Chapter 8: Angels Strike Back
Rei was just standing there staring at him. Of course he wasn't Shinji but he wasn't going to let on that he was actually Ranma. That would be letting her off the hook too easily and he wouldn't be able to have any fun screwing with her head. Maybe he would even get a smile out of her. / She is kinda cute but she's just too creepy with those red eyes and lack of emotion. Guess I'll have to put some extra effort into this one. / Completely forgetting that he was useless around women, and his initial failure with Akane, Ranma decided to try to get Rei to open up.
"You're awake." "Yes I am. Thank you Rei." "Thank you? Why?" "You stayed here to watch over me. Thank you." "Commander Ikari told me that I should watch over his son, so I am here." / Frigid little bitch ain't she. / Ranma wanting to pour on the charm decided to get up, completely oblivious to the fact that he wasn't wearing anything. Rei looked down then straight ahead. "What are you doing?" "Well if I'm going to thank you properly I thought I should do it standing. I have to bow you know and that's really hard to do when I'm laying in the bed." Ranma closed his eyes and faced Rei. He bowed deeply. Shinji woke up and took control right at the pinnacle of the bowing motion.
^ So what have I missed? ^ / Not much I'm trying to get Rei to loosen up a bit. She's too uptight. She stayed by our bedside all the time we were unconscious. / ^ Then why are we bowing? ^ / I'm trying to thank her. / ^ Ok now why are we bowing to Rei naked? ^ / Naked? / ^ As in clothing impaired. ^ / Sorry / ^ You owe me one you bastard. ^ / Hell now that she knows what's under the hood she might give you the courtesy of showing you hers. / ^ Like hell. ^ / It could happen. /
Shinji still ninety degrees from upright reached over and draped the bedsheet around himself. "Is that how one gives thanks to another person?" asked Rei in an inquisitive voice. "Uh more or less." Misato walked in. "Ah Shinji you're awake. Good are you well enough for a briefing?" "I feel fine, except for a slight burning in my chest." "Don't worry about that it's just a little residual feedback from the Angel's attack. Ok you've been out for 5 hours. During that time the Angel has positioned itself directly over HQ and has begun to drill it's way through the many armored layers that are above central dogma. We've tried conventional weapons including the new XP-580 particle accelerator gun. The problem is that the Angel has a defensive range of four kilometers, and nothing we have has that type of range. We estimate that it will penetrate the Geofront within ten hours." "Let me have another crack at it." "No it's too dangerous." "But Misato the only reason that it hit me was because I couldn't move. If I could move around I could probably dodge it's beam and kill it." "No that first blast almost killed you and besides the Angel is hovering too high off the ground for your Eva to reach it." "So what are we going to do?" "Don't worry Shinji I've got a plan."
The scene is a Japanese highly classified weapons hangar. There is a massive mumeson accelerator gun that is designed to destroy incoming targets up to 25 kilometers away. It is surrounded by technicians. Misato dressed in an incredibly (illegal in all provinces and most states.) mini skirt and string top with 10 cm heels and fish net stalkings walked into the hangar making sure to put a little extra 'bounce' in her step. She put on an extremely convincing 'dumb blond' act claiming that she was lost. While all of the technicians were trying to come to her aid, Rei in Unit 00 quietly lifted up the roof and took the gun, the 'snuck' off the base. (as well as a 25 story tall robot can sneak anywhere) After Misato had managed to dislodge a few gropers and various other lechers she arrived back on base. + Maybe I should have just let Shinji go and fight the damned thing. + She thought as she entered Central Dogma. Ritsuko was the first one to spot her. "What isn't Nerv paying you enough?" "Shut up Ritsuko this is what I had to go through to get you that new toy." "Couldn't you have just asked the army for the gun? I mean we are above the army and we can get anything they've got." "Doh!" "Well now that we've gotten that out of our system would you like a quick rundown of what we've got planned or is Juan waiting for you on the corner?" "I said shut up Ritsuko." "Ok, Ok well you got the gun and that's good. The bad thing is that we'll need to black out all of Japan to power the bloody thing." "Damn it that means that my VCR's timer won't record X-files." "Cut it out ho. It's the best we can do. Now if the Angel manages to fire first we've managed to rig up this shield here."
