CHAPTER 22: DEATH FROM ABOVE

"NERV's OPSEC procedures sure leave a lot to be desired," Ronin said to Kaji as they sat down away from the crowd at the festival. Ronin was munching on some chicken on a stick while Kaji munched on some fried fish. "I can't believe the good doctor let out both Commanders' location like that."

"It's not all that sensitive," Kaji said. "Besides. I was the one who brought up the fact that they were outside the country."

"Maybe, but that is much more vague than 'they are at the South Pole'," Ronin said before biting down into the chicken. "Ow!" He snapped as he accidentally bit his tongue.

"Careful with that," Kaji said with a grin. "You must take your time with food."

"Thanks, dad," Ronin grunted.

"By the way, your kit arrived two days ago."

"Good."

"'Falcon' wants to send in an element on stand-by."

"Is that really necessary? We haven't even determined what's being hidden inside NERV much less what kind of threat it poses; if any."

"Falcon said it's just a precaution," Kaji shrugged. "He wants them in place to help us escape if needed. Intel and Securities has been noticing some suspicious activity and chatter that they fear is related to our investigation."

"I.S.D. has always been a little paranoid," Ronin commented off-handedly. "They always think the enemy-of-the-week already knows everything."

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't a car following you, literally."

"Those Section-2 suits are cheap amateurs compared to real pros. I can handle a platoon of them easy."

"Always be prepared," Kaji quoted the Boy Scout maxim. "The stand-by element will be briefed soon and, if things get any more interesting, they'll be covertly inserted into Atsugi. They're some old friends of ours."

"Heh," Ronin smiled. "I miss those guys." He then let out a sigh. "I'd like to go see them when and if they arrive but…" He shook his head. Kaji nodded, then reached into his jacket.

"Your kit is here," he said handing him a small envelope. "Just make sure you hide it well."

"Contents?"

"The usual E&E kit plus an encrypted smart phone, 50 thousand Yen in multiple bills and an extra set of clothes."

"Good," Ronin said pocketing the card. "Hopefully, I won't need it or the team in Atsugi. If they get involved our cover will most definitely be blown."

"If you need either I think our cover will have already been blown."

"This is true. Anything about Terminal Dogma?"

"Nothing yet. The servers I found have pointed me in the right direction, though. I should be able to get inside in a couple weeks. Would you like to tag along?"

"You have to ask?" The two shared a chuckle. "Just what could the commander be hiding down there?" Ronin asked. "All that heavy security is there for a reason."

"And not all of it is meant to keep someone from getting in," Kaji added. "Parts of it look like it's meant to keep something from getting out."

"That's disconcerting." And with that they went their separate ways.

XXXXX

As Shinji was returning home he spotted Rei walking up to the door. "Rei!" He called out to her. "You looking for me?"

"Yes," Rei replied. "I wanted to thank you for that book. I've only read the first few chapters but it's already been very interesting."

"I knew you'd like it," Shinji replied.

"You've got some food on your face," Rei said as they stepped inside.

"Oh, crap," Shinji said brushing it off. As he did so both their cell phones rang.

"Are you kidding me?" Shinji asked when they arrived at the briefing room. On the screen was what looked like a mass of silly putty floating in space. "First it was the sea, then the air, then a volcano. Now the angels are appearing in orbit? What's next, a Twinkie factory?"

"It's in orbit alright," Misato nodded. "And it's a big one too. About three times the size of the sixth."

"Three times!" Asuka shouted. "That giant fish was the size of an aircraft carrier!"

"If the angel is in orbit above the planet," Rei spoke up. "How are we to combat it? The EVAs possess no weaponry capable of engaging it."

"The UN fired a ballistic N2 missile at it," Misato replied. "Of course it had no effect other than blinding us temporarily. Since then it's just been sitting there, slowly moving into position over Tokyo-3. Consensus is that since it's basically a big living bomb that it'll commit a kamikaze attack and blow Tokyo-3 and the surrounding country side to smithereens."

"Sounds like another fun day at the office," Shinji said off-handedly. "So how do we fight it?"

"It's a crazy gamble, but our only choice is to wait for it to drop then have you three halt its descent and destroy it." Shinji went deadpan.

"WHAT!" Asuka shrieked. "You mean you want us to catch it with our hands?"

