Chapter 26 - Death Rides the Skyway, Part 2 of 2
"When was it confirmed?" Misato asked. In a stark contrast to yesterday's more celebratory mood, it was all-business as NERV worked to prepare for the newest Angel's arrival.
"It appeared suddenly, just two minutes ago," Makoto reported.
"We've got video of the target," Shigeru added as he brought it up on the main monitor. The creature was shown to be orbiting high above the Earth, like a living satellite. It was orange in color, with its central body resembling a giant yellow eye with a green iris; on either side were appendages resembling three-fingered hands, with blue circles under each of the 'fingertips' and concentric yellow circles for palms.
"Impressive-looking specimen," Aoi noted.
"Ridiculous, is what it is," Misato stated.
"Makes me think of a rejected parade balloon," Kaede said.
"Closing on target," Satsuki reported. As she said that, two man-made satellites moved around the Angel as they began scanning and analyzing it. Right when the satellites had begun their next orbit around the Angel, the video footage was suddenly cut off.
"AT-Field?" Misato asked Ritsuko.
"If it is, it's the first we've seen it used as an offensive weapon by an Angel," the chief scientist surmised.
Meanwhile, in orbit, the Angel-which the MAGI had codenamed 'Sahaquiel'-began turning itself face-down, looking as if it were gazing at the surface of the planet. The next thing it did was break off a small piece of itself, which proceeded to drop and accelerate like a meteorite, burning up as it fell through the atmosphere until finally making a very large splashdown into the ocean. This action wasn't lost on NERV's personnel as they observed the phenomenon caught on video moments later, all of whom were stunned by how much of an impact that one piece made on a body of water. They shuddered at the thought of what it could do to a landmass.
"More of its offensive AT-Field usage?" Misato posed.
"Not just that," Maya started to speculate. "It's using its AT-Field to increase the amount of kinetic energy in its 'projectiles', like the Angel's a living bomber jet."
"In any case," Ritsuko began, "we're lucky that its first blast was way off and hit the Pacific. Not so much when the second drop struck here." She pointed to the bird's-eye view of a large crater made just off the coastline. "It's clear that the creature's been steadily adjusting for error."
"Which means it's learning," Misato concluded.
Makoto then pulled up footage of Sahaquiel being engulfed in multiple explosions, to no effect. "N2 aerial mines couldn't do a thing against it either," he grimly stated.
"The Angel's movements haven't been known since then," Shigeru added.
"Which means it's probably coming here," Misato theorized.
Ritsuko nodded in grim affirmation of that possibility. "Only difference being, instead of a living bomber jet, it'll probably turn into a living kamikaze fighter."
"Giving us a third Lake Ashinoko?" Misato guessed.
"More like fusing all five lakes into a single large body of water linked to the Pacific," Ritsuko answered, "and taking all of HQ with it."
Misato then turned to the bridge techs. "Any luck contacting the Commander?"
Kaede shook her head. "No luck at all, due to the Angel's AT-Field jamming most long-range communications."
Misato gave a quiet sigh as she returned her attention to Ritsuko and Maya. "MAGI's judgement?"
Maya didn't mince any words. "All three are unanimous-they recommend a full-on evacuation."
"Your thoughts, given that?" Ritsuko posed. "You're in charge right now-it's your call."
Misato gave it some thought before she finally responded. "Lt. Ooi, notify all ministries of the Japanese government-inform them that under special declaration D-17, provided under NERV's authority, all residents within a radius of 50km are to immediately evacuate. Lt. Mogami, have the Matsushiro facility back up the MAGI."
Makoto was a bit surprised at this set of orders. "Are we 'abandoning ship', so to speak?"
"We're not," Misato clarified, "I just don't want anyone else caught in the crossfire."
As soon as the order was issued and the authorities were notified, the evacuation of Tokyo-3 proceeded as smoothly as possible. Residents who weren't as made of sterner stuff left the city in droves, whether by airlift or by car, the freeways jammed as they sought to get out. Caught on many a camera phone were instances where the mysterious newcomer known as the Rocketeer had appeared to lend a hand, as the high-flying hero helped those caught in accidents along the roadways get to safety or medical attention. Even with those hiccups, soon Tokyo-3's streets were practically empty, save for any military forces securing the more vital areas and ensuring no one would get too opportunistic during this crisis.
In the Geofront itself, there was currently a skeleton crew of sorts who remained in order to carry out the task at hand of defeating the Angel. All retractable infrastructure had been brought into the Geofront, the whole fortress-city now really living up to its 'fortress' half. Things were now very quiet in all of Tokyo-3, save for, at this very moment, the women's restroom. It was in here that Ritsuko, upon hearing Misato's plan of attack, made her thoughts on said plan quite clear.
