Chapter 03 - Asuka Strikes - again...
The EVA-center of Tokio was at a large mall, on the other side was the Saotome-Dojo.
A lot of people were waiting in front of the center, mainly young ones, for the opening of
the doors.
Kensuke lead the other five, Touji, Shinji, Asuka, Rei and Hikari, to a side-entry where
an older man wearing beige uniform-like clothing was already waiting.
"Hello, uncle Keichi!" Kensuke greeted the man.
"Ah, Kensuke, you are right in time. Are these your friends?"
"Yes, uncle."
"Hello" it came from five throats and they even managed a correct bow.
"Well, so, come in. We´ll open in half an hour but OE is well known for consumer friendlyness."
"OE?" Shinji asked whispering.
"OsakaElectronics", Rei answered whispering and looked at surprise that he didn´t knew.
"Large trust, they are making computers, microchips, software... My grandmother´s working at
the research section of OE." she added, not without pride.
Kensuke´s uncle let them enter and showed them the center.
He pointed at several large tubes.
"These are the EntryPlugs, the control capsules, we have 36 altogether within the three levels
of the center. Our computers are able to coordinate several groups at the same time, but having
only six players on the field makes in easier. We are preparing for the big tournament next
month already."
On each tube was the sign of a cut figleave with the letters NERV...
Shinji felt as if had seen it before, but couldn´t remember.
"That´s great", Kensuke interupted his uncle. "May we try it?"
"Well, of course, that´s the reason you are here, isn´t it? Just enter, put on the headsets and
make yourselves comfortable in the pilotseats. I will communicate with you via radio and tell
you anything necessary."
He grinned.
"Have the center in open and running I won´t be able to give such a tutorial anymore."
Shinji looked around before a last time before walking towards the simulators.
At the center´s first level was a lounge and a both were merchandise was sold. At the entrance
stood a 10 foot high model of a purplegreen mecha armed with a rifle and with glowing eyes.
It seemed somehow familiar.
Suddenly his knees were shaking.
"Hey, Ikari, what´s going on?" Touji asked.
"Nothing..." Shinji mumbled. He turned his eyes away from EVA-01 whose look made him feel very
nervous. Then he climbed into the EntryPlug.
The capsule´s interior was filled a small seat, controls and several screens, on the seat laid
a headset.
Carefully he took the headset and put in on, sat down and reached for the controls.
It all seemed strangely familiar...
A red light in front of him was replaced by a green one. At the same time Keichi Aida appeared
on one of the small screens next to the large main screen.
"Ah, the first on to get ready. What´s your name?"
"Shinji, Shinji Ikari."
"Okay."
As soon as I have told the system your names you will be able to open com-channels with each
other."
"Uhm, yes."
"Did you already choose an EVA-type?"
"No..."
"Wait, I´ll show the different types... Just a moment, now two you your friends are online, too."
One after the other five small screens appeared with a sixth one reserved to control command.
"So, now since all plugs are linked, I can show you the different types..."
He started with the purplegreen unit one, continue with the red four-eyes unit two, the black
unit three, the grey unit four, the one-eyes white unit five and eight other models of differnt
colours and number of eyes, each unit had a special ability like unit three´s long arms, unit
five´s sickle blades and unit six´s limited flight ability.
"What about EVA-00?" Rei asked.
"Oh, you seem to know your EVA... yes, I see... Rei Akagi, I just got your file from the center
at Osaka... you are already a veteran, Pilot First Grade... EVA-00 and the other speziel units
aren´t available yet, we are planning to upgrade some of them."
"Could you give me unit zero?"
"No problem, but you know - compared to unit one or two it´s quite weak."
"But it´s faster."
"If you think so."
"What are the other special units, uncle?" Kensuke asked.
"Oh, well, we have unit 4a with its retractable claws, the female model EVA-08a and some other
things we are still working at."
"I´m taking unit three, those arms are looking cool!" Touji explained.
"Unit two." Asuka said.
"Unit five, uncle, please."
"Okay, and the others?"
"Uhm..."
Shinji was thinking hard. On one hand there was only one unit he wanted to pilot, but he couldn´t
say why. It was the unit that gave him a sense of dread...
