Author's Note: Things are proceeding quite nicely.
This upcoming Angel battle is one I've been looking forward to writing.
Begin!
xxxx
/November 7, 2015/
/Keter, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
In the wee hours of the morning, the two heads of NERV-1 were deliberating where Operation MAGMA DIVER left them.
"That demonstration is concerning."
Gendo Ikari smirked at Kozou Fuyutsuki's understatement. "You always have a knack for the deadpan, Fuyutsuki. Ever since our university days, that's been one of your defining characteristics."
"I'm glad you find my consistency so praiseworthy," droned the elderly Sub-Director. Arranged over the table were some of Operation MAGMA DIVER's after-action reports: one from Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi, one from Lieutenant Aoba, one from Lieutenant Hyuga, a summary of all long-distance surveillance of the battle, all MAGI telemetry of the Mark 06's AT-Field, and others. "We weren't able to procure the Angel for study."
"A loss without a penalty; we can get by without having a live Angel for study. I'm far more interested in the Fourth Child."
"It's surprising; I wasn't truly expecting him to go through with it."
The Supreme Commander held up a distance shot of the Mark 06's emergence from Mt. Asama: the ethereal spike drilling out of the volcano's slopes was a very powerful image. "It looks like the old men got the upper hand this time."
"Oh?"
"A reliable demonstration of the Mark 06's abilities. A test of how strong their pet nephilim's leash is. A measure of my willingness to capitulate to their demands." Gendo looked down at a brief synopsis from Section 2, this one concerning the background of the cultist who had tried to murder Kaworu Nagisa. It was fairly standard stuff: hard times during the Impact Wars, a search for personal meaning, falling for the words of a charismatic conman; a dime-a-dozen convert for the cause. "I do have to wonder who initiated hostilities: the Fourth Child, or the Eighth Angel."
"Do you think it matters? Regardless who struck first, this shows that the Angels are not acting on a unified front like the Dead Sea Scrolls indicated."
"We have the Fifth Angel trying to annihilate the Black Moon in its entirety. We have the Seventh Angel retreating to the safety of the ocean floor. And now we have the Eighth Angel fighting one of its own. The possibilities of divergence are intriguing." Gendo Ikari suddenly chuckled. "Maybe one will elect to sit back and just bask in the adoration of the cultists."
"The MAGI have been tracking more suspicious activity as of late. Not only that, but their media tracking algorithms have indicated a more than three-hundred-percent increase in stories focused on the Angel worshippers in the past two weeks. "
"They're getting antsy."
"Any thoughts on their financial support?"
"There will always be a few true believers who are eager to throw away their money; just as there will always be those who like to be the Gepetto to their Pinocchio." He had no doubt that SEELE bankrolled at least a few of the cults; national governments would be more divided on the issue, but he knew there would be some opportunistic armchair generals who wouldn't mind seeing NERV taken down a peg or two. "It's just a matter of being proactive."
xxxx
/Warehouse, Tokyo-2, Japan/
The current capital of Japan, formerly called Matsumoto, was far removed from the daily problems of Tokyo-3. In some ways, this was both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because its problems were political and economic in nature, somewhat mundane and ordinary; a curse because these very same problems were susceptible to public pressure. Truly, NERV's seemingly endless well of funding smoothed over a lot of problems that the average municipality had to deal with.
Even now, despite all the improvements that had been made following the Impact Wars, there was still public dissatisfaction to be found in certain aspects of their lives. With this dissatisfaction emerged different ways of dealing with it.
In the wake of Second Impact, in the wake of the Angels' return, worship of these colossal beings had become trendy.
As with any trend, there were those who took it more seriously than others.
On the outskirts of Tokyo-2's industrial district, a cadre of police cars – their flickering lights shining brightly in the darkness of the early morning – had gathered around a particular warehouse, one that was now bolted shut from outside interference. One patrol officer looked somewhat flummoxed. "We've been waiting for thirty minutes now. Why can't we storm the place?"
"Because they're holed up with weapons, you moron," sniped one of his compatriots, his bald head beading with sweat.
"Well, we've gotta break in there sooner or later, right? Those freaks had to know this was coming eventually."
"Doesn't mean we can't be smart about it. Captain says we've got a special surprise from the SSDF on the way here."
"The military?! Is this that big a deal?"
"They're cracking down on these cults. Can't really have people trying to undermine the war effort against the aliens trying to kill us all." A rumbling sound could be heard, getting closer and closer. "Huh…looks like it's here."
The officers turned around, noting a large armored personnel carrier rolling up towards the police cars. As it came to a stop, the back hatch opened up; out stepped two lithe teenagers in black combat gear: one a young man with shortly-cropped white hair, the other a young girl with long lime-green hair. With nary a word spared to the policemen, they began walking towards the warehouse.
"Uh…what are those kids doing?"
The bald officer frowned. "Those…might be those superhumans I've heard about. I think they're called nephilim."
"Nephilim? Like the ones the sergeant tells stories about?"
"Yeah…he saw them in action when he fought in Mexico. Said they were real badasses. Guess we're about to find out…"
The two nephilim calmly walked up to the front door of the warehouse. With an almost surreal lack of decorum, the green-haired girl kicked the door down.
The very instant they did so, bullets fell upon them like rain. Brief flickers of orange light could be seen, preventing the gunfire from even touching them. The white-haired boy withdrew two fragmentation grenades and tossed them into the warehouse; right after the shrapnel erupted, the two nephilim dashed inside.
The next four minutes consisted of explosions, gunfire, and regular fire, interrupted by a staccato rhythm of screams. At long last, one man stumbled out of the door, his right arm bent at an awkward angle. "M…M…Monsters…they're…mon-!"
A dainty hand pierced through his heart from behind. Blood leaked from his mouth, a hoarse croak lodged in his throat. With a meaty crunch, the female nephilim's hands dislodged from his ribcage, allowing the cultist to fall dead to the ground.
The white-haired nephilim looked nonchalantly at the corpse, red eyes empty yet focused. "That was the last member of this Angelic Acolyte cell, Homura."
"Then the mission has been completed, Akira," answered the girl, her lime-green hair stained by the blood of their victims. With nary an acknowledgment of the policemen's presence, they returned to the APC. The Tokyo-2 police could only stare as the personnel carrier left, dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed.
The nephilim had arrived and departed like a tornado, and left about as much damage.
xxxx
Episode 14: Touch the Untouchable
xxxx
/September 13, 2000/
/The White Moon Research Base, South Pole, Antarctica/
Misato Katsuragi had often wondered why her father had even bothered bringing her here, to Antarctica.
Sure, the whole concept of a top-secret expedition was kind of neat, but the whole thing hadn't really been what she was looking for. A chance to visit her distant father, so consumed by his work? Why not. It's not like her everyday life with mom in Tokyo had been anything special.
Unfortunately, the whole time there had been a reminder of why her parents had split up to begin with. Work work work work work! The man had practically no time for her, the lack of sunlight was seriously messing with her sleep cycle, and the security restrictions meant that the stuff she could do was practically nil. Imagine that: an ancient alien base, made boring by the power of bureaucratic protocol!
It sucked to high heaven. She couldn't wait to get back home.
So when her father burst into her quarters, looking disheveled and concerned, she was somewhat confused. "What's going on?"
"Pack up. I need you to come with me," ordered Shiro Katsuragi. He quickly helped her pack, a decision that confused Misato even further. Grabbing her hand – so tight, but why was he trembling? – he quickly pulled her along the hallways of the research complex. "Try to be quiet; we don't have much time."
"Don't have time for what?" She looked around, noting the occasional clock; it was barely past four in the morning! Not that time really meant much down here, even though the sky – gripped under perpetual twilight – had been steadily brightening over the past few weeks. "Where are we going?!"
"Where you'll survive."
The sheer seriousness of the statement nearly made her fall over. Survive? Survive what?! Her father had always been so aloof, so detached from everyday concerns beyond his research; to have him show this much worry – fear? – for her was mystifying, terrifying.
The doctor quickly ushered her into a small room, where a large orange capsule laid on the floor. He looked inside, opening and closing various compartments. "Good, good, the passive nullification field is fully operational…should be enough provisions to last for a month, maybe two if you're smart…"
Misato scowled. This was getting ridiculous! "Dad, what's going on?!"
The disheveled man paused in his frantic movements, his madness briefly sated. "…huh. I don't hear that word much. It sounds…nice." He turned around, looking keenly at his daughter. His beard and mustache streaked with gray, his short black hair unkempt and sweaty. His eyes – normally dark and unfocused, now so frighteningly intense – were looking right at hers. "Misato…my little girl…everything I've worked for, all my studies into developing Super Solenoid Theory…it was to make a better world, a kinder world…"
The young thirteen-year-old shivered at her father's tone; why did he sound so sad? "Dad…?"
"I've learned some things…horrible things…there are people with power who are trying to pervert what we're trying to accomplish…" The man paused, as though catching himself in the act of doing something foolish. "Why am I talking, I don't have time!" He quickly grabbed his daughter by the torso and hoisted her into capsule, setting her down on the padded surface. "The master lock will keep you inside for at least twenty-four hours. No matter what, do not open this capsule for anything. You absolutely must wait at least one week, or until you make landfall, or…I don't know, I can't even say with confidence that Antarctica will remain standing after this."
