Chapter 2: Summer storm
I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion, its just a fan-fiction, read and enjoy.
Some feedback to my reviewers: None this time? No one like the story?
2.3 Grey skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face.
Authors note:
Enough with this mushie stuff, time for some more combat! In this chapter we meet Mana Kirashima the character from the Evangelion game Girlfriend of steel or iron maiden, if you don't know the game check out Jazzam's Mana Kirashimas picture gallery for more info.
Four A.M. the next morning. Misato was woken from her sleep by Makoto at the door, information was coming in from Gendo. Quickly dressing, she and Kaji soon joined Fuyuzuki at command & control. They entered to see the faces of Gendo and Ritsuko on the monitors. Starting immediately Gendo said that information had arrived about the imminent deployment of the enemy Evas. Satellite reconnaissance had picked up activity at a couple of locations. A map appeared on the projector screen and the locations were illustrated. Ritsuko continued, and information appeared on the map, given the strategic targets in the area the Magi had calculated the optimal staging area of the NERV Evas so as to be able to intercept any possible incursion. The briefing continued and Ritsuko transferred the limited information she had concerning what type of enemy Evas they were to expect, and what type of weapons they was expected to have. Gendo interrupted, asking that Kaji make his way to a chopper already organised by Gendo, he was to receive his own brief on rout to a new assignment. Saluting, Kaji made ready to go, asking Misato quietly to wish Shinji and Asuka goodbye. In professional mode, Misato only glanced sideways at Kaji who himself only gave a slight smile, she nodded slightly and their eyes locked for only a second. While at work the two were professional, but considering how close they were, tiny signals had developed, ones not noticeable for most people. Kaji quickly retreated from the room. On the screen Gendo excused himself and left to give Kaji his own briefing. Ritsuko continued and before long the orders were issued for a re-deployment.
Shinji and Asuka were awakened, and through a hive of activity made their way to Misato.
Back in the control room, Gendo had reappeared and the NERV commanders were busily organising strategy. After greeting Shinji and Asuka, Gendo and Ritsuko got back to serious talk with Misato and Fuyuzuki. Asuka and Shinji listened in for a while, but it was mostly strategy. Noticing them out of sorts, Maya asked them if they wanted to talk to Rei. Grateful, the two pilots were soon in a side room sitting around a small Laptop, with a camera attachment. And no sooner had they sat down then a picture of Rei appeared on the screen, smiling.
Shinji and Asuka said hello happily, as they both squashed together to appear on the same screen. Quickly however a look of concern crossed Rei's face, the two pilots had forgotten about their injures, which were still slightly visible. Shinji and Asuka exchanged glances, having totally forgotten. Hearing Rei's concern they laughed, Asuka gave a good appraisal of their last couple of days, though omitting most of what happened two nights ago. In an inspired piece of light good natured teasing she did end the account by stating to Rei what a charming caring young man Shinji had become. At this comment Shinji turned red. Rei, smiling, helped rub it in and soon Shinji's eyes were looking at the floor, embarrassed. The two girls used this opportunity to share a sympathetic expression. Shinji, still embarrassed caught the exchange out of the corner of his eye. He was starting to suspect that the two were closer then he had first thought. Continuing the conversation the topics remained light, Shinji and Asuka found out what Hikari, Toji and Kensuka had been up to and what Rei had been doing at NERV. They were still going on when Makoto entered the room, saying they were moving out. The three pilots said their good byes, Rei wishing them well.
Soon Shinji and Asuka found themselves on a transport helicopter. The flight was long, and strenuous, the only consolidation was the spectacular views offered the youngsters by flying over 1/2 of Brazil to Colombia and Venezuela. They arrived at late morning to a remote looking airfield, in heavily mountainous terrain. Landing, they were greeted by the local commander. Provisions for their arrival were well under way. There was no time to wait and everyone helped with the difficult task of organising a temporary base, even Shinji and Asuka were used for physical labour. At about six PM the Evas arrived, dropped in by their transports the two Evas landed heavily close to the base. Shinji and Asuka were transported to the drop-zone were they activated their Eves and made their way back to the airfield. At eight PM it was finally finished.
The entire staff was exhausted and received only a basic field meal. Fuyuzuki ordered everyone to get some sleep as a night deployment was expected. There were no complaints from the collected assembly and soon all NERV employees were fast asleep.
One massive Mosquito tent had been erected near the airfield which contained the eating area and the collective sleeping area, being a tropical climate the temperature was still high and the humidity intense. Given this, no one complained about the lack of privacy, being happy to have an open sleeping area. Everyone collapsed into their respective bunks and hammocks still fully clothed, soon only light snoring could be heard about the airfield.
The airfield did not have a large permanent staff, and everyone other then the communications staff had helped in the set-up, and so it was that a strange silence had descended over the airfield. Being a remote location, other then the snoring of the exhausted staff, the only man made noise was a continuous hum from the flood lights illuminating the Evas and the slow turning radar at the far end of the airfield. Occasionally this silence was pierced by an animal noise coming from the surrounding thick jungle, as well as the respective insect noises vying for sound domination against the hum of the lights.
