After the Volcano 14
Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Highwayman. Wish I did, though.
Author's Notes: Here we are. The Battle Royale. NERV's Evangelions vs the M.P. EVAs! With a Cracker Jack surprise in store! Enjoy!
"Oh shit. Not cool." Shinji's words are shared by everyone else as he turns his attention toward Asuka on his monitoring equipment. "Asuka, maybe you and the others should…"
"Forget it, Shinji. We're not leaving you in the lurch."
"Asuka, you and the others will be safer far away from here. If I die, at least I'd die happy knowing you and the babies are safe."
"I'm not leaving you, Shinji baka. You hear me? I'm not leaving you to fend for yourself. If you're going to die, it'll be with me by your side. Whether it be today or when we're old and grey."
Sighing in defeat, Shinji nods and asks, "How are you going to fight, though?"
"I'm still working on the particulars, but I have an idea. I'll be back shortly, Shinji. So don't have too much fun without me." Blowing him a kiss, she turns toward Misato before both of them make their way to the Geofront. The others in tow.
Shinji shakes his head and mutters, "I hope her idea doesn't hurt her, the babies or anyone else." His eyes going wide, he then says, "Her EVA's still down in Terminal Dogma. I don't think we ever got it out of there."
Ten minutes later; the sky above Tokyo-3
From his perch within a black EVA transport plane, Kaji readies his detonator, wearing a smug grin. Seeing how ugly the M.P. EVAs every day kept him working on sabotaging SEELE's plans through tampering with the control plugs for the M.P. EVAs. He'd have tampered with the S2 engine cores, but they were out of his reach. So, he stuck to more 'stylishly subtle' means of sabotage.
'I've always wanted to do something with a big bang. Hopefully, everyone at NERV will enjoy the fireworks and live through this.'
Same time frame; NERV HQ; Terminal Dogma
Jetto takes one look at Unit-02 and asks, "Just how many of these 'Evangelions' do you all have? They're huge!" Gendo's impartial voice is the one to answer Jetto's question.
"On our side, two. Unit-01 and Unit-02. Unit-00 was destroyed just after your arrival here, as you're already aware, Marshal."
"That was Rei's Unit, right?"
"It was." Jetto considers Gendo's statement before shrugging.
"At least these 'Evangelions' are a lot easier on the eyes than that body-jackin' alien 'Highway' and I came across." Looking at Lilith, he smirks and adds, "That one kinda reminds me of this girl I knew back Down Under. She was called 'Three Ton Lucy'. Big girl. She was so big, she was a miniature moon." Fuyutsuki's snort has Gendo stifling a snicker before Fuyutsuki keys his interest.
"When you talked about a 'body-jacking alien', did you mean one that took over dead bodies or were these bodies live?" Jetto nods before adding on.
"They were living people, Vice-Commander. It took over a reporter, a Base Commander, 'Highway', a scientist at a radio telescope facility, a Doctor's associate during an autopsy of the alien, and a Major at the base. It was intent on getting it's mates to invade us, along with getting me and 'Highway' to kill the Major after jumping back into it's body." Before he can say more, a warbling chime is heard, causing Tania's eyes go wide.
"Excuse me, I have to take this call." Reaching into her purse, Tania brings out a small flip phone and asks, "How can it be working now?" Opening it, she says, "Winthrop." Her eyes go wider upon hearing a voice she's dearly missed hearing.
Inside Unit-02's entry plug
Asuka moves her control handles back and forth, saying, "Come on, come on! Schiesse! I can't let Shinji fight outnumbered!" Turning her attention to the Command and Control, she asks, "Just how many EVAs are on the way, Misato?"
"Nine, Asuka." Upon Asuka's hitting her handles in irritation, Misato adds, "If you can't sync, we can at least send you and Unit-02 to the bottom of the lake to afford you some protection."
"Any ideas off-hand?"
"Remember what my previous form told you after the Fifteenth Angel, Asuka." Rei's soft voice gets Asuka's attention as she goes on. "Open your mind to your EVA. Along with your heart. Otherwise, you won't be able to sync."
