Chapter 7.1: March of Angels (Forward Charge) It started with the twin Angels, named Israfel. They demanded a level of unity that was unprecedented until this point. It was hoped that an, by all accounts, radical plan would be the solution. It was, but to get from problem to solution was a journey in and of itself.
Life would continue on from there. Most times, it would be good. Or at least interesting, even when the Angels were attacking. But many of them had hidden depths even I didn't expect. It weighed heavy after a while. It would on anyone, really.
NERV Headquarters, July 2015
Captain Daniel Theisman settled down at the center of a long table in the Geofront cafeteria. He sat beside Asuka, and across from both Misato and Ritsuko Akagi, the head scientist here at the Geofront. Beside Ritsuko was Maya Ibuki, her research assistant.
"So, you obviously called us here for a reason," Ritsuko said with an arched eyebrow, "You have yet to reveal it to us, though." Misato nodded. "Yeah, Daniel. You can be terribly cryptic when you want to be. What gives?"
Asuka spoke before Daniel could respond. "Well, Misato," she began, an unmistakable air of pride in her voice, "I, with Daniel's assistance, have come up with some new ideas for weapons for the Evangelion."
Ritsuko and Maya's eyebrows raised, while Misato snorted behind her hand as she grinned. "And have these been made to distract you from class?" Asuka, who had just started attending the same class as an embarrassed Shinji and an enigmatic Rei, sniffed. "No, Misato. In fact, we came up with these after careful study of the first 2 Angel's physical capabilities on the way here to Tokyo-3."
Misato lowered her hand, her grin slowly disappearing as Ritsuko and Maya nodded. "Utilizing the Angels for inspiration in ways to combat them is something we really should have considered earlier," Ritsuko said. "Yeah," Maya replied, "especially if it's the first two Angels."
Misato waved her hand in mock frustration. "Okay, okay. What would these designs be?" In response, Asuka took out two rolls of papers, handing one to Daniel as they both laid them out.
"The first one we want to talk about is based on the arm weapon of Sachiel," Daniel said as he laid out the papers, "and I'll preface the rest of what we're going to say with the fact that we designed these based off of the same technology that powers the Progressive Knives and makes them effective against AT Fields."
"Anyways," Daniel continued, "this first weapon is tentatively called the 'Progressive Spike'. It would be arm mounted, and essentially be a box and motor containing a collapsible superheated spike that would be utilized in much the same fashion as Sachiel used it. It would mainly be a holdout weapon in case close-quarters combat was inevitable, but it has the potential to pack a powerful enough punch to shatter an Angel's core."
Ritsuko nodded appreciatively as Maya's eyes grew wide, and even Misato's eyebrow arched.
"This one is my personal favorite," Asuka said, signaling the end of Daniel's presentation, "and I like to call it the Progressive Lash. Based on Shamshel's whip appendages, it is also arm-mounted and contains a length of what is essentially a superheated spiked chain that the user manipulates using their AT Field, and a prodigious amount of piloting skill of course."
Daniel nodded. "That would be the Lash's only downfall: the relatively high degree of training required to make it effective. Otherwise, in the right hands, it would be deadly in physically binding any Angel's we're attacking."
The presenters had the attention of everyone at the table now. Ritsuko and Maya both had a thoughtful look, and Misato seemed genuinely impressed now.
"I gotta say, Sempai, it is refreshing to have a new perspective present something for us to figure out," Maya said as she looked at Ritsuko. Ritsuko nodded, her hand cupping her chin in a thoughtful expression. "Yes, there is potential in these designs. We can try our hand at refining these as a side project." She looked at the two hopeful engineers. "Could we get notes on the general scope of the projects? We'll do our best to sort out the details and get back to you."
Daniel and Asuka nodded. "Consider it done," Daniel said.
As they continued to converse on a number of other things, a pair of familiar-looking arms encircled Ritsuko's neck, to the embarrassment of Maya, the indignation of Misato, and the raised eyebrows of Daniel and Asuka. "You've lost weight, haven't you, Ritsuko?" the arm's owners finally said, causing poor Maya to splutter in embarrassment.
"Yes, a little, Kaji. It's been a while. I hope you aren't trying to seduce me in front of poor old Misato." Ritsuko replied.
