Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
I wouldn't say "blot" more like nicely coloured the map in with a shade of navy blue...
And nah mate, we're using fucking dynamite...
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(AU) Evangelion: Sovereignty
- Thread starter Lord Sovereign
- Start date
I wouldn't say "blot" more like nicely coloured the map in with a shade of navy blue...
And nah mate, we're using fucking dynamite...
- Location
- Huezil
50th Shades of Navy Blue...
You can fish like some south american tribes, with natural poison that suffocates the fish, but doesn't affect humans, the thing is more shocking than dinamyte.
EDIT¹: I'm so stupid sometimes, only now i understood the joke, if were fishing with dynamite... are we going to use use N2 deep charges?
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Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
To be critiqued 2
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
Well chaps, it's not a new chapter. But, here is what signifies that the story will be moving forward.
At long last, the spiffed up Shamshel fight is ready to be unleashed. Now if I recall, that segment became a bit...strained...after Toji and Kensuke got in the cockpit, so we shall start from there and end with the sadistic Heir in question getting wrecked...
Onward! And do tell me what you think!
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The plug quickly slotted back into the Eva's spine, a sudden barrier of orange lightening flashing into existence, creating a far greater force for the bloodthirsty Heir to try and overwhelm.
The battle was not even near one sided anymore.
A child is doing this!?
Shamshel raged for a while at this injustice. That the gods had ordained for a pathetic child to be his opponent, and for said child to have been the murderer of his brother.
But the Heir swiftly comforted himself.
The screams of children ripped from their mother's arms have always entertained me. But for your anguished last cries...I shall laugh.
Within the purple behemoth, Shinji was desperately trying to keep his attention on the here and now, as his cockpit's other two inhabitants were making a great deal of noise.
But it wasn't just the geek's constant babbling over his camera getting wet, or the jock freaking out over being able to breathe liquid.
To be honest Shinji could understand those somewhat.
The real noise however...was almost like it didn't exist. Like it was loud background noise. Weird words fluttered around in his head, such as "Mother," or "Sakura."
And then a simple sentence formed.
I'm scared.
Those words he heard in the voices of all three of them simultaneously.
Now every single one of his feelings were now screaming at the boy to run, but he ignored them.
I'm not running away, I'm not running away...
For if he did flee, how many would die?
Slowly but surely, Shinji pushed against the Seraph, his arms shaking but undeniably pushing forward, angling his A-T field in such a manner that it directly contended with that of his foe.
Two walls of orange lightening surged and clashed together, sending sparks of energy flying outwards, vaporising chunks of hills and buildings.
And then, so focused on overwhelming his enemy, Shamshel failed to take his rear into account. And thus a barrage of 18inch armour piercing, high explosive shells, coated in positronic energy, slamming into his back, promptly caught the attention of Netzach's second eldest.
The Seraph's screech of rage and pain was a haunting alien howl that echoed across the city, causing soldiers to soil themselves, and civilians in their shelters far below to shiver.
Filth!
His hate, his rage, his cruelty, and his malice came forth from his black heart, as Shamshel quickly withdrew his left tendril from Unit 01's hand, and, before the armoured creature could react, used all his strength to wrap his tendril around the Eva's right hand, and lashed outwards.
Being taken totally by surprise, Shinji found himself being violently thrown aside, with what felt like a hot iron only now uncurling from his hand. He stopped rolling after a few seconds, managing to regain and control of the Eva and attempting to stand, whilst his "companions" grunted and hissed in pain as they were thrown around.
"Sorry!" Shinji called out, not quite sure why as there was little he could do about his comrades discomfort, before a bright orange light flashed in his direction, originating from his foe.
Oh gods...I've seen that before. Shit!
And thus a crucifix shaped blast of power enveloped Unit 01, with Shinji only just being quick enough to throw all his effort into his A-T field, before the Eva was buried into yet another unfortunate hill.
It seemed the Seraph War had a special prejudice against the city and surrounding landscape of Tokyo-3.
With the whelp out of the way, to be dealt with later at his pleasure, Shamshel turned to face the forces of the Japanese State Army, and sneered.
You wish for your deaths to be violent? So be it. The only true question is which one of you dies first!
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Stars were in Shinji's eyes, as during his "flight" he'd rather badly banged his head. A small amount of blood was even trickling from his nose, on top of all the minor burn marks he'd sustained due to the nature of his connection the god machine. His slumped over form breathed shakily, his body trembling slightly. At least until a hand was laid upon his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Said Toji, a look of concern on his face. The timing of the boy's shrieks of pain had always coincided with whenever the "Seraph" landed a blow on them, leading the jock to one conclusion.
You...feel its pain? Gods...what must that be like?
Lifting his head up, both of Unit 01's hitch-hikers could now see the red liquid flowing from Shinji's left nostril and his dazed expression.
"I-I'm okay..." He almost whispered somewhat painfully before fully engaging his concentration on the situation at hand.
The Seraph...where is it?
He didn't have to look very hard.
Shamshel ripped into the frantically firing JSA forces, like a tornado of death. With every swish or slash of his tendrils, dozens died. And he relished in their death screams.
Ah the carnage of battle, its glory can never be surpassed!
To the men of the JSA, it was a repeat of the battle with Sachiel.
Every single round fired, harmlessly impact on the Seraph's A-T field. The soldiers of Japan, as brave as they were, were once again helpless before the might of a Divine Heir. And they would pay for their doubtlessly courageous sacrifice with their lives.
"Gods..." Kensuke muttered in a horrified tone, as Shinji's mind returned to the fires of Fukuyama some 12 years before.
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"Save yourself kid! Run, just fucking run!" A soldier calls out, before his head explodes from the impact of a bullet.
Gunfire, gunfire all around him. The sky is filled with smoke yet is somehow a hellish orange colour. Everything is burning, everything is dying.
But the 4 year old boy does as he is told and runs as fast as his little legs will carry him. So focused on fleeing, he does not notice the Chinese soldier level his weapon at him, nor said trooper's commanding officer grabbing the barrel and pulling just as the shot is fired.
The orphaned child finds a hole to hide in, covered in debris, and squeezes in, sobbing uncontrollably.
He hid there for many hours, before the sound of his shelter being pulled apart caused him to curl into an even tighter ball.
Light shines through a crack upon him, swiftly blocked out by the shadow of a tall, crouched man.
A man in blue uniform and black armour.
"Holy shit..." He mutters in surprise before placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. The brown haired boy shrinks away, before the soldier cups his chin and forces eye contact.
"Hey...it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you, you're safe now." The soldier smiles as he gently takes Shinji's hand and begins to pull him onto his stubby legs.
The boy in question experiencing the first act of true kindness shown to him since the death of his mother...
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"Shinji...retreat." Misato's command echoed silently around the plug.
Now the boy's brain had locked, the images of blue coated men dying in their droves around him seared into his brain.
"There's an elevator half a mile to your south. Take it, and we'll figure this out in Central." The purple head said regretfully. It seemed like the JSA would have buy time with their lives once again.
"B-b-but..." The Eva pilot stammered as he witnessed yet another few tanks be thrown through the air.
"That's an order Pilot." Misato somewhat harshly added.
12:27 pm, NERV Central command bridge, beneath Tokyo 3
"Why is it doing that?" Ritsuko said out aloud, trying to figure out the Seraph's strategy.
You're supposed to home in on NERV central, or an Eva, not randomly attack forces which can't even hurt you. Is it...angry?
"Well lucky us, it's interested in something else. Shinji get back here right now!" Misato felt her temper slowly take over, as the Eva simply lay on the ground unmoving, its gazed fixed on the rampaging enemy.
Yes I know, we're letting them die. But the Eva takes priority Shinji, you must understand that.
As far as Misato was concerned, they only had two priorities now, all thoughts of victory having long since vanished.
Withdraw the Eva, and damage control. For whilst the ground forces were doomed, the air fleet could still get away.
"Captain Kirishima withdraw. You can't do anymore." She spoke over the open link to the flagship.
There was nothing but static on the other end for a while, as the crew of the Tsushima watched a monster tear into their comrades to shreds far below them.
"Forgive me ma'am, I don't think we can do that." Otamo responded in a resigned tone.
"What?" Misato felt her heart drop into her shoes.
"We are soldiers of Japan, we have already suffered the shame of being driven from our own capital city before, we will not endure the like again. Good luck Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi, Nippon Banzai." The connection cut, and then there was only, truly, static.
A few of the bridge crew, the Japanese ones in particular, gave a sombre bow of their heads, before continuing work.
12:28 pm, State of Japan, Tokyo-3 airspace, the sky battleship HIJMS Tsushima.
Otoma turned to face the crew of his command bridge and sighed sadly, whilst rubbing his grey bristle.
"Gentlemen, I don't find within myself the strength to retreat. I will attempt to attack the enemy in whatever way I can to give speed to the retreat of our brothers on the ground. Get to your life pods, it has been an honour."
It was deathly silent for a while, until one of his men, a young ensign, punched his fist in the air and bellowed "I go with Captain Kirishima!"
And then the rest of his crew did the same.
"As do we!" Came the Captain of the HIJMS Musashi, swiftly followed by a "seconded"from the Kaga.
A single tear trickled down his wrinkled old cheek, before Captain Kirishima wiped it away.
"Very well." He managed a grizzled smile. "The Tsushima will now commit to a general attack on whatever Gods forsaken monstrosity resides down there. We will get its attention and give speed to the flight of our brothers! Nippon Banzai!" He thrust his arm forward.
"Nippon Banzai!" His crew screamed as the entire flotilla roared towards their foe, and let rip with everything it had.
The first few seconds of the attack went by in silence, as tracer fire arced towards the Seraph, harmlessly bouncing off its A-T field, and aircraft swarmed around it. And then one of the other senior officers, took off his cap and filled his lungs with air.
"Japan our home of many isles. Surrounded by the crystal sea!"
Soon enough, the rest of the men joined in with him.
"Red rising sun, let your rays illuminate the entire blue sky!"
"Open a channel to all our forces." Kirishima nodded at his comms officer, who swiftly bowed his head in response.
Back on the ground...
The Akuma crew, and many other troopers of the Tokyo-3 garrison, simply looked up at the sky battleships with awe.
It seemed the air force wanted to lend a hand today. And it couldn't have been more appreciated, as over a quarter of their group had already been obliterated by the furious Seraph.
"Keep firing, don't stop!" Kiyoshi bellowed as the Akuma rumbled backwards with the Seraph in hot pursuit, the lead tank of their regiment being split in half by a tendril.
"I'd thought we'd focus more on running the fuck away sir-" Eiji stopped mid snark. As over the radio, the voices of the men onboard the ships could be heard.
"Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with our honour! So forwards march as one!"
It was Akai Asahi, the military march of the JSA.
The Seraph, clearly being annoyed by the Tsushima, swiped a tendril at the great ship, slicing off one of its rear wings.
The men and women of the Tokyo-3 garrison's voices tearfully joined those of the Tsushima, knowing full well what would happen next.
"Our lives for our beloved Japan!"
Shamshel lashed out again, after being struck with a futile salvo of pallet rounds, cutting through the Tsushima's weakened A-T field and armour plating, striking the mighty sky battleship's positron reactor.
"Core's gone critical, it's overloading. Nippon Banzai!" A Lieutenant yelled whilst Otoma closed his old and tired eyes.
A brief image came to mind, one of a 16 year old girl with short dark red hair running towards him, laughing as she embraced her father with all her worth.
I'm sorry Mana.
And thus the 200 metre long warship, along with its crew of a 1000 brave servicemen, were vaporised in an instant.
And a further 100000 of their comrades, wept at the sorry sacrifice of their brothers and sisters.
12:29 pm, State of Japan, Tokyo-3, what's left of some random hill...
The explosion was almost blinding, as was to be expected of an exploding S2 reactor.
But he couldn't look away, none of them could.
There was no chance any of them survived. Another 1000 people had died because of his cowardice.
Shinji's brain had practically frozen in the face of the carnage unfolding before him. Armoured vehicles flew threw the air, some even striking the occasional unfortunate aircraft.
There was absolutely nothing the Japanese State Army could do to stop the Seraph, nothing whatsoever. An N2 strike could possibly slow the thing down, but it was too far into the city centre. A strike there would kill every last soul in Tokyo-3.
There was no point to resisting.
And yet they still refused to retreat.
The men in blue were dying to save his wretched life again.
Just like Fukuyama...
"Shinji. Retreat." Misato said in a dangerous tone.
"But...all those people..." He was in the middle of saying before his guardian's patience snapped.
"They're expendable, the Eva isn't. Now do as I say soldier."
Shinji simply sat there, somewhat horrified by such a callous disregard of human life, especially from someone he'd seen as a rather kind person.
No words or retort came to mind, only silence.
The other two however, had looks of total revulsion upon their young faces. Retreat, even defeat itself, wasn't in the nature of the Japanese people in 2017 to begin with, but this?
Leaving their own countrymen, and the family members hiding in the shelters below the city to save their own wretched skin, was unacceptable.
I wonder if he thinks like that though? Kensuke's subconscious murmured as he could see the sheer look of anguish on Shinji's face, as he tried to come to a decision.
"Shinji I am ordering you to retreat! Do it!" Misato was on the verge of screaming. But the boy in question couldn't hear her. All he could see were the tanks of the Tokyo-3 garrison resolutely refusing to fall back.
And the faces of the men who'd given their lives to save his own pathetic one all those years ago.
Not again...not again...not again!
His guardian was still yelling at him to do as he was told, but Shinji wasn't in the mood now. His countrymen were being massacred, and he wouldn't let anymore die for his constant and pathetic mistakes.
Not one more. His subconscious found itself growling.
Slowly but surely pushing a button that silenced Misato's ever increasing in volume commands, he sat back in his seat, breathing deeply.
"I'm sorry, I can't just leave them." He murmured to the two boys who looked at him with concern.
Kensuke forced a smile and put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, you do what you have to do."
"We're right behind you." Toji added in a serious manner. Most of the hatred he had for this boy had somewhat melted away now, having seen his anguish and fear in combat. And how he baulked at the mere thought of not even trying to stop the enemy with a snow ball's chance in hell.
If this was to be their end, then he wouldn't let this kid think he was dying alone.
I'm sorry Sakura.
Urging Unit 01 to rise from the ground, Shinji felt the titan's strength coursing through him, its ancient wrath almost intoxicating him.
But he had a job to do.
A quick flashback to an earlier simulation test gave Shinji an idea. The test where he'd been shown the existence of the "progressive knife," an actual blade made of some alloy he didn't understand, which was coated in positronic energy.
A knife which was currently contained in the Eva's back.
Stab it to death with that, sounds good... His subconscious surprisingly snarled.
"Voice command, Shinji Ikari. Deploy prog knife!" He'd imagined that these words would come out as controlled and authoritative, but of course owing to his nature, something that resembled a shriek escaped his lips.
The Eva's back slid open, and now his weapon was to hand.
The pain in his chest and on his hands, the pain which had so distracted him before, properly faded away when he beheld the Seraph grasp another Sky Battleship.
Not one more!
Screaming some sort of battle cry in his shrill voice, he thundered forward, the Earth itself shaking before the Eva's wrath. Had he been in the correct frame of mind, Shinji may have enjoyed the feeling of such power, as he'd possessed hardly any of it for the majority of his life.
But he was somewhat too angry for that.
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Shamshel felt the thunder in the ground, and irritated thoughts went through his head.
Can you not wait for your turn Voorr? I was enjoying myself-
Tossing the HIJMS Musashi aside, causing the mighty vessel to impact, and demolish, a large hill, Shamshel swung around to face the Eva, tendrils swishing through the air, hoping to slice off the purple monster's head.
Despite them catching Unit 01 in the face, Shinji simply stormed ahead, slamming his right shoulder into the Seraph's A-T field, and smashing straight through despite some resistance.
The Divine Heir barely had time to react due to shock, before the full force of the Eva's size and weight, coupled with its master's wrath, collided with him, bowling Shamshel off his metaphorical feet.
You...you didn't have strength such as this before!?
In those few seconds, Shinji noticed the red jewel in what could be called his foe's "chest" area. His target had finally been acquired.
The boy firmly planted his left hand into the Seraph's face, keeping it firmly pressed into the ground, before moving to strike with his blade.
But the destroyer of the last free cities would not die so easily.
Swishing upwards, Shamshel's energy tendrils cut a great X shape in the Eva's chest armour, eliciting a howl of pain from his foe, followed by a solid wall of orange lightening throwing Shinji off him, which gave the blood thirsty Heir nothing but ecstasy.
Not that it dampened his rage.
I am Heir Shamshel! Sovereign Netzach's second eldest, and you will not humiliate me brat!
Quickly scrambling back to his feet, the young Pilot's blue gaze fixed on his opponent, whom having risen up to its full height, produced a horrifying alien battle screech.
Shinji however, was undeterred.
Curling both his hands around his knife, Unit 01 thundered forward, with the young defender of humanity gripping his control sticks with stone cold determination upon his face, a few trickles of water issuing forth from his eyes.
For although resolved, he was still very much afraid.
Thrusting one of his energy whips forward into the Eva, Shamshel sneered as it staggered. And then watched in shock as it rose again, somehow even more furious than before.
Why will you not die!?
Despite his howl of agony, with even his "companions" gritting their teeth as they felt like they'd been stung by a bee on the chest, Shinji didn't stop for anything, despite even impacting the Seraph's prepared A-T field.
Much to Shamshel's surprise, despite knowing his opponent was coming, and having time to prepare his wall of light, Unit 01 broke through it like a sword through bone, its knife directed at his heart.
The Seraph attempted to move back, but Shinji was far too quick. And thus his blade sank into the creature of eldritch lore's S2 core.
I-I-Impossible... Shamshel tried to recoil from both shock and pain, as royal blue blood trickled down the metal blade, but Unit 01 clasping its left hand around the Heir's "throat" put an end to that.
I am Shamshel! I...will...not...die!
Another tendril surged forward and struck Unit 01 in the chest, right next to where the other tendril currently resided.
And then Shamshel forced his tendrils outward, despite the toughness of the Eva's hide and armour. Although not being able to immediately rip him open, a huge gash was slowly rent in Shinji's armour, accompanied with the screeching of torn metal, and the sound of sizzling flesh.
Hissing in agony, causing instinct to kick in, Shinji twisted his knife further and further into the red jewel. The tearing sensation in his chest slowly, but eventually desisting in its spread.
Die...die...die...suffer...squeal... Shamshel's strength began to fade faster than that of his enemy, as his efforts to rip the Eva in half stopped.
D-defeat? How is this...possible? How? The S2 core cracked open, blood issuing forth from it like a flood.
You're inferior...you can't win...you're all weak cowards! How did I lose? How am I...dying?
Despite himself raging against the dying of his light, even Shamshel succumbed to the darkness of death.
One thought, whispering in his mind.
R-Ramiel...my beautiful sister...they are stronger than we think...please be safe...my beautiful sister...
Shinji somewhat violently but swiftly withdrew his blade from the Seraph, leaving it upright for a micro second, only to eventually crumple over, the tendrils which had tortured the Eva pilot slipping out of his wound.
Like their wielder, they would never move again.
And thus Heir Shamshel, conqueror of the last Fleilan cities, commander of the red band, finally died.
Accompanied by the thunderous cheers of one hundred thousand men.
At long last, the spiffed up Shamshel fight is ready to be unleashed. Now if I recall, that segment became a bit...strained...after Toji and Kensuke got in the cockpit, so we shall start from there and end with the sadistic Heir in question getting wrecked...
Onward! And do tell me what you think!
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The plug quickly slotted back into the Eva's spine, a sudden barrier of orange lightening flashing into existence, creating a far greater force for the bloodthirsty Heir to try and overwhelm.
The battle was not even near one sided anymore.
A child is doing this!?
Shamshel raged for a while at this injustice. That the gods had ordained for a pathetic child to be his opponent, and for said child to have been the murderer of his brother.
But the Heir swiftly comforted himself.
The screams of children ripped from their mother's arms have always entertained me. But for your anguished last cries...I shall laugh.
Within the purple behemoth, Shinji was desperately trying to keep his attention on the here and now, as his cockpit's other two inhabitants were making a great deal of noise.
But it wasn't just the geek's constant babbling over his camera getting wet, or the jock freaking out over being able to breathe liquid.
To be honest Shinji could understand those somewhat.
The real noise however...was almost like it didn't exist. Like it was loud background noise. Weird words fluttered around in his head, such as "Mother," or "Sakura."
And then a simple sentence formed.
I'm scared.
Those words he heard in the voices of all three of them simultaneously.
Now every single one of his feelings were now screaming at the boy to run, but he ignored them.
I'm not running away, I'm not running away...
For if he did flee, how many would die?
Slowly but surely, Shinji pushed against the Seraph, his arms shaking but undeniably pushing forward, angling his A-T field in such a manner that it directly contended with that of his foe.
Two walls of orange lightening surged and clashed together, sending sparks of energy flying outwards, vaporising chunks of hills and buildings.
And then, so focused on overwhelming his enemy, Shamshel failed to take his rear into account. And thus a barrage of 18inch armour piercing, high explosive shells, coated in positronic energy, slamming into his back, promptly caught the attention of Netzach's second eldest.
The Seraph's screech of rage and pain was a haunting alien howl that echoed across the city, causing soldiers to soil themselves, and civilians in their shelters far below to shiver.
Filth!
His hate, his rage, his cruelty, and his malice came forth from his black heart, as Shamshel quickly withdrew his left tendril from Unit 01's hand, and, before the armoured creature could react, used all his strength to wrap his tendril around the Eva's right hand, and lashed outwards.
Being taken totally by surprise, Shinji found himself being violently thrown aside, with what felt like a hot iron only now uncurling from his hand. He stopped rolling after a few seconds, managing to regain and control of the Eva and attempting to stand, whilst his "companions" grunted and hissed in pain as they were thrown around.
"Sorry!" Shinji called out, not quite sure why as there was little he could do about his comrades discomfort, before a bright orange light flashed in his direction, originating from his foe.
Oh gods...I've seen that before. Shit!
And thus a crucifix shaped blast of power enveloped Unit 01, with Shinji only just being quick enough to throw all his effort into his A-T field, before the Eva was buried into yet another unfortunate hill.
It seemed the Seraph War had a special prejudice against the city and surrounding landscape of Tokyo-3.
With the whelp out of the way, to be dealt with later at his pleasure, Shamshel turned to face the forces of the Japanese State Army, and sneered.
You wish for your deaths to be violent? So be it. The only true question is which one of you dies first!
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Stars were in Shinji's eyes, as during his "flight" he'd rather badly banged his head. A small amount of blood was even trickling from his nose, on top of all the minor burn marks he'd sustained due to the nature of his connection the god machine. His slumped over form breathed shakily, his body trembling slightly. At least until a hand was laid upon his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Said Toji, a look of concern on his face. The timing of the boy's shrieks of pain had always coincided with whenever the "Seraph" landed a blow on them, leading the jock to one conclusion.
You...feel its pain? Gods...what must that be like?
Lifting his head up, both of Unit 01's hitch-hikers could now see the red liquid flowing from Shinji's left nostril and his dazed expression.
"I-I'm okay..." He almost whispered somewhat painfully before fully engaging his concentration on the situation at hand.
The Seraph...where is it?
He didn't have to look very hard.
Shamshel ripped into the frantically firing JSA forces, like a tornado of death. With every swish or slash of his tendrils, dozens died. And he relished in their death screams.
Ah the carnage of battle, its glory can never be surpassed!
To the men of the JSA, it was a repeat of the battle with Sachiel.
Every single round fired, harmlessly impact on the Seraph's A-T field. The soldiers of Japan, as brave as they were, were once again helpless before the might of a Divine Heir. And they would pay for their doubtlessly courageous sacrifice with their lives.
"Gods..." Kensuke muttered in a horrified tone, as Shinji's mind returned to the fires of Fukuyama some 12 years before.
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"Save yourself kid! Run, just fucking run!" A soldier calls out, before his head explodes from the impact of a bullet.
Gunfire, gunfire all around him. The sky is filled with smoke yet is somehow a hellish orange colour. Everything is burning, everything is dying.
But the 4 year old boy does as he is told and runs as fast as his little legs will carry him. So focused on fleeing, he does not notice the Chinese soldier level his weapon at him, nor said trooper's commanding officer grabbing the barrel and pulling just as the shot is fired.
The orphaned child finds a hole to hide in, covered in debris, and squeezes in, sobbing uncontrollably.
He hid there for many hours, before the sound of his shelter being pulled apart caused him to curl into an even tighter ball.
Light shines through a crack upon him, swiftly blocked out by the shadow of a tall, crouched man.
A man in blue uniform and black armour.
"Holy shit..." He mutters in surprise before placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. The brown haired boy shrinks away, before the soldier cups his chin and forces eye contact.
"Hey...it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you, you're safe now." The soldier smiles as he gently takes Shinji's hand and begins to pull him onto his stubby legs.
The boy in question experiencing the first act of true kindness shown to him since the death of his mother...
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"Shinji...retreat." Misato's command echoed silently around the plug.
Now the boy's brain had locked, the images of blue coated men dying in their droves around him seared into his brain.
"There's an elevator half a mile to your south. Take it, and we'll figure this out in Central." The purple head said regretfully. It seemed like the JSA would have buy time with their lives once again.
"B-b-but..." The Eva pilot stammered as he witnessed yet another few tanks be thrown through the air.
"That's an order Pilot." Misato somewhat harshly added.
12:27 pm, NERV Central command bridge, beneath Tokyo 3
"Why is it doing that?" Ritsuko said out aloud, trying to figure out the Seraph's strategy.
You're supposed to home in on NERV central, or an Eva, not randomly attack forces which can't even hurt you. Is it...angry?
"Well lucky us, it's interested in something else. Shinji get back here right now!" Misato felt her temper slowly take over, as the Eva simply lay on the ground unmoving, its gazed fixed on the rampaging enemy.