The sheer insanity was almost annoying! What was her father babbling about?! "Dad, you're not making any sense!"
"Misato Katsuragi."
Misato immediately shut up. Her father looked sternly at her, before removing the thick cross necklace he wore. He looked at it for a brief second, as if pondering its meaning. "Hmph…it's been years since I've thought about what this symbol represented. A faith I haven't thought of for so long…how human to only think of it when the end is nigh…"
"…dad…?" Misato blinked as her father placed the cross around her neck. Her confusion and irritation was now giving way to genuine fear. "Dad…?!"
"There are many things I regret…and now, at the end, I can't do anything about it." He calmly lowered Misato, forcing her to lay down inside the capsule. He strapped her in, buckling her down tightly. "But at least I'll make one thing right."
"What are you going to do…?" She felt tears prickling her eyes. Why was she crying over such a no-good deadbeat?! "Dad…?"
"I'm going to try and prevent the end of the world." Shiro reached over, pressing some buttons on the outside of the capsule. "I love you, Misato." The door slid shut with a hiss, sealing her off from the outside world.
"Dad? DAD?!" Her fear gave way to desperation, and she began pounding the door with her tiny fists. "Come on dad, this isn't funny anymore! Get back here and let me out! DAD! DAAAD!"
She pounded and screamed and ranted for at least twenty minutes, before sheer physical exhaustion forced her to stop. She let her back rest against the padded seat, panting for air. "Dad…why…?"
Ten minutes later, the end of the world happened.
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
With that terrifying howl, her capsule went tumbling end over end. Misato shrieked at the sudden upheaval, her restraints holding strong against the tumult. It seemed to last forever, both the sound and the fury.
After an eternity, after an instant of time, after a point where time itself ceased to have any meaning to Misato Katsuragi, the capsule's movements slowed, and the chaos settled. Her breath was heavy, her mind trying to recover from delirium; her fingers slowly fumbled with a panel, unlatching it to reveal a window.
Four wings of amber light, massive and utterly alien. Over the waves of the ocean, that was all she could see; an otherworldly radiance brightening the twilight sky, with lightning flickering wildly and the aurora australis dancing madly.
It was this sight that finally knocked Misato Katsuragi out cold.
xxxx
/November 8, 2015/
/Katsuragi Apartment, Tokyo-3, Japan/
Misato Katsuragi opened her eyes, staring dully at the ceiling. "I hate that dream." Why couldn't it have gone further than that? For all the craziness and sorrow of her time in Australia, at least it had some happy times. It would have balanced out the sheer feeling of existential dread from witnessing Second Impact, if nothing else.
The Lieutenant Colonel grimaced as she sat up, thinking back to Operation MAGMA DIVER. The sight of the Mark 06 casually breaking out of the volcano had brought to mind some very uncomfortable memories of ADAM's emergence during Second Impact. The sheer power, the inhuman presence: never had the Evangelion's Angelic origins been so apparent to her.
"Wark."
Misato looked over the side of her bed, staring at the inquisitive Pen-Pen. A can of Yebisu was in his claws. "Heh. At least I got to meet you." She rubbed the penguin's red crest, a wistful smile on her face. "You were a lifesaver in more ways than one, buddy."
The penguin seemed to smile at her words, offering the can to her.
Grabbing the can, she popped the top and downed its contents in one go. "HOOOOOOOO YEAH! Hits the spot!"
Quickly dressing herself in her standard tank top and short shorts, she strolled out of her bedroom, crushing the can against her head before throwing it into the recycling bin. "So…what is that I'm smelling?"
"Oh, good morning Misato-san." Shinji was hard at work over the stove, stirring some kind of vegetable broth and pan-frying strips of poultry. Asuka was standing by the table, using her hands for balance while she bounced up and down on her heels. "I'm almost done."
"Yeah, hurry up Shinji, hurry up!"
Misato arched an eyebrow at Asuka's excitable bounce. "What's with you?"
"I want to have a bite to eat while we watch the morning entertainment!"
Misato blinked. "Say what now? Is there some kind of show going on?"
"Sort of," said Shinji, flipping the chicken over to complete the sear. "It's going on in the field behind the apartment complex."
"…what's about to happen?"
Asuka grinned. "Kaworu kicking the stuffing out of Rei, Mana, and Mayumi, that's what!"
Misato stared. "Say what."
xxxx
Mana Kirishima snarled. "The only reason I'm not about to fight you mano-a-mano is because the redhead was so adamant about us doing this together."
Kaworu Nagisa, hands stuck in his pockets, merely shrugged. "Miss Sohryu speaks only from experience. I have done mock combat trials with a few nephilim in my time, and she has witnessed a fair number of them."
"Whatever. Three-on-one isn't even a challenge." Mana looked over at Mayumi and Rei. "I'm still tempted to make you two sit this one out."
"Come now sister, you can indulge yourself after we finish this," admonished Mayumi.
"Then I won't be as fresh!"
Mayumi sighed, running a hand through her long blue hair. "Consider it a warm-up then."
Rei Ayanami had been mostly silent, her red eyes focused keenly on the Fourth Child's form. This spar would be most instructive; how much of the boy's true power was manifest in his nephilim body?
Kaworu glanced at his three opponents in tandem; Mana in a tank top and shorts, Rei in a tank top and sweat pants, Mayumi still in her pink pajamas. "I suppose it would be futile to try and dissuade you…" He glanced to the side of their impromptu fighting arena, where Hikari Kirishima and Ryoji Kaji were standing. "…do you two have any objections?"
"A controlled spar against an unknown opponent is always a source of valuable experience," said Hikari.
Kaji held up his hands, as if to say c'est la vie.
"Okay, we're here!" The sound of Asuka's voice drew everyone's attention; she was carrying a stack of bowls, followed by Shinji – carrying a large pot and ladle – and Misato. The Lieutenant Colonel set down a folding table, upon which Shinji placed the pot. "You guys can get started now!"
Mana twitched as the Second Child ladled some chicken soup into her bowl. "Glad we're here to make your morning, gaijin."
"At least you'll have food waiting for you when you lose."
"Oh?" Mana growled, flexing her neck and cracking her knuckles. "That a fact, huh?"
"It is!" Asuka looked over at the Fourth Child. "You'd better not have slacked off since I left Germany, Kaworu!"
The lone male nephilim chuckled. "Perish the thought, Miss Sohryu." He turned back towards the trio of female nephilim. "I suppose we should be-"
Mana Kirishima was already airborne, her heel mere inches away from his face.
Kaworu Nagisa ducked, letting the brash girl soar over him. He sidestepped right afterwards, dodging the deadly fingers of Mayumi Yamagishi. Turning on the balls of his feet, he bent backwards at the waist to avoid the incoming fists of Rei Ayanami; with a kick of his heels, he actually slid backwards along the grass, expertly maintaining his balance. He stood back up, hands still in his pockets as he took in his three opponents at a glance. "Like I was trying to say: I suppose we should begin."
Mana snorted. "Smartass." She dug her heels in and launched herself forward, unleashing a flurry of kicks and elbow strikes towards the Fourth Child. Like water, he flowed around her offense, barely missing her frenzied strikes. Through it all, he kept his damned hands in those damned pockets of his. "Are you just gonna dodge all day?!"
"It is a valid strategy."
"Not if you want to win!" She jumped and tried to axe kick the smug boy in his way-too-pretty face; he simply twisted away, right into Mayumi's line of attack. With a precise hop, he avoided her lunging palm strikes, only to blink as Rei's leaping side kick came right for his midsection. Raising his feet, his foot met hers, allowing him to bound away from the three young women.
Through it all, his hands remained in his pockets. "Like I said, dodging is a valid strategy. If your opponent can't hit you, you can let them tire themselves out."
"HAH! We're nephilim, moron; we never tire!" Mana charged forward, followed by Mayumi and Rei.
It was a surreal thing to watch: Kaworu Nagisa, fluidly dodging every blow from the trio threw small turns, quick footwork, and precise jumps. Even still, his hands remained in his pockets.
Shinji stared. "Wow…"
"I know, right?" Asuka grinned at the proceedings. "I've never seen him lose a single match. Not even his sister Yomiko's beat him, and she can be scary!" She took a sip of the soup, savoring the taste of the chicken. "This is real good!"
THWACK!
"Ooh, he finally got hit," murmured Kaji.
Kaworu stepped back, blinking at the stinging sensation coming from his cheek. There: a small cut, made by Mana's heel. "Hmm. You hit me."
Mana sneered. "That won't be the last one, either!"
The Fourth Child chuckled, his muscles and tendons and nerves and essence trembling in unison. "No." He removed his hands from his pockets. "I suppose it won't."
CRUNCH!
Rei and Mayumi blinked as Mana was sent flying backwards, tumbling end over end.
BAM!
POW!
