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"Aren't you going to fight it?!" Astra sputters. Such things aren't
DONE in her world, what this group just did. Women and men of might and
magic just do not BACK down from a challenge once given.
“Astra, with a child in tow would that be a good idea?” Eve asked
innocently, clearly not seeing the problem at all at the Champion’s course
of action.
Astra looked at Eve and gaped as those words sunk home.
WHY would the Champions . . . Why should it be shocking to her
that the Champions (who had stated that they WANTED to get the heck out of
dodge to get Rei-chan and Junior to safety) would go into mortal combat
that could easily be avoided?
Astra blinked a few minutes, trying to chew on that one and shaking her
head, confused. How come such a question never had occurred to her up
until this point? Especially since she revered all life and such (like so
many of her analogs elsewhere/when do)?
She keeps drawing blanks, Rei can tell. But the turmoil that Astra is
going through isn’t a problem for her. Right now Rei was more concerned
about raising her family back in Tokyo 3!
While whatever interference the metal veins of exotic material within
the caverns were now gone, it was somewhat tricky at times to tweak their
communicators to work upon the pathways of the Gateway, sending signals up
and down it’s backbone without tripping any viral countermeasures. More
than a few times here she had to purge her communicator’s volatile memory
after a false move.
. . .
What is that? You ask what is this about viral countermeasures? Well,
for those of you readers out there not familiar with Star Trek:
TNG’s episode “Contagion” (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki /Contagion _%
28Star _Trek:_ The_Next_ Generation %29) the now defunct Iconians were a
touch . . .paranoid when it came to computer security and preventing
unauthorized intrusion into their data systems. If the computer defenses
sensed an intruder with that is NOT Iconian (i.e. Incompatible) and . . .
re-wrote the computer systems and THEN the system would be used to turn
upon it’s user in one fashion or another.
In the case of the Federation starships this would cause a warp-core
breach, destroying the intruder well and proper!
Yep, the Iconians didn’t fool around, let me tell. OH, it may have
appeared to have been an accident, what had happened to the USS Yamato in
the TV show, but . . .
Well, that is how it is here and now in this story. Period.
Rei and the others didn’t want to find out what a reprogrammed
communicator could do to you if it got nasty so that is why she kept
purging the thing before it got uppity. Burst eardrums from ultra-high
sound bursts from it’s speakers could be the least of their problems!
Astra had put off Rei’s antics as just some weird “magic user” stuff
(believing the scientific gear was merely just another form of magical
equipment all mages seem to be carrying about nowadays) so wasn’t aware of
what was up there.
As it was right now, she was too busy blinking and trying to process the
data she’d been force fed by unexpected revelations. If Rei had noticed it
she would probably rolled her eyes. She would have (correctly) concluded
that this is one of those “funhouse” mirror worlds of her adopted home:
Terra Prime.
OH, not to say that Astra here is an idiot. No, she has a lot of common
sense but her upbringing on this world has left . . .large rifts between
what SHE calls common sense and what Rei would call it.
Anyway, that said Rei is more busy right now trying to raise those back
in Tokyo 3. Has a lot to report and all that, you dig? Oh, of course she
was keeping an eye (and a few spell wards) open for anything like a
dragoness trying to catch up with them and such. Each of her
companions were ready to use their weaponry to shoot at the beast (having
some standoff range with the plasma weaponry and quiet a punch with the
close up stuff for phasors).
And push comes to shove they land and Astra could lay in with her arms
and armor. It wasn’t as good as that Flambane armor (or whatever) some
dragonslayers had the luck of having, but it was magical enough to be
useful!
Heck, Astra had been smart enough to have more than the minimum glyphs
put upon her sword. I mean beyond the little wardings that would have made
Rei’s antics with certain blaster pistols impossible (re: 72766). Not only
would a halfway competent mage NOT be able to magically YANK a sword (or
another weapon) out of the hands of it’s user, they couldn’t . . .
Well, we needn’t go into that stuff right now, okay?
Astra has quality gear which could come in handy for those creatures
out there not phased by plasma or phasor fire. Hey, cold iron could take
care of creatures out there on this world who wouldn’t react too well to
lead bullets!
Rei just hoped it didn’t come to that as she finally raises Tokyo
3 . . .
Elsewhere . . .and later back in Tokyo 3
A short form quietly enters into a hospital room and closes the door
behind him. The two occupants who are convalescenced there fail to
acknowledge Elrondir entrance.
Frankly, that does not surprise the elf in the least.
"Please, don't bother to get up gentlemen," the elfin male smiles
slightly, a rather nasty gleam in his eyes. "Continue on as you were. Just
here to update you on the latest. Least I could do for both of you.
Yes, the least..."
Just WHY is Elrondir taking the time to talk at all to these two? Why
not just pull the plug on their life support and be done with it?! He
hates both of them with a passion after all.
