Disclaimer: Gainax owns Evangelion, not me. This is just a little side story that fits between part 7 and part 8 (episodes 21 and 22) because work on 22 has been slow. Hope you like it
Deviance
Part 7.5
Child's play
By Random1377
Shinji Ikari carefully edged his purple mecha around the building he was using for cover and looked for his target. Spying the black and white shape, he tightened his grip on his progressive knife and crept closer.
"You're all mine," he whispered with a smile. He reversed his grip and brought the knife over his Unit's head, poised for the strike.
It was only his combat training and reflexes that made him move slightly to the side, saving him from losing his Unit's head as something large and silver collided with him and bore him to the ground.
"No one stabs my husband in the back, Ikari.." Hikari Suzuhara's voice came over the intercom, sounding only half joking, "Now die!" she raised her own blade and prepared to administer the killing stroke, savoring her victory over the Third Child for a second. It was a second too long.
As Shinji groaned in defeat, watching the knife come down, Unit 04's head disappeared in a cloud of blood and shattered steel, "What...?" he said, astonished as the silver beast collapsed on top of his Unit.
Rei Ayanami smiled slightly, chambering another round in the huge rifle, "He shall not be harmed so long as I might defend him." she said quietly under her breath, "Even in training." she began drawing a bead on Unit 03 as it locked hands with Unit 01.
**
"How many kills is that for Rei?" Misato Katsuragi asked, looking at the now headless digital representation of Unit 04 with wonder. A moment later, it vanished and reappeared far across the city to begin its life anew.
"Six," Ritsuko Akagi replied, "not as many as Asuka... but five of them have been defending Shinji." she leaned forward, "Rei," she said into the mic, "you are aware that this is an individual exercise and not a team action, correct?"
"Yes," Rei replied calmly, "I am merely taking shots as they present themselves. That was my order," on the monitor, Unit 03 stumbled backwards, a gaping hole in its chest, "correct?"
Ritsuko sighed, "Seven. I give up," she said to Misato, "she's obviously protecting him, but she manages to make it look like hapstance... It's starting to annoy me."
Misato grinned, "But no one has killed her, have they? She makes a good sniper."
Ritsuko smiled, "That's about to change, look." She pointed at the screen.
**
Asuka Langley Souryu smiled and willed Unit 02's ax up, her eyes intent on the prone Unit 00. "You're good, First Child, but I'm better." she glanced quickly from side to side (she saw what had happened to Unit 04... Of course, observing the kill had allowed her to finally isolate Rei's location) and brought the weapon down in a wicked arc, severing the blue mecha's arm at the shoulder, whispering to herself, "Then the other arm, then the legs, then..."
To her surprise, Unit 00 rolled over and pushed up, jamming its spurting stump towards Unit 02's face, coating its optics with blood. "You little bit-" Asuka began.
She was rudely interrupted as Unit 00 awkwardly brought its rifle around, triggering it point-blank against the red Unit's stomach and cutting it in half.
As she waited to come back to life, Asuka's glare slowly became a smile, "Oh yeah... that'll work..." She grasped the controls, waiting for the world to reappear with a look of satisfied anticipation.
**
Touji looked around the battlefield. "Where is everyone?" he wondered. He had been able to kill Hikari and Shinji a couple times, and even Asuka once (though that had been a stroke of luck, as she had been in the process of killing Shinji at the time.), but it had been three minutes since he had seen anyone.
"You really should watch your back, dear..." his wife's voice came to him.
"Ah crap!" he groaned, trying to wheel his mecha around before it was too late.
As the silver machine crashed down on him, he said, "Damn! Hey, do you LIKE pinning helpless guys under you?"
He looked up into the leering face of Unit 04, imagining that it was smiling, "Why, honey," Hikari answered, "you know I like to be on top." Suddenly, the silver EVA leaned forward and pressed its face to the black one's in a grotesque kiss, "But only with you."
"Eww!" Touji cried, "Just kill me already!"
Hikari smiled, "As my husband requests." She brought her knife up.
"Mission parameters have changed," Misato's voice said a moment before Hikari could strike, "Unit 02 has been possessed by an angel and has captured Unit 01. All Units, assist Unit 01 and terminate Unit 02... do not attempt to save the pilot, she is helping the angels."
Hikari grinned, rising her Unit to its feet and helping her husband's Unit up, "Asuka must have pissed her off big time."
Touji grinned even wider than his wife, "Oh man, I can't wait for this!"
Laughing, they began running towards Unit 02 and 01's location.
