Stage 2 - NERV
Chapter 10 - Death Match
After a long day at work Misato Katsuragi left the school building and walked towards the
parking lot.
Secretly she was looking forward to talk to Ryoji Kaji who had called himself a spy of the
ministery of interior in a secret mission, and turned her gaze to the other side of the street.
The the place where his car had been yesterday and the day before was empty. Misato felt
disappointed.
A pity... Maybe I would have made him invite my for dinner... Is he truely a spy? The ID-card
he showed me looked real... Hm... and if the pupil he has to watch didn´t appear to school
today...
At once she remembered Shinji Ikari and Rei Akagi who both had missed school due to illness.
Ikari und Akagi... eh... Akagi...
Before her mind´s eye a picture of her old friend Ritsuko Akagi appeared she had share a room
at university with until Ritsuko had to do an unexpected pausing.
Considering her age she might be Ritsuko´s daughter... ah, no... that would be a way to big
coincident...
She sighed lowly and went to her car.
***
"Let me carry this." Shinji offered and took the bag with Rei´s cloths from the day before.
Ritsuko let it happen, suppressing an agreeing nod.
Well mannered boy... he doesn´t look like his mother very much, probably he more resembles his
father. Rei seems to have a better taste in boys that I had...
She remembered her first boyfriend and how fast they had broken up.
He´s neither three years older than her, nor does he wear biker-leather and I´m sure he doesn´t
smoke, too. One could get envious...
Again she noticed the secret looks most people freshly in love used to exchange when they thought
to be not watched.
Like they had a secret... sweet...
The next moment she called herself to control, since she had decided to think relationsships to
be illogical it might destroy her whole view of the world to move away from this opinion.
She turned to the doctor she had met last evening.
"And, doctor, may Rei leave?"
"The checks came to no new results, the headache´s gone, so I see no reason to keep her here
anymore. I´ll give you a recipt for some pills against headache, but don´t be afraid to come
back if she feels bad again."
"Of course. And thank you."
She nodded at Rei and took the lead while the two teenagers walked behind her.
At her car Ritsuko asked:
"Shinji, can I give you a ride home? So you don´t have to walk."
Before the boy could answer, Rei said:
"Could he come with us? I´d like to show him my room and then we could look at some old photographs
like the ones of Osaka, my last birthday..."
Ritsuko laughed lowly.
"Shinji?"
"Uhm, yes, I´d like, if it´s no trouble."
"Ach, it´s not, maybe I´ll even go to work today."
Rei seems to have him quite under control if he´s willing to look at the old pictures... or is
it more? Ritsuko, you are becoming paranoid...
***
When Shinji returned home at late afternoon, his father was already waiting for him.
"Sit down", Gendo Ikari said and pointed at one of the chair by the kitchentable.
"Yes, father."
Suddenly he felt very intimidated. Within his fantasy he saw his father with dark tinted glasses
and a completly emotionless face.
"I must talk to you."
Gendo sighed. As areaction the image vanished before his mind´s eye and was replaced by the
caring father he was used to talking about anything with.
"Can you guess the topic?"
Shinji didn´t have to think long and hard.
"Rei."
"that´s one thing. Do you like that girl very much?"
"Yes, father."
"Hm... and what if I tell you that she means trouble, great trouble?"
"Is she in trouble? That must be a misunderstandig, Rei´d..."
Gendo raised a hand to calm him down.
"The troubles more farreaching than you can imagine. You visited the EVA-center of Tokio the last
days?"
Shinji found by the sound of his father´s voice that didn´t really expect an answer. But he nodded.
"Yes, Rei, Asuka, Touji, Kensuke, Hikari and I."
"I know."
Shinji was taken my surprise, his father was working for the government, how did he come to know
about his activities?
"How... what´s the connection between the EVA-center and Rei?"
Ikari placed the ellbows on the table and his chin on the folded hands.
"Shinji, there are things about my work, that are classified... but, son, I am afraid for you."
"Father, what...?"
"You got the attention of some very powerful people, most probably they will talk to you and
the others soon and give you a choice... I am not allowed to tell you anymore, but I hope that
will make the right choice."
"Father... what´s that all about?"
