Here's the latest addition to the Project Rift Asunder Series that I have
going!
There's seemed to be a problem with the formatting and such, so I already
know it! ^_^
Soooo...Without much further ado...
(C&C Welcome...Flames...Kinda...^_^)
* * * * * * * * *
"When you said she is a beaut...I didn't quite believe you. But now I do."
Ranma said, with no small amount of good humor. Though it seemed to be
forced.
Walking along side him, "Yeah...Who would have knew that the design would
have won me this!" Hawk yelled, waving his hands out in front of him. "But
there one thing that has been bugging me for the past few days that I can't
quite seem to shake here..." He shrugged. "Maybe it is that damned
experimental engine we installed in there..."
Snorting, "Pah...don't worry about it. Since it was made by your own two
hands and a team of the best engineers that Mai could get for you isn't
enough to sate ya...I don't know what will!" Ranma laughed. Thinking about
something for a brief second, "Ya'Know...Throughout the training trip that
myself and Ranko took, she never stopped talking about you..." he wondered
out loud.
Cocking an eyebrow, "Does this mean you'll let me date with her then?" Hawk
asked, sounding ever so hopeful.
Face hardening, "Nope! Even after all this time, I guess that I'm still a
bit over protective of her. Even though you did save her from that fate
years ago." Ranma chided.
Snapping his fingers, "Damn! Oh well...I guess shit happens!" Hawk laughed.
"I'll try to be back in time for the Rite of Possession though...You can
count on that!"
"You better!!" an angry female called out.
Ducking a little, "Uh oh!" Hawk whimpered, trying to hide behind Ranma's
massive frame.
But Ranma will not hear of it, he shifted over to the side despite Hawk's
attempt's at trying to hide himself from the fiery red-head.
Catching Hawk by the arm, "You will try to come back in one piece,
alright?" Ranko asked him, not able to hide some fear from her blue eyes.
Slumping his shoulders, "Yeah..." Hawk stopped at when Ranko stopped
berating him and pulled him into a fierce hug, forcing all the breath out of
him. Curling his arms around her, "Ya'know that I'll be back...The Falcon is
the finest ship in the Miki-Moto Navy, she'll bring me back."
Nodding, "Somehow that doesn't really reassure me..." To Hawk, it sounded
like she was starting to cry a bit. But before he could ask, Ranko let go of
him a darted off into the distance. He still could hear her soft, "Goodbye"
ringing in his ears as she ran off before he could say anything more to her.
Turning to her older brother, "Does that convince you of anything?" Hawk
asked.
Shaking his head, "Nadda..." Ranma looked around, avoiding anything else as
he walked away from his training partner.
"Hey!" Hawk called out and tossed something to the erstwhile giant.
Turning around, "Yeah?" Ranma just wanted to get away from here. He caught
the small box that Hawk tossed.
"Make sure that she gets it ok?" Hawk pleaded at the top of his lungs.
Frowning, "Sure...No Problem..." Ranma didn't say anything else as he
abruptly turned on his heel and walked briskly away.
Scowling, 'What's up with the cold shoulder already?' Hawk asked himself.
Looking at the back of Ranma, he wondered what in heaven's name happened to
make his rather large friend and commandant turn so cold to him.
* * * * * * * * *
Project Rift Asunder Full Side Story #1
ShinSeki (Neon Genesis) Evangelion
By:
KnightHawke AKA David Snider
[Author's Foreword: Here it is people! The story that started all the
Dimension hopping adventures of Terrance KnightHawke (I have changed the
name to get away from the accusations of this being an SI). This is the
story that will answer the question as to how Hawk got a hold of the
(in)famous AIs onboard the Falcon and a few other nick-nacks.
So far...this is my best writing to date!! ^_^
Special thanks goes to my PreReaders: ShortYes, Talis, Rabbit, Harijubal,
Mark Eymer, LROBE71651 and Zeal.
Thanks guys for your ideas and inspiration, even though it was rather
sporadic! ^_^
More thanks go to the crew of FanWerks Productions. You know who you are, I
don't have to say names here! ^_^
Also, thanks go out to the Readers and Authors of the FFML. A kooky bunch of
people that got me REALLY hooked on Fanfics! And for telling me what
enormous holes that myself and PreReaders missed here...^_-
Gah! I'm babbling here!! On with the Story!!!]
<Insert Standard Fanfic Author Denials and Remissions Here. ^_^>
* * * * * * * * *
Walking back to the docked Falcon with an almost visible storm-cloud over
his head, Hawk still could shake the feeling of dread that is coming to him
as he neared his assignment.
More so as he neared his Captain's chair, there, the feeling nearly
overwhelmed him when he sat in it. The seat that he has earned, thanks to
his submitting designs of various craft and other devices. Plus all the
training he did at the Academy. Now all that paid off.
Earned a seat as Captain in the Miki-Moto Navy. Specifically, the new
Tactical R&D Fleet. Though the fleet is small and widespread, Hawk felt some
accomplishment in the fact that he also helped form it to gather newer and
unique technologies.
"All preparations are ready, Captain." Called out Naru, at his right.
Hawk's first Officer, a most pleasantly good-looking woman, but very
intelligent and fierce, despite her outward appearance. Her face, framed
with a shock of burnt orange hair, still held an air youthful mischief. All
that, including her thick 'New-York' accent, which brought more than one
smile to Hawk's face. He wondered sometimes that the accent never went away
at times.
Hawk nodded to her, "Let's go people!" Standing up and turning to the
bridge crew, "This is the maiden voyage of the best starship ever
constructed yet by the Valadian ShipYards...let's shake her down proper!" he
called out happily, getting a slight whoop of pride from the crew, seemingly
forgetting the dread that he experienced earlier.
"All is green across the board."
Nodding to the Science officer, "Let's get off of this infernal mudball and
go for the stars..." Hawk muttered as he slumped into his seat.
Naru perked an eyebrow to Hawk obvious distress, "Something wrong,
Captain?"
Startled, "Huh?!? Uh, no...I'm just having a bit of a bad day as all..."
Hawk reassured her.
She wasn't convinced, but Naru let it lie there. All on board this ship,
all one hundred and ten people of varying alien, but nearly human races,
knew of the very unorthodox mission that they are embarking on for the
maiden voyage of a ship that hasn't even been properly shaken down nor
tested thoroughly.
Suppressing a shudder, Naru barked out orders to commence the mission as
scheduled. She felt somewhat relieved that she knew Falcon is indeed the
best ship made yet, since she had a hand in its construction. But that still
didn't help the fact that this mission is scaring the bee-jeezus out of her
for no reason at all.
'No time to worry now...The Captain needs someone to start this...' Naru
thought to herself as she continued to coordinate the launch, then the
Dimensional Jump.
The hard, incredibly stubborn part of her, born from her years in training
and on various ships asserted itself once again. Making her the 'Ice Queen'
that everyone favored under extremely difficult situations.
Thankfully she came out of that shell when things go as planned.
All thoughts screeched to a grinding halt as the never-before-used
Dimensional Jump Drive wound up and catapulted the Falcon and her crew
across the Mirror-Wall separating all the dimensions.
Chapter One:
The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still 1
* * * * * * * * *
Watching the newly christened Falcon take to the sky, Ranko sighed from her
perch on the dojo roof. A peculiar habit that she picked up from her
brother. Least in mind anyway.
