*Ethon Heavy Industries was based in the revamped Neo Los Angeles, which was the first city on Earth to be built right out on the water following Second Impact. The Floating City technology was Ethon's, and it felt right to the CEO that his company was the foundation of the new world. He looked over the city lights from Prometheus Tower, and smiled at the vast expanse of his efforts before him. Unfortunately, his reverie was about to be interrupted*
Secretary: Sir?
Dresden: Yes...?
Secretary: I know you didn't want to be disturbed, but uh... We have a problem.
Dresden: *Deep breath* It isn't Nerv, yes?
Secretary: No, but... Well... You should see the news. *She turns on a holographic projection screen, displaying a newscaster*
News Lady: This exclusive footage of an unknown Evangelion-like thing was seen only moments ago crossing the Mississippi River at an alarming rate...
Dresden: *Blink*
Secretary: It's Zero One, sir. It broke out of the storage facility in Oakland.
Dresden: Wonderful, just what we needed, NERV realizing it doesn't have the market cornered in biological horrors.
Secretary: We've been trying to reestablish control, but it isn't responding. And we don't know who is piloting it, or how.
Dresden: Alright, what are our options?
Secretary: Well, the President wants to know if the US military can destroy it. Or any military.
Dresden: Tell the President "If they ask very nicely, maybe."
Secretary: Well then, that leaves sending another unit after it.
Dresden: Who's in the best position to intercept it?
Secretary: ABMU-02. Oblivion.
Dresden: *Digs in his ear* That's...JT, right?
Secretary: Yes sir.However, sir... The bigger problem is that NERV undoubtedly knows about this. Ahead of schedule.
Dresden: Hmm...Tell NERV it's guerilla marketing. We're making a movie.
Secretary: ... Sir, I really doubt they'll buy that.
Dresden: I know, it's me being completely condescending to them.
Secretary: Yes sir...
*And speaking of NERV... One Asuka Langley... Whatever was happily awaiting her departure from a UN Naval Base at Pensecola, when the news came in*
Asuka: Shikinami, you son of a bitch.
*Bite me. Anyway, as she was boredly watching TV with Kaji, that same news report came on*
Asuka: ...! An Angel!?
Kaji: Mm? Oh boy... This is unexpected... Looks like it'll be here before we leave...
Asuka: *Already up and getting out of her clothes*
Kaji: Ah, Asuka?
Asuka: *Running around* Plugsuit...plugsuit...where's my damn plugsuit!?
Kaji: *sighs, crosses his arms while the bag containing her plugsuit sits next to his arm*
Asuka: ...Aha! *She dives over Kaji to grab it*
Kaji: Sure you want to do this? After all, we have no idea what this could be.
*He leans back slightly. He looks like he's forcing himself back into his devil may care attitude*
Asuka: Don't care!
*She ignores this as she gets up and begins dragging on her plugsuit*
Asuka: That's definitively something that no one else can defeat!
Kaji: And it won't be here for another day...
Asuka: Don't care! If it means I have to go to it, then fine!
Kaji: *sighs* All right... If you insist...
Asuka: DIVINE!
*And a thousand miles away, one JT Carter was snoring away in his bunk at a secret Canadian military base in Alberta*
JT: Zzzzz... Zzzzz...
*Only to be awakened by a corporal*
Corporal: PILOT CARTER!
JT: AAAAAAHHH-*Falls out of bed in a heap* GAH! DAMNIT! OWWW!
*He struggles to his feet, but trips in the blanket and falls down again*
JT: SON OF A-! *groans and looks up* ... Yeah?
Corporal: ... You're needed in the briefing room.
JT: *mumbles* Right, right...
*A few minutes later, a still very sleepy JT makes it to the briefing room on base, and sits in a chair at the front. A tall, attractive brunette woman enters the room.*
Cutler: Hello, JT.
JT: *blinks* Huh? *He recognizes the uniform as American, but not the woman* Uh... Hi? *Looks around* Where's Major MacLeod?
Cutler: Could not make it today.
JT: So who're you?
Cutler: I'm Colonel Cutler.
JT: And um... What do you want with me?
Cutler: I've been dispatched to get you into the air as soon as possible. We have a situation that requires your finesse.
