Disclaimer – Don't own Eva or Armored Core or anything in this chapter with a copy write on it, but you know that, don't you.
A/n nothing had to be done to Knight Two's part here, actually I didn't have to do much at all to this one
But anyway…on we go
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Quote the Raven
Chapter 12
Final Exam/Newfound Love/Going Home
True to her word Rei had arrived back at Requiem's place that night just before everyone went to bed. She and Requiem had talked and agreed to go on their date to talk things over after Shinji's Exam. They had also talked Yui into getting Fuyutsuki to allow them to return with Shinji and herself and spend some time in Tokyo 3. This would allow Yui time with Rei. Yui had also arranged the meeting between Fuyutsuki, her father, and the Ravens Administrator, Jack-O.
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(A/N here is where Knight Two's part starts)
Earlier that Morning, Crest storage facility, surface:
Kaze braced himself inside his AC as the machine was dropped by transport chopper near the Crest facility's ventilation system's intake shaft.
The medium weight AC dropped near the unguarded ventilation shaft and walked over to it. Two slashes from its laser blade made clear work of grill that blocked the intake tunnel from ingesting large objects. With the obstruction clear, Hyperion stepped inside.
While this mission was said to be easy, Kaze didn't want to take chances. Running out of ammo would be troublesome, at least. At worst... he didn't want to think of it.
The new radar/FCS system he was hired to test was working perfectly, but there were some weird readings it was giving off. It was like something... lots of something's were moving inside the underground facility.
'It's probably just sensor echoes.'
Kaze thought, shrugging off the feeling that something wasn't as it seemed to be
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Crest storage facility, sub-level 1, Depth minus 500 meters.
On first sublevel the large big fan that sat with in a ventilation shaft on wall shook a bit, then detached from its supports with a groan and crashed to floor. AC Hyperion stepped from the ventilation duct's edge and stepped down, minimizing its footfalls by firing small burst from thrusters before hitting ground.
'So far so good,' Kaze though, when scanning empty storage hall he had entered to.
'Ok, then.' "Operator?"
"Yes, Raven?" a female voice answered over comm system.
"I'm inside, no enemy contacts visible." Kaze reported.
"Understood, move up, you have only scouted about 10 of the area."
"Roger that," Kaze finished before turning comms off and steering Hyperion towards nearest door. It was unlocked, the Hyperion entered unopposed
-20 minutes later-
'This place is too quiet'
He though, he had gone trough three levels never seeing anyone, no defenses or anything. The whole facility seemed dead and quiet in very unnerving way. Everything worked, vehicles were orderly parked, but there didn't seem to be anyone living there. Like the whole place was abandoned...
And still there was something, a slight sound of something tapping on metal, it seemed to be following him, stopping when he stopped to look check surroundings more closely.
A feeling in back of his neck got stronger, and he decided to ask about the situation.
"Operator, do you copy?"
"What is it, Raven?"
"Has Crest reported any problems in any of their facilities?" He asked.
"Checking no, there are no reports of anything out of ordinary in any Crest corporation's projects."
"I have a bad feeling; maybe they're just keeping a lid on it."
"It's possible, be careful Raven."
"Yeah, proceeding to sub-level 4 now"
"Then after that there is only sub-level 5, you have scouted 70 of the premises already."
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He had gotten to the bottom level and found Crest's four barrel shoulder mounted laser array in progress, he quickly retrieved it. Heading back up, dots began to show up in Hyperion's sensors.
"What the..?" Kaze asked mostly from himself.
Unknown contacts, precise location cannot be determined
His AC's computer chimed in.
He began to shift trough data sent in by the radar unit. Contacts seemed to be biological in nature.
'This doesn't make any sense. I haven't seen any humans around... Whatever, I just need to get out and this job is complete.'
He was almost out, on level 2 when disaster struck. It appeared in a form of a teal colored bug, about 1/3 of size of his AC.
"What the hell is that?" Kaze was surprised about appearance of creature.
Target is biological, profile is unknown
HisAC computer added
'Thanks a lot.' He thought and opened fire with minigun.
The thing jumped once, and started crawling towards AC, it didn't get far before bullets ripped into it, causing it to explode in a huge fireball.