'Why did you have to leave so soon?' she asked herself, pulling her knees
up to her chin as she gazed heavenward, watching the Falcon disappear in a
flash of light in the star filled sky.
"Because child...he has an obligation..." Ranko spun around in shock,
toward the gentle voice.
"Sensei!!"
Carefully walking over to her, and placing an arm around her small
shoulders, "I meant it...Hawk has been with my old friend, Mai for many
years..." Sensei paused to chuckle a bit. "In fact, if it weren't for her,
your heart wouldn't be longing for his companionship right now is it?"
The smile on Sensei's face seemed so disarming. Ranko opened her mouth to
reply, but she was cut off.
"SENSEI!" Ranma growled. "This does not concern you! Even if Hawk is
abandoning us..." His breath was stopped short as a fist made itself home in
Ranma's stomach.
"HE is NOT abandoning us!!" Sensei hissed through his teeth. "I know a
great deal many things...One of them is the fact that his power does NOT lie
in his martial arts training..." He trailed off as his features softened
again and patted the small redhead on the shoulder.
She raised a questioning eyebrow, "What do you mean, Sensei?" She asked in
a low whisper.
Casting a disgusted glance to the wheezing Ranma, "Well, child...Hawk feels
that there are more, different ways in protecting you..."
"I don't NEED protecting!!!" Ranko roared. She would have continued her
rant more, if not for the disapproving look from Sensei.
Kneeling down to the redhead's level, "He knows that...He cares more for
you than he has ever cared for anyone in his own years...It is he reason for
being..." Sensei whispered.
Eye's going wide, "Then why did he leave then??"
Sighing, "I believe he is creating a life for himself...a future...most
likely for the long term...with CERTAIN someone..." Sensei trailed off
again, he got up from his position and walked away. "Or it could be that he
needs time think about certain things..." Leaving the diminutive fireball to
ponder what he has said. "Besides he already has that previous obligation
that he must fulfill..."
Thankfully leaving her completely alone as he dragged her 'big brother'
along as well.
"Plus...He knows that someONE is waiting for him for when he does return
here..."
Watching, for just a moment, as Sensei dragged Ranma away, Ranko looked to
the stars again, "Please be OK when you get back..." she prayed almost
silently, fingering the small box that Ranma dropped.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Ranko gingerly opened the box and
found a largish, round key.
Looking closer to the inscription on the square head of the key, her eyes
widened as she read it: MHE Millenium - Master Key.
Everything seemed to slow down for her as she clutched the key and its
chain in her small hand.
A small tear rolled out of her closed eyes as she clutched her other hand,
failing to notice the note that floated out of the box and fly away.
* * * * * * * * *
"Two Minutes to the arrival at the specified Dimensional Coordinates,
Captain." Barked out the Helmsman.
Now in a much higher spirit, thanks to the efforts of the woman beside him,
Hawk nodded to the helmsman, "All hands! Brace for Dimensional Incursion!!"
Watching from the side, Naru breathed a breath of relief for the man that
helped her out for so many years. In fact, if it weren't for him, she would
have surely perished in the backwoods of the 'New' Americas when she was
only fourteen.
She inwardly smiled at the memory of the only one that cared enough to help
her get on her own two feet, helped her get into the Miki-Moto Naval Academy
and many others.
Looking back to the Main Screen, Naru inwardly hoped that nothing would
happen to him or herself. Because, she knew that she fell for this man, just
like Maxfield from her Junior High days. She wanted to spend the rest of her
life with him, even if she is an adopted daughter to Hawk. That thought
brought a small smile on the infamous 'Ice Queen's face.
Hawk looked all round him to make sure that at least the bridge crew was
ready for the Incursion. Nodding to himself and taking a deep breath, "Let's
Kick This Pig!" he barked out.
Everyone on the bridge who knew about the Captain's idiosyncrasies, knew
that order meant for 'GO!' and they all braced themselves even harder, since
they knew that the Jump Drive is experimental for this class of vessel.
The kaleidoscope view the bridge crew had was instantly replaced by one of
a city, a big city, behind a large lake.
"SIR!! I'm getting two massive energy readings to either side of the ship!"
The tactical officer cried out, as his fingers flew over the control console
for a more accurate reading.
"Get the shields...!!" Hawk never got the chance to finish was he was
trying to say as he was catapulted from his chair and over the Helmsman's
consoles. His head hitting the helmsman's console as he spun in the air,
then the deck incredibly hard, to say that his bells rang is putting it
mildly.
If he were awake, he would have seen the entire bridge erupt into absolute
chaos. Explosions everywhere...the crew lying on the ground, barely
breathing...
* * * * * * * * *
Misato turned to the crew of the command center, "What the hell is that
thing?" she muttered as she watched this ship on the screen. Whatever it is
made of, it took a 138 gigawatt Positron beam from EVA-01 and an equally
massive particle beam from the angel at the same time. And yet, it still
flew.
Ritsuko was just about to ask the same thing while she watched the thing
float over the lake, with two massive, still melting holes in the hull.
"SEMPAI!!"
The head of TechDiv turned to her brightest pupil, "Nandai? [What is it?]"
she asked to Maya.
"I'm getting a massive power surge coming from the object!" Maya cried, her
fingers flying all over the keyboard in front of her.
"What's the reading?"
"It's going off the scale!!" Maya started becoming frantic as she tried to
get an accurate reading on the thing.
Snapping her eyes back to the main viewer, Ritsuko watched the oblong
shaped thing slowly turn toward the angel. She watched from another angle on
another screen that two ports opened on the front of the thing. She wondered
what could send their gauges off the scale, never minding the fact that the
power level that they can measure is 'only' a few thousand terawatts.
"What is it doing?" Misato asked, still in awe that this thing can stay in
the air after taking hits like that, never mind the fact that it is
generating enough power to light a million Tokyo-3s without a problem.
Ritsuko was about to ask the same thing as two massive lances of blue-white
light shot out of the ports.
Hitting the angel almost dead center, cutting through it without any
visible effort and kept going into the horizon.
Both the head of Tactics' and the head of TechDiv's jaws dropped as they
watched the fortress-like angel get sliced into three separate chunks and
fall to the ground unceremoniously, like its impenetrable AT Field wasn't
even there to begin with. In fact, the field seemed to shatter as soon as
the twin energy beams slammed into it.
Now its massive core now exposed, glowed dimly and slowly faded away to
darkness.
Up in the balcony of the command center, Gendo Ikari watched in muted awe,
like his underlings, at such a small craft is capable of doing such a thing
with so much damage taken to itself.
He wants that technology contained within it for his 'project.'
Everyone's eyes stayed glued to the mainscreen as they watched the ship
flounder in the air above the lake, like someone losing their balance on a
bicycle and trying to stay upright.
They all watched it, trailing twin plumes of smoke, glide over to the
beach, where it landed hard, trenching up from the beach to several blocks
into the city.
"Sempai! I'm reading no power output from the object! Everything has
ceased!" Maya spun her head around and gave a worried look to her superior,
hoping she would have an answer.
Ritsuko turned to her purple haired college mate, the expression one could
call priceless for those who knew how unflappable she is: One of sheer
confusion.
Nodding to her friend, "Send a recovery team to the crash site!" Misato
called out to open air, making everyone jump from the eerie silence that was
broken, "And make sure that there is security there too! We don't know what
maybe there...alive." She added as an afterthought.
