Author's Notes: sobs I'm deeply sorry. This took far longer than anyone wanted. Don't worry, I'll still finish it, just..... with the rewrwitten versions of the chapters that are posted [The original copy of this, which is unreleased, is far different in flavor, flow, and storyline.], I had to change this chapter drastically. Originally I was going to reveal much more than is here, but I decided, why reveal all? So this chappy advances charicterization and story, and sets the groundwork for Rei's future in this first book as well as that of the Mechwarrior's.
On another note, remember when I said I was gonna make meself into a minor, one-shot comic relief charicter? I've chosen a spot. About 2-4 chapters from here. I'll be working at the infamous Noodle Stand as a foreign exchange waiter from Germany [which is funny, cos I ain't from Germany. Family is, but not me.... oh well]. And don't worry, There'll be Mech battles and such before then!
Well.... Guess that's all..... On with the show...... [Geben Sie Mir viel gluck, bitte!!!]
"Yes, she is alive," Dr. Akagi said to a distant recipiant via cell phone.
"Impossible! This was not in my plan! First these time travellers, now this!" Gendo was not pleased.
"..."
"Dr. Akagi. I need you to kill her. We can't activate the Third without the Sec-"
"You cruel bastard son of-"
"Doctor. Don't trifle with me. I'm not in the mood," then there was the click of a disconnected line.
Damn him! Ritsuko thought. Well, I better get this over with... "Rei! Come with me!"
Rei looked up and noted Ritsuko. She stood and began to follow the venerable doctor. They walked for about five minutes, until the recovery crew was out of site, hidden by the woods. Rei stood still and Ritsuko walked a few paces off. She reached into her coat pocket and withdrew a pistol. "Rei, I must kill you.Aren't you going to run?"
Rei looked at Dr. Akagi. "No ma'am, as I owuld not be able to escape. Likewise for attacking you,"
Damn her. Damn her for being right! Ritsuko thought. She pointed the weapon at Rei and looked at her. Try as she might, she couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger. It was wrong. Then she saw Yui Ikari in that young face, the face of the woman against whom she could never win, and it became much easier to pull the trigger. She closed her eyes and a single shot rang out. Ritsuko opened her eyes.
Rei was still standing.
Her arm had elevated a few inches, and the bullet was lodged in a tree. Damn. I won't miss again. She thought. She looked at Rei again. However, this time, she couldn't see Yui in that face. She only saw a 14 year old girl who deserved a good life. "Go, Rei. Leave, don't let anyone find you,"
"Understood,"
Rei turned away and began walking farther into the forest. Ritsuko stood and watched until she was out of sight. She then reached into a pocked and pulled out her cell phone. Hitting a speed dial, she waited until she heard a voice on the other end. "Maya! I'm fine. I need you to run a program for me. Uh huh, that one, but use the back door I showed you. Uh-huh, yea. Bye," She pocketed the phone and walked away.
...
"Lanceleader Captain, huh?" Misato said. "Strange rank....Well, Captain, you and your..."
"Lancemates. They're called Lancemates, because a group of four Mechs is called a Lance,"
Misato looked at Mike funny. "Aren't you a little young to be a soldier?" She asked.
Mike nodded. "Yes. Normally I'd be only just now beginning my training as a Mechwarrior, but we're all special cases. You see, in the year 3052, the Eridani Light Horse units decided to try and find what they call 'Recipients of Naturally Transmitted Genetic Battlemech Skills'. We just call them 'The Naturals'. The idea is this; you have natural marksmen, natural drivers, natural airplane pilots, natural swordsmen, so why not natural Mechwarriors?"
Misato nodded. "That makes sense,"
"So," Mike continued. "They went out to the families of successful Mechwarriors of at least two generations, and pulled a hundred children aged ten to seventeen into this program. They just threw us into simulated combat with only ten minutes of instruction on what the buttons and stuff do. Out of those hundred, only twenty were accepted. We were four of those twenty. When they had weeded out the non-naturals for regular training in House armies, they began to teach us in earnest. It took three months to train us, rather than the normal seven to twelve. After that, we saw action in a few border skirmishes, and the Battle of Coventry, and the opening stages of Operation Bulldog, and we were later transfered to Task Force Serpent. Of those twenty, seven have fallen. The experiment is still being analyzed. But we do have our own Regiment! The Eridani Light Horse 33rd Experimental Combat Regiment. Made up of all sorts of odds and ends. We were one of the first units to have the Owens-class Battlemech, one of the first to have the new Omni-Land-Air Mechs, battle armor, that junk. We test shit,"
"Interesting.... What about Evangelions?" Misato asked.
