Chapter 25: Aiming to Impress, Pt. 2
The bridge heard the power up of the Evangelion which got all of them to the window to look behind them. Kensuke had already been recording when the Angel started attacking.
"What?" the older officer said.
"Nice Asuka," Misato said pressing her face against the window. They all saw the Eva rise from its cover sheet.
"No, halt the activation sequence. Put it back," the ship's captain said through the microphone connection to the pilot.
"I don't care, Asuka! Launch!" Misato said struggling to get the mike.
"What!?" the older officer exasperated. "Eva and its pilot are under our command. I won't let you do as you like!"
"What are you talking about?! Who cares about procedure at a time like this?" Misato argued as she and the older man battled for control.
"Hey…Unit 02's only set with B-equipment," the right hand man stated looking through his binoculars. Misato turned to him.
'Crap,' she thought.
Asuka was staring forward concentrating on what B-equipment meant. It was only terrestrial operated. If the Eva fell into the water with it, the Unit will be extremely difficult to move in. Shaking her head, she set her mind straight and put on a confident smile.
'I'll show em. I'll show them all what a real Eva pilot can do! I'll make the Third speechless,' she thought getting pumped up.
The Eva stood tall holding its huge sheet cover as someone walking through a windy desert. The voice of the ship's captain and Misato came through the comm-link.
[Asuka, is Shinji with you?] Misato asked.
[Ja] she responded. Misato was surprised that she spoke German.
'Shinji knows German? Since when?' she thought. Shaking her head, it didn't matter right now. She snatched the microphone out of the officer's hands.
[Asuka, go for it!] Misato said much to the officer's unwillingness. The Second Child changed the language code to Japanese. If communication with others were in two different languages, the Eva wouldn't respond well.
The Angel felt the Eva unit come alive and speeded toward it seeing it as a threat. Just as it was passing a large carrier, it stopped instantly causing a huge wave to go forward. It felt like there was another one of its kind around. Floating to the surface, the aquatic Angel was about the same length of an aircraft carrier. Gaphiel scanned the ships moving slowly in the relative direction of the carrier.
Everyone was confused by the Angel's actions. Noticing that it was just swimming near them, they started to break away from it. Misato thought the Angel was searching for something. The stop meant it was close by. Loud clunks were heard in the distance and were getting louder.
[Ignoring me huh, I'll show you not to underestimate Asuka Langely Souryu! Misato, prepare the emergency external power supply on deck!] Asuka said jumping from flagship and battleships to the aircraft carrier.
She heard Misato replied on the comm-link and continued to jump. The crew from the carrier got the power socket out and cleared the deck. Asuka saw there was a bit distance between the battleship she was on and the carrier. The Angel was following at the same speed which she grinned finding her stepping stone.
People on the bridge saw the Eva leap toward the Angel. Landing on it, Asuka did a quick stomp on its head making it moan and sink. Not wasting any time, she jumped towards the carrier nearby. The Eva landed a little off center causing the ship to turn toward the weighted direction. Much to Kensuke's demise, some of the fighter planes rolled into the sea. Asuka quickly balanced the weight of ship back to be leveled. Seeing the emergency power socket, she plugged it in the Eva's back before the battery power went out.
Turning around towards the Angel, it roared at her then started to head in her direction.
"Miss Souryu, may I suggest something?" Shinji asked calmly.
"Not now, I am busy," Asuka stated pulling out her progressive knife. The blade came out and glowed. She held the weapon pointing forward with her free hand open and behind it.
[Shinji, do you have an idea?] Misato asked over the comm-link.
"Yes," was all he said blinking. The Angel was getting rapidly closer.
[Asuka, let's go with his idea for right now.]
"What?! Why!? I can do this!"
[You aren't equipped with the water equipment. Once you drop into the water, you'll be almost immobilized. Any tactic right now is better than nothing.]