JT: *Blinks* My what?
Cutler: You, suit up. You're going into combat.
JT: Oh. Oh! OH?! A-Against what? Who? When?á I'm sorry, I'm not very coherent when I've just woken up...
Cutler: That's alright. But in the future, be ready for action at all times.
JT: R-Right...
*A few minutes later, he's in his plugsuit and being driven out to the local airstrip, Cutler alongside him. Oblivion comes into view, held underneath the huge transport plane that will take it to it's destination*
JT: So, what am I fighting again?
*He's loaded up into the entry plug, and strapped in by techs as Cutler attends*
Cutler: A rogue Eidolon.
JT: Huh?! Who's piloting it? Why's it going rogue?
Cutler: That's what you're going to investigate.
JT: *sighs* This is because I said I was bored with sims, isn't it? I wouldn't mind doing something else, but this?
Tech: All strapped in, ma'am.
Cutler: It's because you're the closest to engage.
JT: Okay, okay... But I'd really appreciate a little more-*The entry plug closes up, cutting him off*
Cutler: Mouthy little twit.
JT: ... Nevermind. *He sighs and synchs with the Eidolon, bringing the systems online enough for him to check over the situation. He brings the radio online* This is Oblivion, systems check complete. We're ready for launch when you are.
Cutler: *Appears in a window* You're charged up and ready to go.
JT: So go! I'm not flying the plane!
*Finally, Oblivion and its mouthy cargo is flown off. Cutler went to the command center, were Rupert Dresden was on a communications screen and the scientific head of the Eidolon Program, Dr. Eustace Parsons was there in person. The latter was particularly nervous.*
Cutler: *Sighs* We couldn't get David, why?
Dresden: Because he'd destroy it.
Parsons: And probably a few small towns, too...
Cutler: *Groan* Must you be so calm about this?
Dresden: Say what you will, I find this human drama riveting.
Parsons: The real question is, why aren't we sending Nemesis and Constance after
it? SheÆs far more stable and has had actual combat experience.
Dresden: Because JT is closer, and the boy needs to taste blood first, so he can have some confidence.
Parsons: Oh come on! Constance could deal with this even better! She may be sarcastic but at least she can get out of the bed in the morning!
Dresden: Which is why the boy needs to go. *Hat 'n Clogs smile*
Parsons: *grumbles* I can't believe this...
Cutler: I see...you're testing the boy's worth, aren't you?
Parsons: He can already pilot the stupid thing, what more do you want?
Cutler: *Hums suspiciously*
Dresden: *Only smiles*
Parsons: What?
Cutler: ...Nothing...
Parsons: No, what? What?
Cutler: What's this? *she checks the scopes* There's an aircraft approaching, a Super Bomber.
Parsons: A Super Bomber?!
Cutler: What on Earth...? It's...unbelievable. NERV's scrambled their Production Type!
Parsons: How soon will Oblivion get to the Eidolon?! They don't know what they're going up against!
Cutler: Fifteen minutes. About the same time the Eva will.
Dresden: *His smile grows*
Parsons: *groans* Ohhh... Oh no...
Cutler: *Glares at Dresden's monitor* I knew it.
Dresden: *Goes Voice Only* It? What it?
*Just east of the Mississippi...*
Asuka: Target spotted! What is that, an Eva...?
*At a little out of the way place in Kansas... ABMU-01 came to a halt. It hunched over, looking like a panting ape as it looked around. In body form it was much like an Eva-Almost skeletally thin. However, the differences were marked. The armor was thinner and smoother, like the majority of the covering was simply plastic. Its hands and feet ended in claws, and itÆs sharp teeth were on prominent display.*
Kaji: Definitely not an Eva... Be careful, Asuka, all right?
Asuka: This sort of thing is what I've trained all my life for...
Kaji: All right, good luck! Release!
Asuka: Here we go! *She drops*
JT: What the-? An Eva's here?!
Cutler: Ignore it. Focus on dealing with the Eidolon.
JT: A little hard to when it's right there! What do I say?
Parsons: Tell her it's... It's an internal security matter and you're here to handle it!
Cutler: Like she'll listen. *Reading Shikinami's psych profile*
Parsons: All right, all right... Looks like you'll have to wing it, kid. Good luck!