Yes I know, we're letting them die. But the Eva takes priority Shinji, you must understand that.
As far as Misato was concerned, they only had two priorities now, all thoughts of victory having long since vanished.
Withdraw the Eva, and damage control. For whilst the ground forces were doomed, the air fleet could still get away.
"Captain Kirishima withdraw. You can't do anymore." She spoke over the open link to the flagship.
There was nothing but static on the other end for a while, as the crew of the Tsushima watched a monster tear into their comrades to shreds far below them.
"Forgive me ma'am, I don't think we can do that." Otamo responded in a resigned tone.
"What?" Misato felt her heart drop into her shoes.
"We are soldiers of Japan, we have already suffered the shame of being driven from our own capital city before, we will not endure the like again. Good luck Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi, Nippon Banzai." The connection cut, and then there was only, truly, static.
A few of the bridge crew, the Japanese ones in particular, gave a sombre bow of their heads, before continuing work.
12:28 pm, State of Japan, Tokyo-3 airspace, the sky battleship HIJMS Tsushima.
Otoma turned to face the crew of his command bridge and sighed sadly, whilst rubbing his grey bristle.
"Gentlemen, I don't find within myself the strength to retreat. I will attempt to attack the enemy in whatever way I can to give speed to the retreat of our brothers on the ground. Get to your life pods, it has been an honour."
It was deathly silent for a while, until one of his men, a young ensign, punched his fist in the air and bellowed "I go with Captain Kirishima!"
And then the rest of his crew did the same.
"As do we!" Came the Captain of the HIJMS Musashi, swiftly followed by a "seconded"from the Kaga.
A single tear trickled down his wrinkled old cheek, before Captain Kirishima wiped it away.
"Very well." He managed a grizzled smile. "The Tsushima will now commit to a general attack on whatever Gods forsaken monstrosity resides down there. We will get its attention and give speed to the flight of our brothers! Nippon Banzai!" He thrust his arm forward.
"Nippon Banzai!" His crew screamed as the entire flotilla roared towards their foe, and let rip with everything it had.
The first few seconds of the attack went by in silence, as tracer fire arced towards the Seraph, harmlessly bouncing off its A-T field, and aircraft swarmed around it. And then one of the other senior officers, took off his cap and filled his lungs with air.
"Japan our home of many isles. Surrounded by the crystal sea!"
Soon enough, the rest of the men joined in with him.
"Red rising sun, let your rays illuminate the entire blue sky!"
"Open a channel to all our forces." Kirishima nodded at his comms officer, who swiftly bowed his head in response.
Back on the ground...
The Akuma crew, and many other troopers of the Tokyo-3 garrison, simply looked up at the sky battleships with awe.
It seemed the air force wanted to lend a hand today. And it couldn't have been more appreciated, as over a quarter of their group had already been obliterated by the furious Seraph.
"Keep firing, don't stop!" Kiyoshi bellowed as the Akuma rumbled backwards with the Seraph in hot pursuit, the lead tank of their regiment being split in half by a tendril.
"I'd thought we'd focus more on running the fuck away sir-" Eiji stopped mid snark. As over the radio, the voices of the men onboard the ships could be heard.
"Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with our honour! So forwards march as one!"
It was Akai Asahi, the military march of the JSA.
The Seraph, clearly being annoyed by the Tsushima, swiped a tendril at the great ship, slicing off one of its rear wings.
The men and women of the Tokyo-3 garrison's voices tearfully joined those of the Tsushima, knowing full well what would happen next.
"Our lives for our beloved Japan!"
Shamshel lashed out again, after being struck with a futile salvo of pallet rounds, cutting through the Tsushima's weakened A-T field and armour plating, striking the mighty sky battleship's positron reactor.
"Core's gone critical, it's overloading. Nippon Banzai!" A Lieutenant yelled whilst Otoma closed his old and tired eyes.
A brief image came to mind, one of a 16 year old girl with short dark red hair running towards him, laughing as she embraced her father with all her worth.
I'm sorry Mana.
And thus the 200 metre long warship, along with its crew of a 1000 brave servicemen, were vaporised in an instant.
And a further 100000 of their comrades, wept at the sorry sacrifice of their brothers and sisters.
12:29 pm, State of Japan, Tokyo-3, what's left of some random hill...
The explosion was almost blinding, as was to be expected of an exploding S2 reactor.
But he couldn't look away, none of them could.
There was no chance any of them survived. Another 1000 people had died because of his cowardice.
Shinji's brain had practically frozen in the face of the carnage unfolding before him. Armoured vehicles flew threw the air, some even striking the occasional unfortunate aircraft.
There was absolutely nothing the Japanese State Army could do to stop the Seraph, nothing whatsoever. An N2 strike could possibly slow the thing down, but it was too far into the city centre. A strike there would kill every last soul in Tokyo-3.
There was no point to resisting.
And yet they still refused to retreat.
The men in blue were dying to save his wretched life again.
Just like Fukuyama...
"Shinji. Retreat." Misato said in a dangerous tone.
"But...all those people..." He was in the middle of saying before his guardian's patience snapped.
"They're expendable, the Eva isn't. Now do as I say soldier."
Shinji simply sat there, somewhat horrified by such a callous disregard of human life, especially from someone he'd seen as a rather kind person.
No words or retort came to mind, only silence.
The other two however, had looks of total revulsion upon their young faces. Retreat, even defeat itself, wasn't in the nature of the Japanese people in 2017 to begin with, but this?
Leaving their own countrymen, and the family members hiding in the shelters below the city to save their own wretched skin, was unacceptable.
I wonder if he thinks like that though? Kensuke's subconscious murmured as he could see the sheer look of anguish on Shinji's face, as he tried to come to a decision.
"Shinji I am ordering you to retreat! Do it!" Misato was on the verge of screaming. But the boy in question couldn't hear her. All he could see were the tanks of the Tokyo-3 garrison resolutely refusing to fall back.
And the faces of the men who'd given their lives to save his own pathetic one all those years ago.
Not again...not again...not again!
His guardian was still yelling at him to do as he was told, but Shinji wasn't in the mood now. His countrymen were being massacred, and he wouldn't let anymore die for his constant and pathetic mistakes.
Not one more. His subconscious found itself growling.
Slowly but surely pushing a button that silenced Misato's ever increasing in volume commands, he sat back in his seat, breathing deeply.
"I'm sorry, I can't just leave them." He murmured to the two boys who looked at him with concern.
Kensuke forced a smile and put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, you do what you have to do."
"We're right behind you." Toji added in a serious manner. Most of the hatred he had for this boy had somewhat melted away now, having seen his anguish and fear in combat. And how he baulked at the mere thought of not even trying to stop the enemy with a snow ball's chance in hell.
If this was to be their end, then he wouldn't let this kid think he was dying alone.
I'm sorry Sakura.
Urging Unit 01 to rise from the ground, Shinji felt the titan's strength coursing through him, its ancient wrath almost intoxicating him.
But he had a job to do.
A quick flashback to an earlier simulation test gave Shinji an idea. The test where he'd been shown the existence of the "progressive knife," an actual blade made of some alloy he didn't understand, which was coated in positronic energy.
A knife which was currently contained in the Eva's back.
Stab it to death with that, sounds good... His subconscious surprisingly snarled.
"Voice command, Shinji Ikari. Deploy prog knife!" He'd imagined that these words would come out as controlled and authoritative, but of course owing to his nature, something that resembled a shriek escaped his lips.
The Eva's back slid open, and now his weapon was to hand.
The pain in his chest and on his hands, the pain which had so distracted him before, properly faded away when he beheld the Seraph grasp another Sky Battleship.
Not one more!
Screaming some sort of battle cry in his shrill voice, he thundered forward, the Earth itself shaking before the Eva's wrath. Had he been in the correct frame of mind, Shinji may have enjoyed the feeling of such power, as he'd possessed hardly any of it for the majority of his life.
But he was somewhat too angry for that.
-----------------------------------------
Shamshel felt the thunder in the ground, and irritated thoughts went through his head.
Can you not wait for your turn Voorr? I was enjoying myself-
Tossing the HIJMS Musashi aside, causing the mighty vessel to impact, and demolish, a large hill, Shamshel swung around to face the Eva, tendrils swishing through the air, hoping to slice off the purple monster's head.
Despite them catching Unit 01 in the face, Shinji simply stormed ahead, slamming his right shoulder into the Seraph's A-T field, and smashing straight through despite some resistance.
The Divine Heir barely had time to react due to shock, before the full force of the Eva's size and weight, coupled with its master's wrath, collided with him, bowling Shamshel off his metaphorical feet.
You...you didn't have strength such as this before!?
In those few seconds, Shinji noticed the red jewel in what could be called his foe's "chest" area. His target had finally been acquired.
The boy firmly planted his left hand into the Seraph's face, keeping it firmly pressed into the ground, before moving to strike with his blade.
But the destroyer of the last free cities would not die so easily.
Swishing upwards, Shamshel's energy tendrils cut a great X shape in the Eva's chest armour, eliciting a howl of pain from his foe, followed by a solid wall of orange lightening throwing Shinji off him, which gave the blood thirsty Heir nothing but ecstasy.
Not that it dampened his rage.
I am Heir Shamshel! Sovereign Netzach's second eldest, and you will not humiliate me brat!
Quickly scrambling back to his feet, the young Pilot's blue gaze fixed on his opponent, whom having risen up to its full height, produced a horrifying alien battle screech.
Shinji however, was undeterred.
Curling both his hands around his knife, Unit 01 thundered forward, with the young defender of humanity gripping his control sticks with stone cold determination upon his face, a few trickles of water issuing forth from his eyes.
For although resolved, he was still very much afraid.
Thrusting one of his energy whips forward into the Eva, Shamshel sneered as it staggered. And then watched in shock as it rose again, somehow even more furious than before.
Why will you not die!?
Despite his howl of agony, with even his "companions" gritting their teeth as they felt like they'd been stung by a bee on the chest, Shinji didn't stop for anything, despite even impacting the Seraph's prepared A-T field.
Much to Shamshel's surprise, despite knowing his opponent was coming, and having time to prepare his wall of light, Unit 01 broke through it like a sword through bone, its knife directed at his heart.
The Seraph attempted to move back, but Shinji was far too quick. And thus his blade sank into the creature of eldritch lore's S2 core.
I-I-Impossible... Shamshel tried to recoil from both shock and pain, as royal blue blood trickled down the metal blade, but Unit 01 clasping its left hand around the Heir's "throat" put an end to that.
I am Shamshel! I...will...not...die!
Another tendril surged forward and struck Unit 01 in the chest, right next to where the other tendril currently resided.
And then Shamshel forced his tendrils outward, despite the toughness of the Eva's hide and armour. Although not being able to immediately rip him open, a huge gash was slowly rent in Shinji's armour, accompanied with the screeching of torn metal, and the sound of sizzling flesh.
Hissing in agony, causing instinct to kick in, Shinji twisted his knife further and further into the red jewel. The tearing sensation in his chest slowly, but eventually desisting in its spread.
Die...die...die...suffer...squeal... Shamshel's strength began to fade faster than that of his enemy, as his efforts to rip the Eva in half stopped.
D-defeat? How is this...possible? How? The S2 core cracked open, blood issuing forth from it like a flood.
You're inferior...you can't win...you're all weak cowards! How did I lose? How am I...dying?
Despite himself raging against the dying of his light, even Shamshel succumbed to the darkness of death.
One thought, whispering in his mind.
R-Ramiel...my beautiful sister...they are stronger than we think...please be safe...my beautiful sister...
Shinji somewhat violently but swiftly withdrew his blade from the Seraph, leaving it upright for a micro second, only to eventually crumple over, the tendrils which had tortured the Eva pilot slipping out of his wound.
Like their wielder, they would never move again.
And thus Heir Shamshel, conqueror of the last Fleilan cities, commander of the red band, finally died.
Accompanied by the thunderous cheers of one hundred thousand men.
- Location
- Huezil
Awesome fight! Seriously you're getting the mojo for writing fights, and i'm giddy for the EXTERMINATUS coming for the Gaghiel the filth seraph Xeno.
About the fight with shamshel the lower half loses a little of the rhythm, but that okay, because shinji is a little clumsy and fearful and don't know whom to fight well, so when he has a little time to think he stutters, the stutter against Shamshel being less than with the fight with Sanchiel, but a lot more than the fight against Ramiel. So this time i will not be to picky, and instead will congratulate you on the fast improvements you're making on writing fights and even the characterisations, because as i reckon, that little snippet of Shinji being saved by a japanese soldier wasn't on the original fight, or was and i'm going crazy...
Anyway! EXTERMINATUS ON THE XENOS, and let nuke Gaghiel out of the SEAS XD
About the fight with shamshel the lower half loses a little of the rhythm, but that okay, because shinji is a little clumsy and fearful and don't know whom to fight well, so when he has a little time to think he stutters, the stutter against Shamshel being less than with the fight with Sanchiel, but a lot more than the fight against Ramiel. So this time i will not be to picky, and instead will congratulate you on the fast improvements you're making on writing fights and even the characterisations, because as i reckon, that little snippet of Shinji being saved by a japanese soldier wasn't on the original fight, or was and i'm going crazy...
Anyway! EXTERMINATUS ON THE XENOS, and let nuke Gaghiel out of the SEAS XD
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
Thank you very much. I shall now finish editing that chapter, and then we can move on.
You can expect some world building, some character development/fleshing out, and a smidgeon of sci-fi babble. Until then!
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
The editing is complete. Work can finally begin on Chapter 6 "Siblings."
- Location
- Huezil
Changing the order of the Seraphs? Or a little "Surprise Mothaf***a?
Chapter 6.1
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
"If you face your enemy without a single advantage, then you will be without victory."
High Field Marshal Alexander Meadow, supreme commander of the Imperial Britannic Army, speaking to General Bartholomew after the rout of Paris.
--------------------------High Field Marshal Alexander Meadow, supreme commander of the Imperial Britannic Army, speaking to General Bartholomew after the rout of Paris.
12:07pm, Monday the 10th of July, Tokyo-3, NERV quarters
The necessity of synch tests was something Shinji didn't call into question these days. They were something he accepted, along with all the early mornings he had to work.
Early mornings? Is this just a job to me now?
Life was proving to be more interesting than he could ever have imagined in that dingy little apartment in Kure. It was alien to have so many things to do, especially after two years of doing nothing but eating, sleeping, reading, a bit of exercise, and playing his cello. Nowadays, he had more strenuous things to attend to. Surprisingly enough, his role of saving the earth being among the least of his problems.
"Shinji-kun!? Do you know where my dress is?" The voice of one of his chief tasks echoed from her room.
"It's in the wash!" He called back.
"In the wash? But that's my favourite one! When will it be dry?"
"It'll be dry when it's dry. You'll have to wear something casual today!" Shinji sighed with mock despair.
I thought she's supposed to be my guardian, not the other way around!
Eventually, Misato did come into the kitchen, where the brown haired boy was sitting down and eating his toast. Said piece of bread nearly fell out of his mouth upon seeing her in nothing more than a T-shirt and underwear. Whilst said tight fitting clothes, or lack thereof, were distracting and embarrassing, it was another matter which absorbed his attention.
"I-I just ironed those yesterday." He stammered.
"Yeah...so?" She tilted her head, taking a quick look at the horrendously creased clothing she had on her.
"How are they so creased already...you left them on the floor didn't you?"
"So..?" She plopped herself down on a kitchen chair, not in a normal manner, but with her...bare...long legs curled beneath her.
Hey, I was busy okay! Protecting humanity from giant monsters is tiring as hell.
"So, is it really that hard, to pick them up, put them on the hanger, then back in the wardrobe? I'm not very good at a lot of things, Misato-san, but I can do that." Blue and brown didn't break contact for a while, before both of them broke into laughter over the silliness of the situation.
"You're complementing yourself about something now?Spirits on high I must have done something really wrong." His guardian leaned back in her seat and folded her arms behind her head.
"It's not a compliment when it's a fact..." Shinji said sardonically.
"Hm. You don't have to go to school today you know?" Misato said, picking up a mug of coffee he'd had left out for her.
The boy pondered that for a while before shrugging.
"Maybe...but I kind of enjoy it these days. Anyway, it's history this afternoon and I promised Aida-san I'd be there for his presentation... " He remembered the optional assignment of doing "a presentation on a great post-impact battle" and his...friend...actually jumping at the opportunity. Much to Toji's horror.
"He knows so much about it, we'll be there for hours." The jock's moan echoed in Shinji's head, causing him to smile a little.
"Friend of yours right?" The purple head further inquired, slotting some bread of her own in the toaster.
"Yes...I suppose..."
Told you. Not so lonely anymore are you? Misato sipped some more of her coffee, dwelling over what presentations were like for her back in college.
Oh Spirits...Rits-chan getting to talk about Science took up the whole lesson...
Whilst the purple head's own toast popped out of the toaster, Shinji had gone into his room and was gathering his school things together with some haste. Controlled haste, but still haste. For there were other reasons he wished to get to school today.
I want to walk Ayanami-san home this afternoon. See if I can do anything about her apartment.
"Hey, did you hear on the news? The bitch herself is coming to Tokyo-3." Misato half laughed half sneered, opening up a can of beer, pulled from a pack she'd only just retrieved from the fridge.
"The General? Why?" He called back.
"To keep an eye on us of course. Motichka-sama always hates not having things under her control, especially the Evas. With her in town she might actually try and get you to work for her, so stay sharp." The thirty year old quickly downed a quarter of the can, her utterance of sama being laced with sarcasm.
"Why would she want me to work for her?"
"An Eva under her command would be quite an addition to Japan's arsenal, and leverage over your father. She'd do anything for either." The purplehead's attention was caught by some warking by her feet, and a beak slightly prodding her thigh.
"Hey, Pen. You want some?" She raised an eyebrow as the Penguin made many a noise of approval. In a casual manner she plucked another can from the pack, and handed it to the genetically enhanced penguin. A wark of gratitude echoed throughout the kitchen, with Shinji only catching the sound of Pen-pen's fridge door sliding shut as he returned from his room.
"You know beer probably isn't any good for him?" He shook his head, slinging his school bag over his shoulder.
"Oh he's fine, he loves it really."
"I'm sure...don't forget to put your cutlery away!" Shinji made his way to the front door.
"Yes Mom!"
Out of her eyesight, the boy had to frantically fight a flinch whilst simultaneously appreciating the humour.
Of course she wouldn't mean it like that.
Putting his hand on the door panel, he stopped for a moment before calling out again.
"I might be home a bit late. I'm going to try and walk Ayanami-san back to her apartment this afternoon."
It was Misato's turn to squirm.
How crazy...you don't know everything about her but you know she's a clone at least. They don't have feelings Shinji, especially not that one. I hope you understand someday...
"Alright, but be back before dark!"
"Okay, see you later!" The sixteen year old pressed the panel, causing the door to slide open, before he walked out of it, the slab of metal sealing shut behind him.
-----------------------------------
2:15pm, Sengokuhara high school
"That was an excellent summary of the battle of Hoyo strait. Very well done, Kirishima-san." Mr Sisata gave a nod at the dark redheaded student, who smiled and bowed politely then returned to her seat.
"Now then..." His speech faltered as he chuckled to himself.
"You have fifteen minutes, Aida-san. Don't go overboard. And yes, your request to do the battle of Hoth was very amusing." This elicited laughter from the class, before the sandy haired geek stood up and made his way to the front, a nervous yet enthusiastic look etched into his freckly features.
"Okay, my presentation is about the 2005 battle of Dogger bank. I've already emailed my stuff to Sensei so..." He gave a sheepish look at the old man, who simply stood aside and allowed the fifteen year old to access his console. After a few moments of accessing files, Kensuke opened up his presentation. There were some groans upon the quick glimpse of how many slides there were, but Toji just smiled, as if he'd expected it.
Clasping his hands together in a manner more awkward than anything Shinji could ever manage, he began with a sparkle of joy in his brown eyes.
"Alright, the battle of Dogger bank was fought between the British North Sea Fleet and the German High Seas fleet on the 29th of December 2005. The Kaiserreich had the most powerful navy in continental Europe at the time, and its High Seas fleet composed the majority of it, sixty warships altogether. Four Aircraft carriers and an assortment of advanced destroyers, corvettes, and frigates." He tapped the board, causing the next slide to show up.
It was an impressive display, one of the High Seas fleet setting sail from Hamburg. Black, white, and red naval ensigns of the German Empire fluttering proudly from every single tree in a forest of ships.
Reminds me of the Naval reviews at Kure. Shinji fondly mused.
"At this time, the Great British Empire was engaged in a war on two fronts, with the Federation in the west, and Europe in the east. Of course the Grand fleet, the bulk of the Imperial navy, was deployed to the Irish sea to fight off the Federals. That only left twenty ships of the North Sea fleet to defend the English channel."
Kensuke tapped the board again. This time, a map of continental western Europe was brought up. From Gibraltar to Norway, the entire coast was covered in Navy blue, with various arrows of the same colour pointing outwards and further into the continent.
"Before the Federation launched their surprise attack, Europe was on the brink of total obliteration. The armies of France had been pushed back to Paris, the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Belgian, Danish, and Norwegian armies had been utterly smashed, and even the Germans were pretty badly beaten at Beauvais. But with the Federal conquest of Ireland and march on Birmingham, Imperial armies were spread thin. So the Germans thought they could break the Empire's supply lines in a decisive engagement."
The next slide came on, showing a map of the Baltic and north sea, a black arrow extending from Hamburg to Portsmouth.
"Plan-S or Sieg as it was called, was the Europeans last throw of the dice. If it was successful, they hoped that Britain would be forced to sue for peace. To accomplish that, the High Seas fleet, under the command of Grand Admiral Degenhard, would sail from Hamburg to clear the English channel and attack Portsmouth, cutting Imperial supplies for the campaign in France. They knew from Satellite imagery that they outnumbered the Imperials three to one. And so they committed to the plan."
Next slide.
One which depicted battle plans in the Imperial language.
"Problem was, the Empire wanted them to come. Emperor Charles and his Marshals had decided to conclude the war with Europe from a position of strength. They needed troops and ships to be freed up for the war against the Federation, but they couldn't look weak. Crushing the High Seas fleet would force Europe to the negotiating table on their knees. And this was what they were going to accomplish that with..."
The next slide Kensuke brought up, was of a ship that would have seemed totally antiquated to most navies in 1999 AD, but was now one of the mainstays of a modern navy.
The battlecruiser.
"This is HMS Hood, an Indefatigable class battlecruiser, the flagship of the Imperial navy's first battlecruiser squadron, and the first ship of its kind. Its design is actually a modernised version of the old Royal Navy Admiral class. Only one of them was ever put into service by the United Kingdom, and that one was lost in 1941, with the ship you see here being named after it. In late 2005 however, the Empire had five of these, whereas now there are about thirty. The advent of the A-T field being used for purposes of shielding brought about the Second age of the battleship, in which these were the vanguard. So, as you can imagine, the Germans got quite a surprise."
The next slide showed the darkness of an early European December morning being illuminated by the blasts of ship mounted rail guns and the launching of cruise missiles.
"This picture was taken onboard the HMS Anson, another battlecruiser, right when the Imperials opened fire. They'd moved to intercept the Germans around half an hour beforehand. The picture's pretty dark, but the High Seas fleet was within visual range. They'd already used up their payload of missiles on doing absolutely nothing to the Empire's shielding. That was when they found out just how heavily armed and fast the Imperial ships were."
Kensuke paused for a moment with a thoughtful expression.
"We all know what it's like when the enemy thinks they have the advantage, and then they find out just how dead wrong they are..." Vicious chuckles echoed across the room, Shinji among them.
Damned Tokuajin.
"Aida-san. Stay on topic." Mr Sisata had raised an eyebrow causing the geek to go rigid with embarrassment.
"Sorry, sensei! Anyway, Admiral Colran, the commander of the North Sea fleet, ordered his battlecruiser squadron to just steam straight into the German formation...the High Seas Fleet got cut to pieces. The order to retreat was given...and then Colran's capability became obvious to all."
Next slide.
The black arrow showing the movement of the High Seas fleet, being met by a Navy blue arrow in the north sea was shown to have been turned back, only to be intercepted by another blue arrow that had split off from the main force and circled around.
They were almost cut off.
"By the way, that arrow looks small, but that's the majority of the North Sea fleet. A bunch of Destroyers, Corvettes, and Submarines broke off from the battlecruisers before they engaged, and flanked around. The German Vice Admiral, nowadays Grand Admiral Scheer saw the danger, and ordered his aircraft to launch, so as to buy the fleet some time to escape. The Imperials lost two Corvettes from that." Kensuke paused, licking his lips as he'd talked himself dry.
"Scheer got his ships out, Degenhard decided to fight to the end. Out of the sixty vessels of the High Seas fleet, only eleven escaped. One of them being Scheer's flagship, the aircraft carrier SMS Koniggratzer."
The following slide showed an image of many well dressed middle aged men and women, dignitaries of all the remaining free states of Europe, humbly bowing before a fifteen year old boy with blonde hair, sapphire eyes, white cape, and navy blue military uniform.
"The Empire's victory at Dogger bank utterly shattered whatever resolve the Europeans had left. And with the Russians massing on their borders, they had to come to the negotiating table, which resulted in the treaty of Paris on the 10th of January 2006. The entire western coast of Europe was ceded to Britain, who could then turn their full might on the Federation armies in the Imperial home islands, crushing them, which would eventually lead to the invasion and conquest of the American east coast. I believe the battle of Dogger bank was instrumental in the shaping of the west as it is today, and if the Empire continues to expand, we may feel its influence too." Kensuke blushed when he received a resounding applause from his class mates, having finally finished.
For most in that class knew just how much he was was interested by naval warfare and anything military related. If he didn't go on for too long, it was actually something of a joy and a privilege to listen, as he had a bottomless well of knowledge to let loose upon the Earth.
