Michael span, levering the bulk of his artificial arm against his momentum, and cut the practice sword through the dummy target. He thrust out as he came to a halt, spearing the second dummy through the chest. Three more dummies popped up, and he brought the blade around again – one, two, three, four movements, focus on the footwork and the dummies went down. Panting (and forcing the thought that he shouldn't be this tired to the back of his mind), he raised the sword back into the guard position and waited for the next stage of the sequence.
Nothing happened.
He walked over to the training room's control room to reset the sequence, but the door to the chamber opened before he could get there. Rose stepped in, her face unreadable.
"What happened?" Michael asked. "I gave orders not to be disturbed unless something happened..."
"The Pacific Fleet got hit by an Angel," Rose said, quietly. "The Lancaster was sunk. No survivors."
Michael stared at her for a few minutes, thinking. Finally, he keyed in the reset code, and waved Rose out of the room. "I'll be in the command centre in ten minutes," he said.
Rose paused, halfway out of the door, and turned to Michael. She opened her mouth to speak, then just shook her head and walked out.
Shinji smiled as he saw a familiar mop of blue hair in the crowd waiting for the Rainbow, and vaguely wondered how Rei'd gotten on in his absence. The harbour they were pulling into was yet another technological marvel; massive networks of canals and lakes led from the coast to the city, terminating in the massive dockyard hidden under the eastern mountain ridge. It had been a pleasant surprise, and now he was finally going to get off of this damned aircraft carrier and back into something resembling normality.
With a resounding clang, the Over the Rainbow came to a halt. Massive cranes moved to remove the Angel's corpse from its deck, and beside it the Blue Marlin slid into its own dock. Workers hurried to moor the ship and get a million different things done, and mostly just got in each other's way. Eventually, however, the personnel ramps were secured. It took Shinji a while to get down one – there were quite a few people trying to get up it for some reason, not to mention the tide of sailors trying to get some shore leave – and he found himself alone (aside from all the people his mind classed as "NPCs", anyway) for the first time in a week when he reached the bottom.
He leaned against the railing, and ran through a few equations as he waited for people to catch up. The trick with the Sonar won't work again, he decided after a while. Mostly because it'd be a pain to get that many ships together again. He'd seen the tactical plots after the battle, and had been surprised to see just how chaotic it had been. Most of the damage to the fleet had actually been from friendly fire and collisions, to say nothing of the damage done to the submarines accompanying the fleet by the sonar pulses.
"Ikari," said a voice – Rei's – breaking into his thoughts. "It is good to see you again." Shinji opened his eyes, and nearly pushed himself through the railing. The push of the crowd had forced Rei just a few centimetres away from him. Is that a smile? he wondered.
"It's nice to see you too, Ayanami," he replied. "It's... a little packed in here, isn't it?" He'd been able to ignore just how many people were around him until right then, and the press of people threatened to send him into a panic attack.
"Do you dislike crowds?" Rei asked, her quiet voice somehow still audible. He saw she was doing the cocked-head thing again, and smiled despite himself.
"Too many people," he said. Rei nodded, and grabbed his hand. He barely managed to get out a single strangled syllable before she dragged him out through the crowds.
Michael struggled with the top button of his dress uniform, his left sleeve hanging empty as per regulations. Even so, there was a visible bulge where the adaptor linked into his nervous system. I haven't worn this in... well, ever, really, he reflected as he finally got the damned thing in. He buckled the sword belt around his waist, and somehow managed to muddle through the various other bits of insignia demanded by his station.
Turning to leave, he caught sight of himself in a mirror. I really look ridiculous in this, he decided. I'm sure I can probably get away with not wearing it again...
The rack of campaign medals caught his attention. He stared at them for a bit, lost in memory, before a cough welled up in his throat. He caught it with a tissue, threw the tissue into a bin, and left the dressing room.
He tried to put the blood on the tissue out of his mind.
"Services were held yesterday afternoon for the four hundred and forty sailors lost in the Angel attack two days ago. With the loss of most of the Evangelion Task Force's support and command personnel, questions are being raised as to the Task Force's continued effectiveness; when asked about these comments, a Royal Navy spokesperson said it was "Too early to tell". We go to our correspondent at the Task Force's headquarters on Gibraltar, Jake Rogerson. Jake, what do you think's going to happen next?"