It was a clear night and soon the stars were out, a peaceful scene, even the occasional lighting strikes and thunderclaps coming from an approaching storm far on the horizon only added to the lazy atmosphere. And so it stayed for the next two hours or so.
At the control tower the main door was suddenly thrown open, and a lone figure ran across the airfield to the sleeping tent. Entering, the young Venezuelan private made his way to Fuyuzuki, gently shaking him awake. Fuyuzuki stirred, after a short conversation the commander was up, quickly raising Misato, Maya and Makoto, they made there way over to the tower. Shinji, stirring, saw the figures go before rolling over and falling back to sleep. Soon he was back awake however as Misato called for an alert ready status. Everyone sprang into action. Shinji and Asuka grabbed their plug suits and got changed. Soon they were in the tower, awaiting their briefing. It appeared that the enemy was using the storm as cover. Three suspected Evas had been detected by boarder units, no visual ID was made to confirm however. Ritsuko and Gendo appeared on the link again, apparently the Magi had narrowed their possible targets down to one highly probable. Given the fact that all three known enemy Evas were this time engaged it was believed that this incursion was probably the pivotal attack of the enemy campaign. The aims of which were as mysterious as ever. The suspected target was the Intracon satellite communications facility, a massive antenna array. This was one of the strongest satellite communications installations in South America, and the only target of technological importance in the area, thus the suspected target. Tactical data was still coming in, but the two Evas were to make their way immediately to the installation, and once there, to await further instructions. Getting well wishes from their superiors, the two pilots nodded and made their way to their respective Evas. Running, they were quickly there. Both hesitating slightly before they split up.
"Well this is it" said Shinji, the seriousness of the situation sinking in.
"Ya, you take care out there you hear" replied Asuka, attempting to remain positive, they were after all about to go into combat, something they had not done for a year. Shinji gave her a weak smile.
"Now no showing off out there" teased Shinji.
"Lets show them we can work as a team yet" replied Asuka happily. And with that she took a quick step forward and gave Shinji a kiss on the cheek, he was about to blush when she followed up with a vicious punch in the arm.
"Argg" muttered Shinji, happily rubbing his arm. Asuka gave him a smirk and turned to run to her Eva. Soon the two Evas were active. Their new battery packs were installed, giving them power for an extra half an hour over the ½ hour that their internal batteries could manage. Assault riffles slung around their backs and extra clips on the slings, the two Evas made their way off, to the cheers of the ground crew.
The going was tough, with the terrain being very hilly and forested. Both Evas were waste deep in old growth rainforest. Continually in contact with Misato, now aloft in an aerial mobile unit, the two Evas made their way through the jungle. About fifty minutes later they had crossed two hundred kilometres of hilly terrain. Both pilots panting heavily. Misato had organised for a battery drop five minutes from the target area. It was as they were changing batteries that frantic calls started coming in from the communications facility. They were under attack by three Evas, the personnel had been prepared, and the facility was abandoned as soon as contact was confirmed. The surveillance system had been left on deliberately and soon images of the approaching Evas were transmitted. The storm had reached the facility and the heavy rain was obscuring the image. Large dark shapes could be made out on the horizon. Soon three massive figures could be seen in the rain. They finally cleared the surrounding forest, one large dark figure leaning down while the other two remained vigilant. Suddenly a large lighting strike lit up the scene and the enemy Evas were exposed. Shinji, watched the live-feed from his Eve, suddenly took in a deep breath, they looked exactly like old unit 4, Tojis old Eva. The one leaning down appeared to be holding a large container, appearing from it was a small squad of men, soon after that the camera went blank. Asuka's intercom came on line
"My god, they're piloted Evas just like ours." she said.
"I was expecting the robotic Evas from our last contact, where did they get the pilots?" said Shinji, uneasily. Misato suddenly appeared in the screen.
"We were suspecting this might be a possibility, Shinji" came in Misato's voice. "You were told this might be the case." she said in an authoritative voice. "Unfortunately they are simply fighting for the wrong side, there is nothing we can do about that."
Asuka and Shinji shared an unhappy look.
"You both know what's at stake here". Misato finished up.
"We are aware of that Misato, but its still difficult" said Shinji eventually, Asuka meanwhile was putting on Shinji's last battery for him. Asuka nodded in agreement.
"I have discussed this scenario with Gendo" said Misato "he is quite aware of your history"
Everyone was suddenly taken back to Shinji's fight with Toji's Eva. Shinji for the first time in a year had hostile thoughts about his father as he remembered back to the events, he shook them off however.
'He was a different person' he reminded himself, though he still was unhappy. Around the two standing Evas it began to rain heavily as the tropical storm reached them.
"In the current scenario we have changed the operation to a capture profile" Misato spoke on.
