Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Evangelion: OMEGA ❯ When the Earth Shook! ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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Legal Stuff: I can't really say how much I love writing these disclaimers at the beginning of every chapter. It gives me a sense of order in a chaotic world. Anyway, I don't own EVA or any of its characters.
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Dedication: To the makers of Instant Ramen, without whom I would probably have starved to death this year.
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Neon Genesis Evangelion: OMEGA

Chapter 0:6- When the Earth Shook

* * * * *

"Okay, try it again." Claire said.

Akira sighed. "Okay." He paused before making his fifth attempt to translate the words in front of him. "I like....to be eating popped corn?"

"Close." Tai said with a smile. "But it's 'to eat' not 'to be eating'."

"And the word is 'popcorn'." Claire added.

"Damn it!"

"Don't get so frustrated." Michiru said.

"Easy for you to say, Miss 'Japanese is actually my *second* language'." Akira muttered.

"Hey it's not my fault you're a slow learner." Michiru snapped.

"Maybe we should just take a break." Claire broke in before their argument could get any worse. Michiru and Akira tolerated each other, if only because they were dating each other's respective best friends. But they weren't going to be buddies any time soon.

"Sounds good." Akira said. "If I don't get out of this library soon, my head's gonna explode."

"Really?" Michiru asked. "Because we don't *have* to leave yet."

"Boy, you got a really sweet one on your hands, Tai."

* * * * *

A cold wind picked up and blew around them as they stepped out of the library. Claire shivered and pulled Akira's jacket tightly around her body.

"I thought it was always supposed to be hot here." She whined.

"Well Japan used to have *really* cold winters, before Second Impact." Tai said.

"And the further we get from Second Impact, the more things are getting back to normal." Michiru added.

"Great." Claire muttered. "You know, I'm from L.A.; I don't *own* warm clothes."

Michiru smiled. "We'll go shopping some time."

"You mean the two of you actually have a free minute these days?" Claire asked.

"Once in a while." Tai said, smiling.

"You got enough free time for the party tomorrow night?" Akira asked.

"Yeah." Tai replied.

"But we've got to at least make an appearance at the company party." Michiru added. "So we may be a little late."

"Well don't take too long." Akira said. "I want you both there at Midnight."


* * * * *

"So you and Tai are going to a party on campus?" Misato asked.

"Yeah." Michiru replied. "Some fraternity is throwing it. But we're going to come by here first."

"Well have fun." Misato said.

"We will."

"Speaking of Tai, where is he?" Misato asked. "I thought he came in with you."

"He did." Michiru said. "I don't know what's holding him up."

On cue, Tai appeared in the doorway of the test chamber. A black plug suit hung loose on his body.

"I think they made this thing too big." He said. "What?"

Michiru, meanwhile, was doing her best not to laugh out loud.

"What's so funny?" Tai asked.

"Sorry...sorry." Michiru said, holding in laughter. "The button....on your wrist."

Tai seemed to notice the button for the fist time. He pressed it and the suit instantly tightened. Michiru's laughter faded away quickly as she noticed how well the skin-tight suit showed off Tai's well-toned muscles.

"Okay, you two." Misato said. "Let's get started."

* * * * *

Misato watched on the tactical map as Unit 01 led Unit 14 through a series of combat drills against holographic Angels.

"They're looking good." Maya commented. "I wish we could get Tai some time in an actual EVA though."

"Well that can't be helped." Misato said. "Unit 14 was practically gutted. It still needs a lot of work. And they have to grow a whole new arm for Unit 01."

"Still, it could have been worse." Minako chimed in. "If those other EVAs had worked as a team....we might all be dead now."

"By the way, are Kensuke's people any closer to figuring out what happened to them?" Maya asked.

Misato frowned. "Not really." She said. "Their AC recorders hadn't been activated for transport. So, without the carrier crews to tell us...."

"Right." Maya said quietly. "It just seems odd. They started out by destroying their transports, then they targeted Tokyo 3, and then switched *again* to target Unit 01 as soon as it appeared."

Misato nodded. The behavior of the EVA Series certainly didn't fit with the 'typical' out-of-control Evangelion. It was almost as if they had been receiving instructions; as if Unit 01 had been the target the entire time. If that was true, it meant someone was trying to kill Michiru. The U.N. had sent NERV the EVA series, but they had no reason to want Michiru dead, and every reason to want her alive. So then it had to be someone behind the scenes; someone at a higher level of power.