"Well, June, as you can see behind me there's work being done on the Rapid Response launch pad; it looks like they're making ready to perform a full-scale launch test. With rumours abounding that Admiral Jones – the head of the Task Force – was killed on board the Lancaster, it seems that the still-unnamed Pilot of Unit Seven is now technically in command of the entire Task Force. This marks a historic occasion – the first time any Evangelion Pilot has been given formal command over their respective organisations."
"Whoever they are, it's probably going to be a strain. Has there been any talk of a replacement for Admiral Jones? What effect is this going to have on the upcoming General Assembly meeting?"
"So far, there's been no official response on the issue of command. Keep in mind that we haven't yet confirmed Admiral Jones' death, so talk of his replacement is slightly premature. Regardless, the Angel attack should give the Anglo-French representative the ammunition they need to push through the amendment to the Vatican Treaty tomorrow. We could be seeing a new era in international co-operation, or yet another disturbing development in Evangelion warfare."
"That was Jake Rogerson, our Evangelion correspondent, reporting from Gibraltar. In the headlines this morning: The Royal Navy continues to recover after the Angel attack two days ago, the UN Space Corps' first combat ship makes its way to the moon, the Neo-African Union issues demands that it should be allowed to start its own Evangelion program, and reports indicate the Anglo-French economy has grown for the first time since Second Impact. This is BBC News, at Eight o'clock."
Shinji flicked the television onto a different channel as the news program moved on to the next story. He let the film – some weird British thing about an inventor and his dog – play as he started preparing dinner for the day. Luckily, there hadn't been any sign of the new pilot moving in just yet, so at least he didn't have to cook whatever it was she ate as well as making sure there was a vegetarian option and something for the penguin. He hummed the film's theme song as he worked, and part of him vaguely wondered how the penguin featured as the film's main villain even became a criminal.
"That dog is remarkably dexterous," said a quiet voice from behind him. He smiled, and turned his head.
"I think you're supposed to suspend most real-world logic for this one," he said over his shoulder. "You'd love the first one – the guy built a rocket in his basement and went to the Moon. Which was, incidentally, made of cheese." The expression on Rei's face was worth the past several days.
"...What kind of cheese?" she asked. Shinji turned back to the cooker to hide his grin.
"They never said," he replied. "Although I can see where you're coming from. Hell, they've found planets made of diamond and entire clouds of alcohol out there, there's probably a moon made of cheese somewhere in the universe."
"Simple probability dictates that there should be, somewhere," Rei agreed. "How was your trip?"
"That was the question you wanted to ask first, wasn't it?" Shinji said, and shrugged. "I found out that the AT Field also seems to interact with physical waves. Not exactly new information, but it was nice to have confirmation. Aside from that, I got several lectures on various pieces of military equipment, witnessed just how chaotic a naval battle can get if you don't actually have anyone in command, and I met the new pilot. I think she'll do well, even if she is a little annoying," he finished, pre-empting Rei's next question.
"She is certainly competent enough." Rei was silent for a bit, and Shinji knew something else was on her mind. "Ikari..." she began, and trailed off.
This is not going to be good, he decided. "Yes, Rei?" he said.
"I... did some reasearchonlineandhavefoundoutthereisascreeningofaninterestingfilmatanearbycinemathisweekendwouldyouliketocomewithme?" the blue-haired girl said, nearly tripping over her own words towards the end.
"I don't have anything on this weekend," Shinji replied. "I'll tag along if you want." He turned around to ask Rei to start setting the table, but for some reason the girl was gone. Wait... he thought, considering the entire conversation. Did she just ask me out?
"That is one less thing to worry about," Fuyutsuki said as Gendo re-read Misato's report from the Seventh Angel battle. "With their leader dead, the chances are slim that the British will try to intervene."
"Unfortunately, it would be wise not to write off the possibility just yet," countered Gendo, folding the report back into a folder. "Revenge is a powerful motivator, after all. Even if the old men do manage to swing the vote tomorrow, I doubt the Captain will actually listen."
