Any author-original Characters/Mecha/Items/and others will be tagged with '*'.
This is set several years after the following conflict of the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, created and owned by Hideaki Anno.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: EVA Reborn
Contact 03: Midnight Solstice
"LET – ME – GOOOOOOOO!!!!" shrieked Kiera.
Within the command room of Central Dogma, Aoba, Ibuki, and Hyuga were busy with something as they huddled up side-by-side. They look like they were gift-wrapping something with tight ropes as Kiera's scream echoed around them.
"MOOOUU! ITTAIYO! GET OFF ME RIGHT – THIS – INSTANCE! LET ME AT HER! LET ME AT HER!"
Finally, Aoba, Ibuki, and Hyuga stood up. Aoba brushed off the dust from his hands, Ibuki stood in silence as she nervously stared in front of her, and Hyuga pulled off his glasses to check for any damages. Kiera, on the other hand, was tied up to her station chair. Her face was beet-red from fury as she struggled to pry herself free from her irritatingly tight bonds.
"There…" groaned Aoba, "that ought'a keep you safe and sound…"
"From what?!" snapped Kiera. Aoba merely returned a stare at her and casually raised an eyebrow. She lunged her head forward as if to bite him, her neatly curled blonde hair flew all over her face, "Listen − Pfft − Let me go, NOW!" Another strand of golden blonde hair fell onto her nose and she growled.
Ibuki lightly shook her head, "Please, Ichikawa-san, don't be so tempered. Keiko-san has graduated from university, that's…almost not a big deal. Besides, eventually you will graduate from high school and who knows…maybe a university will eventually accept you…Please calm yourself."
Kiera threw an extremely deadly glare at Ibuki. Quickly, the terrified Ibuki took a step back and gently shrunk behind Hyuga. He delicately held his glasses in his fingers as he inspected the damage on them, "She's right, Kiera. There's no need to get all worked up about. Besides, if you keep this destructive nature of yours up – whenever someone graduates earlier than you – Nerv will barely keep up with the repairs because of you and I will run out of glasses soon…" Without warning, the nose bridge of his glasses snapped in two. He groaned, "Shoot."
Aoba scoffed and folded his arms. He glanced down at Kiera, equally tempered, "Listen, if you are working with us, you have to maintain your attitude to exceed wanted expectations. The last time one of the Nerv Professors failed you was an accident, okay! The other times you had to retake grades were all your fault, for real! So don't vent out your hatred on other innocent people. Everyone is different in this world, got it!"
Kiera stood up, as if to bring the seat up with her. Despite her bottled rage, she merely fell back in her seat, "Fine whatever! But I swear if I see that…that…"
"Keiko-san?" asked Ibuki.
"Keiko-vixen! I'll wring her NECK! I'LL KILL HER! I'LL−" A large red bean bun was instantly shoved into her mouth. She was perplexed as she noticed the bun in her mouth. Through muffled cries she continued to rant in anger as Aoba sighed.
"That ought to keep you quiet…otherwise you'll ruin everyone's beauty sleep," he grumbled, "consider yourself lucky that you like red bean buns. That was suppose to me mine in case of emergencies…I hope you're happy…"
Kiera furiously shook her head, her golden locks flying everywhere. In unison, Aoba, Ibuki, and Hyuga gave out an exhausted sigh. They turned to leave. Kiera noticed their exit towards the door with stunned eyes. Infuriated, she rocked back and forth in her – bolted – swivel chair, calling out muffled cries to them.
At the open door way, Aoba, Ibuki, and Hyuga turned to Kiera. Aoba practically snarled, "Look, you've already brought a lot of trouble to us at Nerv and we don't mind it too much. But threatening our guest, and one of our good friends' daughter is totally unacceptable. Think over what you've done for tonight and we'll come back for you early in the morning…Oyasuminasai, Ichikawa…" One by one, they said their 'good-nights' and left Central Dogma.
"Oyasuminasai," bowed Ibuki.
"Oyasumi…" mumbled Hyuga, fretting over his glasses.
Kiera refused to give in. She screamed at the top of her lungs. Unfortunately, the red-bean bun stuffed in her mouth muffled them all to sound less than screaming. Finally the door slid shut, leaving Kiera alone in Central Dogma under a shower of dim lights. Her eyes started to well up tiny drops of water. She hung her head down and sniffed, letting out a sad whimper.
Suddenly, the door opened and she sprung up in her seat like a wound-up doll. It was Aoba at the door way, with Ibuki and Hyuga behind him. A hopeful glint flashed across Kiera's eyes. She happily bounced in her seat. Aoba made no expression whatsoever. He nonchalantly reached over one side of the door.
"Can't waste our precious electricity for nothing…Nerv is on a tight budget."
With that, he clicked the lights off. The three disappeared behind the sliding door and all fell silent. Only a pair of surprised blue eyes was left to hover in the darkness. They narrowed with annoyance. A short and angry groan echoed.