Misato was pretty sure she knew who that someone was, but it didn't make her feel any better. The only people who could have pulled this off were SEELE. Even if SEELE was behind the attack, there was nothing Misato could do about it. She had gone up against SEELE once before. And she had lost.

* * * * *

Tai stood still and let the hot water from the shower run over him, washing away the slimy LCL. He reached up and rubbed his eyes, trying in vain to massage away the pain in his head. This always happened, ever since the first time he fought in Unit 14. Everything was fine when he was synchronized, but as soon as the EVA was deactivated, the pain came.

The first time it was mild; a slight, nagging ache behind his eyes. But every time he synchronized for training, it had gotten worse. Today it felt like someone was pushing ice picks into his eye sockets.

After a few more minutes of squeezing his eyes shut and rubbing his eyelids, the pain faded away, as it always did. Tai stepped out of the shower and put on his uniform.

The pain was gone for now, but Tai knew it would come back the next time he piloted an EVA. If it got much worse he wouldn't be able to keep it to himself. He would have to tell someone.

* * * * *

The bus dropped Kaori off in front of a huge row of sliding doors. Taking a deep breath and smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her uniform, she slid her brand-new ID card through the scanner next to her and stepped through one of the doors as it slid open. She followed the signs to Central Dogma.

Kaori's breath caught slightly as she stepped onto the command deck. The room was even bigger than she had imagined. The command center was stretched over three levels, a huge holographic map spread out in front of them. Currently, there were only a few people on the control deck. Kaori spotted the one she was looking for immediately. She was standing at a control station a few feet away, talking to a thin man with bright red hair.

Kaori smiled and quietly approached the two officers. When she was right behind them she straightened and called out in her most official voice.

"Corporal Tanaka reporting for duty, Lieutenant!"

Minako jumped slightly at the sudden noise, then turned and smiled.

"Kaori!" She exclaimed, hugging her sister tightly. "When did you get in?"

"Just now." Kaori replied. She turned around slowly, showing off her NERV uniform. "What do you think?"

Minako laughed. "Not too shabby." She said. "Oh, sorry Hisashi." She turned to the redhead next to her. "This is my little sister, Kaori."

"That's Corporal Tanaka now." Kaori corrected her sister.

"Alright *Corporal*." Minako said. "Meet *Lieutenant* Hisashi Kusanagi. So have you reported to the Major?"

"Not yet." Kaori replied.

"Well here he comes."

Kaori spun around and snapped to attention as Major Suzahara approached them.

* * * * *

Toji was a little surprised when the girl next to Minako turned and stood at attention, looking very uncomfortable. It was as if someone had made a walking, talking, Xerox copy of Lieutenant Tanaka. The new Corporal wore her hair in a different style than her sister, but it was the exact same shade of blue. Their brown eyes matched as well. In their identical NERV uniforms, the resemblance was almost frightening.

"This must be Corporal Tanaka." He said.

"Yes Sir!" The girl called out, snapping a salute. "Reporting for duty, Major!"

Toji smiled. Had he been like this when he first joined NERV? No, he decided. Of course, he hadn't *wanted* to be here when he first joined. "At ease, Corporal." He said. If the girl's stance relaxed at all, Toji didn't notice. "I'd show you around the bridge personally, but I'm in a bit of a rush. I just wanted to say 'hello'."

"I'll get her settled in, Sir." Minako said, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Thanks." Toji said, smiling. "Welcome aboard, Corporal."

* * * * *

Major Suzahara was gone for at least a minute before Kaori finally let herself relax.

"I think that went well." Minako said.

Kaori meanwhile was beating her own forehead. "Stupid...stupid!" She muttered.

"Uh...you okay?" Lieutenant Kusanagi asked.

"I just....I should have reported to him as soon as I got here." Kaori said. "Now he probably thinks I'm really irresponsible. He'll tell Commander Katsuragi and I'll be out of here by the end of the week."

"Kaori." Minako grabbed her sister's shoulders. "Take your Ritalin. I probably shouldn't tell you this on your first day, but they aren't quite as heavy on 'proper decorum' here as they are at the training center."

"Really?"

"Don't worry." Minako said. "You'll do fine here. Just....try to calm down a little. And as for the Commander, she's not the kind of boss who fires people in their first week."

* * * * *

"You okay?" Tai asked.

