A/N: Here I now return with chapter ten of "Neon Genesis Striker" where Hanna dives into a volcano. I hope you enjoy and beware the Ides of March.
Thanks to my pre-reader Makuhari-fan01
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or Strike Witches
It was a beautiful and sunny day in Tokyo-3 as people casually went about their business. Shirley Yeager and Hanna- Justina Marseille were making their way to the Tokyo-3 mall with the blonde Karlsländ girl more dragging the busty redhead in her wake.
"I'm so glad you agreed to go shopping with me Shirley." swooned Hanna as she clutched on the Liberion girl's arm.
"No problem." replied Shirley who thought to herself, "More like forced against my will. The boss will chew my ass out if I don't get back to work. I just hope my contact made it okay."
"This way!" called out Hanna as the two arrived and she made a b-line for the Macy's department store.
"I'm coming." replied Shirley who followed her to a certain spot of the store, "This is the bathing suit section."
"What do you think?" asked Hanna holding out a white two-piece bikini.
"Looks great." answered Shirley who added to herself, "At least it's not lingerie."
"I'm going to try it on." said Hanna enthusiastically. Hanna did and after doing a little more shopping bought the bathing suit and a several other things. After the trip was done they stopped to eat at the food court.
"So where are you going on your class trip again?" asked Shirley as the two ate.
"Okinawa." answered Hanna still enthusiastically, "It's going to be great! We're even going scuba diving! It'll be so much fun!"
"I can actually get some work done." mumbled Shirley
"What was that?" asked Hanna who couldn't hear Shirley.
"Nothing." answered Yeager lying. The girls spent another hour at the mall before Shirley finally got Hanna to go home. Hanna spent the next few hours packing but at dinner she got a shock.
"What do you mean we can't go?" cried out Hanna as she slammed her hands on the table.
"You heard me. You girls need to be ready in case an Angel attacks." answered Sakamoto.
"And who's the idiot who thought of that?" asked Hanna now angry.
"This one." answered Sakamoto, "The Director of Operations."
"Stop hiding behind your tea and do something!" demanded Hanna as Yoshika sat next to her sipping her tea.
"I figured this would happen so I've just accepted it." replied Yoshika calmly.
"How pathetic." spat Hanna before turning back to Sakamoto, "Why are we always on the defensive? Why can't we go on the attack for once?"
"We would if we knew were they we. In the meanwhile you can use this time to catch up on your studies." answered Sakamoto who held up two report cards which caused both girls to gulp, "I have these forwarded to me and I'm not happy with your bad grades."
"The numerical grading system this country uses is so primitive." countered Hanna.
"When in Rome do as the Romans do." said Sakamoto who added with authority, "You could at least try to adapt to Fuso system."
"This sucks!" screamed Hanna who stormed off to her room.
The next day Yoshika and Hanna told their friends they couldn't go on the trip. Barkhorn said she'd get Hanna something while Hartmann and Lucchini teased Yoshika. The two witches watched their friends leave before heading to the pool where they meet Sanya.
Inside things were pretty slow which led to boredom. To pass the time Lynne read a romance novel, Amaki was reading a manga and Nishiki had her IPod on and was rocking the air guitar while listening to "Smoke on the water" by Deep Purple. Nearby Perrine was looking over files while drinking coffee and talking to Sakamoto who was also enjoying a cup of coffee.
"A class trip right now seems reckless to me with the constant Angel attacks." said Perrine.
"I guess it's an attempt to let them be kids while they can." replied Sakamoto as Sub-Commander Ferrara entered the room.
"Dr. Clostermann, I need you, Lieutenant Bishop and Lieutenant Nakajima to go to the briefing room where I will join you in a moment. Captain Sakamoto and Lieutenant Suwa are to stay here so I can talk to you now." ordered Ferrara.
"Yes ma'am." replied the women.
By poolside Yoshika was sitting in front of her laptop doing her homework while Sanya swam in the pool.
"Such an obedient girl." said Hanna as she emerged from the dressing room and walked over to Yoshika.
"Well I'll have to do it anyway." said Yoshika who then looked up and saw Hanna in the white bathing suit she bought earlier and fought to hold back a nosebleed.
"What are you working on exactly?" asked Hanna.
"Physics." answered Yoshika mesmerized by Hanna's breasts.
"Let me see." said Hanna who bent over and worked on the problem while Yoshika stared at the breasts now in front of her, "Done."
"How did you answer that so quickly?" answered Yoshika knocked out of her trance and impressed by Hanna's ability to answer the question.
"It's easy when you know how." replied Hanna proudly.
"Then why do you have trouble with your grades?" asked Yoshika.
"I can't understand the kanji." answered Hanna who added, "I never had to learn it at university."
"You've been to a university?" asked Yoshika impressed.
