Fun fact, I began work on this chapter the same day I uploaded Chapter 9! Lets see how long this one takes, compared to it's predecessor!
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: REBIRTH
Written By: Robert D
ENCOUNTER 10: Reunion Pt. 1
When we were kids, me, Kris and a few of our friends were a group, famous in our hometown for using our powers to fight crime like some sort of league of justice, "superfriends" if you will. Whenever a NewType used their powers for less than savory purposes, such as robbery or just wanton destruction, we would step in when the cops proved ineffective. We didn't limit our actions to just our home, though. Quite often, we got calls from the LA and Chicago police departments, asking for assistance. Our final mission, though, was easily our most famous. A Pyro Master and self-proclaimed "boom-boom happy terrorist" Rena Free AKA Pyrena, had gone full-Bond Villain and used her power to essentially drill down to and then gain control over the Earth's CORE. Yeah, she was what you might call "completely out of her gourd". After joining forces with the army, we began the now-famous assault on her fortress which was built over the Yellowstone Supervolcano.
It was pretty intense, given that Pyrena was a Pyro Master, and had created lava golems to defend herself, but eventually we made it to her inner sanctum and challenged her. Even though we had the superior numbers (Myself, Krissa, Mari and Paul), Pyrena was still a Lv 5 Master-of-anything-hot-or-flaming. It went on for hours: we'd do some damage, she'd run off, we'd find her, fight resumes.
That was when Mari, our own Pyro Manipulator, scored the winning strike against Pyrena, binding her with lavastone chains, thus allowing us to knock her unconscious, breaking her hold over the core.
Victory was ours.
It's been a few years since Krissa and I saw our friends. When last we parted ways to train with Master Son, Mari made me promise we'd meet again and that she would "have me", whatever that means.
Mari and I have been friends since we were in diapers. Her mom and my mom were apparently friends in college, and close ones at that. Because of this, Mari believes that we're "destined", but to be honest I really only see her as a really close friend...
The reason I brought this up is because...well I got a call today...
From Mari.
She's been stationed at NERV for the time being.
God help us all...
T minus 10 hours to Mari...
When Shinji woke up that morning, he thought today was going to be great. After all, today was the day the new pilot was scheduled to arrive! He would later look back and, with every fiber of his being, question why he was allowed to say things.
"What's Mari like, Jacob?" He asked of the Saiyan teen, "I mean, you don't really talk about her much."
Jacob sighed.
"Well Mari's a really nice girl...kinda crazy, but she uh...well that's about it actually."
It was about then that Krissa joined up with them, accompanied by her new friend Asuka Langley Soryu. Not too long after she had arrived, Asuka had bumped into Krissa and the two of them hit it off instantly.
"So where are you from?" she had asked Krissa, not yet knowing the girl's name.
"The States," she replied, "Specifically the Midwest."
"Huh. Hey does that mean you've met the Central Warriors?"
Krissa blinked.
"Is that what they called us?" she replied, dumbfounded, "That's just...ugh."
"So no, then?" Asked Asuka, somewhat confused by the girl.
"Well, assuming the Central Warriors are the guys who helped beat Pyrena, then yes I've met them. I was one of them."
The 2nd Child blinked, blinked again and after the third blink, her eyes sparkled.
"So does that make you the Terror Queen or Fireball?"
"Terror Queen."
In a rare moment of out-of-characterness, Asuka fangirled slightly.
Back in the present...
The quartet was making their way towards Central Dogma, when a strange thing happened: a glowing purple circle appeared on the ceiling and out of it fell a person roughly Jacob's height, wearing a black cloak and glasses.
"Dammit..." Groaned the man as he got up, "I told Elni the portal wasn't fixed..."
Jacob and Krissa's eyes widened in excitement.
"PAUL?!" Screamed Krissa as her brother attempted to hug his best friend, earning a gut punch from the just-as-suprised Paul.
"G-good to see you too, bro..." He groaned.
"Is that you, Jacob?" He asked, "Krissa, I knew immediately, but I hardly recognized you man."
"Uh what's going on?" Asked an annoyed Asuka, "Kris, who is this guy?"