Shinji smiled to lighten the situation.
"Now, don´t tell, that some aliens called angels are going to attack earth and a few children, able
to pilot some giant mechas called EVANGELIONs were humanity´s only hope."
His try failed...
Gendo turned chalk-white, when paler than Rei.
"Shinji, how..."
At the same time he recognized that Shinji´s words hadn´t been meant seriously. He tryed to hide
his reaction behind a smile.
"Listen, don´t tell anybody, neither mother nor anybody else, yes?"
"I... yes, father. Are you trying to tell me to stay away from the EVA-center? So I won´t go there
anymore. Just don´t tell me not to see Rei anymore, please."
"That wouldn´t make much sense, would it? And about the center... it´s too late... well, and your
girl-friend... I guess your mother would like to meet her. Since she already met Suzuhara and
Aida, she shouldn´t be able to be shocked anymore... she can only be surprised positively."
"Uhm, yes."
"Good."
Gendo got up.
"Well, that´s all."
The doorbell rung.
"I´ll go!"
Shinji jumped to his feet and ran to the door.
Other other side Asuka stood, handing him a bunch of papers.
"Here, the homework."
"Thank you."
He took the papers.
"The lower bundle is Rei´s."
"Asuka, that..."
Shinji blinked.
"Thank you", he repeated.
"Don´t make it a problem, yes? Hikari made me. So... was it worth not going to school?"
"Uhm..."
"Well? How is Rei? Does she have to stay in bed with high fever or what?"
"She´s already feeling better... just... I guess it what the pressure of moving and stuff..."
"So? Well, that makes her appear human", Asuka mumbled thinking.
"Does that mean you´re going to get along with her now?"
Asuka glared at him.
"Maybe... So, if she´s feeling better, she should come to the EVA-center tomorrow, since we did
really miss you two... with only four players the six-player-scenario´s impossible to beat."
"So, ahm,... well..."
He remembered his father´s words.
"Come, you owe me! I told Misato-sensei you were ill, too... She asked me to greet you and tell
you that she needs a writen note of excuse signed by your parents..."
"Oh dear..."
Asuka smiled sheepishly.
"I did not expected this, too... Hey, Shinji, lets do the homework together."
"Ah, yes,... But I have to bring Rei her copies before..."
Asuka sighed.
"I´ll give you a ride after you´ve finished your homework", Gendo said from inside of the
apartment. "And I´ll also write this note for you... but only this one time, next time you´ll
have to explain it to your mother."
Shinji, who had twitched at first, suddenly had a smile all over the face when he ran back into
the kitchen and embraced his father who returned the gesture with a sorrowful smile.
***
Rei opened the apartment´s door.
"Shinji?! Did you forget something?"
"Uh, no, quite the different. Here, copies for you."
"Oh, thanks, would you like to enter?"
He shook his head.
"My father´s waiting downstairs with the car. But there´s also a note, at the top, about today´s
topics."
"Yes... That´s Soryu´s... Asuka´s hand..."
"You recognize it?"
"Ja."
"She brought me the stuff an hour ago... and yours too."
"That´s... strange..."
"Ahm, yes... one the other hand Asuka´s never really angry at someone for long - that means if
that someone survives long enough."
He grinned broadly.
His grin seemd to be infecting.
"And, ah, will you come to the EVA-center tomorrow?"
"If you come, yes."
"Good."
Ritsuko Akagi came out of the bathroom.
"Rei-chan, who is it? - Oh, Shinji! - Well, as it seems you are unable to be seperated!"
"Mom!"
***
The next day during lunchbreak Misoto looked from inside of the teachers´ room through the window
at the street.
Outside it was raining heavily.
There´s his car again...
Some minutes later she walked across the parking lot, an umbrella in one hand, a trey with two
mugs of hot coffee in the other one.
Kaji lowered the window.
"Ah, Miss Katsuragi, somehow I´ve hoped to see you today."
"May I enter your car, Mister Superspy?"
Kaji laughed.
"Of course."
He opened the passenger´s door.
Carefully Misato climbed into the car, balancing the trey.
"What are you bringing?"
"Coffee. I thought, you might need one."
He took one of the mugs.