The head of Tactics looked up to the NERV Commander for the 'go ahead.'
Misato couldn't keep down the creeping anxiety from showing in her eyes.
Gendo saw this but he kept his face hidden behind his gloved hands.
"Go." He said simply.
* * * * * * * * *
Heading the Search and Rescue crew. Misato tip-toed around the debris that
cluttered the entire beach-line.
Turning back to the crew, "Fan out! Search for any survivors!" She called
out, getting nods everywhere she looked as they all darted off in random
directions in their search.
Walking further through the wreakage, Misato whistled at the huge, gaping
holes on the side of the ship. 'Or whatever this thing is,' She wondered.
Spotting what looked like a hatch of some sort just some distance away.
Hopping over larger chunks of metal, she reached the door. "Hmmmm..." she
hummed as she gazed over the door for a way to open it.
Then she spotted a panel that said: 'Manual Release' in bold red, ENGLISH
lettering. Misato wondered what the hell is going on as she opened the panel
and pulled the lever down as hard as she could.
She heard a loud hiss of pneumatic pressure being released and the door
cracked open a little bit.
Just enough to wedge her gloved fingers in.
Pulling as hard as she can, despite the weight of the Rad-Suit she is
wearing. The door just didn't want to budge an inch.
Looking around for some help, "Hey! Someone get a pry-bar over here!!" She
yelled out to the rest of the crew that is nearby.
A large man, carrying a long pry-bar, gestured for Misato to get out of the
way.
Complying, she watched him wedge the bar into the crack and pulled with as
much force as he can. Barely making it move, but moving it none-the-less.
Curiosity egging her on, Misato jumped in to assist. Now with the both of
them pulling on the bar, the door screeched open little by little.
It was at least ten minutes until the got the hatch open enough so that
people can get in and out.
Panting, "Get more of the crew over here to search this...thing."
Nodding with a salute the man darted off to the rest.
Not willing to wait another minute, Misato keyed her flashlight on and
walked into the wreck.
* * * * * * * * *
Busy.
To say that the infirmary is as busy as a beehive right now will be putting
it mildly. This is total insanity with all the injuries pouring in.
Most were Dead On Arrival. At least, seventy percent were, that number
seemed to climb a little higher with each passing minute as all the nurses
and doctors scrambled to save what lives they can.
Even if some looked a little less than human.
All have suffered major injuries. But mostly major electrical burns and
contusions.
All but one the doctors and nurses swarmed over, struggling to save their
lives.
All but one.
This one, seemingly dressed in a what seemed to be a high ranking officers
uniform. That uniform had to be ripped to shreds to get it off of him. Yet,
this man recovered on his very own. Recovering so fast and so completely, he
baffled the greatest medical minds in the office.
They have so many questions to ask him. But he lay unconscious on the
hospital cot. The wounds he sustained seemed to disappear before their very
eyes.
Now things have quieted down, most of the casualties seemed stable for the
moment. All the staff, after completing the last of their rounds, sat
heavily down in the lounge with a resounding sigh of relief.
"What could cause those injuries to so many?" one nurse wondered out loud,
sounding almost whiney in the process.
"Yeah...but that one poor woman...Losing an entire arm..." another nurse
shuddered.
Another was about to continue the conversation, but the door leading into
the room shooshed open. Revealing two distinct women.
One dressed rather casually with her uniform, but none could mistake the
Captain's rank on her lapel. She has an air of command about her, but her
amused look about her almost stifled that.
The other, dressed much like a scientist of also high ranking. As far as
she could get with a lab coat and a short mini-skirt anyway. This woman
seemed very cold and calculating as she gazed of the resting staff in the
room.
"Which one of the casualties is best ready to be talked to?"
All persons in the room did a collective gulp at the cold, unblinking stare
coming from the blonde.
* * * * * * * * *
"Time to get up, Sir."
Awakening with a long groan. Hawk rolled onto his side from the gentle
prodding, "Just another 10 minutes, Naru-chan..." he mumbled and soon
drifted off to sleep again.
Looking up from the patient in question, the nurse looked dejected as she
shrugged to Misato and Ritsuko, "I'm sorry...we all have been trying to
nudge him as soon as all the wounds healed." The nurse just shook her head
as she walked off, mumbling something about "It's like trying to wake a
petrified tree..."
The violet haired vixen just giggled as she watched her comrade beside her
scowl fiercely. Misato just snorted more giggles down and walked up to the
head of the bed. She leaned down to his ear...
"WAKE UP!!!!"
"WAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Hawk cried as his entire body leapt off the cot and he
ended up gripping the ceiling, with both his hands and feet, plus the sheets
are still over him.
What he didn't know, and what he wondered about is the draft that he is
feeling from his hindquarters as he gripped onto the ceiling, and trying to
catch what little breath he has left.
Leaning under the sheet, Ritsuko peered under.
She darted her head back out into the open. A fierce blush appeared on her
face.
Composing herself before Misato could see her, "I have dibs!" she called out
to the violet haired Captain.
Blinking, "Huh?" Misato replied intelligently. Completely not noticing the
fact that this man FLOATED back down to the bed.
Laughing inwardly at finally getting the 'Good Captain' back for all the
times she flaunted the many boyfriends Misato had during her life, Ristuko
also failed to notice the man coming down from the ceiling.
A cough brought them out of almost going at their throats. "Ladies?"
Misato turned slowly to where the timid voice came from and saw the man,
clearly awake and with a nervous expression on his face.
The violet haired commander was just about to barrage him with questions,
namely about the craft that got hit with the twin beams of lethal energy and
survived without exploding.
"Who are you?" Misato was beaten to the punch by the blonde scientist
beside her, Ritsuko.
"Terrance KnightHawk, Captain of the MHE Falcon." The man answered simply
and to the point.
"Well...Captain...Care to tell us as to how you and your ship got here?"
this time it was Misato that got the Hit in.
Scratching his head, "Sorry...I cannot tell you exactly as to how I got
here...VERY classified information. Plus, I don't know exactly how the Jump
Drive works anyway."
Eyebrows shooting toward her hairline, 'Jump Drive?' Ristuko wondered to
herself. Or so she thought.
"Sorry again...I cannot tell you what it does, unless the situation calls
for it." Hawk answered simply again.
The Head of TechDiv wondered as to how this man knew that without saying a
word.
"OK...Can you at least tell us as to why you are here?" Misato piped in.
Shifting under the sheets a bit, "Well...THAT I can tell you...To put this
simply: I'm on a mission to gather new and unique technologies for
Miki-Moto." Hawk roared in laughter inwardly, 'Least that is PARTIALLY
true...I cannot tell them that the R-E-I system in this Star system mucked
up somehow...Who knows HOW they will react to THAT!'
"Miki-Moto? What is that?" Ristuko again.
"Miki-Moto is the largest Corporate, Government and Police Agency ever
devised..."
Hawk noticed the look the pair of women shared, and the common question
that almost said. "It is so large, it holds and controls the governmental
and the economic bases for hundreds of thousands of universes...Possibly
millions if I'm not mistaken, but I could be..." he shruged as he crossed
his arms across his chest.
"WHAT???" Both women chorused.
"Don't you mean worlds or something?" Ristuko asked worriedly.
"No...I mean whole damn universes. Mai REALLY knows how to run a
corporation." Hawk said with a serious look on his face that somehow left no
room for argument for them.
