Hikaru remembered the first time she'd met Umi and Fuu…
In the first year, as a new transfer student, having been raised in a Japanese traditional way and was unused to the modernization in Tokyo, she was awkward when dealing her new classmates. Her naiveté and her kindness were apparently her weakness in this school life, as the other girls would treat her in annoyance and in scorn.
She was standing in the shoe lockers, waiting for the rain to stop, because she gave away her own umbrella to a classmate who also didn't like her, and will never bother to return it to her in the future. Ignoring the other girls' laughter and overheard conversations branding her as a stupid dork.
But no matter how she tried to ignore it, those words still hurt, penetrating her already aching heart.
She was so immersed in her unhappy thoughts that she never noticed that someone approached her, and she looked up; she saw Fuu and Umi's uncertain smiles, as Fuu extended her hand holding an umbrella. And from that simple kind gesture, their friendship bloomed.
Hikaru spent the next years in happiness with her two friends, and they had become inseparable. So when the time came for their graduation, a great fear manifested in her heart, as the realization began to settle in, that she couldn't imagine a life without them.
So when that fateful attack on the park that day, her last thought as she sat there thinking that they were all going to die was her desire to protect her friends. A decision she never regretted since.
"Will you… accept me?" the voice asked her gently.
Hikaru looked up, smiling. "Of course." She whispered. She heard a lone wolf cry and the fire around her dissipated. Suddenly, she became dimly aware that another cool cloth was being placed in her forehead, as she opened her eyes to look at Umi's tired face.
"Hey." Umi whispered.
Hikaru looked around and saw Fuu sleeping in a chair, as she gave Umi a shaky smile. "I think I'm alright." As Umi placed a hand on her neck to check her temperature, and was delighted to feel that her skin wasn't as hot as it was a few hours ago. She quickly woke up Fuu and Dr. Franzenberg, whom Hikaru didn't see from her vantage point, who swiftly assessed her condition.
"She should be alright now." Franzenberg said, "But she needs more rest. I suggest you two do the same…" here Hikaru closed her eyes and drifted off to a very comfortable sleep.
Ayato found himself accustomed to the life of the Freeden, which was quite surprising, even for him, considering the circumstances that led him here. The rest of the people don't think him as an outsider though, as he quickly made friends with Rolan, Kouji and Garrod who immediately invited him for breakfast. He was already on the way for that when he noticed that Haruka was calling his name.
Ayato looked behind to see Haruka, in jogging pants, top and sneakers headed to his direction, her forehead wet with perspiration and her cheeks flushing from the exercise.
"Is that how you keep fit?"
Haruka gave him an impish smile. "Well, a ship this small is stifling. I invited Misato, but she prefers sleeping." Actually both she and her friend took the opportunity at the lack of duty to drink more than usual… with Misato who drank beer for water… last night. Thus she was actually suffering from a huge hangover. But Haruka had seen her friend doing the necessary work despite that handicap, though she had to put up with her friend's sour mood later. "So… how are you?"
Ayato mulled it over. "Funny. I should be upset that I've been kidnapped and that I'm in an outside world. But I didn't… I don't mind being with you at all. Isn't that strange?" If Ayato had been observant, he would have sworn Haruka's smiled dropped a couple of inches before she cheerfully agreed with him, as the two walked slowly to the cafeteria. "What now?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, what am I supposed to do?"
Haruka blinked. She never really expected him to bring that giant robot along in the first place. So she was just as uncertain as he was. "I think you should figure that out for yourself."
"That's not very original." Ayato scolded in a mock injured tone, as Haruka nodded in embarrassment. He find it strange that Haruka seemed to act a little immature for her age. But he had the sense to keep his trap shut, as he find himself not disliking her company.
As for Haruka, she was looking at Ayato from the corner of her eye, a certain emptiness was starting to realize itself in her being, and wondered if she will ever be alright.
