Tokyo-3 Arcana
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I'm I doing wrong (to correct it).
Chapter 9
You´ve Been Invited to a Party
Katsuragi-Ikari-Soryu Apartment
Friday, Early Morning.
Asuka had spent the night with Hikari, probably trying to get as much info as she could from Limiry, now that Shinji considered the gnome cleric posed no immediate danger.
Misato was gone, and the Third Child had a sinking felling, like he had a lead weight in the stomach.
A pilot had been chosen. It was clear Misato knew more than she had been able to say. Kensuke had interrupted her just when she was about to tell him who had been chosen!
Normally, she would have stayed to at least say the name, but between Kensuke's pleas to be Unit-03's pilot, and the arrival of the chaffeur sent to drive her to Matsushiro, Misato had to leave the pair behind and hurry down.
Shinji breathed deeply, pinching the bridge of hs nose.
This would be a long day.
Somewhere Over the Pacific Ocean
Same Time
The gigantic plane crossed the air with the easiness of a rhino trampling through mere grown grass. Under it hung a titaning rig, holding what seemed to be a crucified figure. The blueish black shape of Evangelion Unit-03 hung limply from the harness, waiting for the moment of its delivery to NERV´s secondary base at Matsushiro.
"Hmm… Cloud formations ahead, sir. Change of course?" The co-pilot asked.
"No need. Control says it´s not a storm system. We can cross it safely."
"Understood. Mantaining current course."
Without anybody realizing, the cloud contained the microscopic particles that made the 13th Angel´s body. As the titanic plane entered the cloud, lightning bolts flashed behind it.
For a single moment, Unit-03´s eyes flashed too.
The light dimmed into the blank eyes of the biomechanoid.
Bardiel now had a body.
First Municipal Junior High School
2-A Classroom, Beginning of the School Day
"Suzuhara? Suzuhara? Hrmph…" The old teacher asked, annoyed. Assistance for both his class and school had dropped significantly since the First Angel had arrived. 'I guess it was too much to ask that Ayanami did come today,´ he thought and sighed dramatically.
He didn´t notice the worried looks that several of his students exchanged.
Shinji Ikari felt the fine hair on his forearms standing on end. Never a good sign. Toji´s absence, plus Kensuke´s rumours about Unit-03's arrival, everything led him to a simple and unscapable conclusion.
With Eva-04 disappearance, and the rumbling at NERV about Branch 2, he was forced to assume Toji had been selected as an Evangelion pilot.
And with his own trend of luck, Shinji was sure something bad was about to happen.
He feared the time to cast spells from the EVA was getting closer. Time to start stacking the deck on his favor.
While the old teacher once again rehashing his unending remembrances about Life Before and After Second Impact, Shinji's attention shifted inwards, to his available spells. He needed combat spells he could cover with the EVA's AT Field.
GeoFront. NERV HQ
Main Medical Lab
10:37 A.M.
"Okay, Toji. Now be so kind to undress and step on that platform. I want you to grab those handles next to you."
"Erm… Is this really necessary, Doc?"
"Yes. We need to scan your body to fit the plugsuit properly. It will only take a couple of minutes. There´s no need to get nervous. I am a professional."
"If you say so…" Toji wasn´t that convinced, but… "Hum, Doc? Shinji had to do this too?"
"Yes. And he is about as happy as you. We have to repeat the procedure every two months to account for your growth."
Toji´s jaw set on a determined gesture. Quickly, but with a little hesitance, he took his track suit off and stepped on the platform. He was glad the cute girl who helped Dr. Akagi wasn´t present. It was bad enough with one woman around; but if Shinji had done this, he could do it too. "Ok, Doc, I´m ready. Shoot!"
"Close your eyes, the lasers are low intensity, but if you look at them directly, the light could damage your retinae."
"Got it. Ready."
"Now, stand as still as you can. Don´t open your eyes until I tell you. Three, two, one. Laser scan starts now." A low hum filled the room. Toji thought he could almost feel the light run all over his body. He certainly felt when the light passed over his eyes. Even though his head would be uncovered by the suit.
Next to Dr. Akagi, a wireframe model appeared on a holographic platform, turning around. Akagi nodded, and checked an item on her clipboard.
Her fingers danced on the keyboard of her computer, and somewhere else, a machine began to translate the data into another model, this time, it was a blown up mockery of the Fourth Child's body. Everything but hands, feet and crotch was expanded very precisely. A machine sculpted the modified model out from a block of sculpting foam.
