Within the darkened expanse of his office, Gendo Ikari frowned imperceptibly, mouth a tight line behind his steepled fingers. To his right was Fuyutsuki, silently looking ahead – and standing in front of the desk, haggard, was the Second Child.
Asuka's face was tired, her shoulders slumped, and her hair was unbound from the ribbon that had previously held it back in a ponytail. Her scarlet plugsuit still shimmered with the sticky sheen of dried LCL – save for her right hand, where the material had been burnt away, the cuff above it blackened and charred.
The commander and the pilot looked at each other for a small eternity, neither saying anything.
Finally, Asuka spoke, her words carefully chosen.
"Commander – why am I being held here?"
"You know full well, Second Child." Gendo retorted, curt.
"What I know,"Asuka replied, her tone carrying some venom, "is that after destroying that Angel, and after getting Shinji to the medics, you had me hauled away in handcuffs."
"You withheld vital information from NERV." The commander shot back, with sudden power in his voice. "Information that, as proven, is absolutely invaluable to our cause, and humanity's survival. And we will find out what you did – and how you did it, no matter who we have to go to."
Asuka's fists clenched, her stomach churning with apprehension. Fury flashed across her face for the briefest of seconds, but she remained where she was.
"What do you want to know?" She finally ground out.
Beside the commander, Fuyutsuki stepped forward, his manner somewhat gentler than the other man.
"Tell us about yesterday, Pilot - before Operation Yashima began."
"That's nothing you don't already know." She replied.
"Humor us." Fuyutsuki said.
With an inhale, Asuka straightened up, and focused on the two men in front of her.
"Fine."
Evangelion is property of Studio Khara and GAINAX.
Street Fighter and Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist are property of CAPCOM.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: SENSHI NO MICHI
Many hours ago.
"From the data we've collected, we can assume that the Angel attacks any aggressor within a given range."
Leaning back in her chair, Misato balanced a pen between two fingers as she examined the data in front of her.
"Anything entering that range will be destroyed," Hyuga mused beside her, "making it far too risky for close combat in an EVA, right?"
Misato didn't reply, instead setting the pen back down and turning to another technician.
"What's the status of its AT Field?" She asked, eyes still on the monitor in front of her.
"Still active. It's strong enough that the visible changes in the phase space are visible." The technician replied.
On the screen, a powerful cannon fired, sending a large tracer slug in the direction of the Angel. Before it could impact the crystalline creature, however, its AT Field shimmered into life, casually deflecting the projectile.
"Using conventional means of attack – guided missiles, artillery, bombs – will inflict more damage on us than on the Angel!" Hyuga sighed, looking at the screen.
"Offensively and defensively, the Angel's perfect – a literal flying fortress." Misato said, frowning. "What's the status on its 'drill'?"
"At the moment, the target's directly above us – and using its AT Field to bore through to NERV HQ."
"It's going to attack NERV directly…" Hyuga said.
"Sassy bastard…" Misato murmured, narrowing her eyes. "What's its ETA?"
"Six-thirty four AM. Just after midnight. By then, it'll have penetrated all twenty-two layers of armour, and compromise NERV HQ itself."
"Giving us less than ten hours…" The captain breathed, before the communications system buzzed into life, above them.
"The Angel has come into contact with the first armour plate."
"Right – what's the status of Unit Two?" Misato asked, turning in her chair to face Hyuga. The technician at the other end of the communications paused, before offering an answer.
"It'll take three hours to install replacement parts."
"And Unit Zero is still encountering feedback errors…meaning it wouldn't be able to cope with prolonged combat." Misato said. "Unit One's still fully operational, though…what's the status of Unit Two's pilot?"
Flicking through pages on his clipboard, Hyuga read from a medical report, eyes flitting over vital details.
"No severe physical damage – but her nerve pulses are up by point-eight percent. Still within acceptable limits.
"Enemy arrival in nine hours, fifty-five minutes!" The communications squawked.
"Talk about high-pressure situations…" Misato sighed, crossing her arms.
"Maybe we should try raising a white flag?" Hyuga suggested, his tone joking.
"Before we do that…there's one other thing I'd like to try…" The captain replied, leaning forward and smirking at the image of the Angel in front of her.
"You want a sniper to shoot the target from outside its firing range?" Fuyutsuki echoed, raising one eyebrow.
"Yes, sir." Misato replied, from across the expanse of Commander Ikari's office. "Instead of attempting to neutralise the enemy's AT Field, I believe a pin-point shot with a high energy weapon is the only option."
"What do the MAGI have to say about it?" The vice commander enquired.
