Usurper, Part 1
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).
Tokyo-3
Japan
Katsuragi-Ikari Apartment
Entry Hall
"Misato!" Shinji exclaimed, surprised at the appearance of his guardian, dressed with a parade NERV uniform, including the snappy beret she almost never wore. There was a new suitcase by the door. Red and black, Misato's favorite colors.
Sitting at the kitchen table, Asuka simply took a sip of her coffee. "Allo, Misato." She said. "Big day today, isn't it?" she put her cup down. "Rei will be along shortly."
"Uh? You got early today? Will wonders ever end?"
"I could say the same about you, Misato. But I think we have more important matters to discuss." Her fingers played with the mug, turning it around first one way, then back the other way.
"Ah, it better be quick, I have to go real soon." Misato looked at her wristwatch.
"Won't take long, we are a bit curious." Shinji poured some coffee in Misato's personalized mug and handed it to her. She took a hurried sip, and another two sips later, handed the mug back to Shinji, who put it in the kitchen sick.
Asuka took the lead, "We are quite concerned." She almost glared at Misato. "We know Unit-03 must be in the way to Japan or already here, and Suzuhara said Dr. Akagi had recruited him to be the pilot. Our guess is that you," she tilted her mug towards Misato, "are on your way to wherever Unit-03 is being delivered. The Matsushiro Secondary Base is my personal guess. Shinji here thinks it will be delivered at the main base."
Completely surprised, Misato admitted it with an eloquent, "Uh? How do you know that?"
"Mr. Holmes doesn't have a monopoly on the deductive process, especially taking into account that he is fictitious, and if he wasn't he would be already dead (1), but that's beside the point. There have been a lot of hints lately." Asuka smiled. "Our point is, Unit-03 needs to be activated and synch tested, right?"
"Uh, right. So?"
"So? It's a brand new Evangelion Unit, Misato. Unless I'm very wrong, it will be its first test, and even if it's just a synch test, there is some danger involved. I'm sure Rei will back me up. With some scars, if she wants to be particularly convincing. She has a very nice one at the scalp line, just above her left ear."
Misato's brow furrowed, "Just what are you saying?"
Now it was Shinji who spoke. "Misato, Toji is a complete novice in piloting!" He slammed his hand on the table, a decisive gesture that made Misato flinch slightly. "Remember what happened the last time a novice pilot was at the controls of an Eva Unit!"
She gasped, finally realizing where they were going.
Shinji continued. "A berserk Evangelion! (2)" He rubbed the palm of his hand. "I'm sure Toji will be a good pilot once he has trained with us; but right now, the only experience he has at the plug of an Eva Unit is back when he and Kensuke were along for the ride." (3)
Asuka followed. "Yeah, yeah." She twirled her hand in dismissive circles. "To the point, Misato. You have a brand-new EVA, and you are about to put a brand-new pilot at the controls. A sure recipe for a disaster, if you ask me. Now, I want more back-up to watch as I cut a bloody trail of Angel pieces, but I want trained people who can cover my back if it is ever needed, unlikely as that is. I am not a babysitter!"
"Are you… volunteering?"
The German raised pilot scoffed, "Me? No. I'm very happy with Unit-02, if you must know. And I don't wanna trade down." She shrugged, "Your volunteer is the Boy Wonder, here." She pointed at Shinji with her left thumb, as she took a small sip of her coffee
Shinji nodded decisively, "I am. In fact, I am volunteering to help with Toji's training. There are some things that don't come in the instruction book that you can only learn in the plug. With all due respect, Misato. You are a great commanding officer, but I don't think you could pilot an EVA."
"Ah…" Misato hesitated, "Give me a minute." She fumbled her cell phone out of her purse, raised her right index finger to ask for silence, and pressed a single digit
"Rits? It's Misato." She said, pacing around. "No, I'm at home, the car still…" a pinging noise came from the intercom unit by the door. She adjusted her purse, and managed to put on her shoes, half walking, half jumping. "Listen, do we actually have a good reason to use the Fourth Child in the activation test?"
A pause, while Misato listened, "That's it? Just reconfigure a core." She had to pull the cell from her ear, even Shinji and Asuka could hear some noise from the device, like in those old cartoons Pen-Pen watched in the early morning. "I know, but… No, listen. LISTEN!" Misato exhaled. "Shinji and Asuka have just made a very good point. I'm withdrawing my support to Suzuhara as the pilot. No! I know that! Rits, just listen for five seconds!" She stomped on the floor, adjusting concussively her left shoe. "He is a newbie! Zero training, get it? What if we have a potentially berserk EVA, uh? Have you thought about that? No? I hadn't either. We've had two berserk EVAs already. I don't want another, okay?"
A pause. "Of course I do. Yes, I have a solution to this problem." She nodded towards the two pilots. "Yes, I have a volunteer. Look, Shinji has offered to do the activation test instead of Toji, and later he will show him the ropes in a controlled environment. I think it's a very valid suggestion. Toji can learn before actually stepping in the plug, and Shinji is experienced enough to calm a berserk Eva before it actually starts berserking. He has done it several times already; you have seen him do it!"