"…" Asuka said narrowing her eyes and quickly glanced to her right. Shinji was still standing forward with an impassive face. However, his dark magenta eyes seemed to glow hauntingly. Frowning, she looked back at the Angel. The Angel felt a odd foreboding from the Eva the closer it got. Heading straight for them, it decided to submerge fully underwater and go under them.
"Grrr," the red head said. "Well, spit it out Third!"
"Very well," he said with a nod. About to state his idea, the crazy voice stated a different approach. Shinji's right eye twitched. Kneeling down next to her, he whispered the idea into her ear.
"…" the red said listening while concentrating forward. After he finished, she looked back going to say that it was stupid. However, the aura that he was emitting was eerie. Combined with his eyes that seemed to shine oddly, it made her feel goosebumps. She was getting an idea why Kaji stated he was dubbed the executioner.
"…fine…" Asuka muttered and looked away from him.
The Angel swam passed the carrier holding the humanoid robot. Turning around, it swam toward the artificial Angel creature that jumped on its head. As it got closer and closer, it started to debate if continuing the attack was right. Gaphiel felt the familiar being on that ship as well as the enemy. Strangely, its inner organs started to tighten. Almost as if the feeling was trying to steer it away from the massive ship. Not comprehending what the feeling was, it continued its course of action.
"…" Asuka said feeling a little edgy after quickly doing the preparations for the plan. She still was in the pilot seat and Shinji was still kneeling next to her. All she had done was turned the Eva around and grabbed a couple of fighter jets that had many missiles on under their wings. It was placed nearby to the Eva's left on the deck. The prog knife was in her left hand now with the blade pointing down.
"Shall we begin Miss Souryu?" he said quietly as both saw the Angel surface. He placed his hands on the top and bottom of the right handle not touching her hand. A smug came on her face.
"Come on! Bring it!" Asuka exclaimed cockily.
The Angel got close enough and leaped out of the water at the Eva. Asuka shifted the Eva's stance to a lunge position with the right foot forward. Putting both hands up, the Angel's front landed in them. The momentum and weight of the Angel made the force immensely heavy causing Unit-02 to slide a little on the deck. People in the bridge saw how massive the body was of the Angel.
Expecting the Eva to be thrown off the ship, it stayed on. Using the momentum from the Angel, the Unit took its right foot back and turned 90 degrees to the right. Slamming its foot down, it knelt on the right knee while still holding up the gigantic Angel. The aircraft carrier sank a little in the ocean from the massive weight being on the flight deck. Shaking all over from keeping the Angel up, Unit-02's four eyes glowed wildly.
[Miss Souryu] Shinji said tense over the comm-link. The bridge saw the Eva's right hand grip the Angel's mouth and increase its pressure. The fingers then suddenly penetrated its skin as the grip locked Gaphiel's mouth closed at that point. Slowly pulling the Angel down and curling the right arm to its chest, it kept the startled Angel up.
[Now]
They saw the left hand break away and the right hand continuing to hold up the Angel as it began to wiggle around. Violently, the left arm swung the prog knife into the upper jaw of the Angel. The blade sank in slowly piercing and melting away the tough skin of the gigantic creature. Tilting the knife toward the front of the mouth, the left arm pulled toward the Eva.
A crude cut was made extending the length of the right side of the Angel's mouth. Without missing a beat, the Eva's left hand quickly grabbed the fighter jets. Fisting them into the jaw of the Angel's moaning mouth, it let go of the aircrafts and pulled out. Immediately, it stabbed where the jets were. Instantly, massive explosions occurred.
The crew saw a large chunk of the right side of the Angel's mouth get blown off. Flesh, teeth, and blood splattered all over the deck and into the ocean. A deep groan emitted from the Angel. However, it couldn't open its mouth fully for the Eva's right hand still gripped it painfully shut. The right hand was still hold Angel up despite it straining painfully.
[Hey, the core is its mouth!] Asuka stated.
Recoiling the left arm, she thrust the prog knife toward it. Colliding with it, sparks were coming out of the Angel's mouth. As the blade slowly pierced and sank in, Gaphiel started to feel lighter and lighter. When the sparking stopped, the right arm of the Eva gave. It shoot its blood out of its arm with open muscle tears. Letting go of its iron grip on the mouth, the Angel lifelessly fell into the ocean with a big splash.