"The responses from the three MAGI supercomputers were two affirmative and one conditional affirmative." Misato said.
"Our probability of success is eight-point-seven percent." Fuyutsuki mused. In response, Misato let her lips curl into a fearless smile.
"That's the highest value we could get." She replied.
"I see no reason to reject the plan." Gendo interjected, sharp. "Proceed, Captain Katsuragi."
"Yes, sir!"
Inside of Unit One, Shinji sat back in his seat, silent. It had been hours since Asuka had been rushed to the medical wing, hours since he had been able to see her, and he couldn't shake the ever-present fear for the well-being – and life – of his friend.
Yet, Misato had remained focused, even upbeat, at times, as she directed both him and Rei, as well as the myriad staff under her. The boy sighed, as realisation dawned on him, his hands flexing around his EVA's controls.
It makes sense. You can't have any kind of leader who falls apart when something like this happens – especially if their duty is to direct battles. It might not seem like what happened to Asuka affected her…even if it did, it wouldn't matter – it couldn't.
"Alright, Rei – Shinji!" Misato's voice chirped over the communications system. "Take it away!"
Shinji watched with a small measure of bemusement as EVA Unit Zero reached out, and began to lift the roof off the expansive warehouse in front of them. The orange titan reached into the building, and withdrew a massive, narrow cargo container.
"Be careful with that – it's delicate equipment!" The captain warned, and Shinji made a small sound of acknowledgement as he took the crate in both of Unit One's hands, whilst Unit Zero retrieved another.
After setting the crate down on a nearby transport, Shinji glanced at Unit Zero, before opening a communications window. Rei's face appeared, her eyes flitting towards Shinji for the briefest of moments, before they refocused ahead of her.
"Yes, Pilot Ikari?" She asked, as Unit Zero handed the next of the crates to Unit One. Shinji focused on setting the crate on the transport before replying, a little terrified of making a misstep and damaging the equipment inside it.
"This is some kind of rifle, right?"
"A prototype self-propelled positron cannon." Rei supplied.
"Uh…yeah. This thing needs power, right?"
"It does."
"Well - what we going to power it with? I heard Misato saying it needed a lot of energy."
Chopsticks jabbing at his rice and pork, Gouken alternated his gaze between the food and the small, ancient television set on the table in front of him, the afternoon news on screen. The female newscaster droned on in a sickly sweet voice about the day's events – all trivial, and the master let out a sigh.
Again – nothing about what's happening in Tokyo-3. I've heard whispers – overheard snippets of conversation, but nothing cohesive. Nothing concrete.
With one eye on his meal and the other on the television, Gouken watched as the image of the newscaster was suddenly replaced by another. Raising one eyebrow slowly, he listened as the woman began to speak.
"We apologize for interrupting regular programming for this emergency bulletin. From eleven-thirty PM today until early tomorrow morning, there will be a large-scale power blackout throughout all of Japan. We kindly ask for your cooperation."
Leaning back slightly, Gouken set his bowl on the table, and called out.
"Senzo?"
After a moment, a reply came, from the other end of the dojo.
"Yes?"
"There's going to be a blackout tonight." Gouken said, glancing back at the television as the woman began to repeat the message. "Doesn't say what it's for, though…"
But something tells me it wouldn't be outlandish to guess it has to do with Tokyo-3.
"The Angel has penetrated the seventh armour plate!"
Scowling for the briefest of moments, Misato glanced to the left of the command centre, and ordered a communication line opened to the many busy departments around NERV, before leaning forward, resting a hand on Hyuga's chair.
"How's our power supply coming along?" She asked.
Hyuga frowned, taking a moment to form a reply as he shifted through windows on his monitor. "We're currently about three-point-two percent behind schedule, but we should be finished in time."
Nodding, Misato moved back, glancing to her left. "What about the positron rifle?"
The communication system crackled as a technician on the other end grabbed the receiver.
"For the honour of Technology Division Three, we'll have this built in three hours!"
"And for defence?" Misato asked, looking to her right as Ritsuko answered.
"Well, a shield is the best we can come up with in such a short timeframe…it was part of a single-stage-to-orbit shuttle – the ventral plating was super-electromagnetically coated, and Section Two assures us it can withstand the enemy's particle beam for seventeen seconds."
"Good work, Ritsuko. Where are we setting up the shot?" Misato asked, looking forward again. Hyuga leaned in closer to his display, replying.
"Considering the position of the target, geographical features and access to the power transformers, this," the technician indicated a point on the map in front of him, "is the optimal position."
"Excellent!" Misato said. "Our sniper will attack near the top of Mount Futago. Have we decided on a position for Unit Two yet?"