Pulling the stunned scientist away from the man. In fact, Misato yanked
Ristuko out of the room, but failed to close the door.
"Do you realize what resources this guy has access to???" Misato hissed in
Ristuko's ear.
Coming out of her stunned state, "Yes...As hard as it is to imagine, Yes I
can...And, quite frankly, he scares the living shit out of me right now..."
"Come here you two!! I can hear you just fine without ya sayin' THAT to my
face!!" Hawk bellowed. Making the two's faces pale.
Obligingly, the women went back to him. Facing a glowering glare from Hawk,
"Ya'Know what?"
"Hmmm?"
"Hai?"
"You two should know that one of the things that REALLY piss me off is
being left in the dark..." Both women could have swore that they saw some
lightning cackle around him for a second.
"BUT...This is one of the times that I will make an exception..."
Heads hung low, but before they could get any lower, the statement that
Hawk made finally sunk in.
Perking up a little, "Huh? What do you mean?" Misato asked.
"I made a ROYAL screw-up in selecting the point of entry when my ship came
in...Plus I need assistance in getting my ship repaired properly..."
That got the scientist's full attention, but before she could say anything
she thought out what this could mean for NERV as a whole, and that made a
HUGE difference in her thinking. "What could we get in return for assisting
you?" Ristuko asked.
With a bit of flourish, "Grand technological upgrades...Plus a chance to
become a productive member of Miki-Moto!"
That last part rung something within the scientist as she turned tail and
ran out of the room. Both Misato and Hawk wondered why. To Ritsuko, she has
to report this IMMEDIATELY to Gendo...For the Good of NERV as a whole.
Both Hawk and Misato simultaneously chorused: "Huh?" Very intelligently.
Snapping out of it and realizing his state of undress, "Ummm...Where's my
uniform?"
Misato was just about to answer with an 'I don't know', when a nurse strode
in, deposited the freshly mended Miki-Moto Captain's uniform and quickly
left for the rest of her rounds.
"Well...I guess that answers my question."
Looking from the clothing to Misato, "As much I would like to be watched by
a very beautiful woman while getting dressed..."
Flushing a bit, Misato darted out behind the curtain.
Chuckling a bit, "Just give me a minute!" Hawk called out to her.
Slight Pause.
"Whenever you feel like ceasing the violation of my privacy!"
He could already hear a strangled 'GAK!' coming from just outside the
curtain. Hawk shook his head slowly and laughed to himself quietly as he
dressed himself.
* * * * * * * * *
"Kami-Sama..." Hawk whispered under his breath as he watched the recovery
crew pull the wrecked Falcon off of the beach. 'This is too much for me too
handle right now...'
Looking over to the stunned captain, "I take it this is pretty bad?" Misato
asked simply.
"It was almost worse...MUCH Worse..." He replied as he suddenly took off
into the general direction of the hanger that the ship will be placed in for
the time being.
Dejected, "Now what does he mean by that?" Misato wondered, but quickly
shook it off as she tried valiantly to follow the estranged Captain.
* * * * * * * * *
Looking up from the small stack of reports in his hands, "Very interesting
physiology..." Gendo cocked an eyebrow as he read further.
"That is not all, Commander."
Setting the papers down, "What else could there be?"
"I have found some interesting things in the blood sample they managed to
get from the Captian...Not easily...His skin is tougher than an inch thick
plate of titanium..." Exasperated a bit, Ristuko put her hands to her
temples, trying in vain to ward off a headache.
"And...?"
That snapped her out of it, "From what I have seen from the
electron-microscope pictures...The Blood had EXTREMELY advanced
NanoTechnological Robots in there..."
"Had...?"
Nodding, "Hai...Had...It would seem that they deactivate after being
outside the host body after a period of time...Then, they started to
disintigrate.
"Also, From my understanding: We have been offered to join a Corporate
Conglomerate so large, that it baffles even myself..." Stammered Ritsuko,
sitting in behind of her desk and taking a shuddering inhale of her
cigarette.
"Exactly how large?"
"So large...It is the economic, military and governmental base of possibly
millions of UNIVERSES." She stressed as far as she could so that Gendo will
not question the sheer scale of things that are coming down the pike.
"Very interesting..."
"And that is not all," The scientist interrupted, "From what this 'Captain'
says, we could also be given a hand in the technological front. Meaning that
we will gain access to levels of technology that is light-years ahead of our
own..." This time, the worry and anxiety on her seemed to wash away,
revealing something akin to a young girl wondering what she is going to get
on Christmas Day.
Standing from his reclined position, taking the stack of reports into his
hands, "Thank you, Doctor Akagi...This meeting has been most...Informative."
With that said, Gendo Ikari, the Commander of NERV, swept out of the room.
Seemingly too quickly for his normal cold demeanor.
Smiling to herself as she turned her chair toward the window facing the
interior of the GeoFront and taking another hit off of her nearly finished
cigarette, "Seems that I'm not the only one that is excited by this
proposition..."
* * * * * * * * *
"Hey, Naru-chan!" a distinctly male and very syrupy voice cut through the
fog of the Commander's pain. Easing it by giving her something else to focus
on.
"Uhhhhhhhummmmm..." Naru groaned as she tried to peel open her eyes. Being
left handed, she tried to rub at her eyes. "Huh?" she said as she couldn't d
o something so simple.
"I'm sorry, Naru-chan..."
She wondered what is going on now, since she cannot move, let alone feel
her arm any more. Naru went with trying to rub at her eyes with her other
hand. This time, the hand and arm worked as they should be.
Opening her eyes finally. She witnessed something she did not see all that
often. Hawk's face, a depiction of sadness. But that almost disappeared
almost as soon as she opened her eyes. Now his face turned to sheer relief.
"How do you feel?"
Groaning, "Like I was mauled by a Seljuck..."
Chuckling softly and quickly turned serious afterwards, "I hate to tell ya
this, Naru-chan..." Hawk gulped as he trailed off, like something that he is
trying to say is particularly painful.
Trying to get up. But as soon as she lifted her head, it swirled violently.
Forcing herself to reluctantly keep herself still, mostly to keep the bile
down from the vertigo.
"What is it?" Then Naru's memory kicked in, "What the hell hit us?? Is the
crew alright? Is the Falcon...?"
Hawk stopped her barrage of questions with his finger on her lips. "The
Falcon is repairable...Most of the crew is..." Hawk choked again.
Dread now filling her, "...Dead?"
He nodded, unable to keep a few tears running down his face. "We were hit
by a combination of very high powered Positron and Particle beams...We got
off lucky there..."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean is that the beams missed the Main Anti-Matter storage units by only
a few meters..."
Paling, "Gods...if THAT were to have gotten hit..." Naru shuttered at the
thought.
"Yeah...the Whole Sol System would have been gone..." Going off on a
different tangent, "BUT, the beams didn't hit, so don't worry about it..."
'But there is one thing I'm worried about.' Naru thought, "Why can't I feel
my arm?"
She watched Hawk's face tense in worry. Then resignation, "You don't have a
pair of arms anymore..." He his face behind his hands.
"Huh?" Naru shifted her gaze to her left side. Namely where her left arm is
supposed to be. All that that there is just a small bandaged stump ending
within a few centimeters of her shoulder.
"I can get a new one for you..." Hawk attempted at reassuring her. "The
best that Miki-Moto can provide..." He whispered to her.
She bit back a scream only because she knew that her arm can be replaced.