"Unit one."
"Good choice. Strong, fast, adaptable and extra battery power. - And you, Hikari?"
Hikari closed her eyes and pointed blindly on the screen, deciding for unit eleven.
"The turtle, alright. Scenario´s starting, difficulty one, have fun!"
The screen went dark.
***
Ryoji Kaji saw the subject of his mission entering the EVA-center through a side-entrance.
He shallowed down a curse while pulling out his ID-card. It wouldn´t be easy to keep his
identity as head of NERV´s security a secret while operating at a MARDUK stronghold.
***
Selene led her brother and his companion to the meeting chamber at the building´s top level,
it was the same building that contained the EVA-center.
In front of the large doors two security guards are standing, both wearing light-brown uniforms.
The meeting chamber was empty with the exception of a woman wearing a darkblue skirt, white
blouse and blue jackett, her hair was of red-blonde colour, her smile was some kind of empty.
"Deiko, Thomas-san, welcome back."
Deiko returned the smile, finally removing her dark glasses, revealing deepblue eyes.
Thomas just nodded slightly.
"Midori."
Her face hardened. She turned to a console.
"Connection to Osaka headquarters established. Link secured."
The holographic picture of a woman with steelgrey skin appeared, looking closer on could see
that it truely was metal. Her skull was bald, she wore some kind of cape.
"Greeting, Mister Shigen."
Thomas bowed.
"I hope, you are well, Diane."
"I´m as well as an artificial intelligence with access to a high-end computernetwork can be.
Thank you for asking. Shigen, that´s the name you´re using at the moment, isn´t it?"
"Names do not matter, but yes, we can use this one."
"Secury check finished. Identity: Thomas Shigen confimed. Access to network."
Three other holograms appears, two men and one woman, one european and two japanease.
The european was a large man with silverwhite hair and emerald eyes. The other man had grey
hair, he was quite old and wore glasses. The woman had short black hair and wore a labcoat.
"Thomas, how was your visit at the Antarctic?" the european asked.
"Cold, Roderick, very cold." the one-eyes sighed.
"I´m expecting you tomorrow for a medical check-up." the woman said.
"I´ll be there, doctor Takanawa."
"Did you truely feel the cold?"
"Yes. My resistances have grown weaker again. I guess you will have the data soon to calculate
my remaining time."
Midori Sekigahama looked away to hide her true emotions.
"So, Commander, how is the situation?" the old man asked.
"It´s grave, Naga-san. We have watched the gateway at the southpole for nearly six months.
The gate is gathering power. Using the data gained last time we can expect a visitor in six
to eight week, Prime Minister."
"That´s critical", Naga mumbled. "And considering your waning powers we´ll be on our own this
time."
"Doctor, have you found a treatment?"
"The data we got from the Institut for Genetical Research were quite helpful with the clones,
but we still have no treatment for your state of being. We do not know enough about the
nature of the AT-field to prevent yours from losing more of its strenght."
"So I am still dying, like I am for fifteen years now... We should concentrate on other matters
at hand, I will make it for eight more weeks. And afterwards... - Roderick, please give me an
update about our defenses."
"The POLARIS-system´s online, the final NIMROD satelite is within earth orbit, all satelites
are cloaked."
"Good, so we will be able to detect any blue pattern on earth... it took us long enough. - Doc?"
Takanawa nodded.
"Construction of the PROMETHEUS is finished, the test-run was promising. Its cargo will consist
of the proto type and the test type as well as onehundred N2-mines to be used as last resort."
"I can just tell you again, that they aren´t to be used except absolutly necessary, such an
explosion would rip the Antarctic apart and might destroy earth´s magnetic field."
"Thanks, Naga-sama, but I already know. As I said, the flagship´s ready to put to sea. The german
shipyard just told me that the ODYSSEUS will be ready as planned, St.Clair and Captain Sanchez
are preparing the ship for the crossing."
Thomas nodded.
"And the american branch?"
"The shipyards started working last month, the CHRONOS will be ready just in time to transport
clone number five and six."
"EVA-04 and -05... yes... Okay. So, any news about the clones?"
"We have three units ready, a fourth one is short before completion."
