Tokyo-3 Arcana
Chapter 26
Collision
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).
Author Notes:
The game mechanics stuff is taken from the Pathfinder Core Rulebook, 2nd Edition.
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, Outside NERV HQ
Asuka Langley Soryu's grip on the control yoke was stronger than ever, under her plugsuit, muscles and tendons threatened to burst out of her skin.
Right under the threshold of her awareness, two identical voices whispered into her soul. One said "Attack!" while the other insisted on "Defend!" Had she been able to hear them, she would have recognized Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu's voice. Her Mother's voice.
Asuka herself hesitated between those two extremes. So focused she was on maintaining the AT Field at maximum force she didn't realize the counter on her side flickered occasionally between 0:00:00 and 5:00:00.
Zeruel, the Angel of Might, turned around to look at the intruder. It had actually felt the projectiles against its shell! It had underestimated the capabilities of the local life-forms. Not that it actually mattered, the shell had resisted without any loss of integrity. Not even a burn mark remained on its surface after the smoke dissipated.
With slow deliberation, Zeruel turned its whole body around, maximizing its intimidatory presence.
Inside EVA-00's plug, Shinji studied the enemy. After the strange sheet-like things it had instead of arms, the first thing he had noticed about it was the exposed core. He took mental note of it, and kept on observing. Focusing too much on a single, obvious thing, could work against him in the long run. The Justicar's gravelly voice rang in his memory. "See, notice, think. The scene will tell you everything if you pay attention and let it speak."
He had not seen how it had attacked EVA-02, but the results were plain to see. Somehow, the Angel had amputated both of the Evangelion's arms. One of them, the left one, lay on the ground, still holding the missile launcher in its lax fingers. The right arm was not on sight, but the waves in the GeoFront's lake hinted at its location.
Shinji's eyes darted around, evaluating the scene. 'Asuka screamed once. A single attack. It was an extremely sharp weapon, EVA-02's arms were cut cleanly and quickly. Long distance attack, maybe energy beams. Wait, there's a lot of LCL on the ground, and there's no sign of cauterization on EVA-02's shoulders. Something extremely sharp, then; no heat involved. Even though the Angel hovers in the air, there's a disturbance on the ground, right under it, the bushes have been flattened. It's not anti-gravity. unlike the Fourth, and Fifth Angels. Must be a repulsor field. Like the Third Angel used to jump-fly. And that one threw a lot of debris into the air. The ground between the Angel and Unit-02 is not disturbed.'
He licked his lips in preparation, though the LCL turned that gesture in an exercise in futility; in the core, Rei kept silent, but he could feel her presence, awed and determined in the core. Waiting, ready to follow his lead. Behind Rei, he could also feel EVA-00's silent rage bubbling right under the surface; but not directed at its pilot, at the soul inside it, or at any person. It was simply rage, powerful, but normally unfocused. However, the two minds that directed its actions were now working in concert, giving EVA-00 a target for its anger, focusing it, polishing it to an edge. There was a wet growl ready in the throat, held back at the moment.
Unit-00 was the one everybody at NERV though dangerously prone to berserker fury, it had the rage down to a form of art.
EVA-01 was just as angry, but it's rage was more useful, as during previous instances the attacks had been directed to Angels. So, High Command was inclined to allow some leeway for the purple colossus that Unit-00 would never have, as its rage had been costly to NERV. And to the grown up Rei.
Guided by Shinji, EVA-00 crouched low to the ground. "The rifle is useless, Control." He said, more to the benefit of the crew in Central Dogma than anything else. "The Angel's b-body is the most resistant we've ever seen." He didn't know if the Smash Hawks or the Prog-Knife would be better, but in any case, he was more comfortable with close quarter combat weapons. Normally, he would prefer to use the Prog-Knife, but without the left arm, his balance was thrown off, and the weight of the Smash Hawk would actually help him not to overextend his reach with an Evangelion mostly unknown.
Still, he didn't drop the rifle yet. He had to keep his cover. EVA-00 displaced its weight from a foot to the other, testing the ground under the cover of nervousness. The dirt compacted itself under the titanic weight of the EVA.
For long seconds both opponents studied each other.
