Part 67: Mission 37 - A Man's Battle - Part 1
Location: Nirai-Kanai
Rikudou is apologizing for all that Kunugi has had to go through; he shrugs this off, though Rikudou knows how hard he worked to help Ayato and the Magnate Ten. Kunugi sighs that he’s rather jealous of how little Rikudou cares about matters like the color of one’s blood. How can he learn to be more like him?
Rikudou says it’s simple, really, and tells Kunugi to share some food with Ayato. Furthermore, we’re living in a time where people from other planets have come to our world – stuff like a different blood color seems rather trivial face that.
Hell, our squad is living proof of it. Isn’t that why Kunugi took the fall to cover for us? We’ll be essential for lies ahead. Kunugi won’t outright confirm but Rikudou sees in his face that he’s right.
With that done, Rikudou extends an invitation to join him for a meal: he has some prime sake and some wakasagi that Shirou recently gave him after a trip to Lake Ashi. Sounds good to Kunugi.
Location: NERV HQ
Asuka sighs that Shinji STILL hasn’t recovered from what happened. The idiot’s too much of a weakling, unlike the two girls, she grumbles. He’s been asleep since it all went down but, considering he’s got no injuries, should wake up soon-ish.
Asuka observes rather sadly that Shinji had become a lot more positive due to our folks but this seems to have been too much. Is she worried about him, Rei wonders. D-don’t be stupid! Why should SHE worry about an idiot like him?!
Rei stares for a bit and Asuka soon blinks: fine, maybe she is A BIT worried. The guy’s a total idiot but he’s still a comrade with whom she’s fought alongside with all this time. But, and this is important, she’s only A BIT worried. So Rei better not be jumping to any conclusions.
Regardless, Asuka finds it a bit strange to see Rei worrying about other people and wonders if Shinji is dreaming right now. Rei seems a bit confused – has she never had one before? Hmm…
: …
: Ikari, why did you do such a thing?: I couldn’t forgive my dad… he betrayed me. He doesn’t even try to understand how I feel. : And you? Do you try to understand how he feels?: … I can’t, not when he never talks to me.
: Not about mom, or about Touji… or anything! And, still, he went and tried to make me kill Touji! He didn’t even try to save him!: If Ayato hadn’t come over, I would’ve done something I could never undo!: That’s why I couldn’t forgive him…! I will not!: What will you do, then?: I… I can’t pilot anymore…: If you do that, you’d just be running from your problems.: And?! What’s so bad about that?!: I’m done! I don’t wanna fight any more than I already have! This almost made me kill my friend!: … He didn’t run, though.: ?!: He came back… in order to protect what was dear to him…And he failed.: !: But despite that, he…: Ayanami… are you talking about Ayato…?
Shinji finally wakes up, asking his question aloud. Kaji’s there to greet him, explaining that he’s at the hospital – where he was brought to after that little stunt. When Shinji asks, Kaji says Touji’s fine: a bit dinged up but nothing major or life threatening. No danger of mental pollution, either.
That’s a relief for Shinji but he won’t have time to relax yet: Gendou wants to see him and while Kaji doesn’t like it, he needs the kid to come along.
Over by Ayato’s room/cell, Misato comes in with a visitor: Isshiki. That’s a surprise to him, especially when Misato addresses him as commander. When Ayato asks, Isshiki says he’s here to pick him up – he figured it was something he should personally do due to his new position.
As for Kunugi, his ability to lead had been called into question, so his services were dismissed. Is Ayato scared of this change? He open admits he is, considering Isshiki could have him arrested, executed… whatever he wanted.
Ayato understands the gravity of all he’s done and Isshiki admits, quite honestly, that he disliked him from the get-go – Mulian or not. Still, he is nothing is not fair: his policy is to not discard what can still a worthwhile tool.
Ayato grunts that he’s worthless and Isshiki agrees… other than the fact that he can control the RahXephon. Human relationships all boil down to personal interests and Isshiki is willing to allow him to keep his life.
Considering Ayato DID destroy the D1 and the person synchronized with it, he saw fit to lessen his punishment. He ought to be grateful. Ayato doesn’t like the way he speaks about Hiroko but Isshiki matter-of-factly reminds him the Mulians aren’t humans – they are purely the enemy.