Michiru looked up. "Yeah, I'm fine." She said.

"So how come your out here instead of in there?" He asked, gesturing to her seat on the front porch.

"It was just a little overwhelming in there." She replied. "I've never really been to a party like this before."

Tai gave Michiru an understanding smile and sat down on the steps next to her.

"I feel kind of childish." She continued. "I can get in Unit 01 and go fight Angels and I never back down. But take me to a party and I retreat to the front porch after half an hour."

"Hey." He said. "Don't worry about it."

"But you should be in there having a good time with your friends, not out here babysitting me."

"Those are all Akira's friends, not mine." Tai said. "Besides; I'd rather be out here with you anyway."

Michiru looked at him and smiled. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For a lot of things. I don't think I ever actually thanked you for saving me from those EVAs. Right now, for staying out here with me. Mostly just for being you."

Tai put his arms around Michiru and pulled her close. "In that case, thank you." He said. "For letting me be myself."

The sound of people loudly counting down drifted onto the porch through the open door.

"TEN...NINE...EIGHT...SEVEN...SIX..."

Michiru turned to face Tai. "So..." She said. "Do I get a New Year's kiss tonight?"

Tai laughed and kissed her. "Tonight...tomorrow......Whenever you want."

"...FIVE...FOUR...THREE...TWO...ONE!!!!!" A wild chorus of cheering and singing erupted from the crowded frat house. Fireworks exploded overhead, turning the night sky into a brilliant field of color and light.

Michiru and Tai spent the first minutes of 2041 holding each other, lost in a deep and blissful kiss.

"Happy New Year." Tai whispered.

Michiru smiled. "Yeah. I think it will be."

* * * * *

"Test Plugs activated. Pilots detected." A technician reported.

"Okay." Maya said. "Fix the plug depth there and begin recording. Test duration will be two hours."

"The first readings are coming in, Doctor."

Maya frowned slightly as her screen displayed Tai and Michiru's Synch Ratio data. Both pilots had improved immensely over the past few days, ever since Misato had increased their training schedules. After the incident with the EVA Series, the commander wanted to make sure they were ready for anything.

Tai's reading was high and stable, as always. He seemed to have leveled off at 68.8 percent. Michiru was another story. Her score hadn't actually dropped. But neither was it rising as it once had. Maya had noticed that Michiru seemed to have become less focused lately.

"How are they." Maya turned to see Toji behind her.

"Well, Tai is the boy wonder, as usual." She replied.

Toji nodded. "And Michiru?"

"Still unfocused." Maya said. "She's been like this ever since New Years."

"Well you can't really blame her."

"What do you mean?"

Toji looked at her like she had grown a second head. "The day after tomorrow is the Tenth." He said.

"Oh God, of course." Maya hadn't even thought of that.

"Give her a few days." Toji said. "She'll be back to normal."

* * * * *

"Toji says you've been having some trouble in the Test Plug." Misato said.

Michiru looked up from her dinner. "I've just been a little out of it." She said quickly.

"Is it because of....the time of year?" Misato asked.

"Well I know a lot of people get depressed around the holidays, but I don't think that's it." Michiru said.

"That isn't what I meant."

Michiru sighed angrily. "You mean because it's the anniversary of my parents' deaths?" She said with more venom than she intended. Certainly more than Misato deserved. "I'm...sorry." She said quietly.

"It's alright." Misato said. "Are you going to go see them."

Michiru wasted no time shaking her head. "I can't." She said. "Not yet."

"I understand. But you can't keep avoiding them forever." Misato said. "That'll only make it hurt more."

"I know." Michiru whispered. "I'm just....not ready yet."

* * * * *

English class was just letting out when the first earthquake hit.

"I would just like to call everyone's attention to this!" Akira said triumphantly, pointing to the latest test. "For those of you in the back, that is a 'B-'. Thank you very much."

"Japan's first snow in forty years. Akira's first passing grade. Boy this is turning out to be a year of firsts isn't it?" Michiru commented.

"Laugh all you want, Miss Ikari." Akira said. "You can't ruin this for me."

Michiru was about to reply when the floor began to tremble. All around them, students stopped in their tracks. They barely had time to recover from the mild tremor when the ground beneath them heaved. Anyone standing was thrown off their feet as the earth shook violently.

It only lasted a few seconds. When the worst had passed, people began to stand up and dust themselves off. Akira was smiling as he helped Claire to her feet.