*****
The lab where Unit-01, Atticus, was held was pitched black dark. The only light it had was coming from his healing tank. Inside, the boy softly floated in the bright cyan-colored liquid as monitoring apparatus and devices lightly beeped under the silence. A human figure stood before it; with his back clean with darkness but his front drenched in the illumination of lights from Atticus' tank.
It was Ikari, silent and resigned. His glasses lifelessly rested on a corner of a nearby table. He stared at Atticus inside the tank, his eyes brightly flickering from the tank's glow.
"You've done a good job, Atticus, a really good job…" whispered Ikari. He finally tore his gaze away from Atticus and looked down. He held out his right hand and pulled out something from under his black uniform. It was a small red oval locket with a unique thin blue-colored chain. He took a moment to stare at it with quiet eyes, before he opened it. The locket opened smoothly like a book. It had two small pictures: one of a woman and one of a young baby. The woman's image was hidden under the tank's glare, but the baby's image was pristine clear. Ikari gave a faint smile.
"We are really proud of you…not matter what…"
*****
Kiera cracked a wide yawn as she patted her hand against her mouth. To her reluctances, she was free from her torture, courtesy of Maya Ibuki. Kiera crossed her arms across her work station and drove her head into them. She let out a long sigh. That was when a cup of steaming hot tea was held beside her head. She lazily rolled to one side to glance up at the person with tired eyes. It was Ibuki, who was wearing magenta-colored pajamas with bunnies and rainbows, wore a pair of pink and fuzzy cat-slippers, and had a pair of matching hair clips that pinned her hair down to one side. She returned a gentle smile.
"Here," she said with a kind voice.
Kiera hesitated at first, "Th…thank you…" She sat up and gingerly took the hot cup in her hands. Despite the painful heat, she took a moment to feel the warmth curl across her slender fingers as Ibuki sat at her station seat. She quietly sipped at her tea with both hands.
"Better?"
"…Thanks again…"
Ibuki perked her head up with surprise, "'Thanks again' for what?"
Kiera slowly turned her head to Ibuki. Due to her lack of sleep, having being tied to a chair and gagged with a red-bean bun, her complexion looked sour. Her make-up was fading, with her eye-liner slightly melted off from recently made sad tears, and her golden blonde hair was in shambles. She looked like she met a ghost, or was one, "For letting me go before the guys leave me tied up until the crack of dawn…I can't believe almost four hours have passed and it's already 2:40 AM…"
Ibuki nervously laughed, "Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha…I guess that we were a little too harsh…but we hoped you understand that what you did was not nice."
Kiera threw her gaze to the ground, still angry, "Yeah whatever…"
Ibuki sighed and shook her head, "Well, I'm off to bed…You should too. Don't worry, I'll figure out an excuse for setting you free…"
Kiera took a moment to glance at Ibuki as she stood. Kiera almost looked sorry as she whispered, "Ibuki…"
Suddenly red-alert alarms blared throughout Central Dogma, yellow strobe lights flashing. Kiera and Ibuki were taken completely by surprise. That was until one screen flashed on to life and large bold red letters appeared in screen. They turned to it and, despite the overall loudness of alarms, they heard their own gasps.
BLUE BLOOD MATCHED: CONFIRMED ANGEL.
*****
[Icarus flight. Icarus flight. We've detected an unidentified flying object within our vicinity. Take your team and do a sweep on target. Over.]
"Roger that Jubilee, this is Icarus lead. Enroute to target's current position. Over."
Icarus Leader* gazed around through his cockpit window, in search for the so-called UFO. He was the captain of the U.S.A. Air Force, 243rd flight group, Icarus Flight. He and his team were on posted duties with the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Jubilee of the U.S. Navy. Currently, the ship was in the middle of Japanese waters, on patrol in-aid with the JSSDF. At first, things were quiet until something was spotted heading into unwanted air space around the Jubilee.
He glimpsed at his console timer then to the dark skies above. It was exactly 3:00 AM, Japanese time, and the evening night was still fresh. He continued to look around as he veered his F-22 Raptor around to circle the air space.
"All wings, this is Icarus Lead," he called into his radio-link, "search out UFO and mark him on the spot. Make sure he doesn't give us the slip."
[Lead, this is Icarus 3. UFO has been spotted, 3 o'clock high from our position.]
"Roger that," replied Icarus Leader, "Lead to Jubilee, we've spotted the target. We're moving in to intercept and identify, over."
Icarus Leader pulled back his joystick and brought the Raptor into a short climb. His wingmen of three other Raptors followed in suit as they all head towards the destined point. Icarus Leader looked around, seeing nothing but clouds. Finally, he saw a shape in the distance. Unable to make out what it was, he set his radio-link to open channels.
"Unidentified pilot. This is the U.S.A. Air Force flight team Icarus of the U.S.S. Jubilee. Please respond and identify yourself or you will be considered as hostile." No response, but static. The figure seemed to turn towards him and his flight team. Odd, he thought, yet nonetheless duties were duties. "Unidentified pilot. You are about to cross into unauthorized airspace. Please respond or your will be fired upon!" Still no response; only static, "Jubilee, this is Icarus Lead. UFO is not squawking. What should we−" Without warning a blue laser streak of light seared through the air. It tore straight though Icarus 2 before he could scream. To Icarus Leader's horror, his wingman exploded into burning shards.