"Very good, Toji." she pushed a button, and the laser array retracted into place. "You can open your eyes and put on your clothes."
First Municipal Junior High School
2-A Classroom, Recess Time
"I don´t want to keep you from your food, so I´ll be brief." Shinji looked around, making sure his group of friends were alone in the classroom. Asuka and Hikari looked at him, but didn´t say a word, just nodded. "Kensuke has a new friend, and I´d like them both to be present when we discuss what´s happening around."
"Geek Stooge? A friend? Beyond you and Jock Stooge? My, what´s the world coming to?" Asuka answered with exaggerated drama. She even put a wrist on her forehead and threw her head back.
"Asuka!" Hikari elbowed her friend. "I´m okay with them coming too, but do they… know… about… the…um…" Hikari lost steam, not wanting to say the word ´magic´.
"Kinda. His friend does, Kensuke is on the fence. He hasn't seen any magic yet." He shrugged, "Misato will be gone for the weekend, so we can speak freely at the apartment. Do you both agree to have Kensuke and his friend around?"
Both girls looked at each other. Asuka answered. "Sure, as long as he behaves."
"Good. Kensuke´s friend is part of what I want to talk about." Shinji straightened up, and turned to leave. "See you at Misato´s." And he left the classroom, looking for his friend.
GeoFront. NERV HQ
Commander Ikari´s Lair
12:50 P.M.
"The Fourth Child is in very good physical shape, Sir. Better than the Third was when he arrived, that´s certain. He is a bit… obtuse in his reasoning, but we can work with that. His mental evaluation shows him as a follower, but he can demonstrate some initiative when properly motivated."
"Good. He will be transported to the Matsushiro Base for preliminary testing. Once Unit-03 arrives, he is to start the synchronization process."
Fujutsuki observed the cold exchange between Dr. Akagi and Commander Ikari. He kept his thoughts for himself. Still, he was quite worried. According to their interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the 13th Angel should arrive sometime soon, and splitting the technical staff could cause problems. He would have preferred to have Unit-03 thoroughly tested in Tokyo-3, but the Commander had ignored his suggestion.
Commander Ikari changed subject. "Status of the Dummy Plug Project?"
Akagi pulled a folder from the stack she had in front of her. "Development is finished, preliminary testing on controlled conditions has worked reasonably well. We are ready for the first live test on field conditions."
"Good. Install the first plug in Unit-01 before leaving for Matsushiro. Make sure it is completely functional. Leave your team to install the second Dummy Plug in Unit-02. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir." Akagi took her papers, and left the cavernous office.
"Expecting trouble, Ikari?" Fujutsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." The Commander tented his fingers in front of his face, looking straight ahead. "The Third Child´s behaviour has changed. It seems whatever happened inside the 12th Angel had a noticeable effect on him."
"PTSD?" Fujutsuki´s right eyebrow raised. He hadn´t seen Shinji after his return from iside the 12th Angel, except for a cursory visit to the hospital, and the boy had been unconscious then. The old professor felt himself obligated to visit the pilot, perfectly aware his own father wouldn´t. Not unless it somehow helped the thrice-damned Escenario of his... The voice of his once time pupil got him out from his thoughts.
"Might be. But we have no confirmation of that yet. Let´s see how he performs in the next battle."
Tokyo-3; Katsuragi-Ikari-Soryu Apartment
After Classes.
"We might be more comfortable on the living room." Asuka pushed the couch back against the wall. "How many people are we?" Asuka began counting with her fingers. "You, me, Hikari, Limiry, Kensuke and his mysterious friend. Six total."
"Yup. That´s right. Um… Sorry I changed plans, Asuka. I had thought I could let you start with your magic studies today. Ah, I almost forgot." He brought a square package from a plastic bag. "This is for you. I hope you´ll like it."
Asuka ripped the brown paper and stared at a beautiful book, leatherbound, metal clasps, parchment pages. "A magic book?" Her smile illuminated the room.
"Not yet." Shinji smiled. "It will be. I brought it from Oerth. It´s a spell book, specially made for an adventuring wizard. The pages are treated to be water and fire resistant. You have to write your spells on it, along with any notes you want to put in writing. Welcome to a bigger, and much stranger world."
Asuka looked deeply into Shinji´s eyes, fearing to find it was all a big joke on her. She found only a warm support. The moment passed, and she hugged the book, whispering "Thanks."