JT: ... Fine. GERONIMOOOOOOOO!!!
*Both Eidolon and Eva land in nearby cornfields at nearly the exact time*
Asuka: ...The Hell!?
JT: Uhhh... Hey. What's up?
*The rogue Eidolon stares at the newcomers, drool pouring from its jaws as it's eyes glow red*
JT: Aw crap... This won't end well...
Asuka: Well then, shall we get to it, darling?
Eidolon: RAAARRRGGHHH! *It charges the Eva, howling loudly and knocking over a barn before tackling Asuka into the ground*
*Moving quickly, she turns the fall into a roll, and throws it through the air*
*The Eidolon lands, and charges again. Oblivion moves, zipping in front of Unit 02 and letting loose with both of it's hand cannons*
*The Eidolon takes both shots, and is stopped in its tracks, slamming into the ground with a roar*
Asuka: Out of my way!
*She lunges ahead, progressive knife out*
JT: Hey! Hey! Wait a second, it might not be-!
Asuka: Of course it's not!
*The Eidolon lashes out with it's AT field next, blasting Unit 02 into Oblivion*
*Asuka had just readied her AT-Field, the Eva sliding to a stop just in front of JT's machine*
Asuka: Predictable.
JT: Really? *He leaps up over Unit 02 and fires both his hand cannons* Sheesh...
*The Eidolon dodges these shots, and unleashes another AT Field blast*
Asuka: Raise your AT-Field! *She blocks the blast*
JT: *Manages the same, just barely* Gah...!
Asuka: Mein gott! What are you, new!?
JT: As a matter of fact...! *He zips off, building some speed, before running back right at the Eidolon much faster than an Eva could in the same distance*
Asuka: ...Huh.
*He fires another volley from his hand cannons, strafing the Eidolon, who roars and quickly regenerates the damage*
Asuka: *Quietly does calculations, and then jumps back a good distance before crouching* Hey! Greenhorn! Get in front of it and go high! *She breaks into a run, low to the ground*
JT: Little busy, Red! *He runs around the Eidolon rapidly, pouring on the fire from seemingly all directions*
*The Eidolon howls, and sends out its AT Field in a dome, blasting in all directions. The Eva was slower accelerating, hopefully the distance she put on it would giving him a chance to react*
Asuka: My AT-Field is STRONGER! *She focuses her AT-Field forward, immediately negating the Eidolon's* Quick! Clothesline it, you fool!
*Oblivion moves to strike it, but AMBU-01 is faster and catches OblivionÆs fist, sending it face planting into the ground, hard*
JT: GAAAAHH!
Asuka: ...Completely lacking in reaction time and finesse, but still, a distraction is a distraction. *She spears the rogue. It leered at her, and grabbed the face of Unit 02 with clawed fingers*
Asuka: *Grins at the Eidolon as she feels it grab her face* So, this is combat, huh?
*She promptly performs a belly to belly suplex on the Eidolon, driving it deep into American Farm land*
Eidolon: RAARRRGGHHHH!
Asuka: *Scrambles free*
JT: Ow... *He manages to get up*
Asuka: Hahahaha! *The Eidolon's legs are sticking from the ground, thrashing about*
*The Eidolon struggles for a few moments, before going still*
Asuka: *Gets ready*
JT: ...
*It's AT Field expands again, but this time, it causes no physical damage...*
Asuka: Not good...
*The computer systems on both Eva and Eidolon begin to malfunction*
JT: Eh?! What the hell is this?
Asuka: It's like EMP. Compensate, quickly before it attacks!
???: Asuka... Child... My child...
Asuka: Eh!?
*Her mother appears to her, insubstantial and wavy but still her*
*In Oblivion, JT gapes as what appears to be his father flickers in front of his eyes*
JT: Huh?!
*Both visions morph into demonic perversions of the people they represent. Asuka's mother attempts to strangle her, while JT's father holds up a gun between his eyes*
Asuka: M-Mama?
JT: Dad?!
Asuka's Mother: *leers* Come to me, child...
Asuka: ...
*JT's father simply pulls the trigger, and JT screams as he seems to see and feel his head explode...*
Asuka: ... *She immediately blinks, and stares at the apparition of her mother* ...