"That's a little vague, Rei. Can't you please give me a little more detail than that?"
"That is as detailed as I can make it. The rest is all you. That is all." When Rei ends communication, Asuka scowls lightly before snickering.
'She's definitely Wondergirl still. But, how the heck am I supposed to open my mind and heart to Unit-02?' Looking down at her covered belly, she grins lightly and says, "Thank goodness Doctor Akagi came up with a plug-suit that has an expandable mid-section. If only…" Her eyes shooting widely open, she begins shaking her head. Finding the idea ridiculous.
'It can't be that simple. Can it?' She then nods before saying, "Send me topside, Misato. Maybe seeing Shinji's EVA will help me some more. I'm beginning to understand what Rei was saying."
In the C&C, Rei sweat-drops lightly, thinking, 'That's not quite what I meant.' Before Rei can speak up, EVA-02 is catapulted to the surface, allowing Asuka to see her beloved's Unit-01. Much to Rei's surprise, Asuka's sync score monitor kicks in, with a 27 percent sync rate and climbing up to fifty. Only to stop at fifty and hold steady. 'How about that?'
Unit-02's plug
Grinning fiercely, Asuka moves her EVA toward Unit-01's position, only to stop short when her sync score plummets back down to zero. 'Okay, what the Hell's going on here?' Upon seeing Unit-01 walking up to her and taking her Unit into it's arms, she feels her sync rising once more. 'If we could stay like this, I'd have no complaints. But since we have incoming…'
Clearing her throat, she then says, "Shinji, sooner or later, you'll have to let me go so you can fight those EVA wannabes."
"What about your idea, though, sweetie?"
"It seems to be a wash, honey." Her radar kicks in again and she grimaces. "Nine transports coming in hot, honey. One against nine aren't really good odds."
"Yeah. Nine more and then it'd be fair." Aghast, Asuka keys up her vid-trans and sees Shinji's face. Wearing a wicked smirk. "Just think, Asuka. Eighteen of them and one of me. Now that'd be a fair fight." Asuka has only one suitable response. Giggling in amusement.
"Yeah, it would be. Just do me one tiny favor, please."
"Sure. What?"
"Be gentle with them. They don't have your experience." Shinji's snickers have Asuka snickering as well until a familiar voice reaches them.
"Hey, you two. I was hoping to catch you two with your arms around each other."
"Kaji?"
"Kaji?"
The two's united question has Kaji laughing richly before he goes on.
"That I am. As I'm sure you're aware, you have nine EVA transports coming up on Tokyo-3, loaded with the M.P. series."
"How'd you know that?"
"I'm on one of the planes, but I'm about to jump out. They're dropping their loads right now. Do you see them?" Shinji's voice comes back, with as much steadiness as he can muster.
"Yeah, we see them. They're on a glide path toward us right now. And they seem to be carrying spears."
"Okay. Keep watching the sky. You're about to see something really cool." As the two watch the sky, they soon see nine explosions and the nine M.P. EVAs dropping like flies to the ground. Causing dust clouds with each impact with the ground. Just outside of Tokyo-3. "Now was that cool or what?"
"That was totally cool, Kaji. But it leaves Shinji without anything to do, though."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Asuka. I destroyed their control system, but not the thing that gives them life. The S2 engines and their cores have to be destroyed. Luckily, you shouldn't have to worry about those things using AT fields since the system for them were in the Dummy Plugs." With that, Shinji comes back with a question.
"So, essentially, they're mindless animals intent on wanton destruction?"
"In a nutshell, yes."
"Works for me." Asuka nods in agreement before feeling Unit-01's arms leave her Unit's form. "You'll be safer here, Asuka. I'm going to go face those freaks before they get the chance to come here."
"What about your power supply, silly?"
"I make it quick enough, I should have enough to get back here to you." Shinji's face takes on a grimace as he adds, "Looks like Kaji's bailed out of the transport plane. When I'm done with them, I'll go pick him up." Next thing he knows, Misato's voice comes up.