"I graduated from Humboldt University of Berlin which is the city's oldest, as well as one of the most prestigious universities in Karlsländ." answered Hanna, "It was the model for other European universities. Alumni include philosopher Johann Fichte and Friedrich Schelling, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the genius Albert Einstein, Chancellor Otto von Bismark who unified Karlsländ, poet Heinrich Heine and Pan-African leader W. E. B. Du Bois. Humboldt boasts twenty-nine Nobel Prize winners and off course me."
"Wow." was all Yoshika could reply blow away by Hanna's speech.
"Damn right." said Hanna proud before looking back at the computer, "So what's this say?"
"It's a question on thermal expansion." answered Yoshika coming back to reality.
"That's easy." laughed Hanna, "Things get bigger when they expand."
"I get it." replied Yoshika.
"Let me give you an example." said Hanna putting her hands on her breasts, "If I put my hands on my breasts would they get bigger or smaller?"
"Boobs..." drooled Yoshika staring Hanna's chest.
"Pervert." snapped Hanna as she marched off. With Hanna gone Yoshika turned to get back to her work, but instead saw Sanya emerge from the pool and watched her dry off.
"Hey Yoshika look; back roll entry!" called Hanna who then dove into the pool. Yoshika managed to get to the last question but as she started it Hanna emerged from the pool in front of Yoshika who had the poolside fantasy from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and was unable to finish the problem.
In the briefing room Nishiki, Ferrara, Perrine and Amaki were looking over photos taken by the Asama Volcano Observatory. The photos show a large chrysalis object deep in the magma.
"Can we be certain what it is?" asked Nishiki.
"The photos aren't clean enough to give us an accurate idea." answered Ferrara.
"What do the Magi say?" asked Perrine.
"It's a 50/50 chance." answered Lynne.
"Captain Sakamoto has led a team to the area to try and identify it." said Ferrara.
At the Asama Volcano Observatory the NERV team under Sakamoto had taken total control and had set an unmanned probe into the volcano with a camera to identify what was in the photo.
"Ma'am the probe has already gotten down as far as it can." said one of the scientists at the Observatory.
"Keep going." ordered Sakamoto ignoring the man, "If it breaks we'll pay for it."
"You're mad!" called out another scientist as the probe finally gave out.
"The probe has imploded from the pressure." informed Amaki.
"Did you get it?" asked Sakamoto.
"Yeah. The pattern is blue so it's definitely and Angel." answered Amaki.
"Listen up! This place is now under NERV jurisdiction so all movement must go through me, access to the outside world is prohibited and all records will be destroyed!" ordered Sakamoto.
"Yes ma'am." replied the men realizing they had no alternative in the matter while Sakamoto headed to the hallway and pulled out her cellphone to call NERV.
"This is Captain Sakamoto. The object has been confirmed as an Angel." reported the Fuso woman, "I am requesting a B-17."
"Watch what you say this line isn't secure." warned Nishiki.
"Then put me on a secure line." replied Sakamoto.
In their dark meeting room the members of the Committee were, via hologram as usual, in meeting with Minna and Ferrara.
"How could you order a B-17 without our consent!" demanded the Liberion member irate.
"You better have a good explanation." added the Gallian member.
"NERV will conduct an expedition inside the volcano to capture the Angel." said Minna calmly.
"You must be mad!" called out the Britannian member.
"We will not stand for this." added the Orussian member.
"Our success would give us the chance to go from a state of perpetual defense to one of offense." countered Minna.
"We may proceed but do not fail." replied Chairman Maloney and with that the men ended the transmission.
"Failure would result in the extermination of the human race." said Ferrara.
"The old men only care about their own goal. That is why they don't want failure." said Minna not at all shaken.
"Are you really going to do it?" asked Ferrara to which Minna only smiled.
Inside the briefing room Perrine had just caught the three witches up on the situation.
"Are you sure this is right?" asked Hanna, "This doesn't look like an Angel."
"We're positive. It appears to be a chrysalis that precedes the form we are familiar with." answered Perrine, "Our plan is to use one of you to capture the Angel so we can research it."
"I'll go!" volunteered Hanna enthusiastically, "I'd love to go diving!"
"It'll be me like always." sighed Yoshika softly.
"Okay Hanna you can go." said Perrine delighting the Star of North Africa.
"Yeah!" cried out Hanna delighted.
"Yoshika will back her up and Sanya will have to stay here since we still have some final tests until we can allow Unit-00 back into the field." continued Perrine.
"Poor Sanya doesn't get to go." gloated Hanna but once she saw the suit she had to wear the Karlsländ witch was singing another tune, "There's no way in Hell that I'm wearing this!"
