Alright people this story is going to get hectic. You'll see why.
Chapter twelve : Part One End
Shinji remained quiet for what seemed like half and hour. He couldn't find words to say and judging by the look on her face any amount of words would only exacerbate the tension that was driving between them. Shinji looked around as he sat quiet in the co-pilot seat. He wasn't a specialist about planes but by just looking at the controls and the equipment it looked really old. Paint inside was peeling and some of gauges were covered with dust while others had cracked glass caps. The plane was flying rather smoothly for an old junker and he was equally intrigued that despite Asuka looking as if she was going to have a emotional breakdown her hands were still and controlling which gave him some kind of reassurance to the planes survival. He got up and headed towards the back of the plane to see if there was anything useful. Upon first glance he noticed damaged old turrets. No doubt this plane must have been a war plane. He traveled to the back where he noticed several large crates with the word "Rations" labeled on the front. He took a hold of it and pried the top cover of the crate off. His brows raised when he realized there were at least a hundred different assorted military food stacked within it. Looking beyond the crate there was another four more crates stacked at the back. He turned towards the cockpit.
"Well, I just found out we won't go hungry." he called over. Asuka eyed him from the corner of her eye and then back out toward the horizon. She took in a breath.
"How do you know it's food?" she said monotonously. Shinji looked at the packaging and sure enough there was a picture of a plate filled with various vegetables and poultry. Although as he tried to read the labeling he couldn't understand the words. They were written funny. He took one and went over to Asuka.
"Um, I can't read it." he said handing it to her. Without looking back she offered her hand to take it. She took one look at it and gave it back to him.
"It's in English." she said.
"Oh. What does it say?"
"It says Portable Troop Nourishment. PTN. No doubt it's military food." she answered. He eyed it for a moment and shrugged.
"Where are we anyway?" he asked.
"I'm not that sure but we took off from the coast and I have been following the coastline ever since." she said unenthusiastically. He sat back in the co-pilot seat with the small parcel of food sitting on his lap. He pretended to be looking out the window but he really was taking quick glances at her. For some reason he felt like she had been broken. The look she wore on her face seemed to be a mix of anger and sorrow. Her eyes were narrow and the upper part of her cheeks were damp. He was afraid to say anything else.
Suddenly static began to erupt from the radio overhead. With quick speed Asuka snatched the receiver from its holder above her head and pressed the side button to speak.
"Anyone there? This is a PBY Catalina most likely in Northern South American territory. This is a friendly plane, I repeat this is a friendly approaching." she said in quick statements. Shinji listened closely hoping to make out a voice but then it struck him that he didn't know any English in the first place. After several moments of pure static Asuka pressed the receiver's side button again.
"I have no knowledge of the Catalina's coordinates. I repeat, no distinct coordinates of this craft. If anyone can hear me please relay coordinates to this craft's on board computer." she said. She looked around for the computer screen.
"What are you looking for?" asked Shinji.
"The damn information screen." she said under her breath.
"Um, I don't think this plane has such a thing." he said.
"What?"
He pointed at the side of the control panel where the information of the plane was written.
"Aw, hell! This is a 1955 plane?! How the hell is this thing flying then?" she spat.
"I had a feeling this was an old plane." said Shinji.
"Then why the hell didn't you tell me you idiot? I sounded like a dolt because of you!"
"It's not my fault you can't recognize simple numbers."
She made a fist with her hand and held it towards him. She bit her lip and pulled it back.
"Say one more word and I'm going to lose it."
Static once again rushed into the speaker above them but this time Asuka could hear some of the words.
"Pilot... yourself... identify." said a strong voice.
Asuka withdrew the receiver.
"This is Asuka Langley Soryu, over."
"You are entering protectorate air space of the United States of America. State... your business, over." said a man over the radio.
"We are refugees. We ask permission to land in your air space. Over" she said.
"Permission granted. Lower your speed and descend into Guantanamo Bay. Swing your craft directly in front of the base. Do not by any means pass over any other territory of Cuba. You may be shot down otherwise, over."
"Roger that, over." said Asuka, she looked over at Shinji, "That was easier than I thought."
Being careful and remembering her training from years back she lowered the plane into the bay near the dock of the American base. She was quite proud that she managed to fly from Brazil to Central America but that accomplishment soon faded when she realized her real goal was to get to Japan. From the cockpit she could see several armed men walking towards the dock.
"Refugees, exit the craft." said a man from the outside. They did so but had to fall into the ocean before climbing the ladder leading to the dock something Asuka thought they had done on purpose. Both teens stood at the end of the dock but once they caught sight of several men pointing assault rifles at them. They raised their hands in surrender. One of the men lowered his weapon and withdrew a hand held radio from his back pocket.