"Oh, you´re an angel, Misato... ah, may I..."
"Yes."
"So, please call me Ryoji."
"Hm, Kaji sounds better, I think, more mysterious..."
"Ha!"
He took a sip.
"Oh, it´s good."
"I guess you still won´t tell me today who you are watching."
"No."
"Ikari or Akagi?"
"Please, don´t keep digging or one of us has to leave this car."
"Okay, okay."
"Misato... would you like to have dinner with me this evening?"
"Oh, that... hm... yes, I´d like."
"Good, I´ll come and get you. About eight o´clock?"
"Yes... Do you know, where I live?"
He nodded.
"Look into the compartment."
"What?"
She opened the compartment, her eyes widened when she saw the gun inside.
"The file at the top."
"Yes... That´s my picture... you have my file?"
"Eh... Will you still have dinner with me?"
"This depends on what´s written inside..."
"Nothing critical."
"Do you always check the background of somebody you going to have dinner with?"
"No, only if it´s linked to my work."
"So it will be a work-dinner?"
"I think, I can seperate work and private things."
"Hm, there´s nothing about my wild youth within your file."
"Yes?"
"Ah, I see, that would interest you... Maybe I´ll tell you this evening."
"So we´ll have our date?"
"Eight o´clock. Be punctual, Kaji!"
"Oh, I will be!"
***
Rei was sitting inside one of the EVA-VR-game´s EntryPlugs and waited for the scenario to start.
More of the screens lightened up. REi was surprised to see that Asuka had opened a private channel
to her.
At the same time the main screen came to life, showing a giantic oval arena with countless
EVANGELIONs of all models sitting on the ranks as spectators.
"Asuka, what´s going on?"
"The arena-mode was activated yesterday. Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"I think we should fight it out, just the two of us."
"But what?"
"Just you and me, winner gets Shinji."
Rei´s eyes tripled their size.
"What?"
"If I win, you´ll leave him along. And if you win, you´ll be yours, it´s that easy."
"Shinji doesn´t belong anybody!"
"If you think so,,, Well, are you ready?"
"I..."
Rei noticed that an armament building had opened behind her.
"Asuka, that´s nonsense!"
"I don´t think so. Come, chose your weapon!"
"But why should we fight each other?"
"I want to know who´s the better one... and don´t forget, if - if - you win, I´ll leave you and
Shinji alone."
"Hm..."
Rei frowned.
"Okay."
Asuka smiled sure of her impending victory when she made her red EVA draw a two-handed-sword
from the armament building.
Rei tryed to open a channel to the others, but couldn´t connect.
She was left on her own. A feeling of loneliness overcame her, teared at her heart.
The vision of an empty run-down building...
Loud noise...
Loneliness... Coldness... Emptiness...
"Rei, what´s up?" Asuka asked challengingly.
Rei looked up.
I can´t allow myself to be distracted...
Slowly she turned towards the armament building, choose an one-handed sword and a large shield.
"I am ready."
The EVAs were facing each other from opposing ends of the arena.
In the center of the arena a man wearing a dark suit appeared. From above, out of the virtuel
clouds a microphone came down at a rope, which the man took elegantly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the fight of the century! In the left corner´s the prototype
EVA-00 and its pilot, Miss Rei Akagi, counting 79 destroyed angels and 2 failed missions. In
the right corner´s the series model EVA-02 and its pilot, Miss Asuka Soryu Langley, counting
9 destroyed angels and one failed mission. Let´s get ready to rumble!"
The microphone was pulled upwards back into the clouds and the man disappeared in a whirl of
bits and bytes.
I didn´t thought her to be that good...
Asuka swallowed.
She really must have trained a lot in Osaka...
The two giant marched towards each other.
Asuka reached out with the swordarm in a greeting gesture.
Rei answered the gesture, the blades touched lightly.
Then EVA-00 took a defensive position, ready to dodge with the shield.
Asuka charged at once with powerful strikes and slashes with Rei slowly withdrawing step for
step.
"Come on, Wondergirl, defend yourself!"
The next thrust pierced Rei´s defense, smashed the shield and cut off unit zero´s arm at the
ellbow joint.
A short pierching pain moved up Rei´s arm, was unconsciously channeled into ignorance.