"You're going into molten magma so unless you to want to be burned to a crisp then you're wearing it." countered Perrine as Hanna stood in the plump white suit complete with a face mask and straps to hold coolant tanks so Hanna wouldn't over heat.
"I look like the Michelin Man!" argued Hanna highly upset, "This is the kind of thing you have Yoshika for!"
"And to think I was so looking forward to seeing you in action." said Shirley as she walked into the room trying not to laugh.
"This sucks!" cried out Hanna as she ran out of the room.
"If you need a pilot I will volunteer my services ma'am." said Sanya but Hanna quickly stormed over and got into her face.
"I'd rather let Third Impact happen!" cried Hanna before turning back to Perrine and saying with a sting in her voice, "I'll do it."
The NERV team quickly packed up and headed out to Mt. Asama. Upon arriving, Perrine made sure Hanna was strapped into the harness that was going to sent her into the volcano. The suit, the cable that would be used, as well as a special combat knife that Hanna could have and which would withstand the magma. Perrine, along with Lynne and Nishiki, then joined Sakamoto and the other technicians present including Amaki in the control room while Yoshika, her gun slung across her shoulder, took up her position near Hanna to help if things went bad.
"Hey where's Shirley?" asked Hanna via the transceiver in her ear as she noticed the redhead was no where to be seen.
("God's gift to womankind has no business being here.") answered Sakamoto showing no sadness in Shirley's absence.
"I wanted her to see my crowing achievement." moaned Hanna.
Not that far away Shirley was walking to a cable car for an important meeting with a backpack casual slung on her back. While admittedly nervous, she took was slightly relieved to see a blonde waiting.
"I'm glad you made it okay." said Shirley as she approached the blonde and they shook hands.
"Getting in was fairly easy." replied Jane. T. Godfrey with as a smile as the two got on the cable car and descended upwards.
Godfrey was a seventeen year old with blonde hair and blue eyes from a middle-class family from the Greenwich Village borough of Manhattan. She was sometimes overwhelmed by things easily but she was a nice girl and a friend of Shirley.
"I'm so glad to see you again Jane." said Shirley as the two girls made their descent.
"We should get together more often." agreed Jane, "The three of us would have lots of fun together."
"So Dominica is here then." said Shirley, "I thought she'd have been arrested for punching somebody out by now."
"She almost did but I managed to stop her." sighed Jane, "She has a short fuse but I love her none the less."
"That's all that matter." smiled Shirley who then took off her backpack and handed a manila envelope to Jane.
"Here's everything I have so far." said the redhead.
"The boss will like this at least." replied Jane, "He was upset when he learned of the B-17."
"It's not like I could have done anything to stop it." replied Shirley as the cable car reached its destination.
"What will happen if they fail?" asked Jane slightly nervous and slightly professional as the busty redhead got off the car.
"Don't worry." said Shirley reassuringly, "Even they aren't that arrogant."
"Hey what are those planes?" asked Yoshika noticing what looked like bombers flying overhead.
"The UN has come in as backup on the mission." answered Perrine.
"So they've come to help us." said Hanna happily.
"No. They're here to clean up if we fail." answered Perrine matter-of-factually, "If things go bad they'll drop N² mines destroying the Angel and us."
"What kind of heartless jerk would order such a thing?" asked Yoshika surprised by this.
"Commander Minna." answered Perrine again bluntly which was no big shocker to Yoshika.
"Begin the descent." ordered Sakamoto and the technicians slowly began to lower Hanna down into the molten magma.
("How are you holding up Hanna?") asked Sakamoto over the communicator.
"I just want to go home and take a shower." answered Hanna as she felt the outfit she had on sticking to her body.
("There's a hot spring nearby. We can go when we're done.") replied Sakamoto.
Hanna kept slowly sinking deeper into the volcano and getting close to the point where the pressure would become to unbearable but still had no sign of the Angel.
"Ma'am how farther are we going to keep sending down Hanna?" asked Amaki, "We've past the point she can go safely." said Amaki.
"She has to go further." replied Sakamoto.
("I agree with Sakamoto. I can go on.") said Hanna over her receiver.
Hanna kept going but still saw no sign of the Angel. Everybody was starting to wonder where it was when the embryonic Angel finally came into Hanna's view.
"There you are." smiled Hanna who took a metal bar off her right side and put it over the Angel producing an electromagnetic cage trapping the embryo.
"I got it!" called out Hanna and everybody took a big sigh of relief.
("Good job Hanna.") We're going to pull you back up now.") said Sakamoto as Amaki began to reel Hanna and the Angel back up.
"I'll admit I was nervous about this one." confessed Perrine as the cable began to pull up Hanna.
"Yeah me too." admitted Sakamoto as alarm sirens began to wail, "What's going on?"
"The Angel is hatching!" cried out Perrine as the Angel began shaking and breaking out of the cage.