**
Asuka was not in a good position. When she had captured Unit 01, it was with the idea that it would bring Rei out of hiding. She had not expected them to turn all of the Units against her... not that she minded, as she considered herself MORE than up to killing them all - but to say she was in league with the angels! That was just LOW!
Eying the two advancing EVAs, she licked her lips and pressed the progressive knife closer to Unit 01's neck, "Shinji... honey... you know that I love you, right?" She risked a look at her objective, gauging the distance.
Shinji sighed, knowing what was coming, "Yes, Asuka... I love you too..."
Asuka smiled at the boy's weary tone, "Just thought you should know..." She willed Unit 02 to draw its vibrating blade down and across Unit 01's throat. As the giant purple mecha convulsed, she pushed it towards the other two Units and dove towards her goal.
As Unit 01 fell, she saw something whiz past Unit 02's face and impact on the building behind her. -Nice try, Wondergirl,- she thought, smiling as finally reached her target.
Unit 03 and Unit 04 advanced quickly, ignoring the downed Unit 01. "Thanks a LOT!" Shinji grumbled as he watched the two others step over his inert machine.
"Where did she go?" Hikari said, searching between all of the buildings. She grabbed a palette gun from a nearby weapons building... failing to notice that two were already missing. Even if she had noticed, it would not have saved her.
Asuka brought her EVA out from behind the building she had been hiding behind. "Looking for something?" she asked casually, leveling the two rifles.
As the two mechas whipped around to face her, she opened fire. It was no secret that Asuka considered herself the best pilot in Project-E, but what many did not know (especially those that saw Unit 01 going berserk) is that she really was. Every round found its target, shredding through both EVAs in a matter of seconds. Asuka tracked them as the fell, making sure that the destruction was complete.
As the weapons clicked dry in her hands, she smiled, "Now for the First..." she whispered, observing the ruined EVAs with a small, satisfied smile.
**
Rei was not happy. She had failed to protect Shinji, and had missed in the clearest shot she had had at avenging him. Though she knew it was only training, she still felt anger at herself for letting him down.
She felt that she had the edge, though, as Asuka was unaware that she had regained her arm. 'This is training for Asuka, too.' Misato had told her as the severed limb reappeared, 'Have to be ready for every eventuality, right?'
She thought briefly as she moved through the city that it was almost cheating, but the image of Unit 01 falling to the ground dispelled any doubts she may have had. The longing for vengeance was not something she had experienced before... but she was not unhappy with the experience.
"Where are you, Souryu?" She asked idly, scanning the area.
She caught movement from the corner of her eye and spun around, triggering her rifle as she went. Property damage and casualties meant nothing as she felt another new feeling sweep through her - bloodlust.
She stopped firing, noting that her breathing was slightly elevated, "Interesting..." she whispered as she moved toward the location she had just leveled, "my pupils are dilating... my pulse-rate is increased... I am... excited..." a rare smiled flitted across her lips, "Now where is the Second Child?"
**
Asuka crawled through the city, "Damn... that was close..." she muttered, "I didn't know she was that fast."
She looked over her shoulder at the building she had been ducking behind when Rei cut loose... or rather, what was left of it.
She smiled, "Getting into it, First Child?" She keyed her com system to life, "Is that the best you can do, Wondergirl?" She taunted.
The response surprised her, "No... I was merely practicing... I will terminate you shortly, Second Child..."
Asuka laughed, "Maybe I was wrong about you... is that, anger in your voice?" Asuka didn't really believe it, after all... Rei WAS pretty emotionless.
She cautiously raised Unit 02 to its feet and looked for Unit 00. Not seeing it she stepped behind a convenient building and drew her knife again, -Come on... come get it!-
Rei's calm reply was the only warning she had, "Yes, Second Child... I am angry..."
Asuka jumped forward as the building exploded into a shower of debris.
"There could have been civilians in there, you know..." Asuka teased, diving behind another building and trying to pinpoint the origin of the gunfire.
"What does an angel care for civilians?" Rei whispered.
"An angel wouldn't," Asuka replied, catching site of the blue mecha peering around a corner, "but I'M the angel!" she tensed, waiting for the right moment, -I don't think she sees me...-
Rei didn't reply.
**
Misato watched the screen carefully, her hands clasped around the back of a chair tightly, "Something is wrong," she said quietly, "isn't it?"
"I don't know..." Ritsuko replied, "Maya, any changes?"
Maya looked at her console, "Rei is up another three points since last check... she's almost at Asuka's level now."
Misato blinked and looked at Ritsuko, "She what?"
