Interludes after the 12th Angel, Part 5
Note, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English and German.
Quintessence Plane
In attentive silence, the Phantom Stranger listened to the hurried report of his ghostly companion. Next to them, the Earth turned around serenely. A soothing vision for both of them.
"(It was the darnedest thing I've ever seen, Stranger. The whole place just went poof! All that's left of the Second Branch of NERV is a weird bowl shaped hole in the ground. Just like in those Terminator movies when they travel through time, without the lightning, but with an 89 km radius.)" He scratched his head, "(How many miles is that? Never got the hang of the metric system...)"
The Stranger nodded slowly. "(Little more than 55 miles.)"
Deadman whistled, impressed. "(110 miles from side to side… That's a lot of real estate… Even in the desert.)"
The Stranger floated closer to the Earth image "(Let's see it then.)" both apparitions moved around the Earth, until they located the USA. A few hand gestures from the Stranger, and they found the place. As Deadman said, there was a weird, circular hole in the ground.
"(Hmm… There is a disturbance around the site,)" The Stranger said, softly. His long fingers twisted in an unusual position.
Deadman rubbed his chin, thinking, "(Like the barrier that hides SEELE?)"
"(No. This is not mystical in nature. It feels like…)"
"(Well?)" impatiently, Deadman made some encouraging movements with his gloved hands.
"(I'll have to go and see it for myself. If it is what I think, we may have lost a possible asset for the later fights against the Angels. Unit-04 and the Fourth Child could make the difference. Even with Unit-03 stationed at Tokyo-3, the balance of power is at the side of the Angels.)"
"(I never thought I would hear that and feel it was a baaaad thing.)" Deadman shook his head. "(I guess you'll be away for a while, then. In the meanwhile, what about the Dummy Plugs?)"
"(Commander Ikari has crossed a line, along with Dr Akagi, in authorizing the use of Rei Ayanami's soulless clones for such a purpose.)"
"(Well, this guy crosses lines like he is aiming for the Guinness Record in Discrete Supervillainy. I mean, I would prefer if he ranted once in a while, that I can understand. But he looks like he is getting bored!)"
"(There will be a reckoning, Deadman.)"
The murdered acrobat chuckled. "(I hope to see his face then. There's nothing more satisfying than watching a villain realize their plans are crumbling around their heads. And this guy and his bosses are top in my list.)" He rubbed his hands together, an over the top gesture usually associated with vaudeville villains. "(Now, back to the point. This Dummy Plug business gives me a bad feeling. Just like somebody was tempting fate in a very bad way.)"
"(The timing is ominous, certainly. Having the plugs put in Units 01 and 02 is suspicious by itself.)"
"(Yeah. I wonder if I could hijack one.)"
"(The plugs must be equipped with the same technology that stops the clones from developing their own souls. Even if you enter the plug and hijack the cloned body, you'd risk getting trapped in the cloned body in the plug, or even worse, in the device. Professors Ivo and Morrow managed to create technology that interferes with souls.)"
"(Dang it! I can't get any fun in this job!)" He nodded to himself, decisively, "(Last resort then.)" He inhaled sharply, as an idea came to him."(Hey! Then how come I can come and go in and out the cores?)"
"(The cores don't need the tech, except for capturing and channelling the soul that animates the core. Once integrated into the core, the soul that animates it has no way to escape and the device is removed, so it won't interfere with the synchronization process. You are a completely unknown factor their creators couldn't have accounted for. A completely free soul. Ivo and Morrow were presented with a problem, and solved it. Neither bothered to think beyond that.)"
Deadman grinned, "(That's me! The fly in the soup!)" he said, and laughed heartily.
XXVI Century
Booster and Beetle hid in the bushes, looking nervously around, and speaking in tense whispers.
"(Oh, boy… If only I had some charge in my batteries…)" Booster tapped on his left gauntlet, there was a single red dot on the charge meter. It would be days before he had anything to really power his suit. The only thing he had now was his Flight Ring. No force field, no energy blasts, not enhanced strength (1). Right now, the best they could do to protect themselves was to flee into the sky, and who knew what kind of dangers were waiting for them there.
"(Yeah… I wouldn't bet our lives on my gun.)" Blue Beetle pulled his gun from the holster at his right hip, and checked the charge of both batteries and air tank (2). "(Somehow I don't think bright lights and compressed air blasts will do much against a T-Rex.)"
"(Ted. We are in the future! I don't think there are any dinosaurs around.)"
"(I have seen more than one, thank you very much. In the present, mind you. My present, I mean. So I wouldn't discard one just because we are in the future. The wrong future, remember?)"
A heavy stomp silenced both for a few seconds.
