"I'm going down, mayday, mayday." Mana's voice on the comm. system stated in a panic. High in the sky above Tokyo-3, the pink Avalon spun downwards as flames quickly consumed the craft from the inside-out. A large part of the left wing had been cut clean off.
"Mana, eject, eject, eject!" Jon ordered as he maneuvered his Avalon out of the path of the other, nearly crashing into it. With only moments before the craft hit the ground, Mana felt herself being forcibly ejected from the craft. Instead of getting pushed out of her seat and having a parachute open, however, her body was instead surrounded by metallic armor provided by Stark Industries. By the time Avalon 3 hit the ground in a fireball, Mana was using her suits repulses to stabilize herself in the air.
"I'm alright, heading back to base." Hearing her voice, the group felt relief. This was a mistake, as while the twin Evangelions stood unseen by the Angel in their cover within the city, Avalon 1 was struck directly by a pulse of energy from the monster. Without a word, the craft fell to the ground in a hundred pieces.
"Jon's gone silent, Avalon 1 is down. Alpha, retreat to base." Misato ordered.
"Yes ma'am." Mary replied. As she did as ordered, he had to dodge two shots from the Angel before she began her decent at the airport.
"I guess it's just you and me now." Shinji told Rei. The girl didn't respond as they waited for the Angel to get within the range of their weapons. As the Angel finally entered the city, it didn't engage either Evangelion as it continued its march towards the center, where the space between the surface and the Geofront was the smallest.
"Alright, on 3." Shinji told Rei as the two of them readied their rifles. "1…"
Rei exposed her Eva from its hiding spot behind a tower and unleashed three sets of triple short bursts of ammunition into the Angel, hitting it in and around its core. The Angel fell over, going silent.
"Mission objective achieved." Rei stated. In the cockpit view of the Evangelions and Avalons, the screen went blank with only the words "Simulation Terminated".
1.1.3: Angel War
Strike Force Assembled
April 25th, 2015
"That went well." Misato stated. From the observation area overlooking the simulation room, she and Ritsuko watched over the children.
"I think some of them would beg to differ." Ritsuko replied. In the simulation room, they could see Shinji and Jon trying to help Mana out of the suit that simulated the Iron flight suit that had been installed into the Avalons. "This latest run brings then down to an 83% chance of a victory without casualties."
"That's still good odds." Misato replied. "Looking at them now, I think we might actually win this thing."
"They may be getting better, but we still don't know what the next one will be like." Ritsuko pulled out a cigarette for herself. "After all, the last one wasn't anything like Lilith."
"I thought you were trying to quit." Misato smirked.
"I'll quit smoking when you quit drinking." Her smirk turned into a frown. Turning her attention back to the children below, she saw that the boys had finally pulled Mana out of her suit. It wasn't as easy to take off as any of them would have liked, but it simulated interface of the Iron suit well enough.
"Alright children, that's enough for now. Go and get something to eat." Misato ordered them over the intercom system. She then turned her attention back to Ritsuko. "So how is Charlie Strike doing?"
"Their improving, but we shouldn't be too surprised that it's still going to take time. Hikari only has some basic nursing training, and the two boys are just straight out of middle school. Given a bit more time they should be able to be made backup pilots for either system, but for now street level restoration of order is the best they can do." Ritsuko paused to take a few puffs. "I think we should implement Eva/Ava cross pilot training before that. We're much more likely to lose one of them."
"I have to agree." A male voice stated from the entrance of the room. "However, before any of that happens, I think you really should quit that habit. It'll ruin your good looks."
The two women rolled their eyes at Kaji's statement.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of a section two agent?" Ritsuko asked. Though she and Misato expected him to make a witty comment, he instead dropped a small pile of papers on the desk next to her. Seeing that the papers on top where transfer papers, Ritsuko took a look at the names. "They can't be serious. What is Commander Smith thinking?"
"What is Gehirn doing this time?" Misato asked as she took a look at the papers herself. "Well, that's going to make things difficult."
"I'll say, I'm going to need at least a dozen guards on each." Kaji sighed as he took the transfer documents for the two captured mass shifters.
Gehirn base "Bismarck", Germany
Exact location: Classified
"I must say, Director, your visit has been quite enjoyable. Usually all we get are politicians who want to see where the money goes or generals who want to see their latest toy." Commander Smith remarked as he and Director Fury stood in an elevator. From a window on the side, they could see techs working on and around the Helicarrier.
"I know that feeling. At least the president is more understanding then his predecessor." Fury stated. The elevator's descent brought it past the ground level of the docking bay. After a few moments of metal the view returned, this time a large metal cavern that was almost entirely filled by a large red machine. "Impressive sight, how long until deployment?"
"Three weeks if things remain uneventful." Smith informed him. "Though we might have to add a day or two. This base wasn't built with Evangelions in mind. Or Helicarriers for that matter."
The elevator once again lowered itself below the level of the floor of the artificial cavern. This time it did not show another but instead came to a stop. The door behind them opening, the two men stepped out into a long, sterile looking corridor. "How do you people keep this place so clean?"
"State secret, Director, state secret." Smith stated with a light laugh. After coming to the end of the corridor, a red light went over them to confirm their identities and confirm that they had no weapons. Finding that they were who they claimed to be and had nothing that was considered a weapon, the base MAGI system opened the large door at the end of the hall. The door reveals another door, which in turn revealed a third upon opening.
Once the third door opened, the two men entered the holding facility. The room was small and bare, with only the door behind them and the two cells in front of them. The cells themselves where the standard set of bed and toilet, but where normal cells had metallic bars, these ones had a massive, two foot thick retractable door made of transparent aluminum which made up their fourth wall.
Inside his cell, Eren took notice of their entrance. "Finally, someone who isn't just a voice." His female companion in the cell next to his said nothing.
"I believe you've been informed why we are here, children." Smith told them. While the boy nodded, the girl simply paid him no mind. He could see that she could hear him, and understood what he was saying, but that she was just not responding to it visibly. "Well then, I hope you enjoy warm weather, because I hear Japan goes through a heat wave this time of year."
After he made his statement, the glass started to lower itself to release the children from their cells. Unseen to them, however, where the dozens of soldiers in the hallway that ran parallel to the one ahead of them, waiting to charge in should one of them take a chance with their powers.
Fury didn't like such deceptions, but after Hulk and Abominations showed how messy things could get, he made the discovery of the weakness of meta-humans and the preparations for their containment an important part of S.H.I.E.L.D. operations, even for those under their employment.
Even if they were fully loyal children.