Mike looked at her oddly. "Evangelion-class Battlemechs? Never heard o' em. What're they like?"
"I'll.... show you sometime..." Misato said.
"Allright. Well, is that all?"
"Ah, well Captain, you and your lancemates are going to need some place to stay. I've gotten you the apartment next to mine, but for about two days there will be no utilities, due to damage. So I suppose you could stay at my place. It'll be crowded, but it's better than nothing,"
"Thank you, Sir!" Mike said, saluting.
"Just call me 'Misato',"
"Yes S-er.... Misato"
...
Ritsuko stared out at the Evangelions, sitting securely in their designated cages. The large room seemed empty now that Unit-00 was gone. Work retrofitting some of the cages for smaller vehicles had begun, but was on hold for the time being. Now the cavernous room was deserted, leaving Doctor Ritsuko Akagi alone with her thoughts. Briefly Ritsuko wondered how Rei was. I hope she's alright. I've risked a lot for her... Any further thought on the subject was banished, as the sound of footfalls came into being behind her, their volume magnified tenfold by the size of the room in which they were created. Ritsuko turned around, trying to see who it was that was creating the noise. The profaner of this great silence was none other than Gendo Ikari, with Rei III in tow. The latter was bandaged up, much as she had been during the attack of the third angel. Of course, the bandaged areas weren't really injured, but she'd been ordered to wear them to keep up appearances. People didn't just sit through EVA self-destructs and come out without a scratch. Save for Rei. I still don't get it... "I trust this iteneration meets your specifications," Ritsuko said.
"Yes, it is perfect for my purposes," Gendo replied, in his cold, cruel tone.
"As per your orders, her genes are purely those of an angel, and thus, her EVA skills will be unmatched. She can pick and choose her sync-ratio. Of course, that is dependent of wether or not you'll let this one pilot,"
"If the need comes. I am indeed pleased with your work. However," Gendo said, with a sudden tone of menace in his voice. "I wonder if this Rei's soul is the original Rei soul."
"What do you mean by that?" Ritsuko said, trying to keep fear from her voice. How did that bastard find out? Or is he trying to catch me, to trip me up?
"Indeed. I sent a second clean-up crew, do you wish to know what they found?" Ritsuko nodded. "A single bullet lodged in a tree. No blood. No body. No struggle."
Ritsuko attempted valiantly to appear innocent. "Well, I assumed you would want me to clean up after myself. I disp-ack---"
She was cut off, however, as Gendo shoved her off the EVA gantry. She was dangling, with over 12 stories between her and hard concrete. Only Gendo's arm strength was holding her up. She had dropped her clipboard in the sudden struggle, and it fell down. Just now, it reached the floor. It hit, and shattered, scattering papers all over. "Doctor. Did I not tell you I am NOT in the mood for these games?"
Ritsuko just stared at him, a hateful, yet frightened stare. She didn't dare scream, for that would doom her to death. "It would be a tragic shame for NERV's top scientist to fall from an EVA gaintry, wouldn't it, Doctor?"
Ritsuko nodded again, worried about Gendo's rash behavior. Surely four time-traveling pilots and their support vehicles wouldn't have caused such a disruption in his oh-so precious plans. Could it? Is he telling me everything? She thought. "Doctor, a piece of advice. Take a que from Rei. Follow orders,"
She nodded yet again, and Gendo pulled her back up onto solid ground. She sighed, and dropped down onto her knees, relieved. Gendo, having regained his calm, cold composure, turned to Rei III and began to issue orders.
...
At the hospital, things were quiet. Misato had taken the four Warriors to the registration desk, and signed Mike out. Shinji and Asuka had followed. Mike looked at them both, and studied them intently. After all, he thought. Who knows if I might end up working with them? Though the more he looked, the more that idea scared him. Shinji looked human enough, but saddened. It looked like the reason for that sadness was a death. Mike knew that face, had seen it far too often, had worn it himself even more often. Asuka though, she was a ringer. Her face was blank, and she acted like a robot. When Mike looked into her eyes, there was nothing, as though she had no soul. Mike had seen that look before on people, back before joining the Eridani Light Horse 33rd Experimental Combat Regiment, also known as the 33rd Naturals. The people he'd seen it worn on were people who's troubles were few, but their ego colossal. Gotta be a boyfriend left her, or failed a test. Hell, might even be that her man didn't get her to-
"Ok, we're all ready to leave," interluded Misato. "Just wait while I requisition a van," With that, she left.