"Good. Thank you, gentlemen. Doctor Takanawa, that´s all for now, we´ll meet tomorrow."
"Lunch at Luigi´s?" the european asked.
"Yes, I haven´t eaten italian food for half a year now."
"Good, see you tomorrow."
The holograms of the emerald eyed and the scientist vanished.
The old man nodded at Thomas and Selene.
"I guess, you will speak to the UN council of security now, Naga-sama."
"Yes, the sooner, the better."
"Please suggest giving NERV high command of all defensive measures. We have been preparing for
fifteen years now."
"I will suggest it. - Thomas... I trust you fully."
"Thank you, Prime Minister."
"I know that you were born for this kind of war..."
***
"Each EVA is armed with two progressive knifes, you´ll find them at the shoulder armor. There
are thirteen types of enemies of different sizes and abilities, as well as possessed EVAs."
Keichi Aida explained.
"The target of the mission is to eliminate all enemies of the field. We call them angels, don´t
ask. Some of them appear alone, some of them in swarms, each type calls for a different tactic."
Shinji didn´t pay full attention.
On the main screen he saw a rocky dessert.
He turned his head to the left, saw three other EVAs next to him.
Just in front of him was a monolith-like building.
"That´s a depot, you will find other ones on the field. The depots are holding equipment, mainly
weapons. And you can recharge your batteries there or connect the maintanance cable that will
provide you with unlimited energy but limit your range."
Again the small screen went dark.
"I suggest we stay together and secure the surrounding." Rei explained.
"You died and made you leader?" Asuka shouted and got a futuristic-looking rifle from the depot.
On the tactical screen a small window showed informations about the weapon: positron rifle,
uses energy charges, holds six charges, standard weapon.
"Asuka, Rei just made a suggestion." Shinji said.
"I should have known that you´d take her side! She doesn´t know yet what kind of Baka-Hentai
you are!"
Touji started laughing.
"We are on unknown terrain of type three." Rei explained. "We have to expect nests of Matriels
at the first stage of growth as well as single Shamshiels, the last ones are hiding in the
sand."
"Ui, how did you come to know this all? You must have spent quite some time inside of an Entry-
Plug at Osaka", Kensuke was astonished.
"Well... This is an easy training scenario, but we still shouldn´t start without a plan."
"Right..." Asuka growled. "Like I´d care. Come, Hikari, lets have a look what´s right behind
those hills!"
"Eh..." Hikari said. "I´d better go with her."
Shinji opened a private channel to EVA-00
"Rei, is it really that dangerous?"
"For a beginner, yes. I still remember the first time I sat inside of a Plug... I ran directly
into a nest of Matriels... little spiderlike angels... they have eaten my EVA."
"So we should have an eye on them."
"Yes." Rei replied and got a far-ranged assault rifle from the depot.
"What would you suggest?"
"There should be a rocket-launcher, Shinji-kun."
"I... oh, well, Touji´s already found it."
Touji Suzuhara laughed madly.
So Shinji and Kensuke equipped themselves with positron rifles.
"So, lets go hunting!" Touji shouted and left for the hills behind Asuka and Hikari had already
vanished.
"Hey, wait!"
Kensuke hurried to close on him.
"Hm, just the two of us are left."
"Don´t you want to team up with me?"
"No, I mean, yes, of course I like to be with you... äh, in a team, I wanted to say."
She laughed lowly.
"Understood. We should follow the others and stay between the two groups. So we can scan the
terrain most effective."
"How did you got this tactical knowledge?"
"I... I don´t know... it´s just there, like a talent I was born with."
"That´s interesting."
"But I am impressed, too. Asuka and you are piloting the EVAs like you had lots of training
before... Touji, too, but not that much..."
"Uhm, Rei, I´ve never before been inside such an... EntryPlug."
At this moment a scream come from the radio.
"Hikari!" several voices shouted.
Shinji and Rei started running towards the location of the two girls. Their tactical screens
were showing two green dots starting to move, too, representing Touji´s and Kensuke´s EVAs,
as they did show about two dozen red dots filling the valley where Asuka and Hikari were.
"Shinji, they have run into a Matriel-nest! We have to hurry!"
