5:00am, Wednesday the 12th of July, NERV Central, synch room.
"Oh Spirits..." Shinji muttered, massaging his exhausted, sleep deprived, eyes.
He'd never enjoyed early starts, in fact he was vehemently against them. For his philosophy on the matter was "how can anyone do anything properly if they haven't had enough sleep?" This being further exasperated by him never sleeping well.
Unfortunately, it seemed his father did not have a similar idea. Although, in the boy's eyes, it was worth noting if soulless beings needed sleep...
"Don't worry, Shinji-kun, I hate the morning shift too. But think about it, the sooner we start the sooner it's over." Misato could easily stay awake at this early time, but that was only from years of experience. She'd actually dozed off on her first night shift. It had been very fortunate it was Ritsuko who found her like that and gently woke her up. Had it been anyone else who was high ranking, or Spirits forbid, the Commander himself, she'd be out of a job.
"Indeed. Now then, Ikari-san, you know what to do. Clear your mind and sit tight, focus on your connection." Ritsuko addressed him, holding a clip board in hand. She, Misato, and a few other staff member stood behind a glass window, overseeing four cylinders, marked 00, 01, 02, 03, with the last two having been recently installed. These were replicas of the "plugs" which served as the Pilot's cockpit, each one replicating the unique conditions of said plug's Eva.
Within two of these plugs, marked 00 and 01, sat Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami.
This was a way of determining the strength of the Pilot's bond with their Eva, in a vastly less dangerous way than actually putting them in their respective Units and activating. Demonstrated by Unit 00's incident in the previous month.
"Ceasing all comms in ten seconds, Pilot Link test begins in 15, 14, 13..." Caspar's voice began to count down, in a surprisingly serious tone. Many staff assumed it was an automated voice, but the higher ups knew better. They weren't sure if the A.I had actually installed an automated voice or was just toying with them.
Why did we ever turn it on? Misato subconsciously chuckled.
Within Unit 01's plug, Shinji had closed his eyes, emptying it of everything save for the feeling of warmth and comfort that slowly engulfed him. It was strange how this thing which terrified him, was among the most comfortable places he'd ever been. If not the most.
It felt like being a child again, wrapped in a warm embrace only a mother could give. For the briefest moment, his mind went over what Rei must feel when connecting to her Eva, and whether or not it was similar to what he felt. That would have to be something he'd ask later.
The warmth came closer and closer, as if it where becoming part of him. A small part of his subconscious did worry about whether or not this "feeling" could overcome him. Override him.
But he didn't need to worry, for the sensation became symbiotic, as if himself and the feeling were alive and separate, yet one. It was something he both feared, and felt compelled to seek. He sat there, bubbles of LCL floating around him, as if this were his own bizarre little zen garden. In fact, he felt like falling asleep...
Then it stopped. The feeling vanished, as if it had never been there, Caspar's voice shredding his peace.
"Synch test complete. Pilot comms re-established."
"Your Pilot Link is holding at sixty-seven percent, Ikari-san. Well done. Same goes for yours, Ayanami-san, fifty-eight percent." Ritsuko's much quieter voice echoed through the plug.
"Um, thank you, Sub Commander Akagi." Shinji said humbly, the mere thought of praise still being a little alien to him.
Ignoring this, the Sub Commander continued.
"We're going to have to keep you in there for a bit longer. We've got a few more tests to run..." She trailed off, scratching the back of her neck, taking a quick look at the "Pilot Link" readings.
Hmm, Ikari-san fluctuates quite a bit but gets a higher score. Ayanami-san keeps it average but steady, I wouldn't expect anything less from her.
A chorus of "ryokai" came over the video link, leaving the various Section 4 staff to work in silence for a while. That was, until, Unit 01's Pilot cleared his throat.
"What is it, Ikari-san?" Ritsuko said absent mindedly.
"Uh...could I ask you some questions? About the Evas?"
A hush fell upon that room for a moment, as this was some sensitive information. Highly classified. In fact there were some things the Sub Commander knew that hardly anyone else in the room did. And in some cases, no others than NERV's High Command itself.
