Here comes the third act, I am sorry for the delay it took, I took a bit of a break over the holidays.
As always Neon Genesis Evangelion and anything related to it are properties of Hideaki Anno and Studio Gainax. One day...
Act 3: Of the Flock Burdened with death.
"Hmmm..." She opened her eyes. She didn't have any nightmares about the fight. The ceiling wasn't the clean white of the hospital but rather a creamish yellow.
'What?... Did I dream all that up...?' She wondered, black hair falling over her eyes as she turned. Wardrobe open, bags all open on the floor, her laptop charging in the nightstand. No, she remembered. She remembered the Eva, the Angel, Ritsuko, her 'father', ... Misato...
And then her face lit up like a red light and Ikari was very much awake as she remembered last night. Oh gods, she fucked up didn't she? Misato may have joked about it when she came out of the bath but she was sure she went too far.
'Way to go Yuria, you just got a really nice roomate that happens to be achingly beautiful and you probably weirded her the hell out. And she's your superior. And you have to fight giant monsters now.'
Suddenly, getting out of bed didn't seem to be a good idea.
But no, her conscience had to chime in that she should at least get up and tidy up the apartment a bit for her new friend, as a way of apologizing. And also because the mess annoyed her. And also because it was 5:30 AM and she was wide awake and would feel guilty if she didn't.
At that moment Yuria once again reaffirmed to herself that yes, being a decent person kinda sucked sometimes.
All in all, the rough of the cleaning took about one hour, if only because she was being quiet to not wake Misato up. She had no idea how heavy the Major's sleep was yet, or she would have used vacuum cleaners and trash grinders.
Looking around, she smiled at her work. It definitely wasn't shining clean, but it was at least presentable. And both her back and stomach hurt so it was definitely time to take a break from cleaning and eat something.
Taking some leftovers from the fridge, the now official Third Child and pilor of Unit 01 set down when she heard the hideously loud alarm of a certain purple haired person ring out and probably wake up anyone and anything in a three kilometer radius. Looking at her roomate's door in beffudlement, fork still halfway to her mouth, she watched as a very much underdressed Misato walked into the corridor that connected the apartment together. Kick-starting her brain, she said the first decent thing that came to her mouth.
"'Morning, Misato. How did you sleep?'"
Still stifling a yawn, the Major was quick to jump when her brain fired up and noticed she had someone else in her kitchen. Someone she knew. And the apartment was cleaner than she ever had it?
"OH! Hi Yuria! Sorry I didn't notice you, was still halfway asleep." Scratching the back of her head and letting out a guilty chuckle, the older woman took a look around and found that yes, the apartment was a lot cleaner. "Aww, you didn't need to do all this... but thank you." She let loose one of her honest smiles, less massive than the ones she tended to use, but to Yuria, it was something that she wouldn't forget so soon.
As if the sight of Misato stretching in a pair of shorts and top that were somehow less modest than underwear didn't make sure of that.
Blushing, Yuria took a sip of the tea she had made, the hot beverage clashing hideously with the freezer leftovers, but right now she couldn't bring herself to care. As she heard Misato getting the rest of the leftovers and a can of beer, her thoughts idled.
'Wonder what I'll have to do today... Probably some sort of combat training, if they have any idea what they are doing.' At the thought of combat, her mind wandered to the self note she made yesterday.
'Visit the other pilot. Ask how she's doing. Maybe bring something to ease her boredom in that hospital.' And then Yuria realized she didn't even know the name of said pilot, let alone what entertainment she would like.
"Hey, Misato, what's the name of the other pilot? The blue haired girl. What is she like?"
"Oh, Rei you mean?" The older woman answered, sipping her beer instead of inhaling it like a pump. "She's a nice girl. Very reserved and quiet most of the time, although she's been getting better recently. Why the sudden question?"
Looking off into the distance, the Third Child recalled the events from the past day.
"She was gurneyed past me when I was waiting at the hospital yesterday. She seemed horribly bored. Was thinking we could visit her, maybe bring her something to pass the time? Must suck to just stare at a ceiling or crap television for days on end. Although she's probably swamped in cards and flowers from admirers by now."