Asuka raised an eyebrow, looking at Shinji, who nodded fractionally. Outside Misato's view, he mouthed the word "Mother." Asuka nodded back, getting his meaning, and took another sip of coffee.
Meanwhile, Misato walked decisively towards the lift, she pressed the button, and walked back, cell on her ear. She pushed Shinji in, pointing to his room, and gestured to her own suitcase. "A moment, Rits." She covered the microphone with a hand, and turned to Shinji. "Pack for two days, whatever you need, you have five minutes."
Shinji simply pulled a different suitcase from the closet, and returned to the entry hall. "I like to be prepared, Misato. Three days' worth of clothing and assorted stuff." She shook her head, "Okay, we are ready, Rits. Going down now." She practically dragged Shinji to the lift. The door slid closed after the pair.
A moment later, the apartment door opened again. Asuka handed Misato her forgotten suitcase as the Major entered.
Nevada
USA
NERV-02 Former Site
The Phantom Stranger reappeared in the bowl-shaped hole that marked the place where NERV-02 had once been. He was invisible to human eyes, he looked around, searching for a thread in the tangled mess of the aetheric emanations that crisscrossed the place. He found it, and walked towards it, his cloak falling heavily at his back.
Had anybody seen him, he would have seemed to be walking on air, following the route of the now gone halls and rooms of NERV-02.
He arrived at the place Unit-04 had once stood. He willed his perception of time and memory to rewind from the moment of the energy discharge, backwards, backwards… his finely tuned senses confirmed once again, that the whole place had jumped into the future. Or to be more precise, into a future.
He went back a bit more, until he saw the moment a girl, dressed in a hot-pink plugsuit was getting ready to enter the plug.
A quick look into a document folder revealed her name, Mari Illustrious Makinami, Fourth Child, selected by the Marduk Institute.
His eyes looked at her, studying the strands of fate that entangled her.
Interesting.
Two strands stood out in the past. He recognized both. He had encountered a couple of her ancestors, decades, even centuries ago.
He remembered two particular faces. A boy with short, curly hair. A true genius, decades before his time.
They had met after World War Two. Post-War England was not that different to its present counterpart. Rationing was enforced, for example.
But Percy Clearweather (4) was a genius, and the British government had wasted no time into acquiring his services. His thread came to her via her mother.
However… the other thread was somewhat tangled. Sonny Sumo (5). Born in the XXth Century, in the USA; had lived most of his life, and died in Honshu, Japan, in the XIth Century!
A chill ran through the Phantom Stranger's spine.
Sonny Sumo had been the only human to understand and master the dreaded Anti-Life Equation! (6)
If his knack for understanding it had passed to his descendant…
Mari Ilustrious Makinami could be a danger to the whole universe, should she fall in Darkseid's hands!
He needed a way to reach Makinami.
The only way open to him at the moment would be the Long Road. He or one of the other immortals walking the Earth would have to meet her in her future.
Six centuries.
On an Earth ravaged by Third Impact.
Mobile NERV HQ Convoy
In Route to Masushiro Secondary Base.
The comm Unit relayed the words of Commander Ikari to his top Scientist and his Chief of Operations. "I find merit in your observation, Major Katsuragi, the roster change is approved and logged. You may proceed. Dr. Akagi, send the files needed to make a new plugsuit for the Third Child. I want it ready for the activation test this afternoon."
"Yes, Sir." Both said at the same time.
"That's all. Keep me informed of any developments. Commander Ikari out"
A crackle signaled the end of the transmission. Misato leaned back on her seat, and pushed the internal comms button. "Hey, guys, good news. Commander Ikari approved the change. Toji, I want you on the bridge during the activation test."
Toji answered a moment later, "Sure, Major Katsuragi. I'll be there."
In the back, Toji released the comm button, he adjusted his seatbelt, and turned back to his friend, seated in front of him. "Hey, Shinji; thanks for your help. I don't wanna admit it in front of Dr. Akagi and Miss Misato, but this piloting stuff gives me the creeps."
Shinji shrugged, "To be honest, I feel the same. Evangelions are temperamental machines, and activation tests can bring some problems to the surface. I do know it first hand."
Toji leaned back, "Uh… tell me… that's how Ayanami got hurt before you came to town?"
Shinji nodded. "Unit-00 is the first working prototype, it has a few quirks. Unit-01 is the combat prototype, it has less problems, but it still needs a firm hand."
"Unit-02?"
"First Production model. It has not caused problems so far."
"Who would tell it? The Red Demon keeps her EVA well behaved, then."
"Unit-03 is an even newer model, so it shouldn't cause problems, but I don't want to risk it."
"So you're what? The EVA Whisperer or something?" Toji chuckled.
"In a way, Unit-01 and I have reached an agreement." Shinji shrugged.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Commander's Lair
"You acceded too easily, Ikari." Vice-Commander Kozo Fujustuki asked, as he put down a Shogi piece on the board. "Why?"
Commander Ikari laced his fingers in front of his face, and answered after a few seconds.
