Changes In Tempo
CHAPTER 5: Peaceful Time
May 13, 2015 - NERV USA, Massachusetts - 2:47 PM
"It seems that NERV HQ in Tokyo-III has been the front for all angels as of recently. Will they ever call upon Unit-02 or Unit-05?" An employee asked.
"Unsure. Unless NERV HQ calls for Pilots Sohryu or Makinami from Germany, Berlin gets put on standby. Besides, it gives us time to relax and not stress with Tokyo-III's dealings." Another employee spoke.
"Speaking of the pilots. Have you heard about that new pilot? She's already destroyed two angels single-handedly, with her highest sync rate over 53%." One employee spoke out.
One of the employees spat out the soda they were drinking in total shock. 53% had to have been fiction since no pilot on their first time reached over 50%.
"53%? When Asuka began piloting, she sat at only 47.2% according to available records." Another responded.
"Seems so. It could spark some competition between the tw-" Another responded before being interrupted by a commanding officer.
May 16, 2015 - Totsuodoyumoto Clothing Shop, Tokyo-III Shopping Center - 11:42 PM
Rei, Misato, and Shinji were all clothes shopping. They finally had a free weekend to relax, aside from their regular school days and training. Rei and Shinji walked through the mall, looking around while Misato hung out in the food court. Rei wore her beret, a white button-up shirt, a long blue skirt, and a khaki lapel collar overcoat. With this outfit, most thought she would be burning up because of the summer heat. But since fall was approaching because of the significant season change from the Second Impact, the temperature was colder than usual.
"So, you've never been clothes shopping before, Shinji?" Rei asked nervously.
"No. I have never found the need to do so. But seeing it concerned you, it now concerns me as well." Shinji told her.
"Well, that changes today. Do you have any preferences?" Rei asked.
NERV HQ - 2:37 PM
"It seems the Japanese Government is funding a robot that rivals Eva. Merely full of corrupt politicians and venture capitalists." Keel spoke up.
"Ah, yes. Jet Alone, I presume. It's still under construction but should finish soon. It's speculated that funds are allocated to Japan Heavy Chemical Industries if the test is successful, and we cannot allow this." Edmond responded.
"To combat this, we sent someone out to plant a bug in the system's software, which should cause a meltdown of the robot's nuclear reactor. In return, you deploy Eva-01 to stop it." Keel responded.
"Gendo, can we trust that this scenario goes to plan if all turn out right?" Daniel asked.
"A mere man-made robot wouldn't be able to generate an A.T. Field, giving it no practical chance of success on the battlefield," Gendo added. "However, when the time comes, I will carry this scenario out."
"Moving on, we believe the JSSDF are also in the works of a 'Unit-04' of their own volition. A joint project with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin. Do you believe that the JSSDF would be able to work with NERV and our future endeavors?" Keel asked.
"Lockheed Martin? Wouldn't you think they would only be producing for America because of their wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?" Daniel asked. "America has been taking losses in their Air Force due to the Taliban and ISIS presence with stolen Anti-Air, so it would make sense that Lockheed would be working only with America to help make up for the losses."
"You'd think so, but consider America's reserves are one of the largest in the world, not to mention NATO reserves as well," Keel responded. "Back to the question, however."
"Blueprints are similar to current NERV-affiliated Units, able to hold entry plugs similar to current generations, not to consider the current relation between both are quite friendly. Both NERV and the JSSDF can likely agree," Vladimir added.
"I will see to it. In the meantime, we should only wait and see," Gendo responded. "This meeting is finished. I have nothing else to say."
Misato's Apartment - 8:43 PM
Misato, Rei, and Shinji finally returned home after being at the mall for over two hours. Shinji came out of the store with some lounging clothes, including many button-up dress shirts in different colors. Rei walked to the living room, yawning as she sat on the couch. Shinji followed along and sat down as well. Rei turned on the tv, and in five minutes, Rei fell asleep.