"Talk about a wild ride!" He said.

"Everyone okay?" Tai asked. "Michiru?"

Claire was the first to see Michiru. She was cowering in a corner, looking absolutely terrified.

"Michiru!" Tai ran over to where Michiru sat and helped her to her feet. Michiru seemed to be holding back sobs of fear.

"Hey, Michiru." Akira said, actually becoming concerned. "It's just a little quake. Nothing to worry about."

His words went unheard as Michiru pulled away from Tai and ran out of the building. Claire suddenly remembered something Michiru had told her the first time they met and realized what had her friend so frightened. "You guys stay here." She said, following Michiru out into the quad.

She found Michiru on the same bench where they had first met. Her shoulders heaved as huge sobs tore through her. Claire sat down next to Michiru.

"Are you alright?" She asked, touching Michiru's arm lightly.

Michiru looked up. She nodded. "I just...got scared."

"Because of your parents?"

"Sort of." Michiru said. "I've always been a little scared of earthquakes, after I found out about them."

"You looked more than 'a little' scared." Claire said.

"Well...tomorrow is...when it happened." Michiru said reluctantly.

"Oh no..."

"I know it's stupid but...I couldn't help thinking that...it was coming to get me. Because it missed me last time."

Claire hugged her friend reassuringly. "Come on." She said. "Let's go back."

* * * * *

"Report!" Toji yelled.

"Mt. Fuji observatory is reporting it as a 3.2 earthquake, Sir." Corporal Tanaka reported. "No damage to headquarters and no injuries."

"Alright. Get on the line to Mt. Fuji, find out if there's any more on the way."

"Yes Sir."

Just then, another huge shock ripped through the building.

"Another 3.2!" Kaori called out.

"You sure?" Lieutenant Kusanagi asked. "It felt stronger."

"What? No way!" Kaori exclaimed, staring at her monitor in disbelief. "The epicenter moved!" She typed a command into her workstation. Two separate dots appeared on the tactical map. "The point of origin for the second earthquake is twelve meters closer than the first."

That was all Toji needed to hear. "Go to second stage alert!" He ordered. "Keep track of those quakes. I want each one mapped precisely."

"Should we prep the EVAs?" Minako asked.

"That might be a little premature." Toji replied. "For now let's just keep our eyes open."

* * * * *

Classes had been cancelled for the rest of the day thanks to the near constant earthquakes. There had been five separate quakes in the space of half an hour and they showed no sign of stopping. It was just as well. After the fourth earthquake shuddered through Tokyo 3, Michiru and Tai had been called in. However, now that they were here, both felt a little useless.

"So we're not even sure there's actually an Angel out there?" Michiru asked.

Misato nodded. "We're still......" She fell silent and grabbed a table for support as yet another quake struck. "We're still working on that." She finished when the shaking had subsided.

"So what should we do in the meantime?" Tai asked.

"Just sit tight." Misato said. "As soon as we confirm an Angel's presence, we'll get you in your EVA's."

"You seem pretty sure there's one out there." Michiru said.

"Earthquakes don't act like this." Misato replied. "There's *something* causing it."

* * * * *

"Twelve more meters." Kaori said, marking the source of the latest earthquake on the tactical map.

"Well if this *is* an Angel, it's got a lousy sense of direction." Kensuke said cryptically.

"Translate for those of us not inside your head." Toji said.

"I thought it was obvious." Kensuke replied, pointing to the line of dots on the map. "It's starting to turn away from Tokyo 3."

"Are you sure, Captain?" Minako asked, staring at the dots.

"I'll prove it." Kensuke said. "Corporal, could you please draw a line through those dots."

"Yes, Sir." Kaori said. Moments later, a red line appeared between each dot. With the line, Kensuke's point became quite obvious.

"See." He said, pointing at the line. "The last two points aren't in line. It started out in a perfectly straight line toward Tokyo 3. Then it turned. If it keeps turning like this, it's going to be heading away from us.

* * * * *

Tai and Michiru sat quietly in the empty briefing room, waiting for any news about the situation.

"We don't always wait this long do we?" Tai finally asked.

"No." Michiru said. "Usually they're right on top of us before we even see them coming."

"So maybe this isn't an Angel at all." Tai suggested.

"Well, Angel or not, something's out there." Michiru said. "I may be going out on a limb here, but I'd say we're the only ones qualified to take out something that can cause earthquakes."