"Spirits he had to condense that." Toji whispered quietly to Shinji. The mousey haired sixteen year old raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"Very well done, Aida-san. I see you're actually listening to me when it comes to downsizing your presentations." Sisata smiled and nodded, Kensuke making a polite bow in response then returnin to his seat.
"Nice one." Toji patted him on the shoulder, with Shinji adding "well done", as he didn't know what else to say.
-------------------------
3:00pm
After the presentation on the siege of Quebec was finished, the day was over. Whilst the thought of what the Federals had done at the former Canadian city made Shinji's stomach squirm, he was still in something that resembled a good mood.
He honestly enjoyed the company of his...friends.
Now there was a bizarre thought to him. For the young man had never had such a thing as friends before. And for the longest time he didn't think he'd ever be getting any. As was to be expected of someone as dislikeable as him.
Even if I don't deserve that kind of thing...I'm happy to have it.
"So...how big is the Imperial fleet these days?" Toji's question took Shinji out of his moment of self reflection. Said question being directed at Kensuke.
"The Imperial Navy or the Air Fleet?" The bespectacled boy tilted his head.
"Both."
Kensuke scratched the back of his head, whilst he and everyone else in the class started packing up their things.
"The Air Fleet is fifty-five ships strong, fifty of them being Renown class and the other five being Dauntlesses. As for the navy, there's fifteen battleships, most of them being Vanguard class, although I think they launched a new one recently...the Empress Abigail class or something..."
Shinji blocked that out, as was his specialty, whilst Toji listened on, a tired smile further growing on his face.
"Kensuke-san." He said as they walked through the corridor after the nerd had talked for five minutes straight.
"Hmm huh?" Kensuke stopped mid explanation on the top speed of a Type 45.
"You're going on again, buddy. Time to change topic." The jock patted the shorter geek on the back with surprising gentleness.
"Hey, Ikari-san, if he ever bores you just tell him, he won't know otherwise." Toji advised his new friend.
"Um, thanks. I'll keep that in mind..." A sudden flash of short blue hair going past him caught Shinji's eyes.
"I-I've got to go...things to do..." He nervously started edging away, Toji titling his head, and Kensuke raising a sandy eyebrow.
"Things to do with Ayanami-san I presume? Well as long as you take protection everything will be fine." The two students had to stifle their sniggers when their classmate's face turned redder than the eyes of an enraged Seraph.
"It's...it's...not like that...gah!" Forcing himself away, he hurried on after the quiet albino, his insides convulsing in disgust.
It's classified information, need to know only. I just wish I could tell them to make them shut up.
Yet a little part of him wasn't overly fussed by this. In fact, their teasing was actually funny upon later thought. It would have to be later though, as the back of a blue haired girl came into view by the school entrance.
"Hey...uh...Ayanami-san!" He called out.
Rei stopped in her tracks and turned around. Her expression remained blank, but Shinji understood he had her undivided attention right then and there. And this was a privilege only a few other people on Earth had.
"Ikari, your expression is very red."
He found himself smiling at that.
"Yes, I suppose I am. How are you holding up?"
"I am not holding anything..."
The brown haired boy quickly and quietly stifled his laugh before straightening up with a humoured yet apologetic expression.
"Sorry, how are you holding up is sort of another way of saying how are you?"
She looked semi-thoughtful for a moment, dwelling on what to say.
I know not how to describe myself. But what negative thing am I not currently?
"I am not unwell."
Shinji sighed and nodded, not quite the answer he was looking for, but satisfactory. Far better than just being ignored.
"Ayanami-san...I was wondering...if...if..."
Just say it you idiot.
"Would you like me to walk you home? Also your house is a little messy so I wondered if I could help you tidy it up a little..." He trailed off, blushing ferociously.
Rei stood there, like a computer carrying out calculations. And then, upon finishing said calculations, she nodded slightly.
"I take no issue with it. You may come home with me."
Rei didn't understand why Shinji's blush somehow increased, why it looked like his veins would burst or that he would pass out. For the ethereal girl couldn't quite grasp what she said might be interpreted in...a less than innocent manner.
Tilting her head slightly, the albino looked past him, fixing her attention on something else.
"It seems the Suzuhara and Aida desire your attention."
Following her gaze, the meek young man made eye contact with the two, who had been walking up behind him.
"Sorry to disturb you, but do you mind if we borrow your boyfriend for a bit, Ayanami-san?" Kensuke grinned cheekily and Toji sighed.
Even she seemed semi-surprised by the statement, looking back and forth between the two boys and Shinji. All whilst the brown haired boy in question made varying noises of total discomfort.
"You appear to be mistaken. I harbour no attraction of that kind for my colleague. However, you may indeed borrow him."
Sighing, her progenitor's child straightened himself up before turning back to her.
"I-I won't be long."
"I shall wait." And that was exactly what the albino did, as this boy so strange to her, was proverbially hauled off.
---------------------------------
"What's all this about?" Shinji said irritably, the three of them making their way to a more private part of the school, where at this time of day its various buildings blocked out the sun.
"I was just having a talk with Kensuke-san...and I felt this needs to happen." Toji said quietly.
When they reached the shade, the black haired boy inhaled deeply, composing himself.
"Hit me."
The demand hung in the air for a while.
"What?" Shinji said, aghast.
"You heard me! I beat the snot out of you, so it's only fair!"
He frantically looked at Kensuke for help, only getting a shrug of the shoulders.
"Look, we can't be friends until you hit me. Then all this nasty shit gets put in the past." Toji pressed.
"But...but...uh..gah, fine!" Reluctantly, but inevitably, as if relenting to other people's demands again, he moved a bit closer to the taller boy, his fist balling and his arm winding back.
"No holding back." The jock narrowed his eyes.
For a moment he hesitated, his hand trembling slightly. The thought of inflicting physical violence on anything had always been abhorrent to him, so much so he even felt some guilt over the various Seraphim whose lives he had taken. Not that he would happily let them end everything, but he just wasn't a confrontational, nor vindictive person. But once again, duty called. His fist arced around and smacked into Toji's jaw.
What happened next, surprised Shinji.
Toji Suzuhara, a boy much taller and muscular than him, spun round from the impact, collapsing, a few droplets of blood pattering on the floor.
"Oh Spirits I'm so sorry!" He shrieked in horror as he knelt down to his friend's level, Kensuke following behind him. Toji looked a little dazed, but not at all angry. In fact, he looked relieved, as if many weeks worth of guilt had just dropped off his shoulders.
"You alright, Toji-san?" The geek put a hand on his best friend's shoulder with a look of absolute concern.
Toji sat up, wiping the blood away from his mouth with his sleeve.
"Spirits, Shinji-san, you hit like a fucking train. Remind me to never piss you off." He chuckled, Kensuke eventually joining him in what could be seen as relief.
The young man in question shook his head.
"You people are lunatics."
Eh, looks like I'm in good company then...
--------------------------------
3:30pm, NERV quarters, eastern sector.
Rei did not hold the door open for him, as was to be expected. It was with no annoyance that Shinji caught said door with his hands when it nearly closed in his face. The apartment was still the same as it was the last time he'd visited. On the day they'd faced the 6th Seraph and scarcely walked away with their lives. Occasionally, he would wake up in a cold sweat, having dreamed of pulling the hatch off the plug, only finding Rei's burned and mangled carcass, what remained of her face contorted in a silent scream of agony. He didn't know whether or not it was worse than his other nightmares. It was just that it was a new one which gave him trouble. He'd adapt to it however, it would become normalized like the rest.
Having walked through the filthy kitchen, he found Rei sitting on her bed, hunched over and looking at the floor.
"Um...are you...what are you doing?" He'd had to correct the are you alright question he'd created in his grey matter, as it was clear the albino didn't understand that sort of thing. It was a very strange thing for Shinji to find someone even more socially inept than him. It put him in the position of mentor when it came to such things as societal norms now, a position he wasn't at all comfortable with.
"I am sitting on my bed." She whispered.
"I...I can see that, Ayanami-san. But why?" He said, taking stock of the pit that was Rei Ayanami's humble abode.
Spirits I've got my work cut out for me.
"There is little else to do. Dinner is not until 5:00, and it will not be dark until sometime after that. And so I wait, until there is something worth doing."
Within Shinji, anger bubbled and boiled again, only just being able to contain it.
This had to be his father's work. He'd kept her isolated and alone for all these years in this filthy hovel, in what the young man could only think was an attempt to make her a mindless slave. Why? He didn't know. But this was something he could easily see Gendo Ikari doing.
That's probably just me being angry with him. Father isn't a pleasant man but he's not...evil...that's just ridiculous...
"Alright. Can I put your clothes away...they are kind of everywhere." He put on a small smile, another part of his brain dwelling upon finding something for her to do.
She nodded politely, but remained where she was.
Many things were scattered across that filthy floor. Shirts, skirts, ties...underwear. The wimpy boy found himself fighting back an almost unstoppable blush.
"These are filthy." He noted with slight alarm, turning back to Rei who stared back. She raised no objections.
"Where's your washing machine?"
"In the kitchen. Next to the sink."
Bundling a whole pile of clothes together, dark blue school uniform and white underwear, the mousey haired boy made his way to the kitchen, having to occasionally stop to pick up the odd sock which had fallen off.
"What are you doing?" Rei's words caused him to stop for a moment, before he directed his gaze in her direction.
"I'm putting these in the washing machine."
"But it is not the allocated day."
"What do you mean by allocated?" Shinji titled his head.
"In the regime the Commander has set out for me, Friday's are the allocated wash days."
No, screaming about how she doesn't have to do everything he tells her isn't going to help...try something else...
"Okay, I suppose that makes a little sense. But if you do it a few times a week, your workloads are smaller and you have more clothes to use overall. It's a bit more efficient." He offered.
She mulled over it for a few moments, a small frown developing on her face which made his heart melt.
"Your logic is...sound..." She sounded distant, as if this thought had never occurred to her.
"I'll just put these in, give me a moment." He said gently, then proceeded into the kitchen. Finding the appropriate cleaning detergent and fabric softener, he turned the machine on for a good thirty minute wash, with its contents sloshing and tumbling merrily.
That being finished, Shinji began his thorough inspection of the kitchen.
Grime.
Dirty dishes.
Filthy floors.
Broken cutlery.
All the things teacher would have given him a bleeding nose for.
Opening the sink cupboard door again, he managed to find some anti-bacterial spray which seemed like it had seen Second Impact, and a mangy old dishcloth.
If that's what I've got, then that's what I'll work with.
Spraying and scrubbing a good deal of the mantle-piece, he managed to get some sort of shine on the taps and such. But there were growths there he'd probably need the cleaning equivalent of heavy fire power to get rid of.
Before he could return to Rei however, Shinji felt compelled to clean away all the broken crockery and glass scattered around.
His sister appeared to be so emotionally and socially stunted, she had no clue these things could do her harm.
I hope she's never cut herself.
His work complete after half an hour, the young man made his way back into the bedroom, fiddling with the collar of his school uniform as a drop of sweat trickled down the back of his neck due to the heat in this stuffy apartment. Clearly it was so dilapidated, it didn't even have air conditioning. Whether or not that affected Rei, who remained silently sitting on her bed not appearing to have a care in the world, was another matter.
"It's quite a mess in there. I'll bring some stronger cleaning stuff tomorrow...is that okay?" He inquired.
"I take no issue with it."
"Alright. I'm going to check your bathroom now." He gestured at the room in question, getting no response except that red stare. Assuming, and rightfully so, this meant "go ahead," he made his way towards it. Fortunately it wasn't any worse than the kitchen. Unfortunately it was about as bad.
More broken glass, blood in the sink and on the filthy towels, grime in the shower and cracked tiles on the floor. It looked worse than some of the pre-Impact ruins he'd set eyes upon.
How...can he let her live like this!? Shinji's hand balled into a fist, one which actually shook for a while. Eventually calming himself down, he opened the bathroom cabinet to check what was in there.
Medication, bottles and syringes upon endless bottles and syringes resided before him. Now at that moment in his life, he would merely raise an eyebrow of confusion and slight unease at such a sight, for the young man knew little to nothing about medical science.
Especially when the labels were bizarrely enough in English.
But let it never be said he was stupid. For although he felt he didn't know much to begin with, he was sure this amount of medication for one person was unusual.
"You've got a lot of meds in here, Ayanami-san...why?" He called out.
"They are prescribed to me by the Commander. They are very important." Rei found herself, with no one else seeing, furrowing her sky blue eye brows when the word why filtered through her head.
It is not my place to question.
After another half an hour of jostling around with various medication, managing to get them into a more ordered formation, doing his best to clear away the stains, Shinji came back out of the bathroom, looking concerned.
"Are you sure you really need that much? I mean...it can't be that serious, whatever you have?"
"It is the Commander's will."
"Why do you feel like that...that you always have to obey him?" He gently sat on the bed as well, keeping a cautious distance but not too great a one.
"He gave me life. I must obey without question. He is my progenitor." Her head tilted, the desire to disobey was unthinkable.
"Technically he was mine as well. You don't see me and him getting along so well though do you?" Shinji said sadly.
An awkward silence descended upon the two for a while, with Rei turning away, her expression darkening.
"Sorry." He quickly muttered in an attempt to salvage something from the situation.
"That is unnecessary. Although I disagree with you, I do not think less of you for it." Her words were true to her heart, but the albino's expression remained dark.
Perhaps that's enough for today...I've probably overstayed my welcome.
Standing up, Shinji sighed, nodding slightly.
"I'll leave you be. See you tomorrow then." He smiled, in both a sad yet genuine manner, and began to collect his things.
But something made him hesitate, before he would walk back through the kitchen and to the rusted door. Somehow...he felt her gaze pierce him, follow him. Turning back to face her, cerulean meeting ruby, Shinji found her eyes was fixed on him. Not murderous, or upset, like whenever anyone else directly focused on him to the exclusion of all else, but something else...something different.
Something he himself felt all too often.
Apprehension.
She...doesn't want me to go?
"Do you want me to stay for dinner?" He found himself smiling in a sweet way, as only someone of his soft nature could manage.
Rei looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, her quiet words, and the lighting up of her features, in so far as she could, proved to be something of a surprise for him.
"Yes, Ikari...I would like that."
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Turing Decidable
𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕗
- Location
- Belgium
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Heh. Rei will make a proper big brother out of him yet. 
- Location
- SDAT Mixtape
Kensuke does love his military history -- and as always, it has been a joy to read. These 'little' snippets of lore building really make it all seem much more alive! More than that, it's awesome seeing Shinji with a grounded, realistic elf-esteem and ego, despite the story going deep into alt-history and sci-fi fantasy.
I also re-read your reformulated fight scenes and I have to agree with @Malevolo in that, now, there's that sense of dread and adrenaline that makes you hyped about what you're reading. The original Shamshel fight was alright (my biggest gripes had always been with the Sachiel one) despite its flaws, but now it is top notch.
So... keep it up!
I also re-read your reformulated fight scenes and I have to agree with @Malevolo in that, now, there's that sense of dread and adrenaline that makes you hyped about what you're reading. The original Shamshel fight was alright (my biggest gripes had always been with the Sachiel one) despite its flaws, but now it is top notch.
So... keep it up!
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
Kensuke does love his military history -- and as always, it has been a joy to read. These 'little' snippets of lore building really make it all seem much more alive! More than that, it's awesome seeing Shinji with a grounded, realistic elf-esteem and ego, despite the story going deep into alt-history and sci-fi fantasy.
I also re-read your reformulated fight scenes and I have to agree with @Malevolo in that, now, there's that sense of dread and adrenaline that makes you hyped about what you're reading. The original Shamshel fight was alright (my biggest gripes had always been with the Sachiel one) despite its flaws, but now it is top notch.
So... keep it up!
Oh shit chaps I'm blushing!
Well it's good to know my Shinji isn't seen as a total weakling, but I'm hoping he's still very much...himself and not a completely different person who parades around with his name.
- Location
- SDAT Mixtape
I have to add that I find your approach a good pinch of 'salt' to complement the 'pepper' other authors take on Shinji. I find him very genuine and, despite the concessions due to the setting, very canon-like. So yeah, rest assured and just keep on it!
- Location
- Huezil
I also re-read your reformulated fight scenes and I have to agree with @Malevolo in that, now, there's that sense of dread and adrenaline that makes you hyped about what you're reading. The original Shamshel fight was alright (my biggest gripes had always been with the Sachiel one) despite its flaws, but now it is top notch.
So... keep it up!
1 - I might say the awesome thing here is the awesome job that Lord Sovereign does with the corrections and review's we do on his chapters, because i only point things and leave all the hard job of figuring whom to solve the problem i pointed to him.
2 - The way he inserts the history and does the world building is awesome, because it's not a simple monologue about whom the world came to be, but is more like a good teacher doing a lesson about whom the world came to be.
3 - Shinji with Rei was interesting, and the more i look at it, the more i see the relation between Shinji and Rei as brothers, and the way you handled it, made me remember of the awkwardness i have with my older brother (our song is Strangelove from Depeche Mode, because it's love, but is stupidly strange.
4 - And again, thanks o god emperor, and feed us more purge and purge, because purging xenos on Stellaris is awesome, and purging Seraphs is even more so.
Teh world building 1
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
Right, to further add to the world building, here is what an "Indefatigable" class Battlecruiser looks like. Just replace the main turrets with bloody big rail guns, and modernise the design.
"The fast and mobile backbone of the Imperial Britannic Navy, the Indefatigable class Battlecruiser brings in the best of both worlds for naval warfare. Immensely faster than any ship of its size and possessing far greater fire power than anything smaller than it, as is standard for a Battlecruiser, these vessels routinely patrol the Empire's seas and trade routes, showing its might, grace, and grandeur to any coastline settlement. Despite being the first wave of the second age of the battleship, not many vessels of their size or below are on par with them, save perhaps the Federal "Roosevelt" class Heavy cruiser, or the Japanese "Nagasaki" class Battleship." Warships of the world, 2016
Primary armament: 4 ship mounted rail guns, and 25 "Sebastian" class Cruise missiles.
Secondary armament: Twelve 6 inch guns, and 20 anti air batteries.
Top speed: 35 knots.
Crew: 1300 souls
Number in service: 30 (although projected construction rates of the Imperial Naval shipyards in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Southampton, show another 10 to be completed and in service by 2020)
"The fast and mobile backbone of the Imperial Britannic Navy, the Indefatigable class Battlecruiser brings in the best of both worlds for naval warfare. Immensely faster than any ship of its size and possessing far greater fire power than anything smaller than it, as is standard for a Battlecruiser, these vessels routinely patrol the Empire's seas and trade routes, showing its might, grace, and grandeur to any coastline settlement. Despite being the first wave of the second age of the battleship, not many vessels of their size or below are on par with them, save perhaps the Federal "Roosevelt" class Heavy cruiser, or the Japanese "Nagasaki" class Battleship." Warships of the world, 2016
Primary armament: 4 ship mounted rail guns, and 25 "Sebastian" class Cruise missiles.
Secondary armament: Twelve 6 inch guns, and 20 anti air batteries.
Top speed: 35 knots.
Crew: 1300 souls
Number in service: 30 (although projected construction rates of the Imperial Naval shipyards in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Southampton, show another 10 to be completed and in service by 2020)
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- Location
- Huezil
Now i'm thinking with they go deep on the water or they use the AT-Fields to surf the waves and use the body of water to absorb the recoil from the blast received from the enemy ships. Another thing i'm thinking is if them are less tall and more wide, like viking longboat's, they could travel even more fast with less resistance of the water body.
And yes, i like sailing ships to. you made me remember of commander ops of ps2 and my nuclear powered battlesships with 60 inchs cannons XD
Chapter 6.2
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
1:05pm, Tuesday the 11th of July, Sengokuhara high school, cantine
Shinji hated his legs. They always did things he didn't want them to do, like run headlong into danger, or drag him kicking and screaming over to the albino that had reawakened long buried affection within him.
For Spirits' sake, she sits by herself because she enjoys the quiet, I'd just be annoying...but that doesn't sound anything like what she said at dinner yesterday. His subconscious unhelpfully countered.
Shut up. Shinji grumbled. Before him, eating a home made sandwich, was Rei, seemingly oblivious to the world at first glance.
Thank goodness she made that with clean cutlery he found himself fighting a shudder at the thought of filthy, sometimes bloody cutlery he'd seen the previous evening. Then, her head swivelled to face him, the boy knowing she could probably sense him coming.
"Ikari. Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh...yes...um..." His brain locked for a few moments, as it now decided to engage panic mode and shatter into millions of pieces because he needed to say something. But she sat there, unmoving, yet certainly not uncaring. For the blue haired girl was a patient individual, not knowing of the human feelings called anger or hatred.
"Do...do you mind if I sit with you?" He murmured. Granted, he felt more at ease than the previous evening when he'd actually enjoyed dinner with the ethereal girl, but now in public, face to face again, his confidence crumbled. He'd have to build it back up from step one.
"I take no issue with it, Ikari." Surprisingly, Rei slid over to make room for the boy who'd cooked her dinner last night. As Westerners put it, he treated her "like a Princess."
Gingerly sitting down on the table which they now shared, Shinji put himself at a close yet respectful distance. The pair were easily in arms reach of each other.
"So...are you enjoying that?" He referred to her lunch.
"It is adequate for sustenance." She took another bite out of her peanut spread sandwich.
Well at least she's put in a filling now...
It had taken great effort to convince her to put something more than "butter" in a sandwich. Even then they were limited, as he'd discovered she was vegetarian. Something to do with "the bond I have with every living creature."
Starting on his own lunch, a ham sandwich, he gave a quick thought to why he'd never become vegetarian, considering his aversion to violence and blood. On the other hand with being an Impact baby, someone born very close to Second Impact, it was expected. You didn't complain about where your food came from, as long as it went in your mouth. Clearly, she'd never known that...and perhaps as a clone, didn't need as much sustenance as ordinary humans did.
They ate in silence for a while before a sly chuckle caught Shinji's attention. Turning his head, he saw Kensuke make a beeline towards the table with a cheeky grin. At least until Toji grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hauled him off to elsewhere, gaining a tired smile of gratitude from the mousey haired introvert.
Turning back to his meal, he realised Rei had long since finished her own lunch, and was sipping on a carton of milk. This was not something he often beheld, as the ethereal girl seemed to be someone who did things as efficiently as possible.
She was taking her time.
She...she can't be enjoying my company...can she?
Whilst Shinji's brain crumpled upon impacting this solid wall of impossibility to him, she quietly dwelt on the occurrences of the previous evening, of how this strange human had come into her place of residence, made it a great deal tidier, and even cooked her dinner.
He'd brought something into that lonely hovel. Something we'd know as warmth.
-----------------------------
5:00pm, Monday the 10th of July, NERV quarters, eastern sector.
It wasn't to his standard of quality, he mused, but it was adequate. Not whatever filthy ready made food Rei had put down her gullet countless times. He'd managed to throw something together in about fifteen minutes, with his strange colleague watching him in a manner that could be deemed as curious.
Has she never seen anyone cook before? Father...why have you kept her so alone?
Spiced rice had been the best he could come up with, considering the shockingly low amount of provisions in Rei's cupboards. She might as well have been eating cardboard, which may have been a bette alternative to the various pastes and ready made stuff she had. Some of it being mouldy.
As there was no dinner table, the two teens ate on the bed. Swallowing his freshly chewed rice, Shinji felt a question form in his mind. One he'd wanted to ask for a while, but only now felt comfortable enough to ask.
"How old are you, Ayanami-san?"
She finished chewing her mouthful of rice, then looked at him with her blank expression.
"I-I-I know you're a clone and all, so you're probably younger than me. I was just wondering...by how much?" He stammered, staring into his shoes.
What the hell!? I have no right to ask that!
Rei remained quiet for a while, pondering things in her usually silent head. She hadn't had to think this much before he'd come into her life.
"I have little memory of my birth. I recall the tank of LCL in which I was grown being emptied and the Commander standing before me, but no more. NERV logs put the date as that of-" Her blue eyebrows knitted together, making her surprisingly cute.
"-6th of June 2012."
True silence descended upon the room for a while.
"Put on another eleven years and that's my birthday..." Shinji's thoughts began to seriously dwell on the matter.
Why that date?
Of all the dates in the year, why did Gendo Ikari choose to create her on his birthday. His eleventh birthday. The seventh one in a row without family, cake, or balloons. Yet another reason why memories of the first four years of his life were so painful yet so precious.
Can't be a coincidence...Father made her to replace me. He replaced me...he replaced me!
Unconsciously, his fist balled.
"I was not aware of this." Rei said, herself a little surprised. Feeling something akin to unease from the girl, as even he wasn't that socially inept, Shinji recognized his hand was doing something that could be seen as "threatening." Forcing it to uncurl, he fought back his anger and put on a smile.
"Oh it's alright. No problem at all. But yes, 6th of June 2001, that's when I popped into existence. I don't remember anything about my birth."
"That is probably for the best...the idea of remembering a natural birth sounds somewhat unpleasant. I hear it is a...traumatic experience for both parties involved." Rei turned her gaze back to the bowl on her lap, her pretty expression tightening in a microscopic manner.
"Yes...it doesn't sound nice." He agreed.
Not saying anything more for a while the two continued their average quality meal, chewing and swallowing the last remnants of it after five minutes. Upon finishing, she fiddled with her bowl for a bit, not taking her eyes off it, struggling to find the words she required.
"...Does it not bother you...what I am?"
"You mean...a clone?" Shinji said, his expression confused.
She nodded.
"No, of course not. Have I made you think that?"
"You have not, I assumed..." She trailed off for a few moments, then continued.
"Many would...look down on me for how I was born. I am unnatural after all." And now, in that quiet whisp of a voice, something new could be heard. It existed in only a microscopic amount, and it was something Rei herself didn't understand, but it was there.
Bitterness.