"Ikari cared for me just because I didn't have clothing. Why? I'm just a clone." Shinji thought to himself. His thoughts were interrupted when Rei's head fell onto his shoulder, resting there. Shinji couldn't move. He knew that by moving, he would wake Rei from her sleep. Misato walked into the living room. Only to be surprised by Rei sleeping on Shinji's shoulder.
"Well, it seems you are stuck with sleeping beauty. I'll just leave you be." Misato told Shinji, giving a smile before retreating to her bedroom. Shinji fell asleep just 30 minutes later.
May 17, 2015 - 7:32 AM
Rei woke, still in her clothes from yesterday. She looked around, wondering why she wasn't in her room. She then looked to her right, seeing Shinji's face. She blushed, now remembering she went to sleep with Shinji. Last night was the first time Rei had slept with someone that wasn't in her family. Shinji then awakened just a few seconds later.
"Good morning," Shinji responded.
"I'm sorry for sleeping on you! I didn't mean to!" Rei quickly responded to Shinji, panicking.
"Apology accepted. Although, I don't understand why you need to apologize," Shinji questioned.
"It wasn't right of me to sleep on you. I thought I would be invading your personal space and annoying you."
"Your presence made me feel… at peace," Shinji responded. He never felt the presence of being at peace with someone, let alone with someone of the opposite gender. He liked that feeling.
Rei blushed heavily at his comment, covering her face with her jacket.
"I will go take a bath now," Rei said, rushing as she hid her face. Shinji could only question her response.
7:37 PM
"He liked me sleeping with him?" Rei thought to herself. She couldn't process that someone like Shinji would allow to sleep on him, let alone like it.
"Do I have a liking for him? I always become flustered whenever I am near him." Rei questioned herself.
Rei dipped lower into the bathtub, thinking more to herself.
Corpse of Shamshel - 10:22 AM
"This place stinks of shit, but I'm shocked that it hasn't rotted away to a shriveled corpse," Misato told Ritsuko.
"It must be due to the composition of the Angels and decomposition rate. If the angel had rotted away like any other animal, it would've been in the putrefaction stage by now." Ritsuko added.
Rei stood behind the two as they discussed, holding her nose. She looked over at the core where her father stood. She then noticed her father's hands covered in burn marks. Misato took notice of Rei looking at her father.
"Whatcha looking at, Rei?" Misato asked, startling Rei in the process.
"My father's hands are burned. Why is that?" Rei asked.
"There was an incident with Unit-00 where Shinji lost control and Unit-00 began to bang its head against the Test Chamber walls. We had to eject Shini's entry plug, which then caused Gendo to rush over to the entry plug once Unit-00 was deactivated. The scolding hot entry plug burned his hands as he opened it." Ritsuko told Rei.
"Okay, hold the phone. How come I wasn't notified of that when it happened?" Misato asked. A beep then went off.
"Ah, the analysis of the core is in," Ritsuko said, ignoring Misato's question.
Opening the results, Ritsuko was greeted with "Malfunction 54," causing her to groan.
"Well, what does it mean?" Misato asked.
"Well, in stupid people terms, it means the computer cannot process the information. So it effectively doesn't know what it is looking at." Ritsuko explained, causing Misato to huff.
"We have all this advanced technology, able to study human cells in what feels like two seconds, and somehow we cannot process the core of an Angel?" Misato asked, bewildered that modern technology cannot comprehend a core.
"Technology can't know everything," Ritsuko added, sipping her coffee.
Misato's Apartment - 2:21 PM
Rei and Shinji sat in the living room, watching TV, in complete silence. It had been a slow day since their visit to the research site.
"Ikari, what does it mean to dream?" Shinji asked, catching Rei by surprise.
"To dream? It means imagining something in your sleep, whether the future or something made up. No matter what, Dreams can be anything. Why do you ask?" Rei responded.
"I have never dreamed before until last night. When you slept with me on the couch." Shinji responded.
"You've never dreamed until last night?" Rei questioned, confused as she had never heard of a case like this. "Can you describe what you saw?"