"I'm sorry for bothering you." Jamil apologized as the Doctor finished bandaging Rei's arm. Though Misato insisted that NERV would handle the medical treatments for her, Franzenberg simply pointed out that they had received word from Jamil that they were now en route to pick up EVA-02, so it's up for him to at least make sure her arm was mending.
"You're not." Franzenberg assured him. "You did order me to personally oversee this report with you."
Jamil scanned the paper, "So Ryoma's mental evaluation is normal?"
"Technically normal by other standards." The doctor corrected, "I guess this was another reason he was granted a 'release' in the first place. But I worry if you'd let him go out in battle." When Jamil sent him a questioning look the doctor continued, "He seemed too reckless… and this is after interviewing Tetsuya to give me insights on the man on the moments he worked with him in the past… as if it doesn't matter if he live or dies in there. As long as he kills off Invaders with him."
"And did you found anything about Michiru Saotome from him?"
"He always clammed up on the subject." Franzenberg hesitated. "I have a feeling, though, that this has actually something to do more with her father."
"Lady Une just gave me her report that later information of Saotome disappeared after his daughter died. If he was planning anything during that time, those records were lost."
"He must have destroyed it."
"Indeed." Jamil stopped. "And Ryouma must have found out something from him regardless."
"Maybe the Saotome lab might shed light on it…"
"Unfortunately that facility is under military surveillance since news on Professor Saotome's resurrection." Jamil shook his head, "I doubt Miwa would give away information just for the sake of curiosity."
"Miwa." Franzenberg winced, agreeing on Jamil's private opinion at the man, "Look, Jamil, I won't question your decision to have him as a regular pilot. But you would have to be careful."
Jamil nodded, taking his friend's advice to heart. "I will."
He noticed other coffee mugs on the doctor's table, but he doubted Techs could consume such an amount. The doctor must have realized that when he said, "You weren't the only one who looks out for him. Tetsuya, Kouji and Musashi were here a few hours ago."
"What do they say when you told them Ryouma is permitted to launch in battle?"
Techs chuckled, "They asked that they should be notified first, so they could watch his back for him."
Jamil smiled at that. He'd be disappointed if they didn't.
Misato head was still throbbing, but at least she was sober enough to read the report that Sara gave her from NERV HQ that later afternoon.
"EVA-02 is our first mass produced model based from the test type EVA-01." Misato explained to Shingo. The Freeden's helsman was particularly keen on the subject. "However, it was constructed and built on Germany. We just got permission from the German government to relocate the mecha and its pilot in active duty here along with EVA-00 and 01."
"Rei's the girl for EVA-00, and there's an EVA-02. Who's for EVA-01?" Toniya asked.
Sara was still trying to recover the fact that both Misato and Toniya voices sounded the same, so much that she had to look at them to determine who was talking. The two women heartily agreed, and were delighted that they both disclosed that they certainly have a sense of humor, and that they have friends who takes things much too seriously, much to Sara's consternation (and in which Ritsuko from HQ sneezed).
"Another person." Misato said evasively. Toniya and Sara immediately got the idea that the information was classified. Though Commander Ikari send word that the Third Child was found and en-route to Tokyo-3, Misato was just as puzzled as they were.
Umi had to admit that Masaki, his cats and Mokona weren't so bad. Hikaru took a huge delight when the Cybuster pilot visited the clinic and entertained her with his strange animals. Mokona certainly didn't mind to be hugged by the redhead, cooing contentedly in her arms. Masaki, however, was hugely impressed when Hikaru told him of her dreams.
"Lexus." Masaki explained, "Is the most powerful of the three. No wonder you got sick. I can't believe he's the type to pick you."
"Oh, but Hikaru's pretty strong." Fuu corrected him. "She certainly doesn't look it, but she's very brave." Hikaru felt embarrassed by her friend's words, her face almost as red as her hair.
"So what happens now to her?" Umi asked him.
Masaki made a grave expression, "The question should be, what about all of you."
Umi looked at him, "What do you mean?"
