Chapter 04 - Fire
Kyoto, ten years ago
It was a cool and clear night, a perfect night with a bright moon at the sky.
In the starlight two figures were running across the roof of the old part of town, jumping
across the abysses of small streets, overcoming differences in height of several feet without
problems.
Deiko looked back over her shoulder, saw her companion just a few metres behind her. Since
they had started he had gained continously. She laughted, that was exactly what Thomas needed
after all what had happened during the last four years, a confirmation that he was still alive.
Even if his outlook had changed he had stayed the same, the one she once had loved, the one
she still was considering to be her closest friend. Fighting the angeloi-scout had cost him
dearly, as had closing the gateway. And while ordinary humans happened to have her hair turning
grey on such occasions, it had been the other way ´round with him...
They heard sirens in the distance.
Several fire engines of the local fire fighters were racing through the streets below them.
She stopped.
Thomas reached her position.
"What might be going on, Elder Brother?" she asked, using the name of affection she was using
since they´d met the first time more than ten years ago.
She noticed that he seemed to look right through her into the distance and swallowed.
Like four years ago...
"A vision? A new opponent? A angeloi?"
"I... I don´t know... it´s just a calling... come!"
This time he took the lead, running faster and faster like he was moving on even ground.
The target of the fire engine was a large modern apartmentbuilding at the edge of the old part
of the town. Flames were leaking from the windows and about three quarters of the building
were already aflame.
Thomas crouched at the edge of a nearby house´s roof, watching a young woman in a nightdress
who tried to reenter the burning house but was stopped by a fire fighter and a man wearing
nightclothes.
He tried to read her lips across the distance.
"Her son´s still inside..."
He stretched, looking at the burning building.
"There..."
"What are you going to do?"
He smiled, already ascending a ladder to the next roof-level.
She followed him.
"At your state you shouldn´t even think about it..."
Thomas turned around, already standing at the roof´s edge, pulled her close, pressed his lips
onto hers.
"Little Sister, who wants to live forever?"
With these words he let her go, turned around again, jumped into the flames below, following
the call of a frightened child...
***
Now:
"That can´t be", Deiko said, shaking her head.
"Yes, it´s strange how all puzzle pieces are coming together..."
Again his gaze wandered to the picture of the strangely familiar bluehaired girl.
"Diane, complete backgroudscan of all four persons."
"Working on it. Further orders?"
"Have them watched around the clock... and have them offered a place at the special league-
member-training."
"Confirmed."
"Risky, Thomas, very risky. What are we going to do if they are not interested?"
"Leave this to be, Deiko..."
***
"Wahhoo!" Touji shouted after they had destroyed the third nest of angels in a row.
"That´s getting boring", Asuka said. "Always the same critters!"
The last two time they had followed the tactics suggested by Rei and had been successful without
problems.
The main screen went dark.
"Hey, what´s up now?" Touji said.
Kensukes uncle entered the communication.
"The tutorial´s over, you´ve finished all opponents."
"Oh, already?"
"Yes, Kensuke, the beginner´s scenario wasn´t made for professionals like you seem to be." the
amn laughed.
"May we play another scenario, uncle?"
"Hm, we are opening now, and... just a second, yes..."
He turned off the sound and looked aside, talked to somebody just outside of screen, nodded.
"Our computers have analysed your performance and suggest now to recruit your to the league."
"What kind of league?" Hikari asked.
"Oh, well, since we are planning to install EVA-center in various cities, OE has also plans on
a league where the best players can show their skills by fighting each other. And you´ve clearly
qualified yourselves!"
"Wow!" Touji said.
"You will collect points for the ranking, and you will be able to buy merchandise at a lower
price, the entrance fee for the center would be halved and on sundays you could even enter for
free."
"Owwww! Did you hear this?"
Kensuke´s eyes are glowing.
A little later the EVA-league had its first - and only - team...
***
Another round started, this time the six found themselves within the ruins of a city between
the skeletons of skyscrapers and destroyed buildings.
"Scarry..." Shinji mumbled after turning in circle once.
"Rei, what do you think?"
"That the scenario ´Ruin´, we should be prepared for everything, the opponents are varrying."
"Ah, Wondergirl does not know everything!"
"Asuka, stop it!" Shinji shouted.