"Break off! Break off!" cried out Icarus Leader. He and his other wingmen sharply spun around to avoid enemy fire. Unfortunately, Icarus 3 was instantly shot by a blue laser in the tail engine. It caught on fire, spun out of control, and plummeted towards the sea. Before Icarus Leader could contact Icarus 3, everything went static. He gripped at his controls as he continuously glanced at the devastating figure, "Jubilee! Jubilee! UFO has opened fire on us! I've lost Icarus 2 and 3. Permission to return fire! Repeat: permission to return fire!"
[…Permission granted. All weapons go hot! Blaze him! Blaze him!]
Without another word, Icarus leader swooped up into the air and started his attack run with his last wingman. The two Raptors zipped into the clouds and screamed its way towards the figure. The two fighters launched off a volley of missiles. They soar through the sky and smashed directly onto their target. Just before Icarus Leader could celebrate, the missiles' explosive lights revealed to him a horrific sight.
The UFO was enormous, equal to being an aircraft carrier that can best two large battlecruisers. It had a wide and sharp-pointed metal carapace; it had long wide triangular wings like an albatross, and a small v-shaped visor across its front, possibly the cockpit. Icarus Leader thought he could strike there.
He and his wingman closed in. The UFO blasted off multiple lasers in every direction. A pair of laser pierced right through Icarus 4, his last wingman, as Icarus Leader was grazed from all side. With a loud cry, Icarus Leader madly fired off all missiles and had his main Vulcan gun chattered like crazy. They all exploded against the enemy's cockpit. Not before long hundreds of snake-like figures lashed out straight at the brave US pilot. Icarus Leader did not have a chance to evade.
*****
"Requiem confirmed! Harpy Category!" shouted Ibuki. She sat at her work station with a head set wrapped around her head, still wearing pajamas.
At the top command platform, Ikari and Misato were present. Strangely enough, Ikari was still wearing his black Nerv Commander uniform as he wore his yellow-tinted glasses. He sat the metal desk with his hands folded in front of his mouth and has a white glare reflecting off his glasses. Misato, on the other hand, yawned loudly as she was in her pajamas; more of a pink nightgown, with her Deputy Commander uniform-jacket wrapped around her shoulders. She had a small night-cap limply hanging on her head as she dangled a Pocky stick from her lips.
"Okay people, what's the sit'ch so far?" she muttered, tired.
"A Requiem has been identified. It has just flown past the U.S.S. Jubilee and its heading straight for Tokyo-3 by air!" reported Kiera. Unlike Ibuki, she was still wearing her dune-colored Nerv uniform. Despite her exhaustion, her make-up was completely wiped off and her mind was wide awake. Even without her make-up, she looked naturally pretty, "I'm starting up the city's defenses now. Flak guns are running hot!"
The door to Central Dogma slid open. Several people started to rush in and went to their stations, either in pajamas or mismatched uniforms. Aoba and Hyuga dashed into the console and headed straight for their seats. Aoba simply wore a pair of shorts and a vest-undershirt, while Hyuga had his brown pajamas on with his Nerv uniform coat across his shoulders. They were surprised to see Kiera.
"What the?! Who let you free?!" growled Aoba.
"Now isn't the time, Aoba-san!" snapped Ibuki, without turning away from her screen. Kiera ignored everything else, completely, and professionally handled her job.
"Come on!" called Hyuga. He grabbed Aoba by the arm and led themselves to their seats. They instantly placed on their headsets and went straight to work.
"This is a problem…" whispered Ikari, "Atticus is not ready to take on two Requiems consecutively."
"Well we've got no choice. He's our only flyboy and he's always eager to fight the Requiems for you and us, Shinji-kun," replied Misato.
"I don't want to risk him to go in, alone…"
Misato frozed, her expression still sleepy-looking. She turned to Ikari with a quiet look, her Pocky still dangled from her lips.
"You're not serious…"
Ikari kept his stare at the main screen of a large flying figure in the sky. He did not wish to answer that statement.
*****
My eyes woke up with a start. I felt myself breathing heavily. I had a nightmare again. I sat up in my bed, inside my dark room. I gripped my heart as I felt several points across my body stinging with pain. Why? What were these nightmares I keep having?
The door to my room suddenly opened, a flood of the hallway lights poured in. I blinked from the abrupt flash of light and slowly turned to the opened door.
"M-Misato-chan?" I wondered. She was standing there at the door way, wearing a strange set of a nightgown and her uniform jacket wrapped around her shoulders. I looked closer at her. Strangely enough, she was not smiling nor laughing. In her eyes, I saw her seriousness of something.
"I'm sorry to wake you," she said, in her non-casual voice. It sounded like the time she asked the Nerv Scientist and Technician to leave.