"(It's getting closer.)" Beetle wheezed.
"(…yeah…)"
"(If we have to run…)"
"(Together. All for one and all that, buddy. I can fly, but I don't know how long I can carry you with my charge depleted.)"
Both nodded grimly. "(Sshh! I saw something move, over there.)" Booster pointed at the other side of the clearing.
"(Whatever it is, it is big. And… silver!)"
An enormous foot stepped into the clearing. Both heroes shrank deeper into the bush.
"(Hello, Sir. Can you read me? Over.)" Skeets synthetic voice broke their silence.
"(Skeets!)" Booster whispered into his wristband. "(Be silent! There's some kind of giant monster or robot close to our position! Don't make noise!)" he looked around before remembering, "(Over!)"
"(Sir? It's just us. We are at your position, and I can see you in the bush. Your garments are not really suited for camouflage. Mr. Kord is actually better suited for the job. Over.)"
A new voice spoke, apparently from a few dozen yards above them. "(Hey, guys! Skeets here says you're okay, so we're gonna get you to a safe place! Yo, Blondie! I'm lowering the lift! Get them up and let's try to cover a few more clicks before going back to camp! This forest gives me the creeps. And I wouldn't want to try to sleep here! Today is full moon and the Wolf Tribe makes too much noise!)"
A moment later, a sturdy metallic cage landed delicately on the ground. A muscular blonde kid opened the door, and signalled the heroes to enter. "(Hurry up! The Wolf Tribe must have seen us and I'm sure they are running to this place right now. We must go!)"
Booster Gold and Blue Beetle almost ran into the cage, "(Who are you and where is Skeets?)" Booster asked as he was entering the steel structure.
The young man closed the door and spoke into a Walkie-talkie, "(We're in, Mari, get us up!)" He pointed upwards, "(Skeets is up with Mari. We can talk later, right now, we got to go!)"
"(Coming up!)" the female voice answered. A moment later, the cage was pulled up quickly, as if pulled by a giant's hand.
Once they had cleared the tree canopy, Booster and Beetle realized that was exactly what had happened. A strange, giant, robotic looking thing was looking at them, while the cage hung from its fingers. The giant put the cage inside a support structure at its shoulders.
The blonde kid secured the locks, with practiced ease. "(I am Kamandi, that's Mari in the EVA cockpit. Secure yourselves in the harnesses and grab the bars. Hang for dear life!)" Immediately, he put his own advice in action, securing himself with a leather harness, and closing his fingers on the conveniently placed safety bars welded at the top of the cage.
"(Everybody ready?)" Mari asked.
Kamandi spoke in the walkie-talkie. "(Count five and run, Mari!)"
"(Clench your butts, boys. Five!)" she said. Before anybody could answer, the giant robot bolted, running so fast that the forest below was nothing but a blur.
Kamandi laughed, while both Booster and Beetle screamed their heads off.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Mnemosine Chamber
Next Day
Rei floated serenely in the LCL. Above her, the complex machine that analysed and copied her memories worked steadily. It was not perfect, of course, but for Commander Ikari's purposes, it was enough. If, or rather, when, Rei died, they had a back up memory of the main events in her life, including the careful indoctrination that had moulded her into the socially awkward teenager she had been before Shinji Ikari entered her life.
Said indoctrination had been somewhat eroded by her fellow pilots and their mutual friends. Some questions she didn't even know how to ask had been intruding in her thoughts lately.
She had learned to enjoy the company of the others.
So, she had decided that for as long as she could, she would maintain said bonds.
But only if it didn't interfere with her ultimate purpose.
She was not ready to challenge Commander Ikari or his plans for the future.
She heard his voice, he had finally arrived to Mnemosine's Chamber. Unlike he normally did, this time he had not been present during the whole procedure.
He instructed Dr. Akagi. "I've delegated the transportation of Unit-03 to the United Nations. It will arrive by the end of the weekend. Once it has landed, it will be your responsibility."
"Yes, Sir. We'll perform any modifications at Matsushiro, before the activation test."
"How are the repairs to Unit-01 proceeding?"
"The hand has been reimplanted, no problems so far. The regeneration proceeds at a good speed. It will be ready before Unit-03 arrives."
"Good. The Dummy Plugs?"
"Already installed in Units 01 and 02. I don't recommend its use at this time."
Ikari didn't answer, instead he asked, "Have you selected the new Fourth Child?"
"One of our prospective candidates has tested high in the hidden evaluation tests at school. His core can be prepared immediately. We already have the pertinent software available. The core can be installed in Unit-03 after the initial evaluation."
"I'll trust you to make it so. I'll leave it in your hands."
"Yes, Sir."
"Rei, we're finished now. Let's eat."
