Koros45 doesn't own Mazinkaiser, Getter Robo, or Neon Genesis Evangelion
Stage 31: [Omen]
"Explain." Hayato said, looking back at the man he was sure years ago he'd killed.
Professor Rando looked a mix of furious and amused, as his twitching eye and almost feral grin displayed. The man's body had the same cybernetic eye Hayato remembered, as well as the large metal horns framing both sides of his head. More additions were visible now, as a large number of metal tubes connected from all over the container to his shoulders, back, and chest. There were enough to block out the rest of the man's form.
His sub team of Sho and Gai were quiet, likely more surprised than he was.
"To the point as always. I suppose I may tell you as well." Rando replied, closing his eye and appearing calmer.
"An old alliance with the Dinosaur Empire I made. They gave me the materials for my own Metal Beasts while they stayed in hiding beneath the Earth's surface. This derelict ship was their way to terraform the Earth. But now – it seems that it no longer matters, as the Getter has clearly emerged the victor." Rando said as his robotic eye twitched around. The man looked down, clearly ashamed at the loss.
"And how did you survive?" Hayato asked, pointing two guns directly at the blue tube Rando's cyber body was hovering in.
"I am an expert in biotechnology. The day you invaded my Antarctic base, I let you think I had died. Since the presence of Adam was enough to divert NERV's attention, I could stay there in secret. I was able to – survive your raid thanks to my augmented body, but I was too weak to continue on my own. I needed a benefactor."
"So – the Dinosaur Empire provided?"
"Yes. My plans for further conquests of my own bore no fruit. Those damned Professors Stinger and Cohen! They found my old research and were able to put it into practice while I licked my wounds! They took all of my Metal Beast designs! They had me beaten before my revenge could even begin! Therefore the Dinosaur Empire found me in the frozen wastes and sent me to re-activate this vessel. I have been its' 'Captain' ever since. Waiting for the day that they might have their revenge against humanity."
"To what end?"
"Hmph! I had the naive thought that outlasting Saotome and Dr. Hell would leave the world free for me to occupy. Once I helped the Dinosaur Empire terraform Earth, it would be more suitable for Saurians. Additionally humans would become more akin to their common ancestor with apes. However, my plan was to continue the process until the Dinosaurs also devolved. Then I would be free to shape life on Earth as I saw fit."
"So you'd sell out all of humanity!? How selfish can you be?!" Gai asked.
The cybernetic man ignored Gai as he continued to speak. "However, with Third Impact's advent, that plan is moot. The Human Instrumentality Project's success complicates things for me. And beyond that, nothing matters anymore! Dr. Kabuto and Saotome have released the damnation of the universe! I have seen the final image the Getter Rays lead to - !"
The three listened as Rando spoke, sounding distorted and far off in the liquid.
"The final image?!" Sho asked, bristling as Rando's expression became mad again.
"Do you know the madness that lies at either spectrum? Getter Rays lead to destruction – a vast deity beyond what your mortality can fathom. The Getter Rays are deluding your judgment, Hayato Jin! If unchecked they will usher in an unstoppable force. And the same can be said of Dr. Kabuto's Photon Power. It is yet another path to oblivion. I have spent the majority of my time here, researching where both lead."
"If you think I'm going to listen to you prattle on about this, you're even more insane than before. Those power sources have helped save humanity countless times. But I suppose you have a point about Getter Rays. The Getter's evolution has been rather unchecked considering Shin Dragon's state. Still – you're a loose end." The man said and steadied his pistol.
"Now – I suppose it's time to finish the job!" Hayato declared, looking around Rando's body for any potential weak points.
"Hah! Ignore my pleas if you wish - but know that I have seen glimpses of other dimensions, other times. The Getter called Emperor and the Mazinger known as ZERO cannot be ignored! You may have slain all of the Angels, but beyond them lies things that could make even humankind's idea of 'God' tremble in terror."
"Tell that to someone who cares!" Hayato said as he fired. Rando yelped as the bullet hit his cybernetic eye.
"Then how about this!?" Rando yelled. "The Invaders are going to destroy the Earth! I have used this crafts' instruments to see their plan. The moon Ganymede is on a collision course with our planet. It will arrive soon, and your victory will be all for naught - !"
The man's cries were cut short as Hayato fired twice this time, the bullets breaking the glass and ending the Professor's life. The status tube stopped glowing as the man's life signs faded. Then alarms started blaring all around the station.
"Sorry you had to see that. Sho. Gai. But now he's finished. And we can be on our way. Quickly."
