasure. Of fun. Screams like one has on a roller coaster.
But it was not only fast, but rough. Shaking as hard as the plane was, Shinji immediately was fighting the urge to throw up. Not even the Eva's caused him to do so. LCL has, but that was different.
"Hey Shinji." it was Chris, "Use the barf tube if you have too. No shame in it. Even the best pilots who have done this many time's still throw up on this ride. Another thing I forgot to mention. Just lean your head back. Don't want the G-forces to snap it."
Shinji tried to answer, but just stayed still. The last statement was startling. Looking out the window he could no longer see brown. No brown or green. Out the window was nothing, but two blue blur's. One dark and greenish, and one very light. "Why is it blue?"
"What outside? It's the ocean." Chris yelled.
"The ocean! But just a minute ago we where in Texas!"
"Hold on!" The pilot yelled. Another huge force threw Shinji back. It was like being shot out of a bullet, that was already flying in air. The vibrations got heavier and loader. And finally after he did so good to hold it in, Shinji let all the food he still had go.
Shinji did not know how much time had past, but soon, another forced pushed the plane back and Shinji forward, slowing the aircraft down. In reality only around seven minutes had past since the pilot engaged the engine.
"OH YEAH!" the pilot yelled once the Aurora began to slow down, "THAT IS BETTER THEN SEX!"
Now out the window was green. Some brown but more green. As they slowed Shinji could make out land. Forests and rivers and valleys. Also while they slowed down, he felt weird, and slightly dizzy.
"Don't worry Shinji. You'll get over it in a minute." Chris said, no longer yelling through the headset, but talking normally.
"Where are we?" Shinji asked.
The pilot was the one who answered. "Coming up on North Korea." he then turned to Chris, "Target is almost in sight."
"Wait! Korea!" Shinji yelled.
"Yeah." Chris answered. "Some radical nationalist, and American haters got their hands on a nuclear bomb. So we are going to destroy it."
Though they were moving at a 'slow' speed, it was still a blur to Shinji. The pilot pointed out something to Chris with his hand.
In response Chris locked on and fired a missile. The missile it self was fast and quickly destroyed the bunker where the war head was being hidden. "We do this stuff all the time."
Doing a turn around they made another pass, and confirmed that the target was destroyed. "Alright ready?" Chris asked after he confirmed the objection was completed.
Shinji knew immediately what he was talking about. He closed his eyes and held on, "Just do it."
Chris and the pilot laughed. "Hold on!" With that the engines flared up again, and the plane flew back to base, at the same incredible speeds.
The flight lasted about a half hour. As soon as the plane landed and entered the hanger it went through a wash cycle. Not to clean the aircraft, but to cool it. After a flight at that speed, the metal of the plane would be red hot.
Unfortunately for Shinji, the cycle was to long. Since the plane was red hot they could not leave until the cycle passed. And the first thing Shinji wanted to do was abandon the Aurora.
"Here." Chris handed Shinji a wash rag.
Shinji removed his helmet and used the rag to clean the barf from his face. It was disgusting, but both Chris and the pilot had to do the same.
"Have a good flight Shinji?"
Shinji did not say anything. His face did the talking. Saying I hate you for this.
"Well get used to it. A lot of the technology used for this plane is being used in Al." Chris started unzipping his uniform. After seeing this Shinji did the same.
"Same technology used in Al?"
"Well, scaled down versions. You can say this plane is Al's big brother. I'll just let Ritsuko explain it to you later."
Shinji stopped listening and preceded to wash his face. Chris continued. "Now you know what I do. I have to destroy any threats against this country, inside and out. We use the Aurora's because we have to act fast these days and no other country knows we have them. Like, those Koreans can say that it was us who bombed them just now, but they have no way of proving it. If we use STAR WARS then it would be like us declaring that we attacked them, and if we used stealth bomber like the B-2. Well, the Aurora can fly around the world on one tank. After third impact we lost all of our air force bases and military establishments outside of the US, so there is currently no way of refueling a stealth bomber for a return trip."
Shinji did not answer. Truth he was not listening. All he could say was not an answer to Chris's statement, but what was on Shinji's mind. "I want to lay down."
Shinji walked down to the Aurora hanger. It had been almost a full day since the flight, and Shinji was not particularly hoping for another ride.
He was alone. Nobody was accompanying him. Chris gave him clearance and people were at all ends of the halls directing him to where they wanted him to go, so he had little choice to where he was going, but it was still awkward.
He entered the hanger where a group of people were waiting for him. About fifty people in all. Once he entered he was the center of attention. He was a little 'scared he would say' when he entered and everyone was watching him.
Out of the crowd Chris came by and grabbed Shinji by the shoulder. He laughed a little and forced Shinji to the true center of attention.
In the hanger, sitting right in front of the Aurora, was a black 1973 Alpine A310. Or to be more precise, what looked like one. "Al!"
"Good day Shinji. It's good to see you again."
Shinji turned back to Chris who was now standing next to Ritsuko. "Is he done?"