"You're really serious about this?" she asked.
"Deadly serious," Misato answered unflinchingly.
"You're going to throw away all of our EVAs with the most selfish decision I've ever heard?!" Ritsuko argued back.
"Look at it this way," Misato countered. "With three EVAs, the odds of success would have only been 0.00001%, but with five? We've got more of a chance. I, for one, like those odds a lot better."
"Major-!" Ritsuko was about to say.
"You said it yourself, Doctor," Misato firmly interrupted. "It's my call, and it's the one I'm going with. I trust in our chances, I trust in our personnel, and I'm fully confident this can be done. End of discussion."
As she turned to leave, she heard Ritsuko balk at those words. "Are you sure you're not doing this out of a desire for revenge on the Angels?"
Misato turned and faced her friend with a look that exuded a no-nonsense attitude. "Believe it or not, I'm trying not to make it about revenge. The world doesn't need another Captain Ahab."
The briefing room, moments later...
"Let me get this straight..." a disbelieving Asuka started to say, after she and the other pilots had been briefed on Misato's plan. "You want us, in our EVAs, to catch the Angel with our hands?"
Misato nodded. "That's exactly what I want. What we'll do is position all five EVAs in different points of the estimated drop zone. Once you reach the center, you'll catch the Angel before it hits the ground, all while maintaining your AT-Fields at maximum."
"And if the Angel veers off-course?" Shinji posed.
"We're out of luck then," Misato replied.
"Suppose the EVAs can't withstand the impact?" Maria asked.
"Same answer applies," Misato said.
"Odds of success?" Rei asked, for once with a bit of unease in her tone.
"Small, but it's enough to convince me it's worth trying," Misato stated.
"Soooo," Mari started to chime in with a shrug, "any way you slice it, there's a good chance we're all gonna die. Oh, well."
Way to put even more of a damper on things, Asuka thought grimly on Mari's bit of dark humor. "Basically, if we manage to pull this thing off, it'll be an honest-to-god miracle."
"I believe only miracles one can work out themselves are ones to aspire to," Misato said.
"Which means, we have to make it work, somehow," Asuka said in turn.
Misato nodded. "We don't have any other options to choose from at this point."
Asuka still wasn't impressed. "I still say this is too crazy to work as a plan," she said.
"Truth is, you're right," Misato admitted, "it's more of a hunch. If anyone here doesn't want to go through with it, I can't force you. Anyone here want out?" All five pilots didn't respond. "Well then, according to our regulations, you're all technically supposed to write a will. Anyone want to at this time?"
"Thanks, but no thanks," Shinji replied. "Have too many things I want to do in life, and one of them isn't picking out a plot."
"Simple, really, I don't plan on needing one," Asuka said defiantly.
"I have no need of one," Rei added. She'd grown more and more curious about the world at large thanks to her friends, and now wanted to explore more of it. Dying would only serve to hamper that ambition.
Maria shook her head. "Not planning on singing the 'I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag' anytime soon," she said. "Doc Savage beat slimmer odds than this, so why can't I?"
Mari simply smiled. "No way am I missing a chance to flip off Death," she mused.
Misato knew they were all doing their best to be brave, but could tell deep down, they were terrified of what laid ahead. With that in mind, she thought of something to help put their minds at ease. "Thank you. All of you. Tell you what-you guys showed me how much I'm appreciated, I'm going to do the same when this is over. I'm treating you to a nice dinner, at a real fancy spot of your choosing."
The pilots were a bit surprised by this offer. "You mean it?" Asuka asked.
"Sincerely," Misato affirmed.
Asuka hesitated a bit before she spoke. "All right, but don't worm your way out of this-it's a promise! And I've got four other witnesses here to back me up." Said others nodded in agreement.
"You got me there," Misato said, a small smile on her face. "All right, you'd better get ready. We've got a giant eye to put out."
"Yes, Ma'am!" the five pilots said as they turned and made their way towards the locker rooms. Misato then headed to the bridge to oversee the operation, where to her surprise, she found Kaji waiting for her.
"You stayed...?" Misato wondered.
Kaji merely shrugged and flashed a small grin. "Of all the people I'd want to face the end with, you were at the top of the list. You'd seriously think I'd leave you alone when you're putting your life on the line? Besides, I figured you and the kids could use all the moral support you can."