"Shinji, Asuka, allow me to introduce one of our oldest friends: Paul Raiyû!"
Paul nodded.
"But how'd you get here, anyway?" Inquired Jacob, already recovered from the punch.
"Blame Elni," he replied, "I should have known better than to trust her portal workmanship... At least this time, I didn't end up in the Swamp Pits of Ur..."
"Elni?" Asked Krissa.
"My catgirl assistant," Paul clarified, earning blank stares from both.
"Ok, I was working on a spell to give a cat the intelligence of a human, but instead-"
At that moment, a nearly naked girl fell through the portal and landed on top of Paul.
"Nyaa~" she purred, smiling.
"I got this..." He finished
As Shinji and Krissa's noses spurted blood, Jacob extended a hand and helped the girl up.
"Nice to meet you," he said, "I'm Jacob! What's your name?"
The catgirl tilted her head.
"Elni." She mewed in reply.
At that moment, the 1st Child, accompanied by Derrick, turned the corner and saw the strange situation.
"Uhhhhh...what's uh...goin' on here or do I want t'know?" Asked the dark man, understandably confused by the situation.
"Jake-Kun..." Whispered Ayanami, "who is she?"
Paul groaned, still half-crushed on the floor.
"No, that's fine. Don't help me up...nope...I'm all good..."
By this point, Krissa had recovered enough and kicked Paul square in the bum.
Later...
"Ok, seriously. Who the hell are these guys?" Asked a semi-annoyed Derrick. After the two mysterious visitors had arrived, Jacob had quickly taken them to a safer location before anyone could notice and arrest them for trespassing.
In the small room that Shinji had to temporarily share with Asuka, were gathered the 1st-3rd Children, Jacob, Krissa and Derrick, as well as the two visitors. To say it was cramped would be a hilarious understatement, especially for Derrick, who was built like a linebacker.
"And what the hell are they doin' here?"
Paul sighed.
These kinds of situations were the ones he tended to avoid as though they were a plague unto him. It was bad enough that Elni had screwed up the portal, and that it had transported him somewhere top-secret, but not only did she do that, she also fell through the same portal, closing it. Now he'd have to make a new one.
Derrick cleared his throat, impatient.
"Well. We're waiting, Specs. Who are you?"
"Paul."
Derrick narrowed his eyes in frustration.
"Don't be a smartass, boy, it won't end pretty. Now, who are you and why did you break into NERV HQ?"
"I didn't break in," he replied, quickly adding, "ok, not intentionally at any rate. I had Elni practicing her portal manifestation techniques, and er...fell in. Then she jumped in behind me and it closed."
At the mention of her name, Elni's ears perked up and she smiled. Despite having the form of a beautiful and well-developed woman, Elni's mind was more or less that of a toddler.
"Elni sorry," she squeaked, "Elni still new at magic-y stuffs."
"Don't worry, Derrick," said Jacob, "I've known Paul for years. He's no criminal mastermind."
"Implying there's a mind in that skull of his, at all~" giggled Krissa, earning a bonk from Jacob.
"What did you mean by 'Magic-y Stuffs'?" Asked Shinji of Elni.
"Elni is a Mage in Training!" She mewed gleefully.
"M-Mage?" Responded Shinji in disbelief, "like Merlin or something? But those are just stori-"
Shinji stopped talking as Paul waved his hand and a small dragon appeared.
"Hey Derrick," chided Asuka, "Look, it's your cousin."
"Funny." He said, finding no humor in her joke at all.
"How did you do that?" Asked the 1st.
"I'm a Mage," replied Paul as the dragon vanished, "It's what I do."
"And here I thought magic was the stuff of storybooks." whispered Shinji in disbelief.
As Paul then explained, the kind of magic seen in those old stories was indeed fictional. Magic, as it exists here, is purely used as means of creation, enhancement, transformation or summoning. All Mages are divided into one of these castes, depending on what they excel at, but will usually have knowledge of a second one. A Mage uses his power by exerting control over his subject with his own "aura". If the Mage's "aura" is greater than that of his subject, he can affect it in whatever way he chooses. The creations can never have a greater "aura" that the one who created them, and the size of one's own "aura" is usually static.