JT: AAAAHHH! AAAHHH!
Asuka: You're not...my Mama!
*And just as soon as it started... It stops*
JT: Haaa...! Haaa! Haa... *shudders and looks around*
*The rogue is gone*
Asuka: Stupid hallucination...it couldn't even get my Mama right...she... *She closes her mouth*
JT: *Takes deep breaths, still shaking* Oh God... Wh-What the hell...? Where'd it go?
Asuka: It got away, that's what it did.
JT: Great... First mission and I fuck it up. There goes my bonus...
Asuka: Haha...hahahaha...HAHAHAHAHA! That was incredible!
JT: Wait... You liked that?
Asuka: Next time I find that thing, I'm definitely defeating it!
JT: Sure! And next time, we'll get to be killed by hallucinations to a jazzy soundtrack, how's that?
Asuka: It needed to play a mind trick on us to escape, you idiot! It knows I'm better than it...it's afraid of me! HA!
JT: *shakes his head* Knew it... Eva pilots are fucking loonies...
Asuka: You're just weak. You actually fell for that trick!?
JT: It was kicking our asses even without the mindtrick.
Asuka: It was kicking your ass. Nice diversion, by the way!
JT: And why should I listen to you when you weren't willing to listen to me, huh?
Asuka: Because I've been trained since birth for this right! To pilot Eva!
JT: And a fat lot of good it did us.
Asuka: Again, mindtrick. I will give you this... You certainly are no slouch when you're not getting hit. Very nice move vaulting over me like that, and your monster there is very speedy.
JT: Well, he does like going fast. And blowing stuff up.
Asuka: Good. Focus on that.
JT: *mumbles* She's so take charge... Sheesh...
Asuka: One day, I the great Asuka Langley Shikinami may consider you a worthy challenge. As a rival, and maybe something else. *She winks in her window, before closing the connection*
JT: Uhhh... *shakes his head* Stupid hormones...
*Asuka laughed to herself, hoping that she got that dumb little boy's spirits up so that one day she may actually have something to laugh about later, before contacting her Super Bomber*
Asuka: Kaji~ drop some more batteries, so I can get back home, pleeeease?
Kaji: You got it, Asuka.
JT: Oblivion to Cutler... Target pulled a prank on us and left. Any idea where it is?
Parsons: The satellites don't show it in the area...
Dresden: Return to base.
Cutler: ...
JT: Colonel? *Uncertain*
Dresden: No need for anymore of this dallying, let's leave the regular military to look for our rogue, we have data to collect.
Cutler: *Grumbles* RTB, Oblivion.
JT: Yes ma'am...
Cutler: *Closes the connection to JT* You son of a bitch...
Dresden: *Sidelong glance through his bangs* Hmmm?
Cutler: Do you have any idea how much money and man-hours we've just wasted on this game of yours?
Dresden: Whatever do you mean, Colonel?
Cutler: You know what I mean.
Dresden: I'm afraid I do not. I'm entering a tunnel, bad reception, sorry. *Cut signal*
Parsons: ... That went well.
Cutler: *Frowning* I bet what tunnel, too...
*At an unknown location, Dresden entered what appeared to be a 100:1 scale bat cave*
Dresden: Where's our "Rogue"?
Assistant: Right where it should be, sir.
Dresden: Splendid. Then everything went as planned.
Assistant: Well, one thing... One thing occurred that we didn't anticipate.
Dresden: And that would be?
Assistant: The soul within ABMU-01 attempted to interact with the souls of Eva Unit 02 and ABMU-02.
Dresden: The reported "Mind-Trick".
Assistant: Yes sir.
Dresden: Ensure that ABMU-01 is restrained again, so we can investigate this phenomenon better.
Assistant: *nods* Yes sir...
Dresden: The data we collected on NERV's mass-production type outweighs this minor hiccup.
Assistant: *nods* Yes sir. *He turns to his computer console again*
Dresden: *Smiles to himself and looks towards the secured AMBU-01, crucified and floating in bakelite* Well then, Mr. Ikari, there's my challenge to you, do you accept?