"Kouji! Get clear! This ship's going to self-destruct!" Hayato yelled as his crew followed him back to Neo Eagle. The craft took off and not a moment too soon. The UFO detonated as Neo Eagle barely made it clear of the explosion.
/
"Guys! Are you ok?!" Kouji yelled as the debris from the explosion drifted outwards through space.
"We're fine, but watch out!" Gai yelled as a grey creature emerged from far away. "Invaders approaching!"
An attacker came into view, twice as large as Mazinkaiser, the snarling creature the mix of a lizard and a canine. Photon Beam fired from Mazinkaiser's eyes and Kaiser Knuckle spun rapidly. The beam dispatched the creature, but there was no time to celebrate as more and more of them followed suit.
"Damn! They're attacking us with such numbers already!" Maya cursed, analyzing the oncoming horde from the bridge.
"GETTER BEAM!" Go responded, as a huge blast of green fired from the dragon mouth of Shin Getter Dragon's lower half. The sheer size of the blast was enough to engulf most of the swarm.
"Nice work, Go. Now – where are they coming from!?" Misato asked.
"There's a large asteroid ahead – wait! No – that's - !" Maya looked at the monitor in terror as the object was rather a gigantic Invader.
"Keep firing! Kouji, work with Go to destroy that thing!" The Captain ordered.
"You got it! Rust Tornado!" Kouji commanded as Kaiser unleashed its' corrosive funnel of acid towards the mass.
"Getter Beam!" Go ordered as a comparatively smaller beam fired from Shin Dragon's forehead, striking the huge group of Invaders and vaporizing them.
Then Shin Dragon was struck as flames ignited the space around them.
"There's the Moon Rando mentioned. Ganymede. It's going to collide with Earth in minutes!" Mikoto said with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"Then – I'll handle it!" Kouji said. Kaiser Scrander ignited, taking him right over to the possessed moon.
"Kouji, use the Fire Blaster now! If Dr. Kabuto's notes are accurate, Fire Blaster at full power can breach a planet's core!" Dr. Yumi recommended.
"Ok then! Kaiser, let's do it!" Kouji roared, the heat ray building up as Kaiser's chest panels ignited orange, the color gradually becoming white-hot as the symbol on Kaiser's chest changed to the Kanji for 'Devil'.
"FIRE BLASTER!" Kouji cried out as the blast of heat fired towards the speeding moon.
The attack hit its' mark, yet a long mouthed Invader opened its' maw and absorbed the flames before firing the blast back at Kouji.
Mazinkaiser was knocked backwards, swiftly and quickly as it rammed into Shin Getter Dragon's hull, dazing the crew.
"Damage report!" Misato yelled, grabbing a nearby wall to brace herself.
"We're fine." Go responded. "Now – let's try this again! GETTER BEAM!"
A second large Getter Beam fired from the Dragon's maw, striking the false moon and breaking it apart, the debris burning away to nothing in the emerald light.
"It – it destroyed a moon in one shot - !" Ritsuko said, feeling stunned at the sheer power of their ship.
"That's the lot of them." Maya said, exhaling as Misato addressed the whole ship.
"I don't see any loss of life on the ship." Go said and Misato nodded.
"That's good to hear. Still - we'll check on everyone soon. As Invaders just attacked, we need to move up to constant combat status. Go, can you stay on alert in-case they try any more stunts like that?" She asked.
"Roger." Go said.
"This is Captain Katsuragi. I want to have a ship wide meeting within an hour. I'll see you all at the hangar". She said through the ship-wide comm.
/
"Mazinger ZERO?" Ritsuko said skeptically. It had been a half hour since Kouji returned from his trip. He looked very tired.
"I saw it twice. Once when I was inside of the earlier Shin Dragon and then later during Instrumentality."
"And you said it could kill a God?" Ritsuko asked. Although she hated to admit it, the room that Go had shaped for her was the spitting image of a counselor's room. There was even a cat themed calendar on the far wall.
Kouji looked up from his slouch and met her eye to eye. This particular boy being quiet was troubling to the scientist. Him being nervous was just another sign something was very wrong.
"Yeah. I mean – it looked like it was winning against Zeus. And all the Mazingers I saw fighting it couldn't stop it either."
"What makes you think it will appear here?" She asked.
"It warned me. It said that it was going to appear. That felt genuine to me then. I'm sorry – I must sound crazy."
"Well that does match what Hayato said Rando mentioned something about a Mazinger and a Getter being a universal constant, though it still seems pretty hard to believe. Though I'm one to talk considering all the happenings at NERV regarding Angel attacks." She thought to herself before looking up at Kouji.