Misato was a bit awestruck by what he was saying. The Kaji she knew in their college days wouldn't have said anything like this, let alone with the level of sincerity present. It was something that definitely appealed to her, though she wouldn't admit it right now. "Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt having you here. Thanks."
Meanwhile, as the pilots walked towards the locker rooms, Asuka and Shinji spoke to one another about the mission.
"Talk about dangling the carrot in front of us," Shinji mused. "But, if it motivates us to get out of this alive..."
"Whatever," Asuka said. "It's better she keep morale high in the face of imminent doom than leave us sulking. Now, if you don't mind...?" She then plucked out a copy of Tokyo Gourmet to see which restaurants qualified as 'fancy spots', in Misato's words.
"Actually, Asuka?" Shinji started to say. "There's something else I wanted ask you about."
Asuka looked up from her magazine at him, skepticism written all over her face. "And that'd be...?"
"If and when we do make it out of this alive and in one piece," Shinji began, "would you-well...would you like to go see a movie with me?"
Hearing this brought Asuka's thoughts about fine dining to a grinding halt. When she first arrived in Japan, and more specifically when she started school, she was immediately beset by an outpouring of love letters and date requests by the majority of the male population of the student body. Asuka never paid them any heed, knowing they were only in it for the novelty or the chance to outdo their peers. In truth, after meeting Shinji back on the Over the Rainbow, somehow the boy had managed to find his way into a corner of her mind that she did her best to ignore, while she responded by trying to push her crush on Kaji further to the forefront. Still, she couldn't help but appreciate how much Shinji took all of her barbs in stride as he befriended her, how kind he had been and how much of a friendly competitor he acted towards her. It was clear he wasn't a glory-hound or that his placement as a pilot wasn't due to nepotism, if the cold animosity between him and his father was any indicator. Of course, there was also the fact that he'd managed to renegotiate the compensation all the pilots would receive to a pretty generous level. Yet in all of that time, not once did he take a step to move their friendship up a level, until now. And that he did it without the pretense of a love letter or poem or any sort of cliched stunt made it even more surprising to her.
"Asuka? You all right?"
His question jolted her out of the rabbit hole of thought she'd fallen into as she remembered just what he'd asked her earlier. "Tell you what, Third-we manage to survive this, I'll allow you the privilege of taking me out to both dinner and a movie. Sound fair?" She figured, if he was being genuine with his oddly-timed request, she might as well try and repay him for everything before.
"Sounds good to me," Shinji said with a small smile as the pilots finally reached the locker rooms.
"Ooooh, someone's making plans," Mari said teasingly, startling the redhead.
"Y-y-you? When? What're you-?!" Asuka sputtered out.
"Couldn't help it, Princess-you know how good my sense of hearing is," Mari quipped with a sly grin.
Asuka turned red at the implications she knew the Fifth Child was making. "It's not what you think, Four-eyes! We're just going as friends, got it?"
"Suuurrre it is," Mari replied as she opened her locker door.
The bridge, moments later...
"Visual on target's been lost," Maya reported. "AT-Field's disturbed our observation systems."
"Looks like since we can't determine the exact target area," Misato began to state, "using the data we've collected up till now, we do have an estimated point of impact, courtesy of the MAGI's calculations-specifically, right here." She pointed to the central monitor, which depicted a map of Tokyo-3 and its surrounding areas, all colored green. With the addition of the estimated target zone, most of that area was covered in red.
Mari whistled in astonishment. "That's a pretty wide range."
"Quite the distance from one side to the other," Maria added.
"Given the size of the Angel's AT-Field," Ritsuko explained, "it could completely wipe out HQ no matter where in this zone it hits."
"And because of that," Misato began to elaborate as five blue circles then appeared on the map, "we'll be stationing the EVAs at each of these points. Hence why I'm calling this 'Operation: Starstruck'."
"Was the shape of a star the idea behind this dispersal?" Rei inquired.
"That is just a coincidence," Misato replied. "I mainly based this on good old-fashioned intuition."
"Why am I not surprised...?" Asuka silently mused.
Minutes later, the five pilots were elevator-bound to the EVA cages.
"If you wanna say any prayers, now might be a good time," Asuka said, slightly pointing to Maria's necklace and earrings.
"Won't need to," Maria replied. "In spite of my fashion choices, I'll have you know I'm an atheist."
Hearing this piqued a bit of Rei's curiosity. "Is there not a thing you do have faith in?" she asked.
"There is," Maria replied. "I've got faith in my team."
The others silently processed that admission before they each entered their respective entry plugs and got ready.