"Isn't that the old space shuttle Discovery's outer hull?" "Yup we think it'll withstand a full 10 seconds worth of the Angel's weapon." "And after that?" "Charcoal. And the end of the world." "Groovy."
In the pilot's change room Shinji was practicing his kata's trying to remember how the newest one that Ranma had taught him went. He was almost finished a flawless execution when Gendo walked in. This minor disruption caused him to lose his concentration and screw up. / You have to learn to tune out the world. If you can get into the 'zone' you will be completely focused and you won't make any more mistakes. Now try it again, and see what he wants. / ^ At the same time? ^ / Yes. / Shinji began again. "Yes father what do you want?" "Shinji you're going out there again, if you fail there will be no second chance, no rewind to go back and make it all better. The plan outlined by Captain Katsuragi will work, I am ordering you to follow it exactly, I do not want anything unexpected do you understand, NO heroics." He turned to leave and just as he was reaching for the doorknob Shinji replied.
"Isn't that what you're paying me for?" Gendo hung his head and grumbled but let it slide.
Shinji in Unit 01 were laying on a hillside with the gun tucked under his left shoulder. He was listening to Misato go on about the targeting system and how this one shot would overload the breakers and there wouldn't be enough time to get off a second shot so he shouldn't miss. Rei broke in over the Eva to Eva communications. "Goodbye Shinji. I won't let anything happen to you." "Rei." Just then the green light came on in his entry plug signaling that the operation was about to commence. Shinji pulled down the targeting helmet and watched as the computers figured out the optimal firing sequence. The triangle and the square got closer and closer to each other. Shinji just waited. When the targets turned red and started flashing Misato yelled. "Do it now Shinji!" To which Shinji pulled the trigger. A bright blue beam shot from the end of the gun. Highly charged mumesons travelling at 0.9999999 c shot towards their target. At the exact same moment the Angel fired. The gravitational field created by the highspeed particles interacting with each other caused both shots to be deflected. The Angel's shot hit the transformers behind Shinji. Shinji's shot hit a Starbucks, killing several caffeine addicts who had disregarded the sirens in order to enjoy another cup of coffee. "It's firing again, Shinji, Rei get out of there!" yelled Misato over the intercom but it was too late. The Angel's second shot was right on target this time. Shinji covered his eyes and blanked out. From what eye witnesses described next Rei did her job and shielded Shinji from the full effects of the blast. Unit 01 stood up and brought it's hands together and a glowing ball started to form. By the time the full Mouko Takabisha was ready Unit 00 had already sustained 4 seconds from the Angel's attack and the outer plating was already severely melted. The blast from Unit 01 hit the Angel and vaporized it instantly, there was nothing that remained. Unit 00 hit the ground at the same time that the emergency plug eject system was engaged in Unit 01. Shinji exploded out of the plug in mid air and landed on the ground running towards the downed Unit 00. When he arrived eyewitnesses described as he tore the entry plug plating off Unit 00 with his bare hands, then pull the plug out onto the grass, tear the plugs door off it's hinges and drag the unconscious pilot out onto the grass just as the emergency rescue personnel arrived on the scene.
Later outside Gendo's office Shinji and Ranma were sitting on the bench. Ranma was having a severe talking to with Shinji. / Just what the fuck happened out there? / ^ I still don't know what you're talking about I just woke up 5 minutes ago. ^ / Shinji you ripped the plating off Unit 00 and saved Rei, now I know that that's not fucking humanly possible, I mean Ryoga was strong but even he couldn't have done that! / ^ Done what? I have no idea what you're talking about. ^ Ranma then replayed the entire scene as he saw it. ^ I don't believe it. Are you sure you didn't do it? ^ / Positive, I wasn't in control. / ^ Well I wasn't in control either. ^ / Well then what happened? / ^ I have no idea. ^
Rei was just standing there staring at him. Of course he wasn't Shinji but he wasn't going to let on that he was actually Ranma. That would be letting her off the hook too easily and he wouldn't be able to have any fun screwing with her head. Maybe he would even get a smile out of her. / She is kinda cute but she's just too creepy with those red eyes and lack of emotion. Guess I'll have to put some extra effort into this one. / Completely forgetting that he was useless around women, and his initial failure with Akane, Ranma decided to try to get Rei to open up.
