SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2010
"On today's show, we're joined by none other than Li Jie, the People's Evangelion Corps' star pilot. So, Li, what's it like to-"
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"The United Nations General Assembly once again failed to decide on any resolution regarding the current conflict in America-"
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"-Jane, I would have to say that it's a path only for -"
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-Tokyo-3 University, you can be among Earth's best and brightest. Join us, and work with NERV's Evangelion programme! With subsidised tuition and a guaranteed place in NERV when you graduate, there's no reason to -"
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The television was turned off, the standby switch on the remote being pressed shortly before said remote was thrown onto the floor. Shinji Ikari sat staring into space for several seconds, like he always did when his father's company was mentioned; his teacher had long ago decided that pressing the subject was not worth his time, along with a lot of other things. He sighed, and looked up at the ceiling.
All that seems to be on these days is stuff about Evangelions, thought the child. He picked the remote up again, from where he'd thrown it, and turned the television on again.
"-EAKING NEWS! The BBC World Service can confirm that a British force, including Evangelion Unit 07 has attacked the American defensive line along the Mississippi River at St. Louis! American sources say that they've broken the Ash Wednesday Truce, mere minutes before it was set to expire, but the British Government claims that they attacked the very second the truce expired. We go – live - to our attached reporter with the Royal Dragoon Guards. Luke, how're things over there?"
Shinji watched as the picture on the screen changed from the newsroom to... well, something which looked a lot like hell probably looked like. The cameraman and reporter were standing behind a row of tanks, which were parked while their crews took an opportunity to relax. The square they were in was wrecked; an office block of some sort had been brought down in the fighting and was blocking one of the roads leading into the square. An aeroplane had crashed just in front of the line of tanks, a large, propeller-driven beast.
"- right now, May, it seems that there's been some sort of problem with the Evangelion; the soldiers I've spoken to say they were supposed to be on the other side of the city by now. It's no secret that Unit 07 is one of the more temperamental Evangelions, and the recent modifications the Royal Navy has made to it cannot be- wait. Something's happening!"
The cameraman turned to face one of the buildings on the far side of the square, just as a gigantic humanoid figure was thrown backwards through it. The Evangelion was squat, bulky and bristling with weapons; it managed to put a foot behind it to balance itself, crushing the plane Shinji had noticed earlier. Soldiers scattered, and the line of tanks pulled backwards. The cameraman ran alongside the reporter, then came to a stop.
"Holy SHIT!" came the reporter's voice, "Max, get a zoom on the other one!" Striding through the ruins of the building came another Evangelion, this one sporting an American flag over its right chestplate; it was larger than the first Evangelion. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have no words to explain what's going on here. We're seeing history made right here..."
Shinji watched, wide-eyed, as the two titans squared off to fight.
St. Louis
"Mike, what's going on over there?" came the voice over the radio. "The entire advance is blocked! We need this city cleared by the end of the day!"
"I am slightly preoccupied!" snapped Michael. He fired a salvo of missiles from the launchers mounted on Unit 07's shoulders, grimacing as they bounced off of the other Evangelion's AT Field. A small sensation in his mind told him his ammunition reserves were empty, while another told him he was rapidly approaching his mental limit for this fight. He was already beginning to get annoyed with things; he'd snapped at the Colonel on the other side of the radio link. If this kept up, he'd go berserker again, and he wasn't sure the restraints would stop it this time...
The other Evangelion threw itself at him, and he pushed his own AT Field up to try to block it. There was a clash, and he physically felt the other Evangelion pushing its own Field against his. The spikes of lightning generated by the interaction of the two Fields arced away – he noticed one vapourising a building unfortunate enough to be in the way – and he could feel the other pilot's scream of rage as the American tried to push through his AT Field.
That was when something weird happened; somehow, the other Evangelion's AT Field became invisible to his own. The American tripped, not expecting the sudden change to the battlefield. Michael took the advantage offered, and punched the other Evangelion in the side of the head. The force of the punch threw it sideways, into another building. The other pilot reacted quickly, drawing a knife from its shoulder rack and stabbing Michael – no, he shook himself – stabbing Unit 07 in the stomach. The thick armour plating that was Unit 07's trademark meant that only the blade's tip actually managed to pierce his – no, IT'S – skin, but that was all the excuse the other presence in his mind needed. He roared, picking the larger Evangelion up by the throat and shoving it into yet another building.
When Michael regained control, it was after the Evangelion's on-board batteries had exhausted themselves – or maybe the other presence had just drained them and continued fighting regardless, as had happened before. He slumped forwards in his seat, eyes closing as he drifted into unconsciousness.
He hoped that he hadn't killed the other pilot.