As Ayato grits his teeth, Isshiki waves him over – they’re going back to Nirai-Kanai. Not so fast, though, Misato refuses to let him take the kid. See, Ayato is still assigned to the Magnate Ten, so if Isshiki wants to get him back, he’ll need to send his request to Bright and Commander Misumaru.
Isshiki sniffs that she’d defend a Mulian but, no, Misato says she’s defending Ayato Kamina. Well, Isshiki isn’t impressed – he’ll simply go over her head and deal directly with Gendou.
Helena’s not having any success with Ritsuko either, who refuses to let them take the RahXephon. Go get permission from Misumaru. Seems to Helena that NERV isn’t satisfied with just a fake god – are they studying something in the RahXephon? Ritsuko sniffs that that applies to both their groups.
Itsuki gets in between the ladies to calm things down – still, it seems this conversation isn’t going to go anywhere. While they glare at each other, Itsuki tells Ritsuko that while he understands her position, they can’t well return empty-handed. Face that, they’ll be staying right here – with the RahXephon – until they’ve the greenlight to go.
Ritsuko agrees, though warns that their movements will obviously be restricted in the meantime. With that, she has other matters to attend to and leaves.
Helena sighs that Ritsuko lives up to her reputation and Itsuki is rather surprised to see that the professor and him might be quite alike. He can tell from just a cursory glance? Well, there’s a proverb that says women with a spot under the eyes have had a sorrowful love story.
Helena doesn’t know about that but, still, the silver lining to all this mess is that both the RahXephon and the Instrumentalist made it back to this side. Quon hasn’t but she assures Itsuki that everything’s fine: Quon’s with her grandfather now, where she belongs.
: I’ve brought him, commander.
: Thank you.: …: Insubordination, commandeering an EVA... and rather crude intimidation. These are all serious crimes. Do you have anything to say for yourself?: Isn’t it you who should have something to say to me?: I’m the one asking the questions. 
: !!*Shinji takes a few steps forward to rush Gendou but is stopped.*
: Easy there, Shinji!: L-Let me go, Kaji!: Do you want to punch me? Would that make you feel better?: I… I…!: I don’t wanna be an EVA pilot anymore – I don’t wanna be here!: I can’t even stand to look at your face anymore!: Get out, then. You are a disappointment.: …!: Go back to living with your teacher. I’d wager we won’t see each other again.: …Fine. That’s exactly what I want…!*There he goes.*
: (Shinji…)*Ring, ring!*
: It’s me. Strike the Third Children from our records. Set Rei and the #01’s pilot, with the Dummy Plug as a backup.*Door opens!*
: You seem to have a bit of trouble brewing, hm, Cmdr. Ikari?: (Makoto Isshiki…!): Well, will wonders never cease? It’s been ages, Ryouji Kaji.: …
: … Do you need something, Cmdr. Isshiki?: I do. It’s about Ayato Kamina and the RahXephon, naturally.: …: They were always property of TERRA… so I’d appreciate if you could stop stonewalling and simply return them to us.: “Stonewalling”?: Your Major, Misato Katsuragi. It appears your grip on your subordinates is as loose as Kuguni’s.
: Hmph… You’re one to talk.
: What is that supposed to mean?: Shirou Watari, TERRA’s director, made his way here before you did.: …!: He said that he was leaving Ayato Kamina and the RahXephon under the discretion of Kouichirou Misumaru, commander of the Magnate Ten.: …What…?: Such is TERRA’s decision. If you’ve any questions about this, feel free to take them up to your director. : I will. If you’ll excuse me…!*Isshiki stomps away.
: (Yeesh. Guess every organization comes with its resident old fox.)
Itsuki’s also went to check up on Ayato. He’s here simply to accompany other folks, though he has an inkling they’ll be heading back with nothing soon enough. Ayato apologizes for not being able to make good on his promise to keep Quon safe but Itsuki tells him not to worry. She’s doing fine.
In truth, Itsuki sees that the two of them are rather similar in their inability to protect Quon. When Itsuki asks, Ayato figures Haruka is alright; at that, Ayato wonders if he and Haruka are together.
“Hahahah… you still have a lot of growing up to do,” Itsuki quips. He tells Ayato that Haruka’s always carried a torch for a certain man, though the guy hasn’t even noticed how she feels. Ayato thinks that that's terrible – poor Haruka. Itsuki says that it's quite cruel of him to be able to say so easily.