Masaki looked back at her evenly "Since you and Fuu are with her… it means you too are Chosen." He thought that he had seen the totality of Umi's fury when Hikaru was sick. This time, though, she was almost scary. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY!!!" Umi burst out, and Hikaru looked at the jewel in her hand.
"HELP!!!" Masaki cried out as Umi continued shaking him from the collar, as Fuu clasped her hands good-naturedly, "They're such a cute pair." She commented.
"How can that be a cute pair?" Shiro asked, as Kuro shook her head.
Umi released Masaki long enough for the man to regain his air in his lungs back as she glared at Fuu. "Who's a cute pair?!?!" forgetting her murderous urge immediately.
Fuu smiled serenely at the rhetoric as Hikaru laughed. Masaki was now wondering if having Umi as a Mashin knight was a good idea after all.
"Hey! Aren't those…" Erin asked as the Freeden was getting close to their destination.
"Aircraft carriers," Rolan looked in awe. "We don't have any of those in the Moon colony."
"You don't have an ocean to put it in." she commented.
Rolan looked more awkward, which was cute, Erin supposed, "That too."
Ayato shook his head by this marvel, especially at the fighter planes docked on the ships "I thought those things were destroyed by the Invaders."
"Well, they survived nonetheless," Musashi replied. "though these things were considered outdated by the time Mobile Suits were developed."
Rolan looked upset, "Surely not everything old is useless."
Misato stood up, after drinking a mug full of coffee for her slight hangover. Approaching the others she commented "True. The 'Over the Rainbow' fleet held a long tradition as the finest battle cruisers created pre One Year War. But they're now delegated to guarding the EVA transportation."
Haruka winced in spite of herself, "That's a huge blow on the pride department. They won't agree to use your jurisdiction on board."
"I don't intend to. Until something forced our hand otherwise." She became cheerful… or the coffee was making her hyper, Haruka corrected, as she continued. "I'm on my way out, wanna come with me to see the new EVA?"
Ayato, Kouji, Musashi and Rolan wanted to come along. Erin replied that she was not interested and continued her meal, while Garrod excused himself… to go to Tifa's, Kouji bet. Rei was also asked to come along, so she would get to know the Second Child better. Boss also insisted to come along. Haruka also had no good reason to come along, despite Misato's insistence.
"You really don't expect me to handle these boys on my own?" she pouted.
"Well, I'm sure you'd have a lot of fun," Haruka said lightly. "I've got some paperwork to do. See you later."
"Shit…" But Misato's face turned serious, looking a bit pained, even, as she watched Haruka's retreating back. "You always make so many excuses lately." She whispered under her breath.
A man around his late twenties was lounging lazily on his quarters, using his pair of binoculars to see the incoming sheep. "The Freeden, huh?"
A mischievous smile lit up his ragged features, wondering if he'll get to see her again after all these years. Knowing her, she's most likely on that ship as well.
"Well," he grunted as he pulled out from underneath his bed a huge metal briefcase. "Time to work."
In the ocean, something stirred, a malevolent thought was forming into solid mass, and its only driving force was the destruction of the ships above of the presence triggering its own evolution…
The black mass began opening its malignant red orbs, allowing the creature sight… opening its wide jaws full of razor sharp teeth. And around it, others follow its lead, forming into other creatures independent from the first one.
The Invaders were heading towards their goal, slowly forming themselves as they went.
Musashi's cap flew into the air in which he, Boss and Rolan were now chasing. Misato finally realized that wearing a skirt in the open windy sea was a bad idea, she had one hand on said skirt and one hand to keep her hair flying all over her face. Rei was nil about the whole thing, of course, but then Haruka had seen to it that she'd be wearing pants. Kouji was obviously enjoying the breeze, and Ayato, somehow, felt a strange bond with this ancient ship. He had seen one of its kind anchored proudly in the ports near Tokyo… near Tokyo Jupiter, he corrected, where he and Asahina and Mamoru usually wandered in when all of them had time to do so.