Back on the bridge, Misato looked over the crew she led in this time of crisis. "Everyone ready? You all don't need to be here if you want to evacuate."
"No can do, Ma'am," Makoto answered.
"It's our job too, after all," Shigeru added.
"Gotta show some solidarity with the kids," Satsuki chimed in.
Hearing similar sentiments echoed across the bridge brought a smile to Misato's face. "Thank you all. The kids will definitely be fine now." On the viewscreen, all five EVAs emerged at their designated points; to ensure they'd have more of a fighting chance, each had been equipped with the modified external batteries, which would kick in the moment they undid their power cables. "Status?"
"Target's been sighted at maximum magnification," Aoi reported.
"Distance currently at around 25,000," Kaede added.
Misato nodded, a look of grim determination on her face. "This is it...All EVAs, into your starting positions." At her command, all five EVAs got into the equivalent of a runner's crouch. "All we have is a rough estimated trajectory from visual sightings, so the MAGI will guide you forward until the distance is 10,000 meters. Once reached, you'll need to rely on your own judgement for the rest. It's all up to you guys, so good luck, and Godspeed. We're all counting on you...and I believe in all of you."
"Angel's approaching," Shigeru reported. "Approximate distance is 20,000 and closing."
Misato nodded. "Commence Operation: Starstruck."
[Suggested music: "The Tank", Jerry Goldsmith, The Shadow OST, beginning at 0:40.]
"Roger," all five pilots affirmed, and with that, each ejected their power cable and took off into a sprint towards the target area. Like long-distance runners, they jumped many homes, power lines, and other structures while leaving deep footprints in the roadways.
"Distance is now 12,000!" Shigeru reported. As he said that, Sahaquiel finally broke through the clouds, just as the five EVAs cleared the hillsides around Tokyo-3 with great leaps. It was Unit-01 that made it first as it came to a halt, and not a moment too soon.
"AT-Field, maximum power!" Shinji shouted as he raised Unit-01's arms upward, hands splayed. The activation swept away a lot of surrounding debris in the process, and soon the Angel's own AT-Field slammed into his, sparks flying at the collision as the purple giant denied the Angel its landing. "Any time now, guys!"
"We're just about there!" Maria yelled back as Unit-04 arrived and joined the effort, the strength of the silver colossus's AT-Field adding to Shinji's own.
"So much for 'three's a crowd'!" Mari quipped as the black goliath that was Unit-03 pitched in and helped to hold Sahaquiel back.
"Field to maximum!" Rei voiced as Unit-00 soon joined the fray and added her support. With four EVAs already, it seemed as if Sahaquiel was being pushed back, an astonishing sight not lost on those observing from the bridge.
While Units-00, 03, and 04 held the Angel at bay, Unit-01 proceeded to tear open a hole in Sahaquiel's AT-Field, right where the 'pupil' of the central eye was located. "Asuka! Now!" Shinji shouted over the comms.
"On it!" Asuka barked back as she quickly had Unit-02 draw its progressive knife and quickly thrust it towards the 'pupil', which turned out to be the core of Sahaquiel. "Bastard! Here's metal in your eye!" Her knife struck true as it pierced the core. Cracks quickly emerged and sparks flew as Unit-02 pulled it further up, continuing the spread of cracks, until the core finally shattered.
With that, Sahaquiel's field fully disappeared, and with it the kinetic energy it had used to accelerate its descent. Sahaquiel's body, now completely lifeless, flopped gracelessly onto the five EVAs like a collapsing circus tent, before ballooning and bubbling up until an enormous mushroom cloud erupted. When the great flash finally subsided, all that was left in the wake of the explosion was an enormous crater...and five EVAs covered in dirt and dust disturbed by the blast.
"All pilots, come in!" Misato sounded off over the comms. "All pilots, can you hear me?! Is everyone all right? Please respond!"
Eventually, after a moment of silence, she was answered with a slight coughing fit from Unit-03's comms. "IIIIIII'M ALIIIIIVE!" Mari shouted exaggeratedly. "Dead collector's not gettin' me that easily!"
Misato breathed a sigh of relief. Her sense of relief increased further as the other comms crackled on.
"You okay?" Mari asked Shinji.
"I'm all right," Shinji answered.
"You all right?" Mari asked while looking towards Maria's Unit.
"I'm all right," Maria indicated. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Mari replied before looking towards Asuka. "You okay?"
"Fine," Asuka bluntly replied. "You good, Wundergirl?"
"I am unharmed," Rei answered.