Highest synch-ratio... she though. What? - There´s no synchronisation of pilot and EVA, it´s
just a game...
Asuka´s next slash nearly hit her EVA´s head but Rei managed to move out of harm´s way and to raise
her own sword to meet Asuka´s blade.
For Shinji...
Suddenly she felt anger raising within herself.
She wants to take Shinji away from me...
Rei moved to counterattack.
Asuka took a step backwards, kept Rei away with mighty swordthrusts.
Rei changed her tactics, offered Asuka the unprotected side of her EVA, let herself fall to the
ground at the last moment and thrusted her blade upwards into the red EVA´s belly.
EVA-02 let go of its sword, pressed its hands onto the wound.
On the screen Asuka´s face twisted with pain.
"Urgh... That felt like a kick to the stomach..."
EVA-00 kicked at the legs of unit two, sent it the ground, jumped up staggeringly since the
missing arm influenced the mecha´s balance.
Asuka opened her eyes widely when she saw unit zero suddenly standing over her, sword ready to
deliever the deathstroke.
"Go on, you´ve won, now finish it."
"You accept your defeat?"
"Yes." Asuka pressed the words through her lips.
Rei threw away her sword, offered Asuka a hand to aid EVA-02 getting up-
"I don´t wish to inflict further pain... I´d rather like to be your friend."
"What?"
Asuka looked at her speechless.
***
At the controll center Midori Sekigaha looked over Keichi Aida´s shoulder.
Large sweatdrops had formed on Kensuke´s uncle´s brow.
"Is it really necessary to increase the synch-ratio, Major?"
"We are testing the level of psychic pressure."
"But one of the pilot´s my nephew."
"I know." she answered sharply. "Akagi´s data are quite interesting, she has reacted very
impressing to the pain, like she had been trained to..."
"May I finish the test?"
"No. Send a Zeruel into the arena. And activate the other pilots´ interfaces."
"Do you really think that they are ready to face such an opponent?
"They have to... they just to be ready..." she whispered bitterly.
***********************************************************************************************
Next: Berserker * Hate * And a kiss...
Chapter 10 - Death Match
After a long day at work Misato Katsuragi left the school building and walked towards the
parking lot.
Secretly she was looking forward to talk to Ryoji Kaji who had called himself a spy of the
ministery of interior in a secret mission, and turned her gaze to the other side of the street.
The the place where his car had been yesterday and the day before was empty. Misato felt
disappointed.
A pity... Maybe I would have made him invite my for dinner... Is he truely a spy? The ID-card
he showed me looked real... Hm... and if the pupil he has to watch didn´t appear to school
today...
At once she remembered Shinji Ikari and Rei Akagi who both had missed school due to illness.
Ikari und Akagi... eh... Akagi...
Before her mind´s eye a picture of her old friend Ritsuko Akagi appeared she had share a room
at university with until Ritsuko had to do an unexpected pausing.
Considering her age she might be Ritsuko´s daughter... ah, no... that would be a way to big
coincident...
She sighed lowly and went to her car.
***
"Let me carry this." Shinji offered and took the bag with Rei´s cloths from the day before.
Ritsuko let it happen, suppressing an agreeing nod.
Well mannered boy... he doesn´t look like his mother very much, probably he more resembles his
father. Rei seems to have a better taste in boys that I had...
She remembered her first boyfriend and how fast they had broken up.
He´s neither three years older than her, nor does he wear biker-leather and I´m sure he doesn´t
smoke, too. One could get envious...
Again she noticed the secret looks most people freshly in love used to exchange when they thought
to be not watched.
Like they had a secret... sweet...
The next moment she called herself to control, since she had decided to think relationsships to
be illogical it might destroy her whole view of the world to move away from this opinion.
She turned to the doctor she had met last evening.
"And, doctor, may Rei leave?"
"The checks came to no new results, the headache´s gone, so I see no reason to keep her here
anymore. I´ll give you a recipt for some pills against headache, but don´t be afraid to come
back if she feels bad again."
"Of course. And thank you."
She nodded at Rei and took the lead while the two teenagers walked behind her.