But even those replacements aren't the greatest, not even as good as her
original from a senses point of view. Least from what she knows of the CCW
technology anyway.
Another reason why Naru didn't scream is that an intense liquid pain spread
throughout her chest. So all that got out was a loud, bloody gurgle past her
lips as she passed to unconsciousness again.
"NARU-CHAN!!!"
Hawk was about to pull out all the stops in his power to heal her, tossing
all promises he made to himself in not revealing said power to the people of
this world. But he was shoved out of the way by the onslaught of doctors and
nurses that swarmed over her.
Dejected, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away, occasionally
looking back at the swarm.
* * * * * * * * *
"Did you hear that?"
"Hai," the blonde scientist shuttered. "Like he said: 'We got off lucky.'
And from what I can remember from theoretical physics...Everything in the
Solar System could have been VAPORISED..."
Gulping, "Gods..." Misato remembered something from the look on Hawk's
face, "Did you get a good look at Hawk's face?"
Not getting a response from Ristuko. "He was looking, talking and reacting
like a FATHER would to his daughter..."
That got the Head of TechDiv out of it, "What? What makes you say that?"
Still keeping an eye on the banks of monitors.
Groaning in exasperation, Than running her hand through her violet locks,
"I should have expected that from you...What I mean, from what I remember of
my own father, helping me at the time of the Impact. He, " Misato pointed to
the image of Hawk on one of the monitors, "did everything like my own father
did when he was afraid for my own well being..." She left that hang there.
Putting her hand to her chin, "Hmmmmm..." Ristuko wondered out loud.
"I think he is already taken..." Misato whined.
Avoiding those damned cameras, Hawk heard some talking through a door, he
cocked an eyebrow to the voices within.
From what he was able to hear, he inwardly groaned and slapped his hand to
his forehead as he found out that it is about him.
Feeling that the door is unlocked, even if it was, he could have twisted
the knob off easily, thanks to his conversion and 'power.' He opened the
door quietly and walked in.
"I think that is not the case..." Hawk called out. Making both women jump
out of there skin. "Naru-chan is my...Adopted daughter..."
"Huh?"
Cocking an eyebrow, "Hmmm?"
"I found her. Scared out of her wits, lost, with nowhere to go. I soon
found out that she had no family on the world that she was on, and with no
way to track down where she came from...."
"So you took her in?" Misato asked. 'World she was on? Huh...?'
"Yeah...I did..." Hawk shifted his eyes to the monitor that showed Naru,
now resting peacefully again. Misato and Ristuko could have swore that they
saw what looked like tongues of flame in his eyes. "I have grown quite
attached to the little 14 year old girl that I found...I gave her a home, an
education (The best that I can get for her), and soon helped her get her own
life..."
Slumping into a nearby chair, "Sadly, she wanted to spend her life with me
when she can...Especially when she heard that I am the Captain of the
Falcon...
"For many years...she had a bit of a schoolgirl crush on me." Cracking a
humorless smile. Hawk got out of the chair and glared at the monitor that
depicted Naru on the hospital bed and smashed both his fists into the
hapless console. "Now look at where she ended up! She almost lost her damn
life!" A few tears glimmered in the light of the screen as he leaned his
head up against it.
Both women behind him seemed a bit out of place, even though they went
through similar times in their own lives. But this is just a 'little' over
their heads.
Looking over to the perplexed Ritsuko, Misato jutted her head toward the
door, indicating that they should leave him be.
"Don't go..." Hawk choked out. "I have dealt with this many times...and
this is no different." Both women looked at him, his shoulders slumped and
his chin to his chest. "It could have been worse, thankfully, it wasn't...
"Besides, I need someone with me to coordinate the repairs to the Falcon."
He tried to look like this didn't bother him, but only partially succeeded
in trying.
Shifting her eyes to Misato, "Go tell Ikari that I'm going with him to
start everything."
Nodding silently, sparing a quick, pitying glance to Hawk, she saluted to
him and darted off to another place in the complex.
Breaking the eerie silence, "Well...I thank you for listening to this old
man ramble on...It made me feel MUCH better." Hawk curtly bowed to the Head
of TechDiv.
"Old Man? You hardly look like your older than twenty-two!" Ritsuko
exclaimed.
"Don't Judge a Book by its Cover...As the old saying goes..." Hawk stated
matter-of-factly. "I'm MUCH older than I look..." he trailed off as he
marched out of the room.
Following him, matching his brisk pace step per step, "How old are you
anyway?" Ristuko asked simply.
"Well over a hundred and fifty..."
She almost tripped over her own feet when she heard that ludicrous number.
But the way he said it, told her that he meant it and lived it for all that
time. Even if it seems well beyond human.
"Now where is the Falcon so we can get the ball rolling?"
* * * * * * * * *
"Come this way."
Ristuko followed Hawk into the not so intact wreckage of the Falcon, at
least, that is what he called it.
She marveled at the level of sophistication of this fine craft. Even
dismayed at the fact that most of it is heavily damaged, she wondered where
they are heading and voiced her concern to him.
"The main computer core..." Hawk snorted, trampling through the mess on the
inside, "...I just hope that they are still intact..."
Raising an eyebrow, "They...?"
Looking back to her, "Yep...they...The Artificial Intelligence Cores...they
are basically the hearts and brains of this entire ship... "
She was just about to ask more about 'them' when Hawk called out, "We're
here..."
Perplexed, Ritsuko looked around and saw nothing but the bulkheads, covered
in what looked like to be fine, faintly glowing circuitry. She saw Hawk
scramble up a small scaffold and it was when she looked up, she realized
that this massive torus above them is the computer core.
Scrambling up the ladder with 'some' measure of urgency, Hawk quickly
reached the AI core access panel. He tore the thing off and tossed it to the
ground unceremoniously.
Dodging the thick metal plate, Ristuko called up to him, "Could you please
watch where you are throwing things?"
Never mind the fact that the plate looked and sounded like it weighed in at
over several hundred pounds. She shivered inwardly at the thought of that
plate squashing her, and awe at the fact that Hawk ripped it out and tossed
it aside like it was nothing.
Running his hand over each square-like opening inside the panel, all five
of them equally sized and spaced apart. He dug into his pocket and pulled
out what looked like to be a hex key.
"Sorry about that..." Hawk said sheepishly while carefully inserting and
twisting the key at each special slot near each openings, knowing full well
that the Head of TechDiv is now up here with him.
Watching Hawk key each opening brought up some memories for Ristuko. Namely
back when she was in college. She remembered she and her class of teammates
dismantling and studying an old AI computer.
The thing has proven to be very unstable over the years and had been
permanently disabled but it provided a good base for a new series that her
own mother has literally spent her life creating: The Magi SuperComputers.
That computer was of the old HAL/SAL 9000 series.
The large rectangular objects that Hawk is pulling out looked almost
exactly like the Neural Elements in the old series, but infinitely more
complex by the sparkle that ran through them, the sparkle of a million
million diamonds seemingly contained in this several foot long brick.
Ritsuko bit back a gasp as the memory hit home.
She watched him carefully take each one out of their sockets and with great
care, set them onto the scaffold where they were lowered down to the ground,
and then hopped down from their vantage point. Ristuko soon followed him,
albeit through a safer route, since she is not able to jump from twenty
feet.