"Damn." He opened comms, "Operator?"
"Yes?"
"There's some trouble in here."
"What kind of 'trouble'?"
"I'm seeing loads of biological contacts, I just shot one of the damn creatures and it blew up." Kaze commented calmly.
"Escape, Raven. Hurry!"
"I'll try." He said when saw loads of more bugs swarm from ceiling vents.
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Hyperion was almost to the elevator when one bug got close and blew off his AC's leg.
"Damn it"
Kaze muttered and threw away his empty minigun; he then crouched his AC and activated his laser cannon. The Mirage made gun started sending accurate beams into groups of exploding insects. He grinned when one shot exploded a swarm of five bugs.
He was almost finished, only one bug visible on his screen.
Then his AC was rocked by two powerful explosions as bugs had dropped from ceiling on top of Hyperion. The following twin fireballs scorched both Mirage's mission specific radar and shoulder laser cannon.
AP lower than 10
Reported AC's computer
"It can't end this way."
Kaze growled, pushing Hyperion to stand on its already trashed leg, readying the laser blade and facing last insect.
"All right, come on then"
It seemed as if the thing had heard him as it started to crawl towards crippled AC chattering as it went. Once it got near it, the bug jumped.
Kaze slashed his blade at the bug when it was airborne. The resulting explosion shattered Hyperion's arm, along with laser blade and rest of the armor.
Kaze winced when his priced AC collided with the wall. His head hit the back of his pilot seat. His helmet protected his skull from being cracked but giving him a concussion. At same time the broken Hyperion was falling to floor, Kaze's mind was also sinking into darkness.
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He woke up, not recognizing the place at first. Then he noticed he was inside his AC's cockpit, and in a weird perspective, as he seemed to be hanging in his securing harness.
'Damn it, my head hurts…feels kind of like a bad hangover.'
Most of Hyperion's displays were dark, only one worked displaying AC status.
/AC Hyperion: disabled/
/Main generator: offline/
/Reserve power left: 44/
/Main radiator: offline/
/Main CPU: offline/
/Secondary CPU: online/
/Hydraulics: offline/
/Emergency beacon: online/
/Communications: online/
'I guess trying comms would be good idea.'
"Operator? Does the Raven's Nest copy?"
"Kaze? Raven, you're alive?!" Asked bit shocked operator.
"Yeah, barely, Hyperion is trashed, though."
"Good, recovery team is on their way. Just stay where you are."
"Roger that. Damn, I'm really going to take few days off after I get back."
Kaze commented before cutting the communication. He opened the hatch and crawled out of broken Core unit.
"They really did number on you, didn't they old pal? I guess this means you're going to scrap yard."
He spoke to his AC; looking at all the damage unit had taken.
One leg was shattered, hydraulic hoses and wires visible hanging from the shattered limb, the other one had been completely destroyed at some point, only shredded metal remained from knee down.
The left arm was the same.
The right one faired slightly better by the fact it was in one piece, but just barely.
The other equipment was in bad shape. The radar on right shoulder wasn't even there. And the left shoulder's laser cannon had snapped in half from the connection storage joint. The signature orange paint had been scorched black by the heat of explosions. Kaze climbed down to floor, and walked to shoulder joint of the unit. He swiped soot off to reveal his emblem, a tornado with bullets inside. "Kaze... the wind,"
He muttered
"I guess I wasn't fast enough this time. At least I'm alive."
He was disturbed from his thoughts by his comm system,
"Raven, come in."
Activating his helmet microphone he spoke,
"I'm here."
"The recovery team should be near your position, can you hear them."
Kaze then noticed something different from usual sounds inside the storage facility, a rhythmical thumping of AC footsteps.
"Yeah, I'll go meet them, out."
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"Of all the Ravens..." Kaze commented when he saw the Brown form of the AC Wraith, followed by HMMWW jeep.
His radio crackled,
"When they were asking escort for recovery I though a Noob had gotten in trouble. What happened?"
"Hum, I got surprised by something weird, exploding bugs that are..."
"What?"
"I'll explain back in the Nest, ok?"
"Sure, what about your AC, it seems pretty trashed." Requiem asked.