"You're awake." "Yes I am. Thank you Rei." "Thank you? Why?" "You stayed here to watch over me. Thank you." "Commander Ikari told me that I should watch over his son, so I am here." / Frigid little bitch ain't she. / Ranma wanting to pour on the charm decided to get up, completely oblivious to the fact that he wasn't wearing anything. Rei looked down then straight ahead. "What are you doing?" "Well if I'm going to thank you properly I thought I should do it standing. I have to bow you know and that's really hard to do when I'm laying in the bed." Ranma closed his eyes and faced Rei. He bowed deeply. Shinji woke up and took control right at the pinnacle of the bowing motion.
^ So what have I missed? ^ / Not much I'm trying to get Rei to loosen up a bit. She's too uptight. She stayed by our bedside all the time we were unconscious. / ^ Then why are we bowing? ^ / I'm trying to thank her. / ^ Ok now why are we bowing to Rei naked? ^ / Naked? / ^ As in clothing impaired. ^ / Sorry / ^ You owe me one you bastard. ^ / Hell now that she knows what's under the hood she might give you the courtesy of showing you hers. / ^ Like hell. ^ / It could happen. /
Shinji still ninety degrees from upright reached over and draped the bedsheet around himself. "Is that how one gives thanks to another person?" asked Rei in an inquisitive voice. "Uh more or less." Misato walked in. "Ah Shinji you're awake. Good are you well enough for a briefing?" "I feel fine, except for a slight burning in my chest." "Don't worry about that it's just a little residual feedback from the Angel's attack. Ok you've been out for 5 hours. During that time the Angel has positioned itself directly over HQ and has begun to drill it's way through the many armored layers that are above central dogma. We've tried conventional weapons including the new XP-580 particle accelerator gun. The problem is that the Angel has a defensive range of four kilometers, and nothing we have has that type of range. We estimate that it will penetrate the Geofront within ten hours." "Let me have another crack at it." "No it's too dangerous." "But Misato the only reason that it hit me was because I couldn't move. If I could move around I could probably dodge it's beam and kill it." "No that first blast almost killed you and besides the Angel is hovering too high off the ground for your Eva to reach it." "So what are we going to do?" "Don't worry Shinji I've got a plan."
The scene is a Japanese highly classified weapons hangar. There is a massive mumeson accelerator gun that is designed to destroy incoming targets up to 25 kilometers away. It is surrounded by technicians. Misato dressed in an incredibly (illegal in all provinces and most states.) mini skirt and string top with 10 cm heels and fish net stalkings walked into the hangar making sure to put a little extra 'bounce' in her step. She put on an extremely convincing 'dumb blond' act claiming that she was lost. While all of the technicians were trying to come to her aid, Rei in Unit 00 quietly lifted up the roof and took the gun, the 'snuck' off the base. (as well as a 25 story tall robot can sneak anywhere) After Misato had managed to dislodge a few gropers and various other lechers she arrived back on base. + Maybe I should have just let Shinji go and fight the damned thing. + She thought as she entered Central Dogma. Ritsuko was the first one to spot her. "What isn't Nerv paying you enough?" "Shut up Ritsuko this is what I had to go through to get you that new toy." "Couldn't you have just asked the army for the gun? I mean we are above the army and we can get anything they've got." "Doh!" "Well now that we've gotten that out of our system would you like a quick rundown of what we've got planned or is Juan waiting for you on the corner?" "I said shut up Ritsuko." "Ok, Ok well you got the gun and that's good. The bad thing is that we'll need to black out all of Japan to power the bloody thing." "Damn it that means that my VCR's timer won't record X-files." "Cut it out ho. It's the best we can do. Now if the Angel manages to fire first we've managed to rig up this shield here."