He wondered if his friends were alright, and if they found out whatever has happened to him.
The trio's merry chase on the errant hat ended when it flew on someone's face, and without looking, as they were only looking at said hat, they had literally tackled the person to the ground.
Musashi suddenly felt something soft against his chest, and looked at horror at the girl they landed on, her pretty face was showing revulsion and anger. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?" she screamed.
Kouji and Ayato looked on in stunned disbelief as the said girl punched the three men in the stratosphere. Ayato inched closer to Misato slowly, "Who the hell is that scary girl?"
"This 'scary girl' is Sohryu Asuka Langley. Say that to my face next time, will you?" The redhead said, apparently overhearing him, standing in front of Misato, her pose haughty as she placed both hands on her waist, ignoring the wind blowing up her skirt as if daring the two remaining to peek. Kouji already decided that she certainly wasn't worth looking at, as he was helping Boss to stand.
Misato merely smiled, "The Second Child and designated pilot of EVA-02."
Asuka looked at Rei, who was staring impassively, "And you're First pilot of the Prototype, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Hey, let's be friends."
"Why?"
"Because it'd be convenient."
Rei only stared, slightly bewildered by that logic, "If I'm ordered to. I will." She replied.
Misato was about to say something, seeing that their meeting was not going as she planned, as Asuka looked offended by Rei when another man's voice broke in teasingly. "Now, 'kids', this isn't the place to start a brawl." Asuka looked at the person, quickly dropping her anger as she happily called out his name.
Misato felt the hairs in the back of her neck standing, as she looked a little further from her right, her worst fear was confirmed. Asuka clung on Kaji's right arm, the older man giving Misato a wry smile. "Hello."
The folder Misato was holding fell on the floor, the rest of the papers flying in the air.
Ayato looked at Misato's horrified expression. "She's in shock."
Kouji picked up the rest of the paperwork that didn't fly off. This might take awhile… he turned to Ayato to tell him to help out, when he saw his friend was looking towards the sea, his eyes slightly glazed.
"Hey!" Kouji called out in concern. "What's up."
"Something's not right…"
"This is strange…" Toniya said.
"What?"
"Sensors seems to be picking up something underwater… whatever this is, it's huge!"
"A Mycanae mecha?"
"Negative. It seems to be completely biological in structure."
Sara looked up in alarm, knowing what that may be. "It can't be!" her console was flashing, and she realized that it was from Kid. "What is it?"
Kid was certainly very flustered. "The robot with wings on the head… it just moved out."
Sara turned back at Toniya, "Please tell the Captain he's needed on the bridge, and alert all our pilots to get ready in their mechas."
Umi and Fuu were at the cafeteria, ordering their lunch for Hikaru, as the Doctor said that their friend was strong enough to eat regular meals when a grim faced Erin quickly walk towards their direction to tell them that they should stay in their respective quarters as the ship was now on battle alert.
"Then we should be at Hikaru's!" Umi protested.
Erin frowned. "Absolutely not!" she said firmly. "The doctor will look after her for you, so you should stay put."
Fuu placed a restraining hand again at Umi, forcing the taller girl to nod reluctantly… but she knew her friend hated just sitting around, doing nothing when everyone else was fighting.
"Erin!" Masaki called out, his familiars following him closely behind… they were more than guides so they could lead the direction-inept pilot from getting lost on the way to the hangar. "Stay put, got that?!?" Erin repeated as she left.
"She doesn't have to shout." Fuu frowned at that. But she was just as worried as both Erin and Umi… as she and her friends spend more time in this "outside world", she slowly realized that she has never felt so vulnerable.
Misato shook out from her stupor when she received word from Haruka that an Invader may come to their direction. She had seen to it that Asuka, Kouji, Rolan and Musashi to suit up for battle. As for Ayato… well she was just as surprised as everyone else when the strange robot, RahXephon, landed to where it's pilot was.
Ayato turned at Misato. "Please let me fight." He said grimly. For some reason, he felt that they were not facing an ordinary opponent.