"So no matter what they find..."

"...They'll send us after it." Michiru finished Tai's thought.

* * * * *

Half an hour later, Kensuke was becoming convinced that whatever was approaching had a severe learning disability.

"So it starts out coming straight for us, then decides to take an arcing approach instead. Tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't get this thing." He said.

"It's odd all right." Misato agreed. "Have we managed to figure out what it is yet?"

"Negative." Minako said. "We can't get a waveform reading until it generates an AT Field. And it's too near the city's main power transformers for our other sensors. There's too much interference."

"Interference?" Misato asked.

"The transformers send ultrasonic vibrations into the ground when they operate." Kensuke explained. "There's a fancy name for it, but basically they hum."

"And how far does this 'humming' extend?"

"About a mile in every direction..." He suddenly understood what Misato was asking. He reached over Kaori and typed rapidly at her keyboard. A light blue circle appeared on the map. The line of red dots curved around the blue circle, never straying within its borders.

"Huh?" Was all Toji could say.

"It's avoiding the vibrations." Misato said.

For a moment, everyone was silent. Amazingly, it was Kaori who first spoke up.

"Uh...I have an idea."

* * * * *

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Michiru asked, looking down at the two rows of black cubes that stretched into the distance in front of her.

"According to the Magi, this has the highest probability of success." Toji's floating image replied. "But no, we're not a hundred percent sure."

"Could you run this by me one more time?" Tai asked.

"Gladly. The target is avoiding the vibrations from the power transformers. These machines are mimicking those vibrations to drive it away from Tokyo 3 and up to the surface. Once it surfaces, you two will be in charge of taking it out."

"So do we even know what 'it' is yet?" Michiru asked.

"We'll know as soon as it surfaces." Misato said.

* * * * *

"Any minute now." Captain Aida said, watching the clock count down toward the next predicted earthquake. Seconds later the floor began to tremble. "Here we go."

The rumbling subsided after a few seconds. "Do we have a fix on it?" Major Suzahara asked.

"Coming up on screen now." Minako replied.

Kaori breathed a sigh of relief as the latest location was marked on the map. The target was following the route they had set. Her plan was working. Kaori felt a hand fall on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw the Commander standing over her.

"Good job." The older woman said.

Kaori practically glowed with pride. "Thank you, Ma'am!"

* * * * *

"Alright." Misato said. "It's on its way to you."

"Got it." Michiru said. She aimed her Positron Rifle at the huge circle painted on the ground. In a few minutes, the target, whatever it was, would emerge from somewhere in that circle. She opened a link to Unit 14. "You ready?"

Tai nodded nervously. "I think so." He said.

Michiru smiled. "Just think of it like this; there's only one this time."

"Yeah." Tai returned her smile. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."

An instant later, the ground beneath their feet began to shake. A crack appeared in the center of the marked area.

"Here it comes."

The crack spread. The ground began to buckle and strain upward. Eventually, the pressure became too great and the earth split. A huge, shining object surged up through the exploding earth.

* * * * *

"The target is surfacing!" Minako called out.

"AT Field!" Hisashi yelled, sending the waveform reading to the main screen. "Blue pattern"

"An Angel." Misato opened her link to the EVAs. "Okay you two." She said. "It's in your hands now."

* * * * *

"That's an Angel?" Michiru said in disbelief. These things just kept getting stranger every time she fought one.

"It's a giant marble." Tai said, as if saying it would somehow make the thing in front of him seem less ridiculous.

The angel was, in fact, a perfect silver sphere, hundreds of feet in diameter. It floated a few feet above the ground, its reflective surface rippling like a pool of quicksilver, distorting the reflection of the Evangelions. Michiru's two prior battles were all that kept her from completely dismissing the possibility of danger from the floating ball. She knew better than to underestimate *anything* that bore the name 'Angel'.

The Angel floated in the air, motionless. The ring of sonic emitters around it imprisoned it.

"I've got it's AT Field neutralized!" Tai said urgently. "Shoot it!"

Michiru lifted the positron rifle attached to Unit 01's right arm and aimed it at the giant silver orb. She squeezed off a shot, wincing slightly as she felt the recoil from the huge weapon. A brilliant bolt of energy lanced out from the rifle and burned a hole straight through the Angel.

"Nice shot!" Tai exclaimed.