As Ayato falls silent, Itsuki carries an inward monologue: “We are alike… though I suppose that’s only natural. Funny, no? We bear the same mark of Xephon and, yet, fate has given us such different cards. How cruel it is, my brother.”
Shinji’s already stepping out into Neo Tokyo 3 and Misato asks if he won’t change his mind. He says no. She asks if he understands that his movements will be rather restricted once he’s out and, again, he does. He does have a question, though: why was Touji chosen as the EVA-03’s pilot?
Misato confesses that all potential pilots were in Shinji’s class and, as she’s recently heard, the whole process is a sham. She says that there aren’t enough words to make up for what happened to Touji.
Still, Misato says she’d been projecting her hopes, dreams and objectives onto him. Quite the heavy burden, she admits it, but everyone in NERV had no other choice but to entrust their future to Shinji. If anything, she wants him to remember that.
And what are Misato’s “hopes and dreams”, Shinji wonders. To bring peace to man? To crush man underfoot? Given that no one life is worth more than another, isn't that rather selfish of her? She says that it might be. Regardless, she'll leave Shinji’s passcodes active back to HQ. He tells her not to bother – he won't pilot an EVA again. Bidding her farewell, he walks off.
Misato ponders that "bring peace to man" bit of hypocrisy that's been her superficial motivation all this time. In truth, her true goal may simply have been to get revenge for her father.
She’s brought back to the present by a phone call. Something’s up and she immediately hurries back.
And it’s another batch of D1s and D2s, having just broken through the defensive perimeter at Goura. The MUs have been exceedingly busy nowadays, Fuyutsuki sees. Gendou sounds the alert but tells the crew to keep the EVAs on standby within their cages.
Fuyutsuki sees that he’s planning to use the RahXephon to take care of it and Gendou figures TERRA won’t object since this is the MU we’re talking about. He’ll also speak to Misumaru later.
Gendou also believes Ayato won’t complain, so he has Shigeru ready an exit for the mech. Fuyutsuki isn’t too sure about this but Gendou posits that the MU are matching the timing of their attack with a little something else.
He feels that there’s bigger stuff still on the way, which means they cannot sortie the EVAs just yet.
Mission 37 – A Man’s Battle
Neo Tokyo 3’s citizens are already heading into their shelters and NERV’s got their AA guns ready to go. As the MU enter the city, Isshiki sniffs that that’s what we get for not returning the RahXephon immediately. Or maybe NERV did it despite knowing that this could happen, Helena wonders.
Regardless, Isshiki doesn’t care if they’ll send the RahXephon to intercept the enemy of not. If the MU’s attention is focused here, it takes the heat off TERRA while they prepare for a certain operation.
He calls his crew to leave and, no, he doesn’t care about whatever may happen to the RahXephon. If it gets destroyed here, then that’s the end of that – the thing was always meant to be just a means of buying time.
Helena agrees but Itsuki wants to stay: not only does he need to stop by Mutropolis to discuss the upcoming operation with Hibiki and Higashiyama, he also wants to see what NERV is up to.
If anything, Helena praises how dedicated he is to his job.
Ayato launches, though Misato is rather worried about him. Still, he assures her he’ll hold the Dolems at bay – he doesn’t want to lose any other loved ones to them.
Alright, she asks him to hold the line until the Magnate Ten arrives and Ayato confirms… though he doesn’t expect them to get here soon. It’s all up to him.
The NERV operators stand ready to support the RahXephon just as they would the EVAs, so there’s that.
We can’t get off the RahXephon/Evangelion wild ride!
Piss weak Dotems still.
Enemy Phase!
This one new Dolem isn’t waiting around, mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtswHAIxZOA
And, of course, the RNG decides to screw me on a 15%. Ayato also takes out another two Dotems.
Player Phase!
Staying out in the open didn’t help us, so let’s pop Iron Wall and find a safe terrain to stand on.
Enemy Phase!
Didn’t hit me this time.
: (Ollin…!)
*The Obligato charges after Ayato.*
: ?!
: Urk! Gah!: (Is that all you’ve got, Ollin? Is this the full might of one who bears the Xephon’s mark…?)
: The target’s energy level is spiking! The RahXephon’ll be in danger if that keeps going!
: Ayato!: Hrm— Rrrgh…!!
: (What will you do now, Ollin?): I-I…!: I want to… protect…!
: Protect who? (Her face is hidden but screw it.): Shinji and his friends… and everyone…!: Who do you really want to protect…?