"All your weapons and targeting systems have been calibrated so as to minimise the potential risk to the enemy pilot. But in the end they may not hold the same opinion as you, so it will be your skill on the battlefield that decides not only your lives, but theirs as well."
Shinji looked over at Asuka, her Eva having retrieved its assault rifle from its back. Standing in the dark, rain streaming down, a lightning flash illuminate unit 02 as it stood there, menacingly. Looking back down at his console Asuka's image nodded at him in determination. Unnoticed to Shinji his hand had been clenching and unclenching by his side, suddenly it clenched into a fist, he nodded at Asuka in unspoken agreement. Retrieving his own rifle, he cocks it, placing the first round into the chamber. With the strap now removed, he placed it around the waist of Evangelion unit 01 like a belt.
Misato's mobile command centre had now landed on a nearby hill, the staff quickly getting out, setting up communications equipment in the pouring rain. Ritsuko's picture appeared on the screen. The tactical data had been transferred to the Magi, and scenarios were already being developed. The two Evas were told to move out and Shinji and Asuka took one more look at each other before making their way off to their starting position. While moving, Shinji's mind began to wander. He was about to attack another child, a child like himself, something that only a year or so before he had been willing to lose his life for to avoid. He frowned. So much had changed, his morals, his views. It had only occurred to him later how much of a coward he had been back then, not physically but emotionally. He had been unwilling to make a moral decision on his own, he had been lead by the will of others, allowing himself to be manipulated. And it had nearly cost Toji his life. Not only by the fact that the dummy system had almost killed him but also by the fact that it had almost not been given that chance. If Shinji would have died then not only Toji but all of humanity would have died. Something at the time his narrow viewpoint had not allowed him to see. But this time it was different. Back then his father had been wrong too. If he had disabled the dummy system earlier Toji's leg would have been spared. But then it was mistakes that were perpetuated, one on top of the other, which caused the whole miserable episode. Now however his father had recognised the grievance, and though tactically dangerous, had made plans to incorporate the pilots wishes, not to aim for a destruction of the target, but for capture. Even though Shinji knew that Gendo still had a very cold and leadership viewpoint of the lives of combatants, it was a point of view he was willing to address, much to Shinji's relief. 'I won't let you down' he said to himself, the aim was to capture, but if need be he was now strong enough to accept the reality of combat. Quickly his Eva was in position, two gullies away from the target facility, about 5km as the crow flies. Looking down the valley to his right he saw Asuka take up a similar position on the right flank. The Magi had predicted the enemies' movement, and had suggested possible locations of the enemy. They were apparently interested in only controlling the facility nothing more. Shinji and Asuka powered down while awaiting further instructions. Asuka sat in her entry plug, the sound of the rain hitting her Eva penetrating through to her.
Back at the command centre Ritsuko suddenly appeared on Misato's screen.
"We have just cracked a series of transmissions from American satellites and our own satellites have confirmed. They are trying to use long range N2 missiles to knock the Lance of Logenous into a descending orbit!" informed Ritsuko
"What!" replied Misato, "There trying to get back the Lance of Logenous, is that even possible?"
"According to the Magi, Yes, the initial blasts and atmospheric re-entry only has a point zero zero nine chance of damaging the lance." continued Ritsuko.
"What do they need from this outpost then" said Misato suspiciously.
"It's a incredibly difficult calculation, even with the help of the Magi. After the initial blast smaller blasts will be needed to correct its trajectory otherwise its final drop-zone could be anywhere. They obviously need this centre as a relay point to direct a phase of the calculation and calibration. This type of operation is something that will require a direct line of sight with sensitive equipment." finished Ritsuko. The fact that she was impressed with this plan as a scientist was obvious in her voice.
"So if we shut this place down, what then?" asked Misato, ignoring her friends empathy with the enemies plan.
"Only a short while ago we detected a large explosion in deep space, the lance is already on its way, it will re-enter now regardless. The only thing we can do know is disable this section of their plan. Their Australian relays will be SEELE friendly, so hopefully knocking out this link will be enough to insure that the lance lands somewhere were they don't want it too."
"That doesn't sound like much of a plan" scoffed Misato "So what do we do once it lands"
"Then it's a race to see who gets there first" Ritsuko stated innocently.
"Sounds like something that can quickly get out of hand." conjectured Misato, mostly to herself.
"Well at the moment all we have to worry about is that they don't make it land in America, if that happens its all over anyway" said Ritsuko poignantly to bring Misato back.
"What's so important about the lance anyway?" Misato asked impatiently, annoyed at the implied tone of Ritsuko.
"We don't have time for that now Major, according to the calculations just in, you have ten minutes to destroy that satellite dish outpost. I suggest you move out" replied Ritsuko.
Misato's, arms folded, scolded Ritsuko for a second before minimising her comm's window, looking back at the map she relayed strategic data to Shinji and Asuka.
"So we only need to destroy the facility?" asked Shinji hopefully.
"That's correct, you don't have to engage the enemy Evas if you can avoid it." said Misato, both Asuka and Shinji smiled, relieved.