"Yes." Shinji ran faster. His screen displayed the data transmitted by EVA-02 and -11. The being
called Matriels reminded him of spiders, they were called ´Matriel, stage-01´.
"Are there bigger one?"
"Don´t ask..."
EVA-00 closed up to him, they just had to cross the next hilltop.
"Why are they named Angels?"
"That´s my grandmother´s strange sense of homour."
"Your grandmother´s?"
"Yes, my grandma, Naoko Akagi, develloped most of the game´s software."
"So that´s the reason for your experience?"
"No, I think she´d have like me to stay away from the EntryPlug, but I don´t know her reasons."
"Eh."
They reached the hilltop.
In the valley Asuka´s and Hikari´s EVAs stood back to back, firing at a flood of small spider-
monsters.
"It´s more than shown."
"The screen´s showing groups of them, Shinji-kun."
Rei loaded explosive ammonition and took aid.
"We have to give them some air!"
Meanwhile Touji and Kensuke also had arrived. Together they fired at the dark mass, so that
Asuka and Hikari could slowly withdraw. A minute later the nest was destroyed and the six EVAs
were wlaking towards the next depot to recharge their batteries.
Asuka was silent, her EVA had been chewed on, the left leg showed visible trails of bitmarks.
Hikari on the other hand couldn´t stop telling about the small angels coming from countless
small caves and attacking them.
***
Thomas sighed after the holograms had vanished.
"Did they understand?"
"I guess." Midori said. "Warlord." she added with icy voice.
The artificial intelligence´s hologram rebuilt.
"We´ve found three other suitable pilots."
"Where, Diane?"
"At the EVA-center of Tokio... just below your feet, Thomas."
"That fast? At Osaka we nearly needed a year to find just one candidate", Selene whispered.
"The data on the screen!" Thomas ordered.
Four holos appeared right in front of him.
"Four?"
"Yes, the First Child, the first candidate found at Osaka, happens to be here, too."
"Very interesting..."
He browsed the data.
"Asuka Soryu Langley... Touji Suzuhara... Rei Akagi... Akagi? The name´s familiar...?"
"The first child´s a relative of doctor Naoko Akagi, develloper of the EVA-software."
"Strange..."
His gaze was stuck on the picture of the bluehaired girl.
"Really strange... and Shinji Ikari... Ikari? Diane, more data!"
"Ikari, Shinji. Father: Ikari, Gendo. Mother: Ikari, Yui..."
"The son of Colonel Ikari... and doctor Ikari of the Institut for Genetical Research..."
He shook his head.
"Born at Kyoto. Lives at Tokio since 2004..."
"Kyoto... that´s the reason he´s familiar..."
He looked at Deiko.
"Deiko, do you remember the night at Kyoto ten years ago?"
"When we were running over the roofs?"
"Yes... I´ve never felt that free again."
She smiled.
"And I´ve never seen such heroism again..."
"Deiko, that´s the same boy..."
********************************************************************************************
Preview: What happened ten years ago at the city of Kyoto? And: More VR-action. And Shinji
goes berserker...
********************************************************************************************
A.N.: Attitude... What´s that?
Well, I think there´s the line between criticsm and insult, a line that´s neither fine nor
invisible. So why did I have found a mail in my box this very morning insulting my ancestry,
calling me a thief and a bastard, the argumentation hiding behind the fact that this very
fic seems to have similarities to an already existing one? Now I´ve browsed some chapter of
Garden of EVA, which I found very interesting. And now I am also sure that nobody can
accuse me of copying and stealing ideas since my version of the VR-game and Jim Lazar´s are
quite differently used. But you´ll see soon.
Another thing is that I´ve got several mails and one (not-signed) review telling me how bad
my fics are due to the fact that I am writing Shinji/Rei fics.
Well, bite me.
Some guys seem to run around freely who seem to think: It´s a Shinji/Rei fic, so axe it.
It´s not a Shinji/Asuka fic, so axe it. It´s OCC, so axe it. Okay, OCCness I can understand,
alas, I am considering everything at least a bit OCC that leaves behind the original story-
line. So, hell, as long as it is fun to read, why bothering?