An incandescent Misato growled. "And what are you still doing around here? You were Asuka's guardian, and you were supposed to oversee the exchange of Unit-02, and you fulfilled your role admirably, I'm sure. So why don't you go home already?" Kaji straightened as he looked languidly at Misato. "New marching orders. I'm here to stay for the foreseeable future. It'll be just like old times. You and I get into trouble, Ritsuko rolls her eyes at us…"
Misato's right eye twitched. "You'll be in trouble, alright. Just not in any enjoyable kind."
Daniel and Asuka looked at each other as Ritsuko did indeed roll her eyes. Their little scheme was going to be a little harder than they thought.
Before either could go any further, a klaxon began to sound, and warning lights in the ceiling flashed red. Whatever else was going on, they needed to drop it, now. And drop it they did, as Misato, Ritsuko, Maya, and Daniel raced towards the command center, with a leisurely strolling Kaji in tow, and Asuka made her way to the Eva cages.
- - -
Their fears were confirmed as they all reached their respective places. It was indeed an Angel, and it was going to make landfall off of Tokyo-3 in only a few hours. Both Asuka and Shinji were sortied in their Units, which were loaded onto the massive uni-wing transport planes utilized for quick, short-range deployment. As they sped towards their destination, Misato unhooked the comm unit from the truck she, Daniel, and Eleanor were currently in that was driving to the coast along with the Evas.
"Alright, here's the deal. Military support here in the region is negligible. We can't afford to lead it on a wild goose chase. Therefore, we're going with the first strike option. You'll be heading out into the ocean to stop this thing from making landfall. You won't have any weapons stations around, so we'll be counting on you to be quick and ready for close quarters combat with the weapons that will be waiting for you. Good luck, you two."
"Roger," the two pilots said in unison, while inwardly, Asuka sighed. "I haven't even finished the first third of the rookie's training, and he's going in right beside me? I'd be better off handling this alone," she said in frustration as she rolled her eyes.
A popup screen of Shinji's face appeared in Asuka's view. "Well, it's Misato's plan, after all. Not much we can do about it but try to make it work." Asuka closed her eyes and sighed heavily before she opened them again, annoyance painted on her face. "Well, rookie, you may be grasping the theoretical portions well enough, but you still haven't put it into practice yet. So, you can do that safely by letting me be the one doing the heavy lifting here, okay?"
Shinji rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yes, Lehrerin." As her display of him blinked out, Asuka rolled her own eyes. "At least he's finally started to get that correct."
It wasn't long before another display popped up in her view, showing Daniel's bemused face. "Cut him some slack, Asuka. Like you implied, he is actually doing quite well with what you've presented to him thus far." Asuka grumbled as Daniel finished speaking. "You're not wrong. But don't tell him I said that! He'll probably let it go to both of his heads if he does."
Daniel nodded absentmindedly as he connected to Shinji as well. "Alright, pilots, we're approaching the combat zone. Prepare to drop."
The plane's shoulder pylon restraints released, and the Eva's fell gracefully down to the coast. As they landed several cranes approached with waiting umbilical cables. Asuka scoffed as she attached her cable. "A two-on-one fight. As much as I enjoy any fight, I'm not one for unfair ones."
Daniel once again appeared in her vision. "I wouldn't be so cavalier, Asuka. If there's anything we've learned, it's that the Angels are very good at making fights unfair in their favor and doing so in ways we can't always expect. Be careful."
Misato appeared on split-screen alongside Daniel. "He's right. And remember, this is a fight for survival. We make it as unfair as we can because if we don't, the world ends. We don't have the luxury of picking out a cage ring or an entrance theme." Daniel glanced towards Misato but stayed silent.
As both Evas picked up their respective weapons, Asuka grabbing a massive glaive and Shinji shouldering a Pallet Rifle, a massive pillar of water erupted out in the depths, signaling the Angel's arrival.
As it emerged, all parties, from the pilots to the NERV staff beside them, took stock of the creature. It had a humanoid form, not unlike Sachiel, but bulkier and more hunched like an ape. A mask seemingly split in two sat at the center of its steel grey and black body, and two rib-like protrusions framed the gleaming core at the center of its stomach.
Asuka began her charge. "I'm going in. Cover me, rookie!" Shinji rolled his eyes, then began to pepper the Angel with controlled bursts of fire, peppering its body with the sparks of bullet impacts.
Asuka leaped from rooftop to rooftop of the ruined buildings that jutted out from the bay, finally reaching a vantage point from which she leaped into the air, Shinji ceasing his barrage as Asuka reached the apex of her leap.