The redheaded pilot ran to her room, and carefully out her new spell book in a drawer. She already had her calligrapphy set out from storage, and had practiced a bit, to reacquaint herself with writing with nibs. She really had no intention of using antiquated quills, as the implements seemed to be more trouble than they were worth, especially having top quality pens made back in Germany.
Although according to Shinji, she would have to prepare her own ink. Anyway, that might be unneccessary, she would have to experiment first with ready made ink from the store.
As she was going back to the living room, Shinji was opening the door, welcoming Hikari and Limiry. Shinji went back to the kitchen, to watch whatever he was busy cooking.
While Limiry and Hikari sat, Pen-Pen waddled up to the freckled girl, rubbing his head against Hikari´s hand. The door's tone rang again. "I´ll get it!" Asuka opened the door, curious to find just who was Kensuke´s friend. She was somewhat surprised by the short but masively muscled woman who accompanied the military otaku. "H-hi! Welcome! Please come in."
"Hey, Asuka! Meet Rusilka Burningforge. Rusilka, this is Asuka Langley Soryu, Second Child, Evangelion Pilot, and the Red Devil I told you about." The woman snorted at Kensuke´s introduction. It was clear she was somewhat amused.
Asuka bristled at the nickname. "Hey! Thread carefully, Geek Stooge." She exhaled, controlling her temper and turning towards Rusilka. "My apologies, Miss Burningforge. This Stooge gets on my last nerve sometimes. Please come in." She motioned them in.
"Well met, young Asuka." Rusilka beamed at her, holding her right hand up, palm towards Asuka. "Mr. Aida can be a bit loose-lipped, but he means well. He actually talks highly about you. You have earned his respect. Mostly."
"You better!" Asuka poked Kensuke´s chest twice "Now, come in, the others are already here, and we really have to talk."
Once they had all settled in, Shinji served the first course, a richly spiced soup. "Well," he said, looking at the eyes of everybody present, one after the other. "lets begin. Both Limiry and Rusilka come from another world. It seems neither can recall details from it." He put some gold coins on the table. "These I got from Rusilka when I visited her at her current dwelling." He put some other coins next to the first group. "Limiry brought these." And finally, he set a third group. "And these, I brought with me."
The group leaned in, to examine the coins. Shinji pushed one of each group at Limiry and Rusilka. "Seem familiar?"
The two exiled women took the coins, and examined them carefully. Rusilka flipped each one on the air, listening to the sound they made when hit by her fingernail. Meanwhile Limiry looked at her coins. "Indeed." Rusilka grumbled. "This one is from my realm, it´s a King´s Hammer; and this one I have seen traded with merchants, its a..."
"A Gold Throne." Limiry interrupted her. "But I don´t recognize this other. It´s nice and detailed, though." Somehow, without anybody noticing exactly when, the gnome had acquired a slice of the berry cake Shinji had prepared for dessert, and she bit it delicately, enjoying the flavor.
Dismissing the ocurrence, Shinji looked at Rusilka. The dwarf turned the coin, examining it carefully. "No, I don´t recognize it either. But it is a high quality mint."
Shinji took the coin back. "It´s a Golden Noble. Legal tender in the world I spent some time in."
Kensuke´s eyes bugged out. "Wait, wait, wait. What other world?"
Shinji told them a bit about Oerth, the Justicar, Escalla and the rest, about five years spent learning how to fight. And how to win.
"I was ready to do what I had to to win the Angel War. Alone. But I didn´t expect to find that more people would come along. Especially as it seems they come from yet another place. Limiry told me about the gods from her world, and they don´t match with the ones from Oerth I know about. The coins are just more proof. Both Limiry and Rusilka come from yet another place. And I seriously doubt they are the only visitors we have."
Hikari raised her hand. "The guys who almost attacked Limiry?"
"Goblins, nasty bussiness. They are vermin, but they are also dangerous." Limiry said, Rusilka nodded.
The dwarf added. "Weak individually, but they are rarely alone. They are also dim-witted; but damnably creative about ways to hurt others."
Shinji pinched the bridge of his nose. A long day indeed.
Hikari seemed to hesitate a bit to talk, it seemed she had something in her mind. She was about to stand up to get some water, when a swarm of blue butterflies flew through the open window. To everybody´s surprise, an insect landed on each member of the group, while the rest of the swarm flew around them. Limiry smiled beatifically, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Wha..?" Asuka mumbled.
"It´s a blessing!" The gnome wheezed, pulling at Hikari's sleeve, like an excited child. "Look at their wings! They are swallowtails!"