"Is…something wrong?" I suddenly heard faint thunderclap around me. I practically sprung up on my bed with surprise. Misato-chan, on the other hand passively stood at the door. I've finally noticed that she was holding onto something. A set of clothes?
"Do you trust me, Keiko?" she asked. I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I slowly nodded.
Misato-chan held forth that set of clothes, hung on a coat hanger. It was a yellow shirt, a crimson red jacket with several black and green strips, black pants, and a red mini-skirt, "Put these on for me."
*****
The double fenced-doors slid apart in both ways, once the elevator touched the deepest parts of the Nerv Headquarters. Where are we, I asked myself. Misato-chan briskly strode forward without any words. I quickly followed after her pace.
I felt a bit strange…in this new set of clothing. I wore it all: shirt, jacket, and the mini-skirt on top on my pants. I wished to ask her tons of questions…but just by glimpsing at Misato-chan's serious air, I decided to keep my tongue silent.
"Konbanwa. Misato."
"Eh?" I wondered. I looked up ahead and I suddenly gasped, "A-Atticus-sama?!"
Atticus stood at a clearing, which looked like a large underground hangar, and turned to me at the call of his name.
"Konbanwa. Keiko Langley-Soryu Birmingham," he answered passively.
After a long time of silence, Misato-chan cracked a grin, "It's not morning anymore, Atticus. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"Understood. Misato," he answered.
"Anou…Misato-chan…may I ask, what's going on?" I asked.
Without even having to think, Misato-chan answered with a faint smile, "You and Atticus are to launch ASAP and deal with the Requiem."
I softly nodded in understanding…EH?!! Me and Atticus-sama? Horrified I looked up at Misato-chan, "ME?! ME?! BUT I CAN'T−"
"Yes you can," interjected Misato-chan, "trust us you can. You too have the power to fight the Requiems."
"WHAT?" I shivered uncontrollably.
Misato-chan turned to me, "It's…that suit you're wearing. It was specifically designed to you." For some unknown reason, those words were spoken faster than average. But I was too frightened to keep that in my head.
"But…But…I can't…"
"I believe you can." I perked my head up, snapping out of my fears at the voice. I turned to stared at Atticus. He passively gazed back at me, "I trust you."
"You…do?" I asked. He returned a soft nod.
Misato-chan gave out a sad sigh, "Forgive me for dragging you into this…but trust me, Nerv and Atticus really needs your help. You do have that power to fight the Requiems," She turned to me with solemn eyes, "I can't tell you every detail at this time…but I promise one day you will know everything that is going on and come to an understanding with us all…Do you trust me…" She finally cracked a faint smile again, "Keiko-chan?"
I was silent the entire time. I first stared at Misato-chan, seeing the truth in her eyes. Then, I turned to Atticus. He kept his stare at me, passive and resigned, but…I saw trust in his greenish-purple eyes. I took in a deep breath and answered with a confident nod.
Misato returned the gesture with strong eyes, "Then from now on, you will be identified as EVA-02. Do you understand?"
*****
Within Tokyo-3, multiple giant flak cannons aimed at the sky and opened fire. Explosive shells shattered with a howl into the air as they all bit at the enormous figure in the sky.
The flying Requiem finally arrived at the coast of Tokyo-3. It started its hovering flight over the city as its gun flaps open to extend out hundreds of laser cannons. It soon began its rain of fire, setting ablaze the city's defenses and buildings.
*****
"Requiem has arrived over Section Delta of Tokyo-3! It has begun its assault!" cried Hyuga.
"Half of the city's defenses have been neutralized!" cried out Ibuki.
"Things aren't getting any better are they?" muttered Aoba.
[Commander!]
Ikari perked his head up at the sound of Central Dogma's speakers. Communications were currently linked with the launching hangar. Misato's voice buzzed into the command room.
[EVA-01 and EVA-02 are ready for immediate launch! Green light! I repeat, green light!] she called.
Hyuga perked his head up with surprise, "E-EVA-02?"
Ibuki stopped typing and her face was shocked. Kiera stole a glance at them all with curiosity.
"EVA-0…but I thought−" gasped Aoba.
"Ichikawa-san," called out Ikari. Instantly, the three Nerv Computer Technicians fell silent. As if understanding on the spot – or remembering something – Aoba, Ibuki, and Hyuga normally returned to their work. One of them tried to hide a grin.
Kiera at first blinked in confusion. She then turned to her Commander, "Sir?"
Ikari kept his gaze on the main screen, "Initiate launch sequence."
Kiera grinned with a confident nod, "Ryoukai!" Without hesitation, she pressed the enter button.
*****
I shivered so badly as I stood side by side with Atticus. We were both on top of a large platform; the same one when Atticus appeared from underground in the last attack. I felt that my body kept bumping into Atticus and I was worried he would yell at me. He didn't and said nothing as he simply stood on the spot, passive.
I turned to Misato-chan. She was off to one side of the hangar with a group of technicians. She had just yelled through a speaker phone to someone on the other line.