"Don't worry about that, Shinji. You just deal with the M.P. EVAs. 'Highway' and I'll go pick up Kaji. I have a bone to pick with him, anyway."
"Okay, Misato." Deploying his EVA's prog knife, Shinji adds, "Let the slaughtering begin." As he heads into battle, he catches Asuka's face take on a concerned look before it grits into determination.
'I can't let him face them alone! I can't!' Growling out loud, she verbally adds, "I won't!" With that, she starts trying to sync with the red Evangelion.
NERV HQ; topside
As Misato and 'Highway' make their way to 'Stealth', Misato can't help but object.
"I don't get it, 'Highway'. It'd be easier and quicker to use a NERV helo. Why 'Stealth'? I know it's actually a helicopter disguised as a truck, but I can get a NERV helo ready in just five minutes. Your helo is under body panels. It takes, what, fifteen, twenty minutes to take them off?"
"The body panels don't come off. They simply fold away to the sides. You'll see."Giving her a side glance, he asks, "Besides, if you were in Kaji's shoes, would you rather see one of NERV's helicopters or my helo?"
"Good point." Climbing up onto the front bumper, Misato walks along the narrow fender to the passenger side door and opens it. Upon scrunching herself inside, she finds herself met by 'Highway' in the driver's seat. Removing the steering wheel. "How'd you get up here already?"
"I climbed up the side, as I usually do." Bringing out the cyclic, he puts it into place before slamming the pin back in.
"Then I walked along that fender for nothing when I could have simply climbed up the side of it?"
"I wouldn't put it like that, Major Katsuragi. I know this truck quite well and have gone through many things with it. I have experience both climbing in and out of this rig. Along with on and off. Ritsuko did the same thing you did. As did I when I was first assigned this rig." With that, he pulls on the levers and Misato hears the hydraulics keying up.
Looking to her right side, she sees the right body panel swing down 35 degrees before stopping. Next thing she knows, she feels the cabin of the rig lifting up slightly before stopping. Looking up, she then sees rotor blades unfolding to a locked position before rotating up to speed. Taking hold of her cross as the chopper takes flight, she begins praying that 'Highway' knows what he's doing. Before finding herself curious.
"How in the world did the Marshals make the helo part of the truck, anyway? I mean, I saw the truck making tight turns at the airport when you, Shinji, Annie and Asuka returned from Germany. That'd have to be pretty hard if the helo's fully together."
"True. That's why when the helo is the truck's cabin, the boom is separated from the cockpit and stored in the trailer until needed. As for how it's separated, the inside front end of the trailer has equipment specially meant to separate and attach the boom." Misato's nod of understanding gets 'Highway' to chuckle. "Know what the funny thing is?"
"No, I don't."
"You're the very first person to ask me that. Along with bring up the difficulties of such a thing." Looking down to the ground as the helo approaches where Kaji had bailed out, 'Highway' can see the M.P. EVAs lying prone on the ground before stirring. "Kaji wasn't kidding when he said the thing that brings them to life needs to be destroyed."
"Oh no! Look!" Misato's yelp causes 'Highway' to look and grimace. Kaji's landed right beside one of the still M.P. EVAs that's starting to stir. "If that butt-ugly thing sees him, it'll kill him."
"Yep. Which means it'll have to die first." Reaching down to his holster, he brings out his shotgun and hands it to Misato. "Your lover, your shot."
"Um, I hate to tell you like this, 'Highway', but I don't think a 12 gauge is going to have much effect on an M.P. EVA."
"This is no ordinary 12 gauge. It's also a 20mm, loaded with armor-piercing-high-explosive rounds. If anything, it should at least buy us time to pick him up and get gone." As Misato examines the shotgun, she sees the switch for '20mm' and '12 gauge' settings before switching to '20mm'. An evil grin on her face.
"Okay, 'Highway'. Let's pick up Kaji."