The faux blonde sighed.
"Well, I can't promise to answer all of them, but you are cleared for quite a few things, as is everyone else present, so fire away. We've time to kill."
Shinji's tongue tied itself into knots, not having thought he would get this far.
"Alright...um...uh...what are the Evangelions? I hate to say it but...I'm not really buying the whole war machine thing anymore..."
"That's partially classified unfortunately. The most I can say is, they are mechanical in nature. But keep going." Ritsuko dismissed.
But that doesn't mean there isn't anything organic, does it? Misato's subconscious harrumphed. She was combat operations director, Sub Commander of Section 3, one of the highest ranking people on sight, cleared to set eyes upon Subject Creatrix, but there were still many things she didn't know.
"Oh...sorry...what about A-T fields? What are they?" Shinji tried another question.
"Ah! There I can help you." Ritsuko said with a hint of enthusiasm.
"An A-T field is basically the barrier of one's soul. They are what keeps all living things as individuals in short. I have one, you have one, everyone has one. Thing is we haven't been aware of them until recently, and it was five years after their discovery that we began incorporating them into our technology with the S2 engines. We are literally using barriers of souls as unlimited power supply." She let that sink in, Shinji's expression of shock on the video link causing a few staff to chuckle or giggle.
"Naturally A-T fields are almost non-existent, undetectable. It's just through modern technology we can amplify them into an extremely potent forcefield. Nigh invincible in the case of the Evangelions...unless they are up against creatures that wield A-T fields as weapons..." The faux blonde trailed off, still not getting over how bizarre the Seraphim were in that respect. That they could bend the barriers of their own souls to their whim with ease, should have been impossible.
"So...the Eva amplifies my soul?" Shinji pressed on.
"That's quite a crude way of putting it...but not far off. As modern society is almost completely powered by them, you can tell we generate artificial ones. Your A-T field is amplified and it mixes with the Eva's A-T field, making a stronger one altogether." Ritsuko, having finished flicking through her notes, now had her complete attention focused on the young Pilot's questions.
"Okay, I think I get that. But still...how did you build these things? I mean...you must have done it in private. If you hadn't I'd be seeing trademark Kotai Industries stamped everywhere." His words elicited a few laughs from the staff.
Kotai Industries, the megacorp with absolute monopoly on the production of Japan's arsenal. The contracts to everything, from bullets to battleships, were theirs. And they fiercely defended it.
"Oh you wouldn't believe how much they hate NERV for not contracting them with the Eva series. They even tried to make their own version to out compete us, the...Jet Alone was its name right?" Misato flashed her brown gaze to Ritsuko, as a sign for reassurance she was correct. A swift nod confirmed it.
"Yes, Jet Alone. Huge robot with an artificially generated A-T field. Never got off the ground, the Evangelion Units were considered superior in every single respect. For once the politicians thought the cost was worth it..." The purplehead trailed off, her mind grappling with just how much money went on these bizarre creations.
Could probably do a bit more than "retire for life surrounded by muscle bound men" with that kind of money.
"Well, we're almost finished, so if you've got anything else, now is the time." Ritsuko "hmm'd" in satisfaction when the results of silent running were displayed.
Ikari-san at six percent, Ayanami-san at twenty percent. That's my girl.
It was quiet over the comms for a while, before he asked his last question.
"...you do have an eject system right? I keep looking around for a lever in here, I...I can't find anything."
"It's fully automated, there's not really any need for a lever." The faux blonde Sub-Commander said dismissively, as if it were irrelevant.
"...Wait...back up a moment...what do you mean, no need for a lever?"
"Don't worry! It's worked just fine so far. Your safety is our top priority, Ikari-san." Maya cut in, a tone more positive and sweet than most could muster.
Indeed, Rei murmured in concurrence from within her grey matter.
This cheerful tone however, had no effect on the pessimistic young man.
"There's always a first time for everything..."