At her car Ritsuko asked:
"Shinji, can I give you a ride home? So you don´t have to walk."
Before the boy could answer, Rei said:
"Could he come with us? I´d like to show him my room and then we could look at some old photographs
like the ones of Osaka, my last birthday..."
Ritsuko laughed lowly.
"Shinji?"
"Uhm, yes, I´d like, if it´s no trouble."
"Ach, it´s not, maybe I´ll even go to work today."
Rei seems to have him quite under control if he´s willing to look at the old pictures... or is
it more? Ritsuko, you are becoming paranoid...
***
When Shinji returned home at late afternoon, his father was already waiting for him.
"Sit down", Gendo Ikari said and pointed at one of the chair by the kitchentable.
"Yes, father."
Suddenly he felt very intimidated. Within his fantasy he saw his father with dark tinted glasses
and a completly emotionless face.
"I must talk to you."
Gendo sighed. As areaction the image vanished before his mind´s eye and was replaced by the
caring father he was used to talking about anything with.
"Can you guess the topic?"
Shinji didn´t have to think long and hard.
"Rei."
"that´s one thing. Do you like that girl very much?"
"Yes, father."
"Hm... and what if I tell you that she means trouble, great trouble?"
"Is she in trouble? That must be a misunderstandig, Rei´d..."
Gendo raised a hand to calm him down.
"The troubles more farreaching than you can imagine. You visited the EVA-center of Tokio the last
days?"
Shinji found by the sound of his father´s voice that didn´t really expect an answer. But he nodded.
"Yes, Rei, Asuka, Touji, Kensuke, Hikari and I."
"I know."
Shinji was taken my surprise, his father was working for the government, how did he come to know
about his activities?
"How... what´s the connection between the EVA-center and Rei?"
Ikari placed the ellbows on the table and his chin on the folded hands.
"Shinji, there are things about my work, that are classified... but, son, I am afraid for you."
"Father, what...?"
"You got the attention of some very powerful people, most probably they will talk to you and
the others soon and give you a choice... I am not allowed to tell you anymore, but I hope that
will make the right choice."
"Father... what´s that all about?"
Shinji smiled to lighten the situation.
"Now, don´t tell, that some aliens called angels are going to attack earth and a few children, able
to pilot some giant mechas called EVANGELIONs were humanity´s only hope."
His try failed...
Gendo turned chalk-white, when paler than Rei.
"Shinji, how..."
At the same time he recognized that Shinji´s words hadn´t been meant seriously. He tryed to hide
his reaction behind a smile.
"Listen, don´t tell anybody, neither mother nor anybody else, yes?"
"I... yes, father. Are you trying to tell me to stay away from the EVA-center? So I won´t go there
anymore. Just don´t tell me not to see Rei anymore, please."
"That wouldn´t make much sense, would it? And about the center... it´s too late... well, and your
girl-friend... I guess your mother would like to meet her. Since she already met Suzuhara and
Aida, she shouldn´t be able to be shocked anymore... she can only be surprised positively."
"Uhm, yes."
"Good."
Gendo got up.
"Well, that´s all."
The doorbell rung.
"I´ll go!"
Shinji jumped to his feet and ran to the door.
Other other side Asuka stood, handing him a bunch of papers.
"Here, the homework."
"Thank you."
He took the papers.
"The lower bundle is Rei´s."
"Asuka, that..."
Shinji blinked.
"Thank you", he repeated.
"Don´t make it a problem, yes? Hikari made me. So... was it worth not going to school?"
"Uhm..."
"Well? How is Rei? Does she have to stay in bed with high fever or what?"
"She´s already feeling better... just... I guess it what the pressure of moving and stuff..."
"So? Well, that makes her appear human", Asuka mumbled thinking.
"Does that mean you´re going to get along with her now?"
Asuka glared at him.
"Maybe... So, if she´s feeling better, she should come to the EVA-center tomorrow, since we did
really miss you two... with only four players the six-player-scenario´s impossible to beat."
"So, ahm,... well..."
He remembered his father´s words.
"Come, you owe me! I told Misato-sensei you were ill, too... She asked me to greet you and tell
you that she needs a writen note of excuse signed by your parents..."
"Oh dear..."