With a mighty shout, she swung the glaive into the Angel's center, cleanly cutting it in two. The halves fell to each side as the battlefield went quiet. "Well," Asuka panted in the silence of her cockpit, "That was easy." Shinji nodded. "Yeah. I guess that was." Asuka pulled up Shinji's face on her comms, a sure smile on her face. "You see that? When you get to this level of piloting, you can't help but be quick and clean with the kills."
Daniel appeared on both their displays, a serious frown on his face. "I'd almost say that was too easy. Stay ready. We don't know what else it might do."
Daniel's words proved their veracity as the mask of the Angel split down its seam, disappearing as a new mask, colored a bright red, slid into place. On the other half, a similar mask, colored bright blue, revealed itself as well. The flesh began to slide off of the halves, revealing two Angels where once was one, one orange and another a pewter color.
Misato crushed her headset in anger. "Two of them? Now that's actually cheating!" Daniel and Eleanor looked at each other. Sad as it was going to be, they knew how this would end.
- - -
To Daniel and Eleanor's surprise, however, Asuka and Shinji lasted quite a while longer than they remembered. They sat with the pilots in a dim room, along with Kaji, Professor Fuyutsuki, and some of the main bridge staff, and watched the report on their battle.
"At 10:58 A.M., Unit-01 was attacked by Target Alpha, which split from the body after a strike split it in two. At 11:03, Unit-01 was flung into Suruga Bay, where it sank into the bay. During this time, Unit-02 was attacked by Target Beta. At 11:09, Unit-02 was rendered similarly inoperative. Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, head of Project E, had this to say."
Ritsuko's voice, filled with resigned annoyance, began to speak. "It is clear that we did not expect this sort of tactic from our opponent. We will be taking the time to consider our options for the next time we go into combat with this Angel."
Asuka rolled her eyes as she stood. "Well, how could we have expected that it would be some sort of Matryoshka doll, unlike Sachiel? Some of us simply don't know how to deal with such unexpected combat situations yet."
She said this as she stared at Shinji, who shrank down in his seat as he gulped and blushed before he seemed to gain his courage again and stood facing Asuka. "Well, if you hadn't charged in, maybe it would have split before you pulled your ridiculous stunt, and we could have had a moment to come up with a plan!"
Before Asuka could continue, Daniel cut her off with a meaningful look. "It's clear at this point that we can count the similarities between the Angel's quicker than we can count the differences. Going into this with preconceptions is what got us into this situation. We have to be flexible, and most importantly, this has shown us that the both of you have to get better at working together."
Shinji and Asuka remained silent, unable to answer as the broadcast continued in the background, grabbing everyone's attention again as it stated that the UN had decided to hit the Angel, which now had the codename "Israfel", with an N2 bomb. "Does that mean it's dead?" Asuka asked, not a little hope in her voice. "No," Fuyutsuki said in an exasperated tone, "we just get to program in a new part of the map now. The Angel is only dormant for now, gathering its energy."
"However," Eleanor spoke up, "this does mean we have at least a few days to come up with a plan and train to execute it. It's up to us to make the best of it while we can."
"Well said, Mrs. Theisman," Fuyutsuki said as he stood up. "Pilots," he said, looking at them with a stern look perfected over years of teaching, "We expect you at your best in the coming days. It is your duty to this agency, to the world, to destroy the Angels as efficiently and effectively as possible. Please don't disappoint us." He turned and left the room. The pilots had no response.
- - -
As the Pilots contemplated their need to work together, Misato contemplated the truly massive amount of physical paperwork that had now come to rest on her desk. And this didn't even begin to touch any of the digital work she needed to do. It seemed to originate from every corner of Japan, and even the UN, as Ritsuko so helpfully pointed out while standing beside her, had chipped in complaints and costs for the damages. It was an absolute mess.
"If I knew this was coming, we would have just led it into Tokyo-3, remains of Ramiel or not. They seem to prefer us trashing it over anywhere else."
"Very perceptive, Misato." Ritsuko nodded as Misato went around and sat at her desk behind the mountain of complaints and bills.
Misato tented her hands, a strange mirror image of the commander, as she pondered on how to proceed. "I'll come up with a way to defeat that Angel. I'm sure of it."
Ritsuko leaned on the pile of papers, a slight smile on her face. "Well, Fuyutsuki is furious. Whatever you come up with better work, or you might not be Captain Katsuragi in the future." Misato nodded. "Well, it's better than the alternative. The commander himself could be here. If that were to be the case, I wouldn't even be here anymore." Ritsuko chuckled. "He wouldn't even have to see this pile to have you thrown out."