At that, Misato chuckled at the mental image of boys throwing themselves at Rei while she just looked at them impassively. Which was the case back in her school days for a while before they just gave up.
"You'd be surprised, I don't think she has many friends per se. I at least rarely see her talking to anyone other than Ritsuko and the Commander. I think she'd appreciate a visit, yeah."
With a small grunt of dismissal, Yuria looked off to the side, expression darkening. "Hah, as if anyone would talk to that shell of a man if not ordered to. Nice joke, Major."
Wincing internally, Misato decided to break the story now. It would get worse if she figured out on her own.
"Actually, the Commander... raised her."
At that, the younger woman promptly choked at the tea she was drinking, having to punch her chest to get air again. "He WHAT!?" Eyes wide as saucers, Yuria listened as Misato explained what she knew.
Pale, she looked utterly dismayed as Misato finished. "Good gods... That girl, no one deserves that. No wonder she doesn't have many friends then. Must have been raised like a tool or instrument...a child soldier." The thought only managed to make her hatred for Gendo Rokobungi to run even deeper. And then she realized she could both befriend the girl, and bring her farther away from the bastard. That would be a nice thing to do, yes.
With a decided look in her eyes, she asked her roommate. "Alright, we'll definitely visit her then. Do you know what sort of gift she'd like?" At that, the commander of operations of NERV searched through her memories of the First Child.
"Hmm... Actually, I do see her reading books sometimes. I think she likes them." Smiling, Yuria Ikari finished her tea in one big gulp. "That's decided then, we'll go to a Book Shop before we visit her!"
As Yuria fruitlessly looked through the aisles, Misato in tow, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. "Why didn't you mention that you didn't know what types of books she liked?" She asked her friend, frustration evident in her voice. Offering both hands up as a placating gesture, the Major answered.
"Hey, you didn't ask. I don't tend to read a lot of books so I forgot about that."
As the black haired girl looked around, said hair neatly combed into a ponytail with a few shorter bangs in the front, she witnessed what could be well the solution to her problems. Making her way to the display case, she smiled as she found something that would work. However, one question was eating away at her brain.
"Hey Misato, how did Rei get so injured anyway? It seemed pretty serious."
Looking to the side, the older one of the pair narrated guiltily...
"It's out of control! Evacuate the building!" A technician shouted, but there was no time as the gigantic metal foot slammed through the roof of the control room, making the many dignitaries inside duck for cover.
"Control rods aren't retreating! Possibility of meltdown imminent!" The command bridge of Japan's Heavy Chemical Industries Jet Alone Prime project was awash in warnings, as the 60 meter tall robot made it's way towards the city of Atsugi.
"Time is running out, give me the password." Major Katsuragi was absolutely done having to deal with the leader of the JA Project, Shiro Tokita. The man had no idea how to act in a moment of crisis, and his hubris meant that now they had to deal with a walking nuclear meltdown.
"I can't. I need the clearance!" The man answered, clearly never prepared to something like this.
"Then we'll have to do it the hard way. I'm getting Unit 00 to stop it." As Misato reached for her cellphone to contact NERV, Tokita could only rest his head in his hands in despair. He knew he was finished.
As Misato and Ritsuko huddled in front of a laptop, they could hear the report from NERV's command bridge via the voice comms. "Unit 00 is active and ready to deploy. Payload separation on your orders, Major." Switching the line to the pilot, Katsuragi explained the plan.
"Alright Rei, this is the current plan. You'll be deployed 200m in front of Jet Alone. We haven't been cleared to use our weapons so you'll have to stop it in hand to hand before he can reach anywhere near Atsugi. According to the techs you'll have 4 minutes until critical meltdown. I want you to immobilize it permanently then get out of the explosion radius, you get that?"
"Understood Major." Rei Ayanami, pilot of Unit 00, answered. This should be a relatively simple deployment. Incapacitate the robot, then get out. Far easier than going toe to toe with an Angel, at any rate.