"Ugh, I'm parched," Mike said suddenly, breaking the silence that had set in after the Major had left. "Anyone got sommat to drink?"
One by one, his lance shook their heads no. Asuka was catatonic-seeming, and Shinji was fishing around in his pockets. "Hey, is that a drink machine? Lemme see, I got fifty-seven twenty on me, that should be enough," he muttered as he walked over to the machine and stuck a few coins into it. The machine beeped angrily and spat the money out. "Fucking machine," Mike muttered, and stuck a bill into it. The machine beeped angrily once more and spat it out too. "C'mon! These are good C-Bills! Take it, you fucker!"
Then he noticed that the low hum of conversation of patients and such had died, and everyone was staring at him. Even Asuka had come slightly out of her reviere to look at the jump-suited 16-year old Mechwarrior. Why..oh shit. I just yelled in English... they gotta be wondering about me..... "uh....... sorry?" he said.
Shinji walked up, and handed Mike a wad of cash. "H-h-here. F-for the s-s-soda..."
Mike flashed a friendly grin and spoke. "Thank you kindly Shinji! I'll pay you back, soon as I get more money, cos this is more than I have," Wow! 480 C-Bills for a can o' soda? What kind of hell... Wait, this is 2015... THEY DON'T HAVE C-BILLS YOU MOTHER-FUCKING IDIOT! Mike mentally reprimanded himself. Turning back to the machine, he bought a soda called Banzai Cola.
He opened the can, and noticed Shinji staring at him in a funny way. Mike shrugged, and took a drink of the soda. He nearly spit it out, but he'd had worse. After all, what could be worse than Mech coolant? Ugh! Now I know why they call it Banzai cola.... he thought grimly after getting the first mouthful down. "So..." Mike said. "Shinji. This is Tokyo-3. I noticed some hard hats in the hall back there. Is there some kind of war going on?"
Shinji visibly became depressed on the topic, but this was vital information for the Mechwarriors, so Mike had to press it. "I see that there is.... so.... Who's it between and who's winning?"
Shinji finally regained his voice. "It's between us..... and heaven....." and Mike could see he would speak no more.
Just then, Misato walked back in to the hospital. "Ok! Are we ready to leave?"
Shinji walked off towards the door. Mike just looked back to his lance. "Yea," he muttered, tossing the unfinished can of liquified mud away. "We're ready to leave," With that, he slung his duffel over his shoulder, and followed Shinji.
...
Rei continued to walk through the forest. she'd been walking for the better part of a day now, more or less in a straight line. Occasionally she'd make a change of direction, when it seemed right. Odd, she thought. I have been walking for hours, yet I am not tired, nor am I hungry. Why? Her stomach also felt as if there were a block of ice in it, forever melting, but never shrinking. Hm... If my sudden lack of need of food or rest is due to this, then it is acceptable. she thought. Her reasoning was indeed sound, for it would make it easier for her to remain undiscovered. But where should she go? Her mind began to wander, leaving the subject at hand, for the uncharted waters of her mind. Ikari. Third. Shinji. She thought, and various emotions arose within her. Why does his name bring up these feelings? I care about him? She pondered the possibility, drifing through memories of him and her. This brought her to a startling conclusion. I do care for him. I think that I ma- She was cut off, however, at the sound of a voice. Not an unfamiliar voice, but instead one she heard every day of her life. It stopped her cold in her tracks, confused and terrified. Just seven simple words. "It is the second, searching for Adam,"
Rei spun around, only to gaze into familiar eyes. Her own eyes, filled with that hated color, Red. "You... You are... me? How? Why? And I am the First Child, not the Second,"
The dopelganger Rei stepped forward. "You are correct. However, you are also incorrect," She then turned around to look at a tree.
Rei was now very confused. How can one be both right and wrong at the same time? "But what do you mean by 'the second'? And what do you mean, searching for Adam?"
Her dopelganger whirled around. "Do you know where we are, right now?" Rei shook her head. "We are at a hidden entrance to NERV HQ."
Rei look around. Her dopelganger was indeed telling the truth. "So why did I come here?" she asked.