"That would be true. So," Misato said with a knowing grin, "being the eminent scientist you are, you have something for me that will help me to save the day, right?" Ritsuko chuckled, producing a flash drive from one of her pockets as she leaned on the pile of papers. Misato's grin turned into a smirk as she stood to lean across from Ritsuko. "Well, I didn't figure you for being old-fashioned. But help from a good friend is help from a good friend, isn't it, Ritsuko?"
"That it is," Ritsuko said, moving the flash drive away before Misato could grab it, "but it's not my idea. Ryoji made up this one. Said he got some input from Daniel, too." Misato finally grabbed the flash drive and looked at it properly. On it was a label that read 'to my darling' and a heart. Despite her best efforts, Misato couldn't help but smile softly. Despite all she had said to him, there were still good memories left for her. Even if he did remind her of… no. Not right now. Right now, she had to save the world. With Ryoji's help, it seemed.
- - -
Shinji, after a day of school that went well enough, even with the haze of defeat from the trouncing the Angel gave them, finally arrived home, kicking off his shoes. The first thing that he noticed was the prodigious number of boxes that lined the halls. Had Misato really done that much shopping? Or… as he arrived to open the door of his bedroom, his suspicions were confirmed, as he found Asuka, in a pair of exercise shorts and a tank top, sifting through a box of her things.
She looked up as the door opened, and straightened up. "Well, rookie. It seems to fall on me to break the news to you. You seem to have been evicted."
Shinji looked around in shock to find his things unceremoniously stuffed into a box that he had missed down the hall. As he sputtered, Asuka continued. "Yeah, I'm going to be Misato's new roommate! Though I don't know how all my things are going to fit in here. And I must ask," she said as she shut and reopened the sliding door in Shinji's face, "how do you people here in Japan get any privacy?"
As she opened the door once again, she found Misato, standing behind Shinji with an old-school CD player. "Well, Asuka," Misato said as Shinji jumped in surprise, "in Japan, people place a particular emphasis on respecting privacy." Asuka bobbed her head as she seemed to swirl the idea around in her mind. "Okay, makes sense, I guess. Still doesn't do anything for the rookie, here, though."
"Oh, you didn't know?" Misato paused dramatically, as both Shinji and Asuka leered at her. "You're both living with me! It's all part of the plan to defeat the Angel."
She led them, steered them really, towards the table as they both processed the shock of actually having to live together. As they finally seemed to begin comprehending their situation, Misato started to explain. "Essentially, what it boils down to is the fact that we need to defeat these twin Angels simultaneously. And you two, while decent pilots, still need to essentially be in perfect synch."
"So," she said as she dug out a CD, and placed it in the CD player for emphasis, "you'll attack it synched up to the song that I've chosen." She pressed play, and an airy, jaunty classical tune began to play.
Shinji sat in silence as he listened to the song, appreciating it. Asuka did no such thing as she stood and leaned on the table towards Misato. "This plan is utterly ridiculous!" She exclaimed. "The rookie and I are barely at level with each other, and you want to get us to try being in perfect unison as we attack this thing? How did you come up with this plan?"
Misato had a small smile on her face as she replied. "Well, I didn't make the plan, for starters. Kaji did. Apparently, he had some pointers from Daniel, as well." Asuka sat down again as a neutral expression came to her face, then gave way to a thoughtful one. "Well, if Daniel and Kaji are confident enough in our skills to think that this plan would work… then we have no choice but to try." She turned to Shinji; her brow furrowed. "So, don't drag either of us down, alright, rookie?"
Shinji could do nothing but nod. This was going to be a long week, wasn't it?
Misato rubbed her hands together as she heard this, grinning evilly. "Now that you've agreed to carry out the plan, let's get into the details…"
- - -
The first three days passed, and so intensive was the training, both Pilots had to skip school. Naturally, this caused many to wonder at their absence. For Kensuke and Toji, this wonder found them ascending the elevator of the apartment building they knew Shinji lived in. As the doors opened on their floor, they emerged to find themselves face to face with their class representative, Hikari Horaki. She was a decently tall girl, with freckles on her cheeks under brown eyes and brunette hair that she wore in pigtails.
"Well, if it isn't a part of the Fools Court?" she said to two of its members. "Hello, representative." Toji mulishly replied.
"What are you doing here, class rep?" Kensuke asked as all of them began walking towards Misato's apartment. "I'm here to check on Asuka. And what about you two?" she replied. "We're here to check on Shinji."