"That's right."

"That's pretty fucked up," Shinji replied.

"We'll locate the EVAs in the estimated drop zone," Misato went on. "Then, while maintaining your AT fields you'll catch it before it hits the ground."

"And if we don't? What, we'll be blown to the moon?" Shinji asked. "It doesn't sound like there's a lot of room for error."

"Well, I don't really know what our chances are, not too good I'd imagine."

"If we pull this off it'll be a miracle," Asuka grumbled.

"Miracles don't happen by themselves," Misato said. "They're something you make happen. I'm sorry Asuka. We've got no other choice. This is the best plan."
"You call something like this a plan!"

"You've got a point. Of course, you can refuse to do it."

"What?" Shinji shrugged. "And let half of the combined Tokyo area become an extension of the Pacific? I think I'd rather take the chance of stopping that thing."

"Regulations state that you're all supposed to write out a will," Misato added.

"I'm not," Asuka folded her arms. "I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

"I have no need for that," Rei added.

"Yeah," Shinji replied, "Same here."

"Very well then," Misato nodded. "But when this is over I'll treat all of you to a nice steak dinner."

"A steak dinner!" Asuka cheered.

"Wow," Shinji added.

"Yup. I swear I won't forget." And with that she left.

"Is that supposed to impress us?" Shinji asked when she was out of ear shot. "A steak dinner?"

"I know," Asuka agreed. "The Second Impact generation's got really low standards. And that 'wow' of yours sounded pretty enthusiastic." She elbowed Shinji.

"I only did that to match your acting level." As the vein appeared on Asuka's forehead Shinji kept on going. "Maybe she just wants an excuse to avoid us insulting her cooking." Asuka then pulled out a restaurant guide. "What the…? Do you just carry that around with yourself?"

"The 'Tokyo-3 Five Star Restaurant Directory'," Asuka smiled. "You're coming, too, right, First Child?"

"Rei's a vegetarian," Shinji said. "Find a ramen shop or something. That way Misato will be able to afford it, too."

"That would be a wise course of action," Rei nodded.

"Hmm," Shinji mumbled. "Hey Asuka."

"Yeah?" She noticed the devil grin on his face.

"How'd you like to pull a fast one on Misato?"

"That's a huge area to cover!" Asuka yelled when they were shown the estimated drop area after changing into their plug suits. "Just how are we going to cover that all by ourselves?"

"Looks like we're going to have to be spread out over the whole metro area," Shinji added. "And aside from the start point we can kiss using our umbilical cables goodbye."

"That's right," Misato nodded as an overlay displayed three circles that would overlap. "Each of you will be based at one of these three points."

"What model is this dispersal based upon," Rei asked logically.

'Knowing Misato, this ought to be good,' Shinji said to himself.

"A guess," was Misato's answer.

"A what!" Asuka shrieked.

"Woman's intuition!" Misato snapped back.

"Her woman's intuition? It looks like our miracle is getting further and further away."

"This is probably not cool," Shinji added, "just throwing it out there; but she plays the lottery all the time…and she never wins." To that Asuka cringed.

As they were riding the elevator up Shinji couldn't help but think that Misato's head may have grown since her promotion. She was acting more arrogant than usual. 'Either that or she's just that confident in our ability to pull this off,' Shinji said to himself. 'Then again, she has a personal connection to this fight against the angels. So maybe she has no choice but to place such faith in the EVAs and their pilots. In us.'

"Why so glum, Shinji?" Asuka asked.

"Just thinking," Shinji replied. "I wonder if Misato has gotten a little over-confident since her promotion. Or if she really is that sure about this mission."

"She has to be," Asuka replied. "She's in charge. A commander must never show hesitation or doubt in battle."

"Did you go to college or a military school, Asuka?" Shinji asked.

"Bite me," Asuka snapped back. "You're more militant than I am."

"So why do you always try to take charge of things?" Shinji asked. "Trying to prove something? Is that why you became a pilot?"

"I became a pilot to show the world how good I am," Asuka said in reply.

"A person's got to know their limits, Asuka," Shinji replied. "Pride and confidence is helpful. But, like too much Vitamin-A, it can destroy you. Trust me, I've seen it happen."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't like talking about it," Shinji said. "Suffice to say that it was hell."