Her answer was a wolf-like growling.
As secretly as possible Shinji looked at the small screen showing the transmission from Rei´s
EntryPlug.
I do just know her since yesterday, so why does she seem so familiar? When we ran into each
other this morning I was... happy to see her... like I had missed her... but why? How can I miss
somebody I barely know? But I trust her... because I know she´d never lie to me... or abbandon
me...
´I will protect you.´
He blinked.
"Rei, did you just say something?"
"No, Shinji-kun."
"Ah... uhm... I´m sorry..."
´I will protect you...´ Like an old memory... but I hadn´t met her before - and when should
she have told me something like that?
"Do you want to root her?" Asuka asked who had equipped her EVA with a large axe at the next
depot.
The view of the red mecha with a mighty battleaxe was enough to make Shinji sweat when he
replaced within his mind the red EVA with the image of Asuka carrying the axe.
"Rifles and close-quarter-weapons seem to be right for this scenario", Rei explained with
emotionless voice.
"Ai, you are talking like old Michigawa."
Touji made a face like he had bitten into a citrus.
Kensuke started laughing with Asuka following.
"That´s not nice of you!" Hikari complained. "Rei wants to share her experiences with us and you
are making fun of her!"
"Who is Michigawa?" Rei asked.
"Michigawa-sensei was our last teacher, Rei, he went into retirement at the beginning of the
year." Shinji explained.
"Dry as dust, the old man was always talking about World War two and the years after, whatever
class was scheduled."
"Asuka, you shouldn´t speak about Michigawa-sensei that way."
"Why not, Hikari, he can´t hear me!"
"But it´s not right... it´s rude."
Touji opened a private channel to Shinji.
"Eh, buddy, how does she mean this?"
"Just listen and learn." Shinji replied.
Touji reentered the common com-link.
"So, I´ve learned more from Misato-sensei this year than from Mr. Michigawa all the years
before." he explained, obviously proud of being polite.
"Yes - how to look under her skirt!" Asuka brought Touji back to reality.
In the meantime Rei had gotten two rifles from the depot and given one to Shinji.
Shinji commented the talk with a desparate shrugging which made her smile.
Meanwhile Kensuke and Hikari also had their EVAs equipped, only Touji was still standing in
front of Asuka and argued, or better: the black EVA stood gesticulating in front of the red EVA
that was armed with an axe.
Finally Asuka had enough and used her axe on the other EVA, cutting its leg at the knee.
"HEEEEEYYYY!" Touji protested when his EVA fell aside and his point of view changed dramatically.
He even thought to feel a fain pain within his leg.
"So, there you got it!" Asuka growled and stomped away.
"Touji, are you alright?" Kensuke asked.
"Yeah, it´s just the mecha. But that ******* ***** Asuka...!"
Kensuke made his EVA lifting up Touji´s EVA, without being asked and without giving a commentary
Hikari came to his aid, together they dragged the onelegged EVA to the depot and connected it
to the maintenance cable. Rei brought them the cut-off leg and pressed in against the stump.
"It´s already reattaching!"
"Oh, yes, you must have healing hands!" Touji grinned and fell to the side again when Hikari´s
EVA let his one suddenly go.
"Eh, what did I say?"
Kensuke giggled. Shinji giggled. Rei giggled.
Asuka waved with the axe.
"Now, can we begin?"
***
The six EVAs moved in formation through the streets, Asuka at the head, next to her Touji armed
with a spear, followed by Hikari, behind her Shinji and Kensuke with Rei acting as rear guard.
At every crossing the first three ran across the street while Shinji and Kensuke secured the
crossing street.
Suddenly a giant eightlegged shadow fell over them. Nearly at the same time all of them looked
up, saw a Matriel of growth-stage ten, or to say it with other words: a damned big one!
"Move!" Kensuke screamed, let his EVA fall backwards, tumbling to the next wall and raising the
rifle.
A stream of tough grey fluid hit his EVAs head and chest.
"I can´t see! And this stuff is like glue!"
Shinji kneed down, took aim.
This time I have the rifle... he thought and hesitated. Why...
"Shinji, look out!" Rei shouted and pushed him aside, was hit herself by the next stream of
fluid.
"That bloody beast is going to web us! Fire!"