"Why don't we just bombard with our rifles, like Rei did that one time?" asked Asuka hopefully, as confident as she was, she was quite aware that it was three verses two.
"I'm afraid that's not an option, our topographical data is not that good, and the stormy conditions would only give you a very low chance. Also as soon as you fire the enemy will know where you are and close. So we can only expose you if we're sure of a hit." directed Misato, scanning over the maps.
"Actually that's not a bad idea" said Misato suddenly. "Asuka I will give you a firing point from where you are to try and bombard the target. If you fail, pull back and hold off the Evas that come after you. Shinji you use this time to creep in and destroy the target. Then we all pull back, ok" finished Misato.
"O.K" came the reply from the pilots. Both links disappearing.
Asuka powered up unit 02 as the data was transferred. Awaiting a small timer she started to move out. Meanwhile Shinji got his position data, and with rifle in hand, slowly crawled over the hill to sneak into position. Given the ferocity of the thunderstorm and the height of the forest Shinji's action remained largely unnoticed, even though his Eva felled 40m high trees as it crawled along the ground. He closed to two kilometres to the target. Peaking through the trees, Shinji could see the next ridge, the last before he could get a clear shot at the target. Quietly Shinji scanned the area for the enemy Evas. Asuka meanwhile had moved around the target, she was moving low, and soon she come to an intersection of valleys. From Shinji's elevated position he looked down to his right, during a lightning burst he could just make out Asuka's Eva running in the distance. Looking back around he scanned for movement between the poring rain. Asuka was kneeling low, hesitant to make the last dash to her firing position. She was in an exposed location and was not happy about the dash across. Luckily she knew that Shinji occupied the highest peak, scanning around she made a judge of the lightning strikes, hoping to dash across between flashes. Shinji was still scanning the area when he looked back down at Asuka, until she fires he was to remain still. Looking down to her position a lightning flash showed the edge of her crouching Eva positioned behind the ridge. Suddenly Shinji noticed a large shadow, but the lightning flash was leaving an echo in his vision. Unsure of himself Shinji rubbed his eyes, and again looked at the ridge Asuka was hiding behind. Tensing, he tried to see, but there was no flash, the storm was not helping. Getting nervous Shinji hesitated to break radio silence. Slowly he got into a kneeling position bringing his gun up to bare. Asuka had missed the lightning lull. Angered at having not gone she waited to run immediately after the next one, regardless. Shinji looked again, that ridgeline was definitely moving more then it should have in the high winds. Suddenly another flash illuminated the terrain. Shinji's eyes shot open, an enemy Eva could be seen on the ridge, gun raised and lined up for a shot at Asuka's back, who was still crouching in the valley below.
"Asuka watch out!" screamed Shinji, breaking radio silence. Bringing his gun up he fired a long volley at the enemy Eva. Asuka, surprised at the sudden shouting of Shinji over the communication, saw Shinji's fire coming in from her left, her reflexes saved her and she dove forward into the junction without a seconds hesitation. The enemy Eva on the hill could see the tracers coming in, but too late, it pulled its own trigger in an attempt to at least hit Asuka, who luckily had dived forward. Shinji's fire impacted around its legs, loosing balance but still holding on to the trigger the enemy Eva threw itself over the edge of the ridge that Asuka had been hiding behind moments before. Its tracers swept up in a large ark, massive explosions tearing at the ground around Asuka. She rolled forward, coming up gun in hand. Aware of the fire behind her she ran forward. Coming through the thrown up dirt from the enemy Eva's volley into the next ridge. Emerging through the dirt she found herself face to face with the second enemy Eva, running down the same gully from the opposite direction. Both Evas, too shocked to react, collided headlong, Asuka lost her riffle in the process. Recovering quicker Asuka sprung to her feet and moved in to close on the enemy Eva. The enemy Eva was slower to react, bringing up its gun to fire at Asuka, but to late, Unit 02 did a sweeping kick before it could fire, Asuka's Eva's foot impacted against the gun, causing the magazine to explode, throwing both Evas back again. Asuka was again quicker to recover. Drawing her progressive knife she dove into the smoke caused by the exploding gun. The enemy unit however was more prepared this time, deflecting the thrust and throwing unit 02 against the Valley wall. Asuka landed hard and opened her eyes just in time to see the enemy unit close on her, its own knife at the ready. Deflecting the knife the attackers blow landed into the mountain next to Asuka's Eva's head.
"So you want to play rough do you!" screamed Asuka thrusting her own knife towards the neck of the enemy Eva. This in turn was stopped by the free hand of the enemy Eva and the two, holding each others knives, are caught in a battle of strength. Struggling, the two rolled back into the dirt clouds.