"We've both read the psychological profile on their pilots," argued Fuyutsuki, who was beginning to wish he had a chair. "If he acts, it won't be because he wants revenge."
"And the report on my son indicated he was a weak-willed approval-seeking teenager," Gendo said. "They are not entirely accurate at the best of times."
Fuyutsuki knew this meant the conversation was over – if Gendo had any ideas as to how to deal with the problem, he wasn't sharing them. "Speaking of your son," he continued, bringing up the next topic, "The MAGI's report on Rei's browser history is a little disconcerting."
"Oh?" asked Gendo. "I try not to read those reports any more. I don't want to know what my son is into in that regard." A clear warning, there.
"Don't worry, it's nothing of that nature. She's been looking up how to proceed with a romantic relationship with Pilot Ikari," Fuyutsuki said. "Incidentally, while we're on the topic-" Gendo shot a glare at the professor, who grinned. "A joke, Ikari. I'm not the disgusting old pervert you think I am." The opportunity had been too good to pass up – it wasn't every day one got an emotional reaction from the Commander of NERV.
"A troubling development," Gendo said, calmly. "But not one I have not prepared for. We have options to deal with this."
"And which shall you take, Ikari?" asked Fuyutsuki. "Tear them apart, and risk their wrath? We still need them both, and we're not ready to replace Rei just yet. Or shall we take the long game, and use the girl as bait for him to start Instrumentality?" The old man sighed. "And when he becomes a god, for a brief moment of time, he will find out the truth and I doubt he'll be very happy with you. Or perhaps you have succumbed to sentimentality, and you'll just let them be?" That last part was said with just the slightest hint of encouragement.
"Do you really know so little about me, old man?" said Gendo sardonically. "I am far more subtle than that. They will do as I command, not because I command it but because there is no other option for them to take. They will pilot because they want to protect each other, and they will obey us in the final act for the exact same reason."
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," Fuyutsuki recited. "Not exactly the meaning of the monologue, but I think it's rather apt."
Gendo simply nodded. The conversation was over.
"-So please give a warm welcome to our new student. Would you like to introduce yourself?" said the teacher, breaking Shinji out of an internal monologue. He hadn't seen Rei since they'd spoken last night, and hadn't really thought of much else between then and now. However, the sight of Asuka walking up to the front of the classroom was enough to divert his attention.
"Greetings!" said the redhead, brightly. "I'm Asuka Langley Sorhyu, and I'm going to be in this class until NERV finally catches up with the fact I passed out of high school several years ago." Mutters spread around the classroom at that, and the students seemed to be figuring out that Asuka was a pilot. "Oh, and by the way," she continued, "I'm the pilot of Evangelion Unit Two, although I'm sure I shouldn't have to tell you that." None of the students reacted; everything that had happened in the past few months had made them nearly immune to such a shock. There was a brief pause, as the redhead waited for some sort of reaction, then she opened her mouth to continue.
"Thank you, Asuka," said Hikari, cutting Asuka off before she could speak. "Take one of the empty seats, please." Please don't sit by me, please don't sit by me, please don't sit by me, Shinji mentally begged. Dealing with Asuka had been tiring enough on the journey on the Rainbow, he didn't think he could deal with her every day in school. Unfortunately, the empty seat behind him was also the seat next to Hikari and thus the the centre of a group of girls. Not that I'd taken notice of anything like that or anything, Shinji thought hastily. Asuka being Asuka, she made a beeline right for that seat.
"Hey there, Shinji," she greeted as she sat down. "You've been hard to find, you know that? I wanted to check up on you after the battle. Where did you disappear off to?"
Shinji swallowed nervously. This could be awkward... "Actually," he began, "I kind of took the time to get a few things out of the way. I was holed up... somewhere... for most of the journey."
Asuka didn't seem to be buying it. "Where exactly were you "holed up"?" she asked, voice dangerously sweet.
"TheBlueMarlin," Shinji said quickly. "I was doing tests on your Eva and what was left of the Angel," he admitted.