"Unit 00, Launch!" At Misato's order, the explosive bolts holding the Evangelion to the flying wing transport cut their connection, sending the war machine into a free-fall of 500 meters to the landing zone. Landing in a 3 point pose and sending quakes around from the impact, the First Child looked at her opponent.
It had stopped.
"Jet Alone engaging combat subroutines! It's detected the Eva as an impediment to it's objective!" One of the techs from the JA Project sounded over the radio. "Alright Rei, you heard that? It's classified you as a threat. Looks like you'll have to do this the hard way. Be careful out there, we don't know it's combat capabilities." Misato informed over the pilot comm link, both giant robot and giant cyborg now circling each other in a battle stance.
With a ghost of a smile, at the control of her chariot of the soul, Ayanami answered. "Then it has classified me correctly. Unit 00, engaging."
At her will, the orange and grayish white Evangelion broke into a run, aim dead set on the current target. Noticing it's opponent taking the initiative, the robot prepared to intercept with a cross, only to have the attack smash... against a multicolored hexagon with the sound of ringing glass. As it was, it did not have time to dodge as it's opponent, undeterred from it's run, simply brought it's arm extended outwards, sending the cream-colored giant smacking back-first into the ground, several of it's cooling rods breaking off from the force of the impact.
At that moment, Misato Katsuragi wasn't really sure if her eyes were relaying what they were seeing to her brain correctly. "Rei, did you just... clothesline Jet Alone?" At the question from her superior officer, the First Child merely looked at the video link, curious. "It was effective." Looking at her old friend at her side and seeing her shrugging, Nerv's operations commander had to agree that yes, it was. "Fair enough. Continue the operation, Rei."
Seeing her target starting to struggle to get up, Rei once again smiled faintly.
"Acknowledged."
And promptly brought her Eva into an elbow drop against the helpless robot. "Rits, has Rei been watching wrestling?" The by now very confused Major asked the lead scientist of Project E. "It would appear so, yes. This is... unexpected." As Unit 00 put Jet Alone into a leg lock, successfully managing to rip said leg out of the robot, Ritsuko had to admit something.
"It does seem to be working."
It was working indeed, as Rei used the leg to hit her opponent across the tarmac of the testing field, all but exploding said leg in the process. As she watched the meltdown clock go down past 3 minutes, the pilot of Unit 00 willed her giant insult against conventional physics into a run again, watching as Jet Alone, to it's credit, managed to stand on a single leg, prepared to bring both arms down against the opponent which was overwhelming it.
The robot was too slow however, as the colorful Eva threw itself into a dive against it's midsection, once again sending it tumbling into the ground. It tried hitting it's current target, but to no avail as each strike smashed harmlessly against against it's AT Field, unable to stop Unit 00 from ripping out the other leg, and smash it against the robot's body until it broke apart. Having managed to neutralize it's main method of locomotion, Rei got up and brought some distance between her and the severely damaged Jet Alone, watching as it struggled to roll until it was facing the ground...and immediately started using both arms to drag itself as fast as it could towards it's original target.
"Damnit, that thing is stubborn. Rei, neutralize the arms as well. You have another minute and a half until you have to pull back." Misato ordered, watching as the Eva moved to intercept it's target.
As Unit 00 got in front of Jet Alone, it grabbed both of the flailing limbs, using one foot to hold it's head in place against the ground and pulling hard, until with the sound of shredding metal, both coming off with a shower of sparks.
And it's visor promptly turning a blazing red.
"Jet Alone has engaged it's self-destruction sequence! It's going to explode!" One of the techs reported in a panicked voice, prompting Misato to immediately open the comm channel with the pilot. "Rei! It's going to self-destruct! Get out of there!"
But there was simply no time, as the reactor inside the robot reached critical mass and released all of it's energy at once, enveloping both it, the Eva, and several hundred meters around them into super-heated plasma. Thankfully, Rei Ayanami had managed to, however hastily, bring up her AT Field, and she was able to keep the blast at bay with some effort.
She wasn't, however, able to block the quintet of N2 blasts that followed the nuclear explosion. The first child was vaguely aware for a fraction of a second of the Eva's body starting to disintegrate, but before she could scream from the feedback pain, the sheer shock of the explosion sent her world dark.