"The arguments presented were logical and convincing." He said, Fujutsuki raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"It will look good in the records. But actually, it is time to begin to increase the pressure on the pilots. The Third Child has asked for extra responsibility. The personality profile of the Fourth's shows he tends to laziness. He lacks the interest for intellectual pursuits, that includes the more esoteric aspects of EVA operation. Aida would be better suited to the post, but he showed dangerous insight into Rei's psyche. Having him on board would be a risk to the objectives of the Scenario."
"I see. And if Shinji manages to actually train Suzuhara?"
"We win anyway, then we have four trained pilots."
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Commander's Lair
(Spiritual Plane)
"Hmmm…" Deadman rubbed his chin, "the kids asked for a change of plans? I'd better check on with the Stranger and see what's the plan." Before leaving, the ghostly acrobat flew around Ikari, and ended up right in front of the bearded man, pointing at him with an angry finger. "You… you… just wait!" he hissed before disappearing.
Tokyo-3
Japan
First Municipal Junior High School
2-A Classroom
"Hi, Soryu!" Kensuke Aida greeted the redheaded pilot as she entered the classroom. "Where's Shinji?"
"Sit down, Geek Stooge." She pushed him down onto a seat. "Hikari, Rei, come here, I have news and I don't like to repeat myself."
A moment later, Asuka was surrounded by her friends. She looked worried, something both Hikari and Rei picked up immediately.
Asuka inhaled, "Shinji and Jock Stooge are on their way to Matsushiro, turns out that testing a new EVA with a new pilot is not that good as an idea, and Shinji offered to do it instead of Suzuhara. Misato and Akagi already sent their permission slips to the school computer. The test is scheduled for later today, but they have to do a lot of tests for the rest of the systems, and they need the pilots at hand to check the interfaces."
Rei nodded, she knew very well the procedures involved.
Hikari wrung her hands, and asked, "When will they come back?"
"Almost certainly tomorrow evening. Even after a successful activation test, there are a lot of tests to complete afterwards, medical, psychological, end technical."
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
Unit-03's Cage
Three women stood on the umbilical bridge, supervising Unit-03's placement in its cage. (7)
Aoi Mogami, a young woman with violet-tinted hair and red rimmed eyeglasses, held her clipboard close to her body, occasionally, she checked an item in her very long list. "Left leg, lower restraint, locked and secured." she said, satisfied.
Nexto to her, Kaede Agano, her short brown hair cut short, tapped a few keys in her portable unit, and pressed the Enter key, a moment later, a chime sounded. "Connection confirmed, Aoi. Logged and recorded."
At the other end of the umbilical bridge, Satsuki Ooi watched the technical crews with a pair of binoculars. From time to time, she tapped her comm unit to relay instructions. "Crew 5, slow down. Realign the third bolt to level. No, to the other side. That's it. Continue." She shook her head, her long blond hair settling at her back.
She lowered her binoculars, and turned to her companions. "Hey, Kaede, which one is scarier? Unit-01 or Unit-03?"
"Wha..?"
"Which one is scarier? Unit-01 has that horn and it looks downright angry, but 03 here looks like an angry shadow."
Aoi shook her head. "Not the time nor place for that kind of discussion, Satsuki. At least wait until lunchtime."
"Spoilsport." Ooi answered, and turned her attention back to the crews as they worked.
Author Notes
1. Actually, Asuka us wrong on both accounts. Sherlock Holmes was still alive, kicking and a canonical part of the Post-Crisis DCU in 1987, as he was the guest character in Detective Comics issue 572 (Mar 1987). The descendants of both his friend Dr. John Watson, and his enemy Professor James Moriarty are part of the plot too.
2. Shinji is referencing his first battle, back in the first episode of NGE.
3. During the fight against the Fourth Angel, Shamshel, in episode 3 of the series.
4. Percy Clearwater was a member of the Boy Commandos, he joined the team as a replacement of one of the original members, Andre Chavard, after the end of WWII. Percy was quite a mechanical genius, and invented the Atomobile, an invulnerable atomic flying car/submarine. Percy debuted in Boy Commandos issue 23 (Sept 1947), the Atomobile debuted in Boy Commandos issue 36 (Nov 1949).
5. Sonny Sumo was an underground fighter with an interesting set of abilities, including temporary regeneration. He was a short-term ally of the Forever People. He debuted in Forever People issue 4 (Sept 1971) and was sent to the past by Darkseid in Forever People issue 5 (Nov 1971). He was last seen During Final Crisis, but as that happened after the year 2000, I'm sticking to Jack Kirby's writing.
6. Actually, only an aspect of it. It was enough to impose obedience into everybody who hears his voice, though he could be very selective about who was or not affected. Obviously, Darkseid would be very interested in acquiring this power for himself.
7. I decided that the three Bridge Bunnies from Shinji Ikari Raising Project needed to appear here. Their role in SIRP (the manga, I haven't played the game) is basically to replace the original Bridge Bunnies from NGE, as they are part of the school staff instead of working for NERV.