Usurper, Part 3
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).
Note, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, German.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
Central Control Command Car
"EVAC! EVAC! EVERYBODY OUT! NOOOOOW!" Shinji's scream tore at Misato's heart. She hesitated for a fleeting moment, before reacting. A short term plan ready in her mind.
She pulled the microphone to her mouth, just as she hit the General Alert button with her left hand. "General Evac! Everybody! Drop whatever you're doing and run! Everybody out NOW!" She turned to the cabin of the massive mobile headquarter. "Setsuke! Floor it! Everybody, hold on!"
The driver obeyed immediately. "On it, Major!" As soon as he had heard Shinji's words, he had begun to cut the feed from the generator outside, and the vehicle shook as it tore itself from the multitude of cables and connections to the main Matsushiro building. Several expensive devices were dragged behind it. He was extremely glad he had had the foresight to park the mobile command with the driver's seat pointing away from the base itself. There was no need to turn or go in reverse. Just drive away as if the devil himself was pursuing them.
And judging from the sounds coming from the speakers, that was not that far from the truth.
Major Katsuragi, Toji and Dr. Akagi grabbed at the safety handholds, holding for dear life. Toji barely managed to keep himself from being thrown around.
Tokyo-3
Japan
Ayanami-Soryu Apartment
"Are you okay, Asuka?" Hikari asked, seeing her friend pace around like a tiger in a cage.
"I have a bad feeling about all this Unit-03 business. Madame Xanadu is spooky when she does her stuff. Even more when your mind convinces itself she was right. It might be mere coincidence, but it wouldn't feel like that."
Rei Ayanami came out the shower at that moment. "Who is Madame Xanadu?" She asked innocently.
Hikari answered. "A fortune reader back at the circus, Rei. Asuka and I visited her tent after the show ended. She told me Toji would face great danger."
"Fortune reader?" Rei blinked twice. "Explain, please. I am not familiar with that term."
"Well… it's an old attraction at circuses or other places. I always thought they were just a bunch of charlatans looking to scalp fools." She paused at seein Rei's furrowed brow. It was evident she hadn't heard that metaphor before, so Asuka backtracked a little. "I mean, to cheat fools out of their money, with vague but believable predictions." Asuka shrugged. "One of the ways fortune tellers work is by reading a special set of cards, they supposedly divine your future based on the cards that are set on the table."
"I… I don't see how both things could be related."
"Neither do I. Wonder Girl." Asuka admitted. "I used to think tarot cards were just a way to part a fool and their money. But Madame Xanadu, well… she was very convincing. And now that Shinji and Toji are at Matsushiro for the activation test of a brand-new EVA… ahem… I can't help but feel that Madame Xanadu's vague predictions could have a grain of truth. Completely unscientific on my part, I know."
Asuka had absolutely no intention of saying that the Phantom Stranger vouched for Madame Xanadu's predictions. And that she actually was convinced of their validity.
Seeing her as part of the group who feed power to the Spectre at the Dawn of Time certainly was a convincing set of credentials.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
"Static burst, Sir. We lost comms on Matsushiro." Lt. Hyuga informed.
"Restore them as soon as possible. Use the emergency back-up system and the CCTC cameras available, satellite imaging too. I want visual and comms with Major Katsuragi as soon as possible." Commander Ikari ordered with his usual cold-blooded stance.
He turned his head towards Fujutsuki, standing two steps behind his right side. Making sure the microphone was off, he said in a barely audible voice. "It seems Bardiel is making its presence known."
"Most probably, yes." Fujutsuki whispered back.
"This could be the perfect opportunity to field test the Dummy Plug System." Gendo nodded to himself. Fujutsuki sighed. It would be useless to argue against it. For all Commander Ikari played the sinister chess-master, he sometimes acted like a child with a new toy. A particularly petulant child even.
Activating his mike back, Ikari ordered. "Lt. Aoba. Send for the pilots. I want them both ready and in their EVA Units in 20 minutes."
"Yes, Sir." Lt. Aoba checked his database, looking for Inspector Kaji's cell number.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
Multiple Locations
All over the Secondary NERV Base and surrounding area, the sirens screamed their warning of catastrophe. After Major Katsuragi's order, all the staff ran towards the exits. A few drove small vehicles, almost overloaded with fleeing people.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
Forested Area Around the Site.
100 m east from the EVA Exit Hatch.
(Spiritual Plane)
The Phantom Stranger turned back to the base, his blue cloak flaring around him as he realized the gravity of his mistake. He had been alert for signs of the Angel's arrival, when the Angel had already slipped in!
He ran towards the commotion, his cloak flapping at his back.
Tokyo-3
Japan
Ayanami-Soryu Apartment
The doorbell of the door sounded frenetically. And Kaji's voice came from the other side of the door. "Asuka! Rei! Emergency call from HQ! Open the door!"