"Rei's sync rate has been climbing since Unit 01 was killed by the 'angel'" She looked at Misato, smiling viciously, "I think she took it personally."
-What the hell is going on!?- Misato thought, turning back to the screen.
**
Asuka held her breath, waiting for the other machine to move. When she realized it was also waiting, she let it out and spoke to the other girl again, "What's the problem, First? You want Shinji for yourself?"
Rei's reply made winter seem warm, "You should not harm him, Souryu, he is your beloved, you should protect him at all cost."
Asuka frowned, "It's TRAINING, Wondergirl! And what do you care, you're not his mother."
"No," Rei agreed, "I am not... I am more."
Before Asuka could question the reply, Rei made her move.
Leveling her rifle, Rei squeezed the trigger of her rifle, holding it down and saturating the area that she estimated the redhead to be with molten metal.
As the smoke cleared, Rei narrowed her eyes, hunting for the hopefully shattered form of EVA 02. "Much more..." she whispered to herself.
In her entry plug, Asuka was smiling. In spite of the blue-haired girl's odd comments and deadly shooting, she had made a major miscalculation... she had fired at the wrong location.
"Now," Asuka whispered, "it's over."
She brought Unit 02 up and sprinted it towards the blue mecha, which was facing away from her.
To Rei's credit, she was fast - very fast - as she whirled and brought her weapon up... she just wasn't fast enough. As she approached, Asuka leapt at Unit 00 and activated the seldom-used boosters in her Unit's shoulders, making her jump slightly higher.
Onscreen it was a spectacular sight. Unit 02 came down hard on Unit 00, both feet driving into the blue mecha's chest in a classic 'death-from-above' maneuver. Unit 00's armor buckled and shattered, giving way to the tremendous force Unit 02 generated.
As the two giants crashed to the ground, Asuka screamed and brought her Unit's progressive knife down, burying it in Unit 00's single eye... ensuring that the job was done.
As her Unit went silent, Rei heard Asuka whisper on a private channel, "Don't worry about Shinji, Wondergirl... when it's for real, I WILL protect him. He's MINE!"
The red-eyed girl smiled, "Yes... of course."
And with that, the training was over.
Continued...
Author's notes: sorry about the delay in releasing Deviance 8... hopefully it won't be too much longer. And all you Battletech fans out there? That death-from-above was just for you, baby! :)
Thanks to Ryoma for pre-reading.
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com
Deviance
Part 7.5
Child's play
By Random1377
Shinji Ikari carefully edged his purple mecha around the building he was using for cover and looked for his target. Spying the black and white shape, he tightened his grip on his progressive knife and crept closer.
"You're all mine," he whispered with a smile. He reversed his grip and brought the knife over his Unit's head, poised for the strike.
It was only his combat training and reflexes that made him move slightly to the side, saving him from losing his Unit's head as something large and silver collided with him and bore him to the ground.
"No one stabs my husband in the back, Ikari.." Hikari Suzuhara's voice came over the intercom, sounding only half joking, "Now die!" she raised her own blade and prepared to administer the killing stroke, savoring her victory over the Third Child for a second. It was a second too long.
As Shinji groaned in defeat, watching the knife come down, Unit 04's head disappeared in a cloud of blood and shattered steel, "What...?" he said, astonished as the silver beast collapsed on top of his Unit.
Rei Ayanami smiled slightly, chambering another round in the huge rifle, "He shall not be harmed so long as I might defend him." she said quietly under her breath, "Even in training." she began drawing a bead on Unit 03 as it locked hands with Unit 01.
**
"How many kills is that for Rei?" Misato Katsuragi asked, looking at the now headless digital representation of Unit 04 with wonder. A moment later, it vanished and reappeared far across the city to begin its life anew.
"Six," Ritsuko Akagi replied, "not as many as Asuka... but five of them have been defending Shinji." she leaned forward, "Rei," she said into the mic, "you are aware that this is an individual exercise and not a team action, correct?"
"Yes," Rei replied calmly, "I am merely taking shots as they present themselves. That was my order," on the monitor, Unit 03 stumbled backwards, a gaping hole in its chest, "correct?"
Ritsuko sighed, "Seven. I give up," she said to Misato, "she's obviously protecting him, but she manages to make it look like hapstance... It's starting to annoy me."
Misato grinned, "But no one has killed her, have they? She makes a good sniper."
Ritsuko smiled, "That's about to change, look." She pointed at the screen.
