Disclaimer
The series, Neon Genesis Evangelion, from which this work of fiction is based, is owned by GAINAX. Characters presented in this document that come directly from the series are also owned by GAINAX. "Lady Pheaura" owns Madison Timlitt. I own all other original characters.

Evangelion: Primum Revelation
Chapter 18: Over the Top
Written by T.S. a.k.a. "Kain Tempest"
German Translations by "Steve Vader"

"Shinji, your watch it over." Unit-06 raised it's head and turned slightly, allowing Shinji to see Unit-08 rise from its kneeling position. Grey, unpainted, and seeming unfinished with every seam and label so easy to see, the Evangelion was both homely and magnificent. The newest of the upgraded line, Tristan's Evangelion was different but only slightly. The head was roughly humanoid, with simple plates covering the face short of the three lenses, and off shoot of Unit-00, yet more heavily built than Unit-05 or 06. It payed for less agility with greater armour, and ultimately more firepower. The designers boasted that it could take the recoil from two positron rifles and not have a single hydraulic budge. Sturdy. "I said your shift was over." Tristan repeated. Now erect, Unit-08 looked across the landscape.

"Oh, okay." Shinji sighed. Indeed he was tired, but having been sitting in the plug for over four hours with nary a chirp from any reconnaissance units, he had all but fallen asleep. Maybe he wasn't cut out for keeping vigil over the forward base. He yawned.

"Just get some sleep, it's been a long day." Backtracking several metres, Unit-06 settled in simple plug rigging that their forces had made soon after getting a foothold. With the help of some of the workers on the rig, Shinji was pulled out of the stale LCL. More than 24 hours of active use and the stuff started to taste awful in his mouth. Tristan had said that the pilots would have to get used to it until they could overtake the NERV bunker where the UNIT forces were holed up. Shinji stopped on the catwalk before calling the elevator up. He looked to the north and towards the distant ridge. Once the forces were prepared, they were going to head over the ridge and down into the bunker. They would likely spend only day in preparation before the assault. Time was of the essence after all.

The lift stopped and the wire mesh rattled as Shinji pulled it up and stepped inside, closing the cage behind him before signalling for it to drop. He had felt strangely calm after the invasion began, more like he had been drained of all emotion in the first twenty six seconds of the attack.

Only four days after Misato had returned and already command had sent them on the offensive. In the major's own words, there was piles of evidence to reveal that UNIT's initial assault was half-hearted at best, and they ran with their tails between their legs when they couldn't finish off Unit-06. No hostile Evangelions were in NEC territory and the nation's defences were strong enough to weather a conventional assault, be it tanks and harriers, or tridents. God knew, they weren't daring enough to use N2 mines.

The lift shuddered, having reached the ground. Exiting, Shinji regarded forests surrounding the base, the awakening light casting them in deep purples. Rainfall was sparser here than on the other side of the ridge. Second Impact having a lot to do with changing the growth of this rain forest. But even then, the sharp scent of rainfall still hung in the air after having lifting over an hour ago. The concrete and asphalt tarmacs, softened by heat and age, and pitted with gunfire and the feet of the massive Evangelions leave cold mirrors on the ground. In the direction of the ridge were now smoldering patches of forest that had caught fire during the fierce fighting between the regular ground forces and UNIT's defences.

If Shinji could put the battle into words, he would have to try and describe it the way that Tristan saw the Battle of Normandy, and event that was now far, far away from anyone's mind. The fields were peppered with gunfire, mobile infantry and armoured vehicles of every sort pouring ammunition at each other. Constant air to ground support between NEC interceptors and UNIT's infamous harriers. Thank God for the fighter pilots' vigilance when the transports carrying the three pilots came overhead.

'We are like the Titans walking the Earth!' Tristan had cried, immediately grabbing a pallet rifle and raking it across the enemy lines before attaching his umbilical. Despite the humiliation of his sudden demotion, the second lieutenant seemed to gain an incredible thrill when he was able to get inside the plug once more. Shinji had to admit, that even though his first synch test left him with a nagging sense of forboding, he also had felt better than he had since he, Asuka, and Shigeru, were travelling together.