11:59am, Tokyo-3, the Imperial Palace, His Majesty's office
The Emperor's office was plain. There were plenty of windows for sunlight to trickle in, and a gorgeous view of a classic Japanese garden outside, but aside from that, the desk, cabinets, and flooring, were all incredibly simple.
To a subject of the British Emperor, this lack of pomp, grandeur, or luxury would have been astonishing. The sovereign of a nation should show his power. How else would others recognize it? But that was not the Japanese way. Refinement and humility had been the mindset long before Chiso was born. Whereas the other powers sought to display their grandeur in any way possible, her people looked to nature, to the beauty of imperfection, the blossoming of the cherry trees, and grace, and subtlety.
The British called them barbarians, whereas in her not so humble opinion, it was the other way around.
The Emperor of Japan, Kanaye Yamato, the last of his lineage, sat at his desk filing through various documents, walking stick resting against his seat. Upon the entry of General Motichka, the supreme commander of his armies and surrogate mother, he quickly raised his head, a warm smile on his pale lips.
Chiso walked in front of his desk, clicked her heels and bowed, gaining a nod in response.
"How is his Majesty on this fine day?" She said, her own smile forming. For the General enjoyed talking with the boy.
The Emperor leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"His Majesty doesn't understand how you people's souls don't slip away when doing all this." He gestured at the vast amount of paperwork.
Chiso chuckled a little, then walked over to the windows.
"Surely his Majesty is aware that everything he signs has already been read through by trusted advisers?"
He tsked and rolled his eyes, before returning to work.
Kanaye was an individual who was involved with the government of Japan. He couldn't form any legislation or dictate policy, only the national diet and the Defence Board could do that. All the relevant files had already been approved for being made policy, all he had to do was sign. But that was not enough for the young man. Over the past few years, since he'd assumed the responsibilities of his title, he'd insisted on reading through everything. And if something disturbed him, he would speak to the general who was the real power in his country about the subject.
The Emperor in Britain has much more power than me, and yet he does not nearly as much. Lazy swine...being Emperor is hardly a part time job after all...
"How goes the securing of the Imperial lineage?" She turned towards her monarch, an eyebrow raised in amusement at his glower.
"Chiso...I'm going to enjoy what remnant I have of a childhood before I even think about that. And besides that's private, despite even your best attempts to remove dignity from such things."
This of course was on the subject of the monumental cultural changes the General had brought about since accumulating power. As Japan's population was already in decline, even before Second Impact, a birth increase was needed. To achieve this, she'd ordered enhanced sex education in schools, smashing the ice on this awkward matter, slashing work shifts to eight hours a day, creating a national "dating", as the westerners put it, organization, and offering financial encouragement for couples to have babies.
In short, the Defence Board had created one of the most sexed generations in Japanese history. The result of which being the population soaring to sixty-five million by 2017. As one can imagine, for a culture as rigid as that, it was quite the change.
Her smile not disappearing, the General brought herself over to Kanaye's desk.
"Is this anything you want to talk about?"
Kanaye set down the paper's he held, and tapped his finger upon the wood beneath it.
"Not in that manner. But there is something. It's a matter of state. I...hadn't wanted to tell you because I know what your temper is like...but as I appreciate the whole surrogate mother service you provided for me after Tokyo-2 was levelled-" He reached into one of the many draws in his desk, pulling out a sheet of paper marked with Ministry of the Interior surveillance. He handed it to the General.
"They managed to tap one of Gendo Ikari's phone conversations between him and his Vice Commander."
Chiso scanned through the text, her gaze fixing on one bit of dialogue near the bottom.
Fuyutsuki: Considering how close together the previous attacks have been...perhaps we should have the Emperor moved-
Ikari: The life of the cripple is irrelevant. The Evas are all that matter. Focus your concentration, Fuyutsuki-sensei, this war will soon be over.
The sound of paper being crumpled into nothingness made Kanaye thankful there were copies of it.
"Insolent old bastard! Who does he think he is!?" Chiso snarled, tossing the paper aside. She paced around the room, as she always did when stressed.
