DISCLAIMER: See 3:00-4:00 AM
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Um… thanks for the reviews guys. If anyone would like to be my pre-reader, please e-mail me at project_r510@yahoo.com. I will greatly appreciate it (dang my grammar, I'm not good at my English class). Once again, thanks people ^_^
Project R
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: 24
4:00:00 AM
"We have received an intelligence report that a terrorist group named "Black Cell" has an interest with Evangelion Unit 1 and its pilot" SEELE chairperson Keel Lorentz said in his usual intimidating demeanor, particularly that the NERV commander was in front of him. His eyes behind his visor searched Gendo's face for a hint that could tell him that he has a hidden agenda, like instigating a Third Impact in his own version.
Gendo was not easily to be intimidated however. Leaving his humanity behind ten years ago allowed him to become an unreadable, formidable, cold and heartless person he is today.
"That is correct. I have assigned Major Katsuragi and Agent Kaji to this case" he replied.
"Ah…" Keel said, nodding empathetically "The daughter of the late elder Katsuragi together with Mr. Kaji Ryouji. So you believe that those two under your command will bring this current situation to an end"
"I believe in their capabilities"
"What if you didn't yield to what the terrorist group Black Cell demands Ikari? What will they do?"
"The Black Cell will detonate an N2 mine they managed to sneak in directly inside Tokyo-3"
"I see" Keel smirked "But then, you don't have any plans to give it to them, am I right?"
"Rest assured, they will never get what they want"
Keel then leaned back to his chair "So, everything planned on our scenario remains on schedule as determined by this council"
"That is correct"
"Just as it should be, Ikari"
The holographic image of Keel Lorentz then faded out along with the rest of the council, leaving Gendo in the still darkness of his office.
And for the first time, he went silent after the meeting. Back then after each of their impromptu meetings he would usually allow himself to smirk, smile or say something that they clearly underestimated him, but now… he just kept silent.
4:15:45 AM
On the highway Misato was now driving a black SUV that was for Section-2 use only instead of her blue alpine car. That's because, to the major's reasoning, she together with Kaji is investigating the Black Cell terrorist group so they need ample protection in case they are subjected to sudden firefights with this particular group.
This ample protection was actually on the back of their SUV, that is, dual sets of .45 handguns, an M41 machinegun, a couple of M4A1 assault rifles and MP5 submachine guns and a boxful of clips and magazines to go with them. Four pairs of light bullet-proof vests are stashed in the corner.
"Turn right at the next corner" Kaji said "It should be Tenchi Hamada's place"
Misato nodded and turned right when they reached the next corner.
"That's his place?" the major said, pointing to decrepit rows of apartment.
"Yep, that's it alright. His apartment number is 109, according to the address the intelligence gave to us"
"Let's go check it out"
After they parked in the empty lot they alighted. Kaji first went to the back of their SUV and opened the trunk where the weapons are kept and pulled out a .45 and a gun holster. Holstering the gun in the gun holster he then strapped it around his right hip.
"Where's your gun?" Kaji asked.
"Right here" Misato replied, patting her side.
"Then let's get going"
"Right"
Then they trudged forward to the apartment number 109. Kaji then reached for the doorknob and turned it, but found to be locked.
"Step aside"
Kaji stepped aside and Misato kicked the door open easily.
"Wow dearest honey, you're so strong"
Misato chose to ignore his comment and instead picked the phone, finding it still working, and stared at the laptop on the desk which Kaji went to check it out.
She then picked her cellular phone and dialed NERV headquarters.
"Yes Katsuragi?" Makoto asked.
"I want a transcription of telephone records of Tenchi Hamada he might have made or received yesterday"
Makoto then motioned Aoba and Maya in action "Okay"
A moment passed before Katsuragi spoke again "Also, from there can you make physical connection to Hamada's laptop which Kaji found here?" she asked.
"Maya can do that, what's the LAN address of his laptop?"
"192.894.110.126. Report back as soon as you can"
"What did you find?" Misato asked as she leans over to Kaji, glancing at the laptop he was working with.
"Well, some personalized folders, MP3 music, hey what's this?"
He was referring to the files in .wav format. He tried to access them but they required a password.
"They are .wav files. What's interesting to those files Kaji?"
"They might be useful… I think"
Misato's phone then rang and she picked it up "Katsuragi"
"It's me" Makoto said on the other line "Maya managed to interface with Hamada's laptop"
"Okay then, give her the phone"
A moment passed before Maya now spoke on the other line "Yes Katsuragi?"
"I want you to look at these .wav files"
"Oh… they required a password"
"Can you look at them?"
"It might take awhile… hang in there"
"What did Lieutenant Ibuki say?" Kaji asked.
"She says it might take awhile"
"Okay…" Kaji said, tapping at the laptop's keyboard "There might be sensitive information on these files dearest honey"
"In short, we must access them. They might contain information about Black Cell"
4:24:58 AM
Asuka turned and tossed in her bed, cannot sleep for some unknown reason. No, she knew why.