"Titans..." Shinji tried the words on his lips. The same gravity and strength that had come when Tristan yelled it, failed Shinji when he experimented with it. He was perturbed by this, but not for long. Turning away and towards the main barracks, Shinji went to get changed.
Once finished, Shinji emerged from the spartan shower stalls, clothed in his new fatigues. Now being a part of a multi-day operation, there was no place for his more casual clothing. On his wiry frame, the black material didn't suit him. Like a fish out of his element, the symbolism from the dark uniform was not reflected on his features, like it did with Tristan and Asuka. Looking down, Shinji noticed the insignia on the left side of his front, the new symbol of E-NERV, the fig leaf framed by laurels below and a arching crescent above. Shinji didn't understand the meaning of the change, but it was clear that the NEC didn't want E-NERV do have a direct association with the old NERV. It was understandable, considering that NERV's prime directive was angels, not betrayal of all the world, or so Tristan had put it.
Although the vigil and wore him out, Shinji didn't feel quite ready to rest, a combination of jet lag and the fact that the sun was only rising was causing considerable problems to his biological clock. Leaving the bunk room, the boy decided to wander.

Not twenty paces after leave the door, Shinji spied Asuka reclining across a bench, her back up against a vending machine, lightly humming. She was also in her black fatigues, looking sharp with her hair clipped up. At first, Shinji barely even recognized the Second Child until she gave a chance look in his direction. He approached and found her still reading the same book they had found in the woods in China. Shinji had, many times asked about the book, but every time, Asuka avoided answering him, and kept the document a closely guarded treasure.

"Guten morgen, Asuka?" Shinji greeted, cautious to make it sound proper.

"What?" Her response had both an annoyed chord, but also the twinge of a question.

"I said-"

"I heard what you said." She interrupted. "What do you want?"

"I... I wanted to know if we could talk." She gave a grunt.

"What? Taking some time out of your busy schedule, fighting the good fight, for those below you. That's a real inspiration, Third Child." Shinji frowned at sat down at the end of the bench, regarding her with an annoyed side-long glance. Of course, that damned book was interrupting any sort of eye contact.

"It's been a long time since we actually talked to each other."

"We talked for hours when Misato first arrived."

"I meant between the two of us. Like before we came to the NEC, before we ran into Shigeru even."

"It doesn't matter."

"'Doesn't matter'?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? Look, the only reason we talked so much is because you were, as far as I could tell, the only other human being alive. Besides, it was by far the best way to shut you up."

"You were sick a lot."

"No shit? It's called morning sickness, d-" She stopped. Asuka laid the book down on her chest, revealing that she was looking at the ceiling with a troubled look on her face. She sighed. "I don't know whether to be relieved or embarrassed." Shinji remained silent. "When Tristan told me that I still had my maidenhood and that the pregnancy was false, I..." She fumbled for the right words. "I knew that I looked like a fool for what I said about you, but I was also happy that you hadn't done anything. You were still a pathetic little boy, not a monster.

"I don't miss those days Shinji. I don't miss talking to you, because it just reminds me of the shame. I especially hate it when you want me to talk to you like some God damned parrot."

"I'm sorry." A wince of pain came on Asuka's face.

"You don't mean it. You never did."

"If it hurts, then why are talking to me now?" Asuka growled and got up off the bench, standing over Shinji.

"Because you're too stupid to understand. You will never understand because you didn't live like I did. You never will." Shinji stood up, facing her.

"And what makes you think I won't?"

"Because your childhood wasn't put on the death march from day one! All I have is what I do now, and I had to fight, tooth and nail, to get to where I had been. I had to devalue all fifteen years of my best friend, my only friend's -my rival's- life in order to get to this position. You think you can understand me?

