Ayato was sketching again. Inspired by the sunset adorning the nearby hills of Tokyo-3, he was busy drawing the surrounding the area detail as well as making a very familiar outline of a young girl wearing a casual yellow dress and scarf, her shoulder length hair flying as she faced the direction of that sun.
She was always his favorite subject. Her profile was his only link to her, the girl that he lost.
Soft footsteps told him that he was not alone, and looking over his shoulder, he saw it was the girl Tifa Adil. They had become fast friends, in a way, since both shared a love for art, when Ayato commented on her charcoal sketches. Though Garrod was not happy with the fact that was one of the few things he can never share with her, he certainly didn't seem to mind Ayato hanging out with her to discuss their drawing styles.
Tifa had already seen that girl. She was always there in his other drawings. Ayato could never tell her who she was though, but Tifa could sense… emotionally and mentally… that girl was very special to him. But that was not the reason why she approached him. She had heard that Ayato decided to complement with Lond Bell as a regular fighter pilot, with RahXephon.
To be honest, Tifa was worried for him… unlike Hikaru's Lexus (who also joined recently, believing she could be of use, despite Umi and Fuu's anxiousness for her safety), RahXephon intimidated her. It was not the same when she first saw the GX in her dreams… it was a fear she could not name why she should be afraid.
"Why did you join?" she asked him, sitting by his side, watching the sunset.
Ayato lied on his back staring at the sky. "After the history lesson with Erin, I realized that there were so many threats that were going on now; I have to help out to protect the world for someone."
A special someone, Ayato's mind told her. Tifa mentally shook her head, berating herself for prying into private thoughts like that, "From Tokyo Jupiter?"
Ayato shook his head, "When I first found out about the world outside Tokyo Jupiter exists, I am very… happy. I suddenly realized that… my girlfriend that I lost all these years is alive somewhere, living in this place as well. I want to protect this world as much as I could, so I could see her again someday."
"…" Tifa inwardly smiled. She was impressed by Ayato's strong feelings.
"It's terribly a dumb excuse, huh?" Ayato said out loud, suddenly feeling embarrassed by his answer. The girl stared at the sunset in silent reflection.
"No," Tifa assured him quietly. "No, it isn't."
----
That afternoon on that same day… the Freeden docked near the vicinity of Tokyo 3. Amuro, Jamil and Haruka had left earlier to meet the head of NERV that was found underneath in this deceptively peace-looking city. While the rest of the pilots go to their usual morning routines, one person did not seem to enjoy her morning very much.
"Why me…" Erin moaned, laying her head on the stack of books that Dr. Franzenberg willingly gave her. The excess of information that she just read was too much for her brain, in which she gratefully decided to give herself a break.
"Oh," Misato said, picking up a rather thick book titled the McHaullen's World History New Edition, as she sipped her cup of coffee. "What's this?"
"It's for the 'kids' I'm with." Erin said, her head still on the books, not looking up at her, referring the teenagers from Tokyo Jupiter. "Apparently they have no knowledge on what happened to the world after NSC 283."
"Hmmm." Misato said reflectively.
"Their schools and their society seemed to brainwash them into thinking that their country was the only haven from the Second Impact and the Invaders, Mycanae, Zondar assaults. They didn't know about the Antarctic Treaty, the Eve Wars, Mars was already terraformed and Von Braun is still up and running. Isn't that strange?"
"If you get trapped in there for 10 years, I suppose it's plausible."
"Fuu finds it exciting with the concept that she can actually get to see France and England, though she was quite sad to find out New York wasn't so different from her own school book. Ayato and Umi weren't thrilled with the fact they have to study history all over again. I don't blame them." Erin smiled despite herself
"That's true." Misato paused, remembering a certain green haired pilot, "What about Masaki? Is he one of your students?"
"He seems knowledgeable enough regarding current events. But one can never be too sure. I haven't seen him all day though…"
Meanwhile…
"Er, is this the cafeteria?" the green haired young man said, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. Erin asked him to come to help her carry the books this morning, but he couldn't find his familiars, and ended up trekking in the halls of the Freeden on his own. He should have known better.
"No." Rain said, surprised to find him in the block where the mechanical extra parts were being kept.
"Er, never mind, thanks." He mumbled in embarrassment as he made a quick getaway to the nearest door he can find, opened it and went in.
"Uh, Masaki…"
"Yes, Miss Rain?" Masaki's muffled voice asked.
"That's the broom closet."
"Oh."