She opened her eyes, a slight smile appeared at the side of her mouth. Not as evident as it would have been months before, but still there.
Neither noticed the look of contained fury and envy in Dr. Akagi's eyes.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Mnemosine Chamber
(Spiritual Plane)
However, Deadman did notice. "(Oh, boy. Yo! Badshave! You're setting up Big Trouble in Little Tokyo-3! Is that what you want? Wouldn't surprise me.)"
Tokyo-3
Japan
Katsuragi-Ikari Apartment
Living Room
"Hey, Ayanami!" Toji brandished a stapled bunch of papers, putting them into a surprised Rei's hands, "Here's the School Correspondence. With Sensei's compliments."
Rei took the documents, and put them into her satchel, "Thank you. I'll read them later."
There was a knock at the door. Kensuke was the last to arrive. "What did I miss? Have you started yet?" He still had his travel backpack, and only had a single notebook with him. He liked to travel as light as possible.
From the kitchen, Shinji's voice answered. "No, we're about to eat."
"Great! I brought some bread from New Yokosuka, I swear they do the best!"
At that moment, Asuka came out the shower, rubbing her head with a towel. "Hey, Shinji, remind me to bring some shampoo next time!"
For some reason, Toji and Kensuke exchanged an awkward look, and both hurried to set the table.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Dr. Akagi's Office
"What's got you down, Rits?" Major Katsuragi asked directly.
"The activation test of Unit-03. I have a lot to do and little time to do it, Misato. We'll be using the Fourth Child as a pilot."
"What? They already selected a replacement? Wouldn't be better to use a veteran pilot instead of a rookie? Shinji didn't do well in his first outing, remember?"
"Orders from above. And yes, we got lucky in the candidate's choosing. They located him yesterday."
"I haven't received the report from the Marduk Institute."
"Paperwork got stuck back at the USA; it's on its way, you'll get it tomorrow. I got early warning so I can prepare everything."
Misato almost asked if her old friend was hiding something. There was no need, she already knew she was. "So, who is it?"
Akagi opened a file on her computer screen. "Look at it yourself."
"Suzuhara? Why? He's not the most disciplined kid in the world."
"Neither are you; and yet, you're Chief of Operations."
"Shut your face!" she stuck her tongue at Akagi.
"The Marduk Institute gathered together all the best candidates here at Tokyo-3, for their protection. It's easier to keep them under watch that way."
Misato kept silent. 'Yeah. I bet it is.' she thought.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Train Route To HQ
Next day
(Spiritual plane)
The train entered the tunnel to NERV HQ, leaving behind the rising sun, and the city tinted in golden light. It was a breath-taking cityscape, but neither Commander Gendo Ikari nor Vice-Commander Kozo Fujutsuki were really appreciating it as anything else as an excuse for waxing lyrical about sin and virtue.
"(…and here we go again…)" Deadman hissed, sitting right next to Fujutsuki, his elbow resting on the Vice-commander's shoulder. not that the old man could even notice. "(Back to the philosophical debate… Get into the juicy part, guys! I want the Evil Plan Details! Why cant you be more like Bond Villains? So you are about to finish the seventh construction phase, big deal!)"
Fujutsuki kept on talking, droning about how the construction crews had found some bubbles in the rock. However, those were just far enough from the projected space for construction that the engineers had decided it wouldn't be worth the effort to fill them up with concrete or using them for storage.
"And what about SEELE? What will I say to them about the "accident"?" Fujutsuki asked with a chuckle.
"Ah, this is better; go on, old man. Give me something juicy to report!" Deadman rubbed his hands impatiently.
"The truth, the cause is unknown. Let them run around and work themselves into a frenzy. We are on the clear. It will be a good lesson for them anyway. The Dead Sea Scrolls don't predict everything."
"They must be reviewing every little detail in their projections. It will keep them busy for a while."
"They are not the only ones who need to learn a lesson, you two reprobates." Deadman commented acidly.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Dispensing Machines Area, Near the Mess Hall
Major Katsuragi ran her card through the reader of the soda machine. She and Kaji exchanged a significant look, and both waited for Lt. Ibuki finished her tea and deposited the can into the trash bin. Ture to form, the young tech excused herself, and returned to work immediately.
Once both were sure she had left, they went down to business. Misato started, "So, you know a lot about the Marduk Institute ad Adam, or whatever it was that, right?"
Kaji leaned back on the bench. For all the world, he was playing hard to get with Major Katsuragi.
He nodded sharply, "I'm not the top expert, but I do know one or two things, what's bothering you?"
"They have just found a new Fourth Child. Very convenient, don't you think? Just when we are about to get Unit-03, and bam! We have a pilot right at hand."