Shinji waited, ready to move; either to dodge, or to attack. Jus' rumbling voice said in his mind. "If you have the chance, let the enemy show you what they can do. Be ready to dodge at the drop of a leaf. Keep your own strength and skill hidden for as long as you can. When you attack, aim at doing so from a position of advantage, preferably, by surprise."
The Third Child nodded to himself, 'Show me how to kill you, Angel.' he thought.
Suddenly, there was a spark of light in the empty sockets of the Angel's face, and the short sheets hanging from the Angel's shoulders unfolded like an accordion. Forewarned by the glow, EVA-00 rolled to the left, shooting the pallet rifle at the same time. Over EVA-00's head, the two serpentine sheets cut the air. Had he not moved, the EVA would have been mutilated at best, decapitated at worst.
Rolling like a barrel, EVA-00 side stepped the next attack. The ribbon-like arm cut cleanly through a hill. A bunch of trees fell down instantly. The ribbon retracted without any resistance. Shinji watched the scene with his peripheral vision.
'Sharp as Lolth's tongue.'. Shinji Ikari had never met the drow's goddess, mostly due to a grave case of being dead (1); but the tales Jus and Escalla had told about her were enough to instil both respect and loathing for the drow in his mind. He dropped that thought. 'Focus on the fight.'
Keeping the Angel right on the centre of his field of vision, Shinji suppressed the impulse to blink, he knew the LCL would keep his eyes from drying.
The next attack was just as quick, but anticipated his evasion better. Shinji managed to parry the attack with the rifle, but the weapon only deflected the deadly ribbon, and was cleanly cut in half in the process. A useless piece of metal and exotic ceramics fell to the ground. One of the bullets ignited by itself, throwing a stream of fire and smoke. The propellant expending itself in the air, like the most expensive fireworks in the world.
The Third Child's mind ran through his spell repertoire, looking for something he could use that was strong enough to face an Angel that had just made a no-sell of his Magic Missile, without compromising his cover.
He had only one Level 1 Spell available. Magic Missile was discarded immediately. He would have to choose between Shocking Grasp and Sleep. Unless he absolutely needed to escalate, he would stick to lower level spells. They were easier to hide in the AT Field any EVA generated.
NERV HQ
Down at the EVA Cages, Unit-01 was half free from the Bakelite prison, melting and pouring out the drains. Rei and Yui, acting in concert, flexed EVA-01's right arm, and the thin but hard shell covering it broke off. Soon, the purple giant began to break off chunks of red crystalized Bakelite, letting them fall to the ground. With a hiss and a snap, the left pylon opened, and the Progressive Knife slid out of its sheath.
Rei took the weapon in Unit-01's hand, and immediately brought it down against the left arm. She used the weapon as an ice-pick, gouging shards of Bakelite with inhuman speed, precision, and strength.
The left arm was close to be free. With a thought, the First Child activated the holographic interface, she opened a window to each one of her companions, but kept her own transmission out. She only needed to know the situation, not to distract the other pilots.
Judging from the sounds of the battle, a distraction could well prove fatal.
Unit-01 began to carve the Bakelite over its torso.
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, Outside NERV HQ
On the ground, the umbilical cable that fed energy into EVA-02's system lay on contact with the AT Field. The isolating layer that protected it eroding steadily under the exotic energy field.
The Second Child gritted her teeth, barely able to focus on maintaining the field. Every iota of her will focused on that single task.
"I… will… not… fail…" she gasped, her breath ragged and irregular.
There was a murmur at the edge of her awareness, and even above the smell of blood of the LCL, she could feel a familiar aroma, to peaches and vanilla. Asuka shook her head, dismissing the smell as a distraction from her task.
She took small comfort on the fact that Shinji's Magic Missile had been useless. Surely her own Magic Missile wouldn't even have inconvenienced the Angel had she even had the chance to use it.
But that comfort lasted only for a moment. This Angel was a monster.
She hoped Shinji had something stronger hidden somewhere.
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
Commander Ikari's Perch
Commander Ikari watched the fight with obsessive interest. 'Clumsy.' he thought. 'It seems EVA-00 does not carry the combat strategy Unit-01 does. To be expected from a child with no combat experience. Yui, you will be free soon.'
A twisted smile appeared on his face, hidden behind his laced fingers. 'Maybe Rei will be a better option to release you, Yui. Now that you have accepted her at last.'