Touji was waving with his spear while activating his EVAs jetpacks and jumping upwards.
Asuka had run around the next corner and found what she had been locking for - a leg of the
giant spider. And right now she was hacking at said leg.
Shinji and Hikari were firing at the Matriel as was Rei, whose half body was glued to the ground
but whose arm with the rifle was still free.
The spider lost its balance when it suddenly lost one of its legs. Then it lost its life when
Touji´s spear pierced its belly and three positroncharges exploded.
Asuka returned to the team.
"Hikari, watch our backs! Toji-baka, come, lets free Kensuke!"
Shinji went into the knees next to Rei and inspected the meanwhile hardened fluid.
"Why did you do this?"
"I wanted to protect you... The webbing-fluids of the larger Matriels hardens real fast, you can
cut me free with the knife."
"Uhm, okay."
´I will protect you´, it echoed inside of his head.
"And, Rei..."
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
He smiled.
She only nodded.
"The Matriels are the kind of oppenent that can only be beaten by teamwork."
"Ah, yes. Say, have you been to Tokio before?"
"No."
"Or Kyoto?"
"Neither. The only time I had left Osaka was for a class-trip to Okinawa."
"Hm..."
He was busy cutting EVA-00 free.
"Shinji-kun, may I asked you a question in return?"
"Uh, yes, of course."
He noticed that she had actived a private com-channel so that nobody could spy on their talk.
"Do you like me?"
He swallowed the wrong way and coughed.
"Rei..."
She seemed disappoined.
"So you don´t..."
Shinji was gasping for air.
"I... ah... Rei, I am just surprised. Uh, it´s not that easy, I mean, you are quite okay, but I
just know you since yesterday, and..."
Rei laughed.
"It´s okay, I was just joking."
"Ah, Rei, that... I mean..."
She closed the private channel and returned to the common channel.
"Thank you." she said monotonously when she got up.
"I..."
"Say, my mother told me that at the institut where she´s working also does work a doctor
Ikari..."
"That´s my mother."
"Strange coincidence."
"Asuka´s mother does work there, too. But you are right, it´s strange."
He was glad that she had changed the topic.
"Attention! Opponent at four o´clock!"
While EVA-00 and -01 turned to said direction and took aim with their rifles EVA-03 really raised
the wrist at eyelevel when Touji was looking at his watch inside of the EntryPlug.
"But it´s just a quarter past three!"
Asuka hit her forehand with the open hand - as did her EVA.
"Baka!"
Kensuke´s EVA had been freed, too, but it still was covered with webbing so he was unable to
see and move the neck.
"You must protect Kensuke." Rei said.
"I´ll take on the angel!" Shinji mumbled.
His tactical screen identified the new opponent, a black-grey humanoid with a beaklike face
on the chest. It was a stage seven Satchiel.
"Look out, its weakness is..." Rei tried to tell him.
"Its face, I know..." Shinji whispered.
But how do I come to know this?
He knew even more, like that the angel´s AT-field was to strong for the common positronrifles,
that they would have needed an assault rifle.
Where did I learn this? Where?
His head started to ache, it was a pierching ache emanating from behind his forehead.
The angel stood unmoving in the middle of the next crossing.
Shinji reached for the progressive knife with the right hand.
"Yes, is he crazy?" Touji said when EVA-01 charged.
EVA-03 tried to follow EVA-01 but was stopped by EVA-00.
"Don´t."
"What? Why not? Ikari is my buddy!"
"Do not intercept, Touji... The Satchiel´s mine!" Shinji growled.
"Ikari, what did you got for breakfast?"
Shinji made his EVA run, smashed into the angel that clawed at it.
He grabbed one of the arms with the free hand, pulled with all its EVA´s might.
Right before his mind´s eyes he saw another version of the battle, with EVA-01 stumbling
around, its arm first smashed by the angel that then attacked the EVA´s head with its puls-
beams.
"Not today..." Shinji gnashed.
"Something´s wrong with him!"
Touji tried to push EVA-00 aside but Rei dodged the long arms of EVA-04.
Shinji kneed the Satchiel into the groin, felt satisfaction.
The angel grabbed EVA-01´s shoulder armor, tried to unbalanced it while dodging the knife.
