Disclaimer: see part 1
Chain of Command
Part 15
Resent
By Random1377
"She wouldn't talk to me…"
Shinji turned over in bed, propping himself up on one elbow to better assess his fiancée in the darkness of their bedroom.
"Angelica, you mean?" he queried, not entirely conscious.
It was almost midnight, and he had just been drifting off to sleep when she had spoken.
Asuka nodded, turning onto her side and putting her arms around him. "She wouldn't even look at me…"
"Honey," he said calmly, pulling her tight up against him, "she doesn't talk to, or look at… anyone… it's only been three days, give it some time."
"She should have been able to talk to me," the redhead whispered, "I am – was – her friend…"
"I'm sure she still thinks of you that way," Shinji said gently, "she's just… not herself right now. She'll get better."
"What if she doesn't?" Asuka asked, "The last time we spoke…" her voice dropped into a quiet whisper, "I was so mean to her… and Shinji…" she met his eyes in the semi-dark, "I'm… still mad at her… even after all this, I'm still pissed as hell…"
He swallowed, knowing that she had every right to be mad at the stricken Ninth Child… and him.
-She's put it all on Angie,- he thought suddenly, -she doesn't want to be mad at me… so she's made it all Angie's fault…-
He closed his eyes as she laid her head on his chest, thinking how nice it would be to feel totally blameless. True, she had been the one to start it… but in the end, that was no excuse – he had been just as much a part of what they had done as her.
"Shinji…" Asuka whispered, "after the last angel… I want to leave this place, ok?"
"Anywhere special you want to go?" he asked, glad to have a topic other than the one they had been discussing.
"Anywhere but here…" she said quietly, "I just want to forget the angels… the EVAs… this city… all of it."
"I don't mind the city…" Shinji said after a moment, "and really… the EVAs don't bother me like they used to… but the angels… yeah, I'd like to forget them…"
"I hate them," the redhead whispered, holding him tighter, "I hate them so much, Shinji… it's all I can think about…"
He said nothing, choosing instead to let her vent her fear and frustration.
"Every time I think it's gotten the worst it possibly can… something else happens," Asuka said softly, "First Xiang… then Veroniuqe… now Angie…" she took a shuddering breath. "It was supposed to be me with that rifle," she said miserably, "that was supposed to be my angel… my punishment…"
"No," he said gently, deciding he couldn't let that pass without saying something, "it wasn't… it wasn't supposed to happen at all… and you don't deserve punishment, honey… you haven't done anything wrong."
"But I have! Shinji, I-"
"No!" he cut her off firmly, "You haven't! The worst thing you've ever done was taking me back… and when this is all over, I'll take you any place in the world you want to go…"
She smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "If taking you back is the worst thing I've done…" she said, her voice becoming more normal, "then I've had it pretty good…"
He kissed her softly. "None if this was your fault…" he said, holding her eyes with his, "and-"
The sound of the angel alarm sounding interrupted him before he could finish.
"So soon?" she whispered, her voice flat and hollow.
"Come on, honey…" Shinji said, kissing his fiancée's cheek and climbing out of bed, "let's show them we're not going to give up – no matter how hard they push…"
She opened her eyes… and he was relieved to see a deep spark of determination in their blue depths.
"Yeah," she agreed, throwing the covers back and rising to her feet, "I'm gonna-"
Shinji grabbed her wrist, spinning her around and clamping his lips to hers before she could even gasp in surprise. "No revenge," he whispered as they parted, staring deep into her eyes to make sure she was listening, "promise me, Asuka. If you get a good shot, fine… but don't try and make this into a personal war."
She opened her mouth to protest, but his expression indicated that he would hear none of it.
"Fine…" she said calmly, "I'll keep it professional… but only for you…"
He nodded, releasing her hand. "Good," he said, smiling at her, "because I would hate to have to spank you…"
She grinned, turning away with a hand on her hip and looking over her shoulder seductively. "Maybe later… now let's go!"
They dressed quickly and sprinted for their car… both of them secretly thinking that they would be the one to destroy this angel.
And both of them thinking of the woman they would be doing it for.
**
"Status?" Rei said as her plug finished its entry cycle.
"It's still advancing, Commander," Misato's voice came back to her, "but something feels wrong about it… no AT field detected yet, but it looks pretty heavily armored. I don't like it… it's moving too slow – like it wants us to come get it."
"Who is closest?" the blue-haired girl inquired.
"David and Melissa," came the reply, "Shinji and Asuka are on their way in, three miles from Headquarters and moving fast. Everyone else is suiting up or awaiting launch instructions."
"Launch all available Units and launch the remaining Units as the pilots are readied…" Rei said quietly, "I do not want it near us."
"U-understood…" Misato answered, sounding confused.
As her own catapult launched her to the surface, Rei thought back to her conversation with Sandelphon.