As the blinding light subsided, Misato watched the screen of the laptop she was sharing with Ritsuko in horror as the status display of the Eva was completely offline, all sensors reportedly destroyed. There were supposed to be sensors inside the core itself...and the Entry Plug.
"Rei!" As Misato bolted to a parked Humvee nearby and headed to the smoldering remains of Unit 00, Ritsuko only stared with wide eyes at the sight of the utterly destroyed Evangelion, pieces of body and even a shattered core lining the test field, the smoking Entry Plug bent and ruptured near what used to be a state of the art War Machine.
"Oh wow... how did she even survive that?" Yuria asked as Misato maneuvered her car into the underground parking lot of the hospital, gift package on her lap. "She barely did. Once I got there, she was flat-lining. I managed to hold her on CPR until the emergency unit arrived. Took 4 days and several surgeries to get her out of critical condition." The Major remembered, her face marred with worry even after the fact.
"Huh...guess I got really lucky with only 2 days of hospital time after my first deployment, eh?" The young Ikari wondered aloud, eyes downcast realizing just what she got herself into. Biting her lip, Misato knew she wasn't off the mark.
"Look, Yuria, I'm not going to lie. Being an Eva pilot is extremely dangerous, despite all of us doing our best to back you guys up. Unfortunately, the Evangelions are the only thing standing between us, and the Angels. Plus, if I had known about the self destruct capabilities, I wouldn't have sent Rei in the first place, would've just called an N2 strike and be done with it." At that, the normally pleasant expression on the operations commander's face was replaced with one that made the blood in the Third Child's veins freeze.
"I made sure Mr. Tokita will never put our pilots, or anyone else, into danger again. Personally." Thankfully for Yuria's heart, they had arrived at the door to Rei's hospital room, which made Misato's expression change from cold killer to upbeat friend. "So, ready to meet her?" She asked with a completely innocent smile, the sheer degree of the change making the younger woman's brain lag for a second. "Oh, yea. Sure."
"Hello Rei, are you awake? It's Misato, I brought someone who wants to meet you as well." As she listened to the response in the intercom, she could see Yuria's nervousness on her face, despite the young woman's efforts to hide it. "Yes Major, you may come in." Came the very soft voice, almost a whisper. The voice that filled the room as the door opened, however, was most definitely not a whisper.
"Rei-chan! How are you feeling today?" As usual, Katsuragi's energy and exuberance filled the room, leaving both pilots stunned for a little while.
Blinking a few times to get back down to earth, Rei let a very slight smile at the sight of the one person she knew actually cared about her. Then again, an Ayanami smile would be recognized by most people as "looking absolutely neutral", so the gesture unfortunately went unnoticed by the Major. "I am getting better Katsuragi-san. My wounds are continuing to heal, and at this rate I should be able to move back to my apartment in approximately a week."
Rei's smile, however, was noticed by Yuria. Which made her stare. She really should stop doing that, but she found the First Child to be just... stunning now that she could see her properly. She looked like an Angel, a real one and not the abominations they were fighting. "Glad to know, Rei. We can have a celebration when you're released from here, the upper floor is lonely without you around, y'know?" Misato answered, smiling warmly at the injured Eva pilot. And then remembering that oh right Yuria is here too.
It took a second of both other occupants in the room staring back at her to get the pilot of Unit 01 to finally break out of her gaze, prompting a vicious blush to spread across her features.
"OH! Oh, yeah, me!" Embarrassed, the Third Child stepped forward, wrapped box in her hands. "Uhhmm... My name's Yuria Ikari. I've been assigned to pilot Unit 01. You may have seen me around the hospital yesterday and the day before. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ayanami." Giving a warm smile and a bow (she hadn't entirely forgotten Japanese manners), she remembered the very bright gift she was holding. "Oh. Ah. Yesterday I saw you in the corridor and you seemed really... bored, so Misato and me took the liberty of getting you a gift!" Smiling tentatively, she gently placed the box in the girl's bed besides her lap.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Ikari-san." Nodding to the girl, she noticed that yes, she was nice indeed. There was the same warmth in those eyes as the one in the Major's. Moving her casted arm stiffly, Rei took the gift into her lap and slowly undid the wrapping. "And thank you for the gift. It is very kind of you." As the only brunette of the room watched the bluenette unwrap her gift with anticipation, she couldn't stop herself going into a diatribe just in case she didn't like it.