Shinji didn´t yield, used the full power of his EVA and ripped the arm he had grabbed out of
its socket, throwing it away.
"Urks..." Touji made. "Ikari! Kick it´s butt!"
Shinji pressed his teeth together, pulled the angel around and hit it with his knife into the
chest, directly into the face.
"So, father, what do you say now..." he whispered.
Why should father be interested in this...? Where did this anger come from? Why am I having
blurred memories of having fought a being like this before?
EVA-01 stood over its fallen oppenent, pulled the knife out of it.
"Yeah, Ikari! And I though you´d need help!"
"Touji, what has happened? I still can´t see anything!" Kensuke protested.
The screens went dark, showing letters: Mission aborted!
Kensuke´s uncle said:
"Sorry, children, there are other people who also want to try it, it´s quite a rush!"
"Too bad, uncle Keichi!"
"You can return tomorrow."
***
"The datas are unbelievable..."
"Yes, Miss Midori", Selene whispered and browsed again the data from the EntryPlugs.
"Nearly unbelievable that it happened on the very first day... The boy has mastered the
EVANGELION-system like he had years of training. This combined with the reflexes of a
fourteen year old... And the two girls... I guess we´ve just found the pilots for the
clones."
"Yes, Lady Selene" her assistent replied stiffly.
"Stay here, I will be down at the Geo-sector."
"Do you wish to be informed in case of the discovery of further candidats.´?"
"Of course... Thomas is right, it´s strange how everything´s coming together, like somebody
planned it... Gendo Ikari discovers the Geo-sector... Yui Ikari discovers the method we are
using now on the clones´ growth... and their son, Shinji Ikari, seems to be able to synch
spontanously with the artificial brain of one of the clones..."
Midori´s right eyelid twitched when Selene spoke of her brother.
"An incident, not anymore."
"I don´t believe in coincidents..."
********************************************************************************************
Next: The eyes of a child, the Geofront and Colonel Gendo Ikari of NERV
********************************************************************************************
A.N.: Pwwweeehhh... 4 done, 22 still to go...
What´s up with the additional cast, you might ask. Well, most of them are PICKs...
(PICKs = people I can kill)
Bhahahahaha!
@Kimberly: Wie geht´s?
Kyoto, ten years ago
It was a cool and clear night, a perfect night with a bright moon at the sky.
In the starlight two figures were running across the roof of the old part of town, jumping
across the abysses of small streets, overcoming differences in height of several feet without
problems.
Deiko looked back over her shoulder, saw her companion just a few metres behind her. Since
they had started he had gained continously. She laughted, that was exactly what Thomas needed
after all what had happened during the last four years, a confirmation that he was still alive.
Even if his outlook had changed he had stayed the same, the one she once had loved, the one
she still was considering to be her closest friend. Fighting the angeloi-scout had cost him
dearly, as had closing the gateway. And while ordinary humans happened to have her hair turning
grey on such occasions, it had been the other way ´round with him...
They heard sirens in the distance.
Several fire engines of the local fire fighters were racing through the streets below them.
She stopped.
Thomas reached her position.
"What might be going on, Elder Brother?" she asked, using the name of affection she was using
since they´d met the first time more than ten years ago.
She noticed that he seemed to look right through her into the distance and swallowed.
Like four years ago...
"A vision? A new opponent? A angeloi?"
"I... I don´t know... it´s just a calling... come!"
This time he took the lead, running faster and faster like he was moving on even ground.
The target of the fire engine was a large modern apartmentbuilding at the edge of the old part
of the town. Flames were leaking from the windows and about three quarters of the building
were already aflame.
Thomas crouched at the edge of a nearby house´s roof, watching a young woman in a nightdress
who tried to reenter the burning house but was stopped by a fire fighter and a man wearing
nightclothes.
He tried to read her lips across the distance.
"Her son´s still inside..."
He stretched, looking at the burning building.
"There..."
"What are you going to do?"
He smiled, already ascending a ladder to the next roof-level.
She followed him.
"At your state you shouldn´t even think about it..."
Thomas turned around, already standing at the roof´s edge, pulled her close, pressed his lips
onto hers.
"Little Sister, who wants to live forever?"
With these words he let her go, turned around again, jumped into the flames below, following
the call of a frightened child...
***
Now:
"That can´t be", Deiko said, shaking her head.