"They will come faster now, Mother… and they will become more aggressive as they come. They are no longer willing to wait."
"What was your trial, angel… tell me now."
"My trial was patience… and acceptance."
"I do not understand."
"Your Lillim have allowed me to live for many cycles, Mother… they have proven that they are patient… that trial is past."
"And the trial of acceptance?"
Rei shivered as she recalled the answer.
Sandelphon had said that the longer she had stayed, the more she had been accepted…
"By me…" the blue-haired girl whispered, her tone flat and un-reflected in the LCL, "I accepted her as more than just an enemy… and my acceptance was the passing of the trial… I am to blame…"
What was the serpentine creature to her, exactly? She wasn't sure… but she knew that she saw it as more than just a monster to be exterminated.
"Target sighted, should we engage?"
Rei shook her head to clear away the uselessly self-deprecating thoughts as David's voice reached her. "Can you see its core?" she asked.
"Yes," the Russian's voice came back, "it's… no… wait…"
"What is the problem?" the blue-haired girl asked.
"Nothing…" David replied, "it's just that… its got several red dots on its back… kinda hard to pick out the core…"
Rei felt a sudden sense of unease.
They will become more cunning, Mother…
"Pull back and await my arrival…" she ordered, "I would like to see it myself, at close range…"
As David acknowledged her, she felt more apprehension filling her normally calm mind.
-Why do I need to see it…?- she thought, frowning slightly, -And why do I feel as if I must stop it before it gets any closer?-
"Unit 13 online," Mira's voice reached her, "launching…"
Rei turned Unit 00's head as the white Unit was thrown skyward, waiting until it had reached the top of its flight path before spreading its wings and gliding towards the slow-moving angel.
-There is no reason for this level of concern…- the blue-haired girl thought as she watched the other EVA move, -I do not understand what is wrong with me…-
But as she willed her blue Unit in the direction of the upcoming battle, she could not shake the feeling that something was just not right…
**
"Unit 12 standing by," Melissa said calmly.
-At least I sound like I'm in control,- the woman thought as she brought her Unit to a halt, -so I have that going for me. At least I know this thing's against me…-
Since she had gotten to Tokyo-3, the shy little girl from New Springfield, Illinois had had a hard time adjusting.
All of her fellow pilots, and the staff at NERV, had treated her as an equal when she first arrived… and she had even made friends with Xiang Lee, becoming almost like sisters before the Chinese girl's incapacitation. It wasn't until right before the eleventh angel's attack that she had found out that Veronique and Mira had been secretly insulting her behind her back.
She had thought she was in the company of friends, but it seemed that even here, even now, the world was a cruel place – especially for someone with her particular skin tone.
"Funny…" she mused as she watched the oncoming angel, "I was always taught that Second Impact was the great equalizer… guess that was a load of-"
"All Units are in place," Asuka's voice interrupted her thoughts, "awaiting order for attack."
Melissa focussed herself on the present as the Commander's voice replied.
"All Units converge," Rei's voice instructed levelly, "destroy the target as fast as possible…"
The Twelfth Child blinked in surprise. Never had she heard her commanding officer that… scared. It was unnerving.
The Units began to approach the armor-plated creature cautiously. –Ugly looking thing,- Melissa thought absently.
The angel was a huge, almost lizard-like monster, with twelve spikes protruding from its sides and a series of red dots – almost like eyes – covering its back.
"Moving in," she said, noting that Units 07 and 11 were beginning their runs also.
"I'm going for the core," Wu Lin said, his tone excited, "I can see it… its right – back off! Everyone back off!!!"
Melissa barely had time to blink as the angel suddenly crouched to the ground… and five of the spikes on its sides shot out, revealing themselves to be tentacles.
Units 07 and 11 dodged, barely weaving around the two that came their way.
Melissa was not so lucky.
"Unit 12 has been hit," she heard David's voice report, even as she felt a dull throb of pain in her left shoulder, "one wing is gone – damnit, I can't get to her!"
Melissa raised her Unit's arm as the angel drew itself up, obviously intending to crush her.
"Get out of the way, you damn idiot!"
Mira's voice exploded across the tac-net, and two seconds later, Unit 13 swooped down, scooping the damaged Unit 12 up off the ground an instant before the angel brought its massive weight down on the spot it had just occupied.
"LeBeau?" Melissa gasped, unable to believe that this was her savior.
"What?" Mira snapped, willing Unit 13 to flap its wings harder, rising up out of the angel's range and turning towards Headquarters.
"You… I thought… thank you…" the black woman stammered.
"I still think someone like you doesn't deserve to be a pilot," the French woman answered tersely, "but what I think doesn't stop me from doing my job – I'm a professional."
Melissa considered this for a minute as the other Unit carried her towards safety.
"Fair enough," she said quietly, "then I won't let my low opinion of your I.Q. stop me from feeling grateful."
There was a moment of silence, then the French girl let out a brief snort. "Shut up, Aims," she said, bemused.