"There is a slight point. I mean...if the Evas are destroyed that is the end of us all. If I die...well about sixty-five million people get a national holiday. And at the end of the day, I'm sure it's nothing personal-"
"No, Kanaye! You are the Emperor, by Amaterasu he should show his sovereign all the due respect and care you deserve. I will have his hide for this!"
"Chiso. Calm down." Kanaye switched to his "commanding voice" which, whilst it didn't have the cold hard authority of Gendo Ikari's, it was still thick with authority. The General immediately stopped pacing, breathing in deeply through her nose then exhaling through her mouth.
"I am sorry, your Majesty. I just can't stand that man as it is. Even more so because of his bloated sense of self importance and disregard for our country. And for you."
"It's alright. I know he annoys you, but he probably knows that. In fact he could actually be trying to provoke you, gain some sort of control over you. He's the sort of man who would try I think." The Emperor trailed off.
Power is everything to him. He'd even use his own son, his own flesh and blood, to further his ends. I don't care if NERV is saving the world, I just can't shake the feeling that whatever they're doing might not be in the best interest of the nation.
A part of him found his Imperial sense of paranoia to be amusing. That was to be expected, as when one, at the tender age of two years old, is pulled from the remnants of a nuclear blast, barely clinging to life, they may become untrusting. You could never know when the next bomb would land.
Chiso looked like she was pondering those words for a while, before shivering.
He does not control me. I am not like those foolish Akagi whores!
"A fair point, your Majesty. Nevertheless, I sincerely look forward to the day when he outlives his usefulness..."
A grim atmosphere hung over the office for a while, until Kanaye curled his hand around his walking stick and stood up.
"I believe it is time for lunch. Would you care to join me?"
All that anger vanished from Chiso's expression, herself producing a warm smile, one only a mother could be capable of. Straightening herself, she bowed her head.
"It would be my pleasure, your Majesty."
1:00pm, NERV quarters
Having flopped on the sofa, dark rings under her brown eyes after an early start and a now finished shift, clothed in nothing but her usual yellow T-shirt and blue shorts, Misato Katsuragi leisurely sipped some ice cold beer, freshly retrieved from the fridge.
Shinji was currently sitting in the bath, most likely attempting to scrub off whatever was left of the LCL on his skin. Granted, he'd already had a shower back at NERV central, but when it came to the foul smelling orange liquid, there wasn't such thing as overkill.
Flicking through the channels on her smart TV, Misato marvelled at just how far technology had leaped forward since that day in Antarctica all those years ago...She winced upon thinking about that, her hand immediately tracing the area under her left breast, where a terrible scar from a terrible event resided.
Refocusing her mind back on the progress of technology over the past seventeen years, she still couldn't wrap her mind around the, for want of a word, "box" she'd watched low definition shows on during childhood, had evolved into these things which automatically linked to the internet and could download almost anything.
Technology. Mankind's true triumph over nature.
Man's brilliance was what had saved him from the Seraphim's wrath. How unfortunate that he turned it upon himself for six long years of bloodshed. She'd been nineteen years old when the Chinese invasion happened. Granted, it hadn't been so bad, a week of sharing a bunk with a man in a shelter had proven to be...very enjoyable.
But she would never forget seeing the news, of when the army retook Fukuyama. The charred, burned or mutilated bodies of one hundred thousand innocents slaughtered for the crimes of their forebears, being shown for all to see. "Nanking's vengeance" was what the Communists had called it. To think the nice boy who sat in her bath, who washed and ironed her clothes, and made her dinners had lived through that as a toddler, was mind boggling.
Poor kid...to have survived that, then to get thrown into an even bigger war zone...shit, necessity is cruel.
Having found a channel she liked, Misato nestled herself into her pillows, gulping down some more beer.
Channel Ghibli as it was called, had been set up by the Defence Board some eleven years ago as part of their continuing program to promote Japan's "cultural greatness."
It did exactly what it said on the tin. The genius of Hayao Miyazaki, all day, every day. Considering Nausica and Mononoke were her childhood, the purplehead was very glad for its existence.
