Disclaimer – don't ask, don't own

A/N Ok it seems some people took offense at my chapter 6 rant. That was not meant to target anyone specifically, it was meant for everybody in general. I just wanted to point out that nitpicking a story doesn't do the author any good. It is much better to point out what they did right and wrong, not focus on the wrong stuff, that way they feel it was a fair review.

Most do that, but some don't, that's why I added my rant.

I'm sorry if anybody took offense to that.

But that is honestly how I feel.

I'll take into consideration what has been said to me specifically and try to improve but I will never achieve perfection though I work toward it.

And Dartz is most likely right, part of the problem is me, I'll admit it, I'm a bit lazy, but everybody is to an extent.

My biggest problem is periods; I rarely use them though I should. I'll give their suggestions a shot on this chapter; everybody let me know if it's any better.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Gabriel

Chapter 7

Escape from the Planet

Eve, Misato, Shinji, Asuka and the others along with the Ors bridge crew waited for the word to proceed. It was undoubtedly the longest 30 min of their lives.

Finally after an antagonizing wait the communications officer's console came on. After reading their orders she turned to the captain.

"Sir, com from HQ, the password is OVERON, we have a go"

He nodded.

"Password accepted and confirmed, begin launch procedures. Activate all ship systems"

All around the bridge every Station came alive.

"Main stage balancing actuators port and starboard"

"On"

"Second stage gravitational stabilizers port and starboard'

"On"

"Running lights on"

"All moorings clear"

"Fusion Reactor at 80 percent, operational level in 5 seconds"

The ship gave a gentle hum and vibration that slowly faded as the reactor fully came to life. Shinji turned to Toji.

"What was your sister in the Medical ward for anyway?"

"Broken ankle, they had to set it. They were worried about an infection so they kept her overnight"

"Oh, ok"

The ships operations officer turned to the captain.

"All systems ready sir, we're go for departure"

The captain nodded.

"Prepare for departure, anyone not going to Ark had better get off"

He looked around the bridge.

"No one, no one"

This earned a snicker from some of the crew as well as eve. The captain shrugged and turned to helm officer.

"Alright Hughes, takes us home"

The officer nodded.

"Aye sir, setting course for Jovian space and Ark Station"

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow at the mention of Jovian space. Wasn't that the area of Jupiter and its moons? She taped Eve's shoulder.

"Just how long will this trip take?"

"Once were at the rendezvous a little over two hours and then about 30 min to the Ark itself"

Ritsuko wondered just where they were headed then. The wine of the repulser engines was audible and a alight shudder felt as the ship slowly raised from its docking cradles along with the 3 other ships. The ship Tactical officer announced.

"Operation Exodus 2 has begun"

The ships slowly pulled away from the base and settled into a series of orbits around Tokyo 3 and allowed their engines to heat up before they began the strenuous task of propelling the ships into orbit.

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At Nerv everyone had been watching the launches with curiosity and a bit of awe. Even after a few months no one could understand how they got their ships airborne that way.

Well it had been peaceful until the alarms began to blare.

"Eva unit 01 has activated"

"Its ripped out of its cage, it's heading for the launch catapult"

Commander Ikari stormed onto the bridge.

"Report"

One of the techs turned.

"Sir, Eva unit 01 has activated. It tore out of its cage and climbing the 3rd catapult. We've tried every way possible to shut it down but nothing works. It doesn't even have an entry plug, or power"

"Have section 2 retrieve the pilots and Major Katsuragi, Use unit 02 and 00 to restrain it"

"Already done, they reported that the Majors residents is empty, with the exception of furniture all belongings of Major Katsuragi and the Children have been removed. They report a similar situation at both Dr Akagi and Lt Ibuki's residents as well"

"Find them, immediately"

Another alarm began to blare.

"Sir, Eva Unit 01 has breached the surface. It's moving toward the Cosmos vessels"

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The Ragland and Ors were tracking the Eva as well. Once it located the ships, Ors specifically, it broke out unto a flat run towards the ship. The captain looked over to Eve who had stood and walked to the main view port to watch the Eva.

"What the hell is it doing? Is it going to attack?"

Eve watched for a moment. The way the Eva ran, it wasn't attacking anything.

It looked like it was running to catch up!

She turned to the captain.

"Open the right forward Battle Frame bay"

"Ma'am"

"Do it"

The captain gave the order and the bay door slowly lowered down and locked open. Eve nodded.

"Now bring us down to 100 meters, skirt the building tops if you have to"

The helm officer slowly lowered the ships altitude as low as possible. The rest of the bridge crew could also see what was going on. And they all wondered if someone had in fact stolen the Eva. Either way this was a defection so it didn't matter. At about 200 meters from the bow of the ship Unit 01 put all of its momentum into a flying jump which dropped it onto the ships open launch hatch. It then rolled and finally settled to a stop, once again inert. Eve turned to the captain.

"That's it, close the door and let's get out of here"

"Aye ma'am"

He turned to the crew.