Just my two cents.
The EVA-center of Tokio was at a large mall, on the other side was the Saotome-Dojo.
A lot of people were waiting in front of the center, mainly young ones, for the opening of
the doors.
Kensuke lead the other five, Touji, Shinji, Asuka, Rei and Hikari, to a side-entry where
an older man wearing beige uniform-like clothing was already waiting.
"Hello, uncle Keichi!" Kensuke greeted the man.
"Ah, Kensuke, you are right in time. Are these your friends?"
"Yes, uncle."
"Hello" it came from five throats and they even managed a correct bow.
"Well, so, come in. We´ll open in half an hour but OE is well known for consumer friendlyness."
"OE?" Shinji asked whispering.
"OsakaElectronics", Rei answered whispering and looked at surprise that he didn´t knew.
"Large trust, they are making computers, microchips, software... My grandmother´s working at
the research section of OE." she added, not without pride.
Kensuke´s uncle let them enter and showed them the center.
He pointed at several large tubes.
"These are the EntryPlugs, the control capsules, we have 36 altogether within the three levels
of the center. Our computers are able to coordinate several groups at the same time, but having
only six players on the field makes in easier. We are preparing for the big tournament next
month already."
On each tube was the sign of a cut figleave with the letters NERV...
Shinji felt as if had seen it before, but couldn´t remember.
"That´s great", Kensuke interupted his uncle. "May we try it?"
"Well, of course, that´s the reason you are here, isn´t it? Just enter, put on the headsets and
make yourselves comfortable in the pilotseats. I will communicate with you via radio and tell
you anything necessary."
He grinned.
"Have the center in open and running I won´t be able to give such a tutorial anymore."
Shinji looked around before a last time before walking towards the simulators.
At the center´s first level was a lounge and a both were merchandise was sold. At the entrance
stood a 10 foot high model of a purplegreen mecha armed with a rifle and with glowing eyes.
It seemed somehow familiar.
Suddenly his knees were shaking.
"Hey, Ikari, what´s going on?" Touji asked.
"Nothing..." Shinji mumbled. He turned his eyes away from EVA-01 whose look made him feel very
nervous. Then he climbed into the EntryPlug.
The capsule´s interior was filled a small seat, controls and several screens, on the seat laid
a headset.
Carefully he took the headset and put in on, sat down and reached for the controls.
It all seemed strangely familiar...
A red light in front of him was replaced by a green one. At the same time Keichi Aida appeared
on one of the small screens next to the large main screen.
"Ah, the first on to get ready. What´s your name?"
"Shinji, Shinji Ikari."
"Okay."
As soon as I have told the system your names you will be able to open com-channels with each
other."
"Uhm, yes."
"Did you already choose an EVA-type?"
"No..."
"Wait, I´ll show the different types... Just a moment, now two you your friends are online, too."
One after the other five small screens appeared with a sixth one reserved to control command.
"So, now since all plugs are linked, I can show you the different types..."
He started with the purplegreen unit one, continue with the red four-eyes unit two, the black
unit three, the grey unit four, the one-eyes white unit five and eight other models of differnt
colours and number of eyes, each unit had a special ability like unit three´s long arms, unit
five´s sickle blades and unit six´s limited flight ability.
"What about EVA-00?" Rei asked.
"Oh, you seem to know your EVA... yes, I see... Rei Akagi, I just got your file from the center
at Osaka... you are already a veteran, Pilot First Grade... EVA-00 and the other speziel units
aren´t available yet, we are planning to upgrade some of them."
"Could you give me unit zero?"
"No problem, but you know - compared to unit one or two it´s quite weak."
"But it´s faster."
"If you think so."
"What are the other special units, uncle?" Kensuke asked.
"Oh, well, we have unit 4a with its retractable claws, the female model EVA-08a and some other
things we are still working at."
"I´m taking unit three, those arms are looking cool!" Touji explained.
"Unit two." Asuka said.
"Unit five, uncle, please."
"Okay, and the others?"
"Uhm..."
Shinji was thinking hard. On one hand there was only one unit he wanted to pilot, but he couldn´t
say why. It was the unit that gave him a sense of dread...