For the albino could hear other peoples thoughts. Owing to the unique properties of her creation, she had some degree of psychic power. Granted, she could focus on only one set of thoughts at a time, and that took no small of effort. Along with the fact she could only brush at the inner goings on of the human mind and never access things such as memory. She could see the ripples in the water, not what lay beneath.
It was power nonetheless. One which at times, Rei wished she didn't have. It made her think unpleasant things she couldn't hope to understand. Things that interfered with focusing on her true purpose.
All thought ill of her.
The Commander had made plain her place from the day she first drew breath, most of the staff in the know tended to think of her as "it" or "the clone," and the ordinary members of NERV tended to keep their distance from "the Commander's pet." Or on bad days, "the Commander's doll."
She wasn't human, she'd never been, nor would she ever be. She was merely the replicated flesh of a dead woman, made to serve the Commander's scenario. That was what she was. That was a fact, and there was no denying it.
So why do I feel anything when they call me that? My purpose is to serve, not think or feel.
"Well that's just silly. You couldn't have chosen how you were made. You aren't any less of a person for it." Shinji said flippantly, as if this should be obvious.
But for the unearthly child, it was not.
Rei froze. Blinking her red eyes in surprise, she stared at him, until a small smile cropped up on her lips. Not to the extent of the night when they'd defeated the 6th Seraph, but still visible.
Every time she'd looked into his thoughts, the words "creature", "pet", "abomination", "thing", and the like, had not once popped up. Always, he thought of her as a...person.
"I...appreciate your words, Ikari. Such things have never been said to me before..." She shifted in an uncomfortable but not at all unwelcome manner. As if the words were difficult to say, and the feeling was unknown, but she was happy to say them.
Realising he'd made something of a breakthrough, Shinji gulped, then tried to raise her spirits.
"Well...surely not everyone's been horrible to you for that? What about Akagi-san? She...seems to care about you a little at least?"
Rei's eyes didn't leave her bowl.
"The Sub-Commander has always been...difficult. But until you came here she was the only person who ever showed me kindness as you would say." She agreed.
The clone had never seriously though of such things until Ikari had arrived, and now she found herself reflecting on her connection with the faux blonde Japanese woman.
She does not think as highly of me as Ikari does...but there is no lack of care. She simply knows not what to think of me.
"It is a rather alien concept to me." The blue head said truthfully, her shoulders slumping a little. Like all sentient beings, Rei did yearn for connection and compassion with other human beings. Not that she was aware of such desires meaning.
Slowly, with little input from his brain, his heart deciding to act of its own accord, Shinji stretched his hand out, retreating yet continuing, and placed itself on her shoulder. The blue haired girl made no effort to remove it.
------------------------------
Back in the present...
The sun shone through the corridor windows, its brightness illuminating the happy faces hurrying through. Shinji and Rei however, were not smiling, nor running.
They simply walked.
The sensation of awkwardness between the two was something Shinji felt could never be thrown off. But that feeling certainly wasn't unfriendly by any measure.
There was...something I wanted to ask her about...ah of course!
The previous evening, upon returning to Misato's apartment, he'd learned General Motichka was arriving in Tokyo-3 today. Therefore in her honour, the Garrison was putting on a huge parade with thousands of blue coated soldiers due to march through the streets of the capital. Shinji had already decided he wanted to go. Some of his fondest memories were the Marines of the Japanese State Navy marching around in formation whenever there was a big naval review at Kure. He'd already talked to Kensuke and Toji, having a feeling they'd go, and wasn't disappointed.
However, he didn't want to leave Rei out. It was an opportunity to include her, and he got the sad impression this had never been done for her before. He felt...as if it were a purpose of his to take care of her. One which he would gladly comply with.
"Um, Ayanami-san? Can I ask you something?"
Her pace did not abate, but a pair of red eyes did train their gaze on him.
"Have you heard about the parade in the city centre today?" Shinji let his arms swing freely, his bag safely fastened over his shoulder.
"Yes. General Chiso Motichka's arrival is to be met with the due process. Your point?" Rei sounded unbothered.
"Well...you see I was talking with some of my other friends-" a part of him still couldn't comprehend this "-and we all agreed that we'd go and watch it after school so I was wondering if you...if you..." His fist balled, annoyed at how he'd rushed his words.
Sighing, he regained control and continued.
"Do you want to tag along?"
Her gaze didn't leave him for a second, her own hands clutching the strap of her school bag.
I take no interest in this patriotism you and your classmates feel so strongly. But...your presence is...warm, Ikari.
"I have no pre-existing appointments." Her reply made his spirits soar. In Rei speak, that was a "yes."
"Alright, straight after school." He pushed the class door open and held it for her, as he was something of a gentleman when he wanted to be.
"Understood." Rei nodded, oblivious to this act of chivalry.
-----------------------------------
One hour and fifty five minutes later...
Some students, himself and his colleague included, remained at the back of the class, not wanting to be caught up in the mad initial rush for the exit. They collected their things with precision, and when the room was empty, neatly made their way out of the door.
The route was simple, take the metro to city centre, specifically Chrysanthemum station, roughly in the vicinity of the Imperial palace, then take a ten minute walk to the main high street. Owing to Japanese efficiency, the journey wouldn't take longer than twenty minutes.
Shinji wasn't as comfortable as he'd like, as whilst, as westerners would term it "his crew" were with him, there was also the terrifying class rep following up the rear, the brown haired and brown eyed boy he didn't know who sat at the back of the classroom, and that girl with short red hair who appeared to be giving him death stares.
"So, Shinji-san, have you ever been to army parades?" Toji boisterously enquired.
"Um, not army ones. I've seen a few naval reviews though. It's to be expected when you grow up in Kure." The meek boy answered.
"Wow, seeing all those ships must be pretty impressive..." Kensuke added dreamily.
"...Should I have brought you some tissues?" Toji raised a black eyebrow.
"No need, Suzuhara-san. He does have socks after all." A slight chuckle could be heard from Hikari, accompanied by the symphony of Kensuke's exclamations getting louder and louder, somehow drowning out the Jock's laughter.
Rei cast a glance at the sight but kept walking, whilst Shinji managed to crack a smile.
"Vulgar...utterly vulgar..." He found himself laughing a little. Unfortunately, he failed to notice a pair of crystal blue eyes narrow in hatred.
Without warning he was violently shoved aside, hitting the ground hard. The dark redheaded girl stormed ahead, her expression fixed into one of distress driven by anger.
Toji and Kensuke looked at the in times gone past chirpy girl with a degree of shock, Hikari looked incensed, the other boy didn't seem fussed and kept on walking, whilst Rei had immediately gone down on knee to check if there was any real harm done, with a look of...concern.
"What the hell!? Explain yourself, Kirishima-san!" Hikari barked.
No response, as "Kirishima" outpaced them and kept going, blinking away unseen tears.
"Fine, you're getting reported!" The class rep snarled, then turned to check on Shinji, her expression softening.
I know it still hurts, Mana-san, and I'm sorry. But I won't tolerate behaviour like this.
"Are you alright down there?" Her tone became lighter than the boy in question had ever heard before, whilst Toji's heart skipped a beat, as if he'd heard a choir of angels.
"Uhhh..." Came Shinji's predictable, yet entirely understandable answer.
"Well at least you're still conscious." Hikari muttered to herself, as she and the remaining students helped him to his feet.
Rei fished around in her uniform's pockets for a bit, producing a tissue, and, with no small amount of tenderness, started to wipe the bloody away from her comrade's nose.
"Student Kirishima takes issue with Ikari. Why?" A sudden, hard edge to Rei's voice popped into existence, terrifying Kensuke and Toji, making even Hikari's eyebrows go up in surprise.
The pigtailed girl scratched the back of her head and sighed, her expression grimacing.
"It's kind of nasty-"
"I am in no hurry." Rei's voice was one of ice.
Hikari's shoulders slumped.
"Where to begin...Kirishima-san's family served in the military, you know that right?" She gave a quick look at the odd couple of her class.
"Yes. Wasn't it...air force or something?" Kensuke said.
"Correct. In specific her father was captain of an FCV..." She trailed off for a moment, noticing a pair of cerulean eyes slowly widen.
Oh Spirits...please no...not again...
"It was the Tsushima wasn't it?" Toji said, resigned and sad, gaining a nod from the class rep.
Shinji was fortunate, as we would have fallen over again, or collapsed for want of a better word, had Rei not been there to catch him.
"Her...her father died because of me?"
"I'm not saying that, Ikari-san. Kirishima-san may think that, but I'm not saying it." Hikari said sadly, watching a few tears trickle out of his eyes as his form shook. They stayed there for a while, letting the child soldier attempt to deal with this new revelation.
I can't do anything without people getting hurt...can I?
"Hey-" Toji gave him a slight shake, so as to gain his attention.
"We were there, Shinji-san. There really wasn't anything you could do..."
"Yeah, you still saved the world at the end of the day! That's not too bad for sixteen year old kid." Kensuke put on a winning smile, gaining nothing of the sort in response.
Only a sad sigh.
"Look...I get what you're trying to do, but-" Shinji would probably have gone off on a long ramble about how he wasn't worth it, before Hikari cut him off.
"Don't. Feeling bad about it isn't going to help. And no amount of your tears will ever bring him back. The same can be said for everyone we lose. The best we can do is keep on going, and make the best of what we have. Do you understand me?" The class rep's tone had returned to its usual discipline, but there was more than a hint of experience in her voice.
Taken aback by this, his subconscious agreeing, all Shinji could do was mumble "y-yes."
Hikari produced a satisfied nod.
"Good. Come on then, we shouldn't be too late." She turned around and carried on walking, practically commanding to be followed. And she was obeyed without question.
----------------------------------
3:10pm, NERV Central, graveyard, beneath Tokyo-3.
For years, the mangled forms of the failures had resided here. Their purpose had been to be the weapons with which mankind would save itself, but they failed the moment they were created. Coated in armour never to be used, a dozen or so titans lay, dismembered, across the vast cavern, their bodies constantly being tested on to further enhance the Evas in service.
These were the first Evangelions, the failed prototypes, out of which only the totally out of date Unit 00 was even fit for combat.
In the cages far above, said Unit was getting a refit, otherwise it would be of absolutely no use in the coming battles. Strengthened armour, a prog knife, updated hud that linked directly into the eyes of the Pilot, as it was in all other functioning Eva Units, a brand new white and red paint job, and an extra compartment to house a pallet rifle.
They'd been so desperate to get it operational, for they had no other Eva available at the time, but now, with Units 02 and 03 merely days away, it had to be upgraded or scrapped.
It can only ever be used for fire support. Unit 00 could never take punishment like Unit 01. Ritsuko mused as she studied her newest present.
The mummified, hard as rock remains of the 6th Seraph sat in front of her, the blast of the positron rifle leaving a straight cylinder of hollowness in its corpse.
Stupid thing...I just want to run some tests on you! The green eyed scientist grumbled, giving the "thing" a kick of annoyance.
"Um...Sub Commander?" Maya said nervously at her side. Ritsuko inwardly winced, having failed to notice her timid subordinate walk up behind her, being so wrapped up in thought.
"Sorry." She gave an apologetic look at the twenty-six year old. In the corner of her eye, Ritsuko could just make out the forms of the 4th and 5th Seraphim, having been about as useful to science as all the original unlimited energy projects in the first years after Second Impact.
Before the breakthrough with A-T fields in early 2005. The brainchild of NERV research itself.
But this one was different. They'd managed to salvage a remnant of the Seraph's S2 core. Something they had never managed before. Granted, she'd have liked to test all aspects of the creature instead of its heart or brain, or maybe even both. But beggars couldn't be choosers.
"What is the damage to the core?" The faux blonde put a hand upon the giant diamond.
"Half of it was totally annihilated by the positron beam. The other half was relatively preserved, with any wound for liquid to leak out being singed closed." Maya responded with professionalism, having snapped out of her nervous, natural, state.
"How soon until we can begin testing?"
"Sub Commander...we're...sort of...waiting on you..."
"Hmm." The Sub-Commander withdrew her hand from the Seraph, turned around, then was guided over to an assortment of machines, with half a red orb lying on the front prongs of a forklift. White lab coated Section 4s, stood ready around the core, a drill poised to drive into it, and a flask ready to capture its fluid.
Arriving at the designated spot, Ritsuko fished out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled the smoke, and nodded.
"Begin."
With an electronic whirring, the drill drove straight into the core. The surface held for a few moments, then cracking and caved in, unleashing flood of thick royal blue blood, filling the container to overflow. It was unfortunate they had to destroy it, but as scans revealed, the S2 core was surprisingly brittle. They could not extract anything without cracking it, so Ritsuko gave the order to gain as much of the liquid inside as possible.
With that complete, men in hazmat suits came forward and collected the container, sealing it shut.
"Get it cleaned, then analyse it." Ritsuko ordered sternly.
"Hai!"
-----------------------------
Upon a cat walk high above, stood the Supreme Commander and the Vice Commander, watching events unfold.
"Such a competent individual...much stronger than her mother. A pity I could not use her to her maximum potential." Gendo said quietly, hands held behind his back.
"Perhaps." Kozo replied, his insides churning at the mere thought of what Ikari had once in mind for Naoko's daughter...
"How do you think we're doing?" The elder man changed topic.
"The scenario is proceeding as planned."
"I meant the war. Three of them are dead...do you think we can do the same for the rest?" His years of experience had taught him believing in ancient, mystical scrolls and faiths was all well and good, but it never helped when you needed it.
The fact his family had believed in the Spirits, and yet were still claimed by Leukaemia, by Hiroshima's legacy, leaving him an only orphaned child, was conclusive proof to him there couldn't be such a thing as a god.
"We shall ultimately have seven active Evangelion Units. I believe we have something of a chance. One worth putting faith in." Gendo scarcely acknowledged his subordinate, his bespectacled gaze fixed on the freshly cleaned container being carried back to the various machines which would run numerous tests.
Although understanding the enemy is irrelevant to the scenario...it would be intriguing to have some comprehension of what they are.
"Section 2 have reported that Ayanami-san is spending a great deal of time with your son. Should any action be taken?" Kozo inquired.
"Rei knows where her loyalty lies. She will not stray because of one weak willed boy. Even if he is Yui's child."
-------------------------------
Standing by the broken sphere, Ritsuko scratched her chin, thinking away to herself.
It looks almost exactly the same as an Eva's core. Different fluid inside it but...almost exactly the same.
"How are things going?" A familiar voice caught the faux blonde by surprise, which was swiftly followed by a harrumph.
"Misato-chan...why are you here?" Ritsuko grumbled, being a little too engaged in tests to entertain the shenanigans of her old college friend.
"Aww, come on, Rits-chan. Just wanted to see how you were getting along." The purple headed Lieutenant Colonel pouted.
"I am absolutely fine, Misato-chan. Now don't you have a refit to oversee?"
"Well yeah, but they don't need me for all of that so-"
"In short, you're bored?"
"Yes..."
"Bored? Bored? You have an actual body! You can touch and feel and have things to do, whilst I just sit here, being an electrical...thing, making sure nothing explodes!" Caspar's voice boomed from above, causing the Lieutenant Colonel to chuckle, and Ritsuko to further lose the will to live.
"I am literally about to oversee one of the most important DNA samplings in history. Can I please do it without distraction." Those last few words were spat out.
There was silence for a bit, whilst the test started reaching its final stages.
"I don't recall it being your time of the month yet, Sub Commander?"
A few giggles and a practical scream of exasperation echoed across the vast cavern.
"Why did I ever turn it on...?" Gendo muttered to himself, whilst Kozo smiled.
After ten minutes of bleeping and blooping, the results finally came through. Ristuko walked over to her subordinates, as Misato chatted away to some of the Section 3 troopers, not getting much entertainment out of the thirty-one year old Sub Commander.
"Well, Lieutenant Ibuki, what have we got?" The faux blonde put a hand on the sat down and hunched over Section 4 member, who appeared to be completely engrossed by the monitor.
The young woman remained silent.
"Lieutenant?" Ritsuko said in a curious manner.
"Sub Commander...just look..."
Finally tiring of flirting with the Section 3 troopers, getting more than enough blushes out of them, the Lieutenant Colonel drifted over to the various quacks crowded around a single monitor.
"Found anything useful? A weak spot?" She stood behind them, arms folded.
Ritsuko slowly turned towards her old room mate, an expression that looked like it had seen a ghost imprinted upon her beautiful face.
"We can actually see the structure of their DNA." She whispered.
"Yes...so?" Misato tilted her head.
"Misato-chan...although it's made up of materials we don't even have names for-" the faux blonde took a deep breath, still trying to believe this.
"-The structure of Seraphim DNA is almost exactly the same as our own."
-----------------------------------
3:20pm, Tokyo-3, Tokugawa square
The sound of thousands of boots tramping in unison, hundreds of tanks rumbling forth, the massed bands hammering on their drums and blasting out their brass instruments, VTOLs screaming through the air, and the mighty rumble of five Susanoos, the entire 3rd Air fleet, should have drowned all noise out. But even Battotai march being played in full force, could not overcome the cheers of the massed crowds standing by both sides of the road. White banners with a red disc at the centre, red rays spreading to all corners, flew everywhere.
Unending yells of "Nippon Banzai", or "Banzai" surged like waves, unbreakable and unstoppable.
The turn out was almost touching for the General. She who sat in her armour plated limousine, her folded hands resting on her lap, quietly looked out of the window, watching the world go by. This journey which was to take her to the heart of the city, where her presence would be accepted by His Majesty himself, was nothing short of a formality. Although for Motichka, with all this display of Japanese military might around her, it wasn't an unwanted formality.
She'd always been a soldier at heart, growing up in a military family did that. Her father had served in the old JSDF, her grandfather in the Imperial Japanese Army, whom had fought at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, and it was rumoured Samurai blood flowed through the Motichka line.
She'd participated in parades such as this, one of the proudest moments of her life being one. A Lieutenant of the Japanese Self Defence Force, holding the flag, marching in tandem with her comrades all the way back in 1998.
Seems like a lifetime ago.
It was in some ways. For all the world.
Spirits, it was only twenty-one years ago when me, Akira-kun, and Daiki-kun where screwing around as Cadets...I wish they were here with me...
The other two heads of the Defence Board had remained in Fukoaka, to prevent power from being completely consolidated in one area. If disaster occurred at Tokyo-3, they could still govern the country. They'd complained about her leaving, Daiki even begging. For none of them trusted Gendo Ikari, all wanting the pretentious old swine dead. The three of them together were unassailable, as the poor souls of Bloody April 14th had discovered.
Now they were split apart, with Japan's dictator feeling surprisingly...alone. Not that she was afraid, but the company of her old school mates was honestly missed. They were the only other people in the nation, aside from Ikari and the Emperor himself, who Motichka could see as equals.
Taking her mind off all that, the brown haired forty year old focused on her men, one of her prides and joys, marching in synchronisation with her car. They looked resplendent, dark blue tunic and cap, crystal white trousers, and black shoes being their dress uniform.
Chiso had always felt she'd made a good choice with those uniforms.
Beyond them, crowds of people continued to furiously wave their flags, some children sitting on their parents shoulders waving two of them, one in each hand, huge grins on their faces.
The Dictator smiled back.
Then, the it faded, when memory of three equally cheerful faces entered her mind. A kind man with red hair, a businessman from the former Republic of Korea, holding two giggling babies on each shoulder.
Her husband Yi-Gun and her two beautiful girls.
Sachi and Yuki Motichka, both having their mother's eyes.
Chiso been young when she'd had children, only being twenty-two years old at the time. But did she think she was too young for it now, or even mistaken?
No, never.
She wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.
They were born at the start of January, of the year 2000, months before the horror of Second Impact.
She'd been blessed with twins.
The man who was their father, her boyfriend, promptly proposed, to which she accepted. And thus he'd worked from home, managing his small business, whilst she'd continued to rise through the ranks of the army. The city in which they were to grow up, was Old Tokyo. The General's home, the sprawling former capital of Japan, one of the largest inhabited domestic areas in the world at the time.
Growing up in this city, the girls had seen their father more than their mother, due to work, deployment, and such, but they still loved her.
It was a life the General would give anything to get back to.
For, whilst she, a Captain at the time, was out on manoeuvres, on the 21st of September 2000 AD, Second Impact occurred.
The floods came in so fast, in a way no one could have predicted. The coastal cities were swamped in a matter of days, not to be dry again until the great damming initiative of 2008. The people trapped in those dreadful places had one bit of solace, the JSDF had to be mobilizing. The army would come to save them. But the national diet, the parliament chosen to protect the Japanese people, panicked. They dithered, they dallied and squabbled over the correct course of action, as did many of the old democracies at the time.
So, for a precious day, the army, the navy, and the air force stood around, awaiting orders. When the command was finally given, Chiso was among the first in, paddling a rubber dingy through the thousands of islands that were once homes, making straight for her own. Her men did not consider her selfish. They understood her pain, as they felt it themselves.
Chiso's small yet comfortable home was totally submerged, the only thing she was capable of doing, was hopelessly screaming as her men desperately had to pin her down, to prevent the young captain from diving into the water. Army divers arrived soon enough, continuing on their sweep of the area, managing to get in through one of the shattered ground floor windows. And in the attic, they found the bloated, drowned bodies of a young man clinging tightly to two nine month old girls.
That day had changed the life of the woman who would be Japan's dictator. The democracy she had so happily served, was now something she despised. Motichka, upon identifying the bodies of her family, closing Yi-Gun's eyes for the last time, had vowed to crush and obliterate the weak system which had allowed her loved ones to die.
In the following further floods and earthquakes, with the population plummeting, promotion within the JSDF had come quickly for the extremely competent young woman. One thing had led to another, her belief in the weakness of democracy gaining the support of the army, and in 2004 she found herself as head of the new "National Defence Board."
She furiously blinked away a single tear, a sign of weakness. A thing she had personally vowed to stamp out.
General Motichka had to focus on the here and now, to honour her husband and her beautiful babies who would never grow up. Who would never say their first words, never go to school, never make friends, never pass their exams, never find boyfriend's or perhaps families of their own. They and tens of millions of Japanese would never see the future.
"Driver." Chiso said in an authoritative tone.
"Yes, General Motichka?" He said crisply.
"Open the sun roof...it's time I presented myself..."
-----------------------------------
Shinji would never wave the flag, or run headlong into battle for his country if he could help it. But he would sing "Kimigayo" with hand upon his meek heart, and a lump in his throat. He stood there, among all those thousands of people, watching the men march past in their disciplined formations and smart dark blue uniforms. Around him, a fair few of his classmates were joining in the chants of "Banzai" or cheering, Toji and Kensuke even punching their fists in the air.
Rei however did nothing else except watch everything go by, as if it were nothing more to her than shimmers in the pond. That did worry him, men in ordinary black suits and sunglasses were making their way through the crowd. A lack of trench coat telling all.
Ministry of the Interior. Probably making sure there isn't an assassin hiding with us. Crap, Ayanami-san, try and look a bit more patriotic! He flashed a quick glance of warning. She merely looked back, and remained as she was.
The men took one look at the albino, then clearly recognizing her, moved on.
The position Shinji and his classmates had chosen was a good one in his opinion, despite so many people being around him. At the other end of the street, well within sight, was the Imperial Palace. Considering what Motichka had to do before settling into Tokyo-3, the quiet young man was incredibly excited.
Actually seeing his Majesty...with my own eyes!
Emperor Kanaye publicly appeared bizarrely often for an Emperor of Japan. You could actually count his televised state addresses with more than the fingers on one hand, made even stranger by the fact he'd barely ruled for twelve years. And it had only been for the past one or two he'd been mentally mature enough to even be involved with the role. Shinji had never seen the crippled fourteen year old in person before, despite his monarch being present for many of the naval reviews at Kure. Of course with General Motichka at his side...
Then, as if on cue, the words "Motichka Banzai!" rippled through the crowd, drawing his attention to the source of it. Standing out of the sun roof of her car, gloved hand raised in acknowledgement, resplendent in dark blue uniform, was the dictator of Japan. He didn't repeat the words many others did, but respectfully bowed his head.
Inspired by the presence of their leader, the massed bands of the Tokyo-3 garrison struck up a song that stirred the hearts of all. A song even Shinji and his classmates found themselves joining in.
"Japan our home of many isles. Surrounded by the crystal sea! Red rising sun, let your rays illuminate the entire blue sky!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour! So forwards march as one!
Our lives for our beloved Japan!"
It was a chilling sensation, to join his voice with those of hundreds of thousands, but it made his spirits soar.
I am Japanese. I am a part of this. And I am proud of it.
"Spirits watch over our souls, as we march against your enemy! We see the flag flying ahead of us, in all its red rays of glory!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour!
So with our blood sweat and tears, the sun shall rise over our Japan!"
In tandem with the General's car reaching the steps of the Imperial palace, the drums and brass instruments of the Japanese State Army fell quiet. And so did the crowd, for they knew what came next.
Forty Imperial Guardsmen in their laced with gold uniforms, caps having a white feather firmly inserted in their fronts, spilled out of the open palace doors, forming a corridor of dark blue from the car to the entrance. Coming a few moments after them, a smaller figure whose complexion was sickly pale. He hobbled forward in a coat tailed black suit, walking stick held in his gloved hand.
But his eyes, eyes that only Chiso and her escort could see, those green eyes that pierced any and all defences, spoke volumes about the young man.
Coming to within a few feet of the commander of his armies, Emperor Kanaye bowed slightly, causing the General, a person who both terrified and awed millions, to bow even lower.
This simple ceremony over, he straightened up and cast his gaze upon the many thousands gathered before him, producing a slight smile. The disabled teen, two years the Eva Pilot's junior, stood on those steps with a strength unique only to him. With his one hand not in use, he raised it in greeting to his army, and his people.
The result was both soldier and civilian screaming in unison, again and again, "Tenno Heika Banzai!"