When Ristuko jumped down from the ladder when it was safe for her, she
watched in fascination that Hawk, kneeling on the floor, handled each
Element like they were fine lead crystal, turning them over and over in his
hands. Until she saw a lone tear crawl out of his eye.
She was just about to ask what is wrong, when all the sudden he threw one
of the Elements against the bulkhead, shattering it in millions of pieces,
"SON OF A BITCH!!!" he roared as he tossed another one.
Ritsuko ran up to him and tried in vain to restrain him from throwing
another one, "What's wrong???" she cried into his darkened face.
"They're dead...all dead..." Hawk choked.
"What...?" Ritsuko whispered, but then she caught sight of large black
blemishes in most of the Elements except one.
She didn't need to ask to know that the neural cores are fried beyond all
repair. Already knowing the fact that the memories and experience contained
in these fragile crystals are forever lost.
Except one.
"'Least Max is still alive..." Hawk sounded very relieved in that fact as
he picked up the last crystal and cradled it in his arms, "I have lost too
many colleagues and friends the past few days...
"It is going to take some time to get the Falcon space worthy again..."
Without pause he continued, sounding very dismayed at the damage, "Without
these AIs to run the ship's systems Max and I can never get her flying
alone..." He put his hand to his chin and 'Hmmmm'd.'
Knowing full well what he is talking about, Ritsuko looked around as well
until her eyes met the burnt Elements lying on floor. She wondered what kind
of memories and experience that a nearly new computer system can get.
She wondered again what could be so special about a computer that can seem
like they are alive...'Wait...these elements are so advanced, it is possible
that they are sentient...'
Holding the still intact Element to the light, "Over three hundred years of
Programming, Memories and experience..." Hawk paused as he cradled the
crystal again, turning to Ritsuko.
"These elements," he gestured with a jut of his head to the ones on the
floor, "have been originally programmed by the most powerful system ever
devised by mortals or even the immortals..."
Hawk smiled as he watched her digest this information and her eyes widening
as she did, "I wasn't kidding about the Three Hundred years...these Elements
came from decommissioned or severely damaged ships."
Ritsuko watched Hawk jump back up onto the scaffold and put the element
carefully back into its rightful place and lock it down.
"Oooooooookie....Everything checks out here..." he gave an affectionate pat
to the panel, "...Now I got to make sure that the core is receiving power
from the Reaction systems..." Hawk called out to her as he jumped down.
"So...onto engineering..." Hawk seemed to be in better spirits now as he
marched off, with his finger in the air, pointing the way as he went.
Exasperated, Ristuko shook her head, remembering the eccentric and
extremely intelligent men she met in college.
Hawk seemed to just like one of them, though he has something of a build
that none of them had.
Most of those were both extremely thin and wiry or grossly overweight and
somewhat smelly. Make that very smelly...
All, thankfully, disgusted her in someway. Making her want to keep a more
than respectable distance from them.
But not his man, who is trotting off without her, this man seemed to have
plucked certain strings within her that she didn't think were there.
Turning his head, "You're gonna love this!" he called out to her, making
her almost jump while she lost herself in her own thoughts.
Curiosity egging her on, she followed the estranged Captain.
Glad that he gave permission for her teams to swarm all over the ship,
studying and repairing the radically advanced alien craft as they went
along.
* * * * * * * * *
Dodging the excited engineers and technicians of TechDiv, Hawk and Ristuko
arrived in yet another massive room.
It was trilevel with numerous computer access panels all over in key
locations on the entire length of the balconies.
But the one thing that truly caught the scientist's eye is the several
meter thick pillar-like structure in the center of the larger portion of the
room. Least, from what she can make out, since everything is dimly lit.
Feeling a warm, slightly callused hand clasp her own, the blonde scientist
almost jumped again. "Stay with me...Things can be REALLY dangerous in here
if we're not careful."
Somehow she found Hawk's baritone voice and warm hand rather soothing right
now. But she tried to derail that train of thought as he drug her along, but
failed miserably.
She felt his hand loosen and guide it to another location, landing on what
felt like to be a chair of sorts. "Stay right here for a moment..." she
heard Hawk call out to her again.
Fumbling a little bit in the dark, Hawk finally found the panel he was
looking for. He punched a few of the soft touch keys in sequence.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Again, nothing.
"Damnit!!" Hawk swore as he fiddled with the controls with earnest.
Still nothing.
He seared the air with a vile curse as he kicked the console to relieve his
pent up frustration.
This one console flared to life as everything on it lit up.
Biting down both a groan and a laugh at Hawk's fumbling, Ritsuko stood by
and watched the console light up.
He just shook his head and shrugged, "Guess it needed a delicate touch..."
Forgetting to laugh at Hawk's remark as she looked closer to the console,
she noticed that the panels themselves change for the user and specific
function.
She mentally kicked herself for not thinking of something like this earlier
for the control and science rooms back in NERV HQ.
Ritsuko was just about to ask what he is doing with the array of controls
as his fingers blurred over them. When all the lights came on in full
brightness. Rather than the dimmer than dim illumination they had earlier.
Sighing in exasperation, Hawk his hand through his thick mop of hair,
"Well...Least I got auxiliary power up and running...." He told Ristuko as
he looked around, "...Not surprising since the main computer core damn
nearly got completely fried..."
The head off TechDiv was just full of questions to ask him, but she was cut
off by another male voice, "I do agree with you on that point Captain."
Hawk spun around, "MAX!" he cried excitedly, "You're alright?"
"Mostly, Captain...It would seem that most of the SE-Field projectors are
out of order in your current location, it will take me a moment to reroute
the proper circuits..." Max trailed off as he set himself to his task.
A few seconds later, the blonde haired scientist gaped as she watched an
average man 'rezz' into existence right in front of her.
The man appeared to be dressed in some sort of uniform.
The man dusted himself off and shifted a little in his uniform. Looking
over to Hawk, the man relied in a deep, resonating voice, "TeraMax is online
and one hundred percent operational, SIR!" Max saluted Hawk, seeming exactly
by the book from Ritsuko's perspective.
Returning Max's salute, "I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad tidings..." Hawk
started saying, stopped by Max's raised hand.
"I already know, sir...I watched Naughtless, Defiant and the others'
personality and memory constructs disintegrate while you were
incapacitated..."
Ritsuko's jaw slackened as she watched the AI's 'face' and posture go
through many different emotions, staying mostly on sadness and sorrow.
'Much more advanced than even the MAGI Series!' Ristuko thought wildly.
Giving a hearty slap to Max's shoulder, "I'm sorry you had to watch
that..." Hawk reassured him, "But now I need a status report on all the
damages."
Nodding slightly, seemingly glad to get his 'mind' off of his comrades'
deaths, Max's eyes seemed to glaze over as he concentrated, "All power and
computer systems check out A'OK...everything else is offline or damaged
enough that I cannot get an accurate report..." he shrugged, trying to ease
the pain of the loss of his cyberspace friends.
"What about the central power core and the main drive systems?" Hawk asked
worriedly.
"Reports state that the central power core is operational, just offline.
Bringing Main Power Online."
Ritsuko heard something wind up. Turning her head to the sound, she saw the
pillar in the largest portion of the room start glowing. Then the sound
turned into a steady, soft, deep pulsing sound. Everything lit up around the
room and down the corridor that she managed to see.
"Main Power is Online. All propulsion systems report that they are
moderately damaged and non-functional at the present time."