: !
: …
: !!
: Picking up a massive energy reading from the RahXephon!: A-Ayato…!: (Ollin…!!)
: I… I’ll protect her… I’ll protect everyone!: I won’t let another tragedy like Hiroko’s happen again! No way!!*Hooooooowl*
: (Do you think you can atone for your sins with that, Ollin…?!)*NERV Alarm!*
: An unidentified object has been detected above Mount Kisokoma! Pattern is blue – an Angel!: What?!
: The main course is arriving…!: …
: Have the AA batteries keep it away! Buy time until the Magnate Ten gets here!: I-It’s not working! The target’s already entering Neo Tokyo 3’s airspace!
: An Angel?!
: …
*Alarm!*
: Armor layers #1 through #18 have been destroyed!: With only a single attack?!: H-How…?!*Zeruel starts heading towards the opened hole.*
: Hrm! You’re not getting in there!!*Three Metronomes surround him.
: What?!: The targets have immobilized the RahXephon!: What did you say?!: Rrgh, these bastards!!: (You won’t be protecting anyone, Ollin. I won’t allow it…!): (You’ll experience my sorrow and the pain you inflicted on Hiroko!): Cmdr. Ikari!: Yes, you may deploy the #02.: Roger!*Zeruel keeps moving…*
: The target’s headed further into the city!
: We’ve no more time to intercept it atop! Deploy the #02 inside the Geofront and have it defend the HQ immediately!
: What about the #00?!
: Its destroyed left arm still hasn’t been fully restored!
: So it can’t fight…?!: Have Rei launch in the #01 with the Dummy Plug acting as her backup.: …Yes, sir!
: The target’s inside the Geofront!: Asuka, you can’t let it reach HQ!
: Aye, aye! I can easily handle this thing, Shinji or no Shinji!*Asuka casts Strike, Iron Wall and Alert. Meanwhile, back in town…*
: (Another Angel’s showed up… Will Asuka, Ayanami, Ayato and the others be alright…?!): (N-No… I told myself I wouldn’t pilot again…)
: Ah, here you are, Shinji.: K-Kaji…!
: The regular citizens have been ordered to head to the underground shelters. Come on.: I… I won’t—!: I know. Still, I went through a lot of trouble to get to you despite all the intelligence agents around… Can’t you walk with me for just a bit?: …
Here it comes.
: I will not lose again! No way in hell!
: The A.T. Field wasn’t neutralized?! Why?!Player Phase!
Zeruel, the Fourteenth Angel
You can’t damage it – that A.T. Field will block everything. It can and will mess YOU up, though, carrying two powerful attacks with loads of accuracy and S ranks in all terrains.
Keep defensive measures on, be mindful of positive terrains around and hold your ground.
Mamoru (oh, no, me and my big mouth!) has a ton of HP while his Metronomes are powered-up models and they will ALWAYS defend, so you’re not getting out of their box strat. Best we can do is take it out on that Dotem.
Enemy Phase!
Here we go again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyNV_Tadf24
Blink and you explode.
: Urgh…! What is this thing made of?!: Asuka!!: What’s going on with the EVA-01?!
: We’re initiating entry right now!
: …: Charging LCL. Opening A10 neural connection!*PWIIIISH!*
: !!: The pulse is reversing! EVA-01 is rejecting the connection!
: How…?!: … It won’t work anymore…: Ikari…!: Yes, it’s rejecting me. : …: Halt the #01’s activation – restart it with the Dummy Plug. Rei will deploy in the #00.: But the #00 is—!: It’s fine. I’ll go.: Rei?!: (Even if I die, there are replacements.)Player Phase!
: Kch… Uurrgh…!!
: I won’t…! I WON’T LOSE AGAIN!!*Asuka charges Zeruel.*
: Asuka?!: Cut all neural connections! Hurry!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-C3wAwm58Y
: Critical damage to the #02! It’s incapacitated!: What about Asuka?!: She’s fine! Alive!: Rrgh…! Verdammt…!!*Zeruel floats past her.*
: The Angel’s on the move again!: How’s the #01?!: Dummy Plug loading and probe insertion, complete!: Contact – start!: Roger!*Beep.*
: What is it!?: The pulse has vanished – it’s rejecting the dummy! The #01 isn’t activating!: Both Rei and the dummy…?!: It won’t accept either of them…?!: Fuyutsuki… handle this for a moment.: Ikari…?!: A-Asuka… everyone…!
