Chapter 38: Unseen Foes From Heaven
Much has changed since the last angel attack. Asuka has down calmed somewhat from her usual self. Much to every ones enjoyment. Everyone but Shinji that is thought it was a good change, he could always tell when something was bothering someone and he could fell the vibes off uneasiness coming off her. Shinji wasn't going to question her about it though, should she need to share herself, she would. But only when she was ready. Asuka's change caused Rei to revert back to her usual self before Asuka's influence changed her. This also went well with people that knew the pilots as hearing and seeing Rei laugh was a strange and, for some, a disturbing sight to behold.
Misato made her come back a few weeks after the last angel attack. She seemed refreshed in many ways. She was healthy looking, no bags under her eyes and her skin looked like it was glowing a little. She didn't touch her beer at all since she cam back, instead she throw it all way and replaced them with nutrient drinks. She even went as far as to apologise too Rei for the way she treated her. Wherever Misato went it did her a world of good and Misato hasn't been happier. And if none of that was good enough, Misato got another promotion. She is now a Lieutenant Colonel.
Shinji, Asuka and Rei are having another battery of tests on neural contamination and all is going well ,or would be if Shinji could synchronize properly.
"Number 0 and 2 adjoin contamination zone, it's the limit." Maya say with boredom lining her voice.
"Number 1 can still afford to do more. Down the plug depth 0.3 more." Ritsuko's says while examining the multiple screens around the control room.
"Almost reaching the contamination zone."
"But this readings? I know Shinji's good but he's doing better then I predicted. And if his mind wasn't distracted I'm sure he could do better."
"His Harmonics and synchronization ratio are coming close upon Asuka's." Maya says thinking that it was impressive.
"Coming close? He should have surpassed her by now."
"We could always run a simulation on what Shinji's actual sync score is should he actually be concentrating." Maya suggests.
"Or we could get Shinji to concentrate and save our selves the trouble." Ritsuko opens a communication link with Eva 01. "Shinji you aren't concentrating."
"I know ..." was all Shinji said.
"Shinji these tests cost a lot of money and we can't afford to waste it on your childish problems. Pull yourself together."
Ritsuko didn't get a verbal answer from Shinji but his sync rate did go up 8 points. Ritsuko slumps into a chair defeated knowing that if she pushed any further Shinji would purposely drop his sync score in spite. While Ritsuko stews in self pity, Misato walks in to see the pilots progress. She sees Ritsuko's sorry state and knew that Shinji was the problem.
"You know Shinji doesn't like these tests or the Eva's. You should stop torturing yourself over it." Ritsuko just sighs again. Misato wasn't help her at all. Misato walks up behind her long time friend and leans on the back of her chair. "If it makes you feel any better I will have a word with him tonight."
"Will that word get anywhere?"
"It might or it might not. The problem isn't with Shinji anyway, it's Asuka."
"What's Asuka got to do with it? She fine, her sync score is at ninety four. It's never been better."
"And that could be the reason. I don't think he wants to surpass Asuka."
"Damn children, don't they realise there are more important things then what they want? ... Never mind, that's a stupid question."
"I can here everything you are saying." Both Misato and Ritsuko jump at the sound of Shinji's voice. Ritsuko quickly turns off the comm before Shinji can eve's drop more. Misato gives a little snicker before leaving Ritsuko to finish off the tests.
No one in the Katsuragi household questioned where Misato went, not because they weren't curious but rather because it wasn't important as she came back a better person. But for some, curiosity can only be held back for so long. Shinji is one such person.
The three pilots were enjoying a quiet meal in the living room, waiting for Misato to return. Rei and Asuka are watching the TV while Shinji just listens and not being able follow. When Misato does get home she instantly goes to the microwave and heats up the now cold meal prepared for her by Rei and Asuka. When heated she walking into the room, greets them and gets grunts as a reply. She takes a seat next to Shinji to allow conversation about the sync test.
"Well Shinji? Do you have anything to say?"
"About what?" Shinji says playing dumb.
"About you letting Asuka keep the high score?" This, of course, got Asuka's attention. But her reaction wasn't what Misato expected.
"Yeah Shinji, why have you been letting me succeed over you?"
"... Because I don't want to be the best pilot."
"Are you sure it's not about saving Asuka from getting hurt?" Misato asks.
"What would I have to gain from lying about it?"
"Probably to save yourself from Asuka's wrath" Misato says lightly while nudging Shinji with her elbow.
"Eva's punishment enough. I don't need another monster ripping me apart." Shinji giggle at his own joke. Misato struggles but manages to keep a straight face. Asuka just roles her eyes and turns back to the TV.
"Well this isn't about who's best and who's not Shinji so just do your best from now on."
"SIGH Okay. ... Misato?"
"Yes Shinji?"
"Where were you when you disappeared?"
"I was sorting my life out. That's all you need to know." Shinji didn't push it past that,
"I'm going to bed." With that Shinji strolls off to bed. The others follow shortly after
"Nothing living is allowed to exist here in the world of death, Antarctica. Or rather we should call it 'hell'." Fuyutsuki says holding himself from the cold.
"Nevertheless, we, human beings, are standing here, living as living things." Commander Soryu said, not even giving the extreme cold any notice.
"Because we are protected by the power of science."
"Science is human power."
"That arrogance caused the tragedy 15 years ago, the Second Impact. And this scene is the result. It's too big punishment for us considering our crime. It's just like the Dead Sea!" Fuyutsuki says a little flustered.
"Yet, this is a purified world without impurity of the original sin."