Hikari was the closest to the door, and obeyed immediately.
Kaji entered, as Rei and Asuka were already turning the TV off and making sure the gas and electricity were off, in case the fight reached the area. It was a basic procedure for every house, apartment, and any kind of building in not only Tokyo-3, but all over Japan. In short, clipped words, Kaji explained the situation to Hikari.
As soon as they finished, Asuka pushed Hikari out the door, while Rei locked.
A swipe of Kaji's card over a reader next to the elevator call buttons pulled the closest car to their floor.
A moment later, the four were running towards his car.
Once they were speeding towards the GeoFront closest access, Hikari called her sister to let her know what was happening.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
EVA-03 Plug
Shinji Ikari gritted his teeth so hard he cracked two molars. He would pay for it later, but at the moment, he didn't even notice.
All around him he felt the LCL in the plug vibrate with the roar that escaped from Unit-03's throat.
He gripped the control yoke, forcing his will into the controls. "NO! I! WONT! LET YOU! WIN!" He hissed through his clenched teeth. His fingers squeezed the control handles so hard the though plastic groaned under the pressure. His heart beating so fast he couldn't hear anything else. If it wasn't for the LCL enveloping him, his face would have been covered by sweat beads. Under his plugsuit, his muscles tensed, making his veins protrude from his skin like an inverse bass relief diagram of rivers.
Unit-03 shook and trembled, still roaring. It grabbed its head, arched its back like a bow, and screamed!
The titan fell on its knees, panting and roaring alternatively. Its fists struck at the walls and floor, breaking the reinforced concrete and steel with each strike.
Still, Shinji persevered.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
Evangelion Exit Hatch
The Phantom Stranger hurried to the entrance. His senses would guide him unerringly to Shinji, Unit-03, and the invading Angel.
The fleeing staff went around him, not even noticing his presence.
He arrived at the cage in time to see Bardiel strike at the floor with both fists.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
EVA-03 Plug
Dimly, Shinji noticed a red cloud floating in front of his face.
Blood! Plus an incipient headache was making itself known right behind his eyes. If this went for much longer, he would have a migraine very soon.
Between shakes of the gigantic head, he caught a glimpse of the Phantom Stranger, running into the cage.
The momentary distraction loosened his grip on the titan.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
EVA-03 Cage (provisional)
As soon it detected a weakening of the iron will keeping it from controlling the host body, Bardiel sent everything into a last-ditch effort to wrestle control of the titan.
A wave of energy surrounded Unit-03, destroying everything at its wake.
Steel, concrete, stone, plastic, LCL, exotic lubricants, paper. Everything was vaporized in a catastrophic column of fire and light.
The light column rose into the sky, surrounded by a cloud of debris and smoke.
Two prongs burst from the sides, forming a cross that could be seen from Tokyo-3.
Matsushiro Secondary NERV Base
Japan
EVA-03 Cage (provisional)
The massive explosion blew right in the Stranger's face.
At his currently low power level, the mysterious man barely had time to conjure a hasty shield in front of him. But it was torn apart in less time than it took to cast it.
It was a lethal strike.
His body flew through the air, propelled by the displaced air, battered by chunks of debris.
The broken body fell to the ground almost a kilometre and half (1) away from the former NERV base.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
"An explosion has occurred on Matsushiro." Lt. Aoba informed.
"Damage level unknown." Lt. Tomoyo Yamaguchi added, from her place in the second level of Central Dogma.
Unusually for him, Vice-Commander Fujutsuki was on the same level the Bridge Bunnies occupied, instead of his usual place next to Commander Ikari. "Send the rescue squad and the Third Troop. Take care of it before the JSSDF gets involved."
"Roger, Sir." Lt. Hyuga began to place phone calls.
Meanwhile. His friend and co-Bridge Bunny, Lt. Aoba, finally got image from the site. "Movement of an unidentified object detected at the site."
Makoto Hyuga put the first call on hold, glancing at his screen and sending the MAGI's preliminary analysis to the holoscreen that occupied most of the space in Central Dogman. "Wavelength pattern is orange. It's not confirmed as an Angel."
From his perch above, Commander Ikari's cold voice ordered. "Go to first stage alert."
Lt. Aoba spoke in the general channel, his voice was heard all over NERV Japan. "All personnel go to First Stage Alert."
At Human Resources, Mr. Weatherbee stopped a program from running and stood up from his desk. Right on time. The logs made under combat conditions were the most heavily scrutinized of all. He followed the instructions of the Emergency Team Leader, a small and paunchy man, who had once been a Sargent in the JSDF.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront Entry Hatch Number 07
Kaji's car screeched at the entry hatch. Expertly, he managed to brake in such a way the car spun around, sliding neatly into the elevator platform.