: Are you just going to stay here and watch it all go down?: I-I’ve made up my mind… I won’t pilot the EVA again…: Really, now?: What about you, Kaji? Should you be here right now?: I don’t really have anything to do during battle ever since my little side job went public.: Still…: What happens, happens. This isn’t exactly a job that lets me choose where I’ll die.: “Die”…?: Yeah. Beneath this area sleeps a being named Adam; it’s said that if an Angel ever makes contact with it, all of mankind will be obliterated.: The Third Impact… And the only thing that can stop it from happening is the Evangelion – that which possesses the same power as the Angels.: !!
: Direct hit on bulkhead #1!: If we don’t do something, the HQ’ll…!
: Rei?!: Ayanami…! She doesn’t even have a rifle?!: …*Rei charges Zeruel.*
: Wait, is she going to blow herself up along with the Angel?!: Ayanami!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V30FFTzfBZI
: Th-The #00?!: She deployed her A.T. Field right as the explosion happened! I think she’s fine…!: Wait, the Angel! It’s still moving!: What?! It didn’t take any damage from that?!
: A-Ayanami!!: The EVA-00’s gone silent!: What about the RahXephon?!: Still immobilized by the enemy!: High energy spike coming from the target!
x2
: Direct hit on the third foundation! The final bulkhead has been melted!: Not good! The main shaft’s wide open!: (Heheheheh… look, Ayato. Watch as all your friends die…!): Urgh! Let me go! Lemme go!!: I can’t let this happen! I don’t go through that ever again!: (It's useless, Ollin…! You will watch them die… and then you’ll taste the same pain I did…!): …: ?! It’s coming over!: Ah—Aaaah…!!: W-We’re detecting another high energy spike! : Is this… the end…?!: …
: HOLD IT!!: ?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDVlyhRlokQ
Captions, of course.
: Whatever dangers may lie in wait down one’s path, if that person bears something to defend within their heart…: Then he shall never falter in its defense, even at the cost of life and limb.: That is what people call… a man!!: !!
: Oh, heaven and earth, fire and water! Grant me power!!
: PIIIIIILE FOOOOORMATION!!
: Behold! VIKUNGFU!!: R-Rom!: I’ll keep this fiend at bay, Misato! In the meantime, you must all seek shelter!: D-Don’t! None of our attacks have any effect on the Angel!: Regardless, I refuse to step aside…!: ?!: Those I wish to be safe are at risk. Thus, I’ll stand and fight…!: Such is a man’s battle! And as a man, I cannot simply turn tail and flee from it – regardless of the foe that must be faced!: R-Rom…!
: Is that?!
: The Magnate Ten…!
: Are you alright, Misato?!: Ve-Vega! You’re here too!
: Yes and I apologize for being so late!
Everyone’s at max morale!
: It’s… everyone…: They came to help us…?!
: ‘Course! We’re all friends here – and I know that’s a huge cliché!
: But, I’m…
: None of us care about whatever color your blood is, Ayato.: !: We’ve all come from different backgrounds, planets… each one with a distinct course in life. Yet we’ve risen above all those and now stand united. 
: He’s right, and bonds forged in the fire battle of cannot be broken by anyone. You should know that, Ayato Kamina. That is, if you still consider yourself a member of the Magnate Ten…!
: What he said. We’re not gonna get hung up on technicalities like that.
: Guys…: Hrm… this is none of your beeswax…! We can deal with this our—…!
: Oi, drop the act!
: !
: This is just the moment where you should smile and take our help!
: Hmhmm. However hard you might work, there’s a limit to what one person can do.
: Though we can’t really say much since we’re always glued to each other…: But maybe we're more competent than you give us credit for. Ya ever think of that?: Y-You…!
: Quickly, everyone. That Angel does not seem to be your average enemy.
: Well, not being an “average enemy” is pretty much their whole shtick… still, we better fix this up pronto or things’ll be real bad.
: Right! The entrance to the Geofront is over there!
: All units, engage and destroy the D1 and the Angel! Protect NERV HQ!
: Aye, aye!
: Forward! We’ve to help them all!: (Everyone in the Magnate Ten came here to fight… and I… I…!)And that’s the story of how Rom saved Christmas.
Rest of this mission will probably be up tomorrow!