"Green light! Go-go-go!" she cried. She turned on the spot and gave us a wide grin and a thumbs up, "Time to fly!"
Without warning, the latches to the platform snapped off with sparks. The platform we stood on suddenly bolted upward and ascended at unbelievable speed. I could not help a shriek as I felt the growing pressure squeeze on to me. Suddenly, I was safely held by a pair of arms. I was surprised, the pressure slowly alleviated off of my body as I looked up. I could not believe it. It was Atticus who held me in his arms. He took the brunt of the force coming down on us, yet he never uttered a sound.
"It is alright," he said, unfazed, "no harm will be inflicted upon you if I shield you from the initial G-force. It will eventually be over."
I returned a nod. I knew my cheeks were burning as I huddled up closer against Atticus' chest. It was…a strange feeling, being held by him. Wait. How am I surviving with Atticus if this platform is going nearly at Mach 3…Am I really not normal?
*****
"Ichikawa-san. Set up the Nebula Spore field for EVA-01 and EVA-02," called Ikari.
Kiera typed halfway and paused, confused, "Ah…what was that Nebula Spore thing again…"
Ibuki leaned sideways to Kiera, her eyes never leaving her screen, "The special energy particle field that allows Atticus to fight for exactly one hour before switching to internal battery. It can also act as on-the-spot recharging method for him."
Kiera eyes squinted and glared at Ibuki from the corner of them, "I knew that."
Ibuki sat back straight, unbothered, "You're welcome."
Kiera puffed her cheeks in annoyance. She quickly swiped her fingers across her keyboard.
*****
From the broken streets of Tokyo-3, several concealed compartments opened up. They extended out huge nozzles into the air. Soon, one by one they started to spray out a condensed and energetically charged mist of electric particles.
As they floated into the air, they gave off bright flashes of majestic colors. Altogether, it looked like a nebula itself has settled down onto the Earth.
*****
"Requiem is changing course! It's moving from Section Delta and crossing over to Section Charlie!" called out Hyuga.
"Don't worry, I'm running more guns up in that sector…the ones in Section Delta are toasted," replied Aoba.
"Nothing is affecting the Harpy Requiem," replied Ibuki, worried.
"Aoba, try to intensify defensive firepower onto one focus point against the Harpy Requiem," spoke Ikari, "see if you can find a weakness somewhere."
Aoba returned an affirmative nod, "Ryoukai."
The door behind Ikari slid open. In stepped Misato as the door closed behind her. She stepped up to Ikari's side, silent and resigned, as she looked straight at the screen. From her uniform-jacket's pocket, she pulled out her box of Pocky chocolate-covered biscuit sticks and pinched it between her lips. Her body lightly shivered as she cracked a smile.
"So what did I miss?"
"Nebula Spore has successfully filled Section Charlie!" called out Kiera, "EVA-01 and EVA-02 are now…topside!"
*****
The Harpy Requiem lightly hovered over a large span of city grounds. Multiple cannons and flak guns barked powerful rounds against its shell, but nothing seemed to affect it. In one smooth motion, a single laser beam shot down and sliced across the ground. A trail of explosion followed in its wake.
Suddenly a pair of tiny figures was catapulted straight into the sky. The Harpy Requiem halted in its levitating tracks at the sight. It even heard a sharp scream.
*****
I can't help but screaming as Atticus and I flew hundreds of miles above Tokyo-3. Any further and I thought we could touch the moon. I stopped screaming as we descended, with Atticus still holding on to me as we fell. As we dropped, I noticed a shimmering cloud of light surrounding us. I gazed around. I was instantly astounded by the lively lights that hazed over a large portion of Tokyo-3. They looked like polar lights, ones that you see from the Antarctic; only these looked more like…from the beauties of outer space itself.
Slowly, Atticus released me in the air and we both free-fall down. He reached out and held onto my left hand with his right. He then spoke out, his metal ear-fin shaped communication device clipped to his ear.
"This is EVA-01, Atticus. Arrived above mission area with EVA-02. We are awaiting further orders."
[KEIKO-VIXEN?!]
The voice nearly blew my ear out, why? I then realized that I too had that metal ear-fin radio attachment clipped to my ear. I thought I heard Kiera's voice.
"I-Ichikawa-san?!" I yelped.
[Don't Ichikawa-san me, you vixen! How did you become…] I heard her let out an angry breath, [Okay whatever! I'll deal with you later when this is all over. Just follow my instructions, GOT IT!]
I flinched at the last of Kiera's words. Vixen, I thought. What vixen? Was that supposed to be a military code for something?
"Target confirmed. Requiem, Harpy Category. EVA-01, engaging the target."
"Th-this is EVA-ze-02. I'm following Atticus-sama!"
Atticus and I sailed straight down toward the ground. Or better yet, right above the Requiem. I wished I could gasp, but the free-fall made me choke instead. In seconds, we both landed right on top of the Requiem's left wing. As if pulled down by a heavy weight, the entire Requiem teetered down and banked to the left.