"Use your Karasawa. I don't want to leave it to any scavengers, even if it's irreparable."
"Yeah, I understand that"
An AC was something personal to a Raven; Requiem understood Kaze's point in rather destroying it than just leaving it. He leveled his Karasawa to Hyperion and pulled the trigger. The broken, once high-class AC was reduced to melted pieces of metal by powerful laser rifle.
Kaze sat into the Hummer and radioed Requiem.
"Thanks for coming here; I guess I owe you twice now."
"Twice, how do you owe me twice?"
"For that piece of advice, and then, destroying the remains of Hyperion. When I get new AC designed and built... if you need consort for mission, just ask." Kaze replied.
"Copy that. See you on the Nest." Requiem answered when Hummer was locked in place inside the AC transport chopper.
Later back at the Raven's Nest, mess hall:
"...and that's what happened." Kaze finished his story.
"That's completely screwed up man" Requiem commented.
"Maybe, but you saw what had happened to Hyperion."
"Yeah, otherwise I'd have hard time believing you."
He sighed
"Well, I have to go to check out parts for a new AC. See you later."
Yeah I gota go to, Zero's Final Exam is in a few minuets and I have to act as the observer"
"Alright, later then"
Kaze said, turning around and walking to door.
(And here is where Knight Two's part ends, good job man)
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Requiem and Shinji stood in front of his AC Diligence. Shinji had wanted some modifications made and Requiem obliged him by covering the cost of the new parts, which after selling the old ones wasn't much. Requiem looked over the list of the Diligence's parts
AC Name: Diligence
Raven: Zero
Head: EHD-ONE-NT
Core: CR-C98E2
Arms: ARM-A72F
Legs: ZLN-XXO-TP
Extension: none
Back Unit R: CR-WB25G2
Back Unit L: WB28R-SIREN4
Arm Unit R: EWG-XC213
Arm Unit L: ELS-2772
Color: Green primary with Gray secondary, Orange Detail and Black joint color
Requiem handed the list back to Shinji
"Is this everything you wanted?"
Shinji looked over the list and nodded
"Yeah…will this be any good…I mean, with this set up work"
Requiem looked over the list again
"Hmm, that depends on the user; the best pilot could make the worst set up work well. So it depends on your skill"
"I hope its enough"
Requiem looked over at Shinji then back to the AC
"Don't worry, most ravens pass this test in a basic model AC, you'll do fine. Now go get ready, I'll be the observer for this test"
Shinji nodded and headed off to the locker rooms
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Shinji had faced 6 combat MT's during his test. Each had been set to the combat level of a live person. He had easily destroyed them but had trouble on the last one, the group leader. With his entrance test passed he docked his AC back in the Garage in the slot selected for it.
Requiem, Misato, Rei, and Yui walked up to the flight suit clad teen. Requiem held out his hand, in it was a Palm top computer, identical to the ones Requiem and Rei carried
"On behalf of the Ravens Nest and her administrators, welcome to the Ravens, Zero. Keep this with you at all times; it'll alert you when you have a mission request"
Shinji accepted the palmtop and was almost tackled by Misato. This hug wasn't as crushing as the others she had given him. But it was firm none the less.
Once she had let him go it was Yui's turn, she walked up and pulled him into a gentle but firm and caring hug. She kissed him on the forehead and stroked his hair once before letting him go.
Next was Rei, her hug was the quickest of the 3 but still firm.
Some of the mechanics standing nearby were getting jealous of the attention Shinji was getting from the women. The 5 then herd some one walking up from behind them, it was Jack-O.
Requiem nodded to the man who returned it and approached the group
"Excellent job today Zero"
Shinji nodded even though he had never met the man before
"Thank you"
Requiem smacked himself in the forehead
"Oh crap where are my manners, jack this is Yui Ikari, Orchid and Zero's mother. Zero whom you've met and you know Orchid and Misato"
He then turned to the others
"Everybody this is the Ravens Nest Administrator Jack-O"
After everyone had done the introductions jack turned to Misato
"If I may ask were you able to get in touch with your superior"
Misato nodded
"Yes, last night, he said he would be able to see you when ever you were able"
Jack thought for a moment
"When are you returning to Tokyo 3?"