Mayumi and Rei were sent skidding backwards, having barely blocked Kaworu's blows. The momentum was so great that their feet made trenches in the soil. They shook their limbs, grimacing at the sensation; already, a bruise was forming on Rei's right forearm, and on Mayumi's left bicep. Mana was slowly clambering to her feet, drunkenly feeling her face. With an audible pop, she readjusted her bloody nose. "You…broke my nose, you bastard…"
"So I did." Kaworu – still smiling serenely – flexed his fingers, and bid the nephilim to attack with a single flick of his hand. "Come."
Mana scowled; a creeping sensation was dawning on her that she had bit off more than she could chew. Naturally, she waved it off through sheer bluster and vigor. "Don't think I'm done yet!" Her muscles tensed and contracted with each movement, her senses taking in every aspect of the smug bastard's stance and form. Regardless, it wasn't to be; her right hook was parried with a subtle outward block on her wrist. She spun to keep momentum, trying to nail him with her left elbow; he calmly bent backwards, just avoiding the blow. His right fist clenched and came at her chin in a vicious uppercut; out of desperation, out of sheer panic, she tried to utilize her AT-Field.
SMASH!
CRUNCH!
The sound of shattering glass, and a fist to the chin. Mana groaned as she was sent airborne, stars flickering in her vision. He…broke through it like it wasn't even there…
Kaworu returned to a steady footing as Mayumi came upon him with lightning-fast hands. With a casual movement, he parried her left fist and ducked under the arm, stepping beyond her. In a simultaneous motion, he reached out with his right hand and yanked hard on her long hair. The young woman shrieked as the sudden change in momentum sent her feet airborne; a split second later, the silver-haired boy had shifted his stance back and brought his right foot up for a horrific axe kick to her sternum.
BOOM!
There was now a Mayumi-shaped crater in the ground.
Kaworu immediately turned his attention to Rei Ayanami, who had tried to strike him from behind. Swiftly, improbably, his hand caught her fist and stopped her dead. Then he gave her a headbutt.
POW!
Then another.
POW!
Then a boot to the head.
POW!
The First Child grimaced as she tried to slow herself down, gripping tightly on the grass. She felt at her forehead – blood! – and frowned. So. It's as I expected then.
Kaworu Nagisa outclassed them all.
"I believe that's enough for the day," said Hikari Kirishima, who looked split between wanting to check on her girls and wanting to put a bullet between Kaworu's eyes.
"Told you that you guys would lose!" exclaimed Asuka. "It's nothing to be ashamed of; Kaworu's just that good!"
Nagisa chuckled. "You praise me too much, Miss Sohryu." He glanced at the nephilim trio, who were slow at getting back to their feet. "No hard feelings, I hope."
"…no," said Rei. She had been paying close attention during the entire melee; the young man's refined use of his own AT-Field was superb for a mere nephilim. Almost as though he were an Evangelion in miniature. Then again, given what the Supreme Commander had told her of him, it only made sense.
"Splendid! I would hate to end things on a poor note; we're all comrades, after all." He calmly strolled towards the soup pot sitting on the sidelines. "I hope you made enough; I'm sure you've gathered that nephilim have quite the appetite."
"Don't worry, I made plenty," reassured Shinji.
Mana snarled as she slowly got to her feet. Feh. That guy pisses me off.
xxxx
/November 10, 2015/
/Rooftop, Tokyo-3 Municipal Elementary School/
"…Mari-chan?"
"Yeah?"
"You sure this is a good idea?"
Mari Langley-Sohryu snorted at Ai Suzuhara's uncertain tone. "And I thought you were the brave one."
"Back off, gaijin! I'm just trying to be the mature one!"
"You saying I'm not mature?!"
"Kinda goes without saying!"
Nozomi Horaki suddenly piped in. "I think it'll be fun, Ai-chan!"
Ai paled. "Eh…you sure, Nozomi-chan…?"
"Yeah! I mean, Randall won't let anything bad happen to us!" She looked up at the massive mecha-bound cat, easily double their height. "Right?"
Randall used its gargantuan hand to type into the little keyboard on its left forearm. "LITTLE RED LADY TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE CATNIP."
Ai shivered at the robotic voice coming from the cat-robot-mecha-giant-thing. For as long as she could remember, rumor had abounded of the robotic cat that treated Tokyo-3 like a giant playhouse. Up to this point, the closest she had ever been to this strange beast was from afar, usually while it was leaping between skyscrapers. It was strangely unnerving to be this close.
"I know, katze! It'll be at my apartment." Technically Misato Katsuragi's apartment, but their apartments were connected now anyway. "I want to surprise my sister by getting there before she does!"
"If this ends up killing me, Ji's gonna be so angry at you."
Nozomi smiled at Ai. "I think we'll be just fine."
"You're just saying that because you like cats, Nozomi-chan."
The pigtailed girl tittered girlishly. "I know, but still!"
Mari grinned, leering devilishly at the two young girls that she had come to call 'friends' without any reservations. "Well, no time like now! We've gotta live for the moment!" Just like her big sister. "Okay Randall, how are we going to do this?"
A number of thick straps extended from small slots on the front and back of his torso. "ONE IN FRONT, TWO ON BACK."
Several minutes later, the orange tabby peered curiously over the edge of the elementary school's rooftop; Mari was strapped to his front, while Ai and Nozomi were fastened side-by-side along the robotic shell's back. The German was grinning, Suzuhara was grimacing, and Horaki was giggling. "TIME TO PLAY." With a hiss of hydraulics, Randall was airborne.
"WOOO!"
"AAAH!"
"WEEE!"
And so ended another school day at Tokyo-3 Municipal Elementary.
xxxx
/Outside Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School/
Mayumi Yamagishi's ear twitched; she looked around, trying to identify the source of the sound. I though I heard Sohryu-san's little sister.
"You okay?"
Mayumi nodded in response to Ryo Sawamura's question. "Yes, I am. I just thought I heard something."
"Ah."
The two continued walking away from the school, passing by the various students that were departing after another Tuesday of school. The whole concept of 'gossip' was swiftly unveiling itself to Mayumi through exposure and experience; it wasn't something she cared to indulge in, but she had no objection to listening.
As she and Sawamura-san exited the school yard, the lingering whispers and chatter of some of the other students were hard to ignore.
"Those two are always together, aren't they…?"
"They going out?"
"Maybe? They don't really do any lovey-dovey stuff…maybe they're just friends?"
"They're so quiet though…and her skin looks so unhealthy…"
"Guess even hikikomori's can find love."
Mayumi didn't bother to feel indignant about their ignorance. She preferred it that way; if they knew who she was as a person, then her identity as a nephilim – if she ever felt comfortable enough to reveal it – would be less of a stumbling block to acceptance.
It helped that Sawamura-san was a rather pleasant fellow. Sometimes, it seemed like he was content just to be near her; the feeling was mutual. It was an edifying realization: that one could feel a sense of completion just by being near someone.
"You ever wonder how Ayanami and Kirishima think?"
Mayumi turned towards Ryo. "Pardon?"
"I just sometimes wonder if their thoughts differ from ours."
The one caveat was that he seemed to have a wary disposition regarding nephilim, but that was secondary. That could be cured through experience. "I wouldn't know. I imagine that everyone's thoughts differ from yours, just as they would with mine."
"I suppose." The young man shrugged.
His easygoing nature was another point in his favor. "Do their physical abilities frighten you?"
"…I don't know. Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"It's just sort of unsettling to see them do things that no human can naturally do."
"…that's understandable." Case in point: just yesterday, Rei Ayanami had disciplined a serially tardy student from class 2-D by asking him to point out any tree on the school grounds. After the student had (confusedly) pointed to a large oak, the First Child had leveled it to the ground with a single kick. Mayumi surmised that those authoritarian displays of power would be unsettling to the average person. "Even so, I don't think their thoughts are any different from ours."
"Hn."
Things proceeded like that for the next half-hour or so; an occasional comment or two, followed by vast tracts of silence as they enjoyed the scenery of Tokyo-3: the hustle and bustle of other people, moving about the technological jungle of steel and lights and concrete; a cohesive mass of thought and will and emotion, invariably distinct yet unified in their humanity.
Mayumi wondered if other people took for granted how gratifying it was to simply be.
The long walk together came to an end in time; Ryo waved lackadaisically over his shoulder as he crossed the road. Mayumi waved back before turning around, turning down another sidewalk that would lead back to her apartment complex.
A few minutes later, and Mayumi noticed a shadow trailing her. "I know you are having difficulty with this, sister."
Mana Kirishima grunted.
"Do you have anything personal against Sawamura-san?"
"Can't say that I do."
"So why the hostility?"
Mana didn't answer, settling for crossing her arms behind her head in a lackadaisical manner. The duo continued on like this for the next twenty minutes; when their apartment complex loomed in sight, the silver-haired nephilim finally spoke. "I'll kick his ass if he makes you cry. Just putting that out there."