She didn't need to be told twice, as she nodded.
"I'll let you fight the Invader, provided you won't allow yourself to get killed." Tetsuya said to Ryouma grimly as the two of them were heading for the hangar. Jamil had seen to it that the Great Mazinger pilot would be there to accompany him.
Ryouma grunted in reply "Don't worry. I won't die until I kill the old man with my own hands."
"Again?"
Ryouma was silent.
"I don't know and understand that circumstance. But…" Tetsuya said.
"You do what you have to do. You both have to protect Genki back then." Ryouma said. "I don't hate you and Kouji for that."
"Then why…?"
"What the professor was trying to do… was something I'll never forgive. Something Michiru will never forgive too, if she was alive. He'll do it again, and I intend to end it properly this time."
Tetsuya simply stared. "Alright. I won't stand in your way again. But we need answers."
"And you'll get them." Ryouma stared at the Black Getta. "The professor thought he died when Michiru passed away. He was so self-absorbed with his grief he didn't see me and Genki die along with her.
"And I hope that's the only time I will allow it to happen."
Tetsuya looked at the man who changed too much, yet somehow remains unchanged. A very bizarre paradox indeed. He wondered if Jun was closer to the truth than the vague hints the former Getta leader was dropping.
Hikaru found herself standing in front of the window, staring at the ocean… and beyond it…
She shuddered, she felt something unnatural from the depths of the cerulean waters. A misplacement in the grander scale of things…
…And that she felt she must do something…
Hikaru disappeared a moment later, though if anyone had been there to witness it they would have sworn she had vanished in the flames surrounding her, as though she was becoming one with it.
EVA-02 was now firing its palette rifle and the black glob that came too close on the battleship it was standing on. Asuka knew that it would be disastrous if her unit falls into the ocean, having no equipment for that particular environment. Mazinger Z, the Hyukebein, Leopard, Shining and Aphrodite A were kind enough to give her support though. Though she had simulated training, this was Asuka's first actual field battle. And she was annoyed that the stories with the Invaders were not exaggerated in any least. The fleet also added their firepower, but it's outdated cannons were no match against its speed.
Kouji silently wished he had the foresight to bring along Mazinger's flying equipment in this sortie. He would have been up there with Tetsuya, Masaki, Witz, Amuro, Garrod and Ryouma… when he got an update from Toniya that they're at the sky backing them up. However, he had experience with fighting against the Invader, and it has thought him not to pull any punches dealing with this alien being. Using its breast fire at the dark mass, but making sure it won't hit any friendly units. Getter-3 used its long flexible arms to force the Invader to be still, as Aphrodite's missiles and EVA-02's guns pound on it mercilessly.
It seemed that RahXephon doesn't seem to like them either. As the giant mecha was literally bashing the Invader with its bare hands, Ayato still hasn't got used enough to find other weapons for it. Though for Ayato, he felt a strange repulsion from these beings, something that he could never seem to identify.
But he certainly blinked when the black Invader suddenly incinerated in front of the RahXephon. When it turned around, the Black Getta followed the attack by using its tomahawk.
Tetsuya shook his head grimly. Ryouma's fighting abilities had not lessened at all. As the Great Mazinger used Thunder Break at the Invader near Kouji's flank. Seeing this, Ayato extended his hand, feeling slightly foolish but at the same time compelled to do so. He felt energy thrummed from RahXephon's palm and the mecha released beams of light, destroying the enemy's head.
"Haaa…" Kouji whistled, "That's not so bad…"
Even Asuka couldn't help but felt a small admiration with the performance so far, even when an inspired Boss Borot was tossed into the ocean when the mecha tried to punch on the Invader. Aphrodite was forced to back out to run to Boss' aid.
Then they saw fire emerging near them, at first Misato feared that the fight must have caused it, but she looked on in shock as the fire actually formed into a giant robot. Looking like a wolf standing on two legs, it has a long mane of fire literally burning from its back. Misato whirled to the radio in the battleship's bridge, which was now in contact with the Freeden. "What's that?!?"