**
Asuka Langley Souryu smiled and willed Unit 02's ax up, her eyes intent on the prone Unit 00. "You're good, First Child, but I'm better." she glanced quickly from side to side (she saw what had happened to Unit 04... Of course, observing the kill had allowed her to finally isolate Rei's location) and brought the weapon down in a wicked arc, severing the blue mecha's arm at the shoulder, whispering to herself, "Then the other arm, then the legs, then..."
To her surprise, Unit 00 rolled over and pushed up, jamming its spurting stump towards Unit 02's face, coating its optics with blood. "You little bit-" Asuka began.
She was rudely interrupted as Unit 00 awkwardly brought its rifle around, triggering it point-blank against the red Unit's stomach and cutting it in half.
As she waited to come back to life, Asuka's glare slowly became a smile, "Oh yeah... that'll work..." She grasped the controls, waiting for the world to reappear with a look of satisfied anticipation.
**
Touji looked around the battlefield. "Where is everyone?" he wondered. He had been able to kill Hikari and Shinji a couple times, and even Asuka once (though that had been a stroke of luck, as she had been in the process of killing Shinji at the time.), but it had been three minutes since he had seen anyone.
"You really should watch your back, dear..." his wife's voice came to him.
"Ah crap!" he groaned, trying to wheel his mecha around before it was too late.
As the silver machine crashed down on him, he said, "Damn! Hey, do you LIKE pinning helpless guys under you?"
He looked up into the leering face of Unit 04, imagining that it was smiling, "Why, honey," Hikari answered, "you know I like to be on top." Suddenly, the silver EVA leaned forward and pressed its face to the black one's in a grotesque kiss, "But only with you."
"Eww!" Touji cried, "Just kill me already!"
Hikari smiled, "As my husband requests." She brought her knife up.
"Mission parameters have changed," Misato's voice said a moment before Hikari could strike, "Unit 02 has been possessed by an angel and has captured Unit 01. All Units, assist Unit 01 and terminate Unit 02... do not attempt to save the pilot, she is helping the angels."
Hikari grinned, rising her Unit to its feet and helping her husband's Unit up, "Asuka must have pissed her off big time."
Touji grinned even wider than his wife, "Oh man, I can't wait for this!"
Laughing, they began running towards Unit 02 and 01's location.
**
Asuka was not in a good position. When she had captured Unit 01, it was with the idea that it would bring Rei out of hiding. She had not expected them to turn all of the Units against her... not that she minded, as she considered herself MORE than up to killing them all - but to say she was in league with the angels! That was just LOW!
Eying the two advancing EVAs, she licked her lips and pressed the progressive knife closer to Unit 01's neck, "Shinji... honey... you know that I love you, right?" She risked a look at her objective, gauging the distance.
Shinji sighed, knowing what was coming, "Yes, Asuka... I love you too..."
Asuka smiled at the boy's weary tone, "Just thought you should know..." She willed Unit 02 to draw its vibrating blade down and across Unit 01's throat. As the giant purple mecha convulsed, she pushed it towards the other two Units and dove towards her goal.
As Unit 01 fell, she saw something whiz past Unit 02's face and impact on the building behind her. -Nice try, Wondergirl,- she thought, smiling as finally reached her target.
Unit 03 and Unit 04 advanced quickly, ignoring the downed Unit 01. "Thanks a LOT!" Shinji grumbled as he watched the two others step over his inert machine.
"Where did she go?" Hikari said, searching between all of the buildings. She grabbed a palette gun from a nearby weapons building... failing to notice that two were already missing. Even if she had noticed, it would not have saved her.
Asuka brought her EVA out from behind the building she had been hiding behind. "Looking for something?" she asked casually, leveling the two rifles.
As the two mechas whipped around to face her, she opened fire. It was no secret that Asuka considered herself the best pilot in Project-E, but what many did not know (especially those that saw Unit 01 going berserk) is that she really was. Every round found its target, shredding through both EVAs in a matter of seconds. Asuka tracked them as the fell, making sure that the destruction was complete.
As the weapons clicked dry in her hands, she smiled, "Now for the First..." she whispered, observing the ruined EVAs with a small, satisfied smile.
**
Rei was not happy. She had failed to protect Shinji, and had missed in the clearest shot she had had at avenging him. Though she knew it was only training, she still felt anger at herself for letting him down.
She felt that she had the edge, though, as Asuka was unaware that she had regained her arm. 'This is training for Asuka, too.' Misato had told her as the severed limb reappeared, 'Have to be ready for every eventuality, right?'
She thought briefly as she moved through the city that it was almost cheating, but the image of Unit 01 falling to the ground dispelled any doubts she may have had. The longing for vengeance was not something she had experienced before... but she was not unhappy with the experience.