"Isn't that the old space shuttle Discovery's outer hull?" "Yup we think it'll withstand a full 10 seconds worth of the Angel's weapon." "And after that?" "Charcoal. And the end of the world." "Groovy."
In the pilot's change room Shinji was practicing his kata's trying to remember how the newest one that Ranma had taught him went. He was almost finished a flawless execution when Gendo walked in. This minor disruption caused him to lose his concentration and screw up. / You have to learn to tune out the world. If you can get into the 'zone' you will be completely focused and you won't make any more mistakes. Now try it again, and see what he wants. / ^ At the same time? ^ / Yes. / Shinji began again. "Yes father what do you want?" "Shinji you're going out there again, if you fail there will be no second chance, no rewind to go back and make it all better. The plan outlined by Captain Katsuragi will work, I am ordering you to follow it exactly, I do not want anything unexpected do you understand, NO heroics." He turned to leave and just as he was reaching for the doorknob Shinji replied.
"Isn't that what you're paying me for?" Gendo hung his head and grumbled but let it slide.
Shinji in Unit 01 were laying on a hillside with the gun tucked under his left shoulder. He was listening to Misato go on about the targeting system and how this one shot would overload the breakers and there wouldn't be enough time to get off a second shot so he shouldn't miss. Rei broke in over the Eva to Eva communications. "Goodbye Shinji. I won't let anything happen to you." "Rei." Just then the green light came on in his entry plug signaling that the operation was about to commence. Shinji pulled down the targeting helmet and watched as the computers figured out the optimal firing sequence. The triangle and the square got closer and closer to each other. Shinji just waited. When the targets turned red and started flashing Misato yelled. "Do it now Shinji!" To which Shinji pulled the trigger. A bright blue beam shot from the end of the gun. Highly charged mumesons travelling at 0.9999999 c shot towards their target. At the exact same moment the Angel fired. The gravitational field created by the highspeed particles interacting with each other caused both shots to be deflected. The Angel's shot hit the transformers behind Shinji. Shinji's shot hit a Starbucks, killing several caffeine addicts who had disregarded the sirens in order to enjoy another cup of coffee. "It's firing again, Shinji, Rei get out of there!" yelled Misato over the intercom but it was too late. The Angel's second shot was right on target this time. Shinji covered his eyes and blanked out. From what eye witnesses described next Rei did her job and shielded Shinji from the full effects of the blast. Unit 01 stood up and brought it's hands together and a glowing ball started to form. By the time the full Mouko Takabisha was ready Unit 00 had already sustained 4 seconds from the Angel's attack and the outer plating was already severely melted. The blast from Unit 01 hit the Angel and vaporized it instantly, there was nothing that remained. Unit 00 hit the ground at the same time that the emergency plug eject system was engaged in Unit 01. Shinji exploded out of the plug in mid air and landed on the ground running towards the downed Unit 00. When he arrived eyewitnesses described as he tore the entry plug plating off Unit 00 with his bare hands, then pull the plug out onto the grass, tear the plugs door off it's hinges and drag the unconscious pilot out onto the grass just as the emergency rescue personnel arrived on the scene.
Later outside Gendo's office Shinji and Ranma were sitting on the bench. Ranma was having a severe talking to with Shinji. / Just what the fuck happened out there? / ^ I still don't know what you're talking about I just woke up 5 minutes ago. ^ / Shinji you ripped the plating off Unit 00 and saved Rei, now I know that that's not fucking humanly possible, I mean Ryoga was strong but even he couldn't have done that! / ^ Done what? I have no idea what you're talking about. ^ Ranma then replayed the entire scene as he saw it. ^ I don't believe it. Are you sure you didn't do it? ^ / Positive, I wasn't in control. / ^ Well I wasn't in control either. ^ / Well then what happened? / ^ I have no idea. ^