For once, Sara and even Jamil were loss at words, and Toniya stuttered back… "N…not sure. But…"
But Hikaru's cheerful voice coming from the unidentified mecha did not necessarily made the tension lessen. "I'm here to help!"
Erin groaned, the captain would have her hide for this.
The nearest Invader took advantage of their confusion and lunged at the newcomer. Hikaru cried out in shock and in pain as the Invader bit Lexus' right shoulder, as though it was her own shoulder that was bitten. Before Kouji and the others could run to her rescue, all the Invaders lunged forward them from different directions in an insane frenzy.
The Invader, the largest of the group so far, threatened to crush Lexus beneath its weight. Hikaru, still trying to recover from the pain, could somehow hear Erin telling her to fight back.
Then the weight is gone. Lexus sit up as Black Getta used it's tomahawk to latch on the Invader's back and used its own weight to drag the enemy away from her. Hikaru grit her teeth, willing her mecha to attack, and from its hands a fireball emerged, hitting the target squarely on the chest. And from above at the same time, RahXephon's energy beam had reached its target… the enemy Invader's head.
As the last of the Invaders were destroyed a few apprehensive minutes later, Musashi looked at the Black Getta, half-afraid that Ryouma might run off somewhere. But the former Getta leader was only deep in thought, as he turned back to rejoin the crew.
"80 percent of the fleet were destroyed by the fight." Misato sighed, "That's the end for 'Over The Rainbow'."
Haruka gave her friend a sympathetic smile as she gave her friend a cup of coffee. "I'm sure the Federation can afford to give them compensation at least."
Misato mulled this over as she sipped her cup of coffee when Haruka inquired, "I heard Kaji was on the ship."
Misato literally choke on said coffee, glaring at Haruka who was not even trying to hide her smile at the discomfort at her expense. "That idiot!" she seethed, "Somehow in the middle of the fight, he ran off in one of the fighter jets."
"Well it's good to hear he's OK." Haruka replied, "I haven't seen him since college."
Misato sighed. "That's a huge blot in my life I can only blame as the foolishness of youth."
"You still like him don't you?"
Misato gave a hollow laugh, "Don't be ridiculous. He hasn't changed at all. Such a kid."
"…"
"Now I feel like drinking again."
Haruka grinned as she handed her friend a can of beer.
Ryouma was on his way towards his quarters when he saw the young redhead from Tokyo Jupiter was waiting for him in the corridor. He looked at her in puzzlement as Hikaru bowed in front of him and said aloud, "Thank you for saving my life." Apparently flustered by this, she turned around and ran.
Ryouma stared at her, before he shook his head, thinking that he should have told her that she saved herself. But her enthusiasm was somehow infectious, and Ryouma found himself smiling to himself… the first time in years to do so.
Maybe he was getting soft.
Kaji placed the heavy suitcase on the top of the table in the darkened room of Gendou Ikari's office in NERV HQ. Pretty soon, he'll get to see Misato again in due course, "Well, it was pretty exciting. I should safely say this was the cause why the Invaders stirred up."
Gendou looked up at Kaji, from the opened suitcase. "I should say so…"
Kaji couldn't help but added. "Amazing, it somehow survive in this state.
The NERV Commander continued, "Of course. This was the first human… Adam."
Emissaries from Axis: Lond Bell headed for Sweetwater to oversee the defense of the Colony as Axis' military leader Haman Khan entered negotiations with the Federation. At
the same time, a hidden agenda was being created.
Notes: Unusually busy month, as I don't have enough energy for this chapter. I barely managed to place the new one this time around. Hopefully, October will be much kinder.
Ramza: You apparently have played the Turn-A route. Tifa has many face portraits: particularly when her hair was loose, having lipstick on, etc. Tifa, Rei and Heero locked in a room is pretty hard to imagine. I prefer he and Sousuke having a gunfight…