"DAMN!" Hawk spat as he slammed his fist against a hapless terminal, nearly
breaking it in the process. "What about the communication arrays?"
"I do not know, Sir. It would appear that my link to them have been
severed..." Max shrugged helplessly.
Clutching at his head for a moment, Hawk then walked off, "I'm going to
survey the rest of the damage." He called out from a nearby entryway. Max
nodded to his superior and 'derezzed.'
Feeling really out of place now, "I hope that NERV TechDiv can assist in
the repairs..." Ritsuko said offhandedly to no-one at all, while she swung
her gaze to every corner of the engineering room, still in awe at the level
of sophistication of everything. Some things are just over her head, like
that pillar, which, from what Hawk mentioned offhandedly, is a
Matter/Anti-Matter Reaction System.
She shivered at the thought of the two energy beams hitting the main
containment, this pillar is many times smaller than the other that is
further to the rear of the ship, and they were AWFULLY close.
Within one meter of those Main Containment Fields.
The thought of several tons of Anti-Matter exploding made her shiver all
the more as she went to study what is in this room.
* * * * * * * * *
Trudging through the mass of Engineers barraging him with questions. Hawk
just ignored them and gave them 'The Look' that shut up many an annoying
person as he made a beeline for the Medical-Bay, hoping to find what he is
looking for.
Entering the bay, "Am I alone in here, Max?"
Hawk waited for a moment and got no answer. Shrugging his shoulders, he
peered around. Seeing no-one around, he went to the equipment locker.
Surprised in the fact that everything is still locked in their proper
place, Hawk opened a drawer, revealing a strange box-like device with many
controls upon it.
Smiling inwardly, he took the device out, he placed it into a case
carefully.
Then he went over to another case, picked out what looked like to a
metallic looking arm, marked 'experimental prototype', placed it with the
device in the case and darted out of the room, hoping to miss those damn
Engineers.
* * * * * * * * *
Trudging through the arrays of wreckage while trying to get out, Hawk
jumped down from one of the 15 plus meter wide holes carved through the
heart of the Falcon, taking great pains to make sure that the case he is
carrying remains undamaged.
He turned his gaze back to his ship. This one given to him as a reward in
originating the designs, specially refitted with an experimental
Matter/Anti-Matter drive system. That one system proved to be beyond even
his own wild expectations while he worked with the teams of engineers at
Miki-Moto, so powerful it is capable of going far beyond the light barrier.
He walked up to the scarred hull, overstepping pieces of the
superstructure, he patted and gave an affectionate rub to the hull with his
one free hand, "You'll be back on your feet in no time..."
Stepping into the makeshift hanger, with several curious young teens in
tow, Misato whistled in awe of the damage taken by the cruiser, now that she
is able to she it up close.
She had to dodge the NERV techs going to and fro while they came in,
"Geezz...It is almost like all of TechDiv is in here!" she cried over the
buzz of the techs.
Walking around his housemate and superior, no less awestruck, Shinji craned
his neck to the ship that is easily bigger than an Evangelion.
He turned his eyes to Misato, who stopped gaping at the ship and shifted
her gaze to another person, dressed in a simple muscle t-shirt and jeans,
running his a large hand over the hull over the broken ship.
In his other hand, a silvery looking case of some sort.
'Nice butt...' she thought and grinned.
Shinji sighed inwardly as he watched Misato's eyes and face turn almost
lecherous.
But he had other things on his mind right now, like trying to keep his
friend, Kensuke under control. Since he was going absolutely nuts when he
saw the Falcon appear in the line of fire between the Eva and the Angel.
Realizing that he is being watched, Hawk turned around slowly, "'Ello..."
he called out. Being a bit nervous in this sort of situation, and by all
rights, he should be.
Walking over the bits and pieces of the superstructure, Hawk thumbed to the
ship, "She was a beaut..." Then he noticed the look the violet haired major
is giving him, "But that is not what you are looking at, is it?" he asked
with a smile.
Sputtering denials at such a thing, Misato flushed and averted her eyes
from him.
With a shake of his head, Shinji shied away the tall man.
Raising an eyebrow, Hawk's face took on a stern expression, "From what I
hear...You're the pilot of that thing that shot me."
Sputtering, "No...I...um...ahhhh..." Shinji cried.
Face softening, Hawk gave a hearty slap to the boy's back, making him
almost bowl over, "Don't worry about it...I'm only teasing! I appeared where
I shouldn't have and I was in the way..." He let a small laugh go, letting
the timid young man know that he means no harm.
Laughing out loud, seemingly full of mirth, "God...When I make a
mistake...I make a DOOZY!!" Hawk's laughter almost seemed contagious and the
snikers passed around the hold, including the group in front of him.
Even though Hawk seemed to be in good spirits, he felt like his innards are
being torn to shreds with the passing of current events for him.
A sandy blonde haired young man with glasses pushed Shinji out of the way,
excitement clearly evident on his face, "What kind of ship is that?!?" he
asked in a high pitched voice, pointing to the Falcon.
Wincing to the squeaky voice, Hawk turned a little toward the ship, "That
is a Valadian series, Mikado-Class Frigate..."
"Just a frigate?!?! This thing looks like to be a battleship or a
carrier!!"
Scratching the back of his head, "Well...it gets modified and refitted as
the need arises...Right now it could take on a Kreegor battle group without
a worry..."
Hawk smiled inwardly as he watched the young man's jaw drop to the ground
and thankfully stayed silent. Turning to the elder person in this motley
crew, "I would kill to see what the hell could take down the prize of the
Miki-Moto engineers..." he said with a smile.
* * * * * * * * *
An appreciative whistle echoed throughout the main hold of the Evangelion
Unit-01.
"Damn...When you make something big and out of the ordinary, you guys don't
cut corners do you?" a baritone male voice laughed.
"...And they are needed to be this big." A somewhat young, much more
feminine voice said.
Walking up to the 'face' of Unit-01, "From what I have seen so far...from
the records of when Max shot that diamond thingie...I can very well see the
reasoning in that." Setting the case down on the catwalk, Hawk crossed his
arms as he swung his eyes over every armored panel on the Eva that is above
the pink fluid and stayed quiet.
A urgent beeping rang through the holding area.
Misato looked at her pager and groaned, "I have to get going...I have a
presentation I have to be at..."
Nodding, "I know how rank those can be," Hawk chuckled, "Necessary evil,
neh?"
Laughing a bit herself, "Yeah.." she said with a roll of her eyes and a
smile. She looked at her watch, "Gah...I have to get going!! Bye!" with
that, she high-tailed it out of the room.
Unbeknownst to Hawk. He was being watched from above.
'What is this man?' Gendo Ikari thought, his gloved hands behind his back.
He remembered back in reading the scrolls that no-one is supposed to be
'appearing' for the 17 trials of humanity. 'SEELE is not going to like this
possible intrusion to the plan...' He mentally prepared his report for his
supposed superiors as he walked away. Making sure he set the recorders going
in the hold as he passed by a control console.
"WHO ARE YOU?" a deep, mellow voice called out into the hold. Some would
say that this voice had a bit of a feminine tinge to it. If someone else
ever heard the voice.
Clutching at his package, Hawk spun around in a circle, "Who said that??"
"WHO ARE YOU?" the same voice asked again. This time, sounding a bit
annoyed.
Turning back toward the 'face' again, "You said that???" he asked
incredulously. From what little information he knew, this towering behemoth
doesn't have an AI to enable it to talk.