Forest Hill, Queens
Parker residence
"Aunt May, I'm home." Peter stated as he returned from a long day 'at work'. As he placed his bike helmet on its hook, he was about to run up to his room to drop off his backpack and the important contents within, when he heard someone else's voice coming from the living room.
Moving himself closer while still trying to stay out of sight, he used his inhuman hearing to listen in on the stranger.
"… and that's how I met Tony Stark. The man is a bit of a narcissist, but he's a genius. Just don't let him know I said that, he'll never let me live it down." The man said.
"Well, that sounds surprisingly like someone I used to know. I guess the more things change the more they stay the same." Peter heard May say. She then sighed. "I was hoping to keep him out of this type of life, we both where."
"I'm sorry for your lose, your husband was one of the best we ever had." The man stated. "Though I guess that seems to be common in your family."
"Oh please," May stated. "We left twenty five years ago. There's probably nothing they say at the academy that isn't an exaggeration or just made up."
"Probably, but that goes for the living legends just as much as the ones who have left the line of work." The man took a momentary pause. "These crumpets are delicious; you wouldn't mind telling me the secret before I leave would you?"
"Oh course not, but…" as May continued to speak, Peter stopped paying attention to think about what their conversation could mean.
"But are you absolutely certain it's Peter?" May asked the man. This brought Peters attention back to the conversation. "I always wanted him to have a normal life. I don't want him to end up like his parents."
"I'm sorry, but we are absolutely certain he is. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he was listening to us right now." After the man said that, Peter knew that whatever he was talking about, it was over. He also knew deep down it was about his secret, but part of him didn't want to believe it.
Taking a chance, he walked into the living room.
"Hi Aunt May, who's this?"
"Agent Coulson, I work with S.H.I.E.L.D., it's a pleasure to meet you Peter." Coulson said, introducing himself and offering Peter his hand.
"Uh, shield?" Peter asked as he accepted the extended hand.
"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." Coulson explained.
"Sounds like someone just wanted the acronym to be shield." Peter replied. Coulson only smiled.
"We get that a lot. I have to be honest with you though, and the reason I'm here isn't so much about pleasantries as it is business." He took a moment to eat one of the crumpets on a plate in front of him. "Though the pleasantries are enjoyable. But in any event I should get straight to the point. We know you're Spiderman."
Peter had expected him to say something like that. Ever since he started he knew that any day someone could come in looking for him. They might be some criminal wanting payback, or, as was the case now, they could be the government. He hadn't really thought of what to do in such a situation, however with his senses not telling him he was in danger, he decided to hear what the man had to say. "So what are you going to do to me?"
"Well, nothing really. I'm really just here to tell you about the Avengers Initiative."
Angel Hive Mind
18th Dimension
I cannot believe they stopped me before reaching the Geofront. Sachiel thought in disappointment. Now my body is not merely broken, but gone.
Oh be quiet. Zeruel thought. We knew they would put up a fight. It is your own fault for underestimating them.
And how was I to know they had such beasts at their disposal? Sachiel though back. After all, it was not her job to infiltrate the Lilith ranks, that had been the job of brother Tabris.
Enough, Israfil stated, now is not the time to fight.
Israfil is right, Israfil also stated. We must rethink how out plan is to be achieved.
Israfil and Israfil being in agreement was enough to quiet Zeruel, who knew how important something had to be for the two to actually agree.
I fear we may need to take drastic measures. Tabris informed them. The Lilin plan more then we have seen. The longer we wait, the greater the ease it is for them to fight us.
Then I saw we strike now! Shamshel boomed. Strike as one and they will fall.
You seem to forget our dilemma, sister. Ramiel informed her. The more of us which materialize at once, the weaker we each are. And if we were to all lose out corporeal forms as Sachiel then all will be lost.
Then what are we to do? Matarael asked.
It's quite simple, really. Tabris stated. We simply make things harder for them in the simplest way possible.
Nerv Section E cafeteria
"So what have you guys been up to?" Kensuke asked Shinji before taking a bit from his dinner. The three groups of Strike Force where eating at what the table that had, without being spoken, been agreed upon by the techs as theirs, right next to the plastered hole in the wall. The whole was plastered but remained unpainted.
"Well, we're still just doing training for when the next angel comes. You?"
"Still learning how to 'restore order' after the fight." Kensuke replied. He took another bit of his food. "So what's it like being in one of those giant robots? I mean, I know it's not the real one you take out, but still."
"Uh, well," Shinji took a moment to think about how to describe it. "It's like… it's like you're looking over the side of a really large building, while controlling a big, bulky controller. Add a constant taste of blood in your mouth and that's about it. Oh wait, the seat is also really uncomfortable."
Kensuke frowned at the description. Deep down he had thought it was probably like the arcade game pods, but the way Shinji talked about it, it didn't seem like he had hoped it would. Maybe he…
"Alright, you and me, right now!" Kensuke's train of thought was derailed as Toji raised his voice. Turning to look at him, Kensuke saw that the comment was directed towards Mana. Toji hadn't had the best time with the Avalon pilots, getting thrown thru a wall twice in two days. Things had been steadily getting worst as he and the foreigners seemed to not even want to get along, and the resentment was only compounded by a culture barrier that seemed to be much stronger between the pilots and him then they had with anyone else.
It didn't help that Toji's powers weaker than theirs, and he seemed to want to fight them.
As Toji's fist approached Mana, in a moment she grabbed him and tossed him into the plastered wall in a fluid motion. When it was over, the techs went back to their business as usual.
Shinji tried to ignore it, but he very visibly failed to do so.
Hikari left the table to see how badly Toji's pride had been hit, and to try and keep him calm.
Mary gave a good laugh at the event.
Jon was giving Mana lip service to how pilots are supposed to conduct themselves.
Rei didn't visibly react to her surroundings.
Kensuke wondered how long this would last, and quietly went back to his food.
Later that day
"That's the last one." Mana stated as she folded the last box up. In the two weeks since Shinji and the Avalon pilots had arrived, their belonging had been shipped in along with the contents of the old Katsuragi apartment to the new house in the suburbs on the edge of the city.
Mary didn't say anything in response, only snickering quietly as she pushed something under her bed. Taking notice, Mana turned her attention from her half of their room to her companion.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing." Mary told her as she sat down on her bed. Mana, not buying her act, moved next to Mary.
"So what's in the box?" Mana asked. She lowered herself to get a better look, but the box was just an unmarked moving one.
"Nothing to worry about, if that's what you're thinking." Mary informed her as Mana pulled out the box. Opening it, she let out a sigh.