As the Requiem slanted, we both lost our balanced and rolled uncontrollably down its wing. Atticus stopped rolling halfway down and thrust his fist into the wing. His fist pierced straight through its surface and he gripped some exposed wires. I on the other hand kept rolling down, unable to grab hold of anything. The edge of the wing drew closer to me. A hand shot down and grabbed my wrist. I suddenly dangled in mid-aired as I shrieked. My legs hanged in the air below me; not a pretty sight. I looked up to see Atticus, who passively held onto me while he gripped onto the stretch of wires.
"Did you suffer any damages? Acknowledge," he said. I slowly shook my head. I gently gripped at his wrist, as he held onto me. Soon, I heard Kiera's voice crack into my ear.
[Okay you two, listen up and listen up good!] she growled, [You can't do anything to this Requiem while it's still airborne. It is only vulnerable to your attacks when it is in Goliath form. For your information, Keiko-vixen, a Goliath form is when it transforms into a humanoid mode, like a giant per se…]
I nodded, "Th-thank you, Ichika−"
[Don't be,] snapped Kiera. I gulped as she continued, [Try to puncture its wings and the several propeller engines along its ends. Without their balance, the Requiem is bound to touch the ground and it is completely useless when in their Myrmidon form…which is their vehicle form, Keiko-vixen.]
I nodded again, this time staying quiet.
[So to sum it up,] continued Kiera, [kick – its – butt.]
Atticus nodded, "Ryoukai. Field Operator." He turned to me, "Can you move? Acknowledge."
"B-but…I don't know how to fight…I'm really sorry, Atticus-sama!"
"You can."
I was surprised as I stared right at Atticus. He looked right back down at me, his tone never changing, "I believe in you, Keiko Langley-Soryu Birmingham. In order to use your powers, you must synchronize with the one within."
"The one…within?" I whispered. For a moment, I did not know what to do. I shook off my fears and closed my eyes. At first, I felt nothing. Suddenly, I started to feel…a warm glow inside of me. What was this? I…never had this feeling before. Why now?
"The Aegis Cloth helps you to become stronger in synchronization with the one within you. Concentrate. Hear its call. And become one."
Become one. A cold sensation splashed over my entire body and mind. My head grew weary, why? I continued to feel I was standing under a cold lake. For some reason…this feeling is so…nostalgic. Soon my conscious slipped into a deep and bright blue dream.
*****
Atticus gripped at the wires of the Requiem's wings. He noticed that they started to snap under his weight, one by one. As well, the Requiem began to regain its balance as it started to lift up its left wing from the ground. Atticus stared down at Keiko. Her head hung limply forward, in deep slumber.
Finally, Atticus whispered, "Awaken, EVA-02."
Keiko lifted up her head. She slowly opened her eyes. They burned electrifying ice-blue. She started to swing her legs back and forth. Soon, she and Atticus swung like a pendulum. When they reached the greatest peak on their right, Atticus tossed her into the air.
In the air, Keiko kept her body closed and tight. She soared upward, her back arced like a mermaid that leapt out of the ocean. She flipped backward and fell back down to the Requiem. Right before she hit the surface of the Harpy Requiem, her eyes flashed with power.
She landed straight onto the Requiem's back. The entire machine dropped several meters straight downward, as if something destructive landed on its back. Keiko slowly stood up as she was in the middle of a dented and ripped-metal crater.
With blinding speed, she ran off to the right wing's edge. and started to take out large engines that had propellers running rapidly. She swiped her leg under one engine's beam support and punched it right off its broken roots. The dead engine coughed, exploded, and fell down to the city in a charred wreck. Keiko quickly ran to another one and gave it a devastating flying kick. The next engine was torn right off and it flew into another one, destroying it. Atticus swung back and forth. Right before the wires in his hand snapped, he flipped upward and spun around gracefully.
The Requiem's laser guns opened up and started to cut the sky with deadly blue lasers. Keiko back flipped away and practically danced under every shot. Atticus nimbly dove right through and landed onto the Requiem's left wing joint. His landing caused a huge fault across its surface. Soon, the wing snapped itself off.
The Requiem seemed to give out a wail of agony, its body losing altitude and went straight to the ground. It crashed into the city and ploughed through many buildings, for several kilometers, before it came to a groaning stop.
Atticus and Keiko stood up and swiftly leapt off its back. Several far miles away, they landed across the debris-filled street. They both turned to glare at the Requiem. The Requiem groaned again. Suddenly, gears and cogs twitched and turned from inside.
*****
"Woohoo!" cheered Misato, a Pocky in her raised fist, "That was sweet!"
Ikari could not help a smile.
"Alright! They did it!" hollered Hyuga.
Aoba yanked Hyuga back down into his seat, "Not yet!"
"Oh…" uttered Hyuga, spirits gone.
"Commander!" called out Ibuki, "Requiem is now changing from Myrmidon to Goliath form!"
"Good," replied Ikari, his voice steady, "continue the attack."