When the angel was no longer seen, everyone turned to the red Eva. The only damage it seemed to have was its right arm locked in a curling position. Compared to its left arm, the other looked ripped apart.
"Yeah!" Misato exclaimed throwing a fist in the air. "Those kids did it!"
"Nice job you two!" she stated in the comm-link to the Eva.
[Hmph! It was a piece of cake. That Angel never stood a chance] Asuka proudly stated back.
"So that was your plan Shinji? Using a jet planes with missiles to blow a hole?"
[Yes] was all he said.
"How did you know that the core was in its mouth?"
[I guessed]
[You guessed?!] Asuka yelled causing the people in the bridge to cringe from her voice. [Are you insane?!]
[Somewhat] he said calmly.
'Oh…she doesn't know,' Misato thought smirking at his remark. 'That will throw her in a loop.'
"Alright you two. Mission accomplished. Power down Asuka and eject onto the deck."
[Okay!] she exclaimed cheerily.
"Geez. Talk about a crazy pair," Toji muttered with Kensuke humming in agreement. Misato giggled at that comment and turned to the ship's captain who was sweating a little.
"I'll leave the rest in your hands sir?" she stated with a salute.
"…" he said frowning a little. He watched her and the two male students leave. He removed his cap and dabbed the sweat off his face. Sighing out loud, he put it back on and told his right hand man to get a status update from all ships.
Laying her Eva on its side on the carrier, she powered down. Looking to her right, the Third Child was sitting and leaning against the entry plug wall. He stared impassively at the floor with his arms hanging lifelessly to his sides. Blinking, she looked at her right arm and did feel it a bit numb.
'Strange,' she thought moving her a little bit. 'My arm doesn't hurt much despite the Eva's arm getting massively injured from the heavy strain…does that mean he was more in synch with my Eva?'
"…" Asuka said narrowing her eyes at him.
"…" Shinji said just blinking noting that both of his arms were numb. Trying to move them just a little, they didn't respond. Shoji told the crazy voice in his mind that it would be a little while before the arms recovered. So, he'd have to wait before wanting to hold hands with the firecracker pilot. The crazy voice told him to go stuff himself causing all the voices to laugh wildly and make whistle calls.
The entry plug ejected out of the Eva's neck. LCL fluid drained down pass the central cockpit. Asuka input a code at the controls which opened up the hatch. Sunshine came through followed by the ocean breeze. Getting up from her seat, she just glanced watching the Third Child lean into the capsule wall to push himself up. His arms continued to hang lifelessly. Ignoring him, she went to the hatch door.
Seeing the flight deck below, she climbed down and jumped off a little. Landing, she looked around the deck. Rubble, Angel blood, and some of the Angel's flesh lied around in big piles. Turning to the bridge, she saw Misato and the other two boys running toward her. Only Misato stopped at her and asked if she was okay.
Asuka nodded and both turned to see that the jock and the other boy stopped as well. They were looking a little to see the Third Child sitting down at the edge of the hatch opening and kick off. He landed hard on his feet with his arms still hanging lifeless down at his sides. Standing up straight, he looked stoically at them and blinked.
"Whoa…Shin-man. What is with the outfit?" Toji said pointing at his chest.
"This is Miss Souryu's extra plug suit that she gave for me to wear," Shinji said looking at Toji and the Kensuke who had his camera filming.
"Huh," both students said looking at it closer. "So this is a female's version."
"…" Shinji said. His voices were trying to get the red-blue eye voice to take over and do poses. It said no in which Shinji felt a little relieved. They grinned evilly, but the voice said no louder. All the voices started to converge on the defiant voice, when it asked Shinji for help.
'Since my arms are numb, if any of your interests touches me I will not resist,' he thought hearing all of them go quiet.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked seeing both were still examining him. Both looked up and shook their heads no.