"I prefer a world where people live, no matter how it is smeared with the sin." The two are interrupted as a Nerv personnel tells them that an angel was discovered in the satellite orbit above Indian Ocean. The two high ranking commanders or Nerv look at each other in silent conformation before heading back into the slighter warmer ship.
Naturally Tokyo 3 has also picked up the angel and are doing their best to track it and gain as much information in it as possible. Not that any satellite could not pick it up as the angel slowly drifts by them while shooting parts of it's body at the planet.
Misato has been looking forward to the next angel attack. It's time to prove that that she can successfully command the pilots and stop the angel's with out one or more of the pilots disobeying her and proving that she was incompetent at her job. She also has to do a good job so the pilots would truly trust her.
The pilots were quickly brought into Nerv for a briefing on the new angel and how they would stop it. To say the plan seemed foolish was a major understatement.
"Wow, receive by hand?" Asuka says in a shock like state.
"Sure! Arranging Eva's at the estimated collision point, and you directly receive the angel with your A.T. fields at full power." Misato explains.
"In the case that the Angel goes out of the course considerably ..?" Shinji asks knowing that this plan is probably going to end bad.
"Then it's over." Misato says glumly.
"And in the case that the Units cannot withstand the shock ..?"
"Also it's over."
"That's great optimism for you. The probability of win is?" Shinji asks.
"Ritsuko said it was one out of 10 thousand but you three always prove her wrong anyway."
"If we succeed it will be a miracle."
"Before you accept this operation, officially you are required to write SOP(Standing Operational Procedures). Have you written them?"
"No. I ain't going to die." Asuka says confidently.
"Neither do I. No need." Rei says while looking at Shinji.
"Me neither. I have no intention of dying today."
"I'm sorry you three but this is the only operation that has any chance or succeeding. When the operation is over , I will take you all out for a steak dinner." Misato says cheerfully, in hopes of lifting the pilots spirits that they are masking with fake confidence.
The pilots leave for their Eva's.
"Target missing in sight due to the Angel's EMC." Maya says giving the current status of the battle with the yet to arrive angel.
"Meaning it's impossible to estimate the exact point, this is the collision point collision estimated by Magi from the data obtained just before missing." Misato tells the pilots listening in.
"The range is this wide?" Asuka says looking at the information.
"The distance from the end to end is quite long." Shinji observes.
"Under these conditions, we set each Eva Unit at each of these three points."
"What is this setting based on?" Rei asks Misato.
"It's my intuition."
"Intuition?" Asuka and Shinji ask.
"Sure. Woman's intuition."
"How coarse! I feel the miracle is going farther and farther." Asuka complains.
"Shinji, you asked yesterday why I went away. It was because of my father. He threw himself into his research,... only his dream. I did not forgive him, or rather , I hated him."
"Just like my and my father."
"He didn't take care of me, my mother and the family. People said that he was insensitive. But he was so weak that he was always trying to escape from the reality, our family. He was just like a kid. I agreed with my mother when she divorced my father, since she had been always crying. My father seemed to have been shocked, though I grinned him him as he was suffering from the consequence of his own actions. Then he saved me, and then died, in that Second impact. I don't know if I loved him or hated him. One thing clear was that I had to defeat the Angels that had caused the Second Impact. To do that, I joined NERV. It might be that I was trying to revenge on my father, in order to be free from my father's spell. I left to put that behind me for the sake of the world and more importantly to save myself."
"You did some growing up. It's about time." Shinji says giving off a little chuckle.
"Oh shut up."
"MA'AM!" Shigeru shouts in alarm. "The angel! It's only twenty five thousand miles about the city!"
"It's here! Eva's to your positions!" Misato orders and the Eva's quickly move into position. The target's trajectory is calculated based only on the optical observation. Magi will induce you until the distance is one thousand miles. After that, do on your own accord. I entrust you all.
"Roger!" All three pilots say in confirmation. The pilots here lots of people talking on the comm but only one thing is on their mind. When the angel's distance reaches twenty thousand miles they have to set off if they want any chance of stopping the angel's decent from the heavens.
"The angel approaching. Distance approximately twenty thousand miles."
"Here we go!" Asuka shouts and the three Eva's rush out in three directions covering the city as fast as possible but Shinji quickly stops and turns to look at Asuka's location.
"Rei, we have to move towards Asuka's location!"
"Why?"
"The angel's going to fall there. I can see it so clearly with the eyes of the Eva." Rei doesn't question Shinji any further knowing that he will most likely be right. She skids to a halt and runs towards Asuka.
Asuka to skids to a halt as she sees the angel above her and falling fast. She stands up straight and puts her AT field to max just as the angel hit's, breaking her wrists and ankles but still stands firm. A few seconds later Shinji and Rei arrive and help push the angel up with their own AT fields. Shinji cuts the angels AT field and Rei thrusts her knife in the angel central eye. The angel's body falls lifeless and explodes at only one one thousand of it's explosive force.
A minute later, after the clouds of smoke clear, the three Eva are walking back to Nerv HQ, Eva 0 and Eva 01 supporting Eva 2 which can not walk.
"Good job you three, I knew you wouldn't let me down." Misato says congratulating them.
"You really think I would let you make a promise of a stake dinner and let you break it? Not a chance!" Asuka shouts down the comm. Misato looks in her wallet and sighs. She may have got a promotion and a higher salary but the repairs of the city comes out of her and everyone else at Nervs pay. Misato is gonna be skint until next pay day, if she and the world lives that long.
Well there you have it. Be honest.