It never occurred to him that this time, Shinji had time to watch the enemy, using the chance to his advantage.
Nor that Yui Ikari, even lost in the Evangelion's core, could be actually aware of what happened around her prison. At least while Unit-01 was being actively piloted.
Above him, the lights flickered for a second.
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
Lt. Ibuki's Station
Maya raised her eyes for a moment, as the lights flickered like old neon tubes about to fail. But she kept on watching the pilots readouts. "Shinji has stabilized at 83% synch rate, fluctuation .005%. Asuka 's synch is jumping between 79% and 83%. And Rei…" she swallowed a lump. "Rei is exactly at 74%. Stable."
Dr. Akagi leaned over her shoulder, "If we get out of this, remind me to schedule another cross-compatibility experiment. There must be a way to keep their scores at that level. Rei has surpassed her own record by over 20%! I though Unit-00 was her best option."
Above them, Commander Ikari approving nod was almost imperceptible.
From time to time, Ryoji Kaji looked at him, just a glance, but what he saw of Ikari's face convinced the Special Inspector that things were really rotten inside the Commander's mind.
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, Outside NERV HQ
Unit-00 dodged the Angel's attacks, one after the other, the cutting ribbons struck like snakes, destroying the hills around NERV HQ. Vice-Commander Kozo Fujutsuki, from his place behind Commander Ikari's desk, distractedly though about the need to redraw the Geo-Front map.
Unit-00 dropped the half of the pallet rifle it still had in its hand. Somehow, the blue titan managed to evade the Angel's weapons again and again, to the detriment of everything else but HQ and Unit-02.
A stab at the feet of the EVA forced it to jump. The left ribbon struck at the ground, and disappeared into the hill. As Unit-00 planted its feet on the ground, it had to jump again to dodge the left ribbon's attack to the head.
The Angel chose that moment to make a different attack. Its empty sockets shone with blinding light, and a beam of concussive light struck at EVA-00's chest, knocking it down to the ground. Before Shinji or Rei could move, the ribbon under the ground retracted from under it, erupting from the surface and wrapping the EVA's right leg with unbreakable coils.
Like a lightning, Shinji took one Smash Hawk from EVA-00's back, releasing one of the magno-locks but keeping the other axe in reserve.
A sudden pull almost made him lose the weapon.
Zeruel had decided to teach a lesson to this annoying intruder. The ribbon held tight on the leg, and soon, EVA-00 had been pulled back, like a fish hooked by a fisherman. "Hell! Not again!" Shinji grumbled, just as he felt that awful sensation of butterflies in the stomach that came with sudden acceleration.
Just like the Fourth Angel had done to Unit-01, subjective years before, Zeruel was about to catapult Unit-00 through the air!
And not just in any direction.
Shinji could clearly see where they would crash.
Right against Unit-02's AT Field!
He screamed, and deep in EVA-00's core, the soul of Rei Ayanami screamed too
Asuka's eyes went wide when she saw the improbable projectile coming right at her, as if in slow motion.
"Scheiße! (3)"She managed to wheeze, before Unit-00's back crashed against her AT Field.
NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages
Almost trembling with worry and fear, Rei stabbed the Progressive Knife into the Bakelite. She heard Yui Ikari's frantic voice in her mind. 'Rei! Rei! Listen to me! Work on the Bakelite right at the front of EVA-01's torso! Try to make a groove! If we can insert the EVA's fingers in it, we could break a good chunk out!'
The blue haired girl nodded grimly. 'Possible, changing angle,' she sent the thought to the core, and changed her grip on the colossal weapon. Using both hands, Unit-01 looked as if it was about to stab itself, but the biomech's movements were tightly controlled.
NERV HQ
All over HQ, the impact of Unit-00 reverberated into the structure.
In the bunkers, dust fell down from the ceilings. In her corner, alone for the moment, Rusilka Burningforge watched the debris falling, and wondered at the strength of the humans' building. She wondered just what kind of force would be needed to knock it down to pieces.
Down at the EVA Cages, Unit-01 paused for a moment, and renewed its efforts with double strength and speed.
At Central Dogma, the lights flickered again, and delayed a couple of seconds to return. The computers were fed through a different electrical grid, so they could operate even in almost total darkness. Dr. Akagi shook Maya's chair, to keep herself from falling. Major Katsuragi almost fell down, but she managed to stay on her feet. Lt. Hyuga was not so lucky, and fell down from his chair. He returned to his post immediately.