Mages are also forbidden from using their power on living humans without consent from the High Council.
"I myself, however, am a rarity," continued Paul. By this point, Derrick and Asuka had fallen asleep, Elni was grooming herself and Krissa was examining her.
"Please, go on." replied Shinji with wide eyes. He never knew how amazing this world was until just now.
Rei nodded in agreement.
"I, too, wish to hear more."
Paul shifted in his seat,
"As I was saying, my Magic skill is a rare one. Whereas most Mages can only master one, occasionally two forms of Magic, I can use all four. Because of this, I'm constantly under attack from both the Mage High Council and the Dark Federation..."
Paul glanced behind him, noticing the closet door was slightly ajar.
"Aha..." He muttered under his breath, "So they found me..."
In a split second, Paul manifested a massive spear in his right hand and plunged it through the door.
"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" He shouted, pulling out the spear to check for blood.
Instead, through the door spilled many large boxes containing Asuka's yet-unpacked luggage, the only thing the small closet contained.
"Oops..." He mumbled.
As he turned around, Paul noticed the face of the 2nd Child, twisted in anger.
"You. IDIOT!" She screeched, uppercutting Paul through the roof.
Derrick's jaw dropped
"HOLY BALLS SORYU, HOW LONG COULD YOU DO THAT?!"
Asuka shrugged.
"I dunno, since always I guess."
Krissa nodded.
"Makes sense, after all in order to pilot the EVA you need to have an active NewType gene. Guess that mean's Asuka's power is something strength based."
"Wait WHAT?" shouted Shinji, "I...I don't understand... Are you saying everyone who is an EVA pilot is also a NewType?"
"Yup," said Krissa, "each and every one of em. Though just cause the gene's active, doesn't mean the power's manifest. Course, your power could be something useless. Like adjusting the room temperature by one degree, or having full control of an army of dust particles."
"...so even Ayanami..?"
"What are you, stupid or something?" Scoffed Asuka, "Of course it does! Wondergirl's an EVA pilot right? Then of she's a NewType!"
"Actually, I don't believe I am." Replied Rei.
"Of course you are!" Yelled Asuka, "your power is probably just something dumb like Baka Shinji's so you never noticed!"
"Oi Asuka, tone it down," said Jacob, flatly, "Shinji's not stupid and neither is Rei. I'll admit, some powers are more useful than others, but there's no such thing as a 'dumb power'."
"Yeah whatever," she said.
"Ahoy there, I'm home!" Came the voice of Misato from down the hall.
"Oh shit." Said Krissa, jumping out the window and taking flight "uhhhh...See ya!"
"Wait for me!" Shouted Jacob, grabbing Rei and taking flight behind his sister.
"I oughtta go too," said Derrick as his eyes glowed red, "Dragün: 5%!"
Sprouting twin wings, Derrick soared into the sky and headed back to the GeoFront.
In the chaos, Elni had crawled into the Paul-sized hole in the ceiling, leaving only Shinji and Asuka in the room torn asunder.
"Hope you guys are in the mood for McDona-HOLY HELL!"
"MISATO IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!" They shouted in unison.
A sly grin creeped onto their guardian's face.
"I understand you're teenagers, but if you're gonna do it, at least straighten up when you're done~"
"I would never! Not with this BAKA!" Screamed Asuka, storming out and forcing Shinji to explain the ordeal to Misato.
Meanwhile at the airport...
A single figure stood on the tarmac, hands on her hips, the light of the setting sun reflecting off her glasses.
"Mr. Baron was supposed to pick me up hours ago..." Sighed the girl in exasperation.
She checked her phone: no missed calls or texts.
"Dammit..." She muttered, "Well, looks like I'm walking..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
June 3rd 2014. That's how long it took to write this one.
Not much else to say, but I do want to make note of one minor change. Instead of tacking on character bios here at the end, they will instead be posted on the NGE: R Facebook page.
Hope you guys enjoyed this one, parte numero dos is coming soon, followed by...bum bum buuuum the first Rebirth "Movie"!
Additional note: I may have finished on the 3rd, but am only just now uploading it at 12:13 AM on the 11th.
Yay for procrastination! :D