The sound of warking to her side caught Misato's attention.
"Hey, Pen, how are you doing?" She said with a tired smile as the Penguin clambered onto the sofa and buried himself into her stomach.
It was strange to think, how this stupid bird had somehow managed to yank her out of that state she was in, after surviving Second Impact. How when all the doctors had failed to even elicit a response from her, this thing, which had waddled into her "room" at the time without reason, managed to gain her fourteen year old attention with no small amount of warking.
The two had been inseparable since then.
Eventually, Shinji emerged from the bathroom, refreshed and revitalised, even though his hair was a mess. It was strange for Misato to see him like this, without that droopy fringe to cover his sad eyes. Clothed in a blue T-shirt and black trousers, instead of his usual attire of red shirt and blue jeans, he could have been mistaken for an ordinary, happy teenage boy.
But as anyone who knew anything about the children of Eva understood, this was not the case. Nor could it ever be.
"Did you enjoy your bath?" She asked.
"Yes...I could never use hot water like that back in Kure..." He chuckled, remembering how had to monitor his energy bill and whether or not any of the taps would start falling off.
Turning his gaze to the screen, his expression became puzzled and curious.
"Is...is that a Ghibli movie?"
"Yes." Misato nodded.
"I've never seen one before."
"You've never seen one before? Didn't you watch them on television or anything?" She trailed off, seeing the face of her charge tighten.
"I never had a television. Teacher didn't think much of them."
Those things melt your brains. Besides, work is far more important than whatever nonsense people of your age watch...
"Oh...well then!" Misato's tone lightened up as she swung her legs off the sofa, causing Pen-pen to flail around in surprise, and patted the cushion beside her, beckoning Shinji over.
"Everyone's got to begin somewhere. Come on, one's just starting." Her smile broadened when her charge awkwardly yet certainly sat next to her. Teacher had only ever sat next to him for work, and even then there was some distance. But now, being in so close a proximity to another human being, Shinji was beginning to wonder what he'd been afraid of.
This was...pleasant, even with his carer's running commentary throughout the movie really destroying any and all immersion, along with Pen-pen's constant beer breaks.
But he didn't care. For this strange woman was endearing herself to him ever more.
The film was quite good. The plot wasn't anything spectacular, but it was simple, easy to follow, and quite solid over all. The characters were decent, and the animation was stunning, absolutely stunning, instilling in him a wish to draw like that. But of course he couldn't. He couldn't make beautiful things after all.
Granted, some parts of it had been a little strange, like the eponymously named "moving castle" walking around some European-esque land, with its inhabitant that kept turning into a bird for some reason, but ultimately he found enjoyed it. A part of him resolved to watch television more often. Who knew what else was on?
"Shinji-kun?" Misato's voice broke him out of his moment of self reflection, his "hmm, what?" causing her to quietly laughed.
"Sorry to ruin your zoning out session, but I've got some news for you. In a few days, the German High Seas fleet and the Imperial 5th fleet will rendezvous with our Pacific fleet and arrive at Togo harbour. They're carrying Units 02 and 03, along with their Pilots."
Shinji gulped.
I've only just got used to a few people here, and now some foreigners...not that I don't appreciate the help mind you...
"However, whilst they're still sailing in, we're flying out to greet them."
"We?" He said, shocked.
"Yes, you and me. And some friends if you want."
Shinji couldn't find any word for this. He'd never liked moving around to begin with, and now he was being hauled off to meet yet more people he didn't know.
Just my luck.
Misato sighed, then put her hand on his shoulder.
"You've got to meet them sooner or later. And besides, a change of scenery would do you good." She gave it a squeeze before standing up. Fortunately, Pen-pen had rolled off her lap by now.
"Right, as it's lunch time, I think it's my turn to cook for a change."
"No no no no no, it's fine, really, Misato-san! I can do it myself!" He put on a winning grin, gaining a touched smile from the purplehead.
"Oh you're so sweet. But what sort of host would I be if I didn't cook at all?" Her tone remained innocent, but her smile became a grin of unimaginable depravity.
