Chapter 5
A massive pure white object was floating down through the atmosphere as people ran to seek shelter. CLUNK, the massive buildings of Tokyo 3 began moving down to the geofront. The angel did not mind; its goal was to clear the way for its brothers and sisters. This meant that the children who were defying the angels were to be disposed of; and it knew the perfect way to do it.
"Ok Andrew, just concentrate on what you want the Lambda Drive to do and it will do it." instructed Kaname.
"So it's almost like the Eva's control system, right?" asked Shinji.
"Yes, only if the driver isn't activated, then the controls are all manual."
"Is that all the Lambda Driver does, move the AS?" asked Andrew.
"You can do a lot more than that. It's sort of like your psionic abilities, only for the AS."
"You mean I can make a shield with it?"
"Of course."
Andrew smiled over the comm-link. Kaname forced a smile through. Originally she had planned to tell Andrew that she was going to break up with him after she showed him the AS unit; but since the angel's untimely arrival she hadn't had a chance. Kaname liked military types, but as it turns out, Sergeant Sousuke Sagara was more of a military otaku than Captain Andrew. Maybe this break in relationships has caught on (or maybe it's just some author's prerogative), but Asuka was thinking that she needed some time to think about things. She realized that if Shinji ever asked her to leave Eva behind, she might not be able to.
FLASH, BOOM. No more time for thinking, the angel has finally made a move. The white light blinded the pilots. Once they overcame the blindness they found themselves staring at what appeared to be themselves.
"AHHHHH!" Asuka attacked. The red Evangelion copy also attacked. As if following a leader, everyone else started attacking. Attack after attack, the copies just kept on blocking. The sparring continued for fifteen minutes.
At the command center, Ritsuko studied the battle and fed the information to the MAGI. It took a few agonizing minutes for it to reply with an answer. Ritsuko picked up the printout and read it. She almost forgot to tell the rest of the command center her findings.
"MAYA! OPEN A COMM CHANNEL TO THE PILOTS!" Ritsuko shouted.
"Channel opened!"
"PILOTS! You have to stop fighting!"
"WHAT!?!" came the voices from the speakers.
"Whatever you do, the copies just copy you. I'm willing to bet that if you stop fighting, then they will also stop fighting."
"What if you're wrong?" asked Shinji.
"Then I'll pay for your grave, now STOP FIGHTING!"
The tired pilots finally listened and stopped fighting. To their surprise, the copies just dispersed into smoke. The angel core just floated in the middle.
"Are we able to disable the angel core?" asked Rei.
"Better not risk..." began Ritsuko.
What appeared to be an AS just descended from the sky in a capsule. The pilot created a katana in the AS's hand and came down slicing the core in half. It was of course Sergeant Sousuke Sagara, the backup from Mithril.
Now is the best time to tell Andrew, thought Kaname.
"PHHZZT, Umm... Andrew?"
"Yeah?"
"I hate to break it to you but I think we should break up."
"WHAT???"
"It's not that I don't like you..."
"Y...you...you played me..."
""NO! I...well, I just like the military types...but you're a bit..."
"A bit what?"
"Lax."
"..." Andrew was at a loss for words. He thought he had overcome his boundary where he couldn't get a girl. He let his military likeness soften, but now it seems that he should never have done that.
Andrew slowly activated the thrusters on his AS.
"Andrew...I'm sorry, but I think it would be best..."
Kaname didn't finish, Andrew went for max power and flew through the rubble around them. He would need some time to think. And if Kaname didn't want him anymore, he was going to have to get over her; hopefully find another girl make his life whole again.
"Miss Chidori, if you want me to look for him..." started Sousuke.
"Ah, you BAKA, can't you see that he needs some time alone!" shouted Asuka.
"I think she's right Sousuke." replied Kaname.
"And..." Asuka was cut off.
"Report to the debriefing room as soon as you get in" came Misato's voice.
Debriefing Room #4
"Welcome to the team Sergeant Sagara; where's Andrew?" greeted Misato.
"Miss Smart Ass over here dumped him and he took off." replied Asuka.
"Is this true?" Misato asked as she turned to look at Kaname.
"Yes..."
"And who did you dump him for?"
"Sousuke." Kaname whispered.
"I see...why?"
"I...well...I like military types..."
"Andrew's a Captain." Misato pointed out.
"I know, but he's sort of lax in his duties. I like the hardcore military types, like Sousuke."
"Well he'll definitely get demoted for stealing military equipment."
"I guess Sousuke can live with us, there's a spot vacant."
"Do you have no regret that a skilled pilot such as Andrew has been lost?" asked Rei.
"I do, but I think he'll come back when he sorts things out." replied Misato.
"Hai (yes)"
"Dismissed!"
Katsuragi Residence
Seeing as how Kaname and Sousuke went out to catch up on old times and Misato was still at Nerv, Shinji thought that this was the best time to ask Asuka to run away with him. There's been too much pain in fighting.
"Asuka."
"Hmm?"
"I...Could you...run away with me?"
"What? Run?"
"Yes, away from Eva, away from all the pain, and be together."
Oh No! Just the question I don't have an answer for, thought Asuka.
"U...I...I'm sorry Shinji, I... I just can't leave like this."
Shinji couldn't believe it, he had given everything he had for her, but she still won't let go of one thing. The one thing that stops us from being happy forever. Eva.
"I see..."
I want to go with him, but something's holding me back, and Shinji looks like he's about to lose the spine that he finally grew.
"Shi..." Asuka began reaching out to comfort him.
Before her hand made contact, Shinji moved out of the way and headed for the door, his eyes watering. Asuka was trying to hold onto him, but there was something else that she had to hold onto first. She watched as Shinji left his cell phone and Nerv ID card on the kitchen counter and left through the door.
What have I done? Thought Asuka. Know two pilots are gone...
End of Chapter 5