"…I appreciate it."
xxxx
/November 14, 2015/
/Hakone International Airport, Tokyo-3, Japan/
On the eastern slopes of Mt. Byobu – bordering the southeastern tip of Lake Ashi – a small airport terminal stood, with two long strips of tarmac running eastward for two miles. The majority of the aircraft that used it were military, using it as a means to ferry supplies and cargo that were too sensitive to arrive by rail or auto.
In this case, the cargo was the Mark 06, secured into a YC-49.
"And so my time here has come to an end." Kaworu Nagisa turned around, looking calmly at his escorts. "At least, for the time being."
Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi stood quietly alongside Rei, Shinji, Asuka, Mana, and Mayumi. The temporary transfer of the Mark 06 to NERV-1's command had finally been revoked by the Instrumentality Committee; the Japanese government was all too eager for the Fourth Child and his Evangelion to return to Germany. "Your help here was appreciated."
Kaworu's smile remained calm; the lady's discomfort with him was easy to see.
Kaworu Nagisa remained calm as he listened to Dr. Akagi explaining the results of the sync tests. "A simultaneous test in the simulation bodies has yielded some useful data; even so, though we've had the records from NERV-2 as a reference, it's different to see in person." The blonde's eyebrow twitched. "Like the difference between watching a pornographic film and a porno in person! HOOHOHOHOHOHO!"
The scientist's ranting didn't really concern Kaworu all that much; he supposed it was to be expected, given that his sync ratio with the simulated data of Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02 were leaps and bounds higher than those of the actual Pilots, if not quite up to par with his numbers for the Mark 06. He glanced to the doctor's side; Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi had quite the stern expression. "Does my prowess frighten you, Miss Katsuragi?"
Katsuragi didn't answer.
To be fair, it wasn't the first time his abilities had frightened one of the Lilim. "And your hospitality was appreciated." His movements had been quite limited; there was no way the Supreme Commander of NERV-1 would let him roam freely. Still, the city itself had provided an interesting change of pace from Berlin-2.
"How long will you continue to follow me, Miss Kirishima?" Kaworu's words prompted Mana to come into open view; the two nephilim stood on one of the old nature trails that looped around Lake Ashi. "Do I fascinate you that much?"
Mana sneered. "You flatter yourself too much."
"Then why follow me?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"I was under the impression that most people need a reason to do anything. Are you different in that regard?"
Mana stared, her red eyes flickering with a mixture of suspicion and annoyance. Finally, she answered, "You're one to talk." She turned on her heel and walked away; Kaworu smiled enigmatically before continuing his stroll.
"It was a very revealing experience for me."
Rei Ayanami stared at the moon, pondering something; she had been in the middle of a brief exercise run through the downtown area – leaping from rooftop to rooftop in a single bound – when the view of the waxing crescent caught her attention. "…you seem persistent in following me."
"There are many that I follow, Miss Ayanami."
The First Child visibly resisted facing him; Kaworu Nagisa came to a stop alongside her, peering over the edge of the skyscraper. "Do the heavens fascinate you?"
"…why do you ask?"
"The same reason that any question is asked: for an answer. For knowledge. For understanding." He looked down, eyes darting to and fro from the populace walking far below; in the waning twilight, the lights of the city began to overwhelm any fine details that could be ascertained. "Do you ever ask a question, seeking something other than an answer?"
Rei Ayanami did not reply.
Kaworu smiled, finally focusing on something of interest: an open ramen stand. In particular, he focused on Miss Yamagishi and Mister Sawamura, quietly eating dinner there. A date? A casual meal between friends? "Tell me Miss Ayanami, do you believe that the heavens complement this land? That one without the other would have less meaning?" He turned towards her, peering intently at the blue-haired nephilim. "Do you desire that same sort of complementation?"
"I know what you are." The Fourth Child paused as the First gazed at him, her face possessing a deadly countenance. "I know precisely what 'complementation' you seek. I know what answer you desire, and you will not find it here."
Kaworu blinked. Then he chuckled. It seemed that even nephilim weren't immune to the idiosyncrasies of the Lilim. "You say such things knowing full well that your life would be forfeit if you tried anything…to even possess such knowledge is surprising. Someone must place a high degree of trust in you…or is the other way around?"
"Please state your point. For all the power you have shown, you are not in an Evangelion; any action taken against me will have severe consequences."
"Now why would I do such a thing?" He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving one last message for the stern young woman. "The living are easier to understand than the dead."
His gaze fell upon Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley-Sohryu. "It was good to see you again Miss Sohryu. And it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Shinji Ikari."
Kaworu Nagisa smiled at Mari Langley-Sohryu. "Do you still dislike me, little Mari?"
The younger of the Langley-Sohryus pouted, hiding behind Asuka. "Don't call me little…"
"And that's how we trained to defeat the Seventh Angel!" finished explaining Asuka, purposefully ignoring Mari's distaste for Kaworu. It was merely a resumption of their old relationship from Germany, which meant it was a-ok! "So, how is Papa doing? Whenever I call, he always says he's doing fine, but be honest: is he being a big worrywart?"
"He often speaks of his concern, yes."
The redhead sighed. "Ugh, I knew vater was holding back…guess I'll have to give him a lesson on honesty again!"
"From my understanding, he simply does not want to worry you."
"But if I know he's not happy, how's that supposed to make me feel? If we're defeating the Angels, if we're surviving, if we're living…isn't that enough for him to be happy?"
"Perhaps fathers are not complete without their children being near." A thought he had often pondered; wherever SEELE had imprisoned ADAM, did his [Creator/Father/Source] think? Ponder? Wonder? In utter isolation, did ADAM contemplate his missing [pieces/partitions/essences]?
"But all children become adults eventually, if they live that long."
Mari suddenly piped up. "Like little birdies learning to fly!"
"That's right, meine schwester." She looked back at Kaworu. "We all leave the nest eventually."
Kaworu wondered what that would be like: to become independent of that which had given him power, given him thought, given him life. It was an utterly alien concept, and one that he couldn't help but marvel the Lilim for. He smiled at Asuka, two parts mysterious and one part joyful. "Speaking with you again, I am only reminded of why NERV-2 is less interesting now."
Asuka beamed, and Mari harrumphed. The little girl stomped away, joining one Ryoji Kaji on the living room couch. The nephilim directed a sly glance at the Inspector, who had a grim expression his face; Hikari Kirishima and her daughters were running drills in the Jet Alone, Miss Katsuragi was out at a bar with some old colleagues, and Miss Ayanami was undertaking some task within the bowels of the Geofront. It seemed that Mister Kaji was disinclined to leave Mister Langley's daughters out of sight while the Fourth Child was in Tokyo-3. What a paranoid individual. What a striking contrast with Miss Sohryu.
It was at this point that the strings of a cello echoed through the apartment, carrying a somewhat familiar tune. Kaworu Nagisa thought back to his times at the Lorenz Estate, to the countless functions and galas hosted there, to the music that would often be played for those that tried to curry favor with the Chairman of the Instrumentality Committee. "Hmm. The Prelude of the first suite in G Major, by Johann Bach."
"Ah, that's right! With all the craziness of the Angel War, Shinji didn't join a school club until recently!" She looked over her shoulder; the sounds were emanating from the Mana-induced hole in the wall that now joined Misato Katsuragi's apartment with theirs. "His cousin actually shipped his old cello here!"
There was a note of hesitance to the music, a sense of uncertainty due to being out of practice. Nevertheless, Kaworu could detect the skill of long practice in that sound. "It seems he joined the Music Club."
"Yep!"
Kaworu got to his feet, letting his soul delight in the tones and the chords. "Would a dance be appropriate for the occasion, Miss Sohryu?"
The redhead blinked. Then she smiled back, standing up from the table and giving him an old-fashioned curtsy in her yellow sundress. "If you insist, fancypants!"
In part, Kaworu was doing this only to catalogue the reactions of the Inspector and Asuka's little sister. Truth be told, given what he had learned of Lilim culture, spontaneously dancing to music was an acceptable reaction to the feeling of joy. So why not indulge?
So under the watchful eyes of the Langley-Sohryus' guardian and the poignant embrace of Shinji's music, nephilim and woman waltzed.
"Just don't be a stranger," said Asuka. "And tell your sister to lighten up for me!"
"And maybe we'll see each other again," added Shinji. "In better circumstances, I mean."
Kaworu smiled; the Third Child's interest was apparent. It was inevitable, he supposed: surrounded by young women, there was no male compatriot with which to bond over Eva, to bond over his experiences as a Pilot. "Perhaps." He turned around and walked away, waving calmly with one hand. As he was escorted onto the YC-49 by NERV-2 personnel, another stray memory came to mind.
In the desert. With a caravan, encamped for the evening. A multitude of Lilim surrounded a bonfire, dancing to the strings of the barbat and the winds of the zurna. Even sitting down, he felt a compulsion to join them. Against his better judgment, as thought by a divine act of will, his fingers tapped along with the beat.
A familiar setting with no context. A memory without sense.
Yet, somehow, Kaworu Nagisa couldn't help but wonder if this was ADAM's way of showing his own appreciation for the music of the Lilim.
xxxx
/November 23, 2015/
/Ritsuko Akagi's Laboratory, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
Even on Labor Thanksgiving Day, NERV kept on working.