"Coming up on Kaji's LZ now. Get ready, Major."
"I was born ready, Marshal." Aiming the shotgun out the window, she aims it at the white unit and triggers a round. Nailing it right in the face, causing a roar of pained fury. "Take that, you butt-ugly bastard!" Firing again, she nails it right in the S2 engine area, causing a significantly audible 'crack'. Just as 'Highway' sets the helo down at Kaji's side.
"Thanks for the lift, 'Highway'. Nice shooting, Misa-chan."
"Kaji, you and I have much to discuss, Mister. When we touch back down, I'm going to do one of two things. Either give you a massive kiss or strangle your neck. What were you thinking, landing near that butt-ugly monster?"
"I had no intention of landing near any of those butt-ugly monsters. But a big-ass gust of wind hit my 'chute and I wound up landing beside it." Upon seeing Unit-01, running full tilt, Kaji adds, "Here comes Shinji, with his prog knife."
"Let's hope he remembers to destroy the S2 engines and their cores." Misato's rumination is suddenly halted when she sees Unit-02 leap up into the air, prog knife in hand. "Looks like Asuka got her groove back."
Five minutes earlier
"Come on, come on! Shiesse! Shinji! I can't let Shinji down! Not when he needs me most! Not when he had never let me down!" Her eyes brimming with tears, she adds, "I lost Mama! I don't want to lose Shinji!" Moving her controls back and forth, she checks her sync ratio, only to see zero.
Tears falling freely, she cries out, "I don't want the one I love to die! I don't want to lose anyone I care about!" A sensation of fingers running through her hair, accompanied by a voice filled with soft serenity fills her ears, speaking in German.
"My precious daughter. You've grown so well." Her eyes going wide, Asuka can only softly ask one thing.
"Mama?"
"Yes, my beautiful little girl. I'm so happy to see you again." Asuka sniffles lightly as Kyoko's voice goes on. "You must live on, my darling daughter. You and my grandchildren. Your beloved needs you now, I believe."
Watching as Shinji nears the battlefield, with 'Highway's chopper flying back to NERV, Asuka remembers what SEELE had ordered done to her Mother, along with Shinji, and feels a righteous fury well up before screaming.
"NEVER AGAIN, SEELE FLUNKIES! YOU WILL NEVER TAKE OR HURT ANYONE I CARE ABOUT ANYMORE!" Feeling her sync rate climbing, Asuka causes her Evangelion to leap up into the air, deploying the prog knife. 'Hang on, Shinji.' Reaching his side as his EVA stabs one of the M.P. EVAs, she stabs one herself. "Can't let you have all the fun."
"So you're all back, Asuka?"
"That I am. So, since my 'last' battle wasn't really much of one, will you fight alongside me again?"
"You bet I will." Shinji pauses briefly before letting out a bellow. "LET US ROCK AND LET US ROLL!"
"YEAH!" With that, the purple and red Evangelions go on the attack, going through the M.P. EVAs as easily as ordering cheeseburgers. Until they get to number 9. The one that Misato shot, no less. "How do you want to do this, Shinji?"
"How about pulling it apart like a wishbone and stabbing it's core at the same time, Asuka? Either way it goes, it'll die."
"I love it!" Going to the M.P. EVA's sides, they both take opposing sides and start to pull. "Make a wish, Shinji!"
"I wish this M.P. EVA will just die!"
"Wish granted!" The two laugh raucously as they stab their prog knives into the core. All signs of life fade from the M.P. EVA as it slumps down to the ground. Asuka looks around the battlefield and nods happily before grimacing. "This was almost too easy, Shinji. Do you think we should shoot the S2 engine cores for good measure?"
"Yeah. But we have no guns on us. Hello?"
"What is it, Shinji?"
"Look on the ground in front of you. See that rust-colored spear?"
"Yeah. They were flying with them, weren't they?" Her eyes going wide with realization, she snickers and adds, "That'll work." Reaching her EVA's hand down, she picks up the spear and drives it right down into the core. Leaving it in place for good measure. "Let's use these things' spears against them. Each spear you find, stab with and leave in place."