Back in the cafeteria, Misato idly looked at the books, feeling that she must have forgotten something important. Erin decided to take an initiative to inquire something though.
"How come you didn't go with Haruka and the captain?"
"I'm here to do something vital." Misato looked apologetic as Erin raised an eyebrow.
"If it's vital enough for you to stay here so casually I'd suggest you think harder."
"I know…" Misato sighed, "But all this transport for EVA-02 and the unexpected trip in Tokyo Jupiter made things so…" Erin saw the NERV tactical officer go rigid, her mouth open in shocked realization. "And Commander Ikari is going to kill me!!!" she screamed, and then Misato literally ran out from the cafeteria, her coffee mug still in her hand.
"Er… good luck." Erin said belatedly. What was that?
-----
Amuro couldn't sense any emotion from Gendou Ikari, sitting in his desk, elbows propped on it and hands clasped, in his impressive room where the floor and the ceiling depicts the intricate illustration of the Tree of Sephiroth.
And from Jamil who kept quiet after hearing the words from Ikari's mouth. "You are certain about this?"
"You won't handle this on your own," Gendou said, "But I'm sending along NERV's technicians for the EVAs maintenance and other important personnel at your disposal."
"But we cannot just exclusively combat the Angels, not when Earth has other threats to worry about."
"I am aware of that. Consider it an action of goodwill from SEELE and NERV for supplying you with new troops."
"Is there anything else we want to know that you won't tell us?" Amuro asked boldly out loud, ignoring Haruka Shitow's glance to be careful. "Something that would make us leave your side of the fence?"
This finally took Gendou's attention and gave him a wry smile. "As I expected from the famous White Devil." Before he could say anything else though, second in command Fuyutsuki cleared his own throat, telling them that they were just informed that their presence were needed at their respective stations in Geofront.
It usually meant one thing.
-----
Misato cursed as her blue car swerved dangerously to the left when a light post toppled from its base crashed onto the middle of the road that was now full of rock debris and wrecked cars. She can hear loud noises from the battle in the air, as well as the noises from her cell phone where Haruka was giving her directions where Shinji Ikari's location was, using the GPS from his cell phone that his father provided along with his letter.
Another loud crash, and Misato tried not to flinch as another building's remains toppled on the street where her car was a few seconds ago, she gripped her driving wheel tightly as she shifted the car in full throttle, trying to ignore her own woes that she haven't even finished her down payments with her vehicle. And that her underpaid job wouldn't be enough to repair it again.
Why me?Then she saw someone running towards the street in a futile effort to find a nearby shelter. Misato hit the breaks with all her might, forcing her car in a swerve, narrowly missing the boy in the process.
But Misato instantaneously became relieved upon seeing that boy's face, who was sitting on the ground, coughing out dust. "Shinji Ikari?" she asked.
The boy looked up at her in obvious surprise. "Yes?"
"Nice to meet you." Misato said cheerfully, ignoring the sirens, "I'm here to pick you up."
Another beep from the cell phone, and Misato quickly scanned the message from Haruka. With another curse at her apparent bad luck, she quickly shouted at Shinji to get into the car. The boy hesitated… until he saw a giant red mecha jumping from the air with a strange looking shield in its left arm and a weapon that looks like a handgun on its right hand.
The red EVA landed roughly on the road too close to the car; the jolt of its landing made Shinji tumbled roughly into the back seat. Without bothering to look at her rear view mirror Misato shifted the car into full throttle. And from his angle, Shinji could see a giant spider like thing with a body that seemed to have many eyes.
"What is that?!" Shinji shouted in shock.
"Don't worry!" Misato shouted back. "You'll be completely safe with us!!!" I think. She added silently. Keeping her one eye on the road, Misato reached for her cell phone to inform the guys in HQ to get ready to get them once they've reached into safety.
Roar, EVA-01Misato's absence was the first thing Erin noticed when every pilot settled down for briefing. The city of Tokyo-3 was in high alert (some buildings were now being burrowed underground). But much to their dismay though they were informed that they were given orders not to sortie.
"Why is that?!" Kouji demanded, truly upset by this information. "We defeated those Angels twice before."
"And they learned from those mistakes," Ritsuko Akagi replied grimly as the screen before them shows the close-up of the spider like Angel that NERV named as Matariel. "As seen from the recent one. It's been secreting a corrosive substance that has been used as a projectile against any hostile individuals."
"It manages to melt down reinforced Luna Titanium alloy that protects the western part of Tokyo-3." Akagi's assistant, Maya Ibuki added. "That's how it's disabling our missiles."