"I was ready to kill someone with my bare hands to become an Eva pilot, then you ride in and make me look like dirt. You have no idea what it feels like to realize that all you have done required you to destroy your life, and then realize that it wasn't enough. You took everything away from me Shinji." She shoved him down back onto the bench. "You stole everything away from me, and you kept doing it, and you didn't even care. I bet even if you understood my position you would still do it. After all, you wanted to be praised, nothing but a stray mongrel looking for a pat on the head." Shinji thrust himself back up. He didn't say anything, he just glared at her, God knew he wanted to throw a punch straight at her mouth. The staring match lasted for several seconds. "Something makes me wish I didn't just shoot..." She looked away.

"What?"

"Doesn't matter. You don't seem to care about much anyway." She turned to leave.

"Asuka, wait." Shinji grabbed her arm. Her reaction was almost reflexive. Snapping around, her freed hand snapped down onto his grabbing wrist, he released and she swung wide with her hand holding the book. Her wrist was caught by his free hand. Both of then glanced at each other, somewhat surprised. They pushed the each other away.

"I don't care what you have to say, Shinji. I still hate you, and I will always hate you. There are days I wished you would just disappear forever, but here you are, just for spite. I wish I didn't even come back."

"Don't say that!"

"Shut up! I can't change the past so I just have to deal with this. Just stop making this painful. Just stop!" Shinji lowered his head and clenched his fists.

"Why should I even bother being nice to you?" He grated. "You tell me you hate me, and yet you want me to be nice to you. I do it all and it just makes you more angry. What's the point of jumping through all your damn hoops if it just means more pain in the end? You think that you're the only one who suffers?

"Maybe I am a scrawny little weakling, but that doesn't mean that it still hurts. Did you ever think that I actually listen to what you say. That it actually hurts me too?"

"And the only reason you are nice is because you want me to like you. Just because your damn doll isn't around."

"No, don't start this again."

"Still bothers you? I should have known. Think what you want, but whatever I used to think of you, it's gone away. I envied you, but now I just hate you."

"But why are you telling me this?" She looked sidelong.

"Because I hoped you would understand. But I was wrong. But what does that matter, I'm always wrong."

"No, you're wrong." She shook her head and gave a small laugh.

"See?"

"T-that's not what I meant!"

"Nothing is..."

"Stop twisting my words around!" She shrugged.

"Whatever." She started to move away.

"It's him, isn't it." She stopped. "Your best friend... Even though you hurt him, you still care about him." Asuka didn't respond and continued on her way. Shinji watched but did not pursue. Hanging his head, he walked in the opposite direction.

"I'm sorry, Shinji." Came a little voice. Shinji stopped and looked over his shoulder, where a familiar woman leaning against the wall, close and yet hidden at an intersecting corridor.

"Madison?" She looked up, her face creased with concern. He looked away. "You heard what happened, didn't you?"

"Yes." She whispered. Something deep inside Shinji wanted to berate the girl, for constantly eavesdropping. For always bothering him in the name of getting a hold of Tristan. She was always annoying and it grew wearisome that everywhere he went, there she was.

"What are you doing here?" It was supposed to sound like anger, but all Shinji could come up with in tone was concern.

"I volunteered to go on the oper-"

"No. Why are you here right now?" 'No you stupid bitch! Why were you spying on me?' was what he wanted to say. The words wouldn't come out as such.

"At first I was just coming through this way, and then when I spotted you and Asuka arguing, I was worried that you two were going to fight. I didn't mean to listen in your conversation. I'm sorry, Shinji."

"How much did you hear?"

"I don't know... Everything I guess." The boy sighed. "I- if you mind me asking... Who was Asuka's best friend?" Shinji looked at her and the expression on her face. She was hopeful, it was obvious how much she cared about Tristan, no matter how much he ignored her. That look, as if she was preparing for the worst. Shinji hesitated, not quite sure how to respond. Should she know the truth, or was she still too innocent for it. That small voice, told him to hurt her, in truth he wouldn't be lying, but just telling her the hard truth that she would have to accept sooner or later.

"I don't know." He smiled. "I was trying to get a reaction from her."