"Yes, ma'am." Hyuga replied, and pointed to another point on the map, on the opposite side of the Angel. "We've chosen a heavily clustered region to provide cover if and when the Angel fires at her."
"That'll do perfectly. She only needs to provide a distraction in case we fail."
Stepping back, the woman raised her voice, to address the entire command centre.
"The operation will commence at zero-hundred hours tomorrow morning. As of now this operation will be referred to as 'Operation Yashima'."
"Roger." Hyuga said.
Now – the only remaining problem is Asuka.
"The pilot of Unit Two has regained consciousness!" Aoba piped up, behind her. "Her examination results seem normal."
"Good." Misato replied. "Then the operation is proceeding as planned."
"Roger."
"Now…" The captain said, "Let's transfer to Mount Futago. Quickly!"
Asuka grimaced, eyes closed. Her face felt somewhat uncomfortable as she did, and she shifted in the hospital bed, the sheets sliding across her body. The redhead winced as a scratchy sensation blossomed on her skin in response, and remained still.
I feel like I've got a full-body sunburn…what happened?
The girl sat up in the bed, the sheets falling to her waist, her hair loose and falling across her back and shoulders. As a chill washed over her bare upper body, she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Gradually, memories returned to her of hours earlier, and her eyes widened.
The Angel – I got my ass kicked. They didn't send Shinji up after me, did they?
The door to the room slid open with a hiss, and Asuka glanced over – Rei came through the doorway, pushing a white trolley ahead of her. The two made eye contact – which Asuka broke first, underneath the albino's unflinching, piercing gaze.
"Pilot Sohryu – I've been sent her to brief you on the timetable for Operation Yashima." Rei stated, then plucked a small journal from the pocket of her uniform skirt.
"The operation will begin at zero-hundred hours. Prior to that, Pilots Ikari, Ayanami and Sohryu will arrive at the EVA Cages at seventeen-thirty. At eighteen-hundred hours, EVA Units Zero, One and Two will activate."
Asuka narrowed her eyes, somewhat uneasy at the other girl as she recited orders, tone measured and words sharp.
"At eighteen-oh-five, the Units will deploy. At eighteen-thirty, Units Zero and One will arrive at the temporary base on Mount Futago, while Unit Two will arrive its designated destination. Once all Units are in place, all pilots will await further instructions."
Without pause, Rei reached underneath the top of the trolley, and withdrew a folded red plugsuit, wrapped in plastic. It was nonchalantly tossed onto the bed, and Asuka sat up a little straighter.
"This is your new plugsuit. Your meal," The albino gestured to the top of the trolley – a metal tray with an unattractive assortment of ready-made, processed food lying on top, "Is here."
The redhead stared at the tray for several seconds, before sighing and reaching for it. "Thanks." She murmured, setting it on her lap, staring at the food.
Rei watched her, silent, before glancing down at Asuka's hands.
"Pilot Sohryu."
Asuka glanced up, about to shovel a rubbery egg into her mouth.
"There is a matter to discuss –"
The door to the hospital room opened again, and Shinji dashed in, panting slightly.
"I came here as soon as I heard you woke up…" The boy said, a smile beginning to break out on his face – which quickly vanished when he realised that Asuka was naked from the waist up.
"Sorry!" He spluttered, covering his eyes with his hand, and the redhead drew the sheets up over her chest, a dusting of red on her cheeks.
"You can look now." Asuka murmured, and Shinji lowered his hand, blushing. He approached the bed, stopping beside Rei, and looked down at her.
"Are you alright? I saw them take you out of the plug, you looked –"
"Like hell? I gathered that." Asuka cut her worried friend off, smirking slightly. "But I'm fine. Apart from a crazy sunburn. What about you?"
"Me?" Shinji replied, quizzical. "Well…
Rei looked between the two as conversation blossomed – the previously subdued pilot of Unit Two had become animated, talkative as soon as Shinji had appeared.
The two pilots are familiar – communication comes easily, freely to them under many different circumstances.
It would not be unreasonable to assume that Pilot Ikari would have knowledge that pertains to the strange readings in the entry plug – but that investigation can wait for another time. A more pressing matter is at hand.
"Doctor Akagi and Captain Katsuragi are waiting for us in the Cages." Rei interjected, sharply. "I would recommend you get dressed as quickly as possible, Pilot Sohryu. Pilot Ikari?"
"Oh – yeah. See you in the Cages?" Shinji said, and Asuka nodded, reaching for her plugsuit.
"See you there."
And Episode Six begins. I'm sorry that I can't offer you a longer chapter, and that it took so long to churn out - but I hope the next part will make up for it! Read and review!