"It spits acid now, eh?" Tetsuya said, eyes closed, deep in thought.
"Sniping at it would prove useless against the AT Field." Ritsuko continued. "Our commander decided to have the EVAs handle this, with their abilities to neutralize each other's AT Fields, they might pull off the chance to shoot it down from a safe distance."
"Rei and Asuka will be the ones fighting then?" Sara asked her.
"Unit-00 and the pilot are in no condition to engage the enemy at this time. EVA-02 was assigned for defending Major Katsuragi who is now in the field." Ritsuko replied, although Misato reported (truthfully) that the child she was supposed to pick up was no longer at the train station, she couldn't help but think that her friend must have spent the day lazing around.
"Misato's out there?!" Kouji said, "And Asuka's on her own?" True he may never get along with the German redhead, but he had already considered her a comrade, since he was impressed on how she handled herself in the last battle.
"So what you're saying is…" Domon said evenly, "We're supposed to sit here and watch what happens next?"
"Or until JSSDF discharge N2 bombs in the vicinity." Amuro said. "SOP when dealing with Invaders."
Domon gave a grim chuckle, which in a way he concluded himself, was inappropriate, "That too."
-----
Asuka shouted "SCHIEBE!!!" as her EVA-02 had to coordinate with Misato's car to keep the Angel from attacking it. For some reason, Matariel seemed to sense that the people in the car were more threatening than the red Evangelion in front of it. For that same reason, Asuka was annoyed by the alien's lack of interest to engage her in combat. Nevertheless she would have to make do by using a customized shield in such short notice… a hull of a ship that was usually used as transportation from earth to the Colonies… as its metal that enables it to withstand the forces of friction and gravity from planetary pull… and does not get eroded easily by Matariel's acid. However, the bulky thing was quite awkward to use with one arm, and Asuka felt she was not using it properly.
On the occasions that she willed the EVA to take the shot meant for the car she ignored the searing pain of having the sensation of burning acid in her skin. Her only consolation was that she would not allow herself to let pain screw her up now. She was already used to it.
She was surprised though, when she saw a couple of silver bit like objects attacking the Angel in quick successive shots. The Cybuster was flying overhead, serving as a point of reference for RahXephon and Lexus were both using their Light Arrow and Fire Arrows at Matariel, this allowed EVA-02 to back away to a more safe distance. Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger were already at her side, using their detachable rocket and atomic punches to force the enemy backwards.
But no matter how hard they tried; Matariel ignored all of them as it continued its goal towards Tokyo 3, intent on destroying the Geofront.
-----
Ritsuko looked slightly disgusted by this as she looked at Jamil. Sara couldn't help but be annoyed for the Captain's stead when she said, "That is completely against our orders."
Jamil was undeterred, "We do not exclusively work for NERV either. I take full responsibility for this." Kouji and Tetsuya did put up a good point that fighting the enemy from a distance, though may not be the best way of defeating it, could at least buy NERV enough time to make a counterattack, whatever that may be.
Ritsuko shrugged. That's good enough for her.
-----
Shinji stared at his father, half-expecting him to smile and say he was kidding. Anything outrageous, and that he was simply being deluded.
Misato can see that Shinji hands were clenched in an obvious attempt to hold back his anger. "So the reason you called me after all this time is… to pilot that… THING?!?!" he shouted. For right in front of them, with Commander Ikari in a platform above it glaring from his tinted glasses was the unused and untested Evangelion 01 Test Type that was kept in storage much longer than the prototype. Misato had never seen attempts activating it, and she was surprised to find out that Ikari's son was the one chosen for it.
"Of course." Gendou replied coldly, "Why else should I bring you here?"
Disappointment racked Shinji's soul. He should have known better. His father's tart answer only made him more defiant though. "If that's the case, I refuse to do it. I WON'T do it. Even if that enemy outside is going to kill us all."
Misato was wondering if she should intervene when another soft voice echoed the large room. "Sir?"
Shinji looked on in shock as a Rei Ayanami, her arm still on a sling though she was already wearing her white plug suit. "Awaiting orders to activate EVA-00 for combat." She said primly.
Shinji stared at his father, as though this was the first time he had seen him… sending this wounded girl into a battle was not one of the things he never thought that man would ever do. In Geofront, Fuyutsuki was giving an update that Matariel was coming before one of the underground buildings fell down from the ceiling, the road holding it in place corroded by the Angel's acid… the rubble of the building crashed to the found near EVA-01's vicinity. The strength of the impact was enough to knock Misato onto the ground, as well as shaking the metal supports of the giant room loose. Falling towards them…
Shinji was unaware of his immediate danger. He saw that Ayanami girl falling onto the floor, hitting her bad arm in the process as he ran towards her.