The butterflies were strangely calm, and Asuka took in her hand the one which had landed on Hikari´s head. The upper wings had markings similar to stars, plus one sun and one moon in the lower wings. Just like Limirys pendant!
The brunette covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes darting from one insect to the other. "She... she said she would send a small portent!" Limiry grabbed her by the shoulders. "She spoke to you? Blessed Lady of Dreams! She spoke to you!" She was almost jumping up and down in her excitement.
By the time the group went back to their homes, they had reached a tentative agreement. They would be alert for more visitors, and Hikari would begin her training as Desna´s first cleric on Earth. Shinji was a bit miffed at this, but for the moment, he couldn´t see a way out. Desna´s warning to Hikari weighted heavily on him. And he needed allies. He would have to speak at lenght with Limiry, about Desna´s teachings and demands.
NERV´s Secondary Base
Matsushiro
Temporary Crew Quarters
06:17 P.M.
"So, what do you think, Toji?" Misato opened the door, allowing Toji to enter to the room he had been asigned while in the Matsushiro Base.
"Nice place, Miss Misato!" He said, putting his backpack on a low table. "Needs a couple of posters, but I guess I can´t be picky." He stretched like a cat, it had been a long day, but it seemed he could rest now.
Misato smiled at him. "For what is worth, I agree," she said, opening the small fridge set in a corner. She took two cans of soda, and handed one to the jock. Both drank heartily from the cans, "Still, this is only for a few days, once we have finished with the synch tests, we will go back to Tokyo-3."
Toji nodded, rubbing his arm. "...Yeah... You know something, Miss Misato? I used to think Shinji was weird, but now than I am here... "
"Don´t worry about that, I´m sure he doesn´t hold it over your head." She paused to check a message on her cell phone, sneering at the message. "I must go, Rits needs me for something or other. I´ll see you later, Toji!"
She went out, only to come back a few seconds later. "One last thing, Toji; while I am acting in an official capacity, please call me ´Major Katsuragi´ when there´s somebody else around. Okay? Not that I care much for ceremony, but some of the others do."
"Got it, " he smiled back at her, "Major."
Tokyo-3, Geofront
NERV HQ, Central Dogma
Saturday, 11:26 A.M.
"So, no news yet?" Lt. Makoto Hyuga sat on his chair, and typed his passord.
Lt. Maya Ibuki turned slightly on her chair.
"Nothing. The tech team sent by the First Branch didn't find anything. The place was completely flattened. There's nothing left of the Second Branch. Even the residual radiation is gone."
Lt. Shigeru Aoba continued. "I know one guy in that team. He told me they found some dead animals at the very edge of The Event, he stressed the capital letters, by the way. The lizards, bugs, and birds they found were practically disintegrating into dust. The weirdest thing is that most of them were still standing! The biggest creature they found was a coyote, holding a dead bird on its mouth, like it had just caught it."
Maya shuddered. "Sounds like that story from the Bible... Job's wife? Turned into a statue made of salt."
"It was Lot's wife, but yeah. It sounds exactly like that." Shigero elaborated.
After a long, silent pause, Makoto pushed his glasses up. "Didn't think you were a Christian?"
"Nah." Shigeru smirked. "I went through a phase when I was a teen, got into studying Comparative Religion." He shrugged dismissively. "Didn't find what I was looking for, and here I am now, fighting Angels as best I can."
Commander Ikari chose that moment to enter Central Dogma, killing any chance of further conversation between the bridge bunnies.
NERV Secondary Base, Matsushiro
Saturday Night
Bardiel finished his own inspection of the Evangelion, and found it… interesting, in a very detached way. The Angel was tired from the long voyage to this insignificant speck of dirt, and decided to rest and wait. The Evangelion certainly was powerful in its own way, and the soul that had originally rested in the core had put up a merely symbolic resistance before being consumed by the Angel. Now, Bardiel´s awareness was the only one in the biomech. He dedicated a tiny fragment of his consciousness to study his environment.
Unfortunately, it would take some time to grow what the humans called the S2 Engine. A matter of a few hours. Meanwhile, the humans were busy charging the primitive emulation of the S2 Engine, a mere electric battery.
Oh, well… Energy is energy…
Meanwhile, Toji Suzuhara stirred in his dreams. He would have several nightmares.
Author Notes.
I haven't found any canon reference to exactly what the condition of Branch 2 site after the catastrophe. So, I decided to throw a little mistery there. I also took the chance to give a certain coyote some dignity, even in death. He finally caught that bloody roadrunner!