*And an ocean away, Gendo Ikari looked upon the same data with a cold, calculating expression. Using an untried pilot, thereby masking the potential upper-limits of the strange new machine's performance, while at the same time drawing out Unit-01à His fool son could see through the ruse played out before him*
*
In Misato's apartment, Shinji sneezed, and was awoken from a rather deep, and, for once, pleasant sleep*
Shinji: Hnn...
*He blinked a few times, clearing the sleep out of his eyes*
Shinji: What time is it...?
Misato: ...Early, go back to sleep.
Shinji: Misato? *He looked curiously at the door*
Misato: Nevermind me, just drunk.
*And in his bed*
Shinji: ... Wh-Why are you in my bed...?
Misato: Drunk.
Shinji: I-I can see that ... Your um... Your hand is around my waist...
Misato: You're cuddly...*gurgle*
*Shinji blushed bright red*
Shinji: Um, M-Misato... Er... M-Maybe I should go... Sleep somewhere else...
*He tries to escape*
Misato: Nah. It's comfy. *She snuggles him*
Shinji: Meeep...
Misato: ...Hee...that's a cute sound. You're like a plushie. A Shinji plushie.
Shinji: M-Misato! Y-Your haaaaannd! *He squeaks again*
Misato: What about it?
Shinji: It-It...! It's over my...!
Misato: *Grope*
Shinji: EEP!
Misato: Hehehe...it's all hard now. *Grope grope*
Shinji: Ohhh! M-Misatooo...!
Misato: Now yer bein' too loud.
Shinji: Ohhh... Hnnn...!
*The inevitable occurred*
Shinji: Ungh! Unnghhh...!
Misato: ... *Blink* ...Did...did you just pee yourself?
Shinji: Th-That's n-not... Pee...
Misato: ... *Her eyes open wide* Oh...oh my God... *She sits up* Oh my God!
Shinji!? Shinji! I-I'm so sorry!
Shinji: I... I'm sorry, Misato... I-I'm sorry, I didn't...!
*Wait, she was apologizing*
Shinji: Huh?!
Misato: Oh my God, I must've passed out in here, didn't I? Oh, stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Shinji: Um, wh-why are you apologizing?
Misato: ...I just came into your room and molested you! *Erringly buries her face in her palm*
Shinji: Well... Yeah... But um... Er... *He blushed* I-I didn't... I mean um... I didn't really....
Misato: ...
Shinji: ... Mind it... *very quietly*
Misato: ... *Takes a deep breath* Let's...just pretend this didn't happen, okay?
*Shinji then noticed, she had face palmed with the hand she had been...*
Shinji: Uh... Misato...?
Misato: I'm going to go...uh...wash my face, and then I'll order waffles for breakfast,
do you like waffles?
Shinji: Misato, you don't have to do that...
Misato: Shinji, let me do this.
Shinji: Misato... I... Why are you apologizing for this? Ià ItÆs not your faultà
Misato: ...
Shinji: I-I'm not angry or anything...
Misato: It's...embarrassing.
Shinji: Yeah, but it also...It... I mean... It f-felt... *He bows his head**mumbles* It felt good...
Misato: ...*She shakes her head and laughs*
Shinji: *flinches*
Misato: *She wipes her hand off her face* ...You're such a sweetie.
*She turns and walks back over, before climbing back into the bed with him*
Shinji: Ah?
Misato: So, did you sleep better with a beautiful woman next to you, or no?
Shinji: I... I did...
Misato: Then I know what I must do. *She cuddles Shinji close to her again*]
Shinji: Hnnn... *He relaxes a lot against her*
Misato: *Sighs happily as she drifts back to sleep*
*A continent across to the west, in Isreal, a dark-gray haired boy sat atop a truly demonic Eidolon, his red eyes staring out across the sunlit desert. After a while, a curly-haired girl came up behind him, slowly, feeling her way up to the top of the biomechanical monster. He reached out to her, and she took his hand as she sat beside him.*
Abigail Eilat: It is very hot.
David Galia: Yeahà But I get the feeling weÆre not going to be stuck here much longer.
Abigail: *smiles* Wherever you go, My Lordà I will go too.
David: *smiles back* The only reason IÆd even go, babe.
*Below them, the demonic EidolonÆs eyes flash red, just for a moment, before darkening*