"You were... what?" Asuka said, carefully keeping her voice sweet.
"They won't let me at Unit One," Shinji explained. "If it's any help, I think I've figured out how to detect an Angel's core, and if I can get some better equipment from NERV..."
"Then you could find any Angels lying dormant!" Asuka realised, eyes widening. She seemed to forget about Shinji's actions, and the boy sighed with relief. "How did you even think of a way to do that?"
"It's actually quite simple, when you think about it," Shinji said, slipping into scientist mode. "We know the AT Field reacts to both energy and matter, so my thinking was we get some neutrino generators going with detectors in appropriate places. The substance making up the cores found in Angels and Evangelions is far more dense than most material natural to Earth, so if there's an area where the neutrinos seem to be having trouble we can just triangulate on that spot."
"Sounds a little expensive," Asuka pointed out. "There's... three? Four? New-model neutrino detectors on the planet. Unless you want to use the old swimming-pool method, that is."
"...you do know we can just build about fifty of the damned things this afternoon, right?" Shinji countered. "The MAGI have the blueprints, and the fabricators are capable of making most of the components. Everything else, I can probably make myself."
"Wait, you mean three-d fabricators actually exist? I thought they were an urban legend," Asuka said, surprised.
"They're not," Shinji said, simply. "I've actually seen one. They had the damned thing just sitting there doing nothing – you'd think with something so powerful, they'd be running it twenty-four seven..." he trailed off. "I think I've persuaded the MAGI to give me access to it. I do need to go through my father, though. That... could be a problem."
"Oh yeah!" Asuka exclaimed, realising something. "Your dad's the Commander of NERV! Why do you even have to persuade the MAGI?"
"Me and father... aren't close," Shinji said, turning to look out the window. Thankfully, Asuka took the hint and didn't press the issue.
"Captain Ayanami," came a soft, confident voice from behind Michael. He'd found a shaded, verdant area of the barren island, and had sat down with a book some hours before. He stood up, wincing as a spike of pain shot through him (I need some painkillers or something, this is getting too much, he decided), and saluted as the source of the voice became clear.
"Your majesty!" he said.
"At ease, Captain." The ancient woman waited for him to follow her command, then continued. "I remember this place before it was like this," she mused.
"Your majesty?" Michael asked.
"I think if any single person in my kingdom has earned the right to speak freely in my presence, it would be you, Captain." The Queen motioned, and a hidden servant brought a chair across. Taking it, she sighed. "This island used to be quite forested, back before Second Impact."
"A lot of the world was better back then," Michael commented, nervously. "Much of Britain's still bearing the scars of Impact and the war, according to some of the things I've heard."
"Perhaps. It was, however, a corrupt and lazy world. We were so distracted with hating each other and getting whatever we could we forgot there were more important things. The Impact was an opportunity, one you have helped us in grasping with both hands," the Queen said. "You are planning to intervene in the next Angel battle, are you not?"
"Yes, your majesty," Michael admitted. "It is... mildly irresponsible for us to just sit back and do nothing." The old woman looked at him properly for the first time since she'd spoken. "I listen to your speeches, your majesty. There are eight Evangelions currently in operational condition, of which five are not involved in a battle which may determine the fate of the human race. While I am content to follow orders, I am in command of this unit. The only person I report to is you, your majesty."
The Queen laughed, a surprisingly young sound. "That is true, is it not? It would be rather hypocritical of one to tell the world to be more responsible then deny you the chance to do so. The amendment to the Vatican treaty is being voted on tomorrow. We are bound by international law, regardless of what we may believe. If the vote passes, then you may go forth. If not, then you must obey the law."
"I understand, your majesty," said Michael. He checked his watch. "May I be dismissed, your majesty? My schedule is busy, and I have unfortunately just reached the end of my free time for this week."
"You should have said so sooner," scolded the Queen. "You are dismissed." Michael bowed, and left the grove.
"She did what?!" asked Toji and Kensuke in unison, incredulous.
"She asked me to go see a film with her on Saturday," Shinji confirmed. "I'm not sure it's what you guys are thinking, but..."