"You have been completed," the clone said simply.
"Completed? I do not.... understand,"
The dopelganger Rei stepped closer to Rei. "It is not hard to understand your confusion, considering you were never told of your nature,"
Rei looked puzzled by this, though it was very slight indeed. "What is....my nature?"
The dopelganger said nothing. Rei waited, and still silence remained. "Will you tell me?"
"It is not your concern anymore. You will not need that information after the procedure,"
Rei was now scared, though she did not let it show. Procedure? What does she mean? "What will you do to me?"
"It is simple. I will remove your core," the Dopelganger said coldly.
Core!? I am- I am.... "I am an Angel?" Rei said. Her mind was reeling now.
"That is correct. I do not fully understand it, but understanding is Non-Sequitor. I have been ordered to retrieve your core, and so I shall. Further speech on your part is interfering with that mission. Now hold still," With that, the Dopelganger Rei directed a hand toward Rei, and thus her AT-Field.
Rei cried out in shock and pain as she was pinned against a willow tree. The Dopelganger raised her other hand, and moved it to Rei's stomach. When it reached the stomach, a vertical slit appeared in her plug suit. Then her very flesh unknit, like a wool sweater come unraveled, and the Dopelganger Rei's hand entered the space Rei's womb occupied. The pain was blinding. When the hand withdrew, it held a small, red orb about the size of a large softball. Her flesh reknit, and the Dopelganger was mildly supprised. She is alive? Unusual. It is Non-Sequitor. The clone walked off, leaving a now unconcious Rei Ayanami laying under a tree, her face contorted with pain.
...
First off, No this Isn't new from what came out a day ago. destroyed my Thought Quotation marks, so I had to go in a and fix. That means re-loading the chapter. I'm terribly sorry.
Alright. Interested? Wondering how, if Ayanami is an Angel, she could survive the loss of her core? Wondering what's up with Michael's dreams? Wondering when Pen-Pen is gonna get into a drinking contest with Misato? Just wait for the next episode! Same Mech-Time, Same Mech-Channel [Yea yea, 60's Batman junkie. So shoot me {Not really. About the shoot me bit}] Ok, here's a first for me. The first Omake!
Begin.....
"Ugh, I'm parched," Mike said suddenly, breaking the silence that had set in after the Major had left. "Anyone got sommat to drink?"
One by one, his lance shook their heads no. Asuka was catatonic-seeming, and Shinji was fishing around in his pockets. "Hey, is that a drink machine? Lemme see, I got fifty-seven twenty on me, that should be enough," he muttered as he walked over to the machine and stuck a few coins into it. The machine beeped angrily and spat the money out. "Fucking machine," Mike muttered, and stuck a bill into it. The machine beeped angrily once more and spat it out too. "C'mon! These are good C-Bills! Take it, you fucker!"
Then he noticed that the low hum of conversation of patients and such had died, and everyone was staring at him. Even Asuka had come slightly out of her reviere to look at the jump-suited 16-year old Mechwarrior. Why..oh shit. I just yelled in English... "uh....... sorry?" he said.
Shinji walked up, and handed Mike a wad of cash. "H-h-here. F-for the s-s-soda..."
Mike flashed a friendly grin and spoke. "Thank you kindly Shinji! I'll pay you back, soon as I get more money, cos this is more than I have," Wow! 480 C-Bills for a can o' soda? What kind of hell... Wait, this is 2015... THEY DON'T HAVE C-BILLS YOU MOTHER-FUCKING IDIOT! Mike mentally reprimanded himself. Turning back to the machine, he bought a soda called Pepsi.
The six spoke amongs themselves, Asuka coming out of her reviere to speak to Shinji a little, until Misato walked into the lobby. "Hey! Mike, you ready to bring your lance home? Oh! Pepsi!"
"Actually," Mike said. "This isn't Pepsi," He said as he unzipped the cover of the can. "It's Pepsi Twist. And I'm not Michael Rutz," He said as he unzipped his skin, revealing the features of....
"Kaji!" Misato squealed.
The two closed together and shared a kiss. Then Misato got a mischeveious grin, and a second and a short thump later, Kaji's eyes widened as he slumped to the ground clutching his groin. "That's for being too slow dumb to duck when someone points a gun at you!" She said as she walked off.
".......ow......" Kaji said in a soprano voice.
Ok Ok, lame right? Eh, oh well. See you next chapter. [Pray it's not another month or two].........