"Really Mary?" Mana deadpanned.
"What? Did you really think I wouldn't keep them?" Mary asked, giving Mana her best smirk she could.
"Pervert." Mana closed the box and quickly pushed the box back under Mary's bed. Deciding to get her mind off the contents of the box, she left to see what the boys where doing.
In the dining room, she saw that Shinji and Jon where playing cards with Rei, with a few chips between the three of them. Almost all of which were in Rei's possession. "What are you three playing?"
"Poker." Rei stated flatly. Taking a few of her chips, she raised the bet.
"I fold." Shinji stated, putting down his cards. He turned his attention to Mana, who took a seat opposed to Rei. "Want in after this round?"
"I'd warn against it, Rei's been clearing us out." Jon stated as he matched. He was going to win this one.
"I'll take my chances." Shinji gave Mana some playing chips from a case under the table. Putting down their cards, Jon groaned as Rei took the chips.
"How do you do it?" Jon asked as he dealt the next hand.
"Could you please clarify?" Rei asked back as she took her cards. After the four played a few rounds, their attention was taken by the sound of an explosion in the distance followed by a light tremor.
"What was that?" Mary asked as she ran out of her room.
"Must have been an experiment from one of the research companies around here." Rei stated.
"What makes you say that?" Mana asked, picking up some chips that had fallen onto the floor.
"Because I can see smoke from here." Rei stated, pointing towards black smoke that was rising in the distance.
Mary took out a half dozen Bluetooth devices from a cabinet. With a reluctant sigh, Jon got up from his seat at took one of the devices.
"Alright, Misato and uncle Reg are going to kill us for this, but who's in?" He asked. With everyone up on their feet before he ended his question, he got his answer. "Alright."
As the five quickly moved towards the door, Mary took Rei's hand in her own for a moment. Once they were out the door, Shinji quickly sped down the road towards the smoke while the rest quickly followed, using their respective powers to take flight.
Roxxon Energy Corporation, Tokyo-3 Research facility
"Alright, get the complex evacuated; I want a 200 meter red zone for full evac. Get the trucks back to the station, they aren't set up for this." Before the complex that was quickly being consumed by flames stood the Toky-3 fire chief. The man was far from happy at the situation he had been forced in as the fire in front of him burned. For years now his force had only needed to fight small house fires or the occasional office fire that got out of control, but NERV had its own dedicated fire response force, and the corporate labs had, for the most part, had containment systems that could deal with any problems. But one of those systems had to give some time, and of course it would be a potassium fueled fire.
Looking back as police cars and ambulances started to arrive; he felt a gust of wind go towards the burning complex. Turning back towards the fire, he let out a sigh as he saw four figures lower themselves close to the fire before entering the building. "The media is going to be all over this."
Inside the building, the five split up and all went into separate directions. Shinji, who had taken a fire extinguisher from the wall, ran down the long corridors that stretched through the complex, putting out a few of the flames but mostly searching for anyone who hadn't been able to get out. Far behind him, Rei and Mana did a room by room search for survivors, removing debris which had fallen often. Mary, who was just behind the two, took any survivors out of the building to the waiting ambulances. Jon levitated himself around the structure, using force fields to isolate fire and cause it to burn itself out from oxygen deficiency.
"Help me." Shinji heard someone say. Beneath a fallen piece of steel, a middle aged woman was trapped, her legs covered by the metal. Dropping the now empty fire extinguisher, Shinji positioned himself to try and lift the metal. After a moment of trying, he sighed in defeat as he was too weak to move it.
"I found someone trapped" he informed the others with his earpiece. "Anyone able to help with some heavy lifting?"
"Too many people down here." Mana replied.
"I can, just tell me where you are." Jon told him. After giving him a few directions, Shinji waited for Jon.
"It's alright ma'am, we're going to get you out of here." He told the woman. As the smoke started to become too thick, Shinji flapped his arm quickly to try and fan it away. Though it did clear some of the smoke, it was getting thick fast.
"Son of a bitch." Shinji heard Jon's voice say. As he came into sight, Shinji saw him rubbing his head.
"What happened?"
"Part of the ceiling fall right on my head. Deflected most, but some of it got the jump on me before I even noticed it was falling." He explained. Looking down, he took a moment to examine the situation before him. "Pull her out once I get it up."
Without waiting for a response, Jon looked down at the metal and moved his hands forward. Beneath the metal, on each side of the legs small spheres of smokeless air started to expand, until their size grew to be larger than the legs and began to lift it. Once the woman's legs where free, Shinji quickly pulled her out and a moment later the spheres disappeared and the metal fell to the ground.
"Guys, the fire station is about to start foaming the place. You need to get out of there." Mana told them over their earpieces.
"Foaming?" Shinji asked as he took the woman in his arms.
"It's a way of fighting fires, and we need to get out of here now." Jon told him. A large piece of the floor from the ceiling above them down the corridor fell, creating a new pathway out. "You stick behind me, I'll keep it clear and make a path to the ground, just don't fall behind."
"Is that a joke?" Shinji asked under his breath as Jon flew himself down the hall, deflecting some of the debris that had fallen. Shinji stayed right behind him, and for a moment felt panic as they quickly approached the window at the end of the hall. In an instant, Jon's force field smashed the window apart, and as the two ran out a steep, but very much solid walkway materialized itself. Behind them, a ball of fire escaped the hole they created as the fire was hit by a wave of fresh air. The fire distracted Jon, and for a moment his thoughts were diverted to protecting them from the fire. It was a moment to long as the walkway dematerialized and the two started to fall. Before they could hit the ground, they both found themselves caught by something, and slowly lowered to the ground. In front of where they landed Rei stood with her hand extended out before her and her red eyes glowing.
"Men." She muttered as Shinji ran to a waiting ambulance.
"You're going to be alright miss…?" Shinji asked as the paramedics brought out a stretcher.
"Miss Fressange. Inez Fressange." The woman told him. As the paramedics placed her on the stretcher, Jon walked up to the fire chief.
"Chief, how many people are still missing?" Jon asked.
"Five, but we need to do this now before other labs start to go up and what we have isn't enough." The man explained and used his arms to direct his men to start blasting the structure with foam to put out the flames. "I'm sorry kid, you did well, but you can't always save everyone."
As the children left the site, their presence no longer needed, none took notice of the camera crew which had filmed their actions, and had taken it upon themselves to learn who they were through investigation.
Roof of the Roxxon Energy Corporation office building,
Across the street from research complex
From high above the ground two middle aged individuals looked over the fire, taking a moment to take in the sight. The Caucasian man let out a content sigh.