("Jettison the cage!") ordered Sakamoto to Hanna.
"Dammit it!" yelled Hanna as she released the cage and the Angel "hatched" taking on the form of a prehistoric shark-like creature who quickly began to stalk Hanna while hiding in the thick magma.
"I can't find this stupid thing." growled Hanna, "Come out and fight you damn coward!"
As if hearing her; the Angel charged Hanna who ripped the combat knife off her hip and prepared for attack. When the Angel charged she tried to maneuver the best she could with the cable attached to her back, but the Angel sank it's teeth into her right leg and held on until it finally let go after a few kicks from Hanna. It took refuge in the dense magma; it prepared for it's next attack. After a few minutes it attacked again.
"Take this!" yelled Hanna as she stabbed violently at the Angel but her knife had no effect, "Oh shit!"
"The extreme heat has changed the molecular structure of the Angel!" cried out Perrine.
"What do we do?" asked Sakamoto realizing Hanna was in deep trouble.
"Think physics!" called out Yoshika.
"Thermal expansion!" added Hanna who got ready.
When the Angel next charged Hanna dodged out of it's way but to her horror it bit o\into and severely damaged the cable that was her lifeline to the surface. Hanna delivered a roundhouse kick to get the Angel's attention hitting it in the head and causing it to let go of the cable and attack her but when it struck Hanna spun around so it bit the coolant tank.
"Of course! The coolant will return it's molecular structure to normal!" called out Perrine as she realized what the Star of North Africa was doing.
"Die you son of a bitch!" yelled out Hanna as she plunged her combat knife into the Angel's right eye causing it to cry out in pain before letting go and sinking into the magma, where it reacted to the coolant and dissolved.
"She did it." said Sakamoto relived the Angel was gone.
"I beat the Angel but the cable is snapped. This can't be how I die." said Hanna sad as the cable broke and she closed her eyes as she began to fall. However, a sudden tug and the realization she was no longer falling caused Hanna to open her eyes.
"I won't let you fall." said Yoshika as she held the cable and pulled out Hanna with all the strength in her body.
"You idiot." smiled Hanna.
After being pulled out of the magma and given a clean bill of health by Perrine; the two witches were taken to the hot spring by Sakamoto. Once inside they quickly headed for the baths and began to strip down.
"Hello? Are the people from NERV here?" came a male voice. In response; Yoshika wrapped a pink towel around her body and head outside; where a FedEx deliver man was waiting with a package.
"I'm with NERV." said Yoshika as she approached the man.
"Sign here." said the man as he held out a delivery sheet. Yoshika signed it and the man left.
"It's from Shirley." noted Yoshika as she opened the box only to jump back as Pen-Pen jumped out.
"The hot springs are this way." said Yoshika who led the penguin into a hot spring next to the one where Sakamoto and Hanna were. Pen-pen jumped in while Yoshika removed her towel and slowly entered embracing the warm water.
"This is so nice." said Yoshika as she relaxed in the water but after a few minutes a voice came from the hot spring next to her.
"Yoshika?" asked Sakamoto.
"Yes ma'am." replied Yoshika snapping to attention.
"Can you please throw us your body shampoo?" asked the Captain.
"We ran out of ours." added Hanna.
"Okay." said Yoshika grabbing the shampoo and heading to the separating wall, "Incoming."
"Roger." replied Hanna as Yoshika threw the shampoo, "Oh! Watch where you're throwing things idiot!"
"Sorry." said Yoshika realizing she's hit Hanna.
"She hit me right in the breasts." said Hanna which caught the attention of Yoshika.
"Let me see." said Sakamoto, "It's not so bad."
"Yeah it hurts less now." said Hanna.
"And I don't feel anything but your breasts are very firm." said Sakamoto while Yoshika was having a massive nosebleed on her side. The horny Yoshika looked down and saw Pen-Pen staring at her.
"Oh Pen-Pen...I was just...I mean that..What I was doing was..." stammered Yoshika, "I'm going to the bathroom."
"Wark?" asked Pen-Pen as Yoshika left mumbling about lotion.
On their side Sakamoto and Hanna had finished teasing Yoshika and had left the hot spring to dry off on a nearby hill in the sunset. As they dried off Sakamoto noticed Hanna looking at her eye.
"I lost my eye in Second Impact." said Sakamoto, "I was at ground zero when Second Impact happened."
"You've read my files so you know about my past right." said Hanna with clear sadness in her voice.
"It's part of my job." replied Sakamoto, "But you shouldn't worry now. It's all in the past."
A/N: So there is chapter ten finally done. In case you're wondering Jane T. Godfrey is not an original character and Jane's lover Dominica will make an appearance later on in the story. Next time Tokyo-3 is plunged into darkness just when the next Angel attacks. There will be fan-service. Please review!