Well, that is a VERY good question. Maybe you'll guess it before it
gets revealed. Maybe not...
The title of the episode is a hint, though.
Anyway, back to the story.
Elrondir then actually growls out the next part and IF the two in the
beds had been in any other condition then they'd probably be backing up a
bit in concern. As it is, there is only the beeping of their monitoring
equipment to comment on Elrondir's action.
"Thanks to you two we nearly had a full blown panic when you
somehow managed to slip your prison and BYPASS the overrides," the elf
spits out. "Added a whole LOT of flavor to the panicking my friends and I
were doing when Rei-chan went and vanished into thin air on us,
literally."
Thank the Creator that the monkeying you two did in your bypasses to
the Magi system brought them fully into self awareness, Elrondir adds
to himself. If those three hadn't turned on you then it would have been
a MUCH more tragic affair than what it turned out to be in the end.
These two had only been slightly singed by the electrical discharges
the Magi unleashed in destroying each and every computer terminal these
two miscreants had in the bolthole they'd barricaded themselves in. That
and had only suffered mild smoke inhalation trauma from the results of the
burn wiring.
However, the comas both now were suffering from (and being in
traction) was due to what had happened once Section 2 AND a bunch
of irate JSSDF soldiers inflicted upon both, afterwards!
"I know that you are still around enough in those husks you call bodies
to hear me," the elf snarls. "So listen and listen well. Prepare
yourselves little men, you're gonna be in for a bumpy ride when . . .and
IF they ever decide to use some of the more advanced medicines to put you
back on your feet!
"Personally, I figure that's a waste of good resources to do it, but
that's just me," Elrondir sighed, then smiling cheerfully. "But
that aside.. . .what shoud we talk about, eh?"
The silence was only broken by the beeping of life support machinery.
"Well, we could talk about the similiarities that Reika has with Rei
and Lilith?" Elrondir suggests in a cheerful voice. "After all, all
of them were the First Child in each of their respective time lines
before getting OUT from under your rancid control. Must say that how each
described their seperate but NOT seperate existences, many but one, into
being blended back together is kinda . . .hair raising."
Indeed, Elrondir cringed even now thinking how the memories of the Rei
I incarnation (both her time outside and inside Unit 00), Rei II
incarnation, and Rei III incarnation (in just Reika’s and Lilith’s case)
must have been like for them. A LOT to sort out!! Especially without the
benefit of software that helps defrag . . .
Uh, well the kind of stuff that an AI (former or otherwise) would need
to defragment such a mess of jumbled data!! Frankly, Rei still amazed
Elrondir a bit that she had been able untangle it all into something that
didn't leave magor issues with her, mentally. Much less into a coherent
whole which could be followed....
Must thank again that one Rule who allowed Rei to take a much needed
soul vacation in that one place, Elrondir thought to himself as an
aside. Fixed her right up where it should have taken years of therapy
to get her back to right!
He then wondered if such a place could have put even such as Gendo
Akari (both of them) back to right. Maybe? But then again it wasn't a sure
thing. Whatever the G-man did in "interrogating" one of them must have
been a lulu because half the time the guy was screaming at delusions (if
not putting on a stoic act to hide shattered ego).
Whatver, not likely the Rule was going to step up to the plate for the
SOB!
”We could talk about the decided irony of creatures of Norse legend
intruding into this Judeo/Chritsian business of yours with NERV and
SEELE?” Elrondir asked sweetly. "Talking about mixed signs and protents!!
However . . .hey, speaking of SEELe, did you know that they actually
caused that accident that got your wives sucked into Unit 01? That
and you fell for that little part of their scheme hook, line and sinker
instead of turning ON them and preventing . . . Well, of COURSE you didn't
know!! If it had been me I'd fought them tooth and nail, nowhere getting
near them with Third Impact and that ol' Human Completion project."
Of course the elf doesn't go into the part of where the manga version
of Yui Akari had actually been the human incarnation of Lilith the Angel
and all that confusing business. Frankly, it was no longer his business.
Especially when you consider how badly he'd treated Lilith (in her Rei
Ayanami incarnation).
Frankly was too confusing period and gave Elrondir something of a
headache so leave at that.
Therefore, we need not go into missed opportunites about Elrondir
sharing with the comatose twins about how HE and the First Children share
things in common. Being of odd origins: both formerly Artificial
intelligences before being shoved into mortal, organic shells. Things
like knowing what it is like to die and come back again.
Knowing the sting of betrayal and the sweet/sour taste of vengence...
Know what it is like to fight in a war to extinction? Oh, all of them
(and Inquirer as well shall we remind you) could tell you ALL about that!!
. . .
Oh, if you have not already guessed by now the look on Elrondir’s face
is nothing in the neighborhood of “friendly”. False or otherwise, it’s
decidedly hostile now.