"In the worst case scenario, do you think you could stop it?" She asked.
"Not by myself. Not even with Mazinkaiser at full power." Kouji answered. "But I'll give everything I have. It's a monster. Sentient. And it wants to exist in each reality. It can't be allowed to live."
"Do you know what its goal is?"
"ZERO said something about being the solitary Mazinger. Across all realities."
"Hmm. Across all realities? So it exists outside of our dimension?"
"From what I saw, it went to different dimensions. Some of those Mazingers I saw looked really different from Z, Great, or Kaiser, but they were all fighting it on what looked like a version of Earth."
"Then perhaps it can exist in multiple dimensions? That would mean it is theoretically able to cross into our own if it could feel you in both those instances." Ritsuko theorized.
Kouji shrugged. "Yeah, but it didn't really appear in this world. More just as visions."
"That would mean it doesn't have absolute knowledge of where you are. Its grasp of this reality isn't stable. Either something is stopping it in its home dimension or - "
She frowned as her brow furrowed.
"Or both times it was alerted to where you are in relative space, but not how to get there. It knew exactly where you were, it just didn't have a map. The Angels are also beings that defy our known laws of reality. Perhaps Areal's vision – and the unique state of Instrumentality – were what made it find you twice."
"It's just so hard to believe. But - I feel like I'm damning this entire ship if I stay quiet about it."
"Well I'm glad you saw it and brought it up with me. We'll do our best to prepare for it. I'm sure that Commander Hayato, Captain Katsuragi, and the others can come up with a plan. Remember, in the past week alone – we beat all of the Angels, Dr. Hell, stopped the Dinosaur Empire, and took over Shin Dragon. That was all in the span of a few days at most. Imagine what we could do with a whole week."
"Thanks. Shin Dragon did just blow up a moon, so I think we'll stand some kind of chance." Kouji let out a heavy sigh and seemed to be a bit more at ease. "So you don't think I'm crazy? Like it might be a bad dream?"
"No. I'm not taking anything regarding the Human Instrumentality Project for granted. Now try and relax before our big meeting. We need all our pilots on standby."
/
The crew had gathered in the mess hall area. Boss had rigged up a sound system and Misato held up a microphone. Hayato and Professor Yumi stood beside her. Newcomers such as Kaji and Fuyutsuki were stunned at the rather simple looking mess hall in comparison to the hallways of the ship.
"Our mission is to stop the Invaders at any cost. They've started to attack us, so we're taking the battle to them as soon as possible. We've pinpointed their location. They're by Jupiter, doing something nasty there with Getter Rays. Once we arrive, expect to fight." Misato said.
"That said, Ritsuko and Hayato have mentioned another thing I need to bring up. Rando mentioned two extremes of Photon Power and Getter Rays. And Kouji – you reported visions of this as well?" She asked,
"Yeah. I saw it twice, actually. Once before, and once during Instrumentality." The teen said.
Ryoma nodded. "Not just him. There's also that massive Getter I had visions about before. I don't think that Rando was joking around about either of those."
"We'll discuss how he saw into other realities later. For now the Invaders are the only opponent we know of in this universe. But Ritsuko – I want you working with Professor Yumi on this in case. I don't want to bet on it not being true."
"A hypothetical enemy. Well I'll give it my best shot." Ritsuko said. "At any rate, I've done evaluations of everyone here. Other than our most recent arrivals."
"Now – we need to set schedules. I wanted to give you all a day to deal with this – coming back from Instrumentality. But sadly we don't have the time to just sit here idly and get ourselves together."
She looked to Professor Yumi and the man nodded. "Thank you, Captain Katsuragi. At the moment we're going to overhaul all of our robots and restore Unit 02 to full power. Sayaka, Jun, Boss, Nuke, and Mucha will assist with this. In the meantime we'll explain our course."
Yumi continued. "The Invaders have the advantage of both time and surprise. Given their assimilation abilities, we need to expect anything. Pilot training begins tomorrow. I want to see Kouji, Tetsuya, Shinji, Rei, and Asuka at seven sharp. Rei, we're going to do a test run of your Unit 00 first thing. I want to see just how an EVA unit operates so we have a way to repair one.
As for training, Ryoma, you're in charge of what we're doing. Benkei tells me you discussed some battle tactics but I want you training to drill them in reality."
"Not much to it if I just Turbo Smasher Punch this and Fire Blaster that." Kouji said and Asuka elbowed him to quiet him down.