"Unit one."
"Good choice. Strong, fast, adaptable and extra battery power. - And you, Hikari?"
Hikari closed her eyes and pointed blindly on the screen, deciding for unit eleven.
"The turtle, alright. Scenario´s starting, difficulty one, have fun!"
The screen went dark.
***
Ryoji Kaji saw the subject of his mission entering the EVA-center through a side-entrance.
He shallowed down a curse while pulling out his ID-card. It wouldn´t be easy to keep his
identity as head of NERV´s security a secret while operating at a MARDUK stronghold.
***
Selene led her brother and his companion to the meeting chamber at the building´s top level,
it was the same building that contained the EVA-center.
In front of the large doors two security guards are standing, both wearing light-brown uniforms.
The meeting chamber was empty with the exception of a woman wearing a darkblue skirt, white
blouse and blue jackett, her hair was of red-blonde colour, her smile was some kind of empty.
"Deiko, Thomas-san, welcome back."
Deiko returned the smile, finally removing her dark glasses, revealing deepblue eyes.
Thomas just nodded slightly.
"Midori."
Her face hardened. She turned to a console.
"Connection to Osaka headquarters established. Link secured."
The holographic picture of a woman with steelgrey skin appeared, looking closer on could see
that it truely was metal. Her skull was bald, she wore some kind of cape.
"Greeting, Mister Shigen."
Thomas bowed.
"I hope, you are well, Diane."
"I´m as well as an artificial intelligence with access to a high-end computernetwork can be.
Thank you for asking. Shigen, that´s the name you´re using at the moment, isn´t it?"
"Names do not matter, but yes, we can use this one."
"Secury check finished. Identity: Thomas Shigen confimed. Access to network."
Three other holograms appears, two men and one woman, one european and two japanease.
The european was a large man with silverwhite hair and emerald eyes. The other man had grey
hair, he was quite old and wore glasses. The woman had short black hair and wore a labcoat.
"Thomas, how was your visit at the Antarctic?" the european asked.
"Cold, Roderick, very cold." the one-eyes sighed.
"I´m expecting you tomorrow for a medical check-up." the woman said.
"I´ll be there, doctor Takanawa."
"Did you truely feel the cold?"
"Yes. My resistances have grown weaker again. I guess you will have the data soon to calculate
my remaining time."
Midori Sekigahama looked away to hide her true emotions.
"So, Commander, how is the situation?" the old man asked.
"It´s grave, Naga-san. We have watched the gateway at the southpole for nearly six months.
The gate is gathering power. Using the data gained last time we can expect a visitor in six
to eight week, Prime Minister."
"That´s critical", Naga mumbled. "And considering your waning powers we´ll be on our own this
time."
"Doctor, have you found a treatment?"
"The data we got from the Institut for Genetical Research were quite helpful with the clones,
but we still have no treatment for your state of being. We do not know enough about the
nature of the AT-field to prevent yours from losing more of its strenght."
"So I am still dying, like I am for fifteen years now... We should concentrate on other matters
at hand, I will make it for eight more weeks. And afterwards... - Roderick, please give me an
update about our defenses."
"The POLARIS-system´s online, the final NIMROD satelite is within earth orbit, all satelites
are cloaked."
"Good, so we will be able to detect any blue pattern on earth... it took us long enough. - Doc?"
Takanawa nodded.
"Construction of the PROMETHEUS is finished, the test-run was promising. Its cargo will consist
of the proto type and the test type as well as onehundred N2-mines to be used as last resort."
"I can just tell you again, that they aren´t to be used except absolutly necessary, such an
explosion would rip the Antarctic apart and might destroy earth´s magnetic field."
"Thanks, Naga-sama, but I already know. As I said, the flagship´s ready to put to sea. The german
shipyard just told me that the ODYSSEUS will be ready as planned, St.Clair and Captain Sanchez
are preparing the ship for the crossing."
Thomas nodded.
"And the american branch?"
"The shipyards started working last month, the CHRONOS will be ready just in time to transport
clone number five and six."
"EVA-04 and -05... yes... Okay. So, any news about the clones?"
"We have three units ready, a fourth one is short before completion."