Michiru expected the Angel to fall out of the sky, but it continued to float. Seconds later, the silvery liquid that made up its body flowed into the wound, sealing it without a trace.

"No way..." Michiru said.

"Energy buildup inside the Angel!" She heard Lieutenant Kusanagi yell. "Get out of the way!"

An instant later, Michiru felt a giant, invisible freight train slam into her. Unit 01 was lifted off of its feet and thrown painfully to the ground.

"MICHIRU!!" Tai yelled.

"I'm okay!" She assured him. "Just shoot that thing!"

Unit 14 raised its own positron rifle and fired three rounds into the Angel. This time however, the shots did not even connect. The Angel's metallic surface rippled as the energy bolts bore down on it. Three holes opened in the Angel's body. The bolts passed harmlessly through the holes. Seconds later, Unit 14 was flung through the air like a rag doll just as Unit 01 had been.

* * * * *

"This isn't working!" Michiru said.

"Yeah I can see that." Toji replied. He turned to Misato. "What now?"

"Pull them back to a safe distance." Misato said. "But keep them out there. I want them ready if that thing starts moving again."

* * * * *

"There. Hold that position." Minako said. On screen, both EVAs halted their hasty retreat. "Okay, we're going to come up with something." She assured Tai and Michiru. "Just hold tight."

"If anyone's got any bright ideas, now's the time." Commander Katsuragi said.

"What about an N2 mine?" Captain Aida suggested.

"I was actually leaning toward something slightly less destructive." The Commander replied.

"It's far enough away." The Captain insisted. "There wouldn't be any damage to the city."

"But there's no guarantee that it would harm the Angel." Major Suzahara said. "The only thing we know it would destroy is the emitters. And then if the Angel *wasn't* destroyed...."

"It would be free to move again. Of course." Captain Aida realized. "Okay, bad plan."

"What about the emitters?" Hisashi suddenly spoke up.

"What about them?" Major Suzahara asked.

"Well, why is it avoiding them?"

"Because of the vibrations." Kaori said.

"Exactly." Hisashi said. "But why? Do they hurt it or something?"

* * * * *

Tai rolled his head in a circle, trying to remove the soreness in his neck. Unfortunately, the actual soreness was in Unit 14's neck, not his, so there was nothing to be done about it.

"How are you holding up?" He asked Michiru.

"I'm okay." She replied. "It didn't hit me that hard. Just caught me by surprise that's all."

"What are we gonna do?"

"Don't worry." Michiru said. "They'll come up with something. They always do."

On cue, Misato's face appeared before them. "Okay." She said. "We have a plan."

* * * * *

Michiru was silent for a few seconds after Misato explained the operation. She blinked once or twice.

"That's a plan?"

"What's the problem?" Misato asked.

"Well, 'distract it while Tai pushes a box toward it' isn't exactly the height of military strategy." Michiru said.

"I agree." Tai said.

"Not you too...." Misato began.

"I should be the one distracting it."

"Any particular reason?" Michiru asked.

"Well...because..."

"Because you're the man here?" Michiru suggested, becoming slightly annoyed with her boyfriend.

"I was going to say because Unit 14's bigger and uglier."

"Well.....okay I see your point."

"Guys." Misato interrupted. "Make up your minds."

"I'll distract it." Tai said. "Michiru, you push the box."

"Okay." Michiru said. "Take care of yourself."

"You too."

* * * * *

Tai gave Michiru a few minutes to move into position. The image of a forty-story robot sneaking around was slightly humorous, but the seriousness of the situation kept Tai from laughing.

"Okay." Michiru said. "In position."

"Got it." Tai took a deep breath. "Okay here goes."

He stood up abruptly, drawing Unit 14 to it's full height. He walked slowly toward the Angel.

"Hey!" He yelled. "Over here!"

There was no way to tell if the featureless Angel was concentrating on him or not. So Tai decided to make sure. Still bearing down on the Angel, Tai flexed the muscles in his back, extending Unit 14's huge black wings.

"Okay Michiru." He said. "I can't get more conspicuous. Now's the time."

* * * * *

Michiru nodded and crept toward the Angel. "Okay." She said. "I'm moving to the emitter now." She rushed forward and reached for the black cube in front of her. She had barely begun to push it when a small area of the Angel's surface seemed to harden. Michiru was about to push the box further, but she was abruptly tossed away by the Angel's powerful attack.