"Sounds like its right up your alley, to me," Asuka replied. "Mr. 'Onikari'."

"Bite me."

XXXXX

About fifteen minutes later, all three pilots were at their start points. Asuka was relaxing by listening to her Zune Zwei MP3 player. Rei was being her calm self. Shinji however, was finding it hard to relax. "You okay, Shinji?" Misato asked over the radio. "Your brain waves are pretty jumpy."

"Well," Shinji replied. "You try playing the world's most dangerous version of 'Hot Potato'. Let's see how cool a cucumber you are."

"You've been pretty touchy recently," she replied. "Is there something on your mind?"

"The anniversary of my mother's death is coming up," Shinji replied. "And I've never been to her grave."

"Oh, I see. I'm sure she misses you, Shinji. And that she loves you very much. One thing I learned a long time ago was never under estimate the love a mother has for her child."

"Thank you, Misato," Shinji said softly, smiling. "I know that. But it's still nice to hear once in a while."

"You just keep your head high and make her proud," Misato said. If only she knew the truth.

"Target sighted!" Shigeru cried out. "Maximum magnification!"

"Distance!" Makoto added. "Twenty-five thousand meters!"

"This is it you three!" Misato called out to the pilots. "Get on your marks!"

"I'm ready!" Asuka cheered.

"Let's do this!" Shinji cried out.

"I'm ready as well," Rei said.

Inside his plug, Shinji braced his EVA's feet against a retaining wall to use as starting blocks.

"We can only give you a rough estimation on the landing site," Misato said as a map appeared on their screens. "The Magi will guide you until its altitude is ten-thousand meters."

"That's it?" Shinji asked.

"It's the best we can do. After that, you'll have to use your own judgment."

"It'll have to be enough," Asuka said.

"Come on," he said to himself. "Come on. Come on." He watched the map layout on the screen. When the time came it would narrow down the probable landing area.

"Distance, twenty thousand!" Shigeru called out.

"Begin operation!" Misato ordered. At that the EVAs disconnected their cables.

"Let's roll!" Shinji barked as they took off. As they gave it everything they had they kept one eye on the terrain in front of them and the other on the map.

Shinji quickly came to a hill. He Kong vaulted over it and when he came down on the farmland on the opposite side he kept his momentum up by rolling forward and back onto his feet. As he darted into a suburb he saddle hopped over a large warehouse, using his free-running skills to maximize his travel as much as possible. Rei and Asuka tried to do the same but were less efficient at it.

"It's landing in my area!" Shinji called out as the angel closed in. Its altitude was twelve thousand. "Rally on me! And get the lead out! Balls to the wall!"

"I'm already heading in your direction!" Asuka yelled.

"I am converging as well," Rei added.

"Damnit!" Shinji shouted as it passed ten thousand. "Looks like it's going to land on that hill! Not fast enough! Not going to make it! Come on! Come on!" He reached deep and let his adrenaline kick in. Time seemed to slow down as his speed nearly tripled.

"The Third Child's Synch ratio is spiking!" Maya cried out. "It's over eighty-five!"

"What's that?" Ritsuko asked looking over her shoulder. "He's parallel with Asuka's scores!" On screen the evidence spoke for itself.

"Oh my GOD!" Shigeru screamed as a vapor cone buffeted off the EVA.

"What now?" Misato asked in a panic.

"Shinji just broke the sound barrier…in an EVA!"

Sure enough, Unit-01 dashed through the city at Mach 1.02, kicking up asphalt and shattering windows as he raced past. In a radical blur the unit shot up the hill without losing speed before coming to a grinding halt at the crest, right below the angel. "COME ON!" Shinji yelled as he spread his AT field to its max. The houses flanking the unit were blown away as if by a Class 5 hurricane as the sky changed colors from the massive power being put out from the EVA.

"Incredible!" Was all Ritsuko could say.

Shinji put his arms out as the Angel came down. The converging AT fields resonated with a bright flash as the massive angel's fall stopped. More than that Shinji was actually able to force it back up slightly. "GRRRR!" Shinji growled as he fought to keep a hold of the angel. But even he couldn't keep it up forever. The angel slowly lowered back down. Shinji could feel it pushing against his unit like an anvil. He felt the left leg snap like a twig and he fell to that knee. "GAH!" He then felt the right arm fracture as blood sprouted from the wound.