Asuka smiled sheepishly.
"I did not expected this, too... Hey, Shinji, lets do the homework together."
"Ah, yes,... But I have to bring Rei her copies before..."
Asuka sighed.
"I´ll give you a ride after you´ve finished your homework", Gendo said from inside of the
apartment. "And I´ll also write this note for you... but only this one time, next time you´ll
have to explain it to your mother."
Shinji, who had twitched at first, suddenly had a smile all over the face when he ran back into
the kitchen and embraced his father who returned the gesture with a sorrowful smile.
***
Rei opened the apartment´s door.
"Shinji?! Did you forget something?"
"Uh, no, quite the different. Here, copies for you."
"Oh, thanks, would you like to enter?"
He shook his head.
"My father´s waiting downstairs with the car. But there´s also a note, at the top, about today´s
topics."
"Yes... That´s Soryu´s... Asuka´s hand..."
"You recognize it?"
"Ja."
"She brought me the stuff an hour ago... and yours too."
"That´s... strange..."
"Ahm, yes... one the other hand Asuka´s never really angry at someone for long - that means if
that someone survives long enough."
He grinned broadly.
His grin seemd to be infecting.
"And, ah, will you come to the EVA-center tomorrow?"
"If you come, yes."
"Good."
Ritsuko Akagi came out of the bathroom.
"Rei-chan, who is it? - Oh, Shinji! - Well, as it seems you are unable to be seperated!"
"Mom!"
***
The next day during lunchbreak Misoto looked from inside of the teachers´ room through the window
at the street.
Outside it was raining heavily.
There´s his car again...
Some minutes later she walked across the parking lot, an umbrella in one hand, a trey with two
mugs of hot coffee in the other one.
Kaji lowered the window.
"Ah, Miss Katsuragi, somehow I´ve hoped to see you today."
"May I enter your car, Mister Superspy?"
Kaji laughed.
"Of course."
He opened the passenger´s door.
Carefully Misato climbed into the car, balancing the trey.
"What are you bringing?"
"Coffee. I thought, you might need one."
He took one of the mugs.
"Oh, you´re an angel, Misato... ah, may I..."
"Yes."
"So, please call me Ryoji."
"Hm, Kaji sounds better, I think, more mysterious..."
"Ha!"
He took a sip.
"Oh, it´s good."
"I guess you still won´t tell me today who you are watching."
"No."
"Ikari or Akagi?"
"Please, don´t keep digging or one of us has to leave this car."
"Okay, okay."
"Misato... would you like to have dinner with me this evening?"
"Oh, that... hm... yes, I´d like."
"Good, I´ll come and get you. About eight o´clock?"
"Yes... Do you know, where I live?"
He nodded.
"Look into the compartment."
"What?"
She opened the compartment, her eyes widened when she saw the gun inside.
"The file at the top."
"Yes... That´s my picture... you have my file?"
"Eh... Will you still have dinner with me?"
"This depends on what´s written inside..."
"Nothing critical."
"Do you always check the background of somebody you going to have dinner with?"
"No, only if it´s linked to my work."
"So it will be a work-dinner?"
"I think, I can seperate work and private things."
"Hm, there´s nothing about my wild youth within your file."
"Yes?"
"Ah, I see, that would interest you... Maybe I´ll tell you this evening."
"So we´ll have our date?"
"Eight o´clock. Be punctual, Kaji!"
"Oh, I will be!"
***
Rei was sitting inside one of the EVA-VR-game´s EntryPlugs and waited for the scenario to start.
More of the screens lightened up. REi was surprised to see that Asuka had opened a private channel
to her.
At the same time the main screen came to life, showing a giantic oval arena with countless
EVANGELIONs of all models sitting on the ranks as spectators.
"Asuka, what´s going on?"
"The arena-mode was activated yesterday. Are you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"I think we should fight it out, just the two of us."
"But what?"
"Just you and me, winner gets Shinji."
Rei´s eyes tripled their size.
"What?"
"If I win, you´ll leave him along. And if you win, you´ll be yours, it´s that easy."
"Shinji doesn´t belong anybody!"
"If you think so,,, Well, are you ready?"
"I..."
Rei noticed that an armament building had opened behind her.