"Roger." With that, they gleefully begin stabbing the M.P. EVAs.
Terminal Dogma
As Tania talks on her phone, her voice becomes more and more animated with each word.
"How is it you're able to call me, D.C.?"
"I found the source of the disturbance from when 'Stealth' and Jetto's rig vanished off our trackers. Any sign of 'Highway' at all? What's Jetto's status?"
"He and Jetto are alright. What kind of disturbance?"
"A scientist was doing an experiment involving inter-dimensional travel with a Pan-Dimensional-Vortex-Inducer by the Government's request. Needless to say, it looks like it succeeded. How's it look over there?"
"I'll put it like this. Anyone that says the grass is greener on the other side is a damn liar."
"How bad is it?"
"About as bad as it could get. Kids being used to fight in a war against aliens intent on Armageddon. Mix that with a bunch of old farts intent on godhood."
"That's pretty bad. And sick."
"Agreed. Luckily, the aliens and farts are all gone now. All that's left now is for Shinji, Rei and Asuka to start living normal lives."
"I'm guessing they're the kids being used to fight in this war? In what way are they fighting this war?"
"You'd be correct in that guess, D.C. As for how, they're piloting bio-mechanical constructs based from alien DNA."
"I see. Just the same, I hope all of you get back safely."
"How long do we have before the vortex is closed?"
"I'll put it to you like this. Until 'Stealth' and Jetto's rig come out of that dimension, the vortex is staying open. The area's under heavy guard by the National Guard, so no one will be able to go in."
"How were you able to pull that off? The Military's Posse Comitatus rule doesn't allow for utilization by Law Enforcement."
"Let's just say I have an 'in' with the Military and leave it at that. When can I expect your return?"
"Soon as 'Highway' comes back with Major Katsuragi and Mr Kaji and we get everything squared away. However, there's a slight complication."
"What kind of complication?"
"Marshal 'Highway' has a girlfriend now. Asuka's Aunt."
"No way!"
"Way, D.C. I'm sure those two wouldn't want to end their relationship over living in different dimensions."
"So, how do you want to do this?"
"Any chance you can record the information on the dimension we're in right now? So 'Highway' would be able to visit?"
"Not possible. There's no readout instrumentation. Only viable options are for the people of that dimension to either come with or the relationship between 'Highway' and Asuka's Aunt has to end. And I know how you feel about doing 'Highway' like that."
"I'll run it past the people here, see what they say. Especially Commander Ikari. I'll keep you posted."
"Got it. Hope to hear back from you soon, Tania."
"Right back at you, D.C. Winthrop out." Upon ending the call, Tania turns toward the others and asks, "Any chance we can talk elsewhere? Also when Shinji and Asuka get back from their battle?"
"I see nothing wrong with that. We can discuss it in my office, Ms Winthrop." Gendo's voice holds the tone that arguing is not an option. Tania can only sigh before nodding in agreement, knowing full well that Gendo won't like what she has to say.
Gendo's office, fifteen minutes later
"And that's the situation as it stands, Commander Ikari. We have no way to record the dimension's coordinates." Tania takes in the appearance of Annie holding 'Highway' close, with Asuka doing the same with Shinji. "With Asuka expecting children, along with Annie wanting to be with 'Highway' along with seeing the babies when…" Gendo's raised hand stops Tania cold before he speaks.
"I see your point, Ms Winthrop. I see no reason as to why I should allow the Children and those interested in leaving Tokyo-3." A barely audible gasp is heard before he goes on. "At the same time, I see no reason as to why I shouldn't allow them to leave."
Sighing ruefully, he goes on.
"I will let you debate amongst yourselves outside of my presence. Come what may, I won't stand in your way. If any of you wish to leave, you may do so without fear of reprisal from me. Same can be said of those that wish to stay. That is all."
Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long. Work and writers block got to be heavy.