Chapter 5: Attack pt 3

Disclaimer: I do not own NGE, Gainax does. I do however own all the original characters. If these characters resemble characters from other stories or people in real life, know that it was purely accidental

On with the show...

Nerv HQ

"Rei get Shinji out of there now!" Misato called out frantically

"No," Hunter said, "right now we can't save him, so we are to proceed with our original plan"

Angrily, Misato turned to the newcomers screen, "You shut up! What plan could you possibly have that is a higher priority than saving a pilot?"

While their conversation was going on, Asuka was recovering from her disorientation after being tossed and dragged across the place. Looking up, she saw that much of the city was either sinking or sunk, but of Shinji or Unit-01 there was no sign.

"What happened? Where's Shinji?" she asked

"Within the Sea of Dirac, no thanks to your impetuous actions" the mysterious Shuri-Shara said in his doubled voice.

Looking up, Asuka asked in a bewildered voice, "What?"

Looking down at the red Eva, Hunter answered in a cold tone, "You let your arrogance and pride cloud your judgment and made a fatal error, for which Shinji is now paying for"

Feeling like she'd been slapped across the face, she looked out and saw Shinji's umbilical cable leading into the dark pit. Within, Asuka began to feel a cold pit form in her gut.

Looking on in irritation, Hunter called out to the lopsided Eva, "Kaitos prep the engines for a speedy transplant. I want both implanted in these Evas in three hours."

Looking up in surprise, the haggard-faced Kaitos replied, "Sir, I can't do that. It requires at least four hours for each transplant."

Looking back with a cold look, the lieutenant demanded, "You better get started, and I want you done in three hours"

Coughing nervously, Kaitos said, "Well of course, sir"

In the command center, Ritsuko demanded, "What are you planning to do with the Evas?"

"We're going to implant an internal energy source so that the Evas won't require an outside source" Kaitos answered while having his Eva open the metal box it was carrying.

A/N: This next part and future chapters will be involving elements from Full Metal Alchemist, but it is not a crossover. Also, I do not own FMA

After the lopsided Eva opened its box, it clapped its hands together and then slammed its regular left arm into the ground. To the amazement of everyone, the ground began to change shape amidst flying sparks and clouds of dust. Within moments, there were two Eva sized tables.

With mouth gaping, Makoto took of his glasses and checked to see if they were working. Misato looked like a wide-mouth bass, and Shigeru's eyes were bulging.

Recovering quickly, Ritsuko demanded, "What are you doing now?"

Kaitos replied while coughing slightly, "I am going to be cutting open the Evas so I can implant the engines in them"

Lifting the case to show the contents to the crew, he revealed two red and slightly pulsating cores. Ritsuko gasped as she said, "S2 engines! How…?"

Shaking his head, Kaitos explained, "No, no; you're mistaken. These are not S2 engines; they are N-core engines. You see, these are far superior to…"

Hunter shouted at him, interrupting his lecture, "Get on with the surgery!"

Harrumphing at this interruption, he called out to the two other pilots, "Okay, I need both of you to disengage your umbilical cables and lie on your backs on the tables."

Looking to Misato, Rei asked, "What should we do, Major?"

Misato looked toward the leader of the group and asked, "What is your plan?"

Looking back, Hunter replied, "We had a plan to defeat the angel, and now it must be rushed. Please do not interrupt until the operation is complete, then I'll explain our plan."

Shaking her head, Misato replied to Rei, "Do what they say for now, it's not like we have any other choice in the matter. These guys have a better understanding of the situation then we do"

Nodding, Rei complied with the request and disengaged her cable. As the timer began running down, she laid down on one of the tables. Asuka, meanwhile, was staring out over the sea of darkness. There were many thoughts running through her mind.

Why? Why did Shinji do that? He knew this would happen, so why?

Her thoughts returned to earlier, when Shinji told her that he was worried for her health. Many emotions were bouncing around in her, making her very confused. Unbeknownst to the confused red head, Shuri-Shara had appeared by her side.