Point in fact it happens to make some of the guards inside the room
(nobody’s taking chances AFTER that last near miss with these two Gendo
Akaris) decidedly nervous. Strange, considering that Elrondir stands all
of four feet tall...
Then again, the elf knows magic and can throw some rather deadly
spells...so backing UP may be too low keyed of reaction. Running might be
a better response...
"No? How 'bout we talk about the real reason why I came down to
pay both you a visit," Elrondir finished, smile falling off his
face. "Yes, let us talk about the one who you went ALL out for in
some kind of delusion that in the END going against her wishes would be
okay."
Elrondir waits a few beats then smiles, snapping a finger as if
remembering something that had slipped his mind.
“Oops, I forgot!” Elrondir snickered softly. “You two aren’t
the ‘Supreme Commander’ of NERV any more! My bad!! I’d only give
situation reports to the commanding officer of NERV. Out of military
courtesy if nothing else, old man! Inquirer, my sister, is taking care of
that business right now with Misato right now, if I recall
correctly. What with the Vice Commander still being in the brig and Dr.
Ritsuko Akagi being out in the field and all that.”
Elrondir actually paused, remembering the almost literal storm that
Inquirer and the others had become when it became known that Rei-chan had
disappeared into thin air.
Quiet a bit of real estate got trashed in their searching of the local
grounds while scanners of various space born assets were also used, making
a mess of things in their own way...
But that all settled down when Rei finally managed to report back. It
had been an almost literal Godsend to hear that from some. IF
those at NERV had thought their unwelcome saviors/guests had been holy
terrors before it had been nothing short of terrifying to see them when
Rei-chan had gone missing!!
Not all of it was GOOD news, but at least they now knew where Rei-chan
had gotten off to here. They were awaiting the final report: whether or
not Rei’s group succeeded or failed (and to what extent either way).
The wait was killing them. Various people were doing various things to
handle the wait. Inquirer was briefing the rest of NERV’s staff as a
courtesy (and to calm HER nerves in her own manner). Elrondir? Well,
you’re seeing what he’s doing and we
will at that.
“I’ll just leave off with this before I leave you two,” Elrondir
says. “Yes, in a way this is the reason why I came here . . .to give
advice to idiots before they can go off and make an even BIGGER mess of
things! Now, first off do try to get it through your heads that
your wives don‘t WANT to see you any more, considering that you went and
betrayed their desires AND abandoned the children you had together
and . . .”
No mentioning that it also is kicking them while they are down, shall
we?
“ . . .Frankly, I don’t see how trying to blow NERV to kingdom come is
going to get YOU and your wives back together again. Kinda made them hate
your guts even more, my friends . . .”
Yep, no mention of rubbing salt into open wounds. Especially when
the “salt” is the truth. Kind of what Inquirer did to a gimp outfit
wearing guy named “Scorpius”, but with less good manners.
Scorpius had earned a degree of respect from Inquirer, being the
devious and clever opponent he’d been. Therefore her “helpful advice” had
been blunt but actually polite when she’d left it for the creep. We don’t
need to go into the details of the message but let us just say that
Elrondir’s advice . . .is delivered is very unpleasant (downright rude)
manner.
The gist of it is that when they finally do go to trial (and they will
face trial, they weren’t going to be allowed to kill themselves to avoid
it) their best beat would be to plead insanity as a defense. And defend
themselves they better because a hangman’s noose being the likely outcome
if found guilty . . .there was something they’d better consider.
“In this world you’ve managed to prove empirically that something
called a ‘soul’ exists,” the elf begins. “Take the First Child’s
existence as proof of that.”
The fact that the Star Trek folks (ala the Vulcans) had a similar
concept of there being something that lingered after death--the katra--was
besides the point here and thus not mentioned. Frankly, no further movies
beyond Star Trek: The Movie ever were made in this Neon Genesis
Evangelion reality so such a story concept never got mentioned so why
bother mentioning it now, the elf figures.
“But that said you two have to consider the fact that there was SOME
kind of spiritual entity which seems to at least give MORE validity to
religious beliefs than what you’d probably guess,” Elrondir smiled
slightly, referring to the angellic visitation of one Astra the Angel.
Oh, before there had been all that stuff about the Angel wars and the
NGE version of such creatures. Ironic that creatures named Angels would
be out to destroy humanity (albeit for it’s arrogance) while humanity was
being defended by creatures . . .who’s creators had made to look like
things of Japanese legend: Onis (Japanese demons). “Angels attacking
and Demons defending,” Sigin had muttered at one time about that in
annoyance. “And my stomach is churning.”
And this being a fantasy based story no more real thought need be put
into it. This isn’t a Gospel reading, you dig?
However...
“It means that Hell just might be a real place don’t be so quick to
shuffle off the old mortal coils,” Elrondir says softly. “There are worse
things than death out there, Ikari.”
-
 Meanwhile, we turn to Inquirer and her briefings...
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