Neon Senshi Evangelion

Five

Ritsuko didn't think small, Misato had to admit as the purple/black haired woman helped organize NERV's counter attack. Using a prototype positron cannon from NERV research and development they were going to fire off a massive directed energy bolt, and to make sure it was powerful enough they were going to draw on the power of all of Japan.

"You're nuts, you realize that?" Misato asked conversationally as their minions rushed about, preparing for the operation.

"Yes, it goes with the job," Ritsuko said as she observed the technical teams adding to the positron cannon to make it a more portable rifle like design.

"Point," Misato conceded. She frowned, "Do we have anything to protect the kids from that thing's beam weapon?"

The black haired woman sighed slightly as Ritsuko said, "We've got a defensive shield we're working on. It's been covered with the same protective coating the space shuttle used to use, it'll buy them some time."

"But it won't stop the beam?" Misato clarified.

"It'll hold up a minute or so, we think," Ritsuko sighed. She looked at Misato, "Who ever fires that canon has to do it fast and accurate."

"Got it," Misato nodded. She looked over at Ritsuko, "Do we have a fallback plan?"

"I've been a little busy working on this one," Ritsuko said mildly.

Misato smiled as she swiftly reached out to ruffle her friend's hair, "And we appreciate your efforts." She trotted off as she added, "I'll talk to Yui and Gendo about a fall-back position, you get that canon done."

"Will do," Ritsuko nodded as she watched Misato leave with a carefully concealed fondness.

Ritsuko had met the young woman at college, when they had been placed together as roommates. (She often suspected her mother or the Ikaris set it up, but had never proved it.) Misato was just coming out of her 'mute' phase and Ritsuko had been somewhat overwhelmed by her talkative, energetic roomie. But soon the torrent of words eased and she discovered a kind, focused young woman who seemed to make time for everyone.

Ritsuko shook her head, knowing she had no time to let lost in her thoughts. There was work to do, and only a few hours left in which to do it.

Meanwhile, in the VR training system Shinji Ikari lined up the shot with the virtual rifle, aimed and fired, watching the powerful beam blasting the Angel. As it fell he waited for the computer announcement, then heard, "Winner, Rei Ikari."

"Huh?" Shinji yelped, looking offended.

"Rei Ikari was .05 seconds faster in firing," the computer emotionlessly reported.

Shinji growled, though he kept it mostly quiet. They'd been drilling in the simulator for the past hour to get a 'feel' for the equipment, and so that Misato could figure out which would be faster. Despite his Evangelion being the improved version Shinji seemed unable to beat Rei at firing, no matter how hard he tried.

"Sorry," Rei said, clearly having heard his frustrated sound as a virtual display window opened in the Evangelion to show her apologetic face.

"It's all right," Shinji said, smiling slightly as he let go of the hand grips and sat back. "How do you do that?" he had to ask.

"You get impatient and try to rush things," Rei shrugged, "it's all about precision, not speed."

Shinji scratched his chin, "Yeah, I guess so." He connected to the control room, "Can I get a simulation of that shield we'll be using? We need to practice coordinating out movements."

"Will do," Satsuki Aoi nodded briskly, once again impressed by the young man. Once he accepted he couldn't do something, he went and found another way he could help. "How do you want to drill?" she asked.

"Fire a energy bolt as if it spotted us immediately," Shinji decided, "I'll practice shielding Rei while she takes the shot."

"Got it," Satsuki agreed as she set up the simulation.

The clock ticked down as the strange, diamond shaped Angel drilled down through the geofront, trying to access NERV. Underground rail cars, trucks and over vehicles were used to haul the materials they would need into place, even as technical teams scrambled to prepare the technology they would need. Booking the use of the entire country's power system was no small task in itself, keeping Yui and Gendo busy too.

Finally the two Evangelions were in position up and away from Tokyo-3, on a rise where the massive equipment to channel all the energy into the gun was set up. Massive cables plugged into the heavy looking rifle, a computerized sight built into the gun and tying into the Evangelions themselves.

Just before Ritsuko was about to brief the kids Misato jogged up, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I'm late," she apologized.

"Glad you could make it," Ritsuko said dryly.

"Just getting some things ready, just in case," Misato shrugged. She looked at Shinji and Rei, "Has Ritsuko explained...?"

"Not yet," Rei shrugged.