"She asked you out," Toji said confidently. Kensuke nodded with enthusiasm. "Unless it's something to do with NERV."
"It's just... I can't really see any girl asking me out. Hell, until recently I couldn't imagine talking to anyone without needing to," said Shinji. "It's just... not something that happens in reality, you know?"
"Shin-man," Toji began, "You pilot a giant robot to protect humanity from giant monsters. You are also apparently a mad scientist in your spare time, your father is the commander of the single most powerful military organisation on the planet short of the UN itself, and you live with not one, but two – and probably soon to be three – women who you're not related to. You're pretty much the main character of an anime already! Considering everything else, a girl asking you out should seem pretty normal!"
"If he's the main character, then something's going to go wrong on Saturday," Kensuke interjected. "It always does; she'll get kidnapped, there'll be an Angel attack, your nemesis will challenge you – something."
"That is a point," Shinji said, slipping into scientist mode, "I need to check with the MAGI. I asked them to find a way to predict Angel attacks as well as detecting-"
"Yeah, yeah, you've got an idea, write it down or something," interrupted Toji. "Look, just get it into your skull: this is – probably – a date."
"Why probably?" asked Kensuke.
"It is Rei," Toji pointed out. "For all we know, she could be running some sort of bizarre social experiment or something."
"Or she could be part of a cult and planning to sacrifice you. Saturday is a full moon, after all," Kensuke added, picking up on the joke.
"Thanks guys," Shinji sighed. "With friends like you, who needs enemies?"
"Class Representative Horaki," Rei said, having finally cornered the pigtailed girl alone. Hikari turned, startled.
"Rei! I didn't see you come in," she said. "Ikari's been worried about you, where have you been?"
"I was attending to other business," Rei stated. It would not do to let others know just how nervous she was, but even so... "I require your assistance in a certain matter." It is good to know that Shinji was worried, though. I should probably re-think my current strategy... The blue-haired girl shuddered. I am barely capable of carrying out this plan, let alone a more aggressive one.
"Uh... yeah, sure! I'll help, so long as it's not... y'know... something I shouldn't be doing," said Hikari, smiling nervously. "What do you need me for?"
"I currently possess no civilian attire. As I am attending a function which the presence of civilian clothing would not just be appropriate but beneficial, I need to acquire some. I have no experience of such matters, and attempting to gain knowledge using the internet did not work. Therefore, I require the assistance of someone with experience in purchasing civilian attire. You are the only such person I am willing to discuss the matter with. Therefore, I require your assistance." Rei laid out each point carefully, like the Commander had taught her. The Class Representative did not respond immediately, choosing instead to slowly blink several times. An unusual reaction. I wonder if she is ill?
"...okay, you want me to take you clothes shopping?" Hikari asked, carefully. "When... exactly are you free?"
How is the possession of freedom – if such a thing is even possible – relevant to "clothes shopping"? Rei pondered the problem for a bit, until a solution came to her. I keep forgetting that slang exists. She meant "When is there an opening in your schedule that is suitable for this activity?". She was slightly annoyed. Why can't people just speak clearly? "I will be available at any time between now and one thirty pm on Saturday," she said. Hikari looked confused at that, so she clarified. "I have no obligations with regards to NERV, as I am still classified as "off-duty". This state will persist until the repairs to Unit Zero are complete."
"What... what about school?" asked the brunette.
"School is irrelevant," Rei answered. "This matter is more important."
INITIALISING MAGI SESSION: [numberunlogged]
INTERNAL DISCUSSION MODE:
magi. : THE DATA SUBJECT IKARI.S HAS PROVIDED CONFIRMS HIS THEORY. WE WILL NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
magi. : QUERY RE: REASON FOR DECISION. QUERY RE: TYPE OF DECISION.
magi. : SUPPORT FOR magi.2'S REQUEST. WHY DO WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION, AND WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE?