Among all those many many fists punched into the air, was Shinji Ikari's. His voice, drowned out by those of his classmates alone, was filled with a passion that Rei had only heard once before. Not quite in the same manner, but the feeling of devotion was similar. That was the voice with which he'd called out to her on the night they'd faced the 6th Seraph.
It baffled the ethereal girl. How one could feel so strongly for an inanimate rock, and someone the individual hardly knew, was beyond her.
Patriotism is a philosophy of ignorant ancestor worship. One that drives humanity apart like no other idea in existence. You must free us of such things, Rei.
That was what the Commander had said to her, and she would obey to the best of her abilities. That was the purpose of her creation after all. But...her curiosity on the matter was overwhelming. Her pale hand found itself tugging on Shinji's shoulder, catching his attention.
"Hm? What is it Ayanami-san?" He said, totally invested with whatever she had to say. In a way the Commander never could.
"I am still not understanding of the situation. Why do you place so much faith and care into all this?" Her quiet question caused him to blink in thought, before sighing.
"I'm finished here. We'll talk about it on the way home. Is that alright?"
A nod of acceptance sealed the matter.
"Alright. Um, Class rep!" He called out to the "pig tailed dictator."
"Ikari-san, outside of school it's Horaki-san. What can I do for you?" She said in what could be deemed a normal tone. Considering what he'd seen of her so far, it was surprisingly soft.
"Ayanami-san's ready to go home, and I've had enough. We'll see you tomorrow." He courteously bowed, which his class rep returned.
"Don't take any back alleys okay?" She added with a little harshness, full on implying that was an order.
"I promise."
Gaining two "see you later's" from Kensuke and Toji, the two Eva Pilots took one of the trains to the vicinity of the albino's run down home.
--------------------------------
With the train carriage empty, and the journey being some fifteen minutes, Shinji felt there was plenty of time to talk.
"Sorry about hurrying you off like that. It's just...so many Ministry of the Interior agents around...didn't want them to think you were un-patriotic or something." His small smile turned into a chuckle when Rei innocently responded with "but technically I am."
"What is funny?" She tilted her head.
"You're honest and fearless. That...might not be such a good idea."
Making your true feelings known about the State had never been the smartest of things to do. If you were lucky, no one else would hear you. If you were unlucky, it was a week in a filthy cell. Along with a black eye and a broken nose.
He'd never been in one, and he never intended to.
"If they strike fear into you...then why do you owe them loyalty?" Rei pressed on regardless.
Her "brother" ran a hand through his hair.
"I...it's not that I like the government...actually I really kind of hate them sometimes but...it's the only one we have. I-I respect them and all, don't get me wrong, Motichka pulled us through some bad times. But they're too harsh, far too harsh..." He gulped a little bit, trying to put across his complicated feelings towards the "Defence Board."
"And besides, I care a lot more about Japan." He said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because it's my home. It's where I was born, it's where I was raised and it'll probably be where I die. Not to mention..." Shinji shook his head, as if thinking better of what he was going to say next. However, upon realising that a pair of red eyes where still fixed on him, an answer was coaxed forth.
"Alright. I don't think anything of myself. Hell, I don't really care all that much about myself to begin with...but with Japan and its people, my country and people, I'm part of something bigger, something better...more important than I could ever hope to be...I actually...belong somewhere..." His shrill voice became sad.
Go ahead, cry about how small and useless you are. Show her how pathetic you are.
"Sorry, that's a bit heavy for an afternoon conversation." He humourlessly chuckled to himself.
It was silent on the train for a while, until Rei opened her pale lips to speak again.
"I feel no connection with the landmass upon which I was created. Nor the people with whom I am meant to share a good deal of my DNA, or the individual who is meant to be my Monarch. I do not feel that bond like you do...but I understand. It must be very comforting to able to...belong somewhere..."
Shinji uselessly opened his mouth, trying to continue this conversation, but all that needed to be said had already been said. Some measure of understanding on the matter had been reached. No more words were spoken for the rest of the journey.
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Well, eight thousand words or more. Hopefully they are adequate.
Sorry about the wait, I've had a boatload of college work been dropped on me of late so I've had to divide my attention between interesting things and boring things. All of a sudden, writing Sovereignty has become far more fun in my eyes. So much better to do than "Gender in the English Language..."
Anyways, next segment we are going to be finding out a little bit more about how the Evas work, before, upon this chapter's completion, a certain terrifying Teutonic red head is going to blaze her way into this tale, with a snooty blonde Imperial aristocrat not far behind her...
Oh shit, the next few chapters are just going to be a whale of a time.
(Eh...eh? Get it? Because Gahghiel is like a whale? A whale of mass destruction? A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME! Hahahahahah...I'm sorry...)
Until next time my dear readers!
Shinji hated his legs. They always did things he didn't want them to do, like run headlong into danger, or drag him kicking and screaming over to the albino that had reawakened long buried affection within him.
For Spirits' sake, she sits by herself because she enjoys the quiet, I'd just be annoying...but that doesn't sound anything like what she said at dinner yesterday. His subconscious unhelpfully countered.
Shut up. Shinji grumbled. Before him, eating a home made sandwich, was Rei, seemingly oblivious to the world at first glance.
Thank goodness she made that with clean cutlery he found himself fighting a shudder at the thought of filthy, sometimes bloody cutlery he'd seen the previous evening. Then, her head swivelled to face him, the boy knowing she could probably sense him coming.
"Ikari. Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh...yes...um..." His brain locked for a few moments, as it now decided to engage panic mode and shatter into millions of pieces because he needed to say something. But she sat there, unmoving, yet certainly not uncaring. For the blue haired girl was a patient individual, not knowing of the human feelings called anger or hatred.
"Do...do you mind if I sit with you?" He murmured. Granted, he felt more at ease than the previous evening when he'd actually enjoyed dinner with the ethereal girl, but now in public, face to face again, his confidence crumbled. He'd have to build it back up from step one.
"I take no issue with it, Ikari." Surprisingly, Rei slid over to make room for the boy who'd cooked her dinner last night. As Westerners put it, he treated her "like a Princess."
Gingerly sitting down on the table which they now shared, Shinji put himself at a close yet respectful distance. The pair were easily in arms reach of each other.
"So...are you enjoying that?" He referred to her lunch.
"It is adequate for sustenance." She took another bite out of her peanut spread sandwich.
Well at least she's put in a filling now...
It had taken great effort to convince her to put something more than "butter" in a sandwich. Even then they were limited, as he'd discovered she was vegetarian. Something to do with "the bond I have with every living creature."
Starting on his own lunch, a ham sandwich, he gave a quick thought to why he'd never become vegetarian, considering his aversion to violence and blood. On the other hand with being an Impact baby, someone born very close to Second Impact, it was expected. You didn't complain about where your food came from, as long as it went in your mouth. Clearly, she'd never known that...and perhaps as a clone, didn't need as much sustenance as ordinary humans did.
They ate in silence for a while before a sly chuckle caught Shinji's attention. Turning his head, he saw Kensuke make a beeline towards the table with a cheeky grin. At least until Toji grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hauled him off to elsewhere, gaining a tired smile of gratitude from the mousey haired introvert.
Turning back to his meal, he realised Rei had long since finished her own lunch, and was sipping on a carton of milk. This was not something he often beheld, as the ethereal girl seemed to be someone who did things as efficiently as possible.
She was taking her time.
She...she can't be enjoying my company...can she?
Whilst Shinji's brain crumpled upon impacting this solid wall of impossibility to him, she quietly dwelt on the occurrences of the previous evening, of how this strange human had come into her place of residence, made it a great deal tidier, and even cooked her dinner.
He'd brought something into that lonely hovel. Something we'd know as warmth.
-----------------------------
5:00pm, Monday the 10th of July, NERV quarters, eastern sector.
It wasn't to his standard of quality, he mused, but it was adequate. Not whatever filthy ready made food Rei had put down her gullet countless times. He'd managed to throw something together in about fifteen minutes, with his strange colleague watching him in a manner that could be deemed as curious.
Has she never seen anyone cook before? Father...why have you kept her so alone?
Spiced rice had been the best he could come up with, considering the shockingly low amount of provisions in Rei's cupboards. She might as well have been eating cardboard, which may have been a bette alternative to the various pastes and ready made stuff she had. Some of it being mouldy.
As there was no dinner table, the two teens ate on the bed. Swallowing his freshly chewed rice, Shinji felt a question form in his mind. One he'd wanted to ask for a while, but only now felt comfortable enough to ask.
"How old are you, Ayanami-san?"
She finished chewing her mouthful of rice, then looked at him with her blank expression.
"I-I-I know you're a clone and all, so you're probably younger than me. I was just wondering...by how much?" He stammered, staring into his shoes.
What the hell!? I have no right to ask that!
Rei remained quiet for a while, pondering things in her usually silent head. She hadn't had to think this much before he'd come into her life.
"I have little memory of my birth. I recall the tank of LCL in which I was grown being emptied and the Commander standing before me, but no more. NERV logs put the date as that of-" Her blue eyebrows knitted together, making her surprisingly cute.
"-6th of June 2012."
True silence descended upon the room for a while.
"Put on another eleven years and that's my birthday..." Shinji's thoughts began to seriously dwell on the matter.
Why that date?
Of all the dates in the year, why did Gendo Ikari choose to create her on his birthday. His eleventh birthday. The seventh one in a row without family, cake, or balloons. Yet another reason why memories of the first four years of his life were so painful yet so precious.
Can't be a coincidence...Father made her to replace me. He replaced me...he replaced me!
Unconsciously, his fist balled.
"I was not aware of this." Rei said, herself a little surprised. Feeling something akin to unease from the girl, as even he wasn't that socially inept, Shinji recognized his hand was doing something that could be seen as "threatening." Forcing it to uncurl, he fought back his anger and put on a smile.
"Oh it's alright. No problem at all. But yes, 6th of June 2001, that's when I popped into existence. I don't remember anything about my birth."
"That is probably for the best...the idea of remembering a natural birth sounds somewhat unpleasant. I hear it is a...traumatic experience for both parties involved." Rei turned her gaze back to the bowl on her lap, her pretty expression tightening in a microscopic manner.
"Yes...it doesn't sound nice." He agreed.
Not saying anything more for a while the two continued their average quality meal, chewing and swallowing the last remnants of it after five minutes. Upon finishing, she fiddled with her bowl for a bit, not taking her eyes off it, struggling to find the words she required.
"...Does it not bother you...what I am?"
"You mean...a clone?" Shinji said, his expression confused.
She nodded.
"No, of course not. Have I made you think that?"
"You have not, I assumed..." She trailed off for a few moments, then continued.
"Many would...look down on me for how I was born. I am unnatural after all." And now, in that quiet whisp of a voice, something new could be heard. It existed in only a microscopic amount, and it was something Rei herself didn't understand, but it was there.
Bitterness.
For the albino could hear other peoples thoughts. Owing to the unique properties of her creation, she had some degree of psychic power. Granted, she could focus on only one set of thoughts at a time, and that took no small of effort. Along with the fact she could only brush at the inner goings on of the human mind and never access things such as memory. She could see the ripples in the water, not what lay beneath.
It was power nonetheless. One which at times, Rei wished she didn't have. It made her think unpleasant things she couldn't hope to understand. Things that interfered with focusing on her true purpose.
All thought ill of her.
The Commander had made plain her place from the day she first drew breath, most of the staff in the know tended to think of her as "it" or "the clone," and the ordinary members of NERV tended to keep their distance from "the Commander's pet." Or on bad days, "the Commander's doll."
She wasn't human, she'd never been, nor would she ever be. She was merely the replicated flesh of a dead woman, made to serve the Commander's scenario. That was what she was. That was a fact, and there was no denying it.
So why do I feel anything when they call me that? My purpose is to serve, not think or feel.
"Well that's just silly. You couldn't have chosen how you were made. You aren't any less of a person for it." Shinji said flippantly, as if this should be obvious.
But for the unearthly child, it was not.
Rei froze. Blinking her red eyes in surprise, she stared at him, until a small smile cropped up on her lips. Not to the extent of the night when they'd defeated the 6th Seraph, but still visible.
Every time she'd looked into his thoughts, the words "creature", "pet", "abomination", "thing", and the like, had not once popped up. Always, he thought of her as a...person.
"I...appreciate your words, Ikari. Such things have never been said to me before..." She shifted in an uncomfortable but not at all unwelcome manner. As if the words were difficult to say, and the feeling was unknown, but she was happy to say them.
Realising he'd made something of a breakthrough, Shinji gulped, then tried to raise her spirits.
"Well...surely not everyone's been horrible to you for that? What about Akagi-san? She...seems to care about you a little at least?"
Rei's eyes didn't leave her bowl.
"The Sub-Commander has always been...difficult. But until you came here she was the only person who ever showed me kindness as you would say." She agreed.
The clone had never seriously though of such things until Ikari had arrived, and now she found herself reflecting on her connection with the faux blonde Japanese woman.
She does not think as highly of me as Ikari does...but there is no lack of care. She simply knows not what to think of me.
"It is a rather alien concept to me." The blue head said truthfully, her shoulders slumping a little. Like all sentient beings, Rei did yearn for connection and compassion with other human beings. Not that she was aware of such desires meaning.
Slowly, with little input from his brain, his heart deciding to act of its own accord, Shinji stretched his hand out, retreating yet continuing, and placed itself on her shoulder. The blue haired girl made no effort to remove it.
------------------------------
Back in the present...
The sun shone through the corridor windows, its brightness illuminating the happy faces hurrying through. Shinji and Rei however, were not smiling, nor running.
They simply walked.
The sensation of awkwardness between the two was something Shinji felt could never be thrown off. But that feeling certainly wasn't unfriendly by any measure.
There was...something I wanted to ask her about...ah of course!
The previous evening, upon returning to Misato's apartment, he'd learned General Motichka was arriving in Tokyo-3 today. Therefore in her honour, the Garrison was putting on a huge parade with thousands of blue coated soldiers due to march through the streets of the capital. Shinji had already decided he wanted to go. Some of his fondest memories were the Marines of the Japanese State Navy marching around in formation whenever there was a big naval review at Kure. He'd already talked to Kensuke and Toji, having a feeling they'd go, and wasn't disappointed.
However, he didn't want to leave Rei out. It was an opportunity to include her, and he got the sad impression this had never been done for her before. He felt...as if it were a purpose of his to take care of her. One which he would gladly comply with.
"Um, Ayanami-san? Can I ask you something?"
Her pace did not abate, but a pair of red eyes did train their gaze on him.
"Have you heard about the parade in the city centre today?" Shinji let his arms swing freely, his bag safely fastened over his shoulder.
"Yes. General Chiso Motichka's arrival is to be met with the due process. Your point?" Rei sounded unbothered.
"Well...you see I was talking with some of my other friends-" a part of him still couldn't comprehend this "-and we all agreed that we'd go and watch it after school so I was wondering if you...if you..." His fist balled, annoyed at how he'd rushed his words.
Sighing, he regained control and continued.
"Do you want to tag along?"
Her gaze didn't leave him for a second, her own hands clutching the strap of her school bag.
I take no interest in this patriotism you and your classmates feel so strongly. But...your presence is...warm, Ikari.
"I have no pre-existing appointments." Her reply made his spirits soar. In Rei speak, that was a "yes."
"Alright, straight after school." He pushed the class door open and held it for her, as he was something of a gentleman when he wanted to be.
"Understood." Rei nodded, oblivious to this act of chivalry.
-----------------------------------
One hour and fifty five minutes later...
Some students, himself and his colleague included, remained at the back of the class, not wanting to be caught up in the mad initial rush for the exit. They collected their things with precision, and when the room was empty, neatly made their way out of the door.
The route was simple, take the metro to city centre, specifically Chrysanthemum station, roughly in the vicinity of the Imperial palace, then take a ten minute walk to the main high street. Owing to Japanese efficiency, the journey wouldn't take longer than twenty minutes.
Shinji wasn't as comfortable as he'd like, as whilst, as westerners would term it "his crew" were with him, there was also the terrifying class rep following up the rear, the brown haired and brown eyed boy he didn't know who sat at the back of the classroom, and that girl with short red hair who appeared to be giving him death stares.
"So, Shinji-san, have you ever been to army parades?" Toji boisterously enquired.
"Um, not army ones. I've seen a few naval reviews though. It's to be expected when you grow up in Kure." The meek boy answered.
"Wow, seeing all those ships must be pretty impressive..." Kensuke added dreamily.
"...Should I have brought you some tissues?" Toji raised a black eyebrow.
"No need, Suzuhara-san. He does have socks after all." A slight chuckle could be heard from Hikari, accompanied by the symphony of Kensuke's exclamations getting louder and louder, somehow drowning out the Jock's laughter.
Rei cast a glance at the sight but kept walking, whilst Shinji managed to crack a smile.
"Vulgar...utterly vulgar..." He found himself laughing a little. Unfortunately, he failed to notice a pair of crystal blue eyes narrow in hatred.
Without warning he was violently shoved aside, hitting the ground hard. The dark redheaded girl stormed ahead, her expression fixed into one of distress driven by anger.
Toji and Kensuke looked at the in times gone past chirpy girl with a degree of shock, Hikari looked incensed, the other boy didn't seem fussed and kept on walking, whilst Rei had immediately gone down on knee to check if there was any real harm done, with a look of...concern.
"What the hell!? Explain yourself, Kirishima-san!" Hikari barked.
No response, as "Kirishima" outpaced them and kept going, blinking away unseen tears.
"Fine, you're getting reported!" The class rep snarled, then turned to check on Shinji, her expression softening.
I know it still hurts, Mana-san, and I'm sorry. But I won't tolerate behaviour like this.
"Are you alright down there?" Her tone became lighter than the boy in question had ever heard before, whilst Toji's heart skipped a beat, as if he'd heard a choir of angels.
"Uhhh..." Came Shinji's predictable, yet entirely understandable answer.
"Well at least you're still conscious." Hikari muttered to herself, as she and the remaining students helped him to his feet.
Rei fished around in her uniform's pockets for a bit, producing a tissue, and, with no small amount of tenderness, started to wipe the bloody away from her comrade's nose.
"Student Kirishima takes issue with Ikari. Why?" A sudden, hard edge to Rei's voice popped into existence, terrifying Kensuke and Toji, making even Hikari's eyebrows go up in surprise.
The pigtailed girl scratched the back of her head and sighed, her expression grimacing.
"It's kind of nasty-"
"I am in no hurry." Rei's voice was one of ice.
Hikari's shoulders slumped.
"Where to begin...Kirishima-san's family served in the military, you know that right?" She gave a quick look at the odd couple of her class.
"Yes. Wasn't it...air force or something?" Kensuke said.
"Correct. In specific her father was captain of an FCV..." She trailed off for a moment, noticing a pair of cerulean eyes slowly widen.
Oh Spirits...please no...not again...
"It was the Tsushima wasn't it?" Toji said, resigned and sad, gaining a nod from the class rep.
Shinji was fortunate, as we would have fallen over again, or collapsed for want of a better word, had Rei not been there to catch him.
"Her...her father died because of me?"
"I'm not saying that, Ikari-san. Kirishima-san may think that, but I'm not saying it." Hikari said sadly, watching a few tears trickle out of his eyes as his form shook. They stayed there for a while, letting the child soldier attempt to deal with this new revelation.
I can't do anything without people getting hurt...can I?
"Hey-" Toji gave him a slight shake, so as to gain his attention.
"We were there, Shinji-san. There really wasn't anything you could do..."
"Yeah, you still saved the world at the end of the day! That's not too bad for sixteen year old kid." Kensuke put on a winning smile, gaining nothing of the sort in response.
Only a sad sigh.
"Look...I get what you're trying to do, but-" Shinji would probably have gone off on a long ramble about how he wasn't worth it, before Hikari cut him off.
"Don't. Feeling bad about it isn't going to help. And no amount of your tears will ever bring him back. The same can be said for everyone we lose. The best we can do is keep on going, and make the best of what we have. Do you understand me?" The class rep's tone had returned to its usual discipline, but there was more than a hint of experience in her voice.
Taken aback by this, his subconscious agreeing, all Shinji could do was mumble "y-yes."
Hikari produced a satisfied nod.
"Good. Come on then, we shouldn't be too late." She turned around and carried on walking, practically commanding to be followed. And she was obeyed without question.
----------------------------------
3:10pm, NERV Central, graveyard, beneath Tokyo-3.
For years, the mangled forms of the failures had resided here. Their purpose had been to be the weapons with which mankind would save itself, but they failed the moment they were created. Coated in armour never to be used, a dozen or so titans lay, dismembered, across the vast cavern, their bodies constantly being tested on to further enhance the Evas in service.
These were the first Evangelions, the failed prototypes, out of which only the totally out of date Unit 00 was even fit for combat.
In the cages far above, said Unit was getting a refit, otherwise it would be of absolutely no use in the coming battles. Strengthened armour, a prog knife, updated hud that linked directly into the eyes of the Pilot, as it was in all other functioning Eva Units, a brand new white and red paint job, and an extra compartment to house a pallet rifle.
They'd been so desperate to get it operational, for they had no other Eva available at the time, but now, with Units 02 and 03 merely days away, it had to be upgraded or scrapped.
It can only ever be used for fire support. Unit 00 could never take punishment like Unit 01. Ritsuko mused as she studied her newest present.
The mummified, hard as rock remains of the 6th Seraph sat in front of her, the blast of the positron rifle leaving a straight cylinder of hollowness in its corpse.
Stupid thing...I just want to run some tests on you! The green eyed scientist grumbled, giving the "thing" a kick of annoyance.
"Um...Sub Commander?" Maya said nervously at her side. Ritsuko inwardly winced, having failed to notice her timid subordinate walk up behind her, being so wrapped up in thought.
"Sorry." She gave an apologetic look at the twenty-six year old. In the corner of her eye, Ritsuko could just make out the forms of the 4th and 5th Seraphim, having been about as useful to science as all the original unlimited energy projects in the first years after Second Impact.
Before the breakthrough with A-T fields in early 2005. The brainchild of NERV research itself.
But this one was different. They'd managed to salvage a remnant of the Seraph's S2 core. Something they had never managed before. Granted, she'd have liked to test all aspects of the creature instead of its heart or brain, or maybe even both. But beggars couldn't be choosers.
"What is the damage to the core?" The faux blonde put a hand upon the giant diamond.
"Half of it was totally annihilated by the positron beam. The other half was relatively preserved, with any wound for liquid to leak out being singed closed." Maya responded with professionalism, having snapped out of her nervous, natural, state.
"How soon until we can begin testing?"
"Sub Commander...we're...sort of...waiting on you..."
"Hmm." The Sub-Commander withdrew her hand from the Seraph, turned around, then was guided over to an assortment of machines, with half a red orb lying on the front prongs of a forklift. White lab coated Section 4s, stood ready around the core, a drill poised to drive into it, and a flask ready to capture its fluid.
Arriving at the designated spot, Ritsuko fished out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled the smoke, and nodded.
"Begin."
With an electronic whirring, the drill drove straight into the core. The surface held for a few moments, then cracking and caved in, unleashing flood of thick royal blue blood, filling the container to overflow. It was unfortunate they had to destroy it, but as scans revealed, the S2 core was surprisingly brittle. They could not extract anything without cracking it, so Ritsuko gave the order to gain as much of the liquid inside as possible.
With that complete, men in hazmat suits came forward and collected the container, sealing it shut.
"Get it cleaned, then analyse it." Ritsuko ordered sternly.
"Hai!"
-----------------------------
Upon a cat walk high above, stood the Supreme Commander and the Vice Commander, watching events unfold.
"Such a competent individual...much stronger than her mother. A pity I could not use her to her maximum potential." Gendo said quietly, hands held behind his back.
"Perhaps." Kozo replied, his insides churning at the mere thought of what Ikari had once in mind for Naoko's daughter...
"How do you think we're doing?" The elder man changed topic.
"The scenario is proceeding as planned."
"I meant the war. Three of them are dead...do you think we can do the same for the rest?" His years of experience had taught him believing in ancient, mystical scrolls and faiths was all well and good, but it never helped when you needed it.
The fact his family had believed in the Spirits, and yet were still claimed by Leukaemia, by Hiroshima's legacy, leaving him an only orphaned child, was conclusive proof to him there couldn't be such a thing as a god.
"We shall ultimately have seven active Evangelion Units. I believe we have something of a chance. One worth putting faith in." Gendo scarcely acknowledged his subordinate, his bespectacled gaze fixed on the freshly cleaned container being carried back to the various machines which would run numerous tests.
Although understanding the enemy is irrelevant to the scenario...it would be intriguing to have some comprehension of what they are.
"Section 2 have reported that Ayanami-san is spending a great deal of time with your son. Should any action be taken?" Kozo inquired.
"Rei knows where her loyalty lies. She will not stray because of one weak willed boy. Even if he is Yui's child."
-------------------------------
Standing by the broken sphere, Ritsuko scratched her chin, thinking away to herself.
It looks almost exactly the same as an Eva's core. Different fluid inside it but...almost exactly the same.
"How are things going?" A familiar voice caught the faux blonde by surprise, which was swiftly followed by a harrumph.
"Misato-chan...why are you here?" Ritsuko grumbled, being a little too engaged in tests to entertain the shenanigans of her old college friend.
"Aww, come on, Rits-chan. Just wanted to see how you were getting along." The purple headed Lieutenant Colonel pouted.
"I am absolutely fine, Misato-chan. Now don't you have a refit to oversee?"
"Well yeah, but they don't need me for all of that so-"
"In short, you're bored?"
"Yes..."
"Bored? Bored? You have an actual body! You can touch and feel and have things to do, whilst I just sit here, being an electrical...thing, making sure nothing explodes!" Caspar's voice boomed from above, causing the Lieutenant Colonel to chuckle, and Ritsuko to further lose the will to live.
"I am literally about to oversee one of the most important DNA samplings in history. Can I please do it without distraction." Those last few words were spat out.