"Yes, it´s strange how all puzzle pieces are coming together..."
Again his gaze wandered to the picture of the strangely familiar bluehaired girl.
"Diane, complete backgroudscan of all four persons."
"Working on it. Further orders?"
"Have them watched around the clock... and have them offered a place at the special league-
member-training."
"Confirmed."
"Risky, Thomas, very risky. What are we going to do if they are not interested?"
"Leave this to be, Deiko..."
***
"Wahhoo!" Touji shouted after they had destroyed the third nest of angels in a row.
"That´s getting boring", Asuka said. "Always the same critters!"
The last two time they had followed the tactics suggested by Rei and had been successful without
problems.
The main screen went dark.
"Hey, what´s up now?" Touji said.
Kensukes uncle entered the communication.
"The tutorial´s over, you´ve finished all opponents."
"Oh, already?"
"Yes, Kensuke, the beginner´s scenario wasn´t made for professionals like you seem to be." the
amn laughed.
"May we play another scenario, uncle?"
"Hm, we are opening now, and... just a second, yes..."
He turned off the sound and looked aside, talked to somebody just outside of screen, nodded.
"Our computers have analysed your performance and suggest now to recruit your to the league."
"What kind of league?" Hikari asked.
"Oh, well, since we are planning to install EVA-center in various cities, OE has also plans on
a league where the best players can show their skills by fighting each other. And you´ve clearly
qualified yourselves!"
"Wow!" Touji said.
"You will collect points for the ranking, and you will be able to buy merchandise at a lower
price, the entrance fee for the center would be halved and on sundays you could even enter for
free."
"Owwww! Did you hear this?"
Kensuke´s eyes are glowing.
A little later the EVA-league had its first - and only - team...
***
Another round started, this time the six found themselves within the ruins of a city between
the skeletons of skyscrapers and destroyed buildings.
"Scarry..." Shinji mumbled after turning in circle once.
"Rei, what do you think?"
"That the scenario ´Ruin´, we should be prepared for everything, the opponents are varrying."
"Ah, Wondergirl does not know everything!"
"Asuka, stop it!" Shinji shouted.
Her answer was a wolf-like growling.
As secretly as possible Shinji looked at the small screen showing the transmission from Rei´s
EntryPlug.
I do just know her since yesterday, so why does she seem so familiar? When we ran into each
other this morning I was... happy to see her... like I had missed her... but why? How can I miss
somebody I barely know? But I trust her... because I know she´d never lie to me... or abbandon
me...
´I will protect you.´
He blinked.
"Rei, did you just say something?"
"No, Shinji-kun."
"Ah... uhm... I´m sorry..."
´I will protect you...´ Like an old memory... but I hadn´t met her before - and when should
she have told me something like that?
"Do you want to root her?" Asuka asked who had equipped her EVA with a large axe at the next
depot.
The view of the red mecha with a mighty battleaxe was enough to make Shinji sweat when he
replaced within his mind the red EVA with the image of Asuka carrying the axe.
"Rifles and close-quarter-weapons seem to be right for this scenario", Rei explained with
emotionless voice.
"Ai, you are talking like old Michigawa."
Touji made a face like he had bitten into a citrus.
Kensuke started laughing with Asuka following.
"That´s not nice of you!" Hikari complained. "Rei wants to share her experiences with us and you
are making fun of her!"
"Who is Michigawa?" Rei asked.
"Michigawa-sensei was our last teacher, Rei, he went into retirement at the beginning of the
year." Shinji explained.
"Dry as dust, the old man was always talking about World War two and the years after, whatever
class was scheduled."
"Asuka, you shouldn´t speak about Michigawa-sensei that way."
"Why not, Hikari, he can´t hear me!"
"But it´s not right... it´s rude."
Touji opened a private channel to Shinji.
"Eh, buddy, how does she mean this?"
"Just listen and learn." Shinji replied.
Touji reentered the common com-link.
"So, I´ve learned more from Misato-sensei this year than from Mr. Michigawa all the years
before." he explained, obviously proud of being polite.
"Yes - how to look under her skirt!" Asuka brought Touji back to reality.
In the meantime Rei had gotten two rifles from the depot and given one to Shinji.
Shinji commented the talk with a desparate shrugging which made her smile.