"I was in a sea of LCL… You sat down on a beach, crying, next to someone," Shinji told her, prompting Rei to be confused.
"Next to who?" Rei asked.
"A girl with orange hair. You looked as if you were choking her." Shinji added. This dream had shocked him, which he had never felt before. Rei was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She couldn't see herself choking someone, let alone someone she had never met. "Next to you was a broken object, marked with 'SDAT' on the front of it."
"Shinji, I don't like this. Please, can we change the subject?" Rei asked him softly, clearly shaken.
"I see that you are uncomfortable. I accept your request." Shinji responded.
Rei went to sleep five minutes later, as she had been tired from earlier. The stench from the rotting angel affected her, acting as melatonin. Shinji got up to go to his room, leaving her there, but something caught his eye. Rei's SDAT player sat in her bedroom.
4:32 PM
Rei woke up, greeted by nothing but the TV turned down. Looking around, she decided to go to her bedroom to rest. Opening her door, she saw Shinji on her bed, earbuds in his ears. He looked up and spoke.
"I am sorry for intruding into your room. Please excuse me."
"Yo- You're okay. Would you like to listen to it with m- me?" Rei asked, nervous as she began to blush.
"I do not mind," Shinji replied in a monotone voice.
Rei sat on the bed next to Shinji and placed one of the earbuds in her ears. Pressing play, "Piano Concerto in D Minor" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, began to play. The soft melody of the piano playing, only to be added on by the Orchestra of flutes, strings, and others in a peaceful and charming symphony. Rei began to fall asleep once hitting the Romanze second movement, peacefully leaning her head on Shinji's shoulder like the night previously. Shinji stayed with her and fell asleep with her, laying his head on top of hers.
The door outside - 9:48 PM
Misato was wondering what Meowzart wanted as he meowed by the door. Walking over to the door, Meowzart climbed up the door, trying to seek Misato's attention. Opening the door, she was met by Rei smiling with a subtle blush in her sleep with Shinji. An earbud hung from both their faces, with Shinji holding the SDAT. She could only smile for Rei as she knew their relationship would bloom into something special. Meowzart jumped into Rei's lap and slept along with them.
May 18, 2015 - NERV GERMANY, Berlin - 9:28 AM
"Pilots Makinami and Sohryu are to be taken at 0800 hours, May 20, 2015, by Carrier Strike Group 2: carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Destroyers USS Mitscher, USS Laboon, and USS Mahan. Cruisers USS Philippine Sea, USS Monterey, and USS Vella Gulf. Total travel time from Wilhelmshaven to Naval Station Norfolk will take a week.
You will arrive in Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, prompting a two-day drive to Naval Base San Diego via humvee escort with a total travel time of one day. On arrival, Makinami and Sohryu are escorted to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by USS Green Bay. You will rendezvous by a UH-60 Black Hawk with Carrier Strike Group 11: carrier USS Nimitz. Destroyers USS John Paul Jones and USS Higgins. Battleships USS Missouri and USS Iowa.
Eva Units 02 and 05 will receive escorts through the safer areas of the Antarctic remains by USS Trenton and USS Yuma under the identity of Humanitarian Aid ships sent to Indonesian combat zones where they will rendezvous with the Carrier Strike Group 11.
NERV will rendezvous with you with the Third Child by a CH-53E Super Stallion. Are there any complaints?" A NERV Officer repeated.
"Yes, sir," Makinami spoke.
"What is your complaint, Pilot Makinami?" The officer asked.
"Wouldn't the trip be under U.N. Supervision and not U.S. Supervision? I know from previous talks I overheard the U.N. was going to take us by their 'Over The Rainbow' fleet." Mari asked.
"Over The Rainbow has been deployed to North Africa, Libya, to be precise. Increased terrorist threats have been targeting Europe and boiled over rather fast, nor could they escort you due to another deployment to Iraq." The officer answered.