And that's after she got bored. After she and Shinji…
Asuka shook her head, ignoring the thought before it could hold. But then that thought persisted no matter what everything she could think about. She even daydreamed that her darling Kaji would come and be hers, but her mind politely told her that her musings to her lover (in her personal opinion) was too farfetched, and even reminded her what Kaji "offhandedly" joked to her.
It's just a childhood crush… I also experienced that during your age…
True, whether or not Asuka would like to believe… only that right now she is thinking about Shinji's soft lips, her tongue playing into his, and his sighs (actually the sounds made due to his attempts to breath again, since Asuka pinched his nose)… how attracting and making her desire—
"No!" Asuka exclaimed, pounding her fist into her pillow "No!"
"Asuka?"
Shinji called her behind her door, apparently concerned what was she exclaiming about, making her jump in surprise.
"No… nothing Baka-Shinji… nothing"
She then stepped out from her bed and opened her door to see her favorite wimp.
"What do you want!?" she said, trying to work her nagging thoughts away.
"Uh… um… sor—"
"Don't say that "I'm sorry" word again!" Asuka yelled with frustration "Unless you made a mistake, don't say I'm sorry for anything you didn't do!"
"Sor—"
Asuka placed a finger to his lips, silencing him, though she shivers when she felt those soft lips again "Mein gott! You still didn't get do you!?"
She then crossed her hands beneath her chest "Anyways, what's up?"
Shinji stammered "Well… um… I thought I was sleepy at first, but then sleep didn't come… so I'm here at the living room trying to figure out what could I do because… and then I heard you—"
"You're bored?" Asuka said, grinning while licking her lips as if signifying something.
Shinji blushed and turned away "Um… not that kind of "boredom"…"
Asuka smiled, and then snickered. At the point where she couldn't contain her amusement, she laughed.
Shinji could only blink in pure amazement.
After she settled down, Asuka then said "Okay… if you're bored just like me, why don't we play a fighting game?"
"Oh… the one you borrowed from Hikari's"
"Yep" Asuka said while setting up her video game console and handing Shinji the other joypad "Thought that I can work out my boredom here, not like…"
Asuka was suddenly silent, and then chose not to continue what she would say as the game introduction kicks in.
4:34:11 AM
Misato's cellular phone then rang and she picked it up "Katsuragi"
"Maya Ibuki here… sorry there are no transcription of telephone records Hamada made yesterday… but I've finally figured out how to break the password"
"Tell that to Kaji here"
Misato then passed the phone to Kaji.
"Kaji here"
Maya then said "Open up the laptop's OS console"
"You got it sweet-tums"
A vein appeared in Misato's forehead. Still hitting girls I see…
"…are you there yet?" Maya asked.
A new window console popped up to the laptop "Yep… ah the root directory. You want me to access them?"
"Yes"
"Okay then… it's opened. What will I do now?"
"Wait for a moment while the MAGI crack the password…. ah, it's done"
"What is it?"
"Password is WKD7789"
Kaji then typed the password while Misato took the phone from him "Are you getting these Maya?"
"Yes"
"Good"
Kaji scrutinized the .wav files that he can now access, clicking on one of the files dated yesterday. The voice of a man then spilled out.
Remember what we have talked about yesterday, Mr. Hamada
That .wav file then ended.
"Try other one" Misato said.
"Okay"
Clicking on another .wav file, a sultry woman's voice made itself heard which made Kaji lecherously grin.
Ahh… stick it deeper!! Ahh… ohhh!!!
"…next one Kaji"
"Okay…" Kaji said before clicking another file, this time a gruff man's voice which seemed Russian.
Execute mission at 0300 hours. Remember, the Third Child Shinji Ikari is your priority target, the rest irrelevant. Contact Viktor Sovietskaya for more information
Misato then picked up her cellular phone again and gave Maya an order "Search all databases for information about Viktor Sovietskaya"
Maya then replied "Yes ma'am"
"And copy all the other files from Hamada's laptop. Kaji and I will return to HQ about 10 minutes"
"Yes ma'am"
Misato then slapped her phone close and yanked Kaji off his seat "Come on Kaji, let's go back to NERV and sift the rest of Hamada's files Maya will uncover, and certainly that person named Viktor Sovietskaya"
4:39:12 AM
Rei Ayanami's NERV issued phone rang and she picked it up.
"Rei…" a man's voice said on the other line, a man's voice that belongs to her creator.
"Yes sir?"
"Your presence is required"
"Yes sir"
After pressing the hung up button Rei then stripped herself off her night clothes that is comparable to the one dressed by the hospital's patients. Taking her uniform out she then started to dress up.
After dressing up she then went outside and to the waiting Section-2 sedan to that would bring her to NERV headquarters.
4:41:22 AM
Misato was about to turn the SUV into Tokyo-3 Highway 12 when suddenly gunfire erupted from above.
"Oh shit!" Kaji and Misato both exclaimed while the latter tries to maneuver SUV out from the firing range.
"Misato keep driving!" Kaji exclaimed, clambering behind the back of the SUV and pulling out the machine gun from the weapon case "I'll cover you!"