"Good. Thank you, gentlemen. Doctor Takanawa, that´s all for now, we´ll meet tomorrow."
"Lunch at Luigi´s?" the european asked.
"Yes, I haven´t eaten italian food for half a year now."
"Good, see you tomorrow."
The holograms of the emerald eyed and the scientist vanished.
The old man nodded at Thomas and Selene.
"I guess, you will speak to the UN council of security now, Naga-sama."
"Yes, the sooner, the better."
"Please suggest giving NERV high command of all defensive measures. We have been preparing for
fifteen years now."
"I will suggest it. - Thomas... I trust you fully."
"Thank you, Prime Minister."
"I know that you were born for this kind of war..."
***
"Each EVA is armed with two progressive knifes, you´ll find them at the shoulder armor. There
are thirteen types of enemies of different sizes and abilities, as well as possessed EVAs."
Keichi Aida explained.
"The target of the mission is to eliminate all enemies of the field. We call them angels, don´t
ask. Some of them appear alone, some of them in swarms, each type calls for a different tactic."
Shinji didn´t pay full attention.
On the main screen he saw a rocky dessert.
He turned his head to the left, saw three other EVAs next to him.
Just in front of him was a monolith-like building.
"That´s a depot, you will find other ones on the field. The depots are holding equipment, mainly
weapons. And you can recharge your batteries there or connect the maintanance cable that will
provide you with unlimited energy but limit your range."
Again the small screen went dark.
"I suggest we stay together and secure the surrounding." Rei explained.
"You died and made you leader?" Asuka shouted and got a futuristic-looking rifle from the depot.
On the tactical screen a small window showed informations about the weapon: positron rifle,
uses energy charges, holds six charges, standard weapon.
"Asuka, Rei just made a suggestion." Shinji said.
"I should have known that you´d take her side! She doesn´t know yet what kind of Baka-Hentai
you are!"
Touji started laughing.
"We are on unknown terrain of type three." Rei explained. "We have to expect nests of Matriels
at the first stage of growth as well as single Shamshiels, the last ones are hiding in the
sand."
"Ui, how did you come to know this all? You must have spent quite some time inside of an Entry-
Plug at Osaka", Kensuke was astonished.
"Well... This is an easy training scenario, but we still shouldn´t start without a plan."
"Right..." Asuka growled. "Like I´d care. Come, Hikari, lets have a look what´s right behind
those hills!"
"Eh..." Hikari said. "I´d better go with her."
Shinji opened a private channel to EVA-00
"Rei, is it really that dangerous?"
"For a beginner, yes. I still remember the first time I sat inside of a Plug... I ran directly
into a nest of Matriels... little spiderlike angels... they have eaten my EVA."
"So we should have an eye on them."
"Yes." Rei replied and got a far-ranged assault rifle from the depot.
"What would you suggest?"
"There should be a rocket-launcher, Shinji-kun."
"I... oh, well, Touji´s already found it."
Touji Suzuhara laughed madly.
So Shinji and Kensuke equipped themselves with positron rifles.
"So, lets go hunting!" Touji shouted and left for the hills behind Asuka and Hikari had already
vanished.
"Hey, wait!"
Kensuke hurried to close on him.
"Hm, just the two of us are left."
"Don´t you want to team up with me?"
"No, I mean, yes, of course I like to be with you... äh, in a team, I wanted to say."
She laughed lowly.
"Understood. We should follow the others and stay between the two groups. So we can scan the
terrain most effective."
"How did you got this tactical knowledge?"
"I... I don´t know... it´s just there, like a talent I was born with."
"That´s interesting."
"But I am impressed, too. Asuka and you are piloting the EVAs like you had lots of training
before... Touji, too, but not that much..."
"Uhm, Rei, I´ve never before been inside such an... EntryPlug."
At this moment a scream come from the radio.
"Hikari!" several voices shouted.
Shinji and Rei started running towards the location of the two girls. Their tactical screens
were showing two green dots starting to move, too, representing Touji´s and Kensuke´s EVAs,
as they did show about two dozen red dots filling the valley where Asuka and Hikari were.
"Shinji, they have run into a Matriel-nest! We have to hurry!"