"Tomorrow why"
"I'd like to tag along"
Requiem spoke up
"About that jack, Orchid and I wanted to go"
Jack-O looked back at the young Raven
"Why"
"Well, Orchid wants so spend time with her mom and as for me…well…"
Requiem's side glance at Orchid told Jack everything he needed to know
"I read you, so how long will you two stay for"
Requiem shrugged
"That depends on Orchid"
Jack nodded
"Well, how about this, we all meet here at 9:00 AM and head out at 10:00. That'll give us enough time to get a transport ready and our AC's aboard"
Everyone agreed and headed home, Requiem and Rei especially; they had a date after all
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Requiem sat in the living room at the Raven Networks interface terminal looking over the Wraiths parts. He had just ordered a new head and wanted to check on his performance and do some more tuning
AC Name- Wraith
Pilot - Requiem
Head – CR-H98X5-EYE4 (Crest EYE model with expanded radar capacity)
Core: CR-52PXC (Crest prototype core based heavily on the CR-C90U3, has both OB and EO functions)
Arms – CR-A92X5 (4th generation design with low energy consumption)
Legs: CR-21PXL (Crest prototype legs based heavily on the CR-LH80S2, has installed hanger units on upper legs)
Inside - none
Extension - none
Back unit R – CR-WB91 LGL (reduced weight Linear Gun, uses smaller rounds than the WB7LG) (Replaced with CR-WB69M when equipped with Karasawa)
Back Unit L – WB1 1 M-HYDRA (missile splits into 4 separate warheads after launch)
Arm Unit R – CR-WR93RL (high heat attack linear rifle equipped with a new mechanism) (or Karasawa Mk II)
Arm Unit L – CRWL69LB (basic model laser blade meant for close combat)
Option parts – O01-AMINO, CR-O69ES, CR-O6955, CRO71 EC, CR-O7SLA, O03-CODON
Hip Hanger: CR-WR69M
Color: Brown primary with Gray secondary and Black joint color
Satisfied he logged off and shut down the computer. He sat at the computer in a black dress shirt and black dress pants with a silver seam running the length of the legs. He wore black socks, no neck tie and black shoes which were comfortable but still formal enough for this. All he had to do now was waiting for Yui and Misato to finish with Rei.
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Misato and Yui had managed to pull off a rather nice outfit for Rei. A "little black dress" that reached almost half way between her knee and ankle with a slit in the right side going to her knee. She also wore a dark blue over jacket that only went halfway to her waist. She also wore very little makeup at Yui's insistence. Once she saw the finished product, Misato agreed with her. Rei smiled as she looked in the mirror. Over the years she had heard may times that with just a bit of attention she would look stunning, now she thought so as well.
If anyone in her old school had seen her dressed like this they would have easily placed her on par with Asuka if not better.
She was ready, they would be leaving for dinner in a few moments, and Rei would have to remember to call Requiem, Joshua tonight. She followed Yui and Misato into the living room where Requiem awaited.
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When Requiem and Shinji saw Rei their jaws dropped to the floor, she was gorgeous. Requiem recovered and walked up to her
"You look great Rei"
Rei smiled and blushed
"Thank you Joshua"
The pair heard a car horn from outside; Requiem turned to his date and extended his hand
"You ready?"
Rei gently took his hand
"Yes"
The pair started for the door, but were stopped by Yui who took a picture of her daughter going on her first date, her first picture of Rei, but not the last.
Requiem and Rei headed out to the waiting car and then on to the restaurant they were to have dinner at.
They arrived at the restaurant some time later. It was a rather nice place, formal but not to much. They went in and once Requiem flashed his Raven ID they were let in. this was after all, a place strictly for Ravens, a place for the Ravens to go to relax.
Once they were seated the waiter brought their menus and left. Requiem looked at the menu and quickly decided what he would have. He sat his menu down and noticed Rei was looking at him. He sighed quietly and tried to break the ice
"Did you find anything you like?"