"Maya, enable secondary control and monitoring with the portable unit. I don't know how long can Asuka keep her AT Field. We must be ready to evacuate Central Dogma." She turned back towards Commander Ikari, "Sir! Permission to start Evac!" Major Katsuragi looked at her superior officer, waiting for his answer.
He didn't raise his voice. "Denied. Be prepared, but we will only evac if the HQ is breached. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." Akagi nodded at Lt. Ibuki. "Maya, turn the portable on and transfer control to it, we won't have time later, and I'd rather carry an active unit than waiting for it to boot." Maya nodded, and took a thick portable computer from its compartment next to her station. The computer was heavier than it looked, but with it, she could do every thing she could in the console. At the cost of not having the big holoscreen and the direct MAGI interface.
Misato began to bark orders around. Every NERV tech knew the Evac procedure, dreading the time they would need to use it. The staff was ranked according to the importance of their duties.
The last to evacuate the place would be Commander Ikari, Major Katsuragi, and Dr. Akagi. The rest of the staff would evac according to strict hierarchy, prepared months before.
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, Outside NERV HQ
Unit-00 was being used like a demolition ball against the barrier that protected the command pyramid.
Once, twice, thrice.
Every impact against the shimmering barrier threatened to overwhelm Asuka.
She shook her head and gritted her teeth. "AT FIELD! MAXIMUM YIELD!" she screamed again. From her very soul, energy flowed through the Evangelion's body, reinforcing the ATF over the maximum theoretical level Unit-02 was capable of generating.
"You shall not pass, you monster!" she whispered to herself. "Protego maxima!"
Somewhere close by, the insulation of her umbilical cable dissolved against the energy field.
Next to her, the display flickered quickly between 5:00:00 and 0:00:00
Author Notes
(1) Again, I stress that I am following the Greyhawk novels storyline.
(2) This is Shinji's Spell List, taken from the Pathfinder Corebook, Second Edition. I might have made a mistake or two, but I will stick to my choices. Some spells he has already used in the story. Others he still has to use. The ones in Bold are automatically included in his Spell Repertoire, due to the Imperial Bloodline, discussed a few chapters ago. If the spell is underlined, Shinji has already shown it in story. Note that most spells could be either non-visible, or disguised as ATF effects, these are in Italics. Fireball is an exception. Escalla just loves being able to turn enemies into crispy corpses. Though she sometimes forgot her companions were, except for Cinders, vulnerable to fire (Poor Enid once lost all her fur and most feathers to Escalla's pyromania).
As a Sorcerer, Shinji doesn't need to memorize them previously, he can freely decide what to cast when he wants to use magic. As a trade-off, his selection is limited to these particular spells. He could trade a spell for another later on, but he will lose the use of the original spell.
Level 5 Sorcerer, Imperial Bloodline.
Cantrips (5 per day):
DETECT MAGIC, CHILL TOUCH, LIGHT, MESSAGE, RAY OF FROST
Spells.
LEVEL 1 (4 per day):
MAGIC MISSILE, MAGE ARMOR, SHOCKING GRASP, SLEEP
LEVEL 2 (4 per day):
DISPEL MAGIC, COMPREHEND LANGUAGE, FALSE LIFE, TELEKINETIC MANEUVER
LEVEL 3 (3 per day):
HASTE, SLOW, FIREBALL
I'm going back a few chapters, and replace any mention of Chill Touch with Ray of Frost, as it makes more sense. As was pointed out in the Reviews, Chill Touch is a necromantic spell, dealing damage by channelling Negative Energy, not actual cold; while Ray of Frost is exactly what it says in the can.
(3) A curious note about NGE. In the original version, Asuka's lines in German are mostly gibberish. The USA dub actress, Tiffany Grant, actually speaks German, so she replaced the gibberish with actual German. And in the original Latin American dub, Asuka's voice actress, the late Norma Echevarría, not only spoke fluent German, she also improvised several lines, including expelitives. And yes, she did say " Scheiße!". Personally, I am still very impressed with her delivery of the EVA-02 activation scene in the Gaghiel fight. If you have access to the Perfect Collection (the set with the black box), give it a listen.