"Yes. Take a look Shinji."
Shinji began circling the car. Al looked almost exactly as he did before. But better. The paint or armor coating was silky smooth, far better then before. They did a good job getting the proportions right with Al. He looked the same, but like he was brand new. Which he was.
One thing was different with his outer appearance. At the rear of Al was what appeared to be large vents right under his rear bumper. "What is this?" Shinji asked.
Chris walked forward with a child like gleam in his eyes. "That is a pulsejet Pulse Wave Detonation Engine. A scaled down version of the same engine used for the Aurora."
Ritsuko picked up where Chris left off, "Al can now reach speeds well above the sound barrier. The engine does use a methane based gas, so you only have a limited time to use it before you run out. Also at speeds like that it gets dangerous, but in a strait line, nothing would be able to catch you. The methane gas only powers the pulsejet, not Al. Al will continue to be powered by an N-2 reactor as before."
Shinji made his way to the interior. The seats were the same tan color, the drivers seat was the same one in the last Al. The computers on the dashboard all looked new. Same set up, but cleaner, and all the screens were LCD screens instead of the small projector screens Al had before.
"We also added a new set of weapons." Ritsuko said. "He has a laser system similar to what he had before, but now has the ability to fire behind him."
Chris came over and pressed a button on the drivers console. "But not every thing is laser's." Shinji watched the front of Al as a gatling gun popped out of the front grill. "We have added a smaller version of same gun used on the F-15 and F-22."
"Al is now roughly ten time stronger and tougher then he was before. He is faster and better armed."
"Now Shinji." Chris had him sit in the 'pilot seat' and began explaining some of the controls. Shinji was lost in his instructions. Not that Chris was hard to understand. In fact Chris talked with very basic edicut, but he talked so fast that Shinji was having a hard time keeping up. Also English not being Shinji's main language slowed him down even further.
"But I'll let you discover most of his new feature's yourself." Chris finished his little talk.
Shinji took his eyes away from the new dash and looked at all the people smiling at him. Ritsuko was the one who stood out and talked to him. "Now Shinji, you can finally finish your trip."
"Can I go now?" That was all that was really on Shinji's mind. He had been cooped up to long, and had been halted on his journey for far to long.
"Almost Shinji." Chris answered. "These are for you." Chris then pulled out new body armor for Shinji to wear along with his M8 and extra ammunition. Last but not least he pulled out Shinji's Korth revolver's.
Shinji grabbed the two gun's. Chris continued talking, "We found them during the raid." Shinji looked them over. They were buffed up to a brilliant shine, but had many scratches and dings from previous use. "We also made plenty of the special bullet's it's uses, so you have plenty of bullet's to shot."
Shinji transfered the weapons and bullets to the interior of Al. Chris threw his arm around Shinji. "Now, I'm tired of having you around, lets get you out of here."
Shinji finished his good bye's to the people and dressed himself into appropriate attire; leather black jacket, black pants, and a white t-shirt. Once Chris gave him directions to Houston the two were off.
"Hey Al." Shinji started after a few hours of driving. He had been studying the map Chris gave him while Al was in control. He was at the Texas-New Mexico border, and the directions he was given were guaranteed to cut his trip down to six to eight hours. They were closer then they expected. But it was late and they would probably take a full day instead.
"Yes Shinji."
"Ritsuko said that you can go really fast now."
"Affirmative. She specified a 683 percent increase in speed, but unfortunately it would waste gas."
"How much gas?"
"I carry enough for about a half hour of continuous use. I recommend using it in short bursts since we have no way of refueling."
A half hour, Shinji thought. It was more then he thought Al would hold. "So want to try it?"
"I have been a little curious as to how my new functions will actually perform. I do not recommend going as fast as we can. At higher speeds even I will be unable to control myself."
Shinji really did not pay attention to what Al said. He already had his mind set. Foundling around he found the switch that Chris showed him before. Labeled Hyper Co-op Mode, with a blink of the eye Shinji switched it over.
Al's body under went a change. Panels moved outward as the four wheels moved out from under Al's wheel wells to make a bigger wheel base. Al's nose moved forward and tilted at slight angels to make a more aerodynamic shape. The rear of pulse wave detonation engine stayed put, but the front of Al opened up to show the turbine and the rest of the pulsejet engine.
Instantly Shinji could tell a difference with Al's characteristics. The ride became extremely rough as Al's suspension tightened to allow them to use the motor.
On the floor board, right next to Shinji's seat were an e-brake would normally be, a handle popped up with a little red button, that said 'Go Baby Go' on it.
Shinji over saw the transformation. "Dang Al. Looking good."
"Shinji, in this state I can obtain a fifteen percent increase in speed without the pulsejet activated. However I can reach an eighty percent increase in acceleration."
"Really?"
"Yes. But in this form my armor is less protective, leaving us open for attack, or susceptible to heavy damage if we get involved in an accident. We should use this form wisely."