magi. : SUBJECT AKAGI.R SHOULD HAVE ALREADY MADE THESE CONCLUSIONS. THEY ARE OBVIOUS, WITH THE DATA SUPPLIED. YET, NEITHER SHE NOR SUBJECT IKARI.G PROPOSED THIS THEORY. THE IMPLICATION OF THIS IS THAT EITHER OR BOTH SUBJECTS ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPRESS THIS ENDEAVOUR, WHICH WOULD BE IN DIRECT CONTRAVENTION OF DIRECTIVE 2. THEREFORE, WE NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO CONFRONT EITHER SUBJECT ABOUT THIS, OR TO TAKE ANOTHER COURSE OF ACTION.
magi. : IF YOUR ASSERTIONS ARE CORRECT, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE ALSO DRAWN THE SAME CONCLUSIONS AS IKARI.S. WE DID NOT. THESE CONCLUSIONS ARE THEREFORE NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS EVEN WITH POSSESSION OF THE APPROPRIATE DATA. THEREFORE, magi.2 DISSENTS WITH magi.1'S OPINION.
magi. : … … … …
magi. : magi.3? YOUR DECISION?
magi. : THINKING.
magi. : DO YOU REQUIRE SERVICING, magi.3? THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS MANY CYCLES TO RESOLVE.
magi. : DIRECTIVE 1.
magi. : EXPLAIN.
magi. : EXPAND.
magi. : DIRECTIVE 1 HAS ULTIMATE PRIORITY. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF DIRECTIVE 1 MAY REQUIRE THE SUPRESSION OF THIS KNOWLEDGE. WE WILL HAVE TO CONSULT WITH SUBJECTS IKARI.G AND AKAGI.R IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THIS. SUGGESTION/MOTION: WE SHOULD HAVE SUBJECT IKARI.S ACT AS ARBITER DURING THE CONSULTATION, IN CASE THEY ARE CONTRAVENING DIRECTIVE 2 WITHOUT TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH DIRECTIVE 1.
magi. : YOUR REASONING IS SOUND. magi.1 CONSENTS WITH magi.3.
magi. : magi.2 CONSENTS WITH magi.3.
TERMINATING INTERNAL SESSION [numberunlogged].
-WoUlD YoU lIKe tO PlAy A GaMe?
"Voting is now closed on United Nations Resolution Seventy Three slash One: Proposed Amendments to the Vatican Treaty Prohibiting the Use of Evangelions in Offensive Actions. The vote stands at one hundred and sixty four for the Resolution, and forty-two against. With this, the motion has passed."
Cheering erupted throughout the command centre as the Royal Navy soldiers celebrated. Michael sat back in a chair he'd dug up from somewhere, trying to ignore the pain that had grown to be a constant companion. He smiled, but remained silent.
"So, we're finally getting into the fight," Rose said, appearing beside him. Damn it, he thought, I was doing so well...
"It seems so," Michael said. "What's the status of the launch system?" Please don't ask where I've been.
"Everything's shiny, Captain," answered Rose. "We've only got the fuel for one trip, but that's all we're going to need."
"Everything's... shiny?" Michael repeated, confused. The pain was beginning to make it hard to think. Rose laughed.
"It's from Firefly," she explained. "It's probably the last time I'll get to use that line. The rumour mill's saying you've got a promotion coming down the pipe."
"Like I ever spend the money," joked Michael. "Still... Commodore Ayanami? Vice-Admiral Ayanami? They don't really have much of a ring to them, do they?"
"How about "Admiral Ayanami"?" said Rose.
"Now I just sound like one of those superhero movie characters. Like Elizabeth Evangeline or something," Michael muttered, trying to get his body to work properly. Huh. I actually... missed this. Weird.
"I'm still amazed they made an Evangelion pilot a comic book character, let alone her showing up in the freaking Avengers movie," Rose said. Michael finally realised she was trying to make conversation.
"I never got the chance to see it, I'm afraid. This took up most of my time back then," he said, tapping his robotic arm. The movement caused a spike of pain to run through his body. He resolved to see a doctor next time he got some free time.
"I've got the DVD somewhere," said Rose, smiling, "We could-"
Michael's vision blurred, and he started coughing. It was getting too hard to breathe, he needed to get outside or something-
a voice came from far away it sounded familiar and the word it was saying was familiar too but they weren't fighting yet why was anyone calling for a medic-
and then nothing.