Meanwhile Kensuke and Hikari also had their EVAs equipped, only Touji was still standing in
front of Asuka and argued, or better: the black EVA stood gesticulating in front of the red EVA
that was armed with an axe.
Finally Asuka had enough and used her axe on the other EVA, cutting its leg at the knee.
"HEEEEEYYYY!" Touji protested when his EVA fell aside and his point of view changed dramatically.
He even thought to feel a fain pain within his leg.
"So, there you got it!" Asuka growled and stomped away.
"Touji, are you alright?" Kensuke asked.
"Yeah, it´s just the mecha. But that ******* ***** Asuka...!"
Kensuke made his EVA lifting up Touji´s EVA, without being asked and without giving a commentary
Hikari came to his aid, together they dragged the onelegged EVA to the depot and connected it
to the maintenance cable. Rei brought them the cut-off leg and pressed in against the stump.
"It´s already reattaching!"
"Oh, yes, you must have healing hands!" Touji grinned and fell to the side again when Hikari´s
EVA let his one suddenly go.
"Eh, what did I say?"
Kensuke giggled. Shinji giggled. Rei giggled.
Asuka waved with the axe.
"Now, can we begin?"
***
The six EVAs moved in formation through the streets, Asuka at the head, next to her Touji armed
with a spear, followed by Hikari, behind her Shinji and Kensuke with Rei acting as rear guard.
At every crossing the first three ran across the street while Shinji and Kensuke secured the
crossing street.
Suddenly a giant eightlegged shadow fell over them. Nearly at the same time all of them looked
up, saw a Matriel of growth-stage ten, or to say it with other words: a damned big one!
"Move!" Kensuke screamed, let his EVA fall backwards, tumbling to the next wall and raising the
rifle.
A stream of tough grey fluid hit his EVAs head and chest.
"I can´t see! And this stuff is like glue!"
Shinji kneed down, took aim.
This time I have the rifle... he thought and hesitated. Why...
"Shinji, look out!" Rei shouted and pushed him aside, was hit herself by the next stream of
fluid.
"That bloody beast is going to web us! Fire!"
Touji was waving with his spear while activating his EVAs jetpacks and jumping upwards.
Asuka had run around the next corner and found what she had been locking for - a leg of the
giant spider. And right now she was hacking at said leg.
Shinji and Hikari were firing at the Matriel as was Rei, whose half body was glued to the ground
but whose arm with the rifle was still free.
The spider lost its balance when it suddenly lost one of its legs. Then it lost its life when
Touji´s spear pierced its belly and three positroncharges exploded.
Asuka returned to the team.
"Hikari, watch our backs! Toji-baka, come, lets free Kensuke!"
Shinji went into the knees next to Rei and inspected the meanwhile hardened fluid.
"Why did you do this?"
"I wanted to protect you... The webbing-fluids of the larger Matriels hardens real fast, you can
cut me free with the knife."
"Uhm, okay."
´I will protect you´, it echoed inside of his head.
"And, Rei..."
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
He smiled.
She only nodded.
"The Matriels are the kind of oppenent that can only be beaten by teamwork."
"Ah, yes. Say, have you been to Tokio before?"
"No."
"Or Kyoto?"
"Neither. The only time I had left Osaka was for a class-trip to Okinawa."
"Hm..."
He was busy cutting EVA-00 free.
"Shinji-kun, may I asked you a question in return?"
"Uh, yes, of course."
He noticed that she had actived a private com-channel so that nobody could spy on their talk.
"Do you like me?"
He swallowed the wrong way and coughed.
"Rei..."
She seemed disappoined.
"So you don´t..."
Shinji was gasping for air.
"I... ah... Rei, I am just surprised. Uh, it´s not that easy, I mean, you are quite okay, but I
just know you since yesterday, and..."
Rei laughed.
"It´s okay, I was just joking."
"Ah, Rei, that... I mean..."
She closed the private channel and returned to the common channel.
"Thank you." she said monotonously when she got up.
"I..."
"Say, my mother told me that at the institut where she´s working also does work a doctor
Ikari..."
"That´s my mother."
"Strange coincidence."
"Asuka´s mother does work there, too. But you are right, it´s strange."
He was glad that she had changed the topic.