"That being said, we can't underestimate our foe. They have caused untold damage to the Earth. Remember how long the Moon Wars were. We cannot afford to think this will be an easy victory." Yumi finished, looked at Hayato.
"You all heard the Captain and Doctor Yumi. Now – we're going to prepare for the worst. After training is done tomorrow we're going to attempt a dimensional jump. Shin Dragon is able to cross dimensions – and in theory cross space as well. Using Photon Power in conjunction with the Getter Rays we can be much more accurate than ever before. Especially since this is the final form of Shin Getter Dragon."
Yumi nodded. "Photon Power's unique application seems to amplify other energy sources. It explains why all of the Mazingers can fight with maximum output as well as this 'Mazin Power' that Kaiser has. In theory it will refine Shin Dragon's dimensional abilities. Once Dr. Akagi and I are done with checking Unit 00's sync and performance tests tomorrow we will be focused primarily on this.
Then Hayato spoke up. "Go, I want you on piloting duty during this time, showing Kei and Gai the ropes. Sho, I want you there as well. We might need a backup pilot in case things get bad. If Rando was right – if Kouji and Ryoma's visions are true – we'll need everyone on standby. I agree with Captain Katsuragi. Fighting something on the level of a God isn't something I want us to do lightly."
Next, Misato spoke again. "New arrivals, I want you all to meet with me tomorrow during this training session. Mr. Fuyutsuki, Mr. Ryoji. Give me a solid plan in case we manage to get back in one piece. How are we going to start rebuilding society? And how can we make sure who SEELE's members all are and make sure they're in custody? They can't be allowed to get a free pass after all the problems they've caused. I realize this is a very broad topic, so for now just come up with as many idea as you can."
She paused for a moment and looked over everyone. "I know it's a lot to ask of you all. After all – you were just pulled out of Instrumentality, and we're just a handful of people against things that almost wiped us out before. That being said if we don't stop these Invaders, we'll lose the Earth. We might fight something we can't even imagine. And – even if we do come back, it won't be the same Earth we left behind." She closed her eyes, looking angry at the premise.
"However – if we don't do it, they win! Our battles against the Angels! Our surviving Second Impact! The Moon Wars! It can't be all for nothing! So let's fight back! Let's show these Invaders that you don't screw with Humanity! Now – who's with me?!"
She expected the usual suspects to stand in support, as Ryoma, Kouji, and Tetsuya did, followed shortly by Asuka. But Shinji's quick stance right after took the anger off of her speech. It was real then. Real enough for him to stand – this time even willing to do so. Everyone else stood after him and she was glad. She didn't know how much speech she had left in her.
"Then Go! Plot a course! Dr. Yumi! Make sure our engines are ready! Ritsuko! Go over the schematics one more time! We jump by tomorrow!"
She put down the microphone and was treated to a cheer from the skeleton crew.
"Wow Misato. With that kind of speech, you should've been in charge of NERV from the start! I feel ready to kick ass all over again!" Asuka said with a grin.
"Good speech, Miss Katsuragi! We pilots will make sure those Invaders feel a fraction of that speech in our punches!" Kouji seconded.
"I feel I am motivated to – kick their asses as well." Rei said in her usual monotone, startling everyone.
Ryoma laughed. "Then it's settled. Good speech, Captain. I'm going to relax in the calm before the storm. Benkei, you want a drink?"
Benkei sighed. "If only so you're not by yourself. For old time's sake."
/
Twenty minutes later, Benkei found Ryoma in the hangar.
"Are you done reminiscing yet?" Benkei asked, sitting across from Ryoma.
"Not quite. Still sampling some of the alcohol Misato didn't take for her 'Captain's rations'." Ryoma said as he set down a bottle of beer. They were still in the cramped and empty mess hall, Ryoma being the only person there until Benkei had arrived.
"So. Gore's dead. And now Rando too." Benkei said.
"Yeah. So I'm drinking one for our buddy Musashi. He'd know how to handle this situation with a smile."
"Well – we've avenged him. At least – we've defeated everything he fought against while he was alive."
"Yeah but he wouldn't be satisfied with that. That day he launched Getter-1 by himself, that could have easily been myself or Hayato to take his place. To be honest it's one of those things that bothers me. To lose someone that strong."
"Ryoma, do you think he's at peace?"
"Yeah. Now I do. But I think he wouldn't rest if he was here. He wouldn't stop fighting until all of Getter's enemies are beaten. Especially ones as bad as these Invaders."