"I see..." Madison looked away, and the boy suddenly realized that he may very well have said the wrong thing. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping. I have to go." Madison turn and left. Shinji then stood in the corridor, now alone, two girls already fleeing from him. He was awful, and the nagging little voice chided that he should have been upfront with her. Guilt and melancholy twisted the boy's stomach and he propped his elbow against the wall for support. After a few second to regain his composure, he looked at his hand against the wall, and hit it with the bottom of his fist. A weak effort, at best. Standing up straight, Shinji headed for the mess hall.

"Shinji, respond." The boy blinked, again in the plug of Unit-06, Shinji looked around the environment. Unit-05 and 08 were also active. Before them lay an array of different pieces of equipment on flatbed trucks, their armaments. Eight hours had disappeared in a blur. Shinji couldn't remember if he had slept at after the argument with Asuka, but here he was, the time between then and now have been closed in a flurry.

"Pilot Ikari here." Shinji answered. Misato made a slight grunt over the comm system. Before calling for a response from the other pilots.

"Alright," Misato began after the short role call. "as you already know, we went over the operation prior to leaving from Hamburg, but now I would like to review this leg of the operation. I believe our landing forces managed to put a significant dent in any defences that the UNIT bunker can provide. So it's just as simple as loading up battery packs, weapons, climbing the ridge and overwhelm any forces you come across. You three will spearhead the assault while the remainder of our mobile infantry will charge the bunker as soon as you open up the line."

"Simple, enough." Tristan commented.

"Not necessarily, reconnaissance has reported that the bunker is more fortified than the original MAGI computers estimated. In fact, you will be dealing with a lot of heavy weapon facilities along with tridents and conventional defences alongside."

"That sounds to be a little over our head, Misato." Shinji remarked.

"Stop being so lame." Asuka chided. "Most of those platforms are going to be as fragile as wet toilet paper. Just hit them fast and hard."

"Exactly, Asuka." Misato congratulate. The German girl smiled to herself proudly. "Weapon loadouts. Shinji, you will be armed with a palette rifle. Two more palette clips are under the thigh casing of your Evangelion. One will be released for you to reload after the current clip disengages. Take out targets are your discretion."

"Okay."

"Asuka, you'll be outfitted with an axe and palette gun. You will not have as much ammunition as Shinji, so use the gun sparingly. I want you to take out as many weapons platforms as possible."

"Sounds good." Asuka picked up her weapons and worked out the grip to carry to the weight of the axe while still carrying the rifle.

"Tristan, the rocket launchers weaved provided are equipped with armour piercing tips. Target the bunker itself and try and eliminate anything that will slow down the infantries advance into the facility. If you have an opportunity to knock down a Trident, do so, but remember, that you don't have that much ammo either." Unit-08 lifted the two long barreled weapons and adjusted its stance to deal with the weight and tighten the armed, almost to the point they were like stone.

"But the pile bunker in the left arm should come in handy then."

"Don't forget that the prog knife is still your most effective weapon." Shinji regarded his companions, armed as such, Shinji could have sworn that they were preparing to fight ten Angels at once. But there was nothing to say that they were going to fail. UNIT drew first blood after all. Their attack was righteous.

The trucks rolled out of the way just as the cable disengaged. A warped screech sounded as the engines turned to the energy in the battery packs.

"Eva, move out." Misato ordered.

"Once more into the breach, dear friends!" Tristan cried. Unit-06 charged forward, quickly followed by Unit-05, with the encumbered Unit-08 taking the rear. Shinji grit his teeth as he came to the incline of the ridge, and pumped his legs, trying to get as much distance up the ridge before having to climb. Shinji had the opportunity to be direct with his climb, meanwhile Asuka and Tristan were held back, having to negotiate though the shallower parts of the incline.

Shinji clutched at the rock face with his free hand, giving him enough support to get his footing and pull himself up and over the top of the ridge. The very send his feet came over the top, tracer fire exploded around him. As his HUD displayed the scene before him, Shinji knew he was in for a long fight. Seven tridents spread out in a mess of cannons, tanks, and turrets. In the distance he saw the clearing and the dome of the bunker, kneeling on top of the sturdy structure was the anorexic form of an Evangelion. The colour of sand and copper, and with a visage on it's head like firm conviction. This wasn't the same Evangelion that Shinji had faced in the northern coast of the NEC.