"Shall we head back to the bridge then?" he asked getting Toji and Kensuke to nod. They started walking toward the females.
"Hey Shinji," Misato started to say walking away from Asuka's side toward them.
"…" the red head said watching the Captain walk toward the group surrounding the Third Child. Seeing their friendly faces and giving praise to him made her frown. Looking at his emotionless face, made her clench her hands into fists. The aspect that he wasn't even shying from them gazing at him in her plug suit made her blood boil a little. Asuka glared at her rival as she stomped toward him.
'Thinks he's so cool. Walking it off like it was nothing. Getting their praise. Bastard!' she thought. The group around him stopped seeing the unfriendly face of the Second Child heading towards them.
"…" Shinji said blinking and stepping forward toward her.
"Third Child!" she shouted as he got two feet from her. She kept her scorn look on her face when he stopped. Asuka extended her right arm forward and pointed at him. Looking at the hand, the crazy voice piped in.
"I have been waiting for this!" it said taking control of the male pilot's right arm. Pulling it up, the right hand grabbed her hand. In one motion, his fingers moved her fingers so both were in a handshake and pulled the arms down a bit.
"Good job Miss Souryu," he said calmly with a firm handshake. Letting go of her hand, his arm dropped to his side and walked passed her. Looking confused at her hand, she tried to understand what just happened and blinked a few times.
'Good job…' the voice rang through her head.
'Good job,' it rang again but her reboot system started again. She clenched her fists and teeth. She spun around and shouted.
"GOOD JOB!? Is that all you have to say!? YOU IDIOT!" she shouted. In front of her, Kaji looked at her with surprise.
"Well you did defeat the Angel with his help," he said looking at her with a small smile.
She turned red as her plug suit and looked the other way. Putting on such a display in front of her man was embarrassing and humiliating. Misato, Kensuke, and Toji walked back to where the two were standing. Misato saw that he was in a flight uniform.
"Where are you going?" she asked suspiciously.
"Delivery service, got a package to deliver," he said honestly.
Misato didn't say anything but would have liked to say he was fleeing. She sneered at him and left to go to Shinji who was heading for the bridge. Kensuke was a little over excited that he got the whole battle on tape and followed Misato. Toji just looked while walking passed Asuka and followed Misato as well.
Kaji left much to Asuka's dislike on a UN plane and went to NERV. Entering back in the bridge, the group waited till the battleship docked at the bay called Shin Yokosuka formerly named Odadwara. The battle causalities were a few ships and planes that sank.
At the bay, docking procedures took place. The ramp from the carrier to the port was made. Misato went ahead of the group with Toji and Kensuke in tow. Both Shinji and Asuka were handed back their clothes and things that was retrieved from the other ship. While the two male students stayed at the dock to watch the unloading procedure, the Captain spotted Ritsuko sitting in a jeep with a driver nearby. She headed toward her friend.
Getting in the backseat with the doctor, Misato sat down with a heavy sigh. She rested her head back while Ritsuko looked at the ships going by.
"You did it again," she stated.
"Did what?" Misato asked tired from the whole thing.
Ritsuko turned toward her, "Another successful elimination of an Angel before chaos could happen."
"Oh, thanks…I guess,"
"You don't think so?" Ritsuko said looking at her clipboard of documents and data. Misato then told the whole ordeal of what happened.
Toji and Kensuke, with his video cam, were outside watching the Eva being lowered to delivery vehicles. Toji turned toward his left seeing Asuka walking down the ramp to the dock. She was back in her yellow sundress. He just sneered a little as she passed by and headed toward the other two women. He turned back to the lowering of the Eva.
The Third Child got to the ramp and started descending. He could move his arms a little bit, but still felt mostly numb. He got his headphones back on and saw the two male students. Both turned to see him at the dock end of the ramp. Asking if they were ready to go, both nodded. The three made their way toward the jeep.
"Interesting. How did the ship's Captain take the usage of his fighter planes as bombs," Ritsuko asked.