The major mutely nodded, her foot pressing hard on the gas pedal.
Kaji then opened the back window and heard a buzzing sound of the helicopter above. He had to duck again when bullets ricochet off in the SUV frame just beside his and from the hood and hearing someone firing from the helicopter.
He must be targeting the engine…
After taking a deep breath, he then risked sticking his upper body outside with his machine gun and returned fire at the helicopter. He could actually see his bullets ricocheting off from the side of the helicopter as the man who was firing at them had to duck so he wouldn't be hit.
Kaji then exclaimed to Misato "Get backup! Tell them we're under attack!"
"Under attack!?" Makoto exclaimed "Okay, backup will be there shortly"
"Did something happen?" Aoba asked, looking at Makoto.
"Someone is firing at them from a helicopter"
His fellow tech nodded understandingly and picked up a phone and directly connected to Section-2 "I need aerial backup at once. Major Katsuragi and Agent Kaji are under attack. Their location is at…" he looked at the monitor from Makoto's console "Nearby Tokyo-3 Highway 12. ETA to their location?"
"About… 5 minutes sir" the man on the other line replied.
"Then hurry"
Aoba then placed the phone back to the base handle while Maya paused from her work of uncovering the rest of Hamada's files, obviously concerned to the well-being of the two people she knew.
The SUV swerved back and forth because its driver was trying to shake off the helicopter in pursuit, nearly missing the other cars going opposite of their direction. At some point during the chase Misato swerved the SUV right into the road where all cars are going opposite of their direction.
Fortunately Misato's "excellent" driving skills actually saved both of their asses from becoming a heap in the hood when they slammed into one of the rapidly approaching cars.
Kaji was still firing his weapon, already feeling the intense firefight with the gunner manning the machine gun mounted on the chasing helicopter.
It made him remember his days as a JSSDF soldier back then, the one where he had to cover his comrades during a similar firefight.
"Kaji, hold on! I'm going to try something!" Misato shouted.
The agent barely holds on to the back of the SUV when the major suddenly swerved right into the tight driveway tunnel and drives through it, dodging right and left due to the incoming traffic.
Kaji thought the pursuing helicopter wouldn't follow. He was wrong.
The helicopter literally went inside the tunnel, still chasing them behind and continuing the firefight they had.
Misato then surprisingly laughed out loud and called him coolly in her usual cheerful voice "Get back into the front seat, quick! I got a plan"
Kaji scrambled to the front "What do you plan to do dearest honey?"
"A… hit and run strategy! Hold on tight into something. They wanted us so badly, let them get us!"
Kaji smiled, understanding perfectly what Misato had on mind. Of course, she is the Tactical Operations Director…
The helicopter pilot was grinning when they were gaining on to the targeted SUV, thanks to his daredevil skills when he realized, too late, that he was about to crash to the very SUV they were chasing.
CRASH!!!!
And then Misato pressed the gas pedal on full force, leaving behind the helicopter tumbling into the tunnel road and meeting head-on the incoming traffic before becoming a mass scrap of metal lying on the road before engulfed in flames.
To Misato's opinion, the crushed up rear of the SUV due to the impact was only a minor matter.
Several Section-2 officers and NERV security is on the scene. No survivors were found in the burning helicopter.
Misato's cellular phone then rang "Katsuragi"
Maya's voice piped in "Hello major?"
"What is it?"
"I think you really ought to know who Viktor Sovietskaya is"
"Spill it out"
"Viktor Sovietskaya was a former leader of the unknown Russian terrorist group who was responsible for the key assassinations of several political leaders and bombings of critical targets. He was one of the world's most wanted men by several agencies like CIA, NSA, UN, name it… and has ties with the international terrorist cell named Black Cell. He was spotted somewhere around the former Okinawa regions before he eluded arrest, five days ago"
This latest piece of information got her alarmed, as he was surprisingly nearby Tokyo-3.
"Is Evangelion Unit 3 currently en-route to Matsushiro Testing Facility?" Commander Ikari asked, staring at Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. Since receiving the report about the Second NERV branch at Nevada two days ago, the US government doesn't want another incident of risky activation happen to their soil, ever again. So they decided to transfer the unit there on Matsushiro Testing Facility, particularly since its designated pilot was found to be within close proximity of Tokyo-3
Which was fine to Gendo Ikari. Everything is going as planned…
"Yes sir. The package will arrive expectedly at 8 AM at the Matsushiro Testing Facility's private airport" Ritsuko answered, her own stare to him slowly wavering.
"The Dummy Plug?"
"The Dummy Plug is set and ready for programming"
"That's good" Commander Ikari said "Program the Dummy Plug to the entry plug of Evangelion Unit 1 effective immediately"
The doctor flinched when he ordered her to set it up on Evangelion Unit 1.
"Yes sir"
"Dismiss"
Ritsuko then turned and went to Rei, who was waiting expectantly beside the corner.
5:00:00 AM
Well… what do you think? Is my grammar improving? Do I still need a pre-reader? Please tell me ^_^. Rest assured I will surely appreciate it.