She nodded and smiled
"Yes there were several vegetarian dishes available"
"That's good"
They sat in silence for a few moments until requiem spoke
"This isn't easy for me Rei…I wasn't originally going to do this…but…I was wondering, if you would consider…"
For the first time in his life Requiem couldn't think of what to say, he took a breath and just said what he felt
"…I've liked you ever since we met, would you go out with me, be my girlfriend."
Rei smiled
"Yes"
Requiem blinked
"You will?"
"Yes Joshua I will, because I feel the same for you"
Requiem smiled, he slowly reached across the table and took Rei's hand into his own. The pair intertwined their fingers together and just sat there, nothing more needed to be said until Rei looked up at him
"Why were you not going to do this?"
Requiem took a breath to collect his thoughts
"I'll probably be fighting 9-Ball again soon, I just, didn't want you hurt if something happened to me, but your mom and Misato made me realize that it would hurt you anyway"
Rei lightly nodded
"Yes, it would, please see to it that, that does not happen"
"I'll do my best, that's all I can do"
Rei smiled
"I ask for nothing else"
The waiter arrived and took their orders, the two talked about various things through the evening. They paid their bill and left, the car that had taken them was waiting outside and took the pair back to Requiems
The car stopped and let the two out. After Requiem paid the driver he left, leaving the young couple at the door. Requiem took Rei's hand's into his and looked into her eyes
"I had a great night"
Rei smiled and blushed
"As did I"
The two just starred at each other until they slowly came together, for a soft first kiss.
It was at that point that a flash bulb went off
Surprised, Requiem and Rei turned to the door, their stood Yui with camera in hand. She smiled softly and sighed happily as she headed back to the room she shared with her two children and put the camera away, another first in her daughter's life captured on film. Her first kiss
The two teens just sighed a bit and walked into the house and changed into some not so formal clothing and readied for bed, after getting hounded by Misato for holding hands for pretty much the rest of the night.
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That night after everyone had gone to sleep; Rei got up and went to Requiem's room. She found the door unlocked and easily got in. She closed the door and crept to his bed. She sat on the beds edge and looked at its peacefully sleeping occupant. She gently slid back the covers and slipped into bed next to him. She had known for a few days now she was in love with him. She gently put her arms around him, at which point he woke up.
"Who…Orchid, what are you doing?"
Rei smiled
"Sleeping"
Knowing he wouldn't win he gathered the girl into his arms and after kissing her goodnight, their second kiss, went back to sleep with Rei nodding off right afterward.
Both knew there would most likely be hell to pay tomorrow for this, but neither cared.
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The next morning Yui found the two curled up together, the first thought in her mind wasn't a pleasant on so she pulled back the blanket…
To find both still wearing the cloths they went to bed in, Rei her button up T-shirt, bra, and panties and Requiem in his shirt and boxers. She honestly thought it was kind of cute to see the two like that
'Ah, young love, well I can't let them lay in bed all day'
She reached down and shook her daughters shoulder
"Rei…Rei, time to get up"
Rei rolled over and looked at Yui
"…mother…what…"
Rei then remembered where she was and blushed, Yui giggled a bit
"Wake your boyfriend; I have breakfast ready we need to leave in an hour"
Yui left Rei to wake Requiem and returned to the kitchen where Shinji and Misato were waiting. Shinji noticed her first
"Where was Rei?"
Yui smiled
"Asleep"
Misato looked over
"Where"
Yui's smile turned into a slight smirk
"With her boyfriend"
Misato's eyes grew to the size of saucers
"They didn't, did they?"
Yui smiled
"Down girl, no they didn't, they were both wearing what they went to bed in"
Misato sighed and laid her head on her arm
"That's good, there to you young for that"
She looked back up at Yui
"They slept together"
Yui nodded
"Yep, I have to admit I'm a bit envious of Rei, having someone like that. The joys of young love I suppose"
Requiem and Rei walked into the kitchen, Requiem pulled out a chair for Rei and sat in the one beside of her with yawn.
The two were teased non stop by Misato until their ride arrived to take them to the garage where Jack-O and another Raven who would be going along, the arenas A-5 Ranker, Evangel were waiting along with Executioner and his AC fresh back from his mission, he was going to. Once everyone arrived the moved their AC's into the transport and were off
A/N well there's the 12th chapter updated…onward