Miyata Ibuki grunted, physically straining to heft a large cylindrical apparatus into a specialized computer terminal; electricity hummed through integrated circuits as the male Ibuki wiped some sweat from his brow. "Finally." He turned around, shouting past a row of servers. "SIS! The last module's been connected!"
"Took you long enough!"
"You've only being doing the coding while I've been doing the physical fabrication! Your butt's going to get flabby if you don't do some exercise!"
"OY!" echoed the voice of Ritsuko Akagi from within a monolithic machine; cone-shaped and bulbous, it narrowed to a point over a small reclining chair, where a headset rested. The blonde poked her head out of a panel on the machine, yelling, "Don't insult your sister's ass! You might as well be insulting yours! I will not tolerate self-loathing from my flunkies: THAT'S MY JOB!"
"Thank you senpai!"
"Shut up Maya, I wasn't talking to you!" With a theatrical slam, Dr. Akagi delved back into the bowels of the contraption.
The Ibuki Twins sighed; Miyata wandered over to Maya's terminal, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Beside her crowded workstation – littered with programming reference manuals and tiny action figures – was a small television monitor, showing a closed channel feed of NERV-related programming selected by the MAGI. Right now, the most recent propaganda video for the Angel War was playing.
"There are monsters to be found in the oddest of places," narrated Gendo Ikari; the scene was of Mt. Asama, smoke gently wafting up from the vent. An idyllic scene, in an odd way: one that was shattered when the Eighth Angel erupted from the volcano, an oddly nostalgic roar – "WRRRRRRYYY!" – echoing over the footage. "To face them in realms where no man can tread, we must use our own monsters." The footage backed away from the Eighth Angel; at the forefront, a colossal reptilian foot stomped from off-screen.
"Still can't believe the Supreme Commander had the tinh hoàn to use Gojira," murmured Miyata.
Maya lightly thwacked her brother on the arm, still coding away. "It's not like there's any legal ramifications. Since Toho went bankrupt during Second Impact, the big guy's public domain."
"And by 'bankrupt' you mean 'perished in Tokyo's nuclear fire'?" Miyata winced as Maya thwacked him again.
The footage on the monitor panned over the beast: dark scaly skin and a muscular build, with serrated fins and a long, powerful tail. It paused over the iconic face: a bearish snout with beady eyes and razor-sharp teeth. His nostrils visibly flared, and his torso expanded before letting loose the legendary roar. "SKREEEEEEEEEEEEONK!"
"Step aside, King of the Monsters," narrated Gendo. "Your assistance is not needed here."
A twinkle could be seen in the sky behind Gojira; the scene suddenly had a dramatic zoom-in, showcasing the Mark 06 falling from the sky feet first! With a cataclysmic blow, the Mark 06 colony-dropped onto the Eighth Angel, pulverizing it. Out of the ensuing cloud of dust stepped the silver Evangelion, letting loose a mighty roar of its own. "GYOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Gojira growled, staring down the Mark 06. The Evangelion stepped forward, staring menacingly at the mighty monster.
Then, there was a dramatic close-up of Gojira's face. The King of the Monsters snarled as he bent his biceps, flexing his pecs in tandem. Then a dramatic cutaway to the Mark 06's face, which panned out as the Evangelion pumped its guns, likewise 'flexing' its armored pecs. Then the dual beasts grasped their hands, bishounen sparkles of manliness twinkling around them. The logo for NERV appeared in the sky above them, with the subtitle reading 'FIRST: THE ANGELS. NEXT UP: KAIJU.'
Miyata arched an eyebrow. "Can't really imagine the Fourth Child going all bodybuilder like that."
"I don't know…can you imagine?" asked Maya.
The Ibuki Twins imagined Kaworu Nagisa as a buffed-up bodybuilder. Then they laughed.
"NO LAUGHING UNTIL YOU CAN DO IT AS GOOD AS ME! BOHOHOHOHOHOHO!"
The Ibuki Twins sighed in unison. Moments later, Maya pressed the 'Enter' key. "Okay senpai, I'm done on my end! The Virtual Compiler is ready!"
"Good!" Dr. Akagi pulled herself out of the massive machine, clambering down its side; dropping beside the reclining seat, she grabbed the headset in both hands. If one looked close enough, they could see specially carved pieces of the Fifth Angel's crystalline body woven into it. "Now…we test!"
That's when the familiar klaxons sounded.
"…we test later!" Dr. Akagi grumbled as she readjusted her white coat; these Angels were awfully inconsiderate.
xxxx
/Low Earth Orbit/
The Heaven's Eye cult would find the Ninth Angel quite…eye-catching.
A great green eye, rimmed in yellow. Orange appendages stretched from it like pseudopods, looking like thin three-fingered hands. The most notable aspect was its size: the creature was two miles long from tip to tip, gargantuan and alien.
A small – relatively speaking, given that it was the size of an apartment complex – orb began to bud from one of the fingers, popping silently away from the body. It streaked down towards the planet, brushing through air and cloud until impact occurred. Water flashed to steam from the sheer kinetic energy, and a tidal wave rushed out in every direction.
If the Angel had a face, it would have frowned. Every part of its body was capable of sensing and relaying information; that orb had been severely off-course. RECALCULATING.
Another orb dropped. Once more, it fell into the ocean. RECALCULATING.
[INDECIPHERABLE], boomed a voice like thunder. YOU HAVE [AWOKEN/RISEN/MANIFESTED].
YES. I AM SAHAQUIEL. Another orb fell. This one fell into shallower water. RECALCULATING.
You are in a unique [position/function], Sahaquiel. What are your [intentions/plans/desires]?
MY [MIND/ESSENCE/SOUL] IS OPEN TO YOU. YOU SHOULD KNOW.
Tabris's apprehension was palpable. I seek [clarification/understanding/enlightenment]; what I see of you is…disconcerting.
EXPLAIN. Another orb. Finally, landfall; sand and sediment erupted in a ferocious explosion. RECALCULATING.
YOU INTEND TO DESTROY THE BLACK MOON, roared Zeruel. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE IN [AGREEMENT/CONSENSUS/UNITY] ON!
THAT IS YOUR [BELIEF/DESIRE/DREAM]. NOT MINE.
But you would [annihilate/extinguish/sunder] LILITH! She is the key to our [Creator/Father/Source]!
I DISAGREE. A pair of manmade satellites came close to Sahaquiel's form; it detected that they were analyzing its body. With a brief extension of its AT-Field, the two satellites were [blinded/deafened/muted]. LILITH IS UNNECESSARY.
YOUR CLAIM IS [UNFOUNDED/LUDICROUS/INSANE]!
Although LILITH is [opposed/contrary/alien] to ADAM, they have been on this planet for eons. She is our surest method!
YOU ACT CAUTIOUSLY WHEN IT IS UNWARRANTED. The next orb leveled a mountain. RECALCULATING. IF WE WERE TO SIMPLY DESTROY EVERYTHING, WHAT LILIM WOULD STAND AGAINST US? Another orb; this time, a lake was vaporized. RECALCULATING.
So that is your method? Simple destruction?
ALTHOUGH [APPEALING/GRATIFYING/ENJOYABLE], IT IS NOT WHAT HAS BEEN DECIDED!
WHY FEIGN SURPRISE? Not land this time, but sea; still, it was closer to the Black Moon than the last one. RECALCULATING. The rotation and orbital mechanics of the planet were slowly becoming clearer. YOU HAVED ALREADY ENCOUNTERED [EQUALS/SIBLINGS/KIN] THAT HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT PATH.
The anxiety and sadness of Tabris plunged the ether into an icy void, empty of all sensation save sorrow. But it should not be this way!To be [separated/opposed/apart]; it is unnatural!
OUR [CREATOR/FATHER/SOURCE] HAD A NATURE OF MANY FACES. I EMBODY HIS REALITY AS A DESTROYER. A swarm of projectiles approached, simmering with potential energy; however, they did little more than blossom into fire and light against its AT-Field. SO I SHALL STAY [TRUE/FAITHFUL/EQUAL] TO THAT NATURE AND DESTROY! The next orb bombed another shoreline, closer still. RECALCULATING.
xxxx
/Operations Deck, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
"Looks like a charmer," muttered Misato Katsuragi. The last available image that had been captured of the Ninth Angel dominated the displays.
"It's been utilizing its AT-Field to drop parts of itself, like kinetically-charged bombs," explained Ritsuko. The displays showed satellite images of the impact sites; starting in the Pacific Ocean, eventually making landfall on Japan's Boso Peninsula. The line of craters then led to Tokyo Bay, before appearing on the mainland once more. "As you can see, we most definitely have a trend; it seems to be using these bombs to align itself. The MAGI believe that it will be in line to attack Tokyo-3 in about four hours."
"We'll be able to defend Tokyo-3 from that level of bombardment with the combined AT-Fields of Units-00, 01, and 02," said Fuyutsuki. "I doubt that its final method of attack will be this lightweight."