"Let's go. Helm plot the best escape trajectory and send it to the rest of the ships and get us out of here. Com officer inform the rest of the fleet at the rendezvous about the situation and tell them we'll be a moment or two late. And patch us through to the secretary general of the UN, best to explain this now"

A course of Aye Sir's ran through the bridge. After shooting off a message to the UN the Ors along with the other ships set a course which would take them out to sea. Once they were clear of the coast each ship lifted its nose and flew skyward.

A few moments later the solemn blue sky shifted to the darkness of space and the stars blinked into view. Ritsuko and Maya had been amazed that they had felt no G-forces during the assent or that they weren't floating in zero-g. It was explained that each Cosmos vessel had its own gravitational field generator which gives the ship artificial gravity and cancels the effects of normal gravity, as well as inertia.

The 4 ships from Tokyo 3 rendezvoused with the rest of the Cosmos ships, which had been stationed at various places around the world, at Earth's 2nd Lagrange point just beyond the moon. It had only taken 35 min to arrive there which made Ritsuko think that it may be possible for them to make Jovian space in oven an hour.

The mass of vessels there was more than Misato, Ritsuko or Maya or company had thought. 30 ships hung motionless in space waiting for them. The Ray class Constance was there, as was the Karnack along with 12 other personnel transports. The rest were Olympic Class battleships such as the Ors and Farinth class destroyers like the Corinth which had been part of the fleet that had escorted Michael to Tokyo 3. Eve turned to the captain.

"Looks like were all here"

"That it does"

He then turned to his com officer.

"Order the fleet to activate and change their Gravity Drives and stand by. And activate our Gravity Drive"

Panels on the Port and Starboard sides of the aft end of each ship slid open. Out slid what appeared to be a simple cylinder with a Translucent blue strip running top to bottom. Each panel began to glow a translucent blue, then a bright white as the ships gravity drive charged.

The Gravity Drive worked like a repelling magnet, pushing off of the closest gravitational source. It was much easier to do this from an area of gravitational stability, like Lagrange points.

The Ors and Ragland moved up with the personnel transports. Their cargo needed to be secured aboard Ark quickly. The remaining destroyers would be the last to leave, playing the job of rear guard.

Personnel Transport Rosh moved out of formation a bit. Suddenly its Gravity Drive flared and the ship shot off, leaving a bluish streak behind it. It quickly disappeared among the star background. More transports followed, including the Karnack, until finally it was the Ragland and Ors turn. Eve looked back at the others.

Asuka was holding Shinji's hand, a bit afraid but willing to face it with him at her side.

Misato was griping the hand rests of her seat, trying to be the strong one for the kids.

Ritsuko was fascinated watching the other ships go before them.

Maya had a death grip in Aida's hand, she was absolutely terrified. He was still recording every detail. His video would be invaluable as he had captured Eva-01's defection from Nerv. He was also the first to record a Gravity Jump and would be the first civilian camera to record a jump from aboard the ship jumping.

Hikari was holding Toji's hand, her eyes shut. He was doing his best to be strong for her. The only one who didn't appear afraid at all was Shinji, who had done this all before. The captain caught her attention.

"Ragland now jumping"

The gravity drive of the Ragland had been built into the wing next to the normal engines. The strip on the back of the wing which housed the engines seemed to flare as the ship shot off into space. The captain turned to Eve.

"Ready"

She nodded and then turned to Shinji

"Have you ever ordered a ship to jump before?"

He shook his head. Eve turned around to face the view screen.

"By your command Lt Ikari"

Asuka smiled as Shinji stood and walked over to where Eve and the captain ere standing next to the Captains Chair. He nervously sat back, seeing the ship's bridge as the captain would, it felt like he belonged there. He took a breath to steady himself and looked to the Helm officer at his station in front of him and to his right

"Is the Gravity Drive charged and ready?"

"Aye Sir charged and ready"

He then looked to the Navigation officer who was at his station next to the Helm.

"Is our course plotted?"

"Aye sir course plotted for Jovian space, course for Ark set and locked in"

Shinji looked to Eve and the to the captain.

"Good, engage Gravity Drive. Take us home"

"Aye sir, Jump in 3, 2, 1, Jump"

For a moment everyone felt as though they were accelerating slightly. The two Farinth class destroyers next to them seemed to stretch a bit before the slipped away. The feeling of acceleration died away and was accompanied by an audible Thump The Helm officer spoke up.

"Jump complete, ETA to Ark, 1 hour 26 min"

Shinji stood.

"She's yours captain"

The captain nodded and Shinji headed for his seat. Eve then turned to Shinji and Co.

"If you want to get something to eat, I'll show you to the galley. Well need to be back on the bridge before we arrive at ark"

Everyone followed her. The adults had questions and the teens were hungry. No one had had breakfast yet.

A/n I know it isn't long but I need to stop here for the next chapter. Let me know if this one was any better.