"Can we all agree to not do this ever again?" Shinji posed with a slight smile.
"YES," all four girls answered a bit wearily.
The bridge, moments later...
The pilots, having returned, showered, and changed, were back in the command center, where much of the crew had applauded and congratulated them on a job well-done. Misato was then alerted to something by Shigeru.
"Wireless communication's been restored," he said. "We're receiving a message from Commander Ikari at the South Pole."
"Patch him through," Misato commanded, which Shigeru did. A screen soon appeared on a holo-monitor to the side of Misato, "Sound Only" displayed. "Sirs? Let me say that I want to apologize for my rash decision. I'm sorry if the plan seemed ludicrous, and I take full responsibility for the damage incurred to the EVAs, especially Unit-01."
"It's no trouble at all, Major," Fuyutsuki replied from the other end. "Destroying the Angels is what the EVAs are for. The truth is, it is thanks to your rather unorthodox plan that we were able to sustain the most minimal of damage."
"Indeed," Gendo concurred. "You did excellent work, Major Katsuragi."
"Thank you, Sir," Misato responded. "I appreciate that."
"Is the pilot of Unit-01 there?" Gendo asked.
"You rang?" Shinji chimed in.
"I received the report," Gendo stated, "and saw that you were the first to arrive at the scene and the first to hold the Angel at bay, giving the others enough time to arrive. You did good work, Shinji."
Internally, Shinji saw through his father's hollow praise; if he'd been the puppet the Commander intended to mold him into, he would've taken to that like a dog to a bone. "Just doing my job, Sir," he said, unfazed by the Commander's words.
On the other end, Gendo was slightly surprised at his son's lack of feeling validated. Yet another thing he didn't expect. "Very well then," he said. "Major Katsuragi, I'm leaving the rest in your hands."
"Yes, Sir," Misato answered, before both ends signed off.
Downtown Tokyo-3, a couple of hours later...
Tokyo-3 was a bit chaotic again, only now it was due to all of its citizens returning following the crisis's end. Traffic dominated the streets and the skies were full of helicopters airlifting people back home. Life and business were beginning resuming their usual rhythm. It was in the middle of all that hustle and bustle that Misato and the five pilots found themselves walking towards their dinner destination. They were also joined by Kaji, having invited himself to, as he put it, help celebrate the pilots' victory against seemingly-impossible odds.
"Like I said before, Misato," Asuka stated quite clearly, "no worming your way out of your promise."
"No worries, I'm good for it," Misato reassured her. "So, begs the question, just where are we dining this fine evening?"
"Well, here's the thing..." Asuka said. "We let Rei pick the place."
Hearing this surprised Misato. "You did?"
"We figured that since she's the only vegetarian among us," Shinji elaborated, "she ought to find a place that can accommodate everyone, herself included."
"Upon perusing the magazine Asuka loaned me," Rei started to say, "and after careful deliberation, I believe I have found such a place, which we should be arriving at right now." She then pointed towards their destination. It was a mid-sized place with a red awning hanging over the front door. On the awning in big, bold black kanji was the name: Restaurant Yukihira. Both Misato and Kaji looked at the pilots, slightly-perplexed by their choice.
"What were you expecting, a ramen stand?" Asuka posed.
"Best of all," Mari started to add. "It'll still be easy on your wallet, unless Mr. Kaji's planning to pitch in..."
"Huh, now that you mention it..." Misato said as she joined Mari in giving Kaji the sly side-eye.
Kaji playfully threw up his hands in 'defeat'. "All right, you've convinced me, the whole thing's on the both of us."
Moments later, the group of seven were seated at a table enjoying the feast expertly prepared for them by the father-and-son duo who ran the establishment, after having raised a glass to overcoming the great challenge thrust upon them only hours before.
End Chapter 26.
**Author's Note(s)**
The "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag" is the signature song of the band Country Joe and the Fish, appearing first on their 1965 EP Rag Baby: Songs of Opposition and then as the title track of their 1967 album of the same name; they would give a memorable performance of this protest anthem at Woodstock in 1969.
Maria's admission during the elevator ride to the cages is inspired by Mr. Terrific's in the fifth issue of the 2005 DC Comics event miniseries Infinite Crisis. I also decided to give that particular detail to my portrayal of Maria in this story.
The 'dead collector' was one of multiple characters portrayed by Eric Idle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with the 'wellness check' among the pilots being inspired by the ending scene from Ghostbusters.
And lastly, Restaurant Yukihira comes from the manga/anime series Food Wars! (aka Shokugeki no Soma).