Shinji tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Since it was in essence co-op mode, he was driving with Al's help. He also tightened his seat belt. Grasping the handle with the red button Shinji was prepared to 'fly'.
"Ready Al?"
"Just press the little red button."
Shinji did as told, and what was felt was a similar sensation to when he flew in the Aurora. Just not as powerful, but still fast. The land scape began to blur by as Al did nothing but go faster and faster.
Shinji looked at his speedometer. It was digital, so it could not red line, but just as Shinji thought he was nearing one hundred miles an hour (Al was still in English standard) he was closer to two hundred. Al nearly hit the four hundred mile mark, before Al shut the engines down, claiming to dangerous to go much faster.
Ritsuko sat in the dark and desolated cafeteria. It was night now, and only people stuck with the night shifts were awake. But there was no night shifts in this part of the building, allowing Ritsuko to be alone with her thoughts. Well, she thought she was alone.
Chris became thirsty and came in for a drink. Upon seeing her, he thought about forgetting the drink and leaving her alone, knowing that he would be unable to prevent a conversation from forming. He always wanted to talk, but she looked as if she really did not want to at the moment.
But his thirst was bad. And he liked talking to her especially.
"Why are you awake?" Chis asked. He immediately moved to the drink fountain and fulled up a paper cup with coke.
Ritsuko turned her head slowly and stared at his eyes. "Just thinking."
"About what?" He sat down at the table with her. He would make it quick, not to annoy her to much.
Ritsuko let out a sigh saying she was not sure herself. "You remember when Shinji told us how he survived the bombings?"
Chris thought it over. "I remember he changed the subject to Al producing an AT field. He never answered my question."
Ritsuko diverted her eyes to stare at the unknown behind Chris. "I ran some test on Al without him knowing. You know that Al's main processor, and all the Magi's main processors, are clones of human brains."
"I know something like that. They use both a clone of a human brain and conventional hardware. Al's was destroyed wasn't it, but his hard disk's that housed his memory banks were left okay, letting us recover him."
"We have been able to clone human bodies and body parts, but have been unsuccessful with making a living clone with out angel DNA."
Chris looked at her oddly. He knew what she was talking about. "What are you getting Doctor Akagi?"
"At first I thought it was something Al leaned as he was still Casper. I thought he gained these attributes when he was invaded by the 11th angel. But now I have no idea."
"What are you saying?"
"Al has developed something that resembles a soul. How? I do not know, but he is fully capable, along with Shinji's cooperation, to produce an AT field, just as an Eva can."
Chris leaned back in his chair. Shocked, and confused. Perhaps this meeting will be longer then he thought. "But he is a machine."
Ritsuko stayed with an unemotional tone and demeanor. She moved her hand and reset her chin on it. "I know. I can't explain it. It's not a human soul, but is similar. Like an angels soul, but Al's 'soul' has little in common with an angels soul."
Silence was brought up in the dark room. Both just staying with there thoughts. It was Ritsuko who finally broke the silence, a few minutes later. "But now that Al is gone, I have no way of researching it. But I doubt I would if he was around."
Chris looked at her quizzically. "You don't want to?"
Ritsuko shook her head. "I am sick of studying and literally tampering with souls. It's part of my past that turned the world into what it is now. Frankly, I am going to leave Al alone." She turned to look at Chris. "You and I are the only one's who know about this. I did not record this. And I do not plan to."
Chris knew what she was telling and asking him. "Don't worry. Your finding dies here in this room." He smiled weekly. Again he would keep secrets between him and her.
She smiled back at him. "Thank you."
Chris thought about it a little longer before deciding to go. It was late and he needed to get his beauty sleep. He got up from his seat and began to leave. "Night Doctor."
Ritsuko knew it was late and she need to go to bed, but she just couldn't. Guess she got used to stay awake for days on end during the evangelion project. She decided she was going to stay a little longer.
"Oh." Chris said as he turned around at the door. "I have a little trip coming up, and I want you to come with me. It's a business trip, but it would help if you came."
"Where too?" Ritsuko asked.
"Houston." Chris said and left the room.
"Wait! Houston!" Ritsuko then began chasing after Chris.
Okay here is the latest chapter. Personally, I think this is one of the worst written ones I have done. I just got bored with it. I had a really good idea for the next chapter and that was all I could think about, and I could not pay as much attention to this one as I could. I thought if I don't update it now, then I never would.
I've had a rough time over the past few months. College takes up so much time. I also had a lot of family problems that have taken away my time from this.
Everything about the Aurora is stuff I found while researching it, plus stuff I made up. And I know the practical and physical limitations that do not allow that engine to be placed in a car, but I don't car. It's cool. Besides, no-one whines about the Michael Keaton Batmobile, where the pilot seat is in the middle of the jet engine (Batman would die if he really drove that car".
Hopefully next chapter will be up soon. It's going to be more of a parody chapter and a throw back to the beginning of this story. He will be in Houston soon.
And that is it for now. Now please review. If nobody reviews I get upset and the time between updates gets longer.