"Enemy Evangelion sighted." Shinji reported as he spotted his adversary raise a long rifle, steady it and fire a single shot. Shinji tensed, he slammed down onto the slope and started sliding down. The rifle shot exploded into the earth behind him. "Carrying high velocity rifle."

"Gotcha." Tristan responded. Shinji steadied his gun as he slid down the slope and pulled down the trigger, releasing a storm of bullets onto the numerous targets below. Two more shots rang out around him. Out of the corner of his sight, Shinji spotted Asuka rushing down the descent, bounding down at full speed. The screech of heavy machine gun fire came from the defenders, however the vicious gunfire simply arced harmlessly off of Asuka's AT field.

The shriek of a rocket came over the sky as one of Tristan's explosive rounds sailed into the gun attacking Asuka.

"That was mine!" She cried. The second lieutenant simply laughed as he crested the ridge. Shinji slammed down into the earth at the bottom of the ridge, and immediately lept forward, deploying a prog knife and swing at the first thing he saw, a Trident refocusing on the source of the missile. The blade swung true, striking the ammo containment below the monstrosities head, causing the entire suite to blossom in flames. Not missing a beat, Shinji loosed a burst of gunfire into the next Trident, causing it to pull attention away from Asuka. The girl roared and sank her axe down into the middle of machine, causing it to immediately collapse from the impact.

Shinji suddenly felt if someone had shoved him, and watched fragments of his right should blade explode in parts. He cursed, realizing that UNIT's sniper had gotten a bead on him. Another shriek from a rocket and the pilot jumped sideways, narrowly missing Tristan's second rocket. The enemy steadied herself and fired another shot. Tristan, could only twist out the way at taste and took a sharp intake of breath as the bullet pierced and practically tore a muscle out of his Evangelion. Two more rockets, one at a turret and another at the sniper. If only the turret at the benefit of being able to move.

Shinji couldn't get close enough, twisting, dodging, swinging, and shooting at the multitude of Tridents that swiped and shot at him. Meanwhile, Asuka continued to sunder buildings, while being chased by two of the machinations, giving short bursts to keep them at bay. Fences of bullets, walls of machines and gun emplacements, and the occasional tank under Shinji's foot. Asuka was making more progress than Unit-06 was managing, and Tristan just closed the distance and vaporized a Trident in a well placed shot. Three down, four to go.

"Mobile infantry has been deployed. Tristan, open up that bunker." Misato advised.

"On it! Shinji, cover me." The second lieutenant ordered. Raking gunfire across the two tridents he was handling, Unit-06 disengaged long enough to get closer to. Shinji looked back warily at the rifleman as it raised the rifle at Tristan. Immediately Shinji interceded between the two and emptied his clip at the target who stepped passed it and refocused on Tristan. However, the step brought it too close to Asuka. With a cry of triumph, Asuka brought the axe down on her foe's rifle before firing a burst of pallet gunfire into a nearby SSM.

The target stumbled back and immediately pulled a small pistol from a compartment in its thigh, and fired a shot into Asuka's chest. Unit-05's pilot cried out from the stinging punch and was bowled over when one of the pursuing tridents slammed into her.

"Asuka!" Shinji cried.

"Go help her." Tristan barked, snapping around and managing to slam a rocket into the side of one of the Tridents, causing it to crash into the ground and tumble. Whirling around, he charged for the bunker, spotting the gate just ahead. Shinji vaulted over debris and dumped his empty clip and slammed in the new one as it was offered, raised his gun, and fired a burst into the leg of the Trident that hadn't tackled Asuka. It turned to face him, and Shinji was at first greeted with its disapproval and then sharp pain as two bullets from the enemy Evas pistol struck home.