Before he could really piss it off, least in Hawk's mind, he answered its
question, "My name is KnightHawk..."
"WHAT ARE YOU?"
"Errr...Uhhhh..." he said intelligently.
A few moments passed before it spoke again, like it was thinking of what to
say to him, "touch me." The voice said, sounding much softer, with a bit of
urgency and sadness.
And definitely more female.
Hawk stumbled a bit when the voice sounded very different from the bellowed
orders it was giving. Now it sounded like a request.
Almost desperate.
He looked down over the catwalk in from of the Evangelion, saw that there
is at least a good seven meters separating him and the huge humanoid.
Looking all around to make sure that no-one is watching him. Setting the
case down again, he then called on powers within. Powers that he didn't dare
to attempt in this world as of yet and started to float across the moat.
His hand outstretched toward the face of Evangelion Unit-01.
The alarm klaxons blared.
The crew of the command deck scurried about the controls as the set to
figure out what sounded the internal alarms.
They silenced almost as soon as they started.
Hands lifting from the console, "What the hell...?" Hyuuga and Aoba
chorused. As soon as it hit them, they looked at each other, then to their
immediate superior on the command deck.
Maya didn't answer their unspoken question, mumbling, "There's supposed to
be no drills today..."
That reached the men's ears.
Curiosity piqued, Aoba's finger's flash across the keys. He looked over to
his 'Partner in Crime' as he set out to figure out what happened for that
brief few minutes.
Nodding knowingly, Hyuuga lightly cracked his knuckles as he joined in on
the search.
* * * * * * * * *
"Good God...What happened to you?" Hawk wondered out loud, but softly, as
he almost slumped on the catwalk.
Gripping the silvery case again, "As much as I would like to help you
regain yourself...I cannot right now..." He could almost feel disappointment
emanate from the faceplate of the huge humanoid. Then understanding quickly
took over.
"I'm glad that you understand my point of view here...But for now, Ma-Ta-Ne
[See you later.]..." Hawk lightly bowed it, then dashed out of the room,
completely not knowing that his entire conversation was recorded.
* * * * * * * * *
"Pattern 'Gamma' it started out at and then disappeared completely before
you could pinpoint it??" Fuyutsuki asked as he went through the records of
the 'false-alarm.' Scratching at his pate lightly, "Gamma...That is a new
one..." he wondered out loud lastly.
"That IS the best that the MAGI could describe it, sir." Maya said as she
looked from an equally large stack of readouts. "Speaking of the MAGI, they
concluded that such a pattern cannot exist inside this universe..."
Cocking a grayed eyebrow, "Hmmm...Then how could it appear here then?"
"Possibly from another Universe? Another conclusion is that the 'Gamma'
patterned Angel can be many times more powerful than even the Fifth Angel."
Shuddering inwardly, "In theory: How many times are we talking about here?"
Flipping through her ragged notepad, then shivering slightly, "Possibly a
thousand fold...That is the best estimate that the MAGI can agree on."
Shuddering visibly now, "I would not like to see what this type of angel
can do to us..." Trailing off, the professor sipped at his cold coffee.
"As do I, Sir..."
* * * * * * * * *
"SIR!! The patient is in Critical condition!! You cannot go in there!!" The
orderly tried vainly in stopping the unstoppable.
"You think I DON'T KNOW THAT?!?!" Hawk roared to the smallish man. "I'm a
trained doctor of MANY specializations, I *KNOW* what the hell is going
on!!" He stopped himself in front of the locked armored door. Then he tapped
it angrily.
"I HIGHLY suggest that you open this door RIGHT NOW, before I take it off
of its hinges!!"
Shaking his head, "I'm Sorry, Sir...I don't not have the authorization to
open it, let alone unlock it..." The Male Nurse trailed off as Hawk shoved
the case into his arms.
"Hold this for a moment." Hawk stated simply.
'What is he...?'
Stepping up to the massive door, Hawk dug his fingers through the laminated
carbon-steel.
The Nurse's eyes bugged out. Especially when Hawk developed what seemed to
be and aura of fire about him.
Then, with a loud screech of highly stressed metal, the several ton door
came out of its frame.
Leaning the door against the nearby wall and taking a moment to wipe a bead
or two of sweat from his forehead. Hawk liberated the highly stunned nurse
of the sliver case.
"There's YOUR authorization." He said with a very annoyed and deep voice.
Without saying more and without further resistance from the medical staff
beyond, Hawk strode to Naru's room.
* * * * * * * * *
"CALL SECURITY NOW!!!" The orderly roared as he busted into the main
infirmary office, making everyone jump out of their skin.
"We're already on it...There sending an entire detail down here..." Another
orderly said.
"I just hope they don't make this place a war-zone, like on the surface..."
A red-haired, female, nurse said offhandedly.
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement.
* * * * * * * * *
Quietly creeping into the room, Hawk noted that Naru seemed to be
blissfully resting.
But he knew better than that. He knows that she suffered more injuries than
these 'witch-doctors' can possibly know about.
Placing the case on a nearby table, without making any noise, he opened it
and took out the device.
Taking a shuttering breath, he placed the device onto Naru's chest.
Allowing its hold-down straps gently wrap around her frame, he pushed a
sequence of buttons. Then the device started humming softly.
Then Naru seemed to phase in and out of existence as the device performed
its primary function: Cellular Repair.
Watching the device perform and the percent complete on the device's
display rise, Hawk took in a sigh of relief, 'Not much longer now...' he
thought as he walked out of the room.
He didn't get far as beefy, partially brain-dead monstrosities called NERV
Security planted his face to the floor and triple-cuffed his hands behind
his back. Far too quickly for even him to fight back, nor explain himself.
They tried to use a BlackJack or a Stunner to knock him out, but nothing
worked, not even a little bit, as they carted Hawk out of the infirmary,
kicking and screaming.
"DON'T TOUCH THAT DEVICE!!!" Hawk roared as the shoved him out of the room,
though they had much trouble doing so.
* * * * * * * * *
Awakening with a groan. 'Gawd...This is getting monotonous...' Naru thought
to herself. She surprised herself as to how well she felt at the moment.
"Wha..?" she whispered as she pried open her eyes. Though they felt like
lead, she managed to get them open.
"Ahhh...You're awake..."
"Huh? Who there?" she asked, since her vision has yet to clear yet.
"Just one of the doctors of the infirmary." The man answered simply, at
least that is what Naru was able to make out so far.
She heard a slight shuffle of papers. "You made...quite a recovery. When
you were brought in...We were ready to fit you with a body bag." The Doc
said guiltily.
Getting completely off track. "Where's Hawk??" she asked heatily.
Dumbfounded. "If you are talking about that brute of a man that put
that...'device' on you...he is cooling his heels in the Brig..." He trailed
off at her giggling, which turned into a full blown guffaw.
Soon she calmed down. Naru looked up through her tear filled eyes to see
the Doc's face twist into some form of confusion. Peering at his name-tag.
"Well...Mr. Amuro...There isn't a jail in any universe that can hold THAT
particular Aristan..." she broke down in a fit of giggles again, only to be
cut off by a loud cough.
"Aristan?"
* * * * * * * * *
Down in the deep levels of NERV...
Leaning into the wall of his somewhat small confines, Hawk casually snapped
the triple bound hand-cuffs like they were floss.
Gazing at the door, he closed his eyes and smiled.