"He grumbled like an old man," Misato said looking at her then flopped her head back down.
Ritsuko turned her head and saw Asuka get into the front seat. The red head spotted something and looked to her right frowning. Ritsuko raised a brow and looked to see the remaining students walking towards her. Shinji stopped and bowed.
"Good afternoon Dr. Akagi," he said.
"Afternoon Ikari. I hear that you came up with a plan to defeat the Angel on the fly."
"Yes."
"I also heard that you and Asuka lifted the Angel while getting to its core."
"Yes."
"How did you two manage that?" Ritsuko asked interested.
"I concentrated on being Miss Souryu's right arm supporter while she executed the plan to defeat the Angel."
"Looks like it worked until the Eva's arm gave out."
"Indeed," Shinji said opening and closing his hands slowly.
"…?" Ritsuko said noticing him repeating that motion again and again.
"Is there anything else you wish to know?"
"Oh!" Misato exclaimed out loud that startled everyone. She lifted her head smiling and turned to them. "Hey Kensuke, show us the footage from the galley!"
"Wha-s-sure!" the blond male student said smiling and got his video recorder out.
"…?" Ritsuko said blinking.
"You'll absolutely die seeing this!"
After showing the footage, Misato started laughing again. To her surprise, Ritsuko started snickering and started laughing out loud. Both looked at Shinji who looked back at them impassively. It made both start laughing again.
"Ya know Shin-man, it takes a lot of talent to pull off a woman's voice," Toji said elbowing his side. "Ain't that right Aida?"
"Mmm-hmm. You'd be surprised at how many people will listen to that."
"…" Shinji said feeling his right eye twitch and got in the open trunk space. The two male students snickered and climbed in the back of the jeep. Asuka saw the video and had to turn to her right. The look on Kaji's face and the out of character voice of the Third Child made her giggle. The jeep started up and began driving away.
In the office of Commander Gendo, Kaji delivered the "package" to him. It was a large suitcase with a radioactive symbol on the center. Kaji questioned if the contents in the box was the key component to the Humanity Project. Gendo opened the large case and saw an embryo life form inside.
"Yes. This is the first human…" Gendo began to say smirking back at his special investigator.
"Adam," an accented voice chimed in.
Gendo's smirk turned into a frown but didn't look to his left. He kept his expression when Kaji looked to his right in surprise. It was the same teen he met at 'Over the Rainbow'. His attire changed and was like a Section-Two agent with regular glasses on. He couldn't see his eyes for light was reflecting off of them. Strangely, the teen was taller than before.
"You see him," Gendo asked coldly which Kaji nodded.
"Dispose of him," he said which made the other male raise his eyebrows in surprise.
Kaji changed his expression to impassive and pulled out his pistol. Placing it point blank at the boy's left temple, the Third Child smiled evilly at the life form. Moments went by with a haunting silence. Kaji tried to figure business first or morals. He knew that the Commander was still staring at him so he pulled the trigger.
A single shot fired from the gun causing the blast to reverberate in the large office. The young man's body went limp flopping on the desk and sliding to the floor like a doll. Kaji holstered his pistol and kept the neutral face. He hated himself and the man on the other side of the desk. The two adults stared at each other as the haunting silence was still there almost teasing them that nothing was there. Kaji wondered why he hadn't seen Gendo give his usual smirk.
The special investigator then heard a loud click and felt a large ice-cold barrel on his left temple. Turning to the left with shock and fear, the older Shinji was standing on the opposite side. He had a sadistic grin. The weapon he was wielding was a blocky looking machine gun, but the barrel seemed a little big for machine gun ammunition.
"My, my, are pawns always this cruel to other pawns? An interesting character you are Mr. Ryoji," the accented clone said adjusting his glasses. Kaji felt a cold shiver seeing the boy's zany silver eyes.
"What are you doing here Third Child?" Gendo deadpanned.