There was silence for a bit, whilst the test started reaching its final stages.
"I don't recall it being your time of the month yet, Sub Commander?"
A few giggles and a practical scream of exasperation echoed across the vast cavern.
"Why did I ever turn it on...?" Gendo muttered to himself, whilst Kozo smiled.
After ten minutes of bleeping and blooping, the results finally came through. Ristuko walked over to her subordinates, as Misato chatted away to some of the Section 3 troopers, not getting much entertainment out of the thirty-one year old Sub Commander.
"Well, Lieutenant Ibuki, what have we got?" The faux blonde put a hand on the sat down and hunched over Section 4 member, who appeared to be completely engrossed by the monitor.
The young woman remained silent.
"Lieutenant?" Ritsuko said in a curious manner.
"Sub Commander...just look..."
Finally tiring of flirting with the Section 3 troopers, getting more than enough blushes out of them, the Lieutenant Colonel drifted over to the various quacks crowded around a single monitor.
"Found anything useful? A weak spot?" She stood behind them, arms folded.
Ritsuko slowly turned towards her old room mate, an expression that looked like it had seen a ghost imprinted upon her beautiful face.
"We can actually see the structure of their DNA." She whispered.
"Yes...so?" Misato tilted her head.
"Misato-chan...although it's made up of materials we don't even have names for-" the faux blonde took a deep breath, still trying to believe this.
"-The structure of Seraphim DNA is almost exactly the same as our own."
-----------------------------------
3:20pm, Tokyo-3, Tokugawa square
The sound of thousands of boots tramping in unison, hundreds of tanks rumbling forth, the massed bands hammering on their drums and blasting out their brass instruments, VTOLs screaming through the air, and the mighty rumble of five Susanoos, the entire 3rd Air fleet, should have drowned all noise out. But even Battotai march being played in full force, could not overcome the cheers of the massed crowds standing by both sides of the road. White banners with a red disc at the centre, red rays spreading to all corners, flew everywhere.
Unending yells of "Nippon Banzai", or "Banzai" surged like waves, unbreakable and unstoppable.
The turn out was almost touching for the General. She who sat in her armour plated limousine, her folded hands resting on her lap, quietly looked out of the window, watching the world go by. This journey which was to take her to the heart of the city, where her presence would be accepted by His Majesty himself, was nothing short of a formality. Although for Motichka, with all this display of Japanese military might around her, it wasn't an unwanted formality.
She'd always been a soldier at heart, growing up in a military family did that. Her father had served in the old JSDF, her grandfather in the Imperial Japanese Army, whom had fought at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, and it was rumoured Samurai blood flowed through the Motichka line.
She'd participated in parades such as this, one of the proudest moments of her life being one. A Lieutenant of the Japanese Self Defence Force, holding the flag, marching in tandem with her comrades all the way back in 1998.
Seems like a lifetime ago.
It was in some ways. For all the world.
Spirits, it was only twenty-one years ago when me, Akira-kun, and Daiki-kun where screwing around as Cadets...I wish they were here with me...
The other two heads of the Defence Board had remained in Fukoaka, to prevent power from being completely consolidated in one area. If disaster occurred at Tokyo-3, they could still govern the country. They'd complained about her leaving, Daiki even begging. For none of them trusted Gendo Ikari, all wanting the pretentious old swine dead. The three of them together were unassailable, as the poor souls of Bloody April 14th had discovered.
Now they were split apart, with Japan's dictator feeling surprisingly...alone. Not that she was afraid, but the company of her old school mates was honestly missed. They were the only other people in the nation, aside from Ikari and the Emperor himself, who Motichka could see as equals.
Taking her mind off all that, the brown haired forty year old focused on her men, one of her prides and joys, marching in synchronisation with her car. They looked resplendent, dark blue tunic and cap, crystal white trousers, and black shoes being their dress uniform.
Chiso had always felt she'd made a good choice with those uniforms.
Beyond them, crowds of people continued to furiously wave their flags, some children sitting on their parents shoulders waving two of them, one in each hand, huge grins on their faces.
The Dictator smiled back.
Then, the it faded, when memory of three equally cheerful faces entered her mind. A kind man with red hair, a businessman from the former Republic of Korea, holding two giggling babies on each shoulder.
Her husband Yi-Gun and her two beautiful girls.
Sachi and Yuki Motichka, both having their mother's eyes.
Chiso been young when she'd had children, only being twenty-two years old at the time. But did she think she was too young for it now, or even mistaken?
No, never.
She wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.
They were born at the start of January, of the year 2000, months before the horror of Second Impact.
She'd been blessed with twins.
The man who was their father, her boyfriend, promptly proposed, to which she accepted. And thus he'd worked from home, managing his small business, whilst she'd continued to rise through the ranks of the army. The city in which they were to grow up, was Old Tokyo. The General's home, the sprawling former capital of Japan, one of the largest inhabited domestic areas in the world at the time.
Growing up in this city, the girls had seen their father more than their mother, due to work, deployment, and such, but they still loved her.
It was a life the General would give anything to get back to.
For, whilst she, a Captain at the time, was out on manoeuvres, on the 21st of September 2000 AD, Second Impact occurred.
The floods came in so fast, in a way no one could have predicted. The coastal cities were swamped in a matter of days, not to be dry again until the great damming initiative of 2008. The people trapped in those dreadful places had one bit of solace, the JSDF had to be mobilizing. The army would come to save them. But the national diet, the parliament chosen to protect the Japanese people, panicked. They dithered, they dallied and squabbled over the correct course of action, as did many of the old democracies at the time.
So, for a precious day, the army, the navy, and the air force stood around, awaiting orders. When the command was finally given, Chiso was among the first in, paddling a rubber dingy through the thousands of islands that were once homes, making straight for her own. Her men did not consider her selfish. They understood her pain, as they felt it themselves.
Chiso's small yet comfortable home was totally submerged, the only thing she was capable of doing, was hopelessly screaming as her men desperately had to pin her down, to prevent the young captain from diving into the water. Army divers arrived soon enough, continuing on their sweep of the area, managing to get in through one of the shattered ground floor windows. And in the attic, they found the bloated, drowned bodies of a young man clinging tightly to two nine month old girls.
That day had changed the life of the woman who would be Japan's dictator. The democracy she had so happily served, was now something she despised. Motichka, upon identifying the bodies of her family, closing Yi-Gun's eyes for the last time, had vowed to crush and obliterate the weak system which had allowed her loved ones to die.
In the following further floods and earthquakes, with the population plummeting, promotion within the JSDF had come quickly for the extremely competent young woman. One thing had led to another, her belief in the weakness of democracy gaining the support of the army, and in 2004 she found herself as head of the new "National Defence Board."
She furiously blinked away a single tear, a sign of weakness. A thing she had personally vowed to stamp out.
General Motichka had to focus on the here and now, to honour her husband and her beautiful babies who would never grow up. Who would never say their first words, never go to school, never make friends, never pass their exams, never find boyfriend's or perhaps families of their own. They and tens of millions of Japanese would never see the future.
"Driver." Chiso said in an authoritative tone.
"Yes, General Motichka?" He said crisply.
"Open the sun roof...it's time I presented myself..."
-----------------------------------
Shinji would never wave the flag, or run headlong into battle for his country if he could help it. But he would sing "Kimigayo" with hand upon his meek heart, and a lump in his throat. He stood there, among all those thousands of people, watching the men march past in their disciplined formations and smart dark blue uniforms. Around him, a fair few of his classmates were joining in the chants of "Banzai" or cheering, Toji and Kensuke even punching their fists in the air.
Rei however did nothing else except watch everything go by, as if it were nothing more to her than shimmers in the pond. That did worry him, men in ordinary black suits and sunglasses were making their way through the crowd. A lack of trench coat telling all.
Ministry of the Interior. Probably making sure there isn't an assassin hiding with us. Crap, Ayanami-san, try and look a bit more patriotic! He flashed a quick glance of warning. She merely looked back, and remained as she was.
The men took one look at the albino, then clearly recognizing her, moved on.
The position Shinji and his classmates had chosen was a good one in his opinion, despite so many people being around him. At the other end of the street, well within sight, was the Imperial Palace. Considering what Motichka had to do before settling into Tokyo-3, the quiet young man was incredibly excited.
Actually seeing his Majesty...with my own eyes!
Emperor Kanaye publicly appeared bizarrely often for an Emperor of Japan. You could actually count his televised state addresses with more than the fingers on one hand, made even stranger by the fact he'd barely ruled for twelve years. And it had only been for the past one or two he'd been mentally mature enough to even be involved with the role. Shinji had never seen the crippled fourteen year old in person before, despite his monarch being present for many of the naval reviews at Kure. Of course with General Motichka at his side...
Then, as if on cue, the words "Motichka Banzai!" rippled through the crowd, drawing his attention to the source of it. Standing out of the sun roof of her car, gloved hand raised in acknowledgement, resplendent in dark blue uniform, was the dictator of Japan. He didn't repeat the words many others did, but respectfully bowed his head.
Inspired by the presence of their leader, the massed bands of the Tokyo-3 garrison struck up a song that stirred the hearts of all. A song even Shinji and his classmates found themselves joining in.
"Japan our home of many isles. Surrounded by the crystal sea! Red rising sun, let your rays illuminate the entire blue sky!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour! So forwards march as one!
Our lives for our beloved Japan!"
It was a chilling sensation, to join his voice with those of hundreds of thousands, but it made his spirits soar.
I am Japanese. I am a part of this. And I am proud of it.
"Spirits watch over our souls, as we march against your enemy! We see the flag flying ahead of us, in all its red rays of glory!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour!
So with our blood sweat and tears, the sun shall rise over our Japan!"
In tandem with the General's car reaching the steps of the Imperial palace, the drums and brass instruments of the Japanese State Army fell quiet. And so did the crowd, for they knew what came next.
Forty Imperial Guardsmen in their laced with gold uniforms, caps having a white feather firmly inserted in their fronts, spilled out of the open palace doors, forming a corridor of dark blue from the car to the entrance. Coming a few moments after them, a smaller figure whose complexion was sickly pale. He hobbled forward in a coat tailed black suit, walking stick held in his gloved hand.
But his eyes, eyes that only Chiso and her escort could see, those green eyes that pierced any and all defences, spoke volumes about the young man.
Coming to within a few feet of the commander of his armies, Emperor Kanaye bowed slightly, causing the General, a person who both terrified and awed millions, to bow even lower.
This simple ceremony over, he straightened up and cast his gaze upon the many thousands gathered before him, producing a slight smile. The disabled teen, two years the Eva Pilot's junior, stood on those steps with a strength unique only to him. With his one hand not in use, he raised it in greeting to his army, and his people.
The result was both soldier and civilian screaming in unison, again and again, "Tenno Heika Banzai!"
Among all those many many fists punched into the air, was Shinji Ikari's. His voice, drowned out by those of his classmates alone, was filled with a passion that Rei had only heard once before. Not quite in the same manner, but the feeling of devotion was similar. That was the voice with which he'd called out to her on the night they'd faced the 6th Seraph.
It baffled the ethereal girl. How one could feel so strongly for an inanimate rock, and someone the individual hardly knew, was beyond her.
Patriotism is a philosophy of ignorant ancestor worship. One that drives humanity apart like no other idea in existence. You must free us of such things, Rei.
That was what the Commander had said to her, and she would obey to the best of her abilities. That was the purpose of her creation after all. But...her curiosity on the matter was overwhelming. Her pale hand found itself tugging on Shinji's shoulder, catching his attention.
"Hm? What is it Ayanami-san?" He said, totally invested with whatever she had to say. In a way the Commander never could.
"I am still not understanding of the situation. Why do you place so much faith and care into all this?" Her quiet question caused him to blink in thought, before sighing.
"I'm finished here. We'll talk about it on the way home. Is that alright?"
A nod of acceptance sealed the matter.
"Alright. Um, Class rep!" He called out to the "pig tailed dictator."
"Ikari-san, outside of school it's Horaki-san. What can I do for you?" She said in what could be deemed a normal tone. Considering what he'd seen of her so far, it was surprisingly soft.
"Ayanami-san's ready to go home, and I've had enough. We'll see you tomorrow." He courteously bowed, which his class rep returned.
"Don't take any back alleys okay?" She added with a little harshness, full on implying that was an order.
"I promise."
Gaining two "see you later's" from Kensuke and Toji, the two Eva Pilots took one of the trains to the vicinity of the albino's run down home.
--------------------------------
With the train carriage empty, and the journey being some fifteen minutes, Shinji felt there was plenty of time to talk.
"Sorry about hurrying you off like that. It's just...so many Ministry of the Interior agents around...didn't want them to think you were un-patriotic or something." His small smile turned into a chuckle when Rei innocently responded with "but technically I am."
"What is funny?" She tilted her head.
"You're honest and fearless. That...might not be such a good idea."
Making your true feelings known about the State had never been the smartest of things to do. If you were lucky, no one else would hear you. If you were unlucky, it was a week in a filthy cell. Along with a black eye and a broken nose.
He'd never been in one, and he never intended to.
"If they strike fear into you...then why do you owe them loyalty?" Rei pressed on regardless.
Her "brother" ran a hand through his hair.
"I...it's not that I like the government...actually I really kind of hate them sometimes but...it's the only one we have. I-I respect them and all, don't get me wrong, Motichka pulled us through some bad times. But they're too harsh, far too harsh..." He gulped a little bit, trying to put across his complicated feelings towards the "Defence Board."
"And besides, I care a lot more about Japan." He said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because it's my home. It's where I was born, it's where I was raised and it'll probably be where I die. Not to mention..." Shinji shook his head, as if thinking better of what he was going to say next. However, upon realising that a pair of red eyes where still fixed on him, an answer was coaxed forth.
"Alright. I don't think anything of myself. Hell, I don't really care all that much about myself to begin with...but with Japan and its people, my country and people, I'm part of something bigger, something better...more important than I could ever hope to be...I actually...belong somewhere..." His shrill voice became sad.
Go ahead, cry about how small and useless you are. Show her how pathetic you are.
"Sorry, that's a bit heavy for an afternoon conversation." He humourlessly chuckled to himself.
It was silent on the train for a while, until Rei opened her pale lips to speak again.
"I feel no connection with the landmass upon which I was created. Nor the people with whom I am meant to share a good deal of my DNA, or the individual who is meant to be my Monarch. I do not feel that bond like you do...but I understand. It must be very comforting to able to...belong somewhere..."
Shinji uselessly opened his mouth, trying to continue this conversation, but all that needed to be said had already been said. Some measure of understanding on the matter had been reached. No more words were spoken for the rest of the journey.
-------------------------------------------------------
Well, eight thousand words or more. Hopefully they are adequate.
Sorry about the wait, I've had a boatload of college work been dropped on me of late so I've had to divide my attention between interesting things and boring things. All of a sudden, writing Sovereignty has become far more fun in my eyes. So much better to do than "Gender in the English Language..."
Anyways, next segment we are going to be finding out a little bit more about how the Evas work, before, upon this chapter's completion, a certain terrifying Teutonic red head is going to blaze her way into this tale, with a snooty blonde Imperial aristocrat not far behind her...
Oh shit, the next few chapters are just going to be a whale of a time.
(Eh...eh? Get it? Because Gahghiel is like a whale? A whale of mass destruction? A WHALE OF A GOOD TIME! Hahahahahah...I'm sorry...)
Until next time my dear readers!
Last edited:
Turing Decidable
𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕗
- Location
- Belgium
- Pronouns
- He/Him
...so she's a psyker?
Aww...
Good to know she at least has a reason for the dictator nonsense.
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
HOW DO I GET THAT!!!???
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
By not being a Heretic!
Turing Decidable
𝕘𝕒𝕣𝕗
- Location
- Belgium
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's actually an outside image, just save it in your browser or something.
Teh world building 2
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
Right then, just a further bit of world building for you all.
Here is what the Japanese State Army infantry uniform looks like. It is almost an exact copy of what Japanese soldiers were wearing in the age of the Empire at the end of the 19th century, as it is intended to emulate the power and prestige of the nation back then. If you simply add knee high black boots, then you have your average JSA trooper.
The type 1 uniform, brought into circulation by the command of the Defense Board in 2004 in accordance with their "Hokori no Isan" initiative, which was a military wide reform act for uniform, is completely designed to show off. Whilst not quite as flamboyant as that of the Imperial British uniform, it is still quite a sight to behold, completely contrasting with the drab brown of the PLA's attire.
With the decline of camouflage on the battle field due to the advent of heat vision, the general idea was to create a uniform that would emulate Japan's days of Imperial glory before things went so terribly wrong in the early 20th, and give the troopers of Japan something proud to wear. And despite it being terribly difficult to keep clean, recent surveys do show that Japanese soldiers do take immense pride in their uniform.
Of course, as this is their ceremonial uniform, a cap is included. For combat duties they are given body armour, the "Kotai industries" mark 2 battle armour. Which is basically a gunmetal grey and technologically inferior version of the standard issue United Nations Space Command Marine's M52B body armour, as shown below, coupled with the mark 3 "Kotai" helmet, which once again is a gunmetal grey helmet that (I drew a fair bit of inspiration from Halo with the JSA) resembles that of a UNSC Marine's, which is also featured below.
"The standard issue armour of the Japanese soldier is probably the best in the world, with even the Federation's "scutum" set struggling to catch up. What with its flexible yet strong plastic base, covered by a light metal out casing, the KI mark 2 battle armour can quite simply stop a round from tearing out the wearer's heart and somewhat diffuse the impact of said round without the individual being knocked clean off their feet." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
"The marvellous KIHP mark 2, is a helmet with both combat effectiveness, adaptability, and comfort in mind. It is composed of the same strong yet light metal used in Kotai's battle armour, with circuitry running throughout the helmet, providing radio and a hud upon its visor. Extra items can be fitted to it, such as a breather, with relative ease, making it a lifesaver for JSA troopers during gass attacks in the Pacific War." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
And to top it off, the standard issue weapon of the standard JSA infantryman is the KIRFR mark 6, (yes, the KI stands for Kotai Industries, they are the sole manufacturer of Japan's arsenal, and they will be the subject of the next lore snippet) which is basically this.
"With a thirty round magazine, and a firing rate of three precise rounds per squeeze of the trigger, the black KIRFR is a weapon perfectly designed to scythe down the massed formation classically used by the People's Liberation Army. With an advanced scope capable of heat vision, the weapon is extremely advanced, which unfortunately does lead to technical faults, and woe betide the individual who lets it get dirty, so much so that a few Japanese soldiers did trade their rifles for the ever reliable Communist AK47. But they were very few in number. For the KIRFR is not called "Hei si bing" by the Chinese without reason..." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
----------------------------------------------------
How much time do I have on my hands to think this shit up? Probably too much.
Update is in the works and should be ready by next Friday. Emphasis on should be...
Here is what the Japanese State Army infantry uniform looks like. It is almost an exact copy of what Japanese soldiers were wearing in the age of the Empire at the end of the 19th century, as it is intended to emulate the power and prestige of the nation back then. If you simply add knee high black boots, then you have your average JSA trooper.
The type 1 uniform, brought into circulation by the command of the Defense Board in 2004 in accordance with their "Hokori no Isan" initiative, which was a military wide reform act for uniform, is completely designed to show off. Whilst not quite as flamboyant as that of the Imperial British uniform, it is still quite a sight to behold, completely contrasting with the drab brown of the PLA's attire.
With the decline of camouflage on the battle field due to the advent of heat vision, the general idea was to create a uniform that would emulate Japan's days of Imperial glory before things went so terribly wrong in the early 20th, and give the troopers of Japan something proud to wear. And despite it being terribly difficult to keep clean, recent surveys do show that Japanese soldiers do take immense pride in their uniform.
Of course, as this is their ceremonial uniform, a cap is included. For combat duties they are given body armour, the "Kotai industries" mark 2 battle armour. Which is basically a gunmetal grey and technologically inferior version of the standard issue United Nations Space Command Marine's M52B body armour, as shown below, coupled with the mark 3 "Kotai" helmet, which once again is a gunmetal grey helmet that (I drew a fair bit of inspiration from Halo with the JSA) resembles that of a UNSC Marine's, which is also featured below.
"The standard issue armour of the Japanese soldier is probably the best in the world, with even the Federation's "scutum" set struggling to catch up. What with its flexible yet strong plastic base, covered by a light metal out casing, the KI mark 2 battle armour can quite simply stop a round from tearing out the wearer's heart and somewhat diffuse the impact of said round without the individual being knocked clean off their feet." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
"The marvellous KIHP mark 2, is a helmet with both combat effectiveness, adaptability, and comfort in mind. It is composed of the same strong yet light metal used in Kotai's battle armour, with circuitry running throughout the helmet, providing radio and a hud upon its visor. Extra items can be fitted to it, such as a breather, with relative ease, making it a lifesaver for JSA troopers during gass attacks in the Pacific War." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
And to top it off, the standard issue weapon of the standard JSA infantryman is the KIRFR mark 6, (yes, the KI stands for Kotai Industries, they are the sole manufacturer of Japan's arsenal, and they will be the subject of the next lore snippet) which is basically this.
"With a thirty round magazine, and a firing rate of three precise rounds per squeeze of the trigger, the black KIRFR is a weapon perfectly designed to scythe down the massed formation classically used by the People's Liberation Army. With an advanced scope capable of heat vision, the weapon is extremely advanced, which unfortunately does lead to technical faults, and woe betide the individual who lets it get dirty, so much so that a few Japanese soldiers did trade their rifles for the ever reliable Communist AK47. But they were very few in number. For the KIRFR is not called "Hei si bing" by the Chinese without reason..." Equipment and efficiency, the modern attire of the common soldier, 2015.
----------------------------------------------------
How much time do I have on my hands to think this shit up? Probably too much.
Update is in the works and should be ready by next Friday. Emphasis on should be...
- Location
- SDAT Mixtape
I seriously love the detail you give to things - especially outside the story. It has made for a very good (imo, of course) balance between world-building and actual narrative.
It still makes me grin to imagine the Brits going around on futuristic, Halo-esque armor painted RED. Sharpe would be proud!
It still makes me grin to imagine the Brits going around on futuristic, Halo-esque armor painted RED. Sharpe would be proud!
Chapter 6.3
Lord Sovereign
The Emperor of shitty fanfic
- Location
- England
And we back, with six and a half thousand words. Am I not generous to you all?
I had to slightly push myself to get this finished on schedule, but it's here. Chapter 6 is now complete.
Which means the greatest of the Sovereign's admirals is set to arrive very soon.
Before we begin however, what would you like the next lore segment to be about? Kotai industries or one of the ships used by the Japanese State Navy. Your decision!
--------------------------------------------------
5:00am, Wednesday the 12th of July, NERV Central, synch room.
"Oh Spirits..." Shinji muttered, massaging his exhausted, sleep deprived, eyes.
He'd never enjoyed early starts, in fact he was vehemently against them. For his philosophy on the matter was "how can anyone do anything properly if they haven't had enough sleep?" This being further exasperated by him never sleeping well.
Unfortunately, it seemed his father did not have a similar idea. Although, in the boy's eyes, it was worth noting if soulless beings needed sleep...
"Don't worry, Shinji-kun, I hate the morning shift too. But think about it, the sooner we start the sooner it's over." Misato could easily stay awake at this early time, but that was only from years of experience. She'd actually dozed off on her first night shift. It had been very fortunate it was Ritsuko who found her like that and gently woke her up. Had it been anyone else who was high ranking, or Spirits forbid, the Commander himself, she'd be out of a job.
"Indeed. Now then, Ikari-san, you know what to do. Clear your mind and sit tight, focus on your connection." Ritsuko addressed him, holding a clip board in hand. She, Misato, and a few other staff member stood behind a glass window, overseeing four cylinders, marked 00, 01, 02, 03, with the last two having been recently installed. These were replicas of the "plugs" which served as the Pilot's cockpit, each one replicating the unique conditions of said plug's Eva.
Within two of these plugs, marked 00 and 01, sat Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami.
This was a way of determining the strength of the Pilot's bond with their Eva, in a vastly less dangerous way than actually putting them in their respective Units and activating. Demonstrated by Unit 00's incident in the previous month.
"Ceasing all comms in ten seconds, Pilot Link test begins in 15, 14, 13..." Caspar's voice began to count down, in a surprisingly serious tone. Many staff assumed it was an automated voice, but the higher ups knew better. They weren't sure if the A.I had actually installed an automated voice or was just toying with them.
Why did we ever turn it on? Misato subconsciously chuckled.
Within Unit 01's plug, Shinji had closed his eyes, emptying it of everything save for the feeling of warmth and comfort that slowly engulfed him. It was strange how this thing which terrified him, was among the most comfortable places he'd ever been. If not the most.
It felt like being a child again, wrapped in a warm embrace only a mother could give. For the briefest moment, his mind went over what Rei must feel when connecting to her Eva, and whether or not it was similar to what he felt. That would have to be something he'd ask later.
The warmth came closer and closer, as if it where becoming part of him. A small part of his subconscious did worry about whether or not this "feeling" could overcome him. Override him.
But he didn't need to worry, for the sensation became symbiotic, as if himself and the feeling were alive and separate, yet one. It was something he both feared, and felt compelled to seek. He sat there, bubbles of LCL floating around him, as if this were his own bizarre little zen garden. In fact, he felt like falling asleep...
Then it stopped. The feeling vanished, as if it had never been there, Caspar's voice shredding his peace.
"Synch test complete. Pilot comms re-established."
"Your Pilot Link is holding at sixty-seven percent, Ikari-san. Well done. Same goes for yours, Ayanami-san, fifty-eight percent." Ritsuko's much quieter voice echoed through the plug.
"Um, thank you, Sub Commander Akagi." Shinji said humbly, the mere thought of praise still being a little alien to him.
Ignoring this, the Sub Commander continued.