Ritsuko ran through firing the gun, her expression calm as she finished, "After firing you'll need to reload a coolant cartridge, and the gun will require a twenty second break before firing again."

"So I'll need to shield Rei at least twenty seconds?" Shinji frowned. "Assuming the Angel can hit us."

"Yes," Ritsuko nodded, "but we are hoping you can take it down with one shot."

"Gee, no pressure," Rei smiled faintly.

Misato put a hand on the young woman's shoulder, "Gendo and I have arranged a possible distraction if something should go wrong." She shrugged as everyone looked at her, "We don't know if it'll work, though."

"Comforting," Ritsuko said, drawing Misato aside as she asked, "What is it?"

"It's a surprise," Misato smirked.

Ritsuko grit her teeth, but she knew that look on Misato's face. She wouldn't spill whatever 'treat' she had in mind, no matter what. "All right, everyone, take your positions," she said instead, "it's nearly time."

Rei and Shinji marched towards the waiting Evangelions, both dressed in their plugsuits and wearing the connectors in their hair. "Are you ready?" Shinji asked as they walked up the stairs to the platform where the entry plugs waited.

"I think so," Rei said as they walked to the plugs. She looked back at him, her expression serious, "If the shield fails, get clear okay? I don't want you doing anything stupid."

"Stupid would be letting you die before getting another shot," Shinji answered dryly as he climbed in.

Rei couldn't come up with a good response to that, so with a sigh she climbed in as well. The two set up on the rise, Shinji slightly before her as she got the slightly awkward cannon in place, sighting through the Evangelion's sensors.

"Power ready!" Ritsuko yelled.

Misato grinned, "Rei, the whole energy of Japan is in your hands!" She made a dramatic gesture, "Strike him down for justice!"

Ritsuko blinked at Misato, "Where the hell did THAT come from?"

Misato looked sheepish, "You know, I'm not sure. Seemed the thing to say."

"Oy," Ritsuko dropped her face into her hand, shaking her head.

Rei lined up the shot, the sensors compensating for the Earth's magnetic field and the planet's curve, then blew out a breath, "Firing!"

The beam lanced out at the speed of light, but luck or the fates were now with them, the diamond shaped Angel shifting just enough that it's AT field could deflect the bolt. "Oh crap," Ritsuko blurted softly.

"MOVE!" Shinji bellowed as the Angel began to charge up it's own beam.

Misato activated the radio she wore over her ear even as the two Evangelion's crambled down the hill, "Deploy orbital strike, now!"

The beam lashed out as Shinji braced himself, taking the blast on the large, improvised shield, "Oh hell," Ritsuko cursed as she monitored the shield via remote sensors, "burn through is happening far faster than we anticipated. It won't hold much more than fifteen seconds!"

"This is going to be close," Misato scowled.

"Come on, come on," Rei chanted under her breath, lining up a shot as she waited for the damn barrel to cool off.

Then something stabbed down from the sky, and the Angel was engulfed in a burst of blinding light. "What the hell?" Ritsuko yelped, shielding her eyes.

"N2 mines, deployed from a supersonic low orbit fighter," Misato said flatly as the light faded, "I gambled the Angel couldn't fire that high. Hopefully the plane makes it away..."

"I think it's stunned," Shinji noted as the beam cut off just short of burning through the shield he carried. The Angel was wobbling in the air, obviously disoriented and possibly injured from the powerful blast.

"Firing!" Rei yelled, this time taking into account the Angel's motion and punching a positron beam right through it's center and the core. The Angel blazed again as it fell, then seemed to crumble as it collapsed over the city of Tokyo-3.

"I love it when a plan comes together," Misato muttered, looking smug. She looked over at Ritsuko, "I'd say the operation is over?"

"Agreed," Ritsuko sighed in relief, turning to the crew as she yelled, "Okay everybody, time to clean this mess up!"

"That was way too damn close," Shinji sighed, releasing the heat shield and letting it fall to the ground. The formerly white covering was burned and blistered black, the metal underneath deformed by the blast.

"Maybe," Rei agreed, "but we did it."

"That we did," Shinji agreed, "with a little help from Misato's bombing it. And what was up about her saying we should 'Strike him down for justice'?"

"I don't know, I kind of liked it," Rei admitted, smiling faintly.

Shinji sighed, "Not you, too."

To be continued...