Wildcard Studios Presents;
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Personal Humanity
Disclaimer: I don't own Eva… thanks for rubbing it in my face!
Dedicated to the fallen service members of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and also to the friends, families, loved ones, and fellow soldiers they left behind. Gone they may be from this world, yet living forever in our hearts and minds. This we'll defend, Hooah.
Chapter One, Tokyo 3 17 May 2024
The barroom was dim and smoky, furnished with all wood tables, chairs, barstools, and the bar itself. Mirrored signs lined the walls, advertising various liquors, beers, and spirits. At a table in a dark corner, beneath and old picture that proudly proclaimed that this establishment served Bushmills Irish Whiskey, a pair of friends sat at a table for four.
"They're late." Groaned the taller, darker haired of the pair to the bespectacled, shorter friend sitting across from him. His friend regarded him with a chuckle, "You never did have any patience, did you? Don't worry Toji, they'll be here, they've shown up every other time, right?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right Ken." Toji mused as he absently watched beads of moisture run down the side of his bottle of beer. Kensuke smirked, "Of course I'm right. Sit back and enjoy your brew, they'll be here. They're probably both caught in traffic or something." Kensuke said between sips of his Long Island iced tea.
It was a few minutes later when the door opened and in walked another man. He was of average height for a Japanese, with dark hair and dark blue eyes. Toji spotted him first, "Hey, look who finally drug his sorry ass out of the foul demon's clutches! Get your ass over here Shinji!"
Shinji sighed and rolled his eyes as he took his seat at the table, "You know, I really wish you'd stop calling my wife that."
"Never happen," Kensuke said laughing, "So what took you so long? The wife, traffic, the office?" "All three," Shinji replied, "But not in that order, been training a new guy in the kitchen. How he graduated cooking school is beyond me. Then I got in a huge traffic jam on the way home. And once I got home, Asuka… well, that's personal."
"Please, spare us the details." Toji grumbled.
Shinji, noticing that there were only two drinks on the table asked, "What, he's not here yet?" "Nah, figured you'd know where he was." Kensuke replied.
"Well, he said something about a training flight today when he called," Shinji recalled, "Don't worry, he'll be here."
The pair turned trio continued to converse and drink. Shinji ordered a rum and coke while Toji and Kensuke talked of work, Kensuke's latest girlfriend, and finally the past. "Sometimes I just don't believe we made it," Toji reflected, "All that shit, and here we are in this bar, who would've thunk it, huh?"
"I can only think of one thing, we had us. We supported each other through it all. We couldn't have done it any other way." Shinji raised his glass as if to punctuate his statement.
"Damn right."
"Hell yeah."
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Ten Years Earlier.
NERV Central, Tokyo 3
The conference room was also dimly lit. Gendo Ikari, Commander of NERV Tokyo 3 sat at the head of a holographic table while Kozo Fuyutsuki, his second in command, stood beside him. Around the table were representatives from all the various branches of NERV around the world. Germany, The United States, China, United Kingdom, and France each the commander of their branch, along with their respective second in command.
Commander Ikari was first to speak, "Gentlemen, I gathered you here today to confirm that the Angels have indeed returned. NERV's purpose is to see that they are defeated. Therefore, I am calling Evangelions two, three and four to be immediately deployed to Tokyo 3 in whatever stage of completion. Dr. Langley I'll begin with you, what is the status of Unit Two?"
"Complete and combat ready," the German said in his deep voice, "The pilot is undergoing her final training; we can begin preparations at once."
"Excellent," Gendo replied, turning to the commander of the U.S. First Branch, "Commander Simpson, the status on Unit Three?"
Commander Simpson, an overweight, middle aged man replied, "Complete, but we haven't the initial activation test at this time, due to a lack of a pilot. Therefore, without operational data, there's no way of telling if the EVA is combat ready." "Understandable," Gendo acknowledged, "Once we receive the fourth we will begin testing. General McLanahan, what is the status of Unit Four?"
Lieutenant General McLanahan, a U.S. Air Force General in his late forties replied, "Incomplete. My project chief estimates completion within three months. The fifth's combat training is complete, but we have yet to begin operational training."
"Three months may seem like a long time but considering the fact that Unit Four started construction less than a year ago, it would seem your branch has been making considerable progress. In light of that, I'll also request your project personnel also be transferred to complete the Evangelion." Gendo repositioned his glasses, "I trust this won't be a problem?"
The general thought for a second before he replied, "Moving the entire operation is bound to create delays, but it is imperative that all forces are gathered to combat the Angels. We will begin at once."
"Very well," Gendo address the group, "See that all our efforts are focused on this task. I need the support of all branches for this deployment. Our business here is done."
At that, the room darkened and the conference was over.
"How do you think the committee will handle this breach upon their scenario?" Kozo ask the Commander.
"I could care less, it should only amount to a small revision on their scenario, it won't affect mine." Gendo said as he rested his chin upon his clasped hands.
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NERV, Germany
A young brunette, a NERV lab tech, strode through the hallways of the complex. Nearing the Project Eva facility she took notice of an unshaven, pony tailed man lounging around a break area adjacent to the pilot training center. "Hey Kaji, did you hear the news?"