He charged at the Eva, firing a long burst in its direction. Dropping down, his target could not bear the weapon against Shinji. Just at the moment, Unit-05 positioned the muzzle of the pallet rifle into the middle of the grappling Trident's body and emptied the clip before shoving the hunk of metal off of her. The fallen Trident was directly in Shinji's path. Gritting his teeth, Shinji twisted out of the way, stepping to the reach of the still standing Trident. The monstrous metal paw swung, downwards, knocking Shinji off of his eye.

"Dammit!" Shinji cursed, he raised his pallet gun, but before he could fire, the Trident slammed it back down to the ground with its foot and planted another on Shinji's other wrist before he could swing the prog knife. Looming over Shinji, it steadied the gun under the serpent head and prepared to fire. Even at point blank, the shells would chew up his armour plating in seconds. The boy snapped his eyes shut, preparing for the white wash of pain.

A crash of metal and a screech of steel greeted him, but no pain. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the parts of Asuka's pallet gun, tumble to the ground, mixed in with tracer fire from the Trident's cannon arcing off in the direction of the ridge. Asuka rose, having pitched the rifle and out of fortune, knocking the gun away from Shinji. Looking away from her work, she spied the UNIT Eva level its pistol.

"Not this time." Asuka growled and hurled her axe at her opponent. A single shot came from the pistol, smashing through her shoulder blade. However, her aim was still improving, as the lucky throw severed the Evangelion's hand at the middle of the forearm before slamming into the shoulder and throwing it back and down into the ground. The German girl, followed her prey, jumping and slamming her foot down into its chest.

"Asuka." Shinji whispered. Remembering the Trident bearing down on him, Shinji planted a foot on its belly and managed to lift it up enough to loose its hold on his gun. A quick burst to the turret and the following explosion ended the troublemaker. Shinji knocked the hulk away and rose. A cracking explosion came from the direction of the bunker gate.

"Opened up, Major, everything is clear." Shinji glanced sidelong at Unit-08 as it stomped on the head the final, now overturned, a full set of carbon flak spikes having been driven into it's drive train. One of his rocket launchers could have seen better days though.

"Perfect, makes this so much easier." Asuka growled, stomping her foot down onto the UNIT Eva's last functioning arm, but Shinji could see the fight was already drained out of her adversary as it feebly clutched her ankle.

"Asuka..." Shinji whispered again. Unit-06 scanned the battlefield. The Tridents were all disabled, the tanks lost their will to fight, and the weapons platforms were either disabled, destroyed, or out of ammunition. Even the fearsome Evangelion long shot was lying there, bleeding. The boy winced as Asuka yanked her axe out of the Eva's shoulder, causing another swell of blood. She positioned the blood slickened weapon in her hands

"Pilot Sohryu, the raid is over, I doubt that adversary is going to give us anymore trouble." Tristan advised. "Just keep it down so that it can't eject the entry plug. This way we can capture and pick this pilot's brain."

"This little son of bitch will definately not give us anymore trouble after I am through with him." She chuckled.

"Asuka, the battle's over, you don't have to do this."

"Shut up." Asuka lifted her axe over her head.

"Asuka! Stand down! Do not attack that Eva." Misato barked over the comm.

"It's the enemy, why shouldn't I kill this bastard." Higher the axe was raised.

"Asuka..." Shinji could feel the tension and took another step towards Asuka.

"Don't come near me Shinji, I mean it! I'll kill him!" Shinji froze when he saw Tristan approached, dropping the damaged rocket launcher.

"Tristan, what are you- ?" His question was answered as Tristan raised and aimed his weapon.

"Pilot Sohryu, stand down or I will be forced to fire upon you." The second lieutenant announced in an even tone.

"You wouldn't dare."

"I'm not bluffing Asuka, you hurt that pilot and I will have to use deadly force."

"Tristan, you can't be serious." Shinji turned and approached Unit-08.

"He is, Shinji." Misato warned.

"The NEC will kill you if you laid a hand on me, Tristan, don't waste yourself so easily."