"I came to see the daddy of all daddies. He looks good enough to eat…don't you think so Commander?" the older version said with dark amusement. Gendo didn't move and stared at his son. Kaji believed that the Third Child was completely insane. Taking a bullet in the head and still be alive pointing a gun was beyond him.
"Hmm, you're close Mr. Ryoji. You need to dig a little deeper to find out the details," the look alike said keeping his grin. Despite facing Gendo, his eyes slowly moved toward Kaji. It was the same eye movement that the version with dark magenta eyes did.
The spy started to sweat for feeling his life was practically thin. Gendo was annoyed and a little more curious about the Third Child. From the time the boy came, most of the staff feared him. Now, some staff members were getting close to him. The First Child hasn't shown any signs of interest that he has seen or heard from her. The head scientist and Director of Operations seemed somewhat close to him as well.
'SEELE will complain about this…I will let the relations gain more ground before putting my plan into action. This will put things back to the scenario as written,' he thought sitting down and doing his famous pose.
"You are dismissed inspector," he said coldly. Kaji looked back at Gendo then to where the boy was. His eyes widen as the boy wasn't there.
"May I leave a gift for Adam Commander?" the accented teen voice came to Gendo's left.
He just glared at the older version's small smile that was filled with malice and innocence. A short silence went by as Kaji was going to turn away when he saw the Commander looking to his left. There wasn't anyone there but thought who it was.
"What would that be pilot?"
Gendo saw his son keep his small smile then lifted the odd weapon pointing at the small life form of Adam. His eyes widen when the weapon exploded as a shotgun in a three shot-burst mode. The contents in the case and the case were blown to pieces splattering both to the floor. The desk was broken crudely in half with blood and organs splashing on it and the floor.
Gendo saw the blood drip slowly out of the case adding to the dark floor color. He looked with horrid eyes at the dead embryo laying disfigured and paling quickly. The key to his long pain-staking project shattered before his eyes. The Commander went for his pistol and shot the boy multiple times hearing its sadistic giggles.
"Commander!" Kaji shouted as Gendo kept pulling the trigger with depleted ammo and an enraged face. He then blinked and looked around him. The Angel embryo was untouched and the inspector was still there with him. He recomposed himself and holster his pistol. Closing the case, he sat down.
"You are dismissed Inspector," he said angry still.
Kaji bowed a little and walked out of his office. The first thing he did was go to the infirmary for a brain scan. After Gendo composed himself and thought of his plan again. Taking the case, he left to a hidden room in his large office.
The next day, school came. Everything was normal as it usual seemed to be. Toji, Kensuke, and Shinji were in a small group talking. Rei was sitting at her seat looking out the window but kept an ear opened to the three's conversation a little.
"Well, at least we don't have to see that fire demon again," Toji said resting his head on a desk. Kensuke nodded in agreement still remembering the sting of the slap. The bell rang and the students went to their seats. The teacher came in and cleared his throat.
"Class, we have a new transfer student to our class. So make her feel welcome as you did with Ikari."
The classroom voiced their agreement and he motioned the new student to come. Most of the students looked at the female student with mixed ideas as she wrote her name on the board then turned around smiling brightly.
"Hello, my name is Asuka Langely Souryu," the girl announced.
Males thought what a babe she was while females thought something about her made them draw to her. They had a feeling that she was going to be one of the popular students in school. Rei kept staring through the window not really interested. She knew who it was and didn't feel the need to turn to look. Shinji looked at the familiar person then back at his laptop. The insane voice smirked at her and the others agreed that psycho girl and insane boy mixed well.
Toji and Kensuke were the only two people not so pleased to see her. Both let their heads thud on the desk and muttered damn. Asuka looked forward chuckling evilly inside at the two boys slamming their heads on their desk. The teacher informed who the class rep was and that she will help her become familiar to the school.
Nodding, she went to an empty seat that was a few seats behind and one row over to Shinji's right. Passing him, Asuka glanced at him in which he didn't express anything. Blinking, he looked at her and nodded a little.
'You better notice me Third,' she thought passing him. Still had her bright smile as she headed toward her seat.