Behind him, the three girls screamed. He turned back. "Everybody okay?"
All three looked at their companions. Asuka was the one to speak. "Yes! Yes, we sre! Sheesh! Now I can swear on a stack of Holy Books who taught Misato to drive!"
"Guilty on all accounts." Kaji smirked, and swiped his card on the reader. The platform began its descent into the depths of the Earth (2).
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
"Unit-00 and Unit-02 ready to begin synchronization sequence." Lt. Ibuki reported. "The pilots have just arrived, along with a civilian. Inspector Kaji is on the line, he vouches for her."
"That civilian is your responsibility while she is in the Geo-Front, Special Inspector Kaji." Vice-Commander Fujutsuki spoke in Maya's microphone.
"I'll just deliver the pilots to the Cages level, Sir. I request permission to accompany the civilian, Miss Hikari Horaki, to a bunker as soon as the pilots are on their way to the EVA cages, for her own protection." Down at the elevator platform, Asuka nodded towards Hikari, mouthing "You'll be safe there."
"Permission Granted." Fujutsuki answered.
A tense minute later, the platform stopped, Kaji released the door locks, and both pilots ran out. Asuka turned to Kaji. "Take care of Hikari, Kaji."
"I will get her to the bunker personally. Commander Ikari has forbidden me from staying at Central Dogma, so I'll keep her company."
Asuka nodded, and ran after Rei.
The platform began to move again, Kaji leaned back on his seat.
"Will they be okay, Mr. Kaji?" Hikari asked from the back seat.
"I hope so, both are very experienced fighters. And work well as a team. I have faith they will win."
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Unit-00 Cage
(Spiritual Plane)
"Okay, kid. Here I go!" Deadman dove into Unit-00's core as the biomechanoid was rising its synch levels.
"Boston-San!" Rei I exclaimed happily. "Is it time to play?"
"Wish it was, kiddo. Wish it was, but something bad happened, and we are going to fight an Angel."
"Will Big Brother and Big Sister fight too?"
Deadman hesitated. "I sure hope so. Let me tell you what I know. But we must pay attention to the comms, I'm sure the guys in charge will tell your sister what's going on."
Rei I nodded solemnly.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Unit-02 Cage
Asuka took her place at Unit-02's plug. She waited impatiently until she achieved synch with the giant.
She breathed deeply the oxygenated LCL, the smell of blood didn't disturb her focus, and hadn't done so in years. '(Hello, Mama. I am back, as I promised.)' She sent into the core.
Two waves of emotion answered her.
Recognition. Anticipation.
She focused her thoughts. '(I am going into a fight with an Angel. We don't know what it is capable of, but we suspect it is a kind of puppeteer.)'
Curiosity. Question
'(I suspect we will have to fight another Evangelion. And if so, rescuing the pilot is my top priority.)'
Question. Question.
'(Yes. He is part of my plan. So rescuing him is also in your best interest, if you want me to fulfil my part of our agreement.)'
Eager Agreement. Eager Agreement.
'(Good, I knew you would see it my way. Now, we need to work together, okay?)'
Both halves of Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu agreed immediately.
None of the three noticed there was an extra plug in the system.
There was a similar extra plug in Unit-01, but as the purple armoured giant would not be activated for this fight, it would not come to play.
In its own cage. Unit-01 slept, waiting for its pilot.
In the Dreaming, Yui Ikari's dreams continued without interruption.
Tokyo-3
Japan
GeoFront
NERV HQ
Central Dogma
"Evangelion Units 00 and 02 ready to launch." Lt. Ibuki reported.
An Unnamed Demiplane.
The Phantom Stranger awoke with a start, sitting at a beautifully engraved table, a pattern of flowers, birds, butterflies and skulls adorned the surface. In front of him, a pale young woman with black hair served tea on a delicate porcelain cup, carefully, she set the cup on the corresponding saucer, and put both in front of the Stranger.
The Stranger stood up and bowed, took his hat off, and put it on a small hat stand that rested next to the table. "Lady Death." He said, respectfully, sitting down again.
She smiled at him, and put a couple of sugar cubes in her cup, stirring it delicately with a silver spoon.
"Hello, Isaac (3). Long time since last we met." She said. "I heard you managed to drive my dear sister up a wall. Tell me all about it."
Author Notes
Personal note. Last chapter I reached a milestone for me. Stranger Visitations was, for a week, 300,000 words long. Exactly 300K! I even adjusted the amount of words in the previous chapter to ensure that nicely rounded number!
To Guest: Sorry, at the moment, I don't know when I will continue my other stories.
1. Close to a mile.
2. A reference to both a classic D&D Module, and the novel of the same name. a very entertaining novel, I must add.
3. If you haven't done so, check out Secret Origins issue 10 (Jan 1987)