"Shinji!" Misato cried out. "Hang in there!"

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS!" He shouted as he felt pressure build up on the left arm. "I CAN'T HOLD THIS FUCKER FOREVER!" He tried to force his unit back up with little effect.

"We're coming, Shinji!" Rei called out to him. "We're almost there!" Sure enough, only seconds later both Units reached the hill. "Unit-02! Expand your field!"

"I'm already doing it!" Asuka shouted back. Both units ran up to their comrade's flank, expanded their fields and forced the angel off of the struggling Unit-01.

"Fuck him up!" Shinji shouted. Rei then used her prog knife to cut though the angel's field.

"Now!" The red eyed pilot cried out.

"EAT THIS!" Asuka howled as he slammed her knife up into the angel's center eye. Shinji saw the eye glaze over and then glow.

Recalling what happened with several of the angels, Shinji twisted his unit around as the angel's limp sides began to slump. "GRRRAAAAHHHH!" He let out a war cry as he grabbed Units 00 and 02 at the abdomen and launched out from underneath the angel pushing off with his right leg. They barely cleared the angel before it exploded in a massive fireball. Unit-02 crashed into a rice patty and Unit-00 fell into a small pond. Unit-01 was thrown head first through an office building and imbedded into an asphalt parking lot.

When Shinji came to the light from the fireball was finally starting to die down. He was being pulled from his entry plug by both Rei and Asuka. They sat him down onto some rubble as a ruptured water main doused them with cold water. His left shoulder felt like it was on fire and the arm itself was pretty numb. "Are you alright, Shinji?" Asuka asked.

"Yeah," Shinji said, "peachy." He tried to stand but found it difficult. "Is it just me or is the world spinning?"

"It is just you, Shinji," Rei replied.

"Good," Shinji said plopping back down.

XXXXX

Back at the command center, all three pilots had showered and changed back into their regular clothes. Shinji's left arm was in a sling, that shoulder having been dislocated when his unit crashed. Asuka was feeling pretty smug, having killed the angel.

"Our communications have been restored," Shigeru announced. "We're receiving a call from Commander Ikari in Antarctica."

"Patch him in," Misato ordered. On the screen to the side, a 'Voice Only' box appeared. "I apologize, sir," Misato started. "Because of my irresponsible judgment, Unit-01 has incurred some damage and its pilot was injured. I take full responsibility."

"No," Fuyutsuki came back. "Destroying the angels is an EVA's purpose. It's fortunate that, given the circumstances, the amount of damage was minimal."

"Excellent work, Colonel Katsuragi," Ikari added.

"Thank you, sir!" Was Misato's sharp reply.

"And on that subject, is the pilot of Unit-01 there?"

"Huh?" Shinji was surprised by that. "Uh, yes, sir."

"I just finished reading the report. Good work, Shinji."

"Uh, roger that. Thank you, sir."

"Now, Colonel, I'll leave the rest of this in your hands."

'That was…unexpected of him,' Shinji said to himself.

"Don't worry!" Misato said on the train ride into the city. "I'll keep my promise to take you guys out to dinner. I even pulled some large bills from my account."' 'Of course, now I'm broke.' Shinji could sense her apprehension about that without even trying.

When they reached their destination Asuka led the group, including Rei past a bunch of expensive restaurants, each one ritzier than the last. It was actually Shinji's idea to get Misato all worked up by it before they came to their destination. And it was working like magic.

"Ihr Gesichtsausdruck ist unbezahlbar," Shinji said to the German pilot. "Sie sieht so aus als würde sie sich gleich in die Hose machen." (Her face is priceless. She looks like she's about to shit herself.) Asuka just chuckled. They then turned down a side street and came to their stop.

"Uh, a…a ramen place?" Misato was dumbfounded. In fact, it was just a small ramen stand.

"Well," Asuka just shrugged. "We all know how poor you are, Misato."

"Oh, well then, I guess we…Wait a second!" She snapped when it dawned on her. She whirled about pointing an accusatory finger at the only male member of their group. "Walking past all those restaurants had to be your idea, Shinji!"

"Guilty," Shinji shrugged.

"You son of a bitch! I almost shit myself!" Shinji and Asuka laughed their asses off.