They reached the door, all of them pressing the doorbell. "Coming." two voices said in unison. All at the door raised their eyebrows. Was that…
The door slid open, revealing, to the shock of those visiting, Shinji and Asuka, wearing matching unitards and cutoff shirts, Shinji's a deep purple and Asuka's a deep red. Both sighed in unison and then began to speak in exasperated unison.
"Look, Misato said that part of unity was having a uniform, okay? It's just part of our training for a mission. We wouldn't be wearing this if Misato didn't make us."
This simultaneous statement found its way to a class representative who was now simply staring wide-eyed, and two classmates who had recoiled like devils from a holy symbol. "You… you traitor! Going behind our backs and doing weird crap like this?" Toji said in a strangled whisper. "Yeah, and wearing matching outfits like some couple's skaters, or something. It's really weird!" Kensuke said in an equally strangled cry.
Hikari, whose eye had been slightly twitching the whole time, finally spoke up as the next door slid open quietly, escaping everyone's notice. "You both are being terribly indecent right now!" Shinji and Asuka both shouted "It's not like that!" as a chuckle sounded from next door.
Looking over, all saw Daniel leaning against the doorway of his apartment, a bemused look in his eyes, and a hearty chuckle hidden behind a small smile. Beside him were Misato and Rei, having seemingly arrived as Daniel had opened the door. "You two," Daniel said, "are such a joy to watch sometimes, you know that?"
Shinji and Asuka both sighed as they saw everyone else. "Hello," they said in exasperated neutrality. Toji turned to Misato. "So, can you explain what exactly is going on here?" Misato then proceeded to invite everyone in and tell all.
Once everyone was introduced, and more than a few rounds of laughter were had at simply how ridiculous the whole plan sounded, Hikari looked over to the massive set up that now dominated the living room, consisting of two pads with what appeared to be scoreboards behind them, all hooked up to a computer system. "So, is it working at least?"
Misato sighed to the discordant tones coming from the setup, and its current occupants. "Well, you can see for yourselves." A series of small groans passed along the table as the discordant tones continued, followed by a harsh buzzer as Asuka threw her headset in frustration.
"I don't have to put up with this!" she exclaimed. "Shinji is barely ready to synchronize with me, and I will not stoop to his level to accommodate! This is perhaps the closest thing to impossible I've ever seen!"
Misato nodded sagely. "Impossible, you say?" She turned to look at Rei, who had been silent for perhaps the whole time she was there. "Rei, you've been working with Shinji for a while. Care to give it a go?" Rei simply nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
She stood, and took her place beside Shinji, putting on the discarded headset, as Asuka went and sat next to Daniel with a look of annoyance that slowly turned to shock as the tones, once almost hilariously out of synch, slowly, but surely, began to match up.
Daniel looked at Asuka with sympathy in his eyes. "I wouldn't worry too much, Asuka. Rei and Shinji have been working together for a lot longer than you have. It's just been a matter of time. Think of it this way," he said as he shifted his body to face Asuka as she managed to tear away her gaze from the two other pilots, "it's not simply a matter of you completely stooping down to his level, or him rising all the way up to yours. It's a matter of finding a middle ground."
Asuka mulishly nodded when Misato spoke up over the clear, concordant tones of the machine. "Well, with Rei's progress so far, it might be better if she replaced your spot on this mission. It just seems like they work better together."
Asuka whipped around to look at Misato, then to Shinji and Rei "I... I..." Daniel knew what was coming, he noted with sadness. And come it did, as anger replaced the conflict once in her eyes. "I've had it! I'm out of here!" She marched out, slamming the sliding door behind her, and the tones stopped as Shinji looked up at the door. "Asuka!" Hikari shouted after her.
Daniel gave Misato a pained look, as embarrassment slowly filled Misato's face. Hikari stood as Shinji took off his headphones. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she nearly shouted at the startled Shinji. "Go after her! She's your partner, isn't she?"
Shinji looked around at the rest of the group, and as his gaze landed on Daniel, a silent "go" followed a meaningful nod towards the door as Daniel looked at Shinji. After a moment, he followed her out the door.
Daniel nodded silently. He hoped that Shinji did find her. Or else, this was going to become even more complicated than it was already.
- - -
Thankfully, Shinji returned with an Asuka filled with determination, and the training continued in earnest. Though the dance pads were a big part of their training, they did almost everything together. Eat, prepare for the day, watch television, even sleep in the living room instead of their own beds. The only thing that they didn't do was use the bathroom together.