The four bridge bunnies of Nerv whirled on their chairs and returned a crisp salute.
"Ryoukai."
*****
Atticus and Keiko passively watched in silence as the Requiem began to take humanoid shape. Its remaining wing unfolded to become a long flexible ape-like arm. Its body was like an upside down tear drop, having a wide and bulky shoulder, a triangular abdomen, and stubby legs. An angry glint flash across the Requiem's v-shaped visor – its eye – and it lashed out its right arm. It extended out to become even dangerously longer.
Atticus and Keiko leapt away to different sides, letting the clawed Requiem's hand smash into the ground. The two Units landed further back. The Requiem slowly pulled out its arm and started to waddle forward.
"Central Dogma. Requesting Buster Rifle, Pilum," said Atticus.
[Ryoukai! Sending in the Pilum!] called Kiera.
Right next to Atticus, the ground opened up a rectangular compartment. A tall and flat cupboard-like stall rose up from below the ground and stopped at Atticus' height. Steam hissed from it and a blind-like door rolled back. Inside, there was a shining silver assault rifle, with gold strips running across its long barrel, as dry-ice-steam misted its base. Atticus placed a firm grip onto it and drew it out of its rack. He held it by his side as the compartment slid back down.
Keiko stared at the Requiem, with an equal expression to Atticus. She whispered, "Javelin…" Another compartment opened up beside her and out stood another stall. It opened up to holster a long y-shaped yellow laser rifle, with a power cord attached to it. She clamped her left hand to its side, the power cord automatically ejecting, and passed it to her right hand to hold onto its grip that was the center point of the y-shape. She readied herself.
The Requiem was within attack distance again and lashed its arms out.
*****
"Hit it, Keiko-chan!" cried out Misato.
*****
Keiko fired off a devastating charged particle projectile from its long barrel. Its initial shot practically tore apart the air and broke the sound barrier in seconds. It collided with the Requiem's hand, ripping its metal frames into hundreds of pieces. The deadly energy bolt ran through its arm and through the other end of its shoulder.
From the force of the shot, the Harpy Requiem fell with a shriek. On the ground, its body opened up hundreds of compartments. Instantly snake like rocket anchors lashed out like hydras. Atticus immediately bolted forward and took the initiative.
He leapt forward through the air and fired his fully-automatic silver assault rifle. High caliber bullets shattered each anchor head that soared towards him and severed them altogether. As he dove through the flood of iron-dagger-headed serpents, he nimbly flipped around and leapt off of each head that struck at him. His fire blared off non-stop as he shoot forward, left, right, and behind him without turning.
Keiko ran forward. Just as Atticus warded off the anchor heads, Keiko skidded to a halt beside him and fired off another killer energy round. The shot sailed through the air as Requiem slowly stood back up. When the shot was about to hit it, its Prism Barricade appeared and took the blow. Smoke erupted and flew over the Requiem's protection, canceling out any harm.
"Strike the Requiem. I will break its defense," said Atticus. Keiko nodded and tossed her hi-powered energy rifle, Javelin, to Atticus. He held it at the ready and aimed, as Keiko broke off into an accelerated dash.
The Javelin howled off another shot by Atticus. It struck dead-center against the Prism Barricade and faded away. Atticus kept firing, pummeling the shield without mercy. As the Prism Barricade took more and more hits, sparks started to dance across Atticus' arms.
Keiko leapt into high up into the air and started her attack dive. Atticus gripped his shaking right hand at the energy rifle's handle. He let loose one last shot. A sudden red flash flared across his arm and tore off his Aegis Cloth's titanium right sleeve.
*****
"Ah!" cried Kiera, "Atticus' right arm just flat-lined! He overused the Javelin and took its recoil too much!"
"Atticus…" whispered Misato, "you know that weapon can only be used by Keiko without breaking a sweat…why?"
Ikari said nothing as he watched on. He whispered, out of Misato's ear shot, "You've grown…Atticus."
*****
Atticus' intact right arm fell limply against his side, the Javelin dropped to the ground. The last energy shot shattered the Prism Barricade into broke shards. Atticus passively stood on the spot, unfazed of his limp right arm. He watched Keiko in silence.
[Keiko-vixen, you are clear for Evangelion Overdrive!] cried Kiera.
"Evangelion Overdrive: Y-Angel Shatter!" cried Keiko.
Her Aegis Cloth started to glow, absorbing the energy around her. With a flash of light, she changed into a burning torch of white-hot flames. She dove straight at the Requiem. Just as it finally came to its feet, Keiko shot right through it like a powerful comet.
A massive explosion erupted, followed by a tsunami-like shockwave. Its explosion shock pulsed throughout the city, knocking over several old buildings to the ground. Atticus still stood where he was, unbothered. The explosion instantly disappeared and the wind died back to normal. Soon, a slender figure started to descend from the sky.
Atticus sprinted forward across the street, clearing a hundred meter track in less than 10 seconds. He leapt up into the air and with his good left hand he caught something that dropped from the sky. He gracefully landed on one knee and turned his gaze to what he had caught.