"Sir, we have two children. There seems to be no adult accompanying them." he said. The radio shot back saying, "Are you sure? Bring the children into my office and inspect the plane. It's hard to believe two children managed to fly a nearly sixty year old plane."
"Roger that."
The soldier walked over to them.
"Do either of you speak english?" he asked. Shinji looked over to Asuka.
"I can. This twit here doesn't." she said.
"I have to frisk the both of you. Tell him I mean him no harm." he said gesturing to Shinji. She told him and nodded. The soldier began to pat Shinji down and then Asuka who couldn't help but take a small step back as she wasn't used to the procedure, "You look clean. Follow me."
Asuka and Shinji followed the solider into a small housing facility. Asuka had forgotten she hadn't been wearing shoes and only realized it when her bare feet touched the cold floor of the barracks. The soldier continued to lead them into several rooms until they reached an office. The two teens looked and saw many pictures of soldiers smiling within countless picture frames and on the walls hung many flags consisting of the colors of red, white and blue. A tall man with a very broad chest sat behind a desk before them. He wore a white hat with an anchor labeled on the front with the letters "USN" stitched onto it.
"Have a seat." he said, his voice deep and demanding. She sat and had to pull Shinji down to the seat next to her, "I am Admiral Davis Richards. You are now in U.S. Territory. I would like to begin as to why you have asked permission to land here despite you just being a child."
"We had a little bit of... a situation from where we came from. Now me and... my brother here need to head back to Japan." said Asuka. Shinji sat quiet.
"I see. If you two are siblings then why do you have a German accent?" he questioned.
Damn, she thought.
"Same mother different father, anyway, I need to get back to Japan. Quickly." she said.
"Well, that will prove to be difficult. We have lost contact with the officials of Japan and in doing so our transports there have been blocked. In simple terms it would be too dangerous to send anyone there without other nations thinking we are provoking Japan into a war. Our own national defense is somewhat undermanned. You are lucky we stopped you here. If you were to find a place to land on the mainland then you would have been shot down no questions asked. The UN has sanctioned all remaining powers to set up their own national defense so you will understand when I say it would prove rather difficult to send anyone anywhere." he said.
"What if I said we are part of Nerv?" she asked.
"Nerv huh? I heard of that before. Unfortunately I would need identification and it would seem as if both of you have none to show." he said.
"I can vouch for them." said a familiar voice. Asuka turned towards the door and there stood Misato wearing her trademark red jacket and looking as if absolutely nothing happened.
"And you might be?" asked the Admiral.
"Misato Katsuragi. I am their guardian. I also Major of organization Nerv of Japan." she said whipping out an ID. The Admiral made a face and nodded.
"I'll have a plane ready for you by the morning. I need some time to process your info but I can see you are legit. I would like to know however how you managed to get here without none of my men knowing?" he asked her.
She smiled.
"My apologies, Admiral but that is classified intel. You understand." she said.
The Admiral chuckled under his breath and said, "Just like your mother."
"As always." she retorted. Misato looked down at the teens, "Glad you're still alive."
The three of them walked down several halls before reaching a secluded part of the barracks. Misato plopped herself onto one of the beds and sighed.
"I bet you to already know somethings up." she said.
"Like hell we know." spat Asuka as she took a seat opposite Misato, "Who were those soldiers? The ones that attacked us in Brazil?"
"I know who they were." said Shinji,
"You mind sharing?" said Asuka.
"They were sent by Seele. To get us out of the picture."
"That's not entirely true." said Misato.
"What do you mean?"
Misato planted her back against the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. This was tough.
"I found out it was not only Seele that sent them. It was Nerv that sent most of them."
"What?!" yelled Asuka, "Why would Nerv send troops to kill us? It doesn't make sense!"
"It makes perfect sense." said Misato, "I'm just an idiot for not realizing it when I had the chance."
Asuka and Shinji looked at one another.
"It's Commander Ikari." said Misato as she looked at Shinji, "It's your father that's doing this. He sent Nerv troops to kill you Shinji and to catch you Asuka."
"What? Why catch me?"
"He needs your Eva and you. He's doing it as a favor for the organization Rose."
Shinji felt his heart skip a beat.
"That's the same company that wanted me to join them. Are you saying Nerv is working with them?"
"Yes, in a way they are offering compromises. Rose wants you and your Eva and for that Rose will initiate Third Impact and make Commander Ikari a God in the process. Effectively Rose is a big help to Nerv because it's being led by an Angel and that Angel can control other Angels thusly stopping their advances to halt our progression to Third Impact. It would seem as if the Angels now WANT us to initiate Third Impact. We can't let that happen." she said.
"But wasn't it Seele that sent their men to deal with us?"