"I can only tell you one thing, Misato." He stood up and put his hand on the machine Misato was leaning onto, looking as if he was about to steal a kiss. "The Marduk Institute doesn't exist. It's just a convenient cover for NERV. Check code 707."
"Shinji's school?"
He nodded. "They put all the eggs in the same basket. They don't have to look for candidates, the whole 2-A class is nothing but pre-selected pilots. Even Aida has potential. All they have to do is choose one."
Shinji arrived then, interrupting the couple. "Misato, Dr. Akagi is looking for you, she wants to talk to you about tomorrow's trip."
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
Later.
"Really? Watermelons?" Shinji took a can and helped Kaji to water his plants.
"It's my hobby, Shinji. I find growing things helps me to stay grounded. Just don't go around telling people about this, okay? I have a reputation to keep, and somehow, I don't think this would be an appropriate hobby for a Special Inspector."
"I'll keep your secret." Shinji nodded.
Kaji kept on talking. "Years ago, when the GeoFront was still in construction. I managed to buy this little lot. Back then it was just sand and gravel. Dead. I thought, it would be a good place to try. If it didn't work, well, it was not to be. But thing did work out fine. The terraforming crew did a great job. Somehow, they managed to turn a desert into a garden." He looked up, at the artificial mountains at the horizon and the metal sky above.
Shinji's cell rang. Kaji focused back on his work.
After a few words, the pilot closed his phone. "Sorry, I must go, the synch test is about to start."
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Synch Test Secondary Room
Observation Room
"Interesting. Their synch rates are going up."
"All of them?"
"Yes, even Rei. Asuka is still number one. And she has risen 2% more. I can't explain it. I'm assuming the last battle has focused her mind."
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Synch Test Secondary Room
Unit-02 Plug
'(Have you though about what I said? Both of you?)' Asuka sent into Unit-02's core. Two similar but distinct emotional waves answered.
Eagerness. Eagerness
"(Good. Keep working on it and I'll see what I can do about it, okay? I won't even think about it until you two are back to being one. And even then, I won't accept any substandard option, is that understood? Only the very best and brightest will do. I want you to come back to being my Mama. As you should have been all this time.)"
Agreement. Agreement.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Synch Test Secondary Room
Unit-00 Core
Inside the Core, two souls invested their time in a time honored way. One that tradition and custom had preserved for centuries.
She had never had the chance when she was alive, and he had never found the time to pass the knowledge to his own children, as he had been murdered before even starting a family.
So, it is understandable that playing pattycakes had a learning curve.
Still, they had fun.
Nevada
USA
NERV-02 Former Site
Now Nevada's Bowl
Far from the patrols and checkpoints that surrounded the place, unseen by human eyes, the Phantom Stranger stood at the centre of the bowl shaped hole, that marked the place where, until scant hours before, stood the Second Branch of NERV.
He set down on one knee, and his gloved fingers grazed the rock surface. Whatever had happened here, it had been fast and unstoppable. A few steps away, the body of a bird lay on the ground. Gradually, the dead bird floated up towards the Stranger, who stood up in the meanwhile. His shadowed eyes examined the bird carefully, while it turned around slowly. Respectfully, the Stranger lowered the dead bird back to the ground. He looked around, examining every aspect of the now empty place.
And he knew.
NERV-02 and Unit-04 had not been destroyed, they had been misplaced.
Misplaced in time, sent into a future that could be.
But which one?
Of the myriad of possible futures that could come to exist, two main branches opened in Hypertime. A bright future, where mankind had earned its place in the galaxy, or a desolate future, where mankind had been reduced to the level of mere beasts, unthinking and savage.
At the moment, Unit-04 and its pilot were out of his reach. The only way to reach them was the long road. Whatever the road the future would take, the Phantom Stranger would be there to guide them when the moment was right.
The blue cloak flapped in the wind of the desert. And in a blink, the place was empty again.
Author Notes
1. Booster Gold is a curious case in superheroism. He comes from the future, a disgraced athlete who got a job as a security officer in the Metropolis Museum of Space, and decided to steal some stuff from the exhibits and a security drone, using a time machine to go back to the 20th Century and become a hero. The items were a Legion Flight ring, a power suit that grants him enhanced strength, durability and a force field; gauntlets that fire energy blasts, and a visor with enhanced sight and hearing. He debuted in Booster Gold issue 1 (Feb 1986)
2. On the other hand, Blue Beetle, Booster's best friend and most frequent companion, uses more down to Earth equipment. Apart from his BB Gun, he built the Bug, a good sized vehicle shaped like a beetle; able to fly and operate underwater. He debuted in Captain Atom issue 83 (Nov 1966)