"Shinji!!!" Misato screamed, knowing there was nothing she can for them when a violet metal arm shot up above them and deflected the metal beams.
Misato stared in utter disbelief… "It moved!" she gasped, even more shocking was the fact the EVA-01 appears to be protecting Shinji.
Gendou slightly smiled. It seemed the EVA managed to grasp the identity of its pilot very well.
Shinji helped Rei to sit up, but she stiffened back, obviously in great pain… as Shinji realized that her blood was spreading on the floor, staining his white uniform… on his hands. He looked at the blood in a sort of morbid fascination before another violent shake snapped him out of his daze. He stood up, and found himself staring at the strange EVA's outstretched arm, to Misato's grim face, looking at him.
"Will you pilot it?" She asked him, there was no trace of sympathy in her expression. She realized that the situation was very grim, and that necessary actions must be done to defeat the threat. And in a way Shinji must have shared that idea as well, for when he looked back at his father, his expression was filled with anger and loathing… but he managed somehow to give them a reluctant nod.
It had never really changed at all. In a nutshell, that was how Shinji and Gendou Ikari usually communicate.
------
"The Freeden's informing us that NERV's sending another EVA out." Garrod informed them in his GX. From his vantage point above the city with the Airmaster and the ReGZ, they could see one of the hatches being used as streets opening up, where the said EVA would emerge and aid them in this sortie.
"No way!" Asuka shouted. "I thought First is out in this fight."
"Don't ask me. I'm just relaying the message." Garrod replied, slightly incensed by her aggressiveness.
As though sensing something that Lond Bell was unaware of, Matariel's eyes shifted in another direction, then in a speed that they were quite unprepared for, it abandoned its route towards Geofront towards something else, ignoring the damages it received when it turned its back, allowing the other mecha to attack it from behind.
Ritsuko inwardly flinched, realizing the Angel's strange reaction. She managed to keep a calm façade for everyone else too see, but she was worried that Matariel somehow sense EVA 01.
Nonetheless, Jamil ordered the Freeden's gun turrets to open fire. To stop if from going anywhere else. The AT Field prevented them from inflicting any serious damage upon it though. Ritsuko continued to record everything in memory the whole battle, confident that Maya was also gathering data from it as well, convinced that she can apply this knowledge in the near future. But she was quite unprepared for the event that happened next.
-----
Shinji's first vision upon emerging from the street was s a giant spider like monster attempting to crush him from above. A dormant fear of being crushed triggered Shinji's sense of survival, as the EVA-01 somehow managed to jump away to safety, crashing into the buildings in the process.
Misato gasped. It had taken both Rei and Asuka months before they even managed to move their own EVA's hands. But here was this boy, who managed to move his own EVA with no prior training and synchronization tests whatsoever.
Shinji grasped his arm, feeling that he had just crashed into a hard concrete wall. What surprised him most was that he felt actual pain coming from his own arm.
"Dummkopf!!!" A girl shouted at his ear… and sure enough Shinji got a quick glance at a seething red head staring at him in a strange expression between rage, shock and annoyance. "Watch out!!!"
Shinji screamed as Matariel's acid managed to cling on the purple EVA's side. Feeling the terrible pain as if the substance was eating away his very own flesh.
"Shinji!" Misato cried out, amidst his own sound filling the entry plug, "Hang in there! It's not real!!!"
Though that may be so, it certainly didn't lessen the pain either.
Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger simultaneously fired the rocket punch and atomic punch respectively, knocking Matariel away from the vicinity of EVA-01. However, the Angel retaliated by using its own acid that immediately melted the two arms immediately.
"Damn!" Kouji cursed. He was forced to back away when another projectile landed too close on where he was standing. He called out for EVA-01's pilot telling him to stand up and get away from the battle. But Shinji was still wracking in pain from the terrible sensation, and what little self-control he had gave way to full-blown panic. He frantically pushed the controls, anything, anything… that would get him out of here. To get it move again, somehow… to make it stop ….the pain he's feeling.
And then suddenly everything went dark.
In the air, the beam rifles were clearly not working against the AT Field… though they do have a bird's eye view on what just happened a few seconds later.
"Shit…" Garrod whispered, his green eyes widening in stunned disbelief.
"What the hell is that?!" Witz shouted, though he did expect nobody can answer that.