"Hey, um, I wanted to apologize forsnapping at you earlier"

Looking up in surprise, Asuka turned to the younger pilot. His face was downtrodden and very solemn. She asked, "What's going to happen now?"

"Right now, we're going to implant a renewable energy source in your Evas. This will eliminate the use of cables in combat."

Looking back at where the tables were, Shuri-Shara said, "Don't worry, we'll save your Shinji"

Flushing, Asuka immediately shouted back, "Why should I care for that baka? All he's good for is cooking and cleaning. That spineless stooge, who would…"

She stopped as she realized the young pilot was laughing. This made her angrier, as she yelled, "What the hell are you laughing at?"

Wiping tears from his eyes, Shuri-Shara gasped, "Its nothing, it looks like it's true about the reports. You hide your emotions behind your pride and push everyone away so that you won't be hurt."

Looking at him in shock, Asuka asked, "Why do you…"

Winking, he interrupted her, "Don't worry, I won't tell, and neither will my friends."

Looking very relieved, Asuka went over to the table. She saw the right arm of the operating Evangelion had transformed into a large circular saw and was cutting into the chest of the inert Unit-00. After cutting the chest open, the lopsided unit then opened up the chest and picked up one of the pulsating cores from the box and gently placed it into the chest of the blue Eva. Transforming its arm again, it changed into a series of blades and began cutting into the chest. Every once in a while, sparks like before would fly out of the chest while he worked.

Tapping his Eva's foot in impatience, Hunter demanded, "How much longer?"

Without looking up, Kaitos replied, "At this rate, it'll be an imperfect implant with many negative effects."

"We'll sort it out later. How much longer?"

"Half an hour, tops"

The Lieutenant then turned to Asuka, "You disconnect your cable and get ready for surgery."

Looking once more at the black sea, Asuka disengaged her cable. The look on her face, however, said that she didn't do this because she was ordered to, but of her own convenience. Lying back, she looked over at the operation of Unit-00. The arms of the working doctor were red with blood from the Eva. Just as the last of her power ran out, Asuka saw Kaitos' Eva clap his hands and close the gaping hole in the blue Eva's chest. Sitting in the deactivated Eva, she began to attempt to sort the emotions that were running through her.

During her Eva's surgery, Rei had conflictions in her mind. She saw how Asuka had made a rash move, for which cost them dearly. When Shinji had begun sinking, she was more than prepared to jump in to save him. She found herself growing angry at Asuka. If she had not attacked without authorization, Shinji would be here with them. Holding out her hand, Rei realized that it was shaking. Clenching it, she calmed herself and found her Eva reactivating. Getting up, she looked through the eye of Unit-00 and saw Asuka's red Eva being operated on. She then looked over and saw the cable that was attached to Shinji's unit being pulled out. Only part of the cable was revealed, the rest was cut off.

She felt intense sadness, and yet she felt that Shinji would be alright. Rei's thoughts were then interrupted by Ritsuko's voice.

"Rei, how's your Unit checking out?"

Testing herself, she raised one arm of her unit. Replying to the doctor, "All systems appear to be normal"

Back at HQ, the crew was going over all the new data that was coming in. Scrunching her face, Maya said, "Ritsuko-sempai, I'm getting some weird information from the diagnostics of Unit-00."

Going over to her terminal, Ritsuko took a look at the information displayed. Frowning, she contacted the newcomers' leader, "Excuse me, Lieutenant Colonel Hunter?"

Looking over, the military soldier replied, "What do you want?"

"Are these new engines supposed to affect the AT Fields?"

Surprise on his face, Hunter turned to the other 'doctor', "Kaitos, what's going on? I thought that the AT Fields would continue to work"

Looking back with a face full of vehemence, the tired looking pilot replied, "YOU wanted fast, I gave you fast. What you DIDN'T get was perfect. Being rushed to do an operation will have adverse affects on the Evas."