Ryoji Kaji looked at her with an appraising eye, "What news might that be, the news that Unit Two is deploying? Or has my dreams finally came true and you are now single?" The lab tech giggled, "The first one silly, you know full well that I'm still engaged." Kaji put on a hurt look, "Ah yes, and such a shame. But, if you ever change your mind…" "Should I change my mind, you'll be in Japan." She finished for him, "See you later!" she said as she walked away.
"A massive deployment of all first generation Evangelions," Kaji thought to himself, "Ikari's nuts must really be in a vice, not to mention the 'special cargo' I'll be delivering to him." Kaji could've lost himself in his thoughts for quite some time if it weren't for a fourteen year old, red-headed bundle of energy clad in a plugsuit bursting through the door of the training center. "Kaji! Did you see me? Wasn't I awesome?"
"Whoa take it easy Asuka, you were great." He told her, "But I need you to start packing your stuff."
"Where we going?"
"Japan, Unit Two is being deployed."
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NERV U.S. Second Branch,
Groom Lake, Nevada
United States Air Force Lieutenant General Patrick "Muck" McLanahan sat behind his desk in his office, in the facility once known as the Hi technology Aerospace Weapons Center (HAWC). Across the office on a black leather sofa Major General David Luger and Marine Corps Sergeant Major Chris Wohl sat, awaiting the beginning of their meeting. McLanahan was first to speak. "To put Ikari's conference in a nutshell, we're moving the entire operation to NERV Central."
"It's the big one Muck, I recommend we airlift an advance party of equipment and personnel to get things set up across the pond," Luger advised, "Meanwhile, I'll see about getting a ship that will suit our purposes for transporting Unit Four."
"Agreed, start uploading the armor and support equipment on the ship as soon as we get it, meanwhile we can continue construction one the Eva itself for a few days longer." McLanahan turned to the Sergeant Major, "Have the pilot ready, I assume he'll want to accompany the Eva."
Wohl stood and saluted, "Yes sir."
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Sergeant Major Chris Whol strode briskly through the hallway of the base's main troop barracks, he stopped at room 115 and knocked twice.
"You lookin' for the kid, Sergeant Major?" the marine at the duty desk just down the hall asked. "Yeah, he isn't in?"
"Last I heard he was at the range with the guys, Sergeant Major," the marine said, checking his log, "Yep, right here, signed out a half hour ago."
"Alright, thanks Corporal."
"Hoorah!"
"Figures," Wohl thought to himself as he left the barracks, "that kid burns up more ammo…"
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Walking into the indoor weapons range Wohl heard a commotion, the shouting of at least 30 men echoed through the large, open facility. A single shot rang out and the shouts were replaced by groans and cheers. As he made his way to the crowd a Marine notice his approach and shouted, "At ease!" "Carry on." Wohl told them.
"Alright," a Staff Sergeant was saying, "The kid's got one shot left, double or nothing gents!" As Wohl made his way though the crowd he noticed the fifth child in the prone position, behind an M-24 sniper rifle. The bets were made, the target silhouette was sent downrange, and the Staff Sergeant continued, "Alright men, sound off!" The Marines began shouting at such a volume that easily made thinking nearly impossible as the fifth child brought his weapon to his shoulder and took up his sights. He inhaled, exhaled, paused, and fired.
Silence fell over the Marines as the target made its way back from downrange. It bore one single hole directly through the center of the silhouette, exactly where the white dot would've been. The fifth child looked at his handiwork and grinned. "Good shooting as usual, Pilot Taylor." Wohl told him, "But is it necessary to relive my Marines of so much of their hard earned pay?" "That's what they get for betting against me, Sergeant Major." Said the fifth child, Marcus Taylor.
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A few minutes later, after Marc turned in his weapon to the Arms Room and collected his cut of the winnings he followed Wohl out of the complex. "So what did you need to see me about, Sergeant Major?" Marc asked, "I hope it wasn't anything to do with that back there." Wohl chuckled, "No, you're right, they got what they deserved. I came to tell you to pack your gear, you're PCSing to NERV central."
"When do I leave?"
"Within the week."
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Tokyo 3
Captain Misato Katsuragi surveyed the damage that her small "party" caused. It could've been worse, she figured, it was only herself and her new roommate, Shinji.
She'd received a phone call a few minutes earlier from none other than Commander Ikari himself. "Strange," she though, "I never figured he'd lower himself as to call me directly." He had called to inform her of the upcoming deployment of the Evas, perhaps the single most important military operation in modern history, and that once all the pieces got to Tokyo 3, it would be her task to put them into place.
She looked over to Shinji's room, with the door bearing the sign "Shinji's Lovely Suite" that she had placed upon it. She walked over and slid the door open. Shinji was on his bed, facing away from the door, pretending to be asleep. "Poor kid," she thought, "That battle would've been hard enough on the average adult, let alone a messed up teenager."
"Hang in there Shinji," she told him, "and do your best. Help is on the way."
-notes-
(1) Hoorah, motivational expression used by the US Marine Corps. the Army uses a similiar expression, as does the Navy.
(2) M24 sniper rifle, currently the primary anti-personnel sniper weapon in use today, 7.62x54mm.
(3) PCS (Permenant Change of Station), When a service member transfers to another post.