* * * * *

The vibrations from the emitter seemed to be affecting the Angel. Unfortunately it was not enough. The Angel managed to fire its invisible weapon at Unit 01. The purple EVA was picked up and slammed into the ground. Tai didn't waste time thinking. He folded his wings and ran toward the Angel while its attention was still on Michiru. At the last second, he dove, shoving one of the emitters as far under the Angel as possible.

The reaction was immediate. The second the black cube passed under the Angel, it began to vibrate violently. The Angel almost seemed to be freezing, its liquid surface losing its reflective quality and hardening over. A horrible screech, like cracking ice magnified a thousand times, arose as the giant sphere continued to harden.

* * * * *

Her unceremonious landing had knocked the wind out of Michiru. She sat up when she heard an unearthly metallic scream coming from the Angel. Tai had shoved one of the other emitters underneath it and now it was desperately struggling against the hardening of its body.

"Tai!" She yelled, leveling her rifle at the Angel once more. "Get out of the way!"

Behind the Angel, she saw Unit 14 roll out of the way. "I'm clear!" Tai called.

Michiru took aim and pumped three rounds into the newly solid parts of the Angel. The energy blasts sank into the Angel, causing it to glow slightly and sending huge cracks along the surface. The cracks grew as the glowing intensified. Michiru and Tai shielded their eyes as a brilliant explosion blew the Angel apart, showering them with shards of silvery debris.

* * * * *

An hour or so later, the thrill of victory was wearing off. Michiru sat in the briefing room as Dr. Ibuki went over what they had learned about the Angel. She was having trouble paying attention though. Something was bugging her, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"It would seem the Angel used the same seismic waves it attacked with to burrow through the ground. That's what caused all of those earthquakes." The doctor said. "Unfortunately, most of the Angel's body was destroyed so we can't really study its physiology as well as I'd like to."

"Well that's a small price to pay." Misato said.

"Agreed." Dr. Ibuki replied.

Misato turned to Tai and Michiru. "You two were terrific out there." She said. "The Angel was destroyed with no damage to the EVAs. And none of the Angel's earthquakes damaged the city either."

"All right!" Tai said. "That's great!"

"Yeah....." Michiru said quietly. "That's great."

* * * * *

Misato knew something was wrong the second she stepped through the door. Michiru was sitting on the living room sofa, her knees drawn up to her chin. On the T.V., the video of their reunion party in 2016 played with the sound turned off. Misato couldn't tell for sure, but it looked as though Michiru had been crying.

"Michiru?" She asked. "Are you okay?"

Michiru didn't respond. She seemed to be in her own world, barely aware of another presence in the room.

"Michiru?" Misato said, sitting down next to Michiru. "What's wrong?"

Michiru began talking as if she hadn't even heard the question. "When I was fourteen, I got to look through my computer records at the orphanage. I wanted to find out about my parents, but all I found was how they died: Injuries Resulting from Earthquake. I spent the next four years...wondering how *I* managed to survive when both of them were killed. It...never even occurred to me that...maybe that wasn't how they really died. Then today...that Angel caused all those earthquakes and......there wasn't a single bit of damage. Not one brick out of place."

"Yeah...." Misato said.

"Yeah." Michiru repeated. "Turns out Tokyo 3 was built to withstand seismic activity. It's pretty much impossible to die in an earthquake in this city. So...I...kind of have to wonder....." She looked directly into Misato's eyes. "What really happened to them?"

Misato sighed. Part of her had hoped Michiru would never ask her that question. She didn't want to relive this story by telling it. But Michiru had a right to know the truth about her parents. Misato took a deep breath, and began speaking...

* * * * *

Misato seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and began to speak.

"When the Angels were awakened after Second Impact, everyone was in a rush to explain what was happening. Then...a group of men, including your Grandfather began comparing prophecies contained in the Dead Sea Scrolls to what had already happened. They theorized a scenario involving seventeen "messengers", otherwise known as Angels, based on the prophecies in the scrolls."

"What does this have to do with my parents?" Michiru asked.