"Yes." Shinji ran faster. His screen displayed the data transmitted by EVA-02 and -11. The being
called Matriels reminded him of spiders, they were called ´Matriel, stage-01´.
"Are there bigger one?"
"Don´t ask..."
EVA-00 closed up to him, they just had to cross the next hilltop.
"Why are they named Angels?"
"That´s my grandmother´s strange sense of homour."
"Your grandmother´s?"
"Yes, my grandma, Naoko Akagi, develloped most of the game´s software."
"So that´s the reason for your experience?"
"No, I think she´d have like me to stay away from the EntryPlug, but I don´t know her reasons."
"Eh."
They reached the hilltop.
In the valley Asuka´s and Hikari´s EVAs stood back to back, firing at a flood of small spider-
monsters.
"It´s more than shown."
"The screen´s showing groups of them, Shinji-kun."
Rei loaded explosive ammonition and took aid.
"We have to give them some air!"
Meanwhile Touji and Kensuke also had arrived. Together they fired at the dark mass, so that
Asuka and Hikari could slowly withdraw. A minute later the nest was destroyed and the six EVAs
were wlaking towards the next depot to recharge their batteries.
Asuka was silent, her EVA had been chewed on, the left leg showed visible trails of bitmarks.
Hikari on the other hand couldn´t stop telling about the small angels coming from countless
small caves and attacking them.
***
Thomas sighed after the holograms had vanished.
"Did they understand?"
"I guess." Midori said. "Warlord." she added with icy voice.
The artificial intelligence´s hologram rebuilt.
"We´ve found three other suitable pilots."
"Where, Diane?"
"At the EVA-center of Tokio... just below your feet, Thomas."
"That fast? At Osaka we nearly needed a year to find just one candidate", Selene whispered.
"The data on the screen!" Thomas ordered.
Four holos appeared right in front of him.
"Four?"
"Yes, the First Child, the first candidate found at Osaka, happens to be here, too."
"Very interesting..."
He browsed the data.
"Asuka Soryu Langley... Touji Suzuhara... Rei Akagi... Akagi? The name´s familiar...?"
"The first child´s a relative of doctor Naoko Akagi, develloper of the EVA-software."
"Strange..."
His gaze was stuck on the picture of the bluehaired girl.
"Really strange... and Shinji Ikari... Ikari? Diane, more data!"
"Ikari, Shinji. Father: Ikari, Gendo. Mother: Ikari, Yui..."
"The son of Colonel Ikari... and doctor Ikari of the Institut for Genetical Research..."
He shook his head.
"Born at Kyoto. Lives at Tokio since 2004..."
"Kyoto... that´s the reason he´s familiar..."
He looked at Deiko.
"Deiko, do you remember the night at Kyoto ten years ago?"
"When we were running over the roofs?"
"Yes... I´ve never felt that free again."
She smiled.
"And I´ve never seen such heroism again..."
"Deiko, that´s the same boy..."
********************************************************************************************
Preview: What happened ten years ago at the city of Kyoto? And: More VR-action. And Shinji
goes berserker...
********************************************************************************************
A.N.: Attitude... What´s that?
Well, I think there´s the line between criticsm and insult, a line that´s neither fine nor
invisible. So why did I have found a mail in my box this very morning insulting my ancestry,
calling me a thief and a bastard, the argumentation hiding behind the fact that this very
fic seems to have similarities to an already existing one? Now I´ve browsed some chapter of
Garden of EVA, which I found very interesting. And now I am also sure that nobody can
accuse me of copying and stealing ideas since my version of the VR-game and Jim Lazar´s are
quite differently used. But you´ll see soon.
Another thing is that I´ve got several mails and one (not-signed) review telling me how bad
my fics are due to the fact that I am writing Shinji/Rei fics.
Well, bite me.
Some guys seem to run around freely who seem to think: It´s a Shinji/Rei fic, so axe it.
It´s not a Shinji/Asuka fic, so axe it. It´s OCC, so axe it. Okay, OCCness I can understand,
alas, I am considering everything at least a bit OCC that leaves behind the original story-
line. So, hell, as long as it is fun to read, why bothering?
Just my two cents.