In the meantime however Shinji had not had it much easier. Having fired at Asuka's attacker he was preparing to go in when a stray shot from the falling Eva illuminated the third enemy Eva on top of a ridge someway off to his left, gun raised. Diving, Shinji was barely able to avoid the incoming fire. He scrambled for cover as the earth near him was torn to shreds by the fire. Sliding to a halt Shinji spun around and raised his gun to let off a volley at the new attacker. His rounds streaked across, forcing the 3rd enemy Eva to seek cover. Head raised Shinji took an aimed shot at the third attacker. His rifle ran out of ammunition and Shinji was forced to crouch. The enemy Eva utilised the lull to scamper over the ridge to close in on Shinji, firing as it moved. It itself ran out of ammunition and it sought cover, still about one kilometre away. Shinji huddled as the hillside again took a beating. Putting in the next clip he looked over to where Asuka was, he could see her still struggling with the other Eva about five kilometres away.
"Damn!" he spat, the whole operation was not going to plan at all.. Misato's face suddenly appeared on his screen.
"Shinji that's it!" she yelled "He's changing clips, make a run for the communications centre now! Once you have destroyed it swing back around and help Asuka you'll have cover over the other side."
Nodding, Shinji finished cocking is riffle. Without hesitation he started to run towards the centre. Firing a quick volley towards the position of the 3rd Eva. He turned his head back, concentrating on running. Huddling during the quick volley the third enemy Eva had finished reloading and had stepped out from its cover to line up a shot on the running unit 01.
"AAAAAAHH!" screamed Shinji, unit 01 activated super speed and the ground was ripped up by the tremendous velocity. Unprepared for the burst of speed the third enemy unit fire fell behind the racing Shinji. The hills behind Shinji exploded as he raced the last distance. Sprinting up the last ridge he jumped on the last step. Spinning in mid air Shinji brought his gun to bare at the dishes passing below him. Squeezing the trigger as he flew, the installation was raked with fire, explosions completely annihilating it. Shinji continued to fall, the fire from the enemy Eva still following just behind. Landing elegantly, Shinji rolled into a run, sprinting around the next ridge, one that would lead him around to Asuka.
Meanwhile Asuka and the enemy Eva were still locked in mortal combat. Rolling into the clearing Asuka found herself on top of the enemy. Teeth clenched Asuka tried to force down her knife into the head of the enemy Eva. The other pilot was quick however, rolling, it brought up its leg onto Asuka's torso, kicking out. Asuka flew over the top of the enemies head and landed hard on her back. Both Evas spun around and were up quickly. With Shinji still running around, and the 3rd enemy Eva out of range, the two were the only ones in combat. An eery silence fell as the two pilots square up to each other, circling slowly, knifes drawn. Asuka, aware of the time factor lunged, the enemy Eva was quick and deflected, spinning around with its own attack. Both Evas are evenly matched and after a couple of attacks they were again squared off. This time the enemy Eva moved first, Asuka countered and after a fierce exchange landed an elbow on the side of the enemy Eva's head. Stunned the enemy faltered, stumbling. Asuka followed up with a kick to the mid section, sending the enemy flying down the clearing away from the compound. Landing heavily the enemy had dropped its knife. Asuka shouted triumphantly, the fallen enemy slow to move, collapsing back down in its first attempt to rise. With the light of the flames from the compound behind her, Asuka moved forward towards the stricken Eva. About two hundred metres away she stopped, noticing a glint out of the corner of her eye as lightning again flashed around her, she turned. It was the first enemy Eva! One leg heavily damaged it was standing awkwardly on the other. It had taken all this time to get back around but now it was standing, gun in hand, with Asuka only four hundred metres away. Asuka froze, unable to move as it brought up its gun to fire, cringing she waited for the worst. Suddenly however Shinji appeared on the same ridge that the first enemy Eva had first appeared on when sneaking up on Asuka. Gun raised and in full run, Shinji fired on the damaged unit. Unable to calculate properly the failsafe could not function, Shinji's rounds impacting into the side torso, legs and arms of the armed enemy Eva. The rounds cut deep and the Eva fell heavily to its side. Impacting roughly, it slid to a halt, motionless. Shinji's momentum carried him over the ridge, and he finally slid to a halt five hundred metres from the fallen enemy Eva. Asuka, still frozen, stared as Shinji came to a halt.
"Thanks" said Asuka over the comm's link. Before Shinji could respond however a round impacted against Asuka's shoulder, the third enemy Eva had finally gotten into range. Firing while running, only the first two rounds of the long volley impacted on Asuka the rest falling all around.
"Quick, over the ridge!" shouted Shinji, sprinting over the ridge that Asuka's melee enemy had fallen on. Asuka, hurt slightly, ran forward to the fallen enemy unit, sending a vicious blow to the head, satisfied the unit was momentarily stunned she grabbed the Eva with her good arm and pulled it over the ridge with her. Just as they cleared the ridge the 3rd enemy unit had reloaded and sent another volley at them. Awaiting his turn Shinji raised and fired back, finally stopping the 3rd enemy Evas advance. Ducking for cover the enemy Eva dove behind a ridge as shots barley missed it, quickly recovering the enemy unit got into a firing position, and soon the two sides begin to exchange fire.