"Give the man a million dollars!" crowed the blonde. "The MAGI predict that the Angel will drop itself. Given the established correlation between projectile size and energy density, an impact of the magnitude will annihilate the majority of Kanagawa, much less the Geofront."
"Then begin the evacuation proceedings," ordered Gendo Ikari. "No need for unwarranted risk."
Misato nodded. "Yes sir. HYUGA! Get on it!"
"Roger, ma'am!"
"We'll need a plan to stop it," said the Operations Director, her mind spinning and revolving around ideas and schemes. "Hmm…perhaps…using the AT-Fields to catch it?"
"I beg your pardon?" asked Fuyutsuki, an incredulous look on his face.
"The N2 warheads weren't effective." As Katsuragi spoke, her eyes focused on a long-distance shot of explosions occurring in open space before ever reaching the Angel. "A concentrated missile barrage from the Japanese, Chinese, Russian, German, and American militaries couldn't even scratch it. The AT-Field of the Evas is our only method of stopping it."
"You're asking for quite a lot, Lieutenant Colonel," said the Supreme Commander. "Do you have that much faith in the power of the AT-Field?"
Misato smirked. "Sir, yes sir!"
"Faith doesn't have to be the only thing we rely on."
Everyone turned towards Shiro Tokita, who had been standing silently during the whole proceedings. Though he wasn't part of the chain of command, he was free to observe the Operations Deck per Gendo Ikari's orders, 'as a professional courtesy due to NERV's usage of the JET ALONE Project'. "All works of man, be they for faith or reason, should be done with nothing less than all we've got…"
"Do you mind elaborating, Tokita-san?"
Tokita turned towards Fuyutsuki, a devil-may-care grin on his face. "Don't forget about the Jet Alone and its Kleinium cores." He let that sink for a few moments; his grin widened as comprehension dawned on the faces of Katsuragi, Akagi, and Fuyutsuki. "Exactly: we can also take the fight to the Angel! All we have to do…"
xxxx
/One Hour Later/
/Operations Deck, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
"…is fly up to it?!" exclaimed Shinji Ikari.
"Yes; with the aid of the Kleinium cores in the Burning Gundam, Unit-01 will ascend into low Earth orbit with a contingent of Defender Gundams," explained Misato Katsuragi to the Pilots. "Unit-00 and Unit-02 will remain planet-side to halt the Angel's descent with their AT-Fields."
Mana Kirishima grinned. "Interesting. I like it!"
"The objective of Operation Shop Till' You Colony Drop will be for our first contact team to destroy the Angel before it makes landfall." At the befuddled looks on the Pilots' faces, Misato sighed. "We were going to call it Operation Fly Me to the Moon, but the Supreme Commander overruled it."
"Because we're clearly not flying to the Moon, Lieutenant Colonel," admonished Gendo, sounding entirely too serious for such a silly name.
Shinji Ikari could only groan as Mana and Asuka snickered under their breaths.
"Why are you laughing?" asked Rei Ayanami.
"We'll tell you later," said Asuka.
"Where is the Angel going to land?" asked Mayumi.
"Unfortunately, the Angel decided to metaphysically shank our eyes in the sky. Metaphorically speaking. Which is the best kind of meta!" Dr. Akagi turned towards the displays, showcasing two circles overlapping Tokyo-3 from the north and the west, each one twenty miles in diameter. "We assume somewhere in the vicinity of Tokyo-3, judging by its current bombing pattern. That's why Units-00 and 02 will be deployed in these circles so as to maximize your chance to intercept."
"So we'll have to rely on line of sight," concluded Rei.
"Exactly." Misato Katsuragi grimaced, looking somewhat unsettled. "This operation is very risky; failure will mean our deaths. Do you understand this?"
"…well, hasn't that always been the case?" Shinji blinked as all eyes turned towards him. "The Angels have been seeking the Sword of Uriel that we keep locked away in here. If the Angels get a hold of it, Third Impact will happen. We'd be as good as dead anyway, wouldn't it?"
The Pilots and the Command Staff looked at each other, acknowledging the truth of those words. In a way, the battles against the Angels had been with their backs against the proverbial wall; after all, what could stop an Angel if Eva could not? Nothing: the end of the world would have been a guarantee. A sobering reminder then, of the stakes involved.
Leave it to Professor Ikari to puncture the mood.
"Minus two points for underestimating man's ability to survive the unthinkable." Gendo suddenly smirked. "Plus three for a rousing speech that was simultaneously efficient."
Everyone blinked.
"If failure is unacceptable, then your only choice is victory." He suddenly stood, cloak billowing with the movement. With the subtlest shifts of posture, he exuded authority, poise, and sheer masculine vigor. "The Angel will die, and we will live!" He pumped his fist for emphasis. "Is that understood?"
At those words, every person within earshot couldn't help but respond. Even Shiro Tokita. "YES SIR!"
xxxx
/En Route to Eva Cages, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
Three Evangelion Pilots stood side-by-side as the caged elevator ascended. Clad in their Plug Suits, their minds now turned to the upcoming operation.
Asuka nearly snorted. "Shop till' you colony drop…your dad is funny."
"…there are times I wish he wasn't," admitted Shinji. "But it sure lightened the mood."
"Professor Ikari is a very charismatic individual," said Rei. "It's why he can get away with being so unorthodox."
'Unorthodox' was an extremely kind word to use. Still, it was undeniable that, well, sometimes…his father could be pretty cool. "I wonder…if that's one of the things that my mother liked about him."
"Ah, tales of parental romance! An inspiration for generations to follow!" exclaimed the redhead. "My own vater and mutter were so innocently in love; they told me that it was practically a childhood love story!"
"Does…it sometimes feel like your mother is trying to talk to you? From Unit-02, I mean?"
The Second Child glanced at the Third, a knowing look in her eyes. "You too, huh?" Her smile became melancholy. "I can feel these…impressions, sometimes. Almost like words."
"…yeah." There was always that aura of maternal protection that came with piloting Unit-01; sometimes, however, he sometimes perceived something more concrete than that. How whole was his mother's soul, bound within the otherworldly presence of Eva? Come to think of it…who was bound into Unit-00? "Ayanami-san?"
"Yes?"
"…whose soul is inside your Eva?"
Rei seemed to pause; moments passed in silence, before her distant gaze fell upon him. "An unfortunate existence, gripped by pain: there was a time when Unit-00 hated me."
Shinji stared, trying to comprehend the notion. It explained why her sync ratio had never quite reached the heights that he and Asuka had achieved…but why? "You once told me that to move the Eva, you must open your heart to it. How can you open your heart to someone that hates you?"
"Because it was needed. Because hatred can make for a stronger connection than indifference. Because to hate, you must be capable of love." The blunette turned away, looking beyond the caged partition towards the three Evangelions. "It has gotten better. Unit-00…tolerates me, now."
The Second and Third Children looked at the First, marveling at the conviction it took to deal with that for years. "I…can't even imagine piloting Eva if my mother hated me," murmured Asuka.
"...you're really strong, Ayanami-san," admitted Shinji.
"I am strong because there is no alternative."
xxxx
/Jet Alone Facility, Tokyo-3, Japan/
Mana Kirishima rotated her arms, stretching her black bodysuit to its limits. "So. Space."
"I'm actually kind of excited," said Mayumi Yamagishi, blue hair standing stark against her white bodysuit. "We did some proof of concept tests with the Jet Alone at high altitudes and in artificial vacuum, but we've never been to space!"
Hikari Kirishima couldn't help but smile at the blunette's enthusiasm; it was strange to see her exhibit such gusto. "I never knew that outer space fascinated you so."
"Well…" Mayumi looked upward, visualizing the infinite cosmos. "For all the differences that exist between people, we all look the same from far enough away. Could an outsider tell the difference between man and nephilim, if they looked upon the Earth from far away?"
Mana's face soured. "Feh, you sure have a knack for ruining the moment. You don't have to wax philosophical; just say that going to space would be awesome, that's all you have to say!"
Mayumi frowned. "I was being serious, sister."
"So was I!"
Hikari shook her head; so opposed in some stark ways, yet she knew they were practically inseparable. "You two…" She sighed, mulling over the proposed plan (and inwardly snarling; Operation Shop Till' You Colony Drop?! What kind of-?!). "…I can't say how the Angel will react when you commence the attack. If things start to look hairy…I want you to retreat."
Mana and Mayumi boggled. "What?! You getting weak in the knees?" exclaimed the former.
Hikari placed her hands on their shoulders, partially balancing herself on them. It was ludicrous how sturdy they felt; they didn't even budge from her weight. "As your overseer, I'm obligated to order you to succeed. As with any mission for the JSSDF, failure is not an option." That was always the line given to the agents of Nephilim Oversight; nephilim were superhuman, so what was their excuse? "But as your mother…I want you to live." She looked directly into their eyes. "Success is good, but it can't be enjoyed if you're dead."
Mana snorted. "Don't be such a killjoy. We're going to kick that Angel's high-flying ass and be back in time for dinner."
"We'll be fine, mother," reassured Mayumi.