"Misato mentioned you like books, but we didn't know what sort of books you like to read, so I kinda... went for a third option. I hope it's ok."
As the Nephilim saw the actual box of the device she was pleasantly surprised. "An Amazoo Ember, and a gift card. That is... a thoughtful choice considering your conundrum." As she powered up the e-book reader/tablet device, she thought to herself. 'She is indeed nice. She sook out and acquired me a gift without having ever talked to me beforehand. Her eyes show concern and kindness just like the Major's. Katsuragi-san is my friend. I shall endeavor so Ikari-san can be one as well.'
Which is when a mini-firewire cable popped up at the corner of her vision and broke Rei out of her inner dialogue. Following the cable, she could see one Yuria Ikari holding it, and said cable ending on a plug which was already connected to the wall near her bed. "Gotta charge it." She smiled.
Which for a second left a very faintly blushing former Unit 00 pilot scrambling to make her brain come back to reality. She wasn't entirely successful. "Huh?" "The battery doesn't come with a lot of charge, so it's good to make sure it gets a full charge now that you turned it on. Trust me, I'm a systems engineer."
Her brain now thankfully working, Ayanami managed to grab said cable and slot it into the device before she rested it on her bed once more. Avoiding her eyes for a second, she remembered what Fuyutsuki had said to her. 'I know everything I've told you is a lot to process, Rei. But if there is one thing that you take away from this, let it be that memories with people who care for you are the most precious thing in this world.' Nodding to the Third Child, she turned her eyes to Misato.
"Katsuragi-san. About that celebration you mentioned, may Ikari-san attend as well?" At that, NERV's operations commander eyes widened, as a sneaky smile graced her features.
"I'm surprised you'd ask. And of course she can, would be awkward not to since she's my roommate now." At that, Rei gave a slightly wider smile, almost perceptible to the human eye. "I see. That is fortunate, we'll all live close to each other then." At that moment, however, a knock on the door interrupted the rare episode of bonding.
"Miss Ayanami? I'm a Nurse, it's time for your shower." The very soft-spoken woman called, patiently waiting at the door. "Guess it's time for us to leave then." Yuria nodded at Misato, then extended her hand to Ayanami.
"Looking forward to talking with you more. Is it okay if I call you Rei?" The Third Child asked, a friendly smile gracing her features. She really made sure to steal Misato's version of this. "That would be... acceptable, yes. Yuria-san."Taking the hand offered, the former pilot let out another ghost of a smile. She was happy right now, she'd admit. Seeing the bluenette calling her by first name as well, the only active pilot of NERV-Tokyo grinned.
Seeing both her friends leaving after saying their goodbyes, Rei hummed an old song as the nurse helped her to the shower. Maybe she wouldn't even have to kill as many people as she planned to.
Thobiasel grimaced as she got out of the helicopter, the sun was punishing even through her sunglasses. Damn Eiael and her penchant for South America.
As they walked, one of the workers on site approached them. "Thobiasel, ma'am! And agent Osawa. Welcome to the last bastion of Amazon Rain Forest, our forward operating base is over there. The Commander will meet you now." As they approached they could see a small river, filtration plants upstream making so it is a sparkling clear blue instead of the blood red it'd normally be, they saw the expected blue hair framing a pensive face that stared at the waterway.
"Two Thousand Years, sister. They have ruled the world for two momdamned millennia. Their goal is at hand. What are we to do?"
Sitting besides her closest guardian and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, the Guardian of the Sands answered. "I know it's painful to see our home like this, Eiael. But those loyal to us have not been still. While we slept, they did everything they could to give us one final chance when we were awakened. Even as we speak, the Society works in the shadows of the betrayers to be ready to stop their plans when the time comes."
To any passerby, seeing the two blue-haired sisters talking would be a touching sight as the younger one set her jaw, determination growing in her eyes.