Asuka meanwhile had the second enemy unit pined to the ground. Shinji checked his comm's link, their connection back to Misato has been cut, all he had was a direct link to Asuka.
"So what do we do now?" asked Asuka panting. Her Eva's arm was now malfunctioning and she was effectively sitting on the enemy Eva, using her one hand to restrain it.
"Get him to eject, then I'll destroy the Eva" replied Shinji, firing another quick burst. "Use all channels."
Asuka looked down at the Eva, opening all frequencies she sent a signal.
"Ok you in there, give yourself up. Eject now and surrender and we'll spare your life" commanded Asuka, still angry at being injured. Shinji was still in the comm's loop and was shocked as the enemies link suddenly appeared on his screen.
"Mana?" exclaimed Shinji in shock. True enough on his screen appears Mana Kirashima, even though it had been one year, her features were unmistakable.
"Mana?" said Asuka, also shocked. Completely taken aback, Asuka let go, falling back to lean against the ridge.
"Shinji, Asuka" started Mana desperately, though suddenly shots flew close by Shinji. Completely surprised he had lifted his head, exposing it, a round from the third enemy Eva's volley had caused a gash on Eva 01 face. Shinji yelled out and ducked his head.
"Musashi" called out Mana "Stop firing!"
Shinji, still huddling, prepared to return fire. Looking back over the ridge, he could not see Musashi's Eva.
"Mana call him off!" yelled Shinji forcefully. "He's to open comms and indicate his position" he continued. Asuka and Mana looked at Shinji, not used to this forcefulness. Before either could answer however Musashi's screen comes up.
"Why the hell should I show you where I am Ikari, you have already dropped Keita" came the snide voice of Musashi. "Not to mention the people you killed at the installation. How do I know you won't simply finish me and Mana off as well?" he sneered. Shinji, shocked, replied desperately.
"I wouldn't do that! I love…" he stoped suddenly, looking at Mana's screen briefly, the pause lingered uncomfortably. "You know I wouldn't do that" he shot back. Angered at his slip up, he moved up towards Asuka and Mana, scampering up the hill to a new firing position.
"Shinji! Musashi! Stop!" came the distraught voice of Mana. "This isn't getting us anywhere. Musashi they had no way of knowing it was us. And I know.." Mana hesitated a little "Shinji wouldn't do something like that." Shinji and Musashi looked at Mana then at each other. Suddenly a massive burst of light immerged from two ridges away. Musashi was firing into the air, showing his position, he had used his last burst as cover to cross the clearing and was now behind the ridge that Shinji had crossed to fire at Keita. Now that everyone had calmed down a strange quiet returned to the battlefield, the heavy rain still audible to all the pilots as it bounced off their Evas. Suddenly Keita appeared on the lower screen, his entry plug red with emergency lights.
"Keita you're alive!" said Mana happily.
"Yah, looks like my systems are down but I've managed to re rout some emergency power. That was some nice shooting Shinji" said Keita weakly.
"I'm sorry Keita, I'm glad you're alright!" said Shinji, greatly relieved. Musashi in the other screen was not so sure but was happy to see Keita ok.
"You did well Keita" said Musashi. "He got off a lucky shot originally, you fought well."
"Sorry for interrupting" interrupted Asuka "But what exactly are you three doing here fighting for SEELE?"
"Wait a second, are you all in communications with SEELES command?" interrupted Shinji.
"No not at the moment, the atmospheric conditions are getting in the way" replied Mana.
"Good lets keep it that way, I'm going to move to the top of the ridge, Musashi you do the same and we'll open up a line of sight link only, agreed? "
Shinji looked at the monitors. One after another they all nodded. Expecting to be the only one moving Shinji was surprised when all the mobile Evas joined him on top of the ridge. Soon all four mobile Evas were sitting on the ridges in full view of each other, Keitas unit occupying the Valley between them. Mana had helped the damaged Asuka up, sitting close to her. Soon the microwave link was established.
"So what's going on exactly?" asked Asuka again. There was a silence as the three pilots formulated their responses. Mana took the initiative.
"After I said goodbye to you back in Tokyo 3 Musashi, Keita and myself were taken to a remote location. And held for questioning. We were kept there for some time, under arrest."
Shinji expression turned a little dark. Mana was looking at him.
"About a year ago suddenly everything changed. We were told that NERV had split from the organisation and gone rogue. We were offered to be reunited with our parents and friends if we would pilot for SEELE. Naturally we jumped at the opportunity. " she said a little guiltily.
"It was the sensible thing to do" interrupted Musashi. "After we joined up we were told the truth about NERV"
"What truth?" asked Asuka accusingly.
"That NERV was planing to orchestrate 3rd impact. That they were planing to destroy mankind in some religious martyrdom" replied Musashi.
"That's not our plan, that's SEELES" retorted Asuka.
"Its irrelevant in the end" came the quiet voice of Keita, somehow his weakened voice was more effective in grabbing attention then Asuka's or Musashi's shouting.