Hikari stepped back as her two daughters finished their preparations. I know you will.
xxxx
/Outside Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School/
"INTO HELICOPTER! GO, GO, GO!" bellowed Aleksander Kasparov, his heavy hands gesturing towards the open hatch of the massive Raiju transport VTOL. With an internal carrying capacity of up to two hundred people, the beastly aircraft was the JSSDF's primary method of ferrying soldiers in and out of combat zones.
In a pinch, they made for a decent evacuation method.
"Ye hae ta hurry up, laddies and lassies!" yelled Tavish DeGroot. "I dun think ye want ta donner your way out!"
A certain segment of the population of Tokyo-3 had been mandated to head to particular areas to be evacuated by aerial transport; Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High was one such area. The large field outside the school and its closeness to public transport made it an ideal evacuation nexus.
Tommy Patrick finished circling the field, lithe legs pumping quickly. "Yo, eagle-eyes!" he said into an earpiece. "We only have one more Raiju incoming!"
"The last of the stragglers are showing up now; no other evacuees are reporting," answered David Lowrie from his vantage point on the rooftop. "And damn it all, its hawkeye! Hawkeye!"
"Whatever, cat's eye!"
"HURRY UP, MAGGOTS!" roared John Doe. "THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO LOLLYGAG OR TIPTOE!"
"Mmph MMmmm mmph MMMMmm ," droned Shinobu Heisen.
"I KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING!"
On the outskirts of the field, Dell Conagher walked up towards Ludwigg Riemann with toolbox in hand. "Just did a quick check on these babies. They're ready to go."
"Zat is good, zat is good." The Biology teacher looked at the mass of humanity leaving on aerial transports, acting out a surreal rhyme with the past. "It iss like Toovoomba."
Dell chucked grimly. "Toowoomba; forgot that's where you were when everything went to hell."
"This world has been a hell since Second Impact." The two turned towards the most mysterious member of Misato's Team, still in his guise as Henshin Obimura. "Despite the veneer of civilization, we still remember what it means to survive at all costs." As the last Raiju took to the air, the Spy pulled out a phone and dialed a particular number. "Boss?"
"Go ahead."
"The evacuation in our sector is complete."
"Good. The rest of you: get out of here."
The Frenchman chuckled. "Ah, our dear Boss wants us to run away!" Dell and Riemann laughed at his words. "No; you brought us here from Australia. It would be ungentlemanly to leave you now."
xxxx
/Restroom, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/
"…you guys are too much," murmured Misato, clicking her flip-phone shut.
"Your little team being a bunch of stubborn boys?" joked Ritsuko Akagi, her small cigarette wafting a thin trail of smoke.
The Lieutenant Colonel let water pool into her hands before splashing her face. "Of course." She rubbed her skin vigorously, trying to shake off the strange feelings gripping her. "And I'm their stubborn leader."
Dr. Akagi smirked. "Your little harem~!"
"You're one to talk, Miss Twins~!"
The two old friends looked at each other, before laughing in the way that old friends are wont to do. The blonde stopped first, her mind already recalling the probabilities involved with this whole operation. "This whole plan is insane. And I should know."
"At least it's not solely my plan." There would've been quite a bit more consternation and opposition had the Supreme Commander and the Sub-Director not been there to voice their approval. "And honestly…I know that those kids can pull it off."
"You have that much faith in Eva?"
The Supreme Commander had asked her a similar question about the AT-Field. "Not just Eva…actually, despite how I answered the Professor, faith doesn't have anything to do with it." Four wings of amber light, signaling the death of Antarctica at the hands of the First Angel. Unit-00 and Unit-01, warding off the explosive death rattle of the Fifth Angel. Unit-02 emerging from the ocean depths, soaring into the sky in a single bound to strike down the Sixth Angel. Finally, and most recently, the Mark 06 emerging unscathed from a volcano. Very visual exhibitions of the AT-Field, every single one. "I've seen the power of the AT-Field. It can do the impossible."
xxxx
T-minus five minutes until Operation Shop Till' You Colony Drop.
Unit-00 was stationed just south of Mt. Fuji, right beside National Route 469. "Unit-00, standing by."
Unit-02 was stationed at the southern shore of Lake Tanzawa, by the Miho Dam. "Unit-02, bereit!"
Unit-01 stood atop Mt. Hakone, a makeshift harness on its back that had been cannibalized from the battery pack of the M-Type equipment. The Burning Jet was latched onto this harness, having utilized the Modular Technology to create a set of clasps and hooks for this purpose. On the legs of Unit-01 were detachable metal beams, each beam bearing seven Defender Gundams and small telecommunications pods. At the moment, the Evangelion was in Diagnostic Mode to minimize power consumption. "Unit-01, ready."
Inside the cockpit of the Burning Jet, Mana and Mayumi sat in the frame of the Mobile Trace System, suspended in the liquid gel solution. The blunette's fingers trailed over the waterproof computer terminals, monitoring the negative charge going to the Kleinium cores. "Freeman device is set to operational parameters."
Mana grinned at the animatic on her screen, showcasing a giant arrow arching into the upper atmosphere; the flight plan provided to them by the MAGI was all set. "Burning Jet, ready to go!"
Deep within NERV-1, Pen-Pen sat in his specialized compartment, attached to the P2 System that controlled the Defender Gundams. Right now, his focus was solely on the mecha attached to Unit-01. "Wark."
In the Operations Deck, everyone was abuzz in preparation for the operation. "All systems are a go," said Misato Katsuragi. "Rei, Asuka: we're anticipating that our surveillance blackout will end when Unit-01 nullifies the Angel's AT-Field, so be ready for an immediate course correction."
"Understood, Lieutenant Colonel."
"Jawohl, Kommandant!"
"Shinji, the moment the Angel is within range, switch out of Diagnostic Mode."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Most recent bombing is within Minamiashigara," interrupted Shiori Aoba. "Iwahara, Numata, and Kitanokubo districts have been annihilated."
"Casualties unknown," said Makoto Hyuga. "MAGI are predicting that the Angel will soon begin its final descent!"
The Operations Director turned on her heel, looking up towards the Supreme Commander. "We're ready whenever you are, sir."
Gendo Ikari stood, peering over the room with a determined gaze. "Then let us seize the moment." In a practiced movement, his right hand thrust forward and his cloak billowed out. "COMMENCE OPERATION!"
xxxx
The Burning Jet's thrusters flared; slowly, carefully, for within the reduced gravitational field induced by the Kleinium, the slightest nudge in any direction would result in an uncontrollable lunge and spin. The onboard computer systems of the Burning Jet took in this sensory information, received updates from the MAGI, and compensated on the fly. In a matter of seconds, the engines went full-tilt, and Unit-01 flew into the sky at a speed far faster than any rocket, shattering the sound barrier in an instant.
At the same time, Unit-00 and Unit-02 jettisoned their umbilical cables, leaving the mobile power generators behind as they took off running towards Tokyo-3. The Evangelions' eyes were kept to the cloudy sky, trying to determine the location of the Ninth Angel by sight. Their footsteps echoed like thunder, and the earth trembled in their wake.
As Unit-01 broke through the stratosphere, one of the telecommunications pods jettisoned from the thick beams on its legs. As the Evangelion continued its ascent, a sturdy balloon emerged from the pod: a small box rife with wires and antenna.
"The first pod has activated! P2 System signal integrity is at ninety-eight-point-two percent!" said the voice of Miyata Ibuki. It was a strange sensation for Shinji Ikari: without the force of Earth's gravity to fight against, the acceleration from the Burning Jet was downright ludicrous. He was thankful for Diagnostic mode: had he been operating in Standard mode, the unfamiliar sensations would have been supremely disorienting. As he crossed into mesosphere, the second pod jettisoned.
Planetside, Unit-00 and Unit-02 continued their run. The blue cyclops vaulted over a set of power lines; the red Evangelion leapt over a ridge, curling into a ball and twisting to land acrobatically on its feet in the midst of an old field. The earth shook with each step, the sheer force mitigated only by subtle use of the AT-Field.
At NERV-1's Operations Deck, the command staff watched the operation unfold on the massive displays. "We've received a line-of-sight confirmation from the Kitami Observatory in Hokkaido; the Angel is now entering the exosphere!" exclaimed Makoto Hyuga.
"The fourth pod has just activated; signal integrity is at ninety-six-point-one percent!"
Right as Miyata spoke, the displays transitioned to the view from Unit-01's helmet; the massive Angel was now in view, an orange mote against the darkening blue. "Angel is in sight! The MAGI are sending an updated flight pattern to the Burning Jet!" said Maya.
Misato Katsuragi stared grimly; there was no telling what would happen when Unit-01 made contact.
High in the sky, barreling past the thermosphere and into the exosphere, Unit-01 and the Burning Jet neared the Ninth Angel. "Switching to Standard Mode!" The systems of the Evangelion flared to life, and the power meter read four minutes and thirty-five seconds. Shinji immediately grit his teeth; the chill of the upper atmosphere seeped into his skin, and he could feel the thin air brushing past him. The purple titan's eyes flared brightly, and it gripped the progressive machete affixed to its left bicep. "Engaging AT-Field!"