Amuro and Tifa both felt something stirred from the EVA-01, something they couldn't identify. From the distance, Ayato felt a slight headache forming… wondering what it meant…
Tetsuya couldn't see what happened next, as suddenly buildings were tearing themselves apart in a frightening speed, kicking up debris and dust in the process. He could see Matariel crashing onto the concrete floor, with EVA-01 literally tearing the Angel apart. Ignoring the acid damaging its armor, the berserker EVA continued attacking it relentlessly, until the red core of the Angel within its body was revealed, and began punching it with all its might. As the core cracked, Matariel instantly exploded, with EVA-01 caught along with it.
"Is he…" Kouji asked in horror.
"No." Asuka said, shaking her head in disbelief. "My sensors showing… EVA-01 is still active." And true enough as the smoke cleared, the purple EVA was now standing at the crater where the Angel was once there, technically unharmed... and motionless.
For Asuka though, she was literally shaking, freaked out by what she had just witnessed. "What the hell is this thing that I'm in?" she asked.
Gendou stared at the EVA-01 from his table in Geofront, before turning away to tell Fuyutsuki to be the one in charge for reclaiming the EVAs for repairs. For Misato, though, she was also quietly wondering what the hell just happened.
-----
"He's not even conscious yet, he's now being transferred here." Misato said in obvious disapproval as she watched Shinji resting in the Freeden's clinic.
Ritsuko was certainly not being sympathetic by saying. "Well, the doctors said that he's not in danger, and that he's very tired as of now."
"So what happens now?"
"We'll be making simulations training for basic use of firearms. Synchronization tests will also be conducted, as well as making him knowledgeable on NERV's policy on rules and regulation concerning his role as a fighter pilot."
"He's not a fighter pilot."
"He's already in the EVA. He performed his duties admirably." Ritsuko reminded her, looking at her as if Misato suddenly gotten all senile on her. "By these standards, he is the confirmed Third Child."
Misato looked at Shinji with a grim look on her face, "May I say something regarding him?"
Ritsuko stared at her in puzzlement when Haruka excused herself into the room. "I've done the necessary paper works. Shinji's in your custody now."
Misato arched an eyebrow. "The Commander didn't mind?"
"Not at all. He even commended your swift action regarding the matter."
"Oh, I see." Ritsuko said, giving her friend a slight smile as she suddenly understood the whole conversation. It was so like her. "It's difficult for a child like him in this circumstance anyway." She admitted. "Having you around may not be so bad."
Misato silently hopes that as well. She could only stare Shinji, trying so hard not to be reminded of the past, when she was around his age. She was never fond of her father either… and yet even after all these years, she could never determine her feelings for him.
She envied Shinji with the fact he can hate his father so frankly. It wasn't the same for her case.
"Misato." Haruka was telling her, breaking her own thoughts. "You're requested at the bridge."
"Yes." Misato, however, was very surprised to see some people near the door in an attempt to overhear their conversation…. She could identify Kouji among them… Ayato, Hikaru, Masaki and that Garrod kid. Asuka was standing at the corridor, too, frowning openly while Rei a few meters away was revealing no expression whatsoever.
And Misato was surprised when Kouji asked in obvious concern if the new guy would be alright. And as he said so, the others pitched along, trying to know Shinji's name, if there were anything they can do to help. Even Asuka tried to hide her own concern when she thought Misato was looking at her direction. And that Rei was even here was proof by itself.
"He'll be alright." Misato assured them, assuring herself, and most assured for Shinji by this statement. Him being a member of Lond Bell… might not be such a bad thing after all.
------
In the country of Afghanistan…
Ryoko Subaru sighed. "Why the hell am I with you guys?" by all rights she should have been with her Aestivalis for minor repairs. But Yurika cheerfully decided to have a scout team formed to check the surrounding areas, in honor of the alliance between the Nadesico, La Kairam and the Archangel.
Kira Yamato was also wondering why he was here too. He certainly doesn't know who these people are either. Though Mwu was unusually supportive for him to go out and enjoy the burning heat… considering Kira was always in his Strike cockpit nowadays.
Sousuke Sagara, however, felt like he was a renegade child, who somehow managed to find his way home.
Next Chapter: The Desert Tiger
Things were certainly started with a rocky beginning, particularly when the scout trio met a very eccentric man with his fondness for yogurts, and the Nadesico began attacking both sides in the middle of the battlefield. Kira and Sousuke begins to take stock on their beliefs, as soldiers in the middle of a war…