Benkei thought carefully before speaking. "Well you knew him more than me. I still feel like I'm the reserve to be honest. I know that's not the truth. I'm training kids now to take our place after all. But he's the one that made Getter-3 his own."
Benkei was silent for a moment. "Got another beer?"
"Yeah. Hang on." Ryoma said, popping the top off of a second glass before he passed it to Benkei.
"Well let's drink. To return to a world that Musashi staked his life on."
The glasses connected and then the two drank
/
Go turned from the pilot's seat, facing Rei as the girl entered the pilot room. Nodes and metallic cables disconnected from Go's body as he stood up and addressed her.
"I retrieved the Lance. Yet – Unit 00 is still temperamental if one were to personify it." Rei said, Go listening as he took a step towards her. The space beside the door was cramped and both stood straight up, him looking down while she looked up at him, the two making eye contact.
"Temperamental?"
Rei's expression went from neutral to slightly tense as she recalled the feeling.
"It felt angry again. Though I have not explained this to anyone on the ship. The EVA has gone berserk before. Though I do not know why. That incident was quite some time ago."
"Yui Ikari is inside Unit 01. And Asuka's mother in the Unit 02. So who is in Unit 00?" Go wondered.
Rei answered quickly. "It is a version of myself. My first self. One I felt earlier inside of the EVA."
Go took a moment to think before responding. "Has this happened before?"
"Only once during a test. It is – troubling that it has happened again. I am – trembling." Rei said, breaking the eye contact to look down to her shaking arm.
"Rei."
She took the initiative to embrace him and Go returned the gesture.
Go continued to speak.
"Let me know the next time. Shin Getter and I will be there if you need us." Then Go paused and spoke again.
"You are right, I view you as my sister. And I won't let her get hurt. Kei would never forgive me." Go said with a hint of humor to his stoicism.
"Kei?" Rei blinked. "Go – I am surprised. You do not seem like the type of person to joke."
"Yes but – She also sees me as her brother. So that's what I am. I imagine if we tell her about this, she will want you to be her little sister as well."
'I do not understand. I am not related to her on any level."
"Yes. I know. I felt the same way at first around Benkei. But – we at the Getter Team have the luxury of choosing our family. And as a human you should have that choice as well."
"The power – to choose my family. It is not something I considered before."
"It is important. Although we can exist alone, I find humans often stick together. The freedom to choose where you belong. That is what I think."
/
The area was empty, the staff and crew leaving the machines in the hangar bay as they all went on breaks, or went to get rest. Leaving the space open to privacy. Perhaps even for a conversation of sorts.
"kyoko."
The thought was strange to the woman inside of Unit 02. The voice was distorted. Yet still familiar enough that she might be able to recognize it.
"kyoko."
Not a voice, but a thought, scraping against what she guessed was the EVA's brain. The thought was a rough idea of language, but still one she could understand.
"I know you're there, kyoko."
There it was again, this time the stubbornness giving her a clue to the speaker.
" . . . Yui."
kyoko responded.
"Then you can hear me."
" . . . In the Evangelion? Same as me?"
"Yes."
"Then – you can feel the other here too?"
" . . . other? Another Evangelion? Here on this ship?"
"Yes. I don't know who it is. Do you, Kyoko?"
Yui gestured, and now kyoko could feel EVA Unit 01's mixture of curiosity and need to be in control of the situation. It seemed Yui Ikari hadn't changed one bit.
"No."
A long pause. To anyone working on the machines at the moment, the area was silent. Completely different from the slow and jagged thoughts Unit 01 and 02 sent back and forth.
"It took you far longer to wake up than I. Do you hate them for keeping us like this?"
"No. I love Asuka. I protect Asuka. As her mother. And Unit 02."
That was the only answer kyoko had. She knew she was broken on some level. Half of her was gone, and whatever was inside an Evangelion had filled the holes.
Yui Ikari was silent as she ended the conversation. Yui wiped her lingering thoughts away and the EVA's 'mind' returned to the regular blank canvas NERV wanted it to have. There was no point discussing it further with her peer if kyoko's devotion to the Second Child prevented any chance of them both going berserk and her escaping using the spear and S2 organ.
NERV – or whatever NERV had become was too smart. The empty machines that surrounded the three EVAs saw to that. Shin Getter in particular had its' pupils affixed on Unit 01, watching the still EVA. The feeling made Yui burn with rage. She had been so close to freedom. Only for it to be snatched away.
Isolated within EVA Unit 01, Yui wondered just what would happen now.