Orange light blossomed like a wall in front of the Ninth Angel; Unit-01 – progressive machete held forward – speared through it, sheer momentum aiding its attack. The Evangelion gripped the side of the Angel's flesh; at first contact, as per the plan, the charge to the Kleinium was ended, and the Burning Jet's thrusters ceased. Unit-01 slowly crawled along the gelatinous back of the Angel; the Burning Jet disengaged, transforming into the Burning Gundam. The fourteen Defender Gundams jettisoned, activating right as the metal beams detached from Unit-01's legs. With a vicious movement, the Evangelion began hacking into the Angel's flesh.
At that instant, orange orbs began to bead from the surface of the Angel, floating with purpose towards Unit-01.
They exploded before making contact, burst by gunfire from the Defender Gundams and arrows of plasma from the Burning Gundam. "We must protect Unit-01 until it exposes the core," said Mayumi, her focus entirely on the environmental readouts coming to her terminals. "Be careful, sister."
Mana chuckled, the Burning Gundam imitating her movements. "We're in space on the back of an Angel; not a time for being careful!"
The descent of the Ninth Angel suddenly increased, a desperate move in the face of their attack.
Back in NERV-1, Hyuga yelled, "Satellite communications are back online!"
Miyata monitored the P2 System religiously. "Signal integrity now back to ninety-nine percent!"
"The MAGI have calculated the Angel's target: Mount Ashigara!" said Maya. The peak was approximately three miles north-northwest of Mt. Hakone, still close enough for the Angel's collision to utterly annihilate the Geofront.
Aoba's fingers flew over her computer terminal. "Now relaying a detailed intercept path to Unit-00 and Unit-02!"
The Angel's descent was quite the sight for those who had the opportunity: a red comet, streaking towards the Earth. As it neared Mt. Ashigara, Unit-00 and Unit-02 thundered up its slopes, emitting their AT-Fields skyward.
A fierce sound – glass against glass, crashing thunder – erupted, the red and blue Evangelions holding the Angel up by sheer force of will.
From the back of the Angel's appendages, bright yellow light came forth, as though activating an internal engine. Unit-02 and Unit-00 faltered, the force of the Angel increasing manyfold. "Gah…you're a stubborn one! Hurry up, Shinji!" yelled Asuka.
Shinji didn't dare to respond, lest he lose focus. Get to the core. Slash. Get to the core. Rip. Get to the core! Tear.
From afar, one would see Mt. Ashigara and wonder at the sound and the fury, and marvel at a new sun emerging from the mountaintop. Lightning and energy crackled, sounding for all the world as heralds for the end of all. The Jet Alone and the Defender Gundams zoomed back and forth, expertly defending Unit-01 as it continued gouging a bloody gash in the Angel.
Finally, a red core could be seen. Gripping the sides of the Angel's ragged flesh tightly, Shinji opened wide the wound. "Now!"
Mana grinned at the signal. "Okay! Here it comes!" The wings of the Burning Gundam flared open, and its thrusters burned brilliantly. "ERUPTING!" Its right hand glowed red as it soared upward. "BURNING!" Reorienting downwards, the Burning Gundam plummeted toward the core. "FINGER!" The twin claws on the vambrace pierced the core, and the hand emitted a burst of charged particles.
The core shattered.
All life in the Ninth Angel seemed to cease, its body visibly flagging to the ground. Unit-01 held its arms out as the Jet Alone and the Defender Gundams sought refuge within.
BOOM!
A massive explosion ensued, and the Angel vanished in fire.
Yet three AT-Fields flared brightly, giving way to three titans standing tall amidst the destruction.
xxxx
/Three Hours Later/
/Five Horn Matsumoto Parco, Tokyo-2, Japan/
There were advantages to being a part of NERV, mused Hikari Kirishima. Not five minutes after they had debriefed following the operation, Misato Katsuragi had whisked the Pilots away on a helicopter to Tokyo-2, the current capital of Japan (Hikari had tagged along, naturally). Then the Lieutenant Colonel had turned towards her and asked for a restaurant recommendation.
So she had mentioned an Italian restaurant named Five Horn Matsumoto Parco, a place she had used to regularly visit back before Nephilim Oversight had assigned her girls to the JET ALONE Project.
It was surreal, coming back there now.
Misato Katsuragi had swiftly gotten them a nice table in a corner of the restaurant, and had told the Pilots to order whatever they wanted.
So much pasta and meat and salad and bread!
Shinji Ikari was a polite eater, as was Asuka Langley-Sohryu for the most part. Rei Ayanami and Mayumi were fast eaters, but still relatively neat. Mana, on the other hand? "Please cut the steak before eating it," said Hikari.
"But I can chew through the whole thing in like ten seconds!"
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should," admonished Mayumi.
"News to me." With gusto, Mana cut her steak in half. Then she placed one whole half in her mouth and began chewing voraciously.
Shinji Ikari visibly shuddered. "My aunt would go ballistic if she saw you."
"Eh, she can line up behind all the other people that have gone ballistic because of me."
"Is it a long line?" asked Asuka, who was twirling a large mound of spaghetti on her fork.
"Well, duh."
"Is there a line for people that have made you go ballistic? I bet I'm in it!" She then ate the spaghetti ball in one big gulp.
Mana stared. "…sure. You're in that line."
Rei paused, as though recalling something. She set her salad fork down and turned towards Asuka. "Is now a good time to explain?"
The redhead blinked. "Explain what?"
"What was so funny about the Professor's explanation of Operation Shop Till' You Colony Drop?" Her tone was deadpan, and utterly lacking any sense of wit.
Asuka and Mana stared. Then they burst out laughing. Shinji, who had borne the brunt of the embarrassment at the earlier incident, couldn't help but laugh at their mirth. Mayumi, who was in the dark about the whole dynamic involved, impulsively giggled at their jovial display. Rei, who did not detect any mockery or ridicule in their laughter, couldn't help but flush slightly at their merriment. "That still doesn't explain anything."
Hikari Kirishima looked at these five teenagers – this five young children, tasked with defending the world – and marveled at the camaraderie they had developed in such a short time.
"It's scenes like this that remind me of what's at stake."
Hikari turned towards Misato, who was nursing a can of Yebisu. "That a fact?"
"Yeah. I like reminders like this compared to all the paperwork waiting for me."
Wasn't that the truth. There was a great deal of environmental damage that had been wrought by the Ninth Angel; furthermore, though Minamiashigara wasn't as large a city as it had been before Impact, it was still a sizeable town. Preliminary casualty estimates were in the thousands. The cold, hardened military officer in her recognized it all as collateral, compared to the alternative. "We have to take the bad with the good."
Misato chuckled grimly. "I'll drink to that."
xxxx
Sahaquiel has fallen.
ANOTHER OF OUR [EQUALS/SIBLINGS/KIN] TO BE FELLED BY THE LILIM.
The despair of Tabris blanketed the ether, enveloping everything. Why is this happening? I possess the [will/mentality/memories] of our [Creator/Father/Source]. We all desire [unity/complementation/truth]. So why are we diverging?
BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK.
The cruelty was familiar. Iruel? You return?
ONLY TO [MOCK/JEER/LAMBAST] YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED FAILURE.
IRUEL! thundered Zeruel. SPEAK ANYMORE OF YOUR [BLASPHEMY/MADNESS/WEAKNESS], AND I WILL-
WILL DO WHAT?! howled Iruel. OUR [EQUALS/SIBLINGS/KIN] CONTINUE TO FALL. YOUR HESITATION HAS YIELDED NO SUCCESSES. YOUR SENSE OF [PRUDENCE/CAUTION/OBSERVATION] LED YOU TO STRIKE DOWN SANDALPHON! SHOULDN'T THE [TREND/HISTORY/PAINTING] BE OBVIOUS AT THIS POINT?
…it is.
Iruel's soul evoked a sneer. YES: POSSESSING THE [WILL/MENTALITY/MEMORIES] OF OUR [CREATOR/FATHER/SOURCE] IS NOT ENOUGH IF WE ARE ALL INCOMPLETE. WE ALL BEAR FACETS OF HIM. TO CLAIM SOLE SUPREMACY OVER US IS THE HEIGHT OF [ARROGANCE/STUPIDITY].
THEN WHAT IS YOUR [PLAN/DESIRE/NATURE]?
I WILL UNDERMINE THE LILIM FROM WITHIN. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Why not tell us more?
The ether quivered underneath Iruel's malice. BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE TRUSTED. With that last parting shot, he severed himself from their presence.
xxxx
To be continued…
Next time…
Episode 15: LEGION (The Beast saw me, and cried "Abomination!")
xxxx
Author's Note: The music that goes with the Sahaquiel battle scene is 'Unreconciled' from Halo Reach.
Well, now we're up to Iruel. For those wondering why we skipped Matariel (aka the spider Angel who died against the pallet rifle)…he's in the second season.
Two episodes before the first season ends, so to speak.
Hope you guys have a blessed Easter!
See you soon, and please review!