Maturing in a War Zone

It's been one week since the accident. Everyone is on edge. Dr. Mondschein insisted on waiting for Unit-04's remaining limbs to regenerate before doing anything. So, all they could do effectively was wait. Wait and watch the monitors and pray that Unit-04 will be prepared for the upcoming attack.

Allan Fisher is pacing in the command center. Dr. Mondschein is looking at the destroyed view screen.

"So," Allan exclaimed, "What the hell do we do now?"

No one said anything.

"We have at least four Angels on the loose, and our base has been wrecked."

"We know, Mr. Fisher." Dr. Mondschein stated.

"Well, clearly you don't! We need Unit-14!"

"I know Mr. Fisher. I know all too well that we need Unit-14."

"And on top of all this, I have no idea what the hell is going on! The Garden? ARKS? The Gate? Can someone please explain to me what just happened?"

"Like I said, Mr. Fisher," Dr. Mondschein hopped down from the head of the command center to the level Fisher was at, "Maybe someday, I will tell you. But as of right now-"

"If you told me, you'd have to kill me. I got that. And you don't like paperwork, so you don't want to just outright murder me."

"More or less."

More silence. Not even Quatre's music could be heard.

"Why are you so apprehensive about it, Doc? Why can't we just go get the pilot?"

"Because the pilot is-"

Then the alarms started blaring.

"Lieutenant Barret, please don't tell me that's a Pattern Blue."

"… Alright. Quatre?"

"Pattern Blue detected, Boss. Angel attack."

He let out a disappointed sigh.

"Alright, where is it?"

"It's directly above us, Sir. Approximately 50 meters below the surface."

"50 meters below the surface? There's nothing up there."

"Then you should see the monitors, sir."

"Alright," He walked to Lieutenant Barret and stood next to him, looking down at the monitor, "Show me."

On the monitor was the view of the area above NERV-Alaska. Dr. Mondschein looked, but couldn't quite see what he was looking for.

"Right there, Sir."

Lieutenant Barret pointed at an innocent looking tree.

"That's a tree, Lieutenant Barret, not an Angel."

"The area above NERV-Alaska is completely barren, Sir. Not even Grass."

"What's worse, is that it's growing exponentially."

The view of the monitor changed. It showed a sapling growing rapidly to the tree he saw on the monitor over the course of 30 seconds.

"How long did this take?"

"That wasn't time lapsed, Boss."

He stared at the view screen. Sure enough, the tree was even bigger now.

"Well… F_."

"At this rate, it will reach NERV in just over an hour."

Dr. Mondschein turned on his heels and started to run out of the control center.

"Doc!" Fisher called out for him, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to get the pilot for Unit-14."

I AM.

THROUGH LICENSE OF A FAKE, I HAVE COME.

THOUGH I BELONG NOT TO ADAM OR TO LILITH, I HAVE COME.

I WILL BREAK THROUGH THE CRUST OF THIS WORLD NOT OUR OWN.

I WILL FIND MY ULTIMATE GOAL.

YOU CANNOT STOP ME, FOR EVEN GOD HIMSELF FEARED ME,

FOR I CAN MAKE EVEN THE MOST PURE FALL.

I AM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.

AND I WILL CAST DOWN THE MIGHTY.

Four years ago…

Dream Mondschein is driving his son home from school. An awkward silence permeates the air in the car. Adam is abnormally quiet and Dream is too preoccupied with the events of the day. He decides to break the silence.

"Something on your mind, kiddo?"

"No."

"Then why are you so quiet?"

"I didn't get a good sleep last night, so I'm really tired right now."

"Ah. Alright."

Then the silence returned. This car ride, Dream thinks, is not the most enjoyable one he's had.

"I uh… I met someone at work."

"Do tell."

"Another scientist, kind of like me. He's here to help work on something."

"What are you working on?

"Just some renewable fuel source. You know how it is."

Another lie. He hates lying to his son, he really does. That's why he just doesn't tell him the details.

"That's interesting. How's it going?"

"It's going real well. Real well. He has a daughter, and decided to bring her in today to take a look around."

"Why don't you ever let me go to your work?"

"Cause you were never interested."

"… Oh right."

"Anyway, his daughter is about your age. So I told her about you. And she actually wants to talk to you."

"What's she like?"

"She's smart. Curious. I know she likes classical music, too."

"Really?"

"Really."

"When can I see her?"

"Well, they have to leave soon, so she wants to talk to you over email for now. I gave her your email address, so when we get home you should get a message from her."

"Alright, I'll check."

When they eventually got home, sure enough, he had received an email from this mystery girl.

Adam,

I met your father at his work today, and he told me about you. You seem like an interesting person. I wish that I could talk to you in person, but as your father probably already told you, we're leaving soon. If you're interested, please email me back as soon as you can, okay?

Sincerely,

Allison Catorce

And so he started to type his own reply.

Allison,

Yes, I'm interested. I'd really like to get to know you. My dad didn't tell me much, but he told me you like classical music. I thought I was the only one my age that did. I wouldn't mind getting to know you.