"We're going to have to keep you in there for a bit longer. We've got a few more tests to run..." She trailed off, scratching the back of her neck, taking a quick look at the "Pilot Link" readings.
Hmm, Ikari-san fluctuates quite a bit but gets a higher score. Ayanami-san keeps it average but steady, I wouldn't expect anything less from her.
A chorus of "ryokai" came over the video link, leaving the various Section 4 staff to work in silence for a while. That was, until, Unit 01's Pilot cleared his throat.
"What is it, Ikari-san?" Ritsuko said absent mindedly.
"Uh...could I ask you some questions? About the Evas?"
A hush fell upon that room for a moment, as this was some sensitive information. Highly classified. In fact there were some things the Sub Commander knew that hardly anyone else in the room did. And in some cases, no others than NERV's High Command itself.
The faux blonde sighed.
"Well, I can't promise to answer all of them, but you are cleared for quite a few things, as is everyone else present, so fire away. We've time to kill."
Shinji's tongue tied itself into knots, not having thought he would get this far.
"Alright...um...uh...what are the Evangelions? I hate to say it but...I'm not really buying the whole war machine thing anymore..."
"That's partially classified unfortunately. The most I can say is, they are mechanical in nature. But keep going." Ritsuko dismissed.
But that doesn't mean there isn't anything organic, does it? Misato's subconscious harrumphed. She was combat operations director, Sub Commander of Section 3, one of the highest ranking people on sight, cleared to set eyes upon Subject Creatrix, but there were still many things she didn't know.
"Oh...sorry...what about A-T fields? What are they?" Shinji tried another question.
"Ah! There I can help you." Ritsuko said with a hint of enthusiasm.
"An A-T field is basically the barrier of one's soul. They are what keeps all living things as individuals in short. I have one, you have one, everyone has one. Thing is we haven't been aware of them until recently, and it was five years after their discovery that we began incorporating them into our technology with the S2 engines. We are literally using barriers of souls as unlimited power supply." She let that sink in, Shinji's expression of shock on the video link causing a few staff to chuckle or giggle.
"Naturally A-T fields are almost non-existent, undetectable. It's just through modern technology we can amplify them into an extremely potent forcefield. Nigh invincible in the case of the Evangelions...unless they are up against creatures that wield A-T fields as weapons..." The faux blonde trailed off, still not getting over how bizarre the Seraphim were in that respect. That they could bend the barriers of their own souls to their whim with ease, should have been impossible.
"So...the Eva amplifies my soul?" Shinji pressed on.
"That's quite a crude way of putting it...but not far off. As modern society is almost completely powered by them, you can tell we generate artificial ones. Your A-T field is amplified and it mixes with the Eva's A-T field, making a stronger one altogether." Ritsuko, having finished flicking through her notes, now had her complete attention focused on the young Pilot's questions.
"Okay, I think I get that. But still...how did you build these things? I mean...you must have done it in private. If you hadn't I'd be seeing trademark Kotai Industries stamped everywhere." His words elicited a few laughs from the staff.
Kotai Industries, the megacorp with absolute monopoly on the production of Japan's arsenal. The contracts to everything, from bullets to battleships, were theirs. And they fiercely defended it.
"Oh you wouldn't believe how much they hate NERV for not contracting them with the Eva series. They even tried to make their own version to out compete us, the...Jet Alone was its name right?" Misato flashed her brown gaze to Ritsuko, as a sign for reassurance she was correct. A swift nod confirmed it.
"Yes, Jet Alone. Huge robot with an artificially generated A-T field. Never got off the ground, the Evangelion Units were considered superior in every single respect. For once the politicians thought the cost was worth it..." The purplehead trailed off, her mind grappling with just how much money went on these bizarre creations.
Could probably do a bit more than "retire for life surrounded by muscle bound men" with that kind of money.
"Well, we're almost finished, so if you've got anything else, now is the time." Ritsuko "hmm'd" in satisfaction when the results of silent running were displayed.
Ikari-san at six percent, Ayanami-san at twenty percent. That's my girl.
It was quiet over the comms for a while, before he asked his last question.
"...you do have an eject system right? I keep looking around for a lever in here, I...I can't find anything."
"It's fully automated, there's not really any need for a lever." The faux blonde Sub-Commander said dismissively, as if it were irrelevant.
"...Wait...back up a moment...what do you mean, no need for a lever?"
"Don't worry! It's worked just fine so far. Your safety is our top priority, Ikari-san." Maya cut in, a tone more positive and sweet than most could muster.
Indeed, Rei murmured in concurrence from within her grey matter.
This cheerful tone however, had no effect on the pessimistic young man.
"There's always a first time for everything..."
-----------------------------------
11:59am, Tokyo-3, the Imperial Palace, His Majesty's office
The Emperor's office was plain. There were plenty of windows for sunlight to trickle in, and a gorgeous view of a classic Japanese garden outside, but aside from that, the desk, cabinets, and flooring, were all incredibly simple.
To a subject of the British Emperor, this lack of pomp, grandeur, or luxury would have been astonishing. The sovereign of a nation should show his power. How else would others recognize it? But that was not the Japanese way. Refinement and humility had been the mindset long before Chiso was born. Whereas the other powers sought to display their grandeur in any way possible, her people looked to nature, to the beauty of imperfection, the blossoming of the cherry trees, and grace, and subtlety.
The British called them barbarians, whereas in her not so humble opinion, it was the other way around.
The Emperor of Japan, Kanaye Yamato, the last of his lineage, sat at his desk filing through various documents, walking stick resting against his seat. Upon the entry of General Motichka, the supreme commander of his armies and surrogate mother, he quickly raised his head, a warm smile on his pale lips.
Chiso walked in front of his desk, clicked her heels and bowed, gaining a nod in response.
"How is his Majesty on this fine day?" She said, her own smile forming. For the General enjoyed talking with the boy.
The Emperor leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"His Majesty doesn't understand how you people's souls don't slip away when doing all this." He gestured at the vast amount of paperwork.
Chiso chuckled a little, then walked over to the windows.
"Surely his Majesty is aware that everything he signs has already been read through by trusted advisers?"
He tsked and rolled his eyes, before returning to work.
Kanaye was an individual who was involved with the government of Japan. He couldn't form any legislation or dictate policy, only the national diet and the Defence Board could do that. All the relevant files had already been approved for being made policy, all he had to do was sign. But that was not enough for the young man. Over the past few years, since he'd assumed the responsibilities of his title, he'd insisted on reading through everything. And if something disturbed him, he would speak to the general who was the real power in his country about the subject.
The Emperor in Britain has much more power than me, and yet he does not nearly as much. Lazy swine...being Emperor is hardly a part time job after all...
"How goes the securing of the Imperial lineage?" She turned towards her monarch, an eyebrow raised in amusement at his glower.
"Chiso...I'm going to enjoy what remnant I have of a childhood before I even think about that. And besides that's private, despite even your best attempts to remove dignity from such things."
This of course was on the subject of the monumental cultural changes the General had brought about since accumulating power. As Japan's population was already in decline, even before Second Impact, a birth increase was needed. To achieve this, she'd ordered enhanced sex education in schools, smashing the ice on this awkward matter, slashing work shifts to eight hours a day, creating a national "dating", as the westerners put it, organization, and offering financial encouragement for couples to have babies.
In short, the Defence Board had created one of the most sexed generations in Japanese history. The result of which being the population soaring to sixty-five million by 2017. As one can imagine, for a culture as rigid as that, it was quite the change.
Her smile not disappearing, the General brought herself over to Kanaye's desk.
"Is this anything you want to talk about?"
Kanaye set down the paper's he held, and tapped his finger upon the wood beneath it.
"Not in that manner. But there is something. It's a matter of state. I...hadn't wanted to tell you because I know what your temper is like...but as I appreciate the whole surrogate mother service you provided for me after Tokyo-2 was levelled-" He reached into one of the many draws in his desk, pulling out a sheet of paper marked with Ministry of the Interior surveillance. He handed it to the General.
"They managed to tap one of Gendo Ikari's phone conversations between him and his Vice Commander."
Chiso scanned through the text, her gaze fixing on one bit of dialogue near the bottom.
Fuyutsuki: Considering how close together the previous attacks have been...perhaps we should have the Emperor moved-
Ikari: The life of the cripple is irrelevant. The Evas are all that matter. Focus your concentration, Fuyutsuki-sensei, this war will soon be over.
The sound of paper being crumpled into nothingness made Kanaye thankful there were copies of it.
"Insolent old bastard! Who does he think he is!?" Chiso snarled, tossing the paper aside. She paced around the room, as she always did when stressed.
"There is a slight point. I mean...if the Evas are destroyed that is the end of us all. If I die...well about sixty-five million people get a national holiday. And at the end of the day, I'm sure it's nothing personal-"
"No, Kanaye! You are the Emperor, by Amaterasu he should show his sovereign all the due respect and care you deserve. I will have his hide for this!"
"Chiso. Calm down." Kanaye switched to his "commanding voice" which, whilst it didn't have the cold hard authority of Gendo Ikari's, it was still thick with authority. The General immediately stopped pacing, breathing in deeply through her nose then exhaling through her mouth.
"I am sorry, your Majesty. I just can't stand that man as it is. Even more so because of his bloated sense of self importance and disregard for our country. And for you."
"It's alright. I know he annoys you, but he probably knows that. In fact he could actually be trying to provoke you, gain some sort of control over you. He's the sort of man who would try I think." The Emperor trailed off.
Power is everything to him. He'd even use his own son, his own flesh and blood, to further his ends. I don't care if NERV is saving the world, I just can't shake the feeling that whatever they're doing might not be in the best interest of the nation.
A part of him found his Imperial sense of paranoia to be amusing. That was to be expected, as when one, at the tender age of two years old, is pulled from the remnants of a nuclear blast, barely clinging to life, they may become untrusting. You could never know when the next bomb would land.
Chiso looked like she was pondering those words for a while, before shivering.
He does not control me. I am not like those foolish Akagi whores!
"A fair point, your Majesty. Nevertheless, I sincerely look forward to the day when he outlives his usefulness..."
A grim atmosphere hung over the office for a while, until Kanaye curled his hand around his walking stick and stood up.
"I believe it is time for lunch. Would you care to join me?"
All that anger vanished from Chiso's expression, herself producing a warm smile, one only a mother could be capable of. Straightening herself, she bowed her head.
"It would be my pleasure, your Majesty."
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1:00pm, NERV quarters
Having flopped on the sofa, dark rings under her brown eyes after an early start and a now finished shift, clothed in nothing but her usual yellow T-shirt and blue shorts, Misato Katsuragi leisurely sipped some ice cold beer, freshly retrieved from the fridge.
Shinji was currently sitting in the bath, most likely attempting to scrub off whatever was left of the LCL on his skin. Granted, he'd already had a shower back at NERV central, but when it came to the foul smelling orange liquid, there wasn't such thing as overkill.
Flicking through the channels on her smart TV, Misato marvelled at just how far technology had leaped forward since that day in Antarctica all those years ago...She winced upon thinking about that, her hand immediately tracing the area under her left breast, where a terrible scar from a terrible event resided.
Refocusing her mind back on the progress of technology over the past seventeen years, she still couldn't wrap her mind around the, for want of a word, "box" she'd watched low definition shows on during childhood, had evolved into these things which automatically linked to the internet and could download almost anything.
Technology. Mankind's true triumph over nature.
Man's brilliance was what had saved him from the Seraphim's wrath. How unfortunate that he turned it upon himself for six long years of bloodshed. She'd been nineteen years old when the Chinese invasion happened. Granted, it hadn't been so bad, a week of sharing a bunk with a man in a shelter had proven to be...very enjoyable.
But she would never forget seeing the news, of when the army retook Fukuyama. The charred, burned or mutilated bodies of one hundred thousand innocents slaughtered for the crimes of their forebears, being shown for all to see. "Nanking's vengeance" was what the Communists had called it. To think the nice boy who sat in her bath, who washed and ironed her clothes, and made her dinners had lived through that as a toddler, was mind boggling.
Poor kid...to have survived that, then to get thrown into an even bigger war zone...shit, necessity is cruel.
Having found a channel she liked, Misato nestled herself into her pillows, gulping down some more beer.
Channel Ghibli as it was called, had been set up by the Defence Board some eleven years ago as part of their continuing program to promote Japan's "cultural greatness."
It did exactly what it said on the tin. The genius of Hayao Miyazaki, all day, every day. Considering Nausica and Mononoke were her childhood, the purplehead was very glad for its existence.
The sound of warking to her side caught Misato's attention.
"Hey, Pen, how are you doing?" She said with a tired smile as the Penguin clambered onto the sofa and buried himself into her stomach.
It was strange to think, how this stupid bird had somehow managed to yank her out of that state she was in, after surviving Second Impact. How when all the doctors had failed to even elicit a response from her, this thing, which had waddled into her "room" at the time without reason, managed to gain her fourteen year old attention with no small amount of warking.
The two had been inseparable since then.
Eventually, Shinji emerged from the bathroom, refreshed and revitalised, even though his hair was a mess. It was strange for Misato to see him like this, without that droopy fringe to cover his sad eyes. Clothed in a blue T-shirt and black trousers, instead of his usual attire of red shirt and blue jeans, he could have been mistaken for an ordinary, happy teenage boy.
But as anyone who knew anything about the children of Eva understood, this was not the case. Nor could it ever be.
"Did you enjoy your bath?" She asked.
"Yes...I could never use hot water like that back in Kure..." He chuckled, remembering how had to monitor his energy bill and whether or not any of the taps would start falling off.
Turning his gaze to the screen, his expression became puzzled and curious.
"Is...is that a Ghibli movie?"
"Yes." Misato nodded.
"I've never seen one before."
"You've never seen one before? Didn't you watch them on television or anything?" She trailed off, seeing the face of her charge tighten.
"I never had a television. Teacher didn't think much of them."
Those things melt your brains. Besides, work is far more important than whatever nonsense people of your age watch...
"Oh...well then!" Misato's tone lightened up as she swung her legs off the sofa, causing Pen-pen to flail around in surprise, and patted the cushion beside her, beckoning Shinji over.
"Everyone's got to begin somewhere. Come on, one's just starting." Her smile broadened when her charge awkwardly yet certainly sat next to her. Teacher had only ever sat next to him for work, and even then there was some distance. But now, being in so close a proximity to another human being, Shinji was beginning to wonder what he'd been afraid of.
This was...pleasant, even with his carer's running commentary throughout the movie really destroying any and all immersion, along with Pen-pen's constant beer breaks.
But he didn't care. For this strange woman was endearing herself to him ever more.
The film was quite good. The plot wasn't anything spectacular, but it was simple, easy to follow, and quite solid over all. The characters were decent, and the animation was stunning, absolutely stunning, instilling in him a wish to draw like that. But of course he couldn't. He couldn't make beautiful things after all.
Granted, some parts of it had been a little strange, like the eponymously named "moving castle" walking around some European-esque land, with its inhabitant that kept turning into a bird for some reason, but ultimately he found enjoyed it. A part of him resolved to watch television more often. Who knew what else was on?
"Shinji-kun?" Misato's voice broke him out of his moment of self reflection, his "hmm, what?" causing her to quietly laughed.
"Sorry to ruin your zoning out session, but I've got some news for you. In a few days, the German High Seas fleet and the Imperial 5th fleet will rendezvous with our Pacific fleet and arrive at Togo harbour. They're carrying Units 02 and 03, along with their Pilots."
Shinji gulped.
I've only just got used to a few people here, and now some foreigners...not that I don't appreciate the help mind you...
"However, whilst they're still sailing in, we're flying out to greet them."
"We?" He said, shocked.
"Yes, you and me. And some friends if you want."
Shinji couldn't find any word for this. He'd never liked moving around to begin with, and now he was being hauled off to meet yet more people he didn't know.
Just my luck.
Misato sighed, then put her hand on his shoulder.
"You've got to meet them sooner or later. And besides, a change of scenery would do you good." She gave it a squeeze before standing up. Fortunately, Pen-pen had rolled off her lap by now.
"Right, as it's lunch time, I think it's my turn to cook for a change."
"No no no no no, it's fine, really, Misato-san! I can do it myself!" He put on a winning grin, gaining a touched smile from the purplehead.
"Oh you're so sweet. But what sort of host would I be if I didn't cook at all?" Her tone remained innocent, but her smile became a grin of unimaginable depravity.
As many horrendous things were shoved in the microwave, what Misato called "curry surprise," Shinji and Pen-pen slowly locked gazes with one another. Despite those beady black eyes being small, the general gist of the Penguin's thoughts on the matter where quite plain for the meek young man.
Spirits go with you human. But you're on your own.
With that, the erect crested penguin scrambled away back to his home in the fridge. Leaving the boy to his fate, a look of utter despair in his cerulean eyes.
------------------------------------
11:00pm, Philippine sea, SMS Seydlitz of the Kaiserliche Marine.
It was cold at sea.
Not that she was unused to the feeling of cold, as the Reich was one of the few places in the world that actually got snow these days, but even then she found it chilly. This got on her nerves, as due to the cold she'd become pale, which showed off her freckles to the world. An aspect of her features she was embarrassed by.
Not that Countess Asuka Von Zeppelin Soryu, Hauptmann of the German Luftwaffe, would ever let anyone know that.
Her hands rested on the safety rail, sea winds ruffling her great golden red mane of hair and yellow sun dress, as she watched the waves beneath her. The only sources of light, were those of moon, stars, and the freshly lit cigarette to her side.
"That better be an E-cigarette." Her eyes narrowed, the offender laughing.
"Oh of course herr commandant, I wouldn't dream of anything else." Ryoji Kaji, her NERV handler, said with a slight smile, exhaling some of the foul smelling stuff.
Whilst Kaiser Rudolf Von Hohenzollern was technically Asuka's legal guardian, the "dummkopf" who stood to her left had been the redhead's caretaker for the past three years, where her training had intensified. In preparation for the war in which through luck alone an individual known to her as "stupid Shinji," or "Third Child," had stolen her thunder. Something to be rectified.
"And don't you forget it." She shot a look in Ryoji's direction, eliciting a mock whimper.
It had taken many years of bullying, threats, and coercion to get the brown haired, pony tailed Japanese man to give up those verdammt death sticks, but eventually her stubbornness had won through. All crumbled before the will of the great Asuka Zeppelin Soryu.
"Can't believe I've already missed three Seraphim. Are there going to be any left by the time I get there?" She mused to herself.
"Don't worry, Asuka-chan. You'll get to prove yourself, I have no doubt about it." Ryoji rested his own arms on the safety rail, having tossed his used up E-cigarette into the sea.
Sailing alongside them, were the vessels of the combined fleet, German "Brandenburg" class frigates streaking ahead of the main formation, with Imperial "Indefatigable" class Battlecruisers following up their rear. Straight ahead of the Seydlitz, two Pruessen class Heavy cruisers steamed forward, tow cables attached to the mighty "Friedrich" class carrier, occasional flashes of orange lightening at their prows indicating the buffeting of their A-T fields against the power of the sea.
It was an irritating fact Evangelions messed with S2 engines via their presence. It was why they couldn't be flown over here, as an FCV would fall out of the sky in an attempt to carry an Eva. So it had been the long way to Japan she'd took, much to the young Countess's frustration.
"So, looking forward to getting home?" Asuka decided to take her mind off the matter through engaging her big brother figure in conversation.
"Hmm?"
"Are you looking forward to getting home you deaf dummkopf?"
He smiled slightly at the annoyance evident in the girl's voice.
"A little. A lot's changed since I was last here..."
"Jah. It's been ten years hasn't it?" Asuka pressed, gaining a slight nod from the United Nations Intelligence Service agent.
"It's actually more like twelve years." He said quietly, reflecting on something unpleasant.
Being someone who'd grown up in the court of the Kaiser, Asuka was capable of manoeuvring herself through conversation, therefore being able to tell from a mile away this was something her companion did not want to talk about. Not out of anything personal of course.
Ryoji was an attractive man of thirty-two years, with some brown stubble around his chin. His eyes matched the colour of his hair, and although she'd always thought the colour brown was boring, it worked for him. It was thus understandable she'd harboured a crush on him in her early teenage years, one that lasted to this day. Granted, she was now old enough to understand how that wouldn't work, but Asuka still couldn't help but find him gorgeous.
How unfortunate she was not older, and his heart had already been claimed.
"Quiet as a bloody grave up here. Has someone died and should I know about it?" A new voice, shrill and aristocratic, spoke in the High Imperial tongue. Although the German's gaze remained fixed forward, a small smile did grow on her lips.
"Well well, Meadow-san, deigned fit to join us have you?" Ryoji raised an eyebrow at the sixteen year old blonde boy who had entered the scene, resplendent in his navy blue officer's uniform.
"The correct term is gracing you with my presence, Ryoji." Major Samuel Alexander Meadow of the Imperial Britannic Army, flashed a smile only an Imperial aristocrat could produce, before turning his eyes upon Asuka.
"You must be freezing in that. Do I need to get you a coat?"
Her own gaze turned upon him, her eyes having narrowed in displeasure.
I thought not He laughed at such a display of stubbornness.
The agent leaned back from the rails, clicking his shoulders into place.
"I'm hungry. I'll give you some time alone with your boyfriend." His grin broadened when both the Pilots faces turned red.
"Insolent...bloody...barbarian...swine..." The Imperial grumbled, whilst Asuka unleashed a tsunami of obscenities in her native language. The only response they got was a humoured wave of the hand, as the Japanese man disappeared into the bowels of the Seydlitz.
The two were alone in the moonlight.
"You really should discipline your servant." Samuel said with a shake of his head.
"Oh he knows his place." Asuka put on a smile, one that beckoned him over.
"Right..." He brought himself next to her and looked out over the sea, hands held behind his back. His complexion was quite handsome, his uncontrollable blonde hair and electric blue eyes contrasting and complementing each other nicely. And in that uniform, navy blue tunic, khaki trousers, knee high black boots and golden epaulettes, she imagining he'd gain the attention of many girls in Japan.
Due to the clear sky it looked like the sea itself was sparkling, with a million lights dancing across its waves.
"How do you do it? It's bloody chilly out here." Samuel stamped one of his feet in an attempt to keep warm. And he was in uniform, Asuka was in nothing but a yellow dress, red shoes, and a choker clasped around her neck. She chuckled at him.
"A beautiful night." He craned his neck up at the sky, appreciating the vastness of space.
"Yeah."
After a while, Samuel's face became contemplative, and a little sad, his mouth opening and closing uselessly, catching the redhead's attention.
"You want to talk about Buenos Airez, don't you?" Her usually hard expression softened when he nervously nodded.
"Bad dreams?"
He nodded again.
Releasing the rails and pulling her best friend of the past six years into her arms, Asuka felt him choke back a sob, forcing it down with all his might. His arms snaked around her as well.
"That rebellion had to be put down, for the Empire, but...did it have to be like that?" Images of a city on fire and the death screams of seventy thousand people quickly flashed through his young mind, making fighting his weakness even more difficult.
"I don't know. There isn't anything to be done about it now though." She said truthfully. Eventually his shaking stopped, and they were able to release one another. Taking a step back, Asuka leant on the safety rails again, and Samuel's hands returned to behind his back. His old composure regained, he muttered a quick and quiet "thank you" before clearing his throat.
"Well then, what do you think about this Shinji?"
"What about him?" She grumbled.
"He sounds somewhat capable for a barbarian..." The Imperial pilot was saying, until the redhead wagged her finger at him.
"Beginners luck that's all. We'll show him how real Eva Pilot Elites do it." She leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze of the sea, no matter how cold it made her feel.
"Indeed. Although that will very much be my job as I'll be winning this war single handedly." Samuel's sly grin increased as Asuka's eyes snapped open and shot him a playful yet murderous stare.
"No no no, I'm getting the most kills, Sam. I'll leave some for you, but the rest are mine. Besides, I am the best Eva pilot after all." She placed a hand on her chest, utter confidence in what she was saying.
Samuel shrugged.
"Perhaps. But lets face it, Asuka, Unit 03 is superior to Unit 02, that's just an indisputable fact-"
"Halt die Klappe!"
I had to slightly push myself to get this finished on schedule, but it's here. Chapter 6 is now complete.
Which means the greatest of the Sovereign's admirals is set to arrive very soon.
Before we begin however, what would you like the next lore segment to be about? Kotai industries or one of the ships used by the Japanese State Navy. Your decision!
--------------------------------------------------
5:00am, Wednesday the 12th of July, NERV Central, synch room.
"Oh Spirits..." Shinji muttered, massaging his exhausted, sleep deprived, eyes.
He'd never enjoyed early starts, in fact he was vehemently against them. For his philosophy on the matter was "how can anyone do anything properly if they haven't had enough sleep?" This being further exasperated by him never sleeping well.
Unfortunately, it seemed his father did not have a similar idea. Although, in the boy's eyes, it was worth noting if soulless beings needed sleep...
"Don't worry, Shinji-kun, I hate the morning shift too. But think about it, the sooner we start the sooner it's over." Misato could easily stay awake at this early time, but that was only from years of experience. She'd actually dozed off on her first night shift. It had been very fortunate it was Ritsuko who found her like that and gently woke her up. Had it been anyone else who was high ranking, or Spirits forbid, the Commander himself, she'd be out of a job.
"Indeed. Now then, Ikari-san, you know what to do. Clear your mind and sit tight, focus on your connection." Ritsuko addressed him, holding a clip board in hand. She, Misato, and a few other staff member stood behind a glass window, overseeing four cylinders, marked 00, 01, 02, 03, with the last two having been recently installed. These were replicas of the "plugs" which served as the Pilot's cockpit, each one replicating the unique conditions of said plug's Eva.
Within two of these plugs, marked 00 and 01, sat Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami.
This was a way of determining the strength of the Pilot's bond with their Eva, in a vastly less dangerous way than actually putting them in their respective Units and activating. Demonstrated by Unit 00's incident in the previous month.