"The NEC has given me the authority to do this Asuka, and I will if it means ensuring that another Eva pilot isn't killed."

"Authority?" Shinji was confused and scared. But he could see that the enemy pilot was just as scared if not more, the Evangelion was actually trembling.

"E-NERV Command has revoked the prohibition for the pilots to be assaulted or killed. Thank God they did."

"You'd try and keep the life of a member of UNIT over me, an NEC pilot?"

"More blood on our hands won't make a difference, good or bad. We need to show mercy to our enemy."

"The same mercy like they showed us when they attacked?" Shinji whispered.

"Shinji?"

"The same mercy to the people they tricked. The people who thought they were there to help stop an Angel, to protect humanity, only to be the first victims of this senseless war?"

"Shinji, you're not helping." Misato again.

"If you get in the way Ikari, I will not be held responsible if I have to kill you too." Tristan's tone was flat and even. No one had to tell him about how grave the situation was. He was doing his best to hide in growing pit in his stomach. The commander had expected such an outcome, something that would lead to his eventual alienation. "Two wrong don't make a right. We're here to stop a war, we need to kill as necessary." Asuka paused for a long moment, and Shinji winced, expecting the outcome to be bloody.

"I hate you." She growled and lowered her weapon but not before letting off the Evangelion just long enough to bring it back down. It's resistance diminished. Misato breathed a sigh of relief at the same time that Tristan lowered his gun. Unit-08 looked sidelong to the path of destruction.

"Major, this is Second Lieutenant, Pilot Nevril, the bunker is secure, enemy pilot is detained, infantry detected en route."

"Stand by for further orders." Misato responded. Shinji looked between the two Evangelions. Unit-05's body language was obvious, Asuka was trying to settle her anger. Tristan was still, standing and surveying the battlefield. There was an uneasy silence over the battlefield. No fires crackled, no joints moved, nothing, just utter silence. The kind which was filled up by the sound of the generators within the plug. The kind that grew insanely loud, or was it the generator?

Shinji spotted it on the horizon, at first having been so thin and far in the distance that it couldn't be detected by the human eye. Growing quickly, covering the distance at a rapid pace, the black transport plan thundered overhead, the roar softening the sound as it dropped off it's cargo. The space between landing and action was swift, as the form quickly stood up and brandished the large weapon. A positron rifle, or at least it should have been. It was heavier than any that Shinji had seen before, but the coloration of the Evangelion made it clear. His nemesis, the Eva that arose from the northern sea, had come again.

Unit-06 raised the pallet rifle only to have the weapon and the majority of the arm disintegrate in a barrage of white light. Shinji didn't even have the opportunity to cry out, the flash of pain passing so quickly that he was confused as to why he his trigger was not responding.
Shinji's senses then picked up a grunt from Asuka as another barrage of weapon fire struck her, and the sandy Evangelion shoved her off. A curse from Tristan, the sound of a rocket discharge and the gunner elegantly twisted away from the projectile to fire another shot at Shinji, the intense heat searing through his knee cap. The pain finally registered, and the world around Shinji went white.

Asuka caught her balance and swung the axe downwards, punishments be damned in a situation like this. Coughing, the backplate of the Evangelion shot off an a white rocket arced over the forests. The pilot was able to escape as the head fell back away from the collar. Unit-05 snapped around, seeing Unit-08 lose a hand and gun to the remaining UNIT pilot. Shinji's Evangelion was on its knees, and somewhere in the background, her eye drums flooded with the cacophony of her pounding heart, she could hear Misato pleading with Unit-06's pilot to eject. Asuka's thigh, belly, and shoulder, burned as a three round burst found its way into her. Her fingers went limp, and the axe crashed onto the ground, her balance was lost and she was listing backwards. In one second, she engaged the ejection mechanism. The HUD went dark and not even the plug's fluid could soften the violent force of the evacuation.