"In actuality, they sent men to stop Nerv forces from getting you. That plane was sent by them. Seele is trying to protect you guys. At the last moment they ordered their forces from assassination to rescue. Once they found out that Rose and Nerv are now rouge companies they will do anything as of now to prevent them from succeeding even if it means changing plans at the last second."
"So you're saying Seele tried to kill us first but since both Nerv and Rose joined now they want us to live? So they were the bad guys now they're the good guys?" asked Asuka.
"In basic terms that defines it." said Misato.
"But wait, are you still with Nerv?"
"The Commander believes I'm also in on it and he thinks I'm searching for you. But I'm not at all working under him anymore. All I know is that we need to stop him and Rose. Nerv is no longer a haven. Nerv is now our enemy. We, the three of us, are on our own." said Misato.
"So, what are we supposed to do? We don't even have our Eva's. There's nothing for us now." said Shinji. Misato smiled.
"Well, I have a plan but I have no idea it will work." she said.
"What is it?"
"We go to the American Nerv. We take it over and use that as our base of operations. Once we have all we need we launch a massive campaign against Nerv Japan and reclaim your Eva's. Once you get your Eva's we destroy Nerv HQ and then set our sights against Rose. I have no idea where Rose HQ is but once we find it we destroy it." she said.
Both teens eyed her skeptically.
"How in the world do you you suggest we just take over Nerv America? We don't have any weapons or anything." said Asuka.
"Actually, I think we may have someone who would be able to help us."
"And who would that be?"
"The United Nations. Germany has a very good relation with America. If we can convince Germany to convince America that what's going to happen will start a war they will have no choice but to seek action against Nerv Japan. There we can orchestrate a campaign to retrieve the Eva's and use them to demolish Nerv and then Rose."
"What about Rei?"
"She's going to fight with Nerv. If anything she's a primary objective. If we want to destroy Nerv we are going to have to get through her. What we have to focus on right now is getting into the UN and talking with Germany or better yet if we can talk to the president of America first."
"Isn't Nerv America area 51?" asked Shinji.
"Yes."
"Didn't it explode from a mishandled S2 engine?"
"Cover up, Seele wanted Nerv HQ to think that one of the branches were destroyed in order for Seele to take complete control over it and oversee the operations of Nerv HQ for themselves. Enough about that, tomorrow we would be able to board a plane to mainland America. I am going to set up an appointment to talk with the secretary of defense so the moment we get off that plane I want you two to seek out a friend of mine. If I'm correct I think he can help you guys." she said as she stood from the bed, "I'm going to go and give my contacts a call so you two just wait here."
The two teens nodded as Misato left the room. She traveled several armed hallways and finally to the door that led to the docks. She walked over to the seaplane which was being guarded by several American soldiers. The soldiers took a look at her and saluted her.
"At ease." she said. The soldiers walked away. She entered the plane and walked to the back of it. She was glad Shinji didn't open the very last crate labeled "Rations" because it would be really hard to explain why she was hiding in it. She took the top off the crate and dug through it until she found her cellular. She opened it, dialed a number and placed it to her ear.
"I see they didn't find you." said Gendo.
"No and thank God. I told them what you wanted me to tell them. They bought it." she said.
"Good. Now head to New York. The American secretary of defense will be at Waldorf Astoria hotel. Meet him there and he will give you the rest of the instructions. Where are you sending the children?" he asked.
"To an ex Nerv scientist."
"Do you think that is wise?"
"I do, don't worry, Nikki doesn't know anything about Rose."
"Alright, I trust you. Make sure they remain unaware of your intentions and make sure Seele doesn't get anywhere near them." said Gendo.
"Of course but um... you won't hurt either of them right? You promised me you wouldn't hurt them. I said I would only help you if you didn't hurt them."
"Relax Major. I know you love those kids as if they were your own and I am a man of my word. Just do what I say and they won't get hurt. You're lucky that assassination squad from us where only there to scare them."
"Alright. I get it."
"Goodbye Major."
She hung up the phone.
"What an ass." she spat.
She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to be used as a puppet. But she couldn't allow them to be killed for such a meaningless quarrel. She knew she was doing the right thing but whether or not the children would benefit from that she couldn't tell. She hated lying to them but there was no either way. Gendo's plan was only supposed to side track them. His plan made sure Asuka and Shinji felt they were planning to lead a strike against their former organization when in reality they were being led by a wild goose chase. Misato could remember the assassin troops leading her over to the seaplane moments before the plane took off. She hid in the crate and radioed the Guantanamo Bay base to accept the plane into its harbor. She did this. She brought them here. Her only wish at this point was that she wasn't leading them to their deaths.
And thus the plot thickens. What did you think about that twist huh? Now click that little button on the lower left hand corner that says "Review" please :)