"Attention! Opponent at four o´clock!"
While EVA-00 and -01 turned to said direction and took aim with their rifles EVA-03 really raised
the wrist at eyelevel when Touji was looking at his watch inside of the EntryPlug.
"But it´s just a quarter past three!"
Asuka hit her forehand with the open hand - as did her EVA.
"Baka!"
Kensuke´s EVA had been freed, too, but it still was covered with webbing so he was unable to
see and move the neck.
"You must protect Kensuke." Rei said.
"I´ll take on the angel!" Shinji mumbled.
His tactical screen identified the new opponent, a black-grey humanoid with a beaklike face
on the chest. It was a stage seven Satchiel.
"Look out, its weakness is..." Rei tried to tell him.
"Its face, I know..." Shinji whispered.
But how do I come to know this?
He knew even more, like that the angel´s AT-field was to strong for the common positronrifles,
that they would have needed an assault rifle.
Where did I learn this? Where?
His head started to ache, it was a pierching ache emanating from behind his forehead.
The angel stood unmoving in the middle of the next crossing.
Shinji reached for the progressive knife with the right hand.
"Yes, is he crazy?" Touji said when EVA-01 charged.
EVA-03 tried to follow EVA-01 but was stopped by EVA-00.
"Don´t."
"What? Why not? Ikari is my buddy!"
"Do not intercept, Touji... The Satchiel´s mine!" Shinji growled.
"Ikari, what did you got for breakfast?"
Shinji made his EVA run, smashed into the angel that clawed at it.
He grabbed one of the arms with the free hand, pulled with all its EVA´s might.
Right before his mind´s eyes he saw another version of the battle, with EVA-01 stumbling
around, its arm first smashed by the angel that then attacked the EVA´s head with its puls-
beams.
"Not today..." Shinji gnashed.
"Something´s wrong with him!"
Touji tried to push EVA-00 aside but Rei dodged the long arms of EVA-04.
Shinji kneed the Satchiel into the groin, felt satisfaction.
The angel grabbed EVA-01´s shoulder armor, tried to unbalanced it while dodging the knife.
Shinji didn´t yield, used the full power of his EVA and ripped the arm he had grabbed out of
its socket, throwing it away.
"Urks..." Touji made. "Ikari! Kick it´s butt!"
Shinji pressed his teeth together, pulled the angel around and hit it with his knife into the
chest, directly into the face.
"So, father, what do you say now..." he whispered.
Why should father be interested in this...? Where did this anger come from? Why am I having
blurred memories of having fought a being like this before?
EVA-01 stood over its fallen oppenent, pulled the knife out of it.
"Yeah, Ikari! And I though you´d need help!"
"Touji, what has happened? I still can´t see anything!" Kensuke protested.
The screens went dark, showing letters: Mission aborted!
Kensuke´s uncle said:
"Sorry, children, there are other people who also want to try it, it´s quite a rush!"
"Too bad, uncle Keichi!"
"You can return tomorrow."
***
"The datas are unbelievable..."
"Yes, Miss Midori", Selene whispered and browsed again the data from the EntryPlugs.
"Nearly unbelievable that it happened on the very first day... The boy has mastered the
EVANGELION-system like he had years of training. This combined with the reflexes of a
fourteen year old... And the two girls... I guess we´ve just found the pilots for the
clones."
"Yes, Lady Selene" her assistent replied stiffly.
"Stay here, I will be down at the Geo-sector."
"Do you wish to be informed in case of the discovery of further candidats.´?"
"Of course... Thomas is right, it´s strange how everything´s coming together, like somebody
planned it... Gendo Ikari discovers the Geo-sector... Yui Ikari discovers the method we are
using now on the clones´ growth... and their son, Shinji Ikari, seems to be able to synch
spontanously with the artificial brain of one of the clones..."
Midori´s right eyelid twitched when Selene spoke of her brother.
"An incident, not anymore."
"I don´t believe in coincidents..."
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Next: The eyes of a child, the Geofront and Colonel Gendo Ikari of NERV
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A.N.: Pwwweeehhh... 4 done, 22 still to go...
What´s up with the additional cast, you might ask. Well, most of them are PICKs...
(PICKs = people I can kill)
Bhahahahaha!
@Kimberly: Wie geht´s?