As Asuka took an evening shower that Shinji thought was much too long for what she seemed to need to do, he found himself sitting next to Daniel at the kitchen table, who was now in charge of keeping an eye on them as Misato spent the night before the attack at work to prepare.
"You've both gotten a lot better," Daniel began. "It doesn't take a lot to notice the difference. You're ready for tomorrow." Shinji nodded. "Yeah," he said with a sigh of resignation, "then it's back to boot camp with Lehrerin Soryu."
Daniel looked up from the paperwork he was doing as Shinji said this. "Would you like to know why she's driven you through all that training?" Shinji rolled his eyes. "Because she thinks I'm a terrible pilot who shouldn't be dragging her down?"
Daniel put down his pen as he scooted the chair to face Shinji. "Well, she might say that, yes. But really, she believes that you have the potential to be a great pilot, and she wants you to feel confident doing what you do. She's sharing what she loves. And she doesn't want you to be afraid." Shinji looked almost disbelievingly at Daniel. "How does she believe that? And why would I want to be good at something that I hate? I've never liked piloting the Eva."
Daniel sighed. "Because it's her only frame of reference." Shinji's brow raised at this. "What do you mean?"
Daniel paused for a moment before continuing. "You two are far more alike than you think. And" he looked around, "what I'm about to say next can stay between you, me, and the rest of the appliances here. You have both grown up without your parents. What makes you two different is that instead of just being with a guardian, she was with a guardian and in the Eva program. Her entire life has been centered around the Evangelion. It is all she has ever known."
Daniel paused again, listening for the shower. Satisfied it was still running, he continued. "And until I came along, she was alone. She had no friends, no family to speak of. She was just living with Misato. She was just by herself."
Shinji's eyes were wide. "I… understand." A small, sad smile pushed up a corner of Daniel's mouth. "You do. More than you realize. And remember when I said that she didn't want you to be afraid?" Shinji nodded.
"She doesn't simply want you to not be afraid of piloting the Eva. She wants you to not be afraid of who she is when she's in front of everybody." Shinji looked confused as the shower went silent. "And why would she want that?"
"So that she knows you won't be afraid of who she is when she isn't." Shinji blinked silently, and Daniel continued in that silence. "She wants comfort. And I can't really give that to her."
"So when the time comes," Daniel said as the sliding door to the washroom opened to reveal Asuka, dressed in her nightclothes and with a towel over her head, "be ready."
Asuka, having not heard the conversation before that point, nodded confidently. "Exactly, rookie! I'd hate to have wasted all the training that we've gone through to flub it tomorrow. So be ready!"
Shinji sat silently as Asuka turned to Daniel. "So, what are you still doing here? Where's Misato?" Daniel turned to Asuka and gave a wry smile. "She's at the Geofront, staying the night to prepare for the operation tomorrow."
Asuka nodded. "So, will you be staying the night then?" Daniel chuckled as he shook his head. "No. I doubt Eleanor would appreciate that. I'm confident that you two can handle a night with just each other."
"Speaking of," Daniel said as he stood and glanced at his watch, "I really should be going. You two have a good night. And in case I don't see you tomorrow, good luck."
With that, he left the apartment and left Shinji and Asuka to prepare for bed. As they did, Asuka picked up her bedroll from its usual spot by Shinji and plopped it down in Misato's now empty room, sliding the door shut with her foot. Shinji looked on in confusion as Asuka once again opened the door, this time on her hands and knees and with a scowl on her face.
"Alright, rookie. This door is now the Wall of Jericho! Any attempt to cross it will result in a swift and painful death. Now, get your sleep so that you don't screw up everything for us tomorrow."
The door slid shut once again, and Shinji shook his head in confusion. She didn't seem to be in any need of comfort right now. He turned off the lights and got an old SDAT player Misato had loaned him from the table, plugging his headphones into it. Shinji asked where Misato had gotten the song, and all she could give him to listen to privately was the player and an old tape labeled 'Classical Compositions of Sagisu, Vol.2'. He slipped a headphone in one ear and began to listen.
As the night grew long and Shinji continued to listen, the door to Misato's room slid open, and Shinji paused the player, closing his eyes and feigning sleep. Asuka probably needed to go to the bathroom or whatever.