Slapping a hand to his face, the double voiced, double named Shuri-Shara said, "Holy crap. Now all your planning just got flushed down the drain"

Turning to the new pilots, Misato asked, "Since you don't seem to be in total control of the situation, why don't you explain the plan you guys were planning."

Sighing in exasperation, Hunter turned and walked to where a temporary base was being set by the black pit. Having his green Eva kneel down, he said, "This is best said face to face. I'll meet you here and then we can have our discussion."

Then the entry plug ejected and opened up. Out stepped a young man about 19 years old about five foot eight inches in height. He then walked over to where the technicians were setting up the temporary equipment. Everyone there had stopped work momentarily when he came out, but immediately returned to their work so as to not attract notice. Hunter stood at parade rest, apparently waiting for Misato to arrive.

Misato turned to Ritsuko and asked, "Is there anything I should know before I meet our 'guests'?"

"I was about to tell you this, Shinji's cable was disconnected. If he had gone into life support mode, he has approximately less than 16 hours of power."

Sighing, Misato turned and told the rest of the crew to move to the temporary site by the sitting Eva. In less than an hour everyone was situated at the new site, but before anyone went anywhere they watched as Misato walked up behind the person who asked to meet her.

Without turning, Hunter greeted Misato, "Major Katsuragi," he turned, "a pleasure to meet you"

"Skip the formalities, I believe we have something to discuss?"

With a wry smile, the young man pointed to a private spot by the cliff edge where the camp was situated. Following him, Misato noticed that although the person appeared relaxed, his bearing and stride said that he was waiting for an attack at any moment. She patted her side, reassuring herself that she would be able to control the situation to her favor.

"I am unarmed Major, there is no need for you to defend yourself."

Startled, Misato pulled out her hidden weapon and aimed at the back of his head. She demanded, "I want to know who you and your friends are and what the hell you are doing"

Turning, Hunter raised his hands in a sign of peace and said in reply to the already emotional woman, "I am Lieutenant Colonel Hunter, I am the current commander of these Evas," pointing to his and the other two Evas, he continued, "we are here to help the pilots defeat the Angels"

Angrily, Misato said, "That still doesn't explain who you people are. Who sent you?"

Shrugging, the blonde man replied, "I wouldn't be able to answer that question"

"Don't screw around with us!" Misato screamed at him, "What were you guys planning?"

Hunter turned and pointed to the floating Angel, "That entity there can only be defeated from the inside. Since it would cut off the cable of any Eva that went in, we were to implant internal energy sources in all the Evas and direct them in its destruction"

Leveling the gun, Misato asked in an equally level tone, "Speaking of Evas, your man appeared to have messed up ours, so now they can't deploy their AT fields."

"A mistake, I made a rash decision which I berated your pilot about. That is something I should apologize to Pilot Sohryu about when I get the chance

"IF you get the chance. There is nothing to stop me from shooting you, so you better prepare some better answers for me. What is your plan for destroying that thing and rescuing Shinji and unit 01?"

Looking back over to the Angel, Hunter said, "It looks like Cairn is doing something about that"

Looking past his shoulder, Misato saw another Eva appear from behind some buildings and dive into the shadow. Before it dove, she was able to see that everyone inch of it was a pitch black.

Returning her attention to her prisoner, she demanded, "Who is he and what is he doing?"

Calmly, Hunter turned to face Misato and said as calmly, "Cairn is our resident shadow expert. He has gone in to rescue Pilot Ikari."

With a face that said she still doubted him, Misato asked, "Should we trust you?"

All that he said was "Do you have any other choice?"

Grudgingly she holstered her gun and pointed back to camp, "Get your team here, we need you to explain some more things to us and we don't have a lot of time"

Okay people, I'm ending the chapter here. I wish you all to know that this is something that I have been working on for some while, and if it seems a little weird, that is because I'm having trouble putting some things into words. Please R&R and I'll get back as soon as possible.