"Those kids are about to have things become interesting, aren't they."
"You say that as if it were a good thing." The green skinned woman replied. She leaned over the side slightly to try and see if the children were still in sight. "Things that become interesting aren't always a good thing; after all it didn't end well for me. Just look at me."
Taking the invitation, the Caucasian man looked at the green skinned woman and took in the sight of her large muscles, long hair and firm pair. "I don't know what you're complaining about; you still have the best figure I've ever seen."
"I'd ask if you two could get a room, but she would probably drag me into it as well." A voice said, taking their attention away from each other. Looking at the door to the roof, the two say the Asian man walk up to them.
"Is it done?" The Caucasian man asked, becoming serious.
"Yes, everyone was gone. If everything goes right they should be finding them right when we need to." The Asian man replied.
"And how do we know they will find them, and if they do use them the way we want?" The woman asked.
The Caucasian man snickered. "Simple, we knew exactly what we needed to do to get what we want. After all, who knows Strike Force better than we do?"
Katsuragi/Barclay household
"I don't know what to say. We should be angry, but they saved people's lives." Misato lamented as she and Reg stood in the kitchen. "How are we supposed to react to this?"
"Well back at Department H we usually give a slap on the hand and then a pat on the back." Reginald told her. "But that only works for if it was just a rescue, this…"
As his voice trailed off, the two leaned over and looked out through the dining room into the living room where the children where speaking with journalist and a camera man recording the impromptu interview.
"Can't believe the commander approved of this. I mean who are they? I watch the news every day and I've never heard of her." Misato complained.
"Well, I think I saw her do a story before, but I can understand why the commander approved of this." Reg replied to her. "After all, people will find out what happened, better they get introduced to them knowing they aren't 'on the loose'." Reg walked away from the sight and moved to get some food from the fridge.
"And the TV show?" Misato asked.
"Well, it was one that was already in production, they just want the right to use the names and images. If PR approved it, what's to worry about?"
"And when will it end?" Misato turned away from the sight to look at Reg. "What next, comic books? Action figures? Games?"
"I wouldn't be surprised, but then again the economy isn't that great right now, so it might not go that far." Reg worked on a sandwich while he spoke, but kept the ingredients for another while he finished it.
"Is the economy ever good? Here it was in recession for a decade before impact, and I don't have to tell you how it was after it happened." Misato moved next to Reg as he finished making his sandwich and took it the moment it was done. With a light snicker, he started working on a second one for himself.
"What are you so worried about? Afraid the media will turn the kids into stars?"
"I just don't like the idea of everyone knowing who they are." Misato took a seat at the table, glancing into the living room every few seconds.
"I'll admit it was sooner than I thought it would be, but we all knew this was inevitable." Reg sat himself down across from Misato. He too could not resist the urge to look into the room next to them every few moments.
Rainbow Bridge designated R-115
Outskirts of Tokyo-3
At the entrance of the tunnel, three black NERV cars were parked in a crescent formation, half a dozen section two agents standing behind each with their weapons drawn. Between the cars and the cave two individuals stood, one much shorter than the other with a bag over their head.
As multicolored light illuminated the cave, the agents readied their weapons. The light dimming, a single individual walked out of the cave, a young woman with red eyes and long white hair.
"Miss Akashiya I presume." Kaji stated as the woman walked up to him. "You're late."
"Is that a problem?" She asked with disinterest.
"I'd like it to be clear that this is being done to keep relations between our people good. Under the treaty we would be well within our right to keep her at a detention facility as long as we wanted." Kaji informed her. Turning towards the prisoner, he removed the bag to reveal a red headed girl. "Your sister caused tens of thousands in damage and hospitalized three people. This will be the only exception to the treaty, is that clear?"
"It is." The young woman stated. Kaji gave her a key and the young red head started to walk towards her. She was about to say something, but the older girl cut her off. "Not a word until we get back."
Without another word, she gave Kaji a small box and turned towards the cave. Once the two had disappeared into the cave and the lights returned, Kaji his back quiver.
"Vampires." He muttered, turning back towards his men. "Alright men, first squad is with me, we're heading to the labs. Everyone else, guard duty until you're relieved."
Within half an hour, Kaji's squad was in Ritsuko's lab, awaiting the results. Ritsuko, for her part, checked the data a second time, then a third to be certain. Sure that the results were true, she scratched her head while looking at the offending object.
"Something wrong doctor?" Kaji asked.
"Possibly, this thing you brought me may be from the monster's realm, but even then it by no means should exist." She leaned back into her seat, letting the MAGI preform redundant test on the object.
"And why's that? What are we looking at?"
Ritsuko took out a cigarette and took a long puff. Satisfied, she gave a simple order. "Get your men out of the room."
Once the agents left the two alone, she turned her chair around to look at Kaji.
"Where did you get this?" She asked in a stern voice.
"It was given by one of the vampires. There was a note calling it a simple gift of thanks." Kaji explained, looking at the thin, two inch tall blue crystal in a scanning apparatus. "It doesn't seem to be much to them."
"But it could change everything for us." Ritsuko said. She took the tube the crystal was being held in out of the machine and placed it in a metal case.
"And what exactly is this thing?"
"It's made of a slightly different combination of elements, but for all intense and purposes, it's a miniature Tesseract." She took the small case and placed it in her lab coat pocket. "Incomprehensible power."
S.W.O.R.D. Orbital Defense Station 5
The next day
"Ah space, so beautiful, so tranquil, and so fucking boring." The station operated stated. While complaining, he played with a pen floating in front of him, floating freely in the zero G environment.
"Quit complaining, you know how many people at the academy would kill to be up here?" His companion asked. She took a seat next to his as her shift began.
"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that there's nothing to do here apart from checking up on the system every few minutes." He complained. He lifted himself up from his seat and used his arms on the chair's back to propel himself out of the command nod. "I'll see you after your shift."
Before he could get into another part of the station, however, an alarm went off. Extending his arms to stop himself at the entrance right before he would have floated out of it, he turned himself around and sent himself back towards his seat. "What we got?"
"Tango appeared out of nowhere in low orbit over the Pacific, about three thousand clicks from Nerv-1. Relaying data to the base now." She informed him as he sat himself down.
"Defense satellites within range… crap, it's only antimissile sates. They're on their own down there." He was about to redirect a few satellites to try and reach the target in time, but there was a large spike in energy a few hundred kilometers away from the target. "Oh god no. Don't tell me that's what I think it is."
"I think it is." His companion told him.
Nerv 1 Command Center
Command Block Section
"Alright people, what are we looking at here?" Reg asked as the alarms went off.