"Asuka, that´s nonsense!"
"I don´t think so. Come, chose your weapon!"
"But why should we fight each other?"
"I want to know who´s the better one... and don´t forget, if - if - you win, I´ll leave you and
Shinji alone."
"Hm..."
Rei frowned.
"Okay."
Asuka smiled sure of her impending victory when she made her red EVA draw a two-handed-sword
from the armament building.
Rei tryed to open a channel to the others, but couldn´t connect.
She was left on her own. A feeling of loneliness overcame her, teared at her heart.
The vision of an empty run-down building...
Loud noise...
Loneliness... Coldness... Emptiness...
"Rei, what´s up?" Asuka asked challengingly.
Rei looked up.
I can´t allow myself to be distracted...
Slowly she turned towards the armament building, choose an one-handed sword and a large shield.
"I am ready."
The EVAs were facing each other from opposing ends of the arena.
In the center of the arena a man wearing a dark suit appeared. From above, out of the virtuel
clouds a microphone came down at a rope, which the man took elegantly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the fight of the century! In the left corner´s the prototype
EVA-00 and its pilot, Miss Rei Akagi, counting 79 destroyed angels and 2 failed missions. In
the right corner´s the series model EVA-02 and its pilot, Miss Asuka Soryu Langley, counting
9 destroyed angels and one failed mission. Let´s get ready to rumble!"
The microphone was pulled upwards back into the clouds and the man disappeared in a whirl of
bits and bytes.
I didn´t thought her to be that good...
Asuka swallowed.
She really must have trained a lot in Osaka...
The two giant marched towards each other.
Asuka reached out with the swordarm in a greeting gesture.
Rei answered the gesture, the blades touched lightly.
Then EVA-00 took a defensive position, ready to dodge with the shield.
Asuka charged at once with powerful strikes and slashes with Rei slowly withdrawing step for
step.
"Come on, Wondergirl, defend yourself!"
The next thrust pierced Rei´s defense, smashed the shield and cut off unit zero´s arm at the
ellbow joint.
A short pierching pain moved up Rei´s arm, was unconsciously channeled into ignorance.
Highest synch-ratio... she though. What? - There´s no synchronisation of pilot and EVA, it´s
just a game...
Asuka´s next slash nearly hit her EVA´s head but Rei managed to move out of harm´s way and to raise
her own sword to meet Asuka´s blade.
For Shinji...
Suddenly she felt anger raising within herself.
She wants to take Shinji away from me...
Rei moved to counterattack.
Asuka took a step backwards, kept Rei away with mighty swordthrusts.
Rei changed her tactics, offered Asuka the unprotected side of her EVA, let herself fall to the
ground at the last moment and thrusted her blade upwards into the red EVA´s belly.
EVA-02 let go of its sword, pressed its hands onto the wound.
On the screen Asuka´s face twisted with pain.
"Urgh... That felt like a kick to the stomach..."
EVA-00 kicked at the legs of unit two, sent it the ground, jumped up staggeringly since the
missing arm influenced the mecha´s balance.
Asuka opened her eyes widely when she saw unit zero suddenly standing over her, sword ready to
deliever the deathstroke.
"Go on, you´ve won, now finish it."
"You accept your defeat?"
"Yes." Asuka pressed the words through her lips.
Rei threw away her sword, offered Asuka a hand to aid EVA-02 getting up-
"I don´t wish to inflict further pain... I´d rather like to be your friend."
"What?"
Asuka looked at her speechless.
***
At the controll center Midori Sekigaha looked over Keichi Aida´s shoulder.
Large sweatdrops had formed on Kensuke´s uncle´s brow.
"Is it really necessary to increase the synch-ratio, Major?"
"We are testing the level of psychic pressure."
"But one of the pilot´s my nephew."
"I know." she answered sharply. "Akagi´s data are quite interesting, she has reacted very
impressing to the pain, like she had been trained to..."
"May I finish the test?"
"No. Send a Zeruel into the arena. And activate the other pilots´ interfaces."
"Do you really think that they are ready to face such an opponent?
"They have to... they just to be ready..." she whispered bitterly.
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Next: Berserker * Hate * And a kiss...