Sincerely,

Adam Mondschein

That's when it started. Over the years, they kept in contact with each other. Sending emails to each other, and always checking up on each other. It was all cute, really. Eventually, they decided to advance to an instant messenger.

ALLISON: When we first started talking to each other, you said that you liked classical music. I can't really believe we haven't talked about it since then, but do you like anything specific? Do you like any other kinds of music?

ADAM: I do. People call me weird, mostly because I like classical music, but also because I like classical music and Rock and Roll. They're more or less opposites, but I can't help it if I like them, right? When it comes to classics, though, I like mostly Bach.

ALLISON: I'm more of a Chopin person myself. But, like you said, you can't control what you love. Do you play any instruments?

ADAM: No, I don. But I am very interested in the arts. I'm actually working to be a writer some day. How about you?

ALLISON: I can't play any instruments either. I just like classical music. I actually hope I can be a scientist some day.

ADAM: Well, you're smart. I'm sure you can be whatever you want to be.

ALLISON: … I don't think so.

ADAM: What are you talking about? Of course you can.

ALLISON: I hope you're right.

A couple moths after that, Allison started to ask different questions. She used to ask about Adam, but now she started asking about other things. Where he lived, what the view was like. What he did with his friends. When he asked her why, she just explained that she wanted to know what he saw every day.

Present day…

Odd, as he hasn't gotten a message in over a month. Usually, Allison and him talk roughly once a week. But the past month has been quiet. She mentioned that a relative was staying over, and that he was slightly hyperactive and enjoyed listening to his music a bit too loud. But after that, she just… stopped.

That's why he found it odd that he had a message for him when he got back home from school. He looks at his computer, apprehensive, and his heart leaps a little when he notices who it's from.

ALLISON: Adam! Adam, I need to talk to you!

He quickly started typing his reply.

ADAM: Allison, where have you been? I haven't heard from you in… I don't even know how long.

ALLISON: That's not important right now. But I just have to talk to you right now.

ADAM: Why? What's wrong?

ALLISON: Things… Things are really bad here. My relative that was staying over? He came back in earlier today really badly injured.

ADAM: Is he going to be alright?

ALLISON: I don't know, no one is telling me anything! And with how things are going…

ADAM: What are you talking about?

ALLISON: Things… Things got really bad around here. Something happened, and it's not safe here anymore.

ADAM: Can you get out of there?

ALLISON: … No. I can't.

ADAM: Then tell me where you live, and I'll be there as soon as I can!

ALLISON: I can't… I don't want to put you in danger, too.

ADAM: I don't care! I just want to make sure you're safe!

ALLISON: But I do care! I...

There was a long pause. Adam waited. What he wouldn't give to finally see her and be there for her.

ALLISON: I might not be able to talk to you again.

ADAM: What?

ALLISON: This is why I wanted to talk again after so long.

ADAM: What are you talking about? Why won't I see you again?

ALLISON: I can't tell you. But can you listen to… read… what I have to say?

ADAM: Always.

Another pause. He waited, and he would wait however long he needed to.

ALLISON: I don't know if it's right. I don't know if I should feel like this. But if I'm never going to talk to you again, there's something I want you to know.

ADAM: What is it?

ALLISON: I… I love you, Adam. And I always will.

ALLISON HAS DISCONNECTED

He stared at the screen in disbelief. She loved him. She said that she loved him. He started to laugh. He laughed cause something triggered in his own mind. Did he feel the same way? When she said that she loved him, did he want to say those words back to her? Alone, laughing, he looked at the screen, and decided to admit it to himself.

"Good god, yes."

He continued laughing. He was convinced that she would just come back online, and they would have a good old laugh about it, and he could tell her that he feels the same. But it dawned on him: She's not coming back online. Not after what she said. He started to plead to his monitor, hoping that she would come back. He knew his words meant nothing, and she couldn't hear him. And possibly never will. But he didn't want to let go. He didn't want to let go of that feeling. He couldn't let go of that feeling.

That's when he heard his father walk in through the front door.

"Adam! We need to go! NOW!"

He closed his laptop, and rushed out of his bedroom.

"Why? What is it?"

"I'll explain on the way, but we have to move!"

"Okay!"

They both rushed out of the apartment and down to the front of the complex. Adam hopped into the passenger seat, and his father slid across the front and leaped into the open driver side window. He shifted the car into Drive and slammed his foot into the pedal. Adam grabbed onto the door handle, and was pushed back by the sudden acceleration.

"This isn't safe!"

"No," His father said, keeping his eyes forward, "No, it's not safe at all."

"Why are we in such a rush?"

"Something happened at work that only you can help with."

"This is the craziest day ever! I finally get a message back from Allison, only to have her tell me her life has gone to shit and I can't possibly help her. Then you come in like the devil himself is chasing you, and you drag me to what will probably be my death!"

"Mine was crazier, I can guarantee that."

"What do you do, dad? And no more 'I would tell you but I'd have to kill you' crap! Cause at this rate, we're going to die anyway!"

"I'd tell you, but you wouldn't believe me. Not yet. So, I'm going to show you."

"Simplify it then!"

"You want simple? You got simple, kiddo. You? Are going to help me save the world."

Pilot of Unit-14: Status- En Route