After a little while, and the sound of a toilet flushing confirmed his suspicions, he continued to pretend to sleep while he waited for her to go back to Misato's room. He listened as she walked through the living room. Then he heard a thump as something flopped down beside him. As he opened his eyes, they widened as he saw Asuka, inches away from him. As he jumped slightly, he pressed the reverse button on the SDAT player, the tape making a whirring noise in his ear as it did.
He blushed as he realized just how close she was, and at how peaceful she looked. Then, he saw her shift as mumbled in her sleep, and he couldn't believe himself as he saw tears in her eyes. Then he heard her clearly. "Momma…"
Shinji froze. What should he do? What could he do? His mind whirled as quickly as the tape in the player did as tears began to fall down Asuka's face and she cried out quietly again. "Momma…"
Then, as the tape reached the top, and silence entered Shinji's perception, he remembered what Daniel had said earlier that night. 'She needs comfort. And I can't really give that to her.' 'When the time comes, be ready.'
So Shinji took out his headphone, carefully setting aside the SDAT player as his mind shouted at him how stupid what he was about to do was and how this couldn't be the time and a million other things that it hammered into his skull, and he gently laid a hand on Asuka's shoulder.
With a small gasp, Asuka opened red, puffy eyes, which widened slightly in surprise. "Shinji?" she said, quietly and uncertainly.
"It's okay," Shinji said, equally quietly. "I understand."
Asuka's eyes widened even more. "How?" she whispered.
"Because I lost my mother too," Shinji said after a moment. "And I know what it's like to be alone."
Asuka's gaze softened as she heard this. Silence reigned for a heartbeat. Then another. "You're…" Asuka paused for another heartbeat. "Just like me."
"Yes."
A tiny, fragile smile came to Asuka's face. "Is it okay," she said, slowly and uncertainly, "if I just stay here tonight?"
Shinji let the silence settle for a moment before he answered. "Sure."
Asuka closed her eyes again, wiping away the tears. "Thank you."
They both then settled to sleep. Unknown to either of them, a small Expression slowly faded from existence, and Daniel smiled slightly as he himself went to sleep, Eleanor held in his arms.
- - -
Deep in the Geofront, however, sleep was far from Misato's mind at the moment. She was wrapped up in work. She was also wrapped up in Ryoji Kaji, who had joined her in the elevator. Before she could protest, he kissed her deeply. After a moment of shock, she let it happen, keeping an eye on the ticking indicator of the elevator's floor. As it dinged, she extracted herself, walking out into the hallway. She blinked as she realized that the papers that she had been carrying had been left scattered on the elevator floor.
As she turned around, she saw that Kaji had gathered them up, offering them to her as he leaned on the elevator door. She snatched them out of his hands, an angry look on her face. "Kaji, I told you, this isn't like college. You're not going to just come in and sweep me off of my feet this time!"
Kaji continued to lean on the door with a wry smile. "You say that. But it's what you don't say that gets me. If both of us didn't want this, I would never go this far."
"But I do. And I think deep down, you do too. So, should I trust the lips I kiss or the words that pass between them?"
With that, he stepped back and allowed the elevator doors to close. Misato stared at the doors, then in a fit of anger, tossed her paperwork at them.
Then Misato blinked and recalled another memory. Daniel and Eleanor holding each other's hands on the Over the Rainbow. Did she not want that? Or did she not want that with Kaji? Or did she?
Frustrated and confused, she picked her papers back up and made her way to the cafe near the top of the Geofront.
As she sat and watched the Geofront at night, a familiar arm passed a cup of coffee to her. "Here you are."
Misato looked up and saw Ritsuko, in a vest and pencil skirt, as she sat down with her own coffee. "Thanks."
Ritsuko looked intently at Misato through the glasses she rarely wore nowadays. "No beer to go with that coffee tonight?"
Misato shrugged. "Well…" she trailed off.
Ritsuko took off her glasses. "So, what is it? Focused on work? Or focused on a guy?"
Misato sighed. "Well, a little bit of both, really." Ritsuko considered for a moment, knowing exactly who Misato would be thinking about. "So," she said with a sly grin, "is there still a spark?"
Misato choked a little on her drink, coughing as she cast an evil eye on Ritsuko. After she stopped coughing, she was quiet for a moment before growling and clutching her head. "I don't know! He's obviously looking to start something again, but we were young and stupid 8 years ago. Times have changed. But he hasn't. Not a bit."
Ritsuko nodded, silent for a moment. "Your reaction says differently. You could try just being honest with yourself. It might help resolve things."
Misato ignored her, and quiet entered the room for a moment. She stretched after a moment. "Well, I've got to get back to work! There's a lot riding on the big day tomorrow."