"Where are you, Souryu?" She asked idly, scanning the area.
She caught movement from the corner of her eye and spun around, triggering her rifle as she went. Property damage and casualties meant nothing as she felt another new feeling sweep through her - bloodlust.
She stopped firing, noting that her breathing was slightly elevated, "Interesting..." she whispered as she moved toward the location she had just leveled, "my pupils are dilating... my pulse-rate is increased... I am... excited..." a rare smiled flitted across her lips, "Now where is the Second Child?"
**
Asuka crawled through the city, "Damn... that was close..." she muttered, "I didn't know she was that fast."
She looked over her shoulder at the building she had been ducking behind when Rei cut loose... or rather, what was left of it.
She smiled, "Getting into it, First Child?" She keyed her com system to life, "Is that the best you can do, Wondergirl?" She taunted.
The response surprised her, "No... I was merely practicing... I will terminate you shortly, Second Child..."
Asuka laughed, "Maybe I was wrong about you... is that, anger in your voice?" Asuka didn't really believe it, after all... Rei WAS pretty emotionless.
She cautiously raised Unit 02 to its feet and looked for Unit 00. Not seeing it she stepped behind a convenient building and drew her knife again, -Come on... come get it!-
Rei's calm reply was the only warning she had, "Yes, Second Child... I am angry..."
Asuka jumped forward as the building exploded into a shower of debris.
"There could have been civilians in there, you know..." Asuka teased, diving behind another building and trying to pinpoint the origin of the gunfire.
"What does an angel care for civilians?" Rei whispered.
"An angel wouldn't," Asuka replied, catching site of the blue mecha peering around a corner, "but I'M the angel!" she tensed, waiting for the right moment, -I don't think she sees me...-
Rei didn't reply.
**
Misato watched the screen carefully, her hands clasped around the back of a chair tightly, "Something is wrong," she said quietly, "isn't it?"
"I don't know..." Ritsuko replied, "Maya, any changes?"
Maya looked at her console, "Rei is up another three points since last check... she's almost at Asuka's level now."
Misato blinked and looked at Ritsuko, "She what?"
"Rei's sync rate has been climbing since Unit 01 was killed by the 'angel'" She looked at Misato, smiling viciously, "I think she took it personally."
-What the hell is going on!?- Misato thought, turning back to the screen.
**
Asuka held her breath, waiting for the other machine to move. When she realized it was also waiting, she let it out and spoke to the other girl again, "What's the problem, First? You want Shinji for yourself?"
Rei's reply made winter seem warm, "You should not harm him, Souryu, he is your beloved, you should protect him at all cost."
Asuka frowned, "It's TRAINING, Wondergirl! And what do you care, you're not his mother."
"No," Rei agreed, "I am not... I am more."
Before Asuka could question the reply, Rei made her move.
Leveling her rifle, Rei squeezed the trigger of her rifle, holding it down and saturating the area that she estimated the redhead to be with molten metal.
As the smoke cleared, Rei narrowed her eyes, hunting for the hopefully shattered form of EVA 02. "Much more..." she whispered to herself.
In her entry plug, Asuka was smiling. In spite of the blue-haired girl's odd comments and deadly shooting, she had made a major miscalculation... she had fired at the wrong location.
"Now," Asuka whispered, "it's over."
She brought Unit 02 up and sprinted it towards the blue mecha, which was facing away from her.
To Rei's credit, she was fast - very fast - as she whirled and brought her weapon up... she just wasn't fast enough. As she approached, Asuka leapt at Unit 00 and activated the seldom-used boosters in her Unit's shoulders, making her jump slightly higher.
Onscreen it was a spectacular sight. Unit 02 came down hard on Unit 00, both feet driving into the blue mecha's chest in a classic 'death-from-above' maneuver. Unit 00's armor buckled and shattered, giving way to the tremendous force Unit 02 generated.
As the two giants crashed to the ground, Asuka screamed and brought her Unit's progressive knife down, burying it in Unit 00's single eye... ensuring that the job was done.
As her Unit went silent, Rei heard Asuka whisper on a private channel, "Don't worry about Shinji, Wondergirl... when it's for real, I WILL protect him. He's MINE!"
The red-eyed girl smiled, "Yes... of course."
And with that, the training was over.
Continued...
Author's notes: sorry about the delay in releasing Deviance 8... hopefully it won't be too much longer. And all you Battletech fans out there? That death-from-above was just for you, baby! :)
Thanks to Ryoma for pre-reading.
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com