As many horrendous things were shoved in the microwave, what Misato called "curry surprise," Shinji and Pen-pen slowly locked gazes with one another. Despite those beady black eyes being small, the general gist of the Penguin's thoughts on the matter where quite plain for the meek young man.
Spirits go with you human. But you're on your own.
With that, the erect crested penguin scrambled away back to his home in the fridge. Leaving the boy to his fate, a look of utter despair in his cerulean eyes.
11:00pm, Philippine sea, SMS Seydlitz of the Kaiserliche Marine.
It was cold at sea.
Not that she was unused to the feeling of cold, as the Reich was one of the few places in the world that actually got snow these days, but even then she found it chilly. This got on her nerves, as due to the cold she'd become pale, which showed off her freckles to the world. An aspect of her features she was embarrassed by.
Not that Countess Asuka Von Zeppelin Soryu, Hauptmann of the German Luftwaffe, would ever let anyone know that.
Her hands rested on the safety rail, sea winds ruffling her great golden red mane of hair and yellow sun dress, as she watched the waves beneath her. The only sources of light, were those of moon, stars, and the freshly lit cigarette to her side.
"That better be an E-cigarette." Her eyes narrowed, the offender laughing.
"Oh of course herr commandant, I wouldn't dream of anything else." Ryoji Kaji, her NERV handler, said with a slight smile, exhaling some of the foul smelling stuff.
Whilst Kaiser Rudolf Von Hohenzollern was technically Asuka's legal guardian, the "dummkopf" who stood to her left had been the redhead's caretaker for the past three years, where her training had intensified. In preparation for the war in which through luck alone an individual known to her as "stupid Shinji," or "Third Child," had stolen her thunder. Something to be rectified.
"And don't you forget it." She shot a look in Ryoji's direction, eliciting a mock whimper.
It had taken many years of bullying, threats, and coercion to get the brown haired, pony tailed Japanese man to give up those verdammt death sticks, but eventually her stubbornness had won through. All crumbled before the will of the great Asuka Zeppelin Soryu.
"Can't believe I've already missed three Seraphim. Are there going to be any left by the time I get there?" She mused to herself.
"Don't worry, Asuka-chan. You'll get to prove yourself, I have no doubt about it." Ryoji rested his own arms on the safety rail, having tossed his used up E-cigarette into the sea.
Sailing alongside them, were the vessels of the combined fleet, German "Brandenburg" class frigates streaking ahead of the main formation, with Imperial "Indefatigable" class Battlecruisers following up their rear. Straight ahead of the Seydlitz, two Pruessen class Heavy cruisers steamed forward, tow cables attached to the mighty "Friedrich" class carrier, occasional flashes of orange lightening at their prows indicating the buffeting of their A-T fields against the power of the sea.
It was an irritating fact Evangelions messed with S2 engines via their presence. It was why they couldn't be flown over here, as an FCV would fall out of the sky in an attempt to carry an Eva. So it had been the long way to Japan she'd took, much to the young Countess's frustration.
"So, looking forward to getting home?" Asuka decided to take her mind off the matter through engaging her big brother figure in conversation.
"Hmm?"
"Are you looking forward to getting home you deaf dummkopf?"
He smiled slightly at the annoyance evident in the girl's voice.
"A little. A lot's changed since I was last here..."
"Jah. It's been ten years hasn't it?" Asuka pressed, gaining a slight nod from the United Nations Intelligence Service agent.
"It's actually more like twelve years." He said quietly, reflecting on something unpleasant.
Being someone who'd grown up in the court of the Kaiser, Asuka was capable of manoeuvring herself through conversation, therefore being able to tell from a mile away this was something her companion did not want to talk about. Not out of anything personal of course.
Ryoji was an attractive man of thirty-two years, with some brown stubble around his chin. His eyes matched the colour of his hair, and although she'd always thought the colour brown was boring, it worked for him. It was thus understandable she'd harboured a crush on him in her early teenage years, one that lasted to this day. Granted, she was now old enough to understand how that wouldn't work, but Asuka still couldn't help but find him gorgeous.