She got up and made her way to her office, leaving Ritsuko alone to ponder on the vagaries of the human heart.
- - -
The sun rose on a day filled with anticipation. Daniel had rushed the pilots early to the Geofront to get prepared for the operation, and now, they both sat in their Units, waiting for the moment when they would launch.
Up in the command center, Misato, Ritsuko, Kaji, Daniel, and Eleanor waited, staring at the mark laid somewhat past the Goura Absolute Defense Line where, if the Angel passed, the operation would commence.
Indeed, the two Angels had finally begun to move, slowly making their way to where the mark lay. All involved waited with bated breath as the forward observer spoke up. "The target has breached the Goura Defense Line. Repeat, it has breached the Defense Line."
Misato smirked. "Well, here you come. But now we're ready for you." She opened up a line to the waiting pilots. "Alright, pilots, raise your AT Fields the moment the music starts. After that, you know the plan. And I'm confident that you can pull it off. Are you two ready?"
Shinji and Asuka were in perfect synch. "Yes ma'am!"
Misato nodded as the forward observer spoke up again. "Target has passed the mark! Operation Harmony is clear to commence, repeat, is clear to commence!"
Asuka turned to Shinji's display as the countdown to launch commenced. "Alright, rookie! We're going to be going balls-to-the-wall, non-stop as soon as this starts. Keep up with me and we can pull this off without a hitch!" Shinji nodded. "Got it! We'll have this Angel down in the minute it takes the song to finish."
One of the bridge techs, Shigeru Aoba, spoke up. "Target is about to reach the point of no return! ETA 10 seconds!" Misato nodded. "Jettison umbilical cables!"
With a flash, the cables ejected from the backs of the Units, and the timer for the Eva's running time changed to 01:06. Misato once again gave her command. "Launch!"
The Units flew up the rails as the song began, and in a moment, they reached the open air, as their restraints released to allow them to fly into the air.
00:55
As expected, the Units worked in perfect unison, and the city defenses worked in unison with them, with all the grace and speed of professional dancers. Shinji and Asuka flipped and dodged through and around the two Angels attacks as if the Angels had practiced with them.
00:37
Shinji and Asuka strafed around as they sprayed the Angel down with their Pallet Rifles, the barrage driving the Angels back towards the mountain just as planned. The city, too, railed on the Angels with missiles and airstrikes, driving it further back still.
00:28
As one, the Evas approached their punches and kicks a mirror image of each other, driving the Angel into the air. A spinning kick slammed the two Angels into each other, causing them to fuse again. Now was their chance!
00:11
And finally, as one, the Units leaped into the air, arcing high, then diving down to deliver the final blow before the Angel's cores could unify again. All who watched held their breath as the song, and the operation that surrounded it reached its climax.
00:02
With a resounding crack, the Eva's kicks drove the Angel into the mountainside, its cores cracked and glowing with a baleful white light. And as the timer finally reached 00:00, The Angel exploded, as a thunderous, bright dome of light and fire took its place, carving away the mountainside that the Angel marked its tomb on.
All within the command center waited with bated breath for the blast to clear up. As it did so, the forward observer circled his way towards the carved away portion in the side of the mountain. The ground was still white-hot, striations of soil making wave-like patterns in the caldera.
At the center of it, the two Evas stood unscathed, stooped and powerless, but proud. They had done it. The command center went up in cheers, and Daniel turned to Eleanor with a wry grin. "Would you look at that, honey? They even stuck the landing." Eleanor laughed. "That they did."
- - -
In the still Entry Plugs of the Evas, both pilots panted as they finished their dance with death. They had done well. Now, as they waited to be extracted from their Units, Asuka opened a channel to Shinji with a grin. 'You know," she said, "for how much of a rookie you still are, and how much longer you still have to go, you did your part alright."
Shinji nodded, blushing a little. "Well, thanks."
A stern look crossed her face. "However," she nearly shouted as Shinji slightly recoiled, "that doesn't mean that you get to slack off while you're still learning from me! Got it?"
Shinji gulped, and nodded. "Yes, Lehrerin Soryu."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Look, rookie, your German may be decent, but until it's great, just call me Asuka. It'll be simpler in the long run."
Shinji blinked, then blinked again. "Okay… Asuka." A small grin graced Asuka's face. "See? It isn't that hard to do, is it?"
Shinji smiled now. "No. I guess not."
Apotheosis Echo will return in (Front Lines).