"But they need our help. We must do our duty. You are not alone, Guardian of the Springs." At that, Thobiasel got up, offering her hand to her sister. "Come. Let us set this world right once more."
- Umbra Fleet, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean-
"How is the progress on the Core and control systems?" A grey-haired admiral asked through the radio, staring at the red drizzle that fruitlessly beat against the glass of the command bridge. What wouldn't he give to see the ocean as it used to be. This red expanse was... unsettling. Foreboding. He could see the streaks of faint red coming down the plates on his ship and the escorts, staining the crescent circle leaves with a being in the center which made up the symbol of this organization.
Down in the bowels of the main ship, the leader of the team currently putting together the final systems and armor plates for the massive body which rested in a lake of LCL grinned as their objective neared completion.
"Less than two weeks to full operational capability, Andersen. Just keep the Kestrel safe for a little while longer." Doctor Chandler answered. Below her, being worked on by several staff members, the deep red orb pulsed in time with the organ connected to it from the Evangelion's Body. The first Core in the world operable without a contact experiment. Right on time, as the leader of IPEA's own Eva project knew that as brilliant as Dr. Akagi was, even she couldn't restore Unit 00 after the JA incident.
""Hopefully that fool of a commander will be already persuaded by the time you're complete..."
As she looked at the fruits of her labor, she grinned. 'God's in his Heaven because we are some crafty bastards.'
"... Right, Unit Null?"
As the Eleven monoliths came to life in the darkness, Gendo Ikari, Commander of NERV, was not intimidated. He knew what these old men wanted. He knew how blind they were. They were nothing more than paws in his game. But yet, he had to keep up appearances.
"Gendo. We have come here to discuss the matter of the repairs of Unit 00. The timetable provided is unacceptable to the project." The one labeled SEELE 01 spoke.
"The Evangelions are our weapons against the Angels! They should not be risked against any other minor threats! You have put the entire scenario at risk!" SEELE 07 all but shouted, his temperamental nature well known to everyone involved.
"The project was never at risk." Gendo simply replied, unmoving from his stance with both hands laced in front of his mouth. "We all know anything other than Unit 01 is expendable. It is the only Evangelion needed for Instrumentality as we seek it."
"But we cannot know if Unit 01 alone is enough to defeat the required angels. It has only seen combat once, and it's pilot has not been trained." SEELE 09 argued. Always the scared one.
"That is being tended to. Regardless, the Berlin Branch was already informed that they are to transfer Units 02 and 08 as soon as possible. That will bring our capable Evangelions to the maximum allowed by the Vatican Treaty."Gendo offered. They were as predictable as a clock, as always.
"As of this morning, the Vatican Treaty has been rescinded." SEELE 01 announced to the surprise of every other in the reunion. "We have arranged for a new Unit to be brought for Pilot Ayanami. The German Units will remain in custody of NERV Berlin unless we decide two Evangelions are not enough to combat the Angels. Keep us posted of any developments, Gendo. This meeting is adjourned." At that, the monoliths faded into the darkness, only for the darkness itself to ebb away as the lights on the green room came online.
"Yohanan is playing dangerously, it seems. Even he normally does not try to subvert us this much." Fuyutsuki, which was standing behind Gendo, commented. "They are merely trying to ascertain dominance. They want to be completely sure they will have their kingdom, and that no one will get in their way. Even so, they grow more oblivious by the day. When the time comes, they will be left to a dead world as we, the flock burdened with death, ascend to Instrumentality on our own."
At that thought, Gendo Ikari did the one thing that ushered despair to everyone but him.
He smiled.
This is it folks, act 3! I'm sorry it went a bit slowly, there was a lot I had to cover before the story could move forwards, and I wanted to make sure to give the main trio a good development. And of course, as to the main plot, the more I explain, the more questions you will have. Trust me, true to the original, there will be plenty of Gambit Pileups!
Please follow if you wish to be notified when I upload a new chapter, and review if you can! And tune in next time, when Yuria finds out that being a pilot ain't all death battles and giant beams of energy.
It' s only mostly death battles and giant beams of energy