How unfortunate she was not older, and his heart had already been claimed.
"Quiet as a bloody grave up here. Has someone died and should I know about it?" A new voice, shrill and aristocratic, spoke in the High Imperial tongue. Although the German's gaze remained fixed forward, a small smile did grow on her lips.
"Well well, Meadow-san, deigned fit to join us have you?" Ryoji raised an eyebrow at the sixteen year old blonde boy who had entered the scene, resplendent in his navy blue officer's uniform.
"The correct term is gracing you with my presence, Ryoji." Major Samuel Alexander Meadow of the Imperial Britannic Army, flashed a smile only an Imperial aristocrat could produce, before turning his eyes upon Asuka.
"You must be freezing in that. Do I need to get you a coat?"
Her own gaze turned upon him, her eyes having narrowed in displeasure.
I thought not He laughed at such a display of stubbornness.
The agent leaned back from the rails, clicking his shoulders into place.
"I'm hungry. I'll give you some time alone with your boyfriend." His grin broadened when both the Pilots faces turned red.
"Insolent...bloody...barbarian...swine..." The Imperial grumbled, whilst Asuka unleashed a tsunami of obscenities in her native language. The only response they got was a humoured wave of the hand, as the Japanese man disappeared into the bowels of the Seydlitz.
The two were alone in the moonlight.
"You really should discipline your servant." Samuel said with a shake of his head.
"Oh he knows his place." Asuka put on a smile, one that beckoned him over.
"Right..." He brought himself next to her and looked out over the sea, hands held behind his back. His complexion was quite handsome, his uncontrollable blonde hair and electric blue eyes contrasting and complementing each other nicely. And in that uniform, navy blue tunic, khaki trousers, knee high black boots and golden epaulettes, she imagining he'd gain the attention of many girls in Japan.
Due to the clear sky it looked like the sea itself was sparkling, with a million lights dancing across its waves.
"How do you do it? It's bloody chilly out here." Samuel stamped one of his feet in an attempt to keep warm. And he was in uniform, Asuka was in nothing but a yellow dress, red shoes, and a choker clasped around her neck. She chuckled at him.
"A beautiful night." He craned his neck up at the sky, appreciating the vastness of space.
"Yeah."
After a while, Samuel's face became contemplative, and a little sad, his mouth opening and closing uselessly, catching the redhead's attention.
"You want to talk about Buenos Airez, don't you?" Her usually hard expression softened when he nervously nodded.
"Bad dreams?"
He nodded again.
Releasing the rails and pulling her best friend of the past six years into her arms, Asuka felt him choke back a sob, forcing it down with all his might. His arms snaked around her as well.
"That rebellion had to be put down, for the Empire, but...did it have to be like that?" Images of a city on fire and the death screams of seventy thousand people quickly flashed through his young mind, making fighting his weakness even more difficult.
"I don't know. There isn't anything to be done about it now though." She said truthfully. Eventually his shaking stopped, and they were able to release one another. Taking a step back, Asuka leant on the safety rails again, and Samuel's hands returned to behind his back. His old composure regained, he muttered a quick and quiet "thank you" before clearing his throat.
"Well then, what do you think about this Shinji?"
"What about him?" She grumbled.
"He sounds somewhat capable for a barbarian..." The Imperial pilot was saying, until the redhead wagged her finger at him.
"Beginners luck that's all. We'll show him how real Eva Pilot Elites do it." She leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze of the sea, no matter how cold it made her feel.
"Indeed. Although that will very much be my job as I'll be winning this war single handedly." Samuel's sly grin increased as Asuka's eyes snapped open and shot him a playful yet murderous stare.
"No no no, I'm getting the most kills, Sam. I'll leave some for you, but the rest are mine. Besides, I am the best Eva pilot after all." She placed a hand on her chest, utter confidence in what she was saying.
Samuel shrugged.
"Perhaps. But lets face it Asuka, Unit 03 is superior to Unit 02, that's just an indisputable fact-"
"Halt die Klappe!"