"S.W.O.R.D. reporting two targets that will arrive in six hour. Both are confirmed pattern blue." Makoto informed him.
"Alright. Misato, status of Strike Force?"
"Both Evas and all three Avalons are being prepped for launch. Pilots are suiting up and should be ready within five minutes." Misato took up her position at the head of the command block.
"Maya, where are the commanders?" Reg asked. He didn't want to lead this operation as well.
"Both are in Washington. It will take them approximately eighteen hours to arrive if a recall is sent." Maya informed him.
"Why am I never informed of these things before they leave?" Reg asked himself. Making himself comfortable in the command chair, he gave himself a moment to mentally prepare himself for the battle.
"Alright, I want the Avalons in the air ASAP, the Evangelions prepped for transport and the city evacuated and fortified. We might have a bigger heads up then last time, but I don't want to take any chances."
Relaying the orders, Misato laughed internally despite everything. Reg may give the appearance of being level headed and in control, she knew that he was terrified, and not terrified of the mission but of the very act of leading. The inability of those around them to see it was a testament to his acting abilities.
Down below in the cages, techs ran around as they prepared the machines of war before them for battle. The Avalons where each mounted with six strategic N2 bombs, while the helicopters which transported the Evangelions and their weapons where activated.
The Evangelions themselves where pulled by the massive trains within the facility to the helipads which awaited them.
On the surface, the towers of glass began to descend underground while point defenses rose in and around the city. At the top of the mountains that surrounded the city, experimental nods where exposed, though not much was expected of them as their main power source was still offline.
As the proses of fortification and evacuation neared its completion, the Avalons took to the skies through the base catapult system while the helicopters transporting the Evangelions took to the skies heading east towards the coast.
"What's the ETA for the Angels?" Reg asked as the fortification of the city was complete.
"Angels are currently converging on each other's location. Assuming constant speed in kept and they begin moving towards us once they reach each other, the MAGI estimates twelve hours until they are right on top of us." Maya informed him. As the data continued to come in, the massive holographic system within the command center showed a representation of the theater of operation, with a small dot representing the Evangelions, Avalons and Angels as the theater was the size of a large country. Other dots represented relevant information such as fleet positions, weapon satellite orbits, costal defenses and army mobilization positions.
With Misato to his left, and Ritsuko to his right, Reg leaned back into his seat and spoke at a volume only the two of them could hear and the techs below handled the situation. "Alright doctor, you wanted the N2 bombs, but how will they help us against their AT fields?"
"They won't." Ritsuko told him. Getting a confused look from him and Misato, she continued. "The reason I wanted them loaded with N2 bombs was to determine the strength of their fields. With how long we have, we should be able to prepare a countermeasure in time."
"I hope you're right." Misato told her. Before them, observation satellites showed unfocused images of the two Angels.
Two hours later,
80km west of Angels, high above the Pacific
"Confirming objective, Mana is to unload her payload onto target designated 4, Mary onto 5, and half on each for me in a simultaneous strike once we reach the 5km mark?" Jon asked into the comm. system.
"That's correct." Maya informed them.
"Well, this will be fun." Mary stated. They continued their high speed approach towards the Angels, until…
"High energy buildup detected." The A.D.A.M. system aboard the Avalons informed them. At around the 25km mark, the Angel designated 5 unleashed a discharge of energy towards the Avalons. In an instant, the three craft split up and dodged the shot, though the pilots could feel the heat from within their craft. Quickly returning into formation, the three craft unleashed their payloads into the targets from their angle above the two Angels; the weapons detonating moments after the three overshot the aliens and started their return to base.
Back at the base, Ritsuko and Maya where looking over the data that was being transmitted from the satellites tracking the Angels. After a few moments of looking at the raw data, Ritsuko looked up at the command bridge.
"Recall the Evas." She yelled, getting the attention of Misato and Reg.
"Why? What's wrong?" Misato asked, unable to understand what the data that was crossing the monitors meant.
"War room, now." Reg told both. In less than two minutes the small room designated the war room was filled with techs who lead their own units, the bridge crew and the three in command of the operation.
"Alright, what are we up against." Reg asked, a small hologram in the center of the room showing a detailed image of the two Angels. One large headed snake with two whiskers for arms, and one diamond.
"The Angels seem to be oriented towards covering each other's weaknesses with their strengths." Maya informed the room. "Angel 4 seems to be oriented towards close range combat, while 5 seems to be towards long range combat. Given the information we were able to gather from the strike, we believe that 4 has a relatively weak AT field, an Avalon strike may be able to take it down. However, 5 has an AT field unlike any we have seen or anticipated. The strength the MAGI have calculated is too great for us to compensate for, ever with the use of both Evas and all the Avalons in a single strike."
"Have the MAGI found any means of getting through that barrier?" Reg asked. The barrier was the one thing that stood between them and victory, but it was quite a barrier.
"I'm afraid that with everything NERV has at its disposal, the MAGI have calculated only a 3.7% chance of success." Ritsuko stated with a sigh. Misato, on the other hand, seemed to get an idea.
"And what about what the JSSDF has?"
Six hours later, mountain rage designated "Miracle Line"
NERV fire base
"This is insane." Ritsuko stated as she and Misato observed the frantic techs and construction workers below. Assembly of the JSSDF experimental proton cannon was almost finished; however the power converter would take an hour more than the cannon would to be completed.
"The MAGI don't seem to think so." Misato shot back. "After all, it looks like this has the best chance of anything of winning."
"Getting the odds of survival from 3.7 to 8.1 percent is still not something I would put money on." Ritsuko told her. She took out a cigarette to help calm her nerves. "I mean really, this plan is completely like you."
"Maybe that's why the commander chose me for this job." Misato said with a laugh. Down below, the three Avalons where parked next to the cannon, each with a dozen section 2 agents around. Within the craft, techs where removing their fuel cells. For two of the craft, the entire cell would be removed, while the last would have all but a marginal amount of energy removed. It would be enough for the mission at hand.
Misato's plan was simple, with the use of the cosmic power used to fuel the Avalons; the experimental proton rifle would have enough power for several shots of sufficient energy to break through the Angel's AT field. Before the shot would be taken, however, a missile barrage would hit from all sides, distracting the creature. When Angel 5 was taken down, the active Avalon would then rush into towards the remaining Angel and destroy it. Should the Avalon fail, the Evangelion not using the proton rifle would charge it with its prog-knife and stab it in its core.
"This plan is going to get us all killed." Ritsuko took a deep puff.