"Ceasing all comms in ten seconds, Pilot Link test begins in 15, 14, 13..." Caspar's voice began to count down, in a surprisingly serious tone. Many staff assumed it was an automated voice, but the higher ups knew better. They weren't sure if the A.I had actually installed an automated voice or was just toying with them.
Why did we ever turn it on? Misato subconsciously chuckled.
Within Unit 01's plug, Shinji had closed his eyes, emptying it of everything save for the feeling of warmth and comfort that slowly engulfed him. It was strange how this thing which terrified him, was among the most comfortable places he'd ever been. If not the most.
It felt like being a child again, wrapped in a warm embrace only a mother could give. For the briefest moment, his mind went over what Rei must feel when connecting to her Eva, and whether or not it was similar to what he felt. That would have to be something he'd ask later.
The warmth came closer and closer, as if it where becoming part of him. A small part of his subconscious did worry about whether or not this "feeling" could overcome him. Override him.
But he didn't need to worry, for the sensation became symbiotic, as if himself and the feeling were alive and separate, yet one. It was something he both feared, and felt compelled to seek. He sat there, bubbles of LCL floating around him, as if this were his own bizarre little zen garden. In fact, he felt like falling asleep...
Then it stopped. The feeling vanished, as if it had never been there, Caspar's voice shredding his peace.
"Synch test complete. Pilot comms re-established."
"Your Pilot Link is holding at sixty-seven percent, Ikari-san. Well done. Same goes for yours, Ayanami-san, fifty-eight percent." Ritsuko's much quieter voice echoed through the plug.
"Um, thank you, Sub Commander Akagi." Shinji said humbly, the mere thought of praise still being a little alien to him.
Ignoring this, the Sub Commander continued.
"We're going to have to keep you in there for a bit longer. We've got a few more tests to run..." She trailed off, scratching the back of her neck, taking a quick look at the "Pilot Link" readings.
Hmm, Ikari-san fluctuates quite a bit but gets a higher score. Ayanami-san keeps it average but steady, I wouldn't expect anything less from her.
A chorus of "ryokai" came over the video link, leaving the various Section 4 staff to work in silence for a while. That was, until, Unit 01's Pilot cleared his throat.
"What is it, Ikari-san?" Ritsuko said absent mindedly.
"Uh...could I ask you some questions? About the Evas?"
A hush fell upon that room for a moment, as this was some sensitive information. Highly classified. In fact there were some things the Sub Commander knew that hardly anyone else in the room did. And in some cases, no others than NERV's High Command itself.
The faux blonde sighed.
"Well, I can't promise to answer all of them, but you are cleared for quite a few things, as is everyone else present, so fire away. We've time to kill."
Shinji's tongue tied itself into knots, not having thought he would get this far.
"Alright...um...uh...what are the Evangelions? I hate to say it but...I'm not really buying the whole war machine thing anymore..."
"That's partially classified unfortunately. The most I can say is, they are mechanical in nature. But keep going." Ritsuko dismissed.
But that doesn't mean there isn't anything organic, does it? Misato's subconscious harrumphed. She was combat operations director, Sub Commander of Section 3, one of the highest ranking people on sight, cleared to set eyes upon Subject Creatrix, but there were still many things she didn't know.
"Oh...sorry...what about A-T fields? What are they?" Shinji tried another question.
"Ah! There I can help you." Ritsuko said with a hint of enthusiasm.
"An A-T field is basically the barrier of one's soul. They are what keeps all living things as individuals in short. I have one, you have one, everyone has one. Thing is we haven't been aware of them until recently, and it was five years after their discovery that we began incorporating them into our technology with the S2 engines. We are literally using barriers of souls as unlimited power supply." She let that sink in, Shinji's expression of shock on the video link causing a few staff to chuckle or giggle.
"Naturally A-T fields are almost non-existent, undetectable. It's just through modern technology we can amplify them into an extremely potent forcefield. Nigh invincible in the case of the Evangelions...unless they are up against creatures that wield A-T fields as weapons..." The faux blonde trailed off, still not getting over how bizarre the Seraphim were in that respect. That they could bend the barriers of their own souls to their whim with ease, should have been impossible.
"So...the Eva amplifies my soul?" Shinji pressed on.
"That's quite a crude way of putting it...but not far off. As modern society is almost completely powered by them, you can tell we generate artificial ones. Your A-T field is amplified and it mixes with the Eva's A-T field, making a stronger one altogether." Ritsuko, having finished flicking through her notes, now had her complete attention focused on the young Pilot's questions.
"Okay, I think I get that. But still...how did you build these things? I mean...you must have done it in private. If you hadn't I'd be seeing trademark Kotai Industries stamped everywhere." His words elicited a few laughs from the staff.
Kotai Industries, the megacorp with absolute monopoly on the production of Japan's arsenal. The contracts to everything, from bullets to battleships, were theirs. And they fiercely defended it.
"Oh you wouldn't believe how much they hate NERV for not contracting them with the Eva series. They even tried to make their own version to out compete us, the...Jet Alone was its name right?" Misato flashed her brown gaze to Ritsuko, as a sign for reassurance she was correct. A swift nod confirmed it.
"Yes, Jet Alone. Huge robot with an artificially generated A-T field. Never got off the ground, the Evangelion Units were considered superior in every single respect. For once the politicians thought the cost was worth it..." The purplehead trailed off, her mind grappling with just how much money went on these bizarre creations.
Could probably do a bit more than "retire for life surrounded by muscle bound men" with that kind of money.
"Well, we're almost finished, so if you've got anything else, now is the time." Ritsuko "hmm'd" in satisfaction when the results of silent running were displayed.
Ikari-san at six percent, Ayanami-san at twenty percent. That's my girl.
It was quiet over the comms for a while, before he asked his last question.
"...you do have an eject system right? I keep looking around for a lever in here, I...I can't find anything."
"It's fully automated, there's not really any need for a lever." The faux blonde Sub-Commander said dismissively, as if it were irrelevant.
"...Wait...back up a moment...what do you mean, no need for a lever?"
"Don't worry! It's worked just fine so far. Your safety is our top priority, Ikari-san." Maya cut in, a tone more positive and sweet than most could muster.
Indeed, Rei murmured in concurrence from within her grey matter.
This cheerful tone however, had no effect on the pessimistic young man.
"There's always a first time for everything..."
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11:59am, Tokyo-3, the Imperial Palace, His Majesty's office
The Emperor's office was plain. There were plenty of windows for sunlight to trickle in, and a gorgeous view of a classic Japanese garden outside, but aside from that, the desk, cabinets, and flooring, were all incredibly simple.
To a subject of the British Emperor, this lack of pomp, grandeur, or luxury would have been astonishing. The sovereign of a nation should show his power. How else would others recognize it? But that was not the Japanese way. Refinement and humility had been the mindset long before Chiso was born. Whereas the other powers sought to display their grandeur in any way possible, her people looked to nature, to the beauty of imperfection, the blossoming of the cherry trees, and grace, and subtlety.
The British called them barbarians, whereas in her not so humble opinion, it was the other way around.
The Emperor of Japan, Kanaye Yamato, the last of his lineage, sat at his desk filing through various documents, walking stick resting against his seat. Upon the entry of General Motichka, the supreme commander of his armies and surrogate mother, he quickly raised his head, a warm smile on his pale lips.
Chiso walked in front of his desk, clicked her heels and bowed, gaining a nod in response.
"How is his Majesty on this fine day?" She said, her own smile forming. For the General enjoyed talking with the boy.
The Emperor leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"His Majesty doesn't understand how you people's souls don't slip away when doing all this." He gestured at the vast amount of paperwork.
Chiso chuckled a little, then walked over to the windows.
"Surely his Majesty is aware that everything he signs has already been read through by trusted advisers?"
He tsked and rolled his eyes, before returning to work.
Kanaye was an individual who was involved with the government of Japan. He couldn't form any legislation or dictate policy, only the national diet and the Defence Board could do that. All the relevant files had already been approved for being made policy, all he had to do was sign. But that was not enough for the young man. Over the past few years, since he'd assumed the responsibilities of his title, he'd insisted on reading through everything. And if something disturbed him, he would speak to the general who was the real power in his country about the subject.
The Emperor in Britain has much more power than me, and yet he does not nearly as much. Lazy swine...being Emperor is hardly a part time job after all...
"How goes the securing of the Imperial lineage?" She turned towards her monarch, an eyebrow raised in amusement at his glower.
"Chiso...I'm going to enjoy what remnant I have of a childhood before I even think about that. And besides that's private, despite even your best attempts to remove dignity from such things."
This of course was on the subject of the monumental cultural changes the General had brought about since accumulating power. As Japan's population was already in decline, even before Second Impact, a birth increase was needed. To achieve this, she'd ordered enhanced sex education in schools, smashing the ice on this awkward matter, slashing work shifts to eight hours a day, creating a national "dating", as the westerners put it, organization, and offering financial encouragement for couples to have babies.
In short, the Defence Board had created one of the most sexed generations in Japanese history. The result of which being the population soaring to sixty-five million by 2017. As one can imagine, for a culture as rigid as that, it was quite the change.
Her smile not disappearing, the General brought herself over to Kanaye's desk.
"Is this anything you want to talk about?"
Kanaye set down the paper's he held, and tapped his finger upon the wood beneath it.
"Not in that manner. But there is something. It's a matter of state. I...hadn't wanted to tell you because I know what your temper is like...but as I appreciate the whole surrogate mother service you provided for me after Tokyo-2 was levelled-" He reached into one of the many draws in his desk, pulling out a sheet of paper marked with Ministry of the Interior surveillance. He handed it to the General.
"They managed to tap one of Gendo Ikari's phone conversations between him and his Vice Commander."
Chiso scanned through the text, her gaze fixing on one bit of dialogue near the bottom.
Fuyutsuki: Considering how close together the previous attacks have been...perhaps we should have the Emperor moved-
Ikari: The life of the cripple is irrelevant. The Evas are all that matter. Focus your concentration, Fuyutsuki-sensei, this war will soon be over.
The sound of paper being crumpled into nothingness made Kanaye thankful there were copies of it.
"Insolent old bastard! Who does he think he is!?" Chiso snarled, tossing the paper aside. She paced around the room, as she always did when stressed.
"There is a slight point. I mean...if the Evas are destroyed that is the end of us all. If I die...well about sixty-five million people get a national holiday. And at the end of the day, I'm sure it's nothing personal-"
"No, Kanaye! You are the Emperor, by Amaterasu he should show his sovereign all the due respect and care you deserve. I will have his hide for this!"
"Chiso. Calm down." Kanaye switched to his "commanding voice" which, whilst it didn't have the cold hard authority of Gendo Ikari's, it was still thick with authority. The General immediately stopped pacing, breathing in deeply through her nose then exhaling through her mouth.
"I am sorry, your Majesty. I just can't stand that man as it is. Even more so because of his bloated sense of self importance and disregard for our country. And for you."
"It's alright. I know he annoys you, but he probably knows that. In fact he could actually be trying to provoke you, gain some sort of control over you. He's the sort of man who would try I think." The Emperor trailed off.
Power is everything to him. He'd even use his own son, his own flesh and blood, to further his ends. I don't care if NERV is saving the world, I just can't shake the feeling that whatever they're doing might not be in the best interest of the nation.
A part of him found his Imperial sense of paranoia to be amusing. That was to be expected, as when one, at the tender age of two years old, is pulled from the remnants of a nuclear blast, barely clinging to life, they may become untrusting. You could never know when the next bomb would land.
Chiso looked like she was pondering those words for a while, before shivering.
He does not control me. I am not like those foolish Akagi whores!
"A fair point, your Majesty. Nevertheless, I sincerely look forward to the day when he outlives his usefulness..."
A grim atmosphere hung over the office for a while, until Kanaye curled his hand around his walking stick and stood up.
"I believe it is time for lunch. Would you care to join me?"
All that anger vanished from Chiso's expression, herself producing a warm smile, one only a mother could be capable of. Straightening herself, she bowed her head.
"It would be my pleasure, your Majesty."
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1:00pm, NERV quarters
Having flopped on the sofa, dark rings under her brown eyes after an early start and a now finished shift, clothed in nothing but her usual yellow T-shirt and blue shorts, Misato Katsuragi leisurely sipped some ice cold beer, freshly retrieved from the fridge.
Shinji was currently sitting in the bath, most likely attempting to scrub off whatever was left of the LCL on his skin. Granted, he'd already had a shower back at NERV central, but when it came to the foul smelling orange liquid, there wasn't such thing as overkill.
Flicking through the channels on her smart TV, Misato marvelled at just how far technology had leaped forward since that day in Antarctica all those years ago...She winced upon thinking about that, her hand immediately tracing the area under her left breast, where a terrible scar from a terrible event resided.
Refocusing her mind back on the progress of technology over the past seventeen years, she still couldn't wrap her mind around the, for want of a word, "box" she'd watched low definition shows on during childhood, had evolved into these things which automatically linked to the internet and could download almost anything.
Technology. Mankind's true triumph over nature.
Man's brilliance was what had saved him from the Seraphim's wrath. How unfortunate that he turned it upon himself for six long years of bloodshed. She'd been nineteen years old when the Chinese invasion happened. Granted, it hadn't been so bad, a week of sharing a bunk with a man in a shelter had proven to be...very enjoyable.
But she would never forget seeing the news, of when the army retook Fukuyama. The charred, burned or mutilated bodies of one hundred thousand innocents slaughtered for the crimes of their forebears, being shown for all to see. "Nanking's vengeance" was what the Communists had called it. To think the nice boy who sat in her bath, who washed and ironed her clothes, and made her dinners had lived through that as a toddler, was mind boggling.
Poor kid...to have survived that, then to get thrown into an even bigger war zone...shit, necessity is cruel.
Having found a channel she liked, Misato nestled herself into her pillows, gulping down some more beer.
Channel Ghibli as it was called, had been set up by the Defence Board some eleven years ago as part of their continuing program to promote Japan's "cultural greatness."
It did exactly what it said on the tin. The genius of Hayao Miyazaki, all day, every day. Considering Nausica and Mononoke were her childhood, the purplehead was very glad for its existence.
The sound of warking to her side caught Misato's attention.
"Hey, Pen, how are you doing?" She said with a tired smile as the Penguin clambered onto the sofa and buried himself into her stomach.
It was strange to think, how this stupid bird had somehow managed to yank her out of that state she was in, after surviving Second Impact. How when all the doctors had failed to even elicit a response from her, this thing, which had waddled into her "room" at the time without reason, managed to gain her fourteen year old attention with no small amount of warking.
The two had been inseparable since then.
Eventually, Shinji emerged from the bathroom, refreshed and revitalised, even though his hair was a mess. It was strange for Misato to see him like this, without that droopy fringe to cover his sad eyes. Clothed in a blue T-shirt and black trousers, instead of his usual attire of red shirt and blue jeans, he could have been mistaken for an ordinary, happy teenage boy.
But as anyone who knew anything about the children of Eva understood, this was not the case. Nor could it ever be.
"Did you enjoy your bath?" She asked.
"Yes...I could never use hot water like that back in Kure..." He chuckled, remembering how had to monitor his energy bill and whether or not any of the taps would start falling off.
Turning his gaze to the screen, his expression became puzzled and curious.
"Is...is that a Ghibli movie?"
"Yes." Misato nodded.
"I've never seen one before."
"You've never seen one before? Didn't you watch them on television or anything?" She trailed off, seeing the face of her charge tighten.
"I never had a television. Teacher didn't think much of them."
Those things melt your brains. Besides, work is far more important than whatever nonsense people of your age watch...
"Oh...well then!" Misato's tone lightened up as she swung her legs off the sofa, causing Pen-pen to flail around in surprise, and patted the cushion beside her, beckoning Shinji over.
"Everyone's got to begin somewhere. Come on, one's just starting." Her smile broadened when her charge awkwardly yet certainly sat next to her. Teacher had only ever sat next to him for work, and even then there was some distance. But now, being in so close a proximity to another human being, Shinji was beginning to wonder what he'd been afraid of.
This was...pleasant, even with his carer's running commentary throughout the movie really destroying any and all immersion, along with Pen-pen's constant beer breaks.
But he didn't care. For this strange woman was endearing herself to him ever more.
The film was quite good. The plot wasn't anything spectacular, but it was simple, easy to follow, and quite solid over all. The characters were decent, and the animation was stunning, absolutely stunning, instilling in him a wish to draw like that. But of course he couldn't. He couldn't make beautiful things after all.
Granted, some parts of it had been a little strange, like the eponymously named "moving castle" walking around some European-esque land, with its inhabitant that kept turning into a bird for some reason, but ultimately he found enjoyed it. A part of him resolved to watch television more often. Who knew what else was on?
"Shinji-kun?" Misato's voice broke him out of his moment of self reflection, his "hmm, what?" causing her to quietly laughed.
"Sorry to ruin your zoning out session, but I've got some news for you. In a few days, the German High Seas fleet and the Imperial 5th fleet will rendezvous with our Pacific fleet and arrive at Togo harbour. They're carrying Units 02 and 03, along with their Pilots."
Shinji gulped.
I've only just got used to a few people here, and now some foreigners...not that I don't appreciate the help mind you...
"However, whilst they're still sailing in, we're flying out to greet them."
"We?" He said, shocked.
"Yes, you and me. And some friends if you want."
Shinji couldn't find any word for this. He'd never liked moving around to begin with, and now he was being hauled off to meet yet more people he didn't know.
Just my luck.
Misato sighed, then put her hand on his shoulder.
"You've got to meet them sooner or later. And besides, a change of scenery would do you good." She gave it a squeeze before standing up. Fortunately, Pen-pen had rolled off her lap by now.
"Right, as it's lunch time, I think it's my turn to cook for a change."
"No no no no no, it's fine, really, Misato-san! I can do it myself!" He put on a winning grin, gaining a touched smile from the purplehead.
"Oh you're so sweet. But what sort of host would I be if I didn't cook at all?" Her tone remained innocent, but her smile became a grin of unimaginable depravity.
As many horrendous things were shoved in the microwave, what Misato called "curry surprise," Shinji and Pen-pen slowly locked gazes with one another. Despite those beady black eyes being small, the general gist of the Penguin's thoughts on the matter where quite plain for the meek young man.
Spirits go with you human. But you're on your own.
With that, the erect crested penguin scrambled away back to his home in the fridge. Leaving the boy to his fate, a look of utter despair in his cerulean eyes.
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11:00pm, Philippine sea, SMS Seydlitz of the Kaiserliche Marine.
It was cold at sea.
Not that she was unused to the feeling of cold, as the Reich was one of the few places in the world that actually got snow these days, but even then she found it chilly. This got on her nerves, as due to the cold she'd become pale, which showed off her freckles to the world. An aspect of her features she was embarrassed by.
Not that Countess Asuka Von Zeppelin Soryu, Hauptmann of the German Luftwaffe, would ever let anyone know that.
Her hands rested on the safety rail, sea winds ruffling her great golden red mane of hair and yellow sun dress, as she watched the waves beneath her. The only sources of light, were those of moon, stars, and the freshly lit cigarette to her side.
"That better be an E-cigarette." Her eyes narrowed, the offender laughing.
"Oh of course herr commandant, I wouldn't dream of anything else." Ryoji Kaji, her NERV handler, said with a slight smile, exhaling some of the foul smelling stuff.
Whilst Kaiser Rudolf Von Hohenzollern was technically Asuka's legal guardian, the "dummkopf" who stood to her left had been the redhead's caretaker for the past three years, where her training had intensified. In preparation for the war in which through luck alone an individual known to her as "stupid Shinji," or "Third Child," had stolen her thunder. Something to be rectified.
"And don't you forget it." She shot a look in Ryoji's direction, eliciting a mock whimper.
It had taken many years of bullying, threats, and coercion to get the brown haired, pony tailed Japanese man to give up those verdammt death sticks, but eventually her stubbornness had won through. All crumbled before the will of the great Asuka Zeppelin Soryu.
"Can't believe I've already missed three Seraphim. Are there going to be any left by the time I get there?" She mused to herself.
"Don't worry, Asuka-chan. You'll get to prove yourself, I have no doubt about it." Ryoji rested his own arms on the safety rail, having tossed his used up E-cigarette into the sea.
Sailing alongside them, were the vessels of the combined fleet, German "Brandenburg" class frigates streaking ahead of the main formation, with Imperial "Indefatigable" class Battlecruisers following up their rear. Straight ahead of the Seydlitz, two Pruessen class Heavy cruisers steamed forward, tow cables attached to the mighty "Friedrich" class carrier, occasional flashes of orange lightening at their prows indicating the buffeting of their A-T fields against the power of the sea.
It was an irritating fact Evangelions messed with S2 engines via their presence. It was why they couldn't be flown over here, as an FCV would fall out of the sky in an attempt to carry an Eva. So it had been the long way to Japan she'd took, much to the young Countess's frustration.
"So, looking forward to getting home?" Asuka decided to take her mind off the matter through engaging her big brother figure in conversation.
"Hmm?"
"Are you looking forward to getting home you deaf dummkopf?"
He smiled slightly at the annoyance evident in the girl's voice.
"A little. A lot's changed since I was last here..."
"Jah. It's been ten years hasn't it?" Asuka pressed, gaining a slight nod from the United Nations Intelligence Service agent.
"It's actually more like twelve years." He said quietly, reflecting on something unpleasant.
Being someone who'd grown up in the court of the Kaiser, Asuka was capable of manoeuvring herself through conversation, therefore being able to tell from a mile away this was something her companion did not want to talk about. Not out of anything personal of course.
Ryoji was an attractive man of thirty-two years, with some brown stubble around his chin. His eyes matched the colour of his hair, and although she'd always thought the colour brown was boring, it worked for him. It was thus understandable she'd harboured a crush on him in her early teenage years, one that lasted to this day. Granted, she was now old enough to understand how that wouldn't work, but Asuka still couldn't help but find him gorgeous.
How unfortunate she was not older, and his heart had already been claimed.
"Quiet as a bloody grave up here. Has someone died and should I know about it?" A new voice, shrill and aristocratic, spoke in the High Imperial tongue. Although the German's gaze remained fixed forward, a small smile did grow on her lips.
"Well well, Meadow-san, deigned fit to join us have you?" Ryoji raised an eyebrow at the sixteen year old blonde boy who had entered the scene, resplendent in his navy blue officer's uniform.
"The correct term is gracing you with my presence, Ryoji." Major Samuel Alexander Meadow of the Imperial Britannic Army, flashed a smile only an Imperial aristocrat could produce, before turning his eyes upon Asuka.
"You must be freezing in that. Do I need to get you a coat?"
Her own gaze turned upon him, her eyes having narrowed in displeasure.
I thought not He laughed at such a display of stubbornness.
The agent leaned back from the rails, clicking his shoulders into place.
"I'm hungry. I'll give you some time alone with your boyfriend." His grin broadened when both the Pilots faces turned red.
"Insolent...bloody...barbarian...swine..." The Imperial grumbled, whilst Asuka unleashed a tsunami of obscenities in her native language. The only response they got was a humoured wave of the hand, as the Japanese man disappeared into the bowels of the Seydlitz.
The two were alone in the moonlight.
"You really should discipline your servant." Samuel said with a shake of his head.
"Oh he knows his place." Asuka put on a smile, one that beckoned him over.
"Right..." He brought himself next to her and looked out over the sea, hands held behind his back. His complexion was quite handsome, his uncontrollable blonde hair and electric blue eyes contrasting and complementing each other nicely. And in that uniform, navy blue tunic, khaki trousers, knee high black boots and golden epaulettes, she imagining he'd gain the attention of many girls in Japan.
Due to the clear sky it looked like the sea itself was sparkling, with a million lights dancing across its waves.
"How do you do it? It's bloody chilly out here." Samuel stamped one of his feet in an attempt to keep warm. And he was in uniform, Asuka was in nothing but a yellow dress, red shoes, and a choker clasped around her neck. She chuckled at him.
"A beautiful night." He craned his neck up at the sky, appreciating the vastness of space.
"Yeah."
After a while, Samuel's face became contemplative, and a little sad, his mouth opening and closing uselessly, catching the redhead's attention.
"You want to talk about Buenos Airez, don't you?" Her usually hard expression softened when he nervously nodded.
"Bad dreams?"
He nodded again.
Releasing the rails and pulling her best friend of the past six years into her arms, Asuka felt him choke back a sob, forcing it down with all his might. His arms snaked around her as well.
"That rebellion had to be put down, for the Empire, but...did it have to be like that?" Images of a city on fire and the death screams of seventy thousand people quickly flashed through his young mind, making fighting his weakness even more difficult.
"I don't know. There isn't anything to be done about it now though." She said truthfully. Eventually his shaking stopped, and they were able to release one another. Taking a step back, Asuka leant on the safety rails again, and Samuel's hands returned to behind his back. His old composure regained, he muttered a quick and quiet "thank you" before clearing his throat.
"Well then, what do you think about this Shinji?"
"What about him?" She grumbled.
"He sounds somewhat capable for a barbarian..." The Imperial pilot was saying, until the redhead wagged her finger at him.
"Beginners luck that's all. We'll show him how real Eva Pilot Elites do it." She leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze of the sea, no matter how cold it made her feel.
"Indeed. Although that will very much be my job as I'll be winning this war single handedly." Samuel's sly grin increased as Asuka's eyes snapped open and shot him a playful yet murderous stare.
"No no no, I'm getting the most kills, Sam. I'll leave some for you, but the rest are mine. Besides, I am the best Eva pilot after all." She placed a hand on her chest, utter confidence in what she was saying.
Samuel shrugged.
"Perhaps. But lets face it, Asuka, Unit 03 is superior to Unit 02, that's just an indisputable fact-"
"Halt die Klappe!"
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The Fourth Monado
S U B A R A S H I I
- Location
- Away
Channel Ghibli is an amazing idea and I love you for it.