Asuka disappeared from the communication channel, and Tristan growled another damning expletive between his clenched teeth. The bastard was fast and a crack shot. Shinji wasn't shaking it off fast enough, and Tristan watched as his ammunition was squandered trying to get a bead on his target while still avoiding oblivion. Disgusted, his threw the weapon to the ground and charged, his Evangelion's only remaining hand grabbing onto a progressive knife. The Evangelion twisted away, easily dodging Tristan completely and kicking at the exposed back. Twisting, Unit-08 fell onto its side, but it hesitated, the alterations finally causing a lockup between the limbs and the plug.

A final three shot burst excavated a hole into Unit-06's chest and it fell backwards at the knee. Tristan bit his lip. The UNIT Evangelion then released the positron rifle, clearly out of ammunition. It quickly turned to Tristan and drew a prog knife.

A kick to the stomach stopped his adversary's advance and gave him enough time to get onto his feet. Unit-08 loosened up. With only one hand, he didn't have much to work with, should the other pilot choose to grapple he was finished. He had only one chance. His opponent hesitated, a sense of inexperience was reflected by the mimicry of the pilot. He was stiffening, he wasn't ready to take on an opponent with a knife, unlike Tristan. Lowering his body, Unit-08 charged.

Aiming with the shoulder, he engaged the carbon flak launcher, a low blow that caught his target off guard before slamming into it, wrapping his wounded arm around its waist and bringing the knife down into the middle of the chest. His target couldn't reach his plug at this proximity, but the second lieutenant hissed with a feral ferocity he had not felt before, the pain of a blade penetrating the side of his throat.

After an excruciatingly long minute, the UNIT Evangelion finally went limp as the pilot ejected. Releasing his hold, Tristan dropped the dead thing and his knife and tore the blade out of his neck. He gulped down lung-full after lung-full of LCL, fighting back the tears from the pain. Opening one eye, he scanned the battlefield, four dead Evangelions now lay here. Nothing else remained.

"Second Lieutenant, area has been cleansed."

"Good work, return to base." Misato responded.

"No, I'm going to search for Asuka and Shinji."

"Return to base, Second Lieutenant, that is an order."

"But-"

"The area is cleared of enemy presence. We'll send a rescue team to go find them, your battery packs are almost depleted, so we need you to return and recuperate. Shinji managed to eject so they both should be okay. There is nothing that can hurt them in those for-" There was a pause. Chatter in the background.

"What's going on, major?"

"The second UNIT Evangelion you just brought down, the plug just landed on our side of the ridge. We're dispatching a capture team immediately. You need to return too." Tristan paused, looking towards the jungles. Misato was right, they would be alright. It was all a matter of them waiting.

"Be careful." He whispered, and headed back.

To Be Continued...

Author's Notes
The Asuka/Shinji mobs grab their pitchforks and torches once again... Dr. Victor von Frakenstein must live on in me to explain why I keep doing this to you guys. As for the second half, this battle scene was the sketchiest I ever wrote, mostly because of how messy it gets. Some folks might not be too keen to as quickly that Shinji and Asuka were taken out of the fight, new technology and the arms race between UNIT and NEC would likely bring about new weapons thanks to information and prototypes found in the various bases that they have been raiding since the beginning of the fic.
Now to answer some fan comments now.
"Steve Vader": It does seem as though I let Asuka off easy with that three day imprisonment. The reasoning behind it cannot be revealed at this time as it would tell too much. I am dodging the shot it seems, but to be honest, I don't want show my whole hand until there is enough at stake.
For "i laugh at you": yes, and expect to see a few return in the near future, and no, I am studying Fine Arts. 'Study' was too strong a word I suppose, more like figure out Misato's mannerisms to make her believable and sound like she really is from the reader's experiences.
"umbrellaman": Misato's return is a mixed bag. By bringing her back, I start a slippery slope, yet at the same time, her arrival actually drives the story forward and kicks it into high gear. After pandering around for seventeen chapters and a year of preparation, it's time it gets moving, as "Steve Vader" suggested. I could have gone with someone else, but chapter seventeen needed true impact, and also, her value will come in later in the story, but I am confident that I will tackle Shinji and Misato's relationship at a future chapter.