"More than you might think." Misato replied. "The EVA's were created to combat the Angels when they arrived. And three pilots were chosen. Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, and Shinji Ikari. When the Angels arrived, they fought them. It was a long, hard war. But in the end, they won. All seventeen Angels were destroyed. We all thought it was over, and we went back to our lives. Your parents grew up. They fell in love, got married..." She smiled. "...they had you." Her smile faded into a frown. "Our best guess is...that the Dead Sea Scrolls must have been translated wrong. Four months after you were born, the Eighteenth Angel appeared. It wasn't really much more than a big, floating fire. But we weren't expecting it. We couldn't scramble the EVA's in time. It...got inside headquarters...into the Terminal Level."

"Terminal Level?"

Misato hesitated. "What I'm about to tell you is the biggest secret in the entire world, Michiru. Bigger than the EVAs, bigger than the Angels. Bigger than anything."

"Okay." Michiru said. She knew NERV had secrets, but from Misato's behavior, this had to be THE secret of all time.

Misato sighed. "Okay. The first two Angels were known as Adam and Lillith. Both were found at the South Pole. Second Impact was caused when Adam was accidentally awakened. The rest of the Angels are drawn to Adam and Lillith. If they ever make contact with either one...then that's it. Life as we know it would cease to exist. And since we found that nothing we did could actually kill Lillith, it became necessary instead to hide her from the Angels. Right now, Lillith is hidden in the LCL Plant underneath Headquarters. In the Terminal Level."

"And....the Angel found her?"

"Yes." Misato nodded. "We couldn't get the EVAs there but...your parents, and Rei went after it on foot." She smiled sadly. "They didn't even have a plan. They just went after it. They tried to fight it with guns and......it killed Rei. It trapped them in the LCL Plant. The only way they could kill it was to flood the chamber with EVA coolant. It worked but.......they couldn't get out. They died together."

Michiru could already feel tears running from her eyes, but Misato wasn't done talking yet. "The last time I saw Asuka, she made me promise that I would take care of you." Now Misato was crying too. "And I wanted to. I did. But, after they died...the government took you away. We weren't allowed anywhere near you until you turned eighteen. I promised them I would take care of you and.....I couldn't."

* * * * *

The snow covering the narrow path was fresh. No one had come here since the snow had fallen the night before. In the early morning light, the cemetery was an endless field of white powder.

"Want me to come with you?" Tai asked.

"No." Michiru said. "I mean...I think I need to do it alone, this time at least."

"Ok." Tai said. He kissed her lightly. "I'll wait here."

"Thank you."

Michiru walked a few hundred feet down the path, checking her map occasionally. The snow beneath her feet crunched softly. Finally she found what she was looking for. Two stones, side by side. The markers were the kind that lay flat on the ground, and Michiru had to brush off a thin layer of snow to read the writing.

Shinji Ikari
Loving Husband, Devoted Father
2000-2023

Asuka Soryu-Ikari
Beloved Wife, Caring Mother
2001-2023

Tears rolled down her face as she knelt and placed a small bunch of flowers on the ground between the graves. She stood up, blinking back the tears. She hadn't intended to say anything. These were just graves after all, not her parent's themselves. But she couldn't help herself.

"I'm sorry I haven't come here before." She began. "I guess the standard orphanage dream is that your parents are still alive somewhere. I was afraid to come here; because I didn't want to accept that...you're gone. And I'm never going to know you." She broke down in tears. Several minutes passed before she was able to speak again.

"I...don't think I'm going to come here again." She said. "I didn't realize it would hurt this much. I just want you to know that...I know the truth now. I know what you did, even if no one else does. And it makes me so proud to be your daughter. I love you both. I wish you could know....how much I love you."

"They know." Michiru turned quickly at the sound of another voice.

"Misato?" Misato wore a melancholy smile and held two plain white roses. "What are you doing here?" Michiru asked.

"I always come here today." Misato replied, kneeling down to place a rose on each grave. "So you decided to come after all."

Michiru nodded. "I had....something to tell them."

"Yeah. I heard."

"Is it...possible to miss someone you never knew?"

"Of course it is."

Michiru couldn't hold her tears back any more. "I miss them!" She sobbed. "I want them back!"

Misato took Michiru in her arms and, for the second time, gave the girl a shoulder to cry on. "I know." She whispered, letting her own tears fall. "So do I."

To be continued....

Next Chapter:

The largest Angel ever appears without warning, moving steadily toward Tokyo 3. The Angel must be destroyed while it is still over water, before it reaches land. Unit 14 has wings, but humans aren't made to fly. Can Tai learn how in just three days? Find out in Chapter 0:7- A Wing and A Prayer/ Duel at 20,000 feet!

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