"You're just upset you didn't come up with it yourself." Despite her appearance, Misato was afraid. Everyone was. The moment of what was possibly humanity's end was at hand, and her plan was the best they could come up with. But she put on a brave face for the same reason Reg did, because she had to for the sake of those around her, under her command.
Down in one of the mobile canteen units, the children of Alpha and Bravo where doing their best to get their rest in before the operation. With the time of day making it almost impossible to sleep, they instead chose to talk casually as though the operation wasn't happening.
"So Shinji, any movies you been looking forward to?" Mana asked. She had taken the seat next to him at the table they sat at, with the other three sitting across from them.
"Uh, not really. I never really was the movie going type." He explained. Back at his home town, the closest theater was too far for his uncle to drive him, and there wasn't a bus he could take.
"Oh, well then, what about restaurants, any good ones you know about?" She asked, a smile crossing her face.
"Uh, sorry, but there aren't any that I know about. I've only been in Tokyo-3 as long as you have." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
Their little discussion was interrupted by Mary moaning. "This is painful to watch."
"What do you mean by that?" Shinji asked. In response to his question Jon covered his face with his hand, and, much to his surprise, Rei rolled her eyes.
"It's simple, she's too shy to say it directly and you're an idiot." At Mary's comment, Mana's face turned a bright red.
"W-what do you mean by that?" Mana asked.
"It is simple." Rei was the one to respond. "I do not know much about courtship rituals, and it is even clear to me that you intend to take Shinji as your mate."
At this, both Mana and Shinji turned red, while Jon sank in his seat and Mary burst into a fit of laughter.
"I do not see what is so humorous." Rei stated as Mary fell onto the floor, still laughing. Jon straightened himself and whispered into Rei's ear.
"So that means…" Jon only nodded to Rei's question. "But then…" Again Jon nodded. "So what does this entail?" Jon again whispered something into her ear. After a few seconds, she nodded in understanding. Rising to her feet, she bowed down to Shinji and Mana.
"I apologize for my comment." She stated, before sitting herself down. The two across from her didn't say anything, only quickly looking at each other, then turning their heads to look as far away as possible.
Mary, who had now stopped laughing, pulled herself back onto her seat.
"Well, that was different." She stated, her breathing returning to normal. "I mean jez, for all we know it's the end of the world and you can't even straight up ask him out."
After her comment, there was a long silence as they all thought about what was at stake.
Three hours later
Operation staging ground
With the late afternoon sun to their backs, the two Evangelions waited for the Angels. Unit 1 stood at the ready with the rifle in its arms, Unit 0 next to it with an improvised shield in its arms. Before them lay a great plane filled with farms that stretched as far as they could see from their mountaintop vantage point. It wasn't long before the two Angels finally came into view.
As they approached, the MAGI started their calculations for the trajectory of the shot. As the calculations where set, the Angels inched closer and closer to the red line which had been created across one of the fields. The moment they crossed the line, all hell broke loose.
In a simultaneous strike, forty two rocket artillery, dozens of SAMs and hundreds of missiles all struck against the Angel's AT field, doing no visible damage. Stopping, the Angel took aim at the ground vehicles which had struck it and unleashed a stream of energy against them, destroying them and much of the surrounding countryside in one shot.
High above the Angels, Mana's green Avalon stood ready to dive. She had been the one selected for the operation due to the accuracy of her targeting in simulations. As she waited for her moment to strike, she subconsciously fiddled with the pendent Shinji had given her before they were separated. He had told her it was a good luck charm, and that the yellow gem was a symbol of tranquility. He hadn't told her he found it under his pillow the night before with a note telling him all that.
Waiting for her signal, she was caught off guard as she noticed the blue energy from the proton cannon his Angel 5. The monster seemingly struck down, she flipped her Avalon upside down and started her dive towards Angel 4. By the time she was half way to her target, she realized something had gone wrong. While Angel 5 was supposed to be dead by now, it instead became a double diamond with its core at the center, unleashing a stream of energy towards the staging ground.
Not letting it get to her too much, she continued as planned to dive bomb the Snake like one, which had turned its full attention to her. Leaping up in the air towards her, she didn't have time to pull the trigger as the whips of energy that where its arms lashed out towards her and slammed against the hull of her Avalon. In the blink on an eye, the energy traveled through the Admantium hull, into her body and into the gem she wore. Before the Angel could even retract its tendrils, Mana and her Avalon had disappeared.
"Avalon 2's IFF has disappeared. We've lost here." Makoto informed the command crew. Their mobile command unit had been set up far away from the staging ground, but it was still shaking violently from the Angel's energy beam being used against the Evangelions.
The Evangelions themselves where not doing very well. After the shot had harmed but not killed the target, the retaliation had forced Unit 0 to take up a defensive position against it, its shield melting fast. The shield would last seventeen seconds, the recalculations would last ten and the shot itself would take two. This wouldn't have been a problem had the MAGI not calculated the second shot for the other Angel, which, without the AT field of its companion able to deflect the show, melted into pieces as its core was dissolved.
Angered by the loose of its companion and the injuries it had sustained, the remaining Angel intensified its energy discharge, not caring for the strain it was putting on its core in the proses. After only three seconds of the intensified discharge, Unit 0's shield melted into nothing.
For a moment, there was silence.
And that silence was filled with Rei's screams. For what was the longest eight seconds many at NERV ever lived, it was the only noise anyone could hear. In the mobile command unit, Misato burst into tears. In the canteen, Mary had to physically restrain Jon from flying off to try and help. And in Unit 1, Shinji could not even feel the pain that was stinging his shoulders from the discharge that was getting past Unit 0 to him. When the moment finally came an eternity later for him to strike, he did so without hesitation. After a moment of Rei's scream being replaced by that of the Angel, it went silent, and the battle was over.
Minutes later, Unit 0 escape pod
"Come on, come on!" Shinji yelled as he tried to open the hatch. The heated metal burned his hands, but that didn't stop him, it only slowed him down. And if there was something Shinji was not, it was slow.
Finally getting the hatch open, he looked inside to find Rei unconscious, her plug suit filled with burn marks. Putting his foot into the pod, he instantly retracted it as he felt the heated metal. He needed to get to her, but he didn't know how. For a moment he feared that she may still be in the proses of being burned, but then noticed her hands had fallen onto her lap and that her whole body was on her seat, which he knew wouldn't burn.
As he tried to think of a way to get her out safely, the answer to his question called out his name. Turning around, he saw Jon and Mary land a few feet away from him.
"You alright?" Jon asked, noticing his hands. Taking a look at his hands, Shinji shrugged.