"Continue Mana" he said.
Mana looked at him gratefully, continuing.
"Well after we got back, some of us decided that we didn't want to fight any more" Mana looked over at Musashi, who turned away with a scowl on his face.
"And that's when it got nasty" Keita interjected.
"We were told that if we didn't fight the safety of our parents would no longer be guaranteed" Mana said, looking away.
"Not only that, but if we failed in combat…." said Keita quietly. "There would be a similar review of our parents health"
"Those bastards!" spat Shinji.
"So you see, we had to fight" said Mana sadly.
"Though you didn't have to go for the kill shot!" interrupted Asuka coldly, she was looking at Mana accusingly.
"What , what do you mean" Mana replied, hurt. "We were going for the head, that should have simply disabled you, we all decided this a long time ago"
"Well, I'm afraid that's another lie you've been told" said Asuka coldly "In Evas the nerve feedback is simply to strong, a head-shot on your Eva, is effectively a head-shot on you" she said. All three of the SELLE pilots looked shocked at this.
"I'm… I'm sorry" said Mana sadly.
"That's ok you weren't to know" said Shinji, still emotional from her comments before.
"Goes to show that everything about SEELE is a lie. They're not the ones trying to stop third impact, they're the ones trying to start it" continued Shinji. "And if they succeed everyone, including your parents, will die"
"We still don't know if that's the truth either." said Musashi defiantly. "All we know is that if we don't fight and win, our parents die. So this is all I can do at the moment, you can't expect me to sacrifice them to simply trust you!" he said with distain.
"Why you little!" spat Asuka, her Eva making to get up.
"Asuka!" yelled Shinji, stoping unit 02 in its tracks. " Calm down, he's right, we would do the same. Lets think about this."
Asuka's Eva lent back down. Shinji, out of the corner of his eye, saw Musashi's Eva do the same, he had been preparing to ready himself. Silence returned once more, Shinji could see the depressed faces of the SEELE fighters, they really couldn't see anyway out. Suddenly he hit on an idea.
"What about if we were able to get your parents out?" he asked suddenly. "Do you know where they are being held?" he asked. Mana looked up a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Yes, back at our main base." she said hopefully.
"They use them as constant reminders of our agreement" said Keita hatefully.
"Its no use." interrupted Musashi. "We don't know where that is. We are only given tactical data from our temporary staging areas, other then that we don't know where we, or our base, are at all."
Again Shinji thought for a while.
"If we can locate them and get them out, what then?" he speculated.
"Well then I suppose we might be open to defect." said Musashi arrogantly "But you still haven't said how you'll do this." he crossed his arms defiantly.
"I have a plan. Mana I'm going to come over, I want you to eject your entry plug I'm going to give you my emergency bacon from my plug suite." said Shinji his Eva already moving.
"Great idea!" said Asuka enthusiastically.
"Won't our side detect the signal though?" asked Keita.
"No stupid" replied Asuka. "Each beacon has its own frequency, set so only its double can pick up its location effectively, no other equipment will be able to pinpoint it." she finished, then added "Musashi, in the meantime you use your internal navigation system to draw up a detailed plan as close as possible to your bases layout."
Mana was already moving towards Shinji.
"This is crazy, you're just going to launch an aerial strike on us. How can we trust you!" said Musashi impatiently."
Shinji looked straight into Mana's eyes, the sincerity apparent on his face.
"I trust him" she said softly.
"Me to" came the voice of Keita "Those SEELE bastards have done nothing but lie to us, I don't see any other way out, as risky as it might be."
Musashi looked down at his screen, all the other pilots were looking at him expectantly.
"ARRRG. Fine!" he spat, lowering his link to work on the map.
Shinji and Mana had finally closed together, Shinji had retrieved his progressive knife and had placed it near the ground. Lowering his Eva, he manually ejected. Sliding down the wet side of his Eva he looked across to see a figure doing the same, the rain was still coming down hard and thunderclaps and lightning strikes still filled the air. The two pilots raced towards each other meeting up right next to Shinji's progressive knife. Slowing down a bit, Shinji finally saw the face of the girl he had last seen over a year ago. Mana did the same, but then moved forward to throw herself at Shinji, the two catching each other in a fond embrace.
"Shinji, it's so good to see you again" Mana said overjoyed. Shinji just hugged her back happily. Soon however he broke the embrace.
"We have to hurry, we have both been quiet on the comm's for too long, soon our sides will begin to wonder."
Nodding, Mana let him go and Shinji removed the top part of his plug suite. Using the giant blade of the progressive knife he cut into his plug suit, leaving himself only dressed from the navel down, working quickly he isolated the internal beacon, about the size of a computer mouse with an antenna. Putting the remains of his plug suite back on he presented the beacon to Mana,
"You know how to activate this?" he asked her.
"Yes, our's is almost identical" she replied. Taking the beacon in her hands the two simply looked at each other, the rain falling around them. Shinji had a weak smile on his face.