-Well…- Melissa thought as they listened to the other pilots fight, -even if she's not my friend, at least I know she'll watch my back…-
And for a pilot… that was all that truly mattered.
**
"Hit it again!" Asuka cried, "I don't want any more Units damaged, damnit!"
They had gotten five successful hits in against the angel… but none to its core, and none showing much effect.
Besides enraging the angel, that is.
"Unit 12 is safe," Mira's voice announced, "I'm re-engaging."
"We've got to stop this thing," Shinji said, "it's moving faster, now… we're too close to the city!"
"Shinji is right," Rei said quietly, "all Units attack."
"Got an idea," Touji said quickly, "Klashnikov – get me onto that thing's back."
"You're insane, man!" David replied, "But that's why I love you."
"Not so loud," Touji replied, feigning a whisper, "that's supposed to be our little secret! Hikari would kill me!"
"Your secret is safe with me," David replied with a laugh, "and everyone else listening in. Now let's do it!"
Asuka watched as the black Unit was carried into the air by the white one, gripping its lance in both hands. "All remaining Units," she said, pushing forward on the control yokes, "let's get those tentacles off their back… EVAs, move in!!"
The battle was brief, but intense, as the ground-based Units and airborne ones commenced their assault.
Unit 00 and 02 were both struck glancing blows by the waving appendages, but managed to shake the damage off and continue the attack. Unit 11 wove in and out, trying to find an opening.
"There!" David called, willing his Unit to let Touji's go, "It's all yours, man!"
Touji screamed as Unit 03 fell on the angel, holding the lance up over its head and bringing it down directly in the middle of the angel's core.
The resulting explosion was tremendous, sending all of the white Units spiraling to the ground and hurtling Unit 03 back into the city, where it crashed and rolled to a stop, destroying several small businesses in the process.
"Everyone ok?" Misato's voice came over the tac-net when the sound of the explosion had died down.
"I'm here…" Shinji coughed, "think I'm going to wish I wasn't tomorrow, though… I hurt. Unit 01 returning to base…"
"I think I wet myself," Touji said, grinning as he brought Unit 03 to its feet, "but I'll live otherwise…"
"Well, well," Asuka said sarcastically, "the head stooge… soiling himself… how fitting."
"Couldn't let you be the only one," Touji replied, "but I'll bet you're all wet for a different reason – admit it, you got all hot watching me kick that angel's ass!"
"Puh-lease," the redhead snorted, "you make me about as hot as Antarctica."
As the never-ending argument continued, Unit 00 stood immobile.
-Three more…- Rei thought, looking at the scorched ground where the angel had stood, -and what then? Peace?-
Somehow, she doubted it. There was still the Instrumentality project to consider… and her own role to play in it.
"Soon now," she whispered to herself, unable to look away from the remains of the latest Messenger, "soon this will all end… and then – then I can truly begin living…"
"Commander," Misato's voice sounded amused, "you planning on joining us?"
"I am remaining on watch," Rei replied softly, "release all other pilots from duty… they have earned a break."
"Why are you staying on?" the purple-haired woman asked, "It's not even your night. Let me at least have one of the others stay."
"That is my order," the First Child answered, "I wish to remain here… alone."
"As you say, Commander…" Misato said reluctantly, "but if you want to come in, I doubt any more angels will attack tonight… and we can always launch again."
"Thank you, Major," Rei said.
Reaching over, she switched off the communications system.
Slowly, Unit 00 knelt… and placed its hand on the burnt and blackened ground.
"She says you are my children," the blue-haired girl whispered, unconsciously stroking the ground with Unit 00's massive palm, "and I am no longer sure what I believe. If you are nothing to me… I should not feel saddened by your passing. If I am your mother… should I not shed tears at the loss of you? What should I feel…?"
In the silence of her entry plug, she found no conclusive answers.
But she remained at the site of the angel's destruction for a long, long time…
Continued…
Author's notes: why have Melissa's thoughts and problems brought into the light? Well, two reasons. First, I needed a way to start the angel fight, and a quiet moment of reflection seemed to fit the mood of the chapter. Second… well, I kinda wanted to say something, I guess. I was always raised to believe that people are the same no matter what they look like, and yet – I've seen much of the racism that was around when I was young. It's getting better, I think… but it's still there. Why did I include Veronique in the cruelty perpetrated against Melissa, even though she's dead and gone? Actually, that's exactly why I did it. She died heroically… but just because someone sacrifices himself or herself for the greater good doesn't mean he or she lived the life of a saint beforehand. And it doesn't lessen her sacrifice… but I think it does add a facet to her personality. Ok, I've made my notes into a soapbox. I'll shut up now… hope you like the story in spite of my ramblings. ^_~
Ryoma pre-read again! Poor guy… I must be driving him nuts. Thanks for putting up with me, man. ^_^
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com