"It's not that bad, but I got to get Rei out of there." He was about to turn around, but found himself grabbed by an invisible force of energy.
"Sorry mister hero, but I'm under orders to take you to the medics." Mary informed him. As she flew away with him captured, Shinji watched as Jon slowly brought Rei out using his own force fields, being careful not to touch the metal.
Toko-3 Grand Hotel
That night
As the Caucasian man entered the hotel room, he saw his two comrades watching the news, the two concentrating on the details that were being said and, more importantly, those that were not.
After closing the door, he coughed to get their attention.
"So did it work?" The Asian man asked.
"Of course it worked." He replied. "The first part of the plan is complete. Now all we have to do is wait for part two to finish itself."
"And what if it doesn't work?" The green skinned woman asked. She leaned herself back on the bed she sat on. "Plans usually don't go as they are supposed to."
"Given that you came up with it, and that you pride yourself on never being wrong, I'm surprised to hear you say that." He told her. He took a seat on the other bed in the room.
"I'm never wrong, but even I can't take every variable into account." She replied. Lifting herself off the bed, she walked up to the Caucasian man and grabbed his arm. "I need shower to help relieve the stress today has been."
Not resisting, he let himself be dragged as the Asian man snickered to himself.
Tokyo-3 General Hospital
Hikari didn't like the idea of war or the Angels, but she did know she had a job to do. But that job was hard on her as she saw Rei brought in unconscious covered in burns in all three degrees. Forced to cut off her plug suit, doctors needed to take a few hours to carefully take off all the burned pieces that had either fused with her burnt skin or just been buried in a patch of it.
When it was finally done, it had only taken a minute for her to heal Rei, though she remained unconscious. The whole time Misato and Reg waited for news on her.
While she had been healing Shinji earlier, she had learned that the others had been ordered to go home and rest.
She had also learned that Mana was missing.
With her shift over and the post battle rush a memory; she started her walk home as she did every night. The streets where more crowded then they usually where as people flooded back into the city from their hiding places.
Turning a corner, she stoppers herself as she saw two people arguing. One of them was wearing a purple hood.
"The time of cataclysm is at hand! The messengers of God are coming to wipe the sin of man from this world!" The hooded figure preached.
"The only gods around here are the ones we got to kick your alien's ass." The other stated.
Hikari, for her part, turned around and chose to take a different path home. The cultists had never been a large group, but with the Angel attack, no, attacks, their numbers had skyrocketed from what they were before.
The "hero worshipers", on the other hand, seemed to have the opposite belief, instead worshiping humans with powers as if they were gods themselves and believing that they would be the ones to solve the crisis' the world was going through.
Hikari didn't like speaking to either.
Not trying to get attention drawn to herself, she wondered what the odds where that the report about Strike Force on the news would be showing her image right when she walked by an electronics store.
"Mommy, mommy, look, it's the hero person from TV." A young girl behind her said. Turning around, for a few tense moments she feared she had been spotted by someone. Her fear subsided as she saw the girl was pointing into the sky. Turning her head to see what was above; she caught the sight of Jon quickly flying low over the streets, well below building level. Given that he was in his blue jumpsuit, the one that was for propaganda purposes above all else, she realized he must have been called on duty for some reason. Maybe cleanup, maybe search and rescue. Whatever it was, it was probably something that didn't actually require his help, his presence only for the sake of the cameras.
Continuing her walk back on the scenic route, two black NERV cars passed her on the road with a police escort. The cars were heading in the same direction as Jon had been, though where that was she did not know.
She just hoped there wouldn't be too much trouble as she made it home.
Unknown location
Unknown time
Opening her eyes, Mana immediately closed them as pain entered her mind. After a few moments passed and the pain subsided, she took a look at her surroundings as she tried to remember what had happened. Remembering the battle, she tried to move but was immediately stopped by pain in her legs. It was only then that she realized she was in her Iron Suit.
"A.D.A.M. what happened?" She asked weakly. From her point of view all she could see was blue skies and the top of dead trees as she lay on her back.
"Pilot unconscious, control lost. Crash was determined inevitable. Ejected for safety." A.D.A.M. explained. As Mana tried to move again, pain entered her legs, however this time it was eased as the Iron Suit moved with her. "Major fracture detected in left leg, dislocation detected in right ankle. Recommend remaining within Iron Suit until recovery occurs."
"Thanks for the advice." Mana moaned as she finally got to her feet. Taking a look around, the area seemed to be a dead, burnt out forest in all directions. "Where are we? And where is my Avalon?"
"Unknown, unable to connect to satellite network. Avalon IFF detected five hundred meters east by south east from present location." Before heading to the location, Mana took a few minutes to orient the system so that even though it was reacting to her movements, it would move slightly before she did to allow for the system to carry her. It didn't stop the pain, but it did significantly reduce it to the point of allowing her to ignore it for the time being.
"I wonder how I got here." She asked herself as walked through the dead forest. "And what type of place is this?"
"Means of arrival unknown, system was unable to detect means of transportation from battle. Location unknown, no matching environment in database. Speculation: possibility of travel to sister world after contact with Angel is high." A.D.A.M. stated.
"I didn't ask you." Mana groaned. In the distance she could see some smoke. "Wait, what was that about sister world?"
"Sister Worlds, designation to worlds with direct connections to earth through wormhole network. Currently know world of this nature: nine. Speculated number with consistent environments such as that before us: three. Recommended course of action, discover which world we are on, determine if population is hostile. Once achieved, find way to reconnect to Earth." A.D.A.M. helpfully informed her.
"You make it sound so easy, you know that?"
"I was under the impression I was making it sound simple. Ease and simplicity is not the same thing according to my built in dictionary."
"I didn't realize you had a sense of humor." Mana could finally see the Avalon's crash site.
"Personality subroutines have begun to generate. Proses consistent with observations of AI of my complexity seen with the Stark J.A.R.V.I.S. system and S.H.I.E.L.D. MAGI systems." A.D.A.M. informed her.
"Wait, the MAGI has its own personality?" As Mana approached her Avalon, she noticed that it had landed upside down, landing almost like a rock.
"Correct, however, MAGI systems are not one but three AI, so each MAGI system would actually be three personalities." The revelation made her wonder what the MAGI was like, and how it would react if it was spoken with. Or even is speaking with it was even possible.
Over the next few minutes, she looked over her Avalon's small emergency provisions box. Inside it had all she needed to survive for a few days, as well as a radio which would release a constant distress signal, and a small firearm which was made redundant by her Iron Suit.