"Now, Pilot Sohryu. As expected from your behavior, soldiers are not to treat you as royalty. We will find out, prompting a citation for Improper Conduct on your NERV Employee record." The officer repeated. "If you do, soldiers will promptly not hesitate to use verbal force to tell you off. We are not some first-class limo service."
Asuka could only think about snapping at this man for insinuating she was a spoiled brat.
"Don't even try to snap at me. You know that last time you got treated like royalty, you had your feet rubbed by NATO troops. Your record has enough Improper Conduct citations as is. So I recommend you keep your mouth shut." The officer told her. "Now, are there any more complaints?"
"No, sir." Both repeated back.
"Good. You are both dismissed." The officer repeated back, walking away.
つづく
To be Continued
_
Is this thing turned on? There we go. So the first filler is completed. What a fucking doozy. Time to do some silly little note stuff!!!
Clothes Shopping Cutoff
The main reason I cut it at Rei asking Shinji his preferences was to give the effect that it would be a long day of shopping. That's it
HIC Meeting
I want to talk about this real quick. You are probably not wondering why America is fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Let me start with Afghanistan.
-Afghanistan
In the real world, America got attacked by al-Qaeda members on September 11, 2001. Tragedy, if you know someone who died there, my condolences 21 years later as of this chapter's publish date. After this, it prompted a complete invasion of Afghanistan just a month later (it goes to show America doesn't fuck around sometimes). Seeing that the Second Impact in the story takes place in 2000, I decided to push the events of 9/11 back by a few years, maybe around 2003. Afghanistan will get mentioned later on in the story.
-Iraq
Okay so. 1990-1991, Desert Storm happens, one of my favorite interests ever, cool asf to learn. 73 Easting, speed of American resolve, largest coalition since WW2 at the time. So let's go to 2003, real-life Earth-type shit. America invades Iraq because of supposed "WMDs" and shit. You can have your beliefs about why America invaded. Whether it was to free Iraqi people (noble), oil, WMDs, regime change, tomato, potato, I won't interfere. You can believe whatever you want. Now in this universe, Second Impact happens. Iraq is heavily affected by the Second Impact. The country got divided between government forces, Kurdish Militias, and small terrorist cells. Saddam mostly has control, say about 75% of the country. Then comes Ole' Uncle Sam, ready to kick some ass, in maybe around 2006. As a result, the chaotic state of the country caused the invasion to be a slow and harsh war, having to control small or large towns in panic while trying to defeat emboldened Iraqi forces. Combine this with the Desert Battle Dress uniform they would still use in the story rather than the much more modern Desert Combat Uniform or Universal Camouflage. (a little bit on this. Users complained about DBDU contrasting with the terrain, which in effect, limited its camo ability). Armchair Historian made a good video about the War in Iraq. I highly suggest it. It goes into great detail about every moment of the war. Iraq will get mentioned later on.
The Sleeping Scene
I thought the idea was cute. It would sound like a great way to build their relationship. That's pretty much the idea. I also liked this part. It gave Shinji some emotion in a sense about him enjoying it.
Decaying Angel
So Shamshel is a slow decaying organism. Ritsuko mentioned above that it must be due to the composition of the angel and the decay rate. I wanted to give the Angels a slow decay rate because it gives off the idea that anything they do still lingers, such as battle damage.
-Malfunction 54
Okay, this references the incidents involving a Radiation therapy unit called the "Therac-25" or so. Kyle Hill, who makes good youtube videos on cool science stuff, made a well-detailed video on this. I recommend you watch it here:
https/watch?v=Ap0orGCiou8 (IF IT WOULD WORK I GUESS)
Another Sleeping Scene
My advisors for the fanfic liked the idea of them sleeping again, so yeah.
Debriefing
At the end of the chapter, Asuka and Mari get debriefed about their transport to Tokyo-III. They receive an escort from the American/NATO forces. Why did they not stop through the Panama Canal? In this version of my story, the Panama Canal gets caught in a war between South American countries and Panama, so traveling to the US would be more viable than risking two pilots. Why not around South America? High amounts of radiation and dangerous species