"You know your quite quwai in that plug suite" he said finally. Mana, blushed slightly, remembering back to their first meeting.
"This time I will be waiting for you Shinji Ikari" Mana said, repeating the last words Shinji had said to her.
"We had better get going" said Shinji finally. Mana looked at him, her face turning to a frown, she was still unable to move. Shinji, noticing her down turned expression, suddenly stepped forward, and placing his hand lightly on her face and guided himself in for a tender kiss. Water falling all around them and lightning illuminating the sky, the two stood there for a while, locked together. Finally Shinji broke away, stepping back he said.
"I'll see you soon Mana"
And with that he turned to run back to his Eve. Mana watched him go
"I'll see you soon" she said quietly, then turned to run to her own Eva.
Back in the Eva, Shinji reinstated his local comms. Set to standard, Asuka's screen came up first, revealing a cool but somehow very puzzling face of Asuka.
"Lucky you. Kissing two girls in less then three days" said Asuka. Shinji, still daydreaming about Mana snapped back to reality, he looked at Asuka carefully as his Eva's systems re-initialised.
"Yah I suppose so" he said evenly, uncertain how to proceed. Though suddenly his protocol re-booted and the external feeds came on line, soon all pilots were back in communication.
"Well that's it, the file is transferred." said Musashi, his disapproval still obvious. "We had better move out, we've been out of the loop for about five minutes now".
"Well good luck you three" said Asuka more cheerfully, she looked at Mana "We'll wait for you to cross the ridge. Then we re-initialise external comms and fire some rounds at each other for show, ok" she said more seriously. Musashi, nodding, had already moved down the ridge to help Keita up. Getting to his fallen comrade he threw his rifle at Mana who promptly caught it. Mana and Shinji started to look at each other again.
"Well you had better move it little girl, I start shooting in thirty seconds" said Asuka, her comms line switching off. She had moved next to Shinji and snatched his rifle away from him.
"Good luck Keita, Musashi" said Shinji, nodding the two pilots comms lines switched off. He looked back to Mana.
"You know when to activate that?" he asked her.
"As soon as I hide it somewhere safe." she said back. More confidently the two shared a quick smile.
"Good luck" Shinji said simply, giving her a wink he switched off his comms. Left standing Mana watched him back off, while Asuka, with her one good arm, reloaded her rifle more animatedly. Realising she wasn't joking Mana turned to run to her comrades. Reaching them quickly she helped Musashi lift Keita over the ridge, only a millisecond after reaching cover, the hills behind them started to explode with fire. Ducking hurriedly the earth and dust enveloped the three. Turning Mana fired at Asuka's position. Comms re-established it didn't take long for both sides command and control to reconnect with their respective pilots. Back in combat mode, Mana and Musashi mounted an effective counter attack, driving off Asuka and Shinji, now armed with only one rifle. As Asuka was still damaged the get-away became a close issue, Shinji having to throw his progressive knife at Mana to keep her back at one stage. Misato's commands proved effective and soon the battle was disengaged.
Congratulations all round, Misato praised both pilots for their efforts, for some odd reason not noticing that Shinji had a hole in his plug suit. Wary about the signal being monitored, Shinji and Asuka gave a dodgy appraisal of the (blacked out stage of the fighting). Misato, a little doubtful, let the matter rest, for now.
In the control centre Ritsuko was back on line, the Lance of Loginous's final landing position was being calculated.
Misato gone, Asuka and Shinji were again left alone. With still thirty minutes of walking ahead of them, they walked side by side casually. Microwave link re-established they were free to talk.
"Well I never saw that one coming" said Shinji jokingly. Asuka was looking ahead, tired.
"Do you really think it will work" she said, seriously.
"Well I hope so" said Shinji, serious now himself. "If we have to face them again, there most likely won't be another blackout we can use."
A frown crossed his face.
"And I don't want to have to think about what will happen then." he said staring forward again, a silence fell between the two. The storm had finally abated, the rain now easing to a light sporadic shower. Suddenly Asuka spoke.
"You really do have a lousy taste in woman, you know that" she said mischievously.
"What?" replied Shinji, honestly confused.
"Lets see, of the two woman you live with, one is a violent, energetic and opinionated, and the other is a recovering emotionless doll who is at least half Angel, and cloned from your mother." Asuka said happily. Shinji, still confused, gave her an odd look.
"And considering you were just in a fire fight with your first love, I would say that you are probably better off becoming a priest in the future."
She finished with a smile.
Shinji looking at her for a second, then he chuckled.
"That wont be necessary" he said confidently.
"No?"
"You'll always be there to look after me" Shinji said with feeling. Asuka looked over at him, their eyes meeting and holding.
"Damn right Shinji Ikari" she said sweetly. Smiling, the two continued through the night.
Well there you go, combat, Eva style. Now that I think of it having Girlfriend of steel characters makes it really easy to incorporate more Eva pilots. And the storyline just keeps getting more interesting for good old Shinji.