As she was about to move to the cockpit, she self the sensation of being watched. Turning, she was surprised to see a boy about her age, maybe a little older, looking at her. He seemed out of place in the dead forest, a boy with what looked to her like a typical Japanese school uniform.
"Oh, uh, hi." She said, forcing a smile. To try and not scare him, she made her faceplate open to reveal her face to him. "Uh, you wouldn't know the way back to Tokyo-3 from here, would you?"
The boy didn't react at first, but then he leaned forward and sniffed the air. He was a good few meters from her, but she could feel the intensity of the act.
"You smell human." It was all he said, but for a few moments there was a tense silence. The statement had made Mana lose her smile, and after a few moments she realized what was about to happen. Closing her faceplate, she brought up her arms as the boy unleashed a howl.
In a moment, the boy had turned from a normal teenager into a large reptilian beast with a massive mouth, sharp teeth and a long tong sticking out of its open mouth. Before she had time to react, the monster charged her. Impacting into her, it tried to sink its teeth into her suits left arm. On instincts, she used her right hand repulser to blast into its face.
Not letting go, she repeated the action again and again, doing so as fast as her repulser would allow it, until she realized it was already dead, but its teeth where stuck in her suits metal. She pulled the things face out of her arm and pushed it as far as she could.
"Rise in blood pressure and heart rate detected. Recommend application of a sedative." A.D.A.M. informed her. Taking its advice, she kept her guard up as she continued her work.
SEELE main base of operation
Commander's Office
As Konrad looked over the information again, a smile crossed his face. Despite the problems which had plagued the base he tried his best to control from the shadows, they had managed to win without the loss of the Evangelions, and what's more, they had destroyed one of the Avalons, lost its pilot, and rendered the remaining two inoperable for the time being. The only way it could have gone better was if the remaining Avalons had been destroyed, but that would have been asking for too much.
Though the appearance of two Angels instead of one was concerning. There was a great deal many things foretold in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the act of a simultaneous Angel appearance had not been in them. This would have to be addressed in the next meeting of the council.
"Uh sir?" Bob ask, standing in front of Konrad's desk.
"Yes what?" Konrad asked with a grunt.
"The, uh, the files you wanted. Sir." Bob held out the aforementioned files in his hand.
"Ah yes, leave that here and get back to your work." He ordered him. After leaving his commander, Bob let out a sigh.
"You had to be a part of an evil organization." Bob said to himself. He started to walk down the corridor. "You just couldn't be a mercenary could you? It pays great, but of course Africa has too many diseases and Euro Force soldiers, India and South East Asia has too many warlords, and South America is basically owned by the US. So now look at you, a dead-end job in a dead-end evil organization that's doing jack shit to take over the world."
His complaining got him the attention of one of the soldiers walking around the base.
"Having money problems?" He asked Bob.
"I'm living on an assistant's salary; of course I have money problems!" Bob exclaimed.
"Well, I could help you out with that." The soldier informed him.
"Really, that would be great. What's your name anyway?" Bob asked.
"Oh me? You can call me Ward."
Ruins of 2nd Angel Battle
"Information restricted: Level 6" The screen once again informed her. Maya let out a sigh as she leaned back into her chair. Within the confines of NERVs mobile lab, she had been ordered to catalog the exotic materials that Ritsuko's team recovered, but this one object seemed odd.
Unlike most of the materials, this one had only been found in a few grams in crystalized form. The small yellow crystal was also glowing, but as there was no energy or radiation of any form being detected, which meant that what she was seeing should have been impossible. (Though she was quickly learning that the universe seemed to care not what humans though possible)
The most frustrating part of it wasn't that this was some unknown object either, but that it was known and she just didn't have clearance. It needed level 6, she was level 5. And it was so close, not close enough to metaphorically reach out to it, but literally.
The questions only brought more questions in her mind.
"Having trouble?" Turning her head, she saw that it was Makoto who had intruded upon her work.
"Yes and no." She replied.
"Really, how so?"
"Yes: I have something I have no idea what it is. No: The base seems to know exactly what it is." She informed him. Turning her seat to face him, she noticed that he held two cups of coffee in his hands. Thanking him, she took the offered cup.
"So what do you make of all this. Everything, I mean, not just the war." She asked, taking a few sips of her drink.
"To be honest, I have no idea what to think." He took the seat next to her. "I mean, inter-dimensional aliens, people with superpowers, whatever those things in New York where, and in New Mexico the report claims it was Norse Gods there. Can you believe it? These are all things we know happened and I can't. If you told me there are Vampires, Time Travelers or humans out there in space beyond what we know, I'd probably believe you. Hell, I'd probably have an easier time believing it then all this."
"Yeah, I guess I…" Maya started, before the intercom system that had quickly been set up around the fire base interrupted her.
"Perimeter breach" A male voice blasted. After a few seconds in which gunfire could be heard, the door to the mobile lab was swung open.
Makoto quickly grabbed the pistol at his hip and pointed it towards the door; however it was already too late. In the time it took him to commit the act, a blur of movement had ran into the lab, grabbed the small container with the classified material in it, and ran out. Moments later Ritsuko and a few guards where at the still open door.
"What happened?" She asked, removing the helmet of her hazmat suit.
"They took the sample." Makoto informed her.
Minutes later
Motel several kilometers outside the battle debris zone
"I got it." The Asian man stated as he entered the room. The two others took a look at the object in his hands. Satisfied that they had not risked their exposure for nothing, the Caucasian man let out a sigh.
"Alright, we have it, we're leaving." He ordered.
"And remind me who put you in charge?" the Green Skinned woman asked. Walking up to her, the Caucasian man leaned towards her as he spoke.
"I've always been the one in charge. My powers are the strongest, my rank was always the highest, and I was the one who saved the three of us that day." He told her. Leaning right next to her ear, he continued with a whisper. "That is why I'm in charge of business. Just like you're in charge of pleasure."
His comment earned him a slap to the face, but not a particularly strong one.
"And some women actually fantasize about having two idiot men for husbands."
"So where are we going this time?" The Asian man asked, smirking at his comrade's behavior.
"Israel." With one work everything seemed to stop.
"Israel?" The woman asked. If they hadn't known her so well, they would almost think she was afraid.
"Yes, it's time. We do this now and we do this right." The Caucasian man stated. Moving to a cabinet with a bottle of wine and three glasses, he started pouring drinks for the three adults as the Green Skinned woman ran her hands through her long, red hair. "After all, I'm absolutely certain we can handle it… my dear Asuka."
XXXXX
No Omake this chapter. Please leave a comment, I like those things.