It was Keiko, who looked weak and exhausted. Her eyes slowly faded back to their normal color. She finally let out a tired breath as she regained her former consciousness.
*****
What…happened? The last thing I remember was Atticus telling me to synchronize with the one within myself…Everything else made me feel I was placed underwater. I tried to get up from where I laid. Shockingly, I couldn't move my body at all. I felt like panicking.
"It is alright."
I taken aback by that voice and I turned to it. To my surprise it was Atticus, who held me in his left arm and balanced my limp body across his left knee. I struggled to move my neck, the only body part that I had control, and noticed something. His right arm sleeve was torn off at the shoulder, black soot padded across his bare skin.
"This is your first time in synchronization with your inner one. Your body has exceeded normal human performance limitations and will temporarily power-down until you recover."
"Atticus-sama…your arm…" I whispered, anxious, ignoring my body.
"A minor injury. Overall damage percentage is minimal. I am still able to operate, but my performance will be shortened by several degrees without the use of my right hand."
I turned to look up at him, "Why…why did you do that?"
Atticus did not answer my question. Instead he continued, "Mission success. Well done. EVA-02, Keiko Langley-Soryu Birmingham."
His words took me aback by surprise, but it didn't affect me for too long. If I was able to move my hand…I know I could not help a blush…I would have touched his face. So, I strongly imagined that I could.
"Please…" I said, gazing into his greenish-purple eyes, "call me Keiko."
Atticus was silent at first. He finally blinked, "Hai. Keiko-san."
I smiled, almost peacefully, as I felt my mind slipping into exhaustion. I gently rested my head against his arm and let everything go as I fell asleep.
"Thank…you…Atticus-sama…" I whispered.
*****
'Dear Mother:
I missed you so much. I am in Tokyo-3 and am in safe hands with your friend, Commander Ikari-sama. To be honest, I am really excited to be here with him. The organization Nerv is an amazing place. There are a lot of nice people here, like Ibuki-san, Aoba-san, Hyuga-san, as well as Ichikawa-san. I met with Misato-chan and she constantly surprises me with her youthful and energetic cheerfulness. I really love it here.
Most important of all – and please don't laugh or get any wrong ideas – I met a boy. His name is Atticus-sama. He is strong, brave, and very kind, despite his overall appearance. Together with everyone here at Nerv, I've learned a lot from my new friends. I feel like I'm with a good family, like with you and daddy (^_^).
I wish to tell you more, but it's really late and I had a long hard day trying to help out Nerv. Hope to hear from you soon.
With love: Keiko-chin.'
I gave out a wide yawn as I sat before the computer in my new room at Nerv. After some hours of sleeping, I was able to regain control of my body. Well most of it. My legs were still asleep, my bones were aching, and my head nodded off to sleep just by sitting still. No matter what though, I wanted to send a message to mother, to let her know that I am alright. I do not wish for her to worry about me…because if she gets worry, something happens…
I resisted a giggle, but it shifted into a dead-tired yawn. My eyes fluttered to a close, I could barely stand it any longer. Unable to check my letter, I quickly sent it off to mother before I forget. With a smile, I folded my arms across the metal desk and rested my head in them. No sooner had my face touched my arms, I was fast asleep.
*****
The door to Keiko's room slid open, light spilled across the floor. In the middle of the rectangular white puddle, a figure stood within the door frame. The door closed and both the figure's shadow and the puddle disappeared.
It approached a slumbering Keiko with stealthy steps. It soon reached her side and gazed down at her. After a quiet moment, the figure reached a hand out and turned off Keiko's desk lamp. The computer screen automatically went to sleep, cutting any source of light over Keiko or the figure.
Finally, a warm blanket was pulled up and wrapped around Keiko's shoulder. She snuggled her head closer in her arms, undisturbed from her tired state. The figure started to leave. The door opened again, this time revealing the figure.
Atticus stood in front of the opened door, while he was still inside of Keiko's room. His right arm was wrapped up in a cast and slung across and above his stomach. He turned to Keiko, revealing a single white eye-patch taped over his left eye. He gazed at her in a deep and comfortable sleep as she curled up across the desk with a smile.
"Atticus…sama…" she whispered.
Atticus right eye blinked, his greenish-purple eye dimly lit under the hallway's lights. He then gave a light and thankful bow.
"Arigatou gozaimasu…Keiko-san."
Author's Notes
JAPANESE TERMS:
-chi-n: As stated in the Anime AIR: "-chin is a corruption of -chan, more uncommon and, in a way, cuter."
R(i)-yo-u-ka-i: In Japanese, as well as national military phrasing, it means "Roger!"
O-ya-su-mi-na-sa-i: In Japanese, it means "Good night."
-vixen: Just to let readers know, this suffix is not Japanese, but English; it represents a fox-based creature literally called a vixen. It is Kiera Ichikawa's personal opinion of tagging Keiko Langley-Soryu Birmingham in a nasty, nasty, way.