A day later, the mood was immersed in almost suffocating fervor.
The afternoon sun crossed the dirty glass of the small telephone booth near the nerve, partially illuminating Shinji's hesitant face.
He held the phone with both hands, his fingers squeezing the spiral wire as if it could firmly give the words he tried to find.
"Hello ... dad?" His voice was low, almost a whisper. "I ... I wanted to talk about ..."
Outside, I was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching in silence. I didn't want to put myself, but I knew that every word for generating was expensive for the boy.
Inside, Shinji took a deep breath, trying to continue: "It's about the school ..."
He couldn't end. A dry crack echoed by the phone. Then a strange silence.
Shinji squeezed the device against the ear.
"Dad...?"
Nothing. Nor static. Not even the bip of the connected connection. Only absolute silence.
He blinked confused and looked at the phone as if he had turned off alone.
I entered the cabin, arising an eyebrow.
"What happened? What did he say?" He asked, with a kind of suspicious tone.
Shinji shook his head, still stunned.
"He didn't hung up ... it looked like ... that the network was cut."
I was silent for a few seconds, but his eyes reflected something beyond simple suspicion.
The distant sound of automatic buildings gave a strange look of forced calm.
Shinji and I walked side by side, backpacks in their backs, leaving school. Shinji still seemed thoughtful about the incident in the telephone booth, while I, on the other hand, kept a close look at every corner.
"You're silent than usual ..." I commented by breaking the silence. "Still thinking about your father?" Shinji just nodded, with no courage to face his friend.
It was then that a feminine, animated voice and a little out of the rhythm of that atmosphere called:
"Shinji!"
He and I turned and saw Mana Kirishima waving from afar, hastily walking to reach them. She smiled, as if it were the only person oblivious to the tension that hovered over the city.
"Ah ... Kirishima-chan ..." Shinji replied, a little surprised.
I looked at both of them and sighed discreetly.
I realized that although Shinji did not admit, her presence seemed to break part of the wall of uncertainty that the boy carried.
"Well ... I think you're in good hands." I said giving a slight pat on Shinji's shoulder. "I have some things to solve in nerve."
Shinji frowned. "Now?"
"Now." I answered without explaining, already turning to another street. "If you get a problem, scream loudly. I listen."
Mana kept looking at him to get away, curious. "Is he always like this?"
Shinji hesitated before answering, "Yeah ... but somehow he always knows when there is something wrong."
While Shinji and Mana followed the way, talking about trivial matters, I already mingled with the quieter streets, with a serious look, there was something in the nerve that I needed to confirm before it was late.
The memory came to Shinji's mind as if it were yesterday.
Flashback...
The classroom was lit by the soft light of the morning, the sound of the notebooks and pencil filling the environment. The teacher came in with a girl that no one had seen before, dark brown hair, curious look and a slight smile.
"Class, this is Mana Kirishima, from today she will study with you." announced the teacher. "You can sit down ... hm ... next to Ikari."
Shinji felt the weight of several looks to turn to him. He swallowed dry as Mana walked down the hallway between his wallets and stopped by his table.
"Hi ..." she said, with a natural tone. "So you are ... Ikari-kun, right?"
He nodded, kind of awkwardly. "Y-yes ..."
Mana leaned her head and smiled more openly. "Hm ... Ikari ... it's a cute name."
Shinji looked away at the notebook, trying to disguise the heat on his face. He was not used to people talking to him, much less right at the first date. Meanwhile, Mana continued to fix her materials as if nothing much had happened, but with that same smile that made Shinji a little confusing and curious at the same time.
The sound of the signal indicating the end of the class echoed, and the students began to store their materials, some already hurrying through the door. Shinji slowly straightened the case and the notebook in the backpack, trying not to draw attention.
Suddenly Mana appeared beside him, leaning slightly to stay at him.
"Hey, Ikari, right?" He asked with a friendly tone.
Shinji looked at her, a little surprised. "Ahn ... Yes. My name is Shinji."
"Shinji ... Shinji Ikari." She repeated it, pronouncing each syllable naturally, as if it were a name she already knew well. The way I said sounded soft, almost musical.
Shinji felt his face warm immediately, looking away. "Hm ... Yeah ..."
Mana smiled slightly, noticing his reaction, but didn't comment. "Okay, Shinji. So... do you usually go straight home after school?"
He just nodded, still a little awkward, as she followed him down the hallway as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The bell signaling the end of class rang, and the students began packing up their materials, some already rushing to leave the room. Shinji was arranging his pencil case and notebook in his backpack, unhurried as always.
Suddenly, Mana approached, bowing slightly.
"Shinji," she repeated naturally, as if the name were easy to remember. The soft way she said it made his face heat up.
Without realizing it, he was already following her down the hallway. Shinji was impressed by the way Mana chatted with people along the way, always smiling, exchanging a few quick words, as if she knew everyone.
Shortly afterward, she took him to the school roof. The wind blew hard up there, and from there, he could see the entire expanse of Tokyo-3, with its buildings, defense structures, and metal towers looming on the horizon.
Shinji rested his hands on the railing and looked out over the city. His chest tightened slightly; every time he looked at that scene, he remembered the weight he carried as a pilot, and it always made him tense. But... he tolerated it.
The wind blew hard on the school roof, gently ruffling Mana's hair and making Shinji shrug a little. From where they stood, they could see much of Tokyo-3, with its geometric buildings and the mountains in the background.
Shinji rested his hands on the railing, silently looking out over the city. As beautiful as the view might be to some, for him, every building and street carried a weight. That city was always ready to turn into a battlefield, and it made him tense, but he had learned to tolerate it.
"So this is where you see everything from here…" Mana said, giving a slight smile as she surveyed the scene. "It must be amazing…"
"Amazing?" he repeated, not understanding.
"Being a pilot." she continued, turning to face him. "Pilotting an Eva… defending the city… the people…"
Shinji blinked in surprise. "You… know?"
Mana laughed softly. "Of course I know. It's not like it's a big secret, at least not to me."
He looked away, feeling a slight tightness in his chest. The ease with which she spoke and approached people was impressive. In contrast, he always felt like every word she said was heavy and difficult to say.
"I… I don't think it's something to be envious of…" he murmured, but his expression showed she didn't think so.
Shinji was still trying to process what she'd said about being jealous of him when Mana looked down at the ground, fidgeting with her fingers as if gathering courage.
"To be honest... I was pretty nervous today," she said with a shy smile. "First day at a new school, you know? I always wonder if I'll end up alone in the corner..."
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with sincerity. "But I guess I was lucky. I managed to make a friend right away."
Shinji felt his face heat up again, unsure of how to respond. "Um... I was happy to meet you too."
The wind continued to blow on the roof, carrying a comfortable silence between them.
Ending Flashback...
Returning to the present, as they walked through the streets of Tokyo-3, Mana looked at Shinji with an almost mischievous smile.
"Oh, Shinji... I wonder if you could help me today?" she began, lightly shaking the bag she was carrying. "My new apartment is finally ready, and a bunch of things have arrived… furniture, boxes… those annoying things to put together."
Shinji blinked, a little surprised. "I…?"
"Yeah…" She nodded. "You seem good at this kind of thing… and, well, I don't know anyone else around here."
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't know if I'm that good…"
"Great, then it'll be fun watching us fumble together," Mana said, laughing lightly, as if she'd already taken his help for granted.
Shinji and Mana continued walking side by side, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the sidewalks of Tokyo-3. As they turned the corner, they ran into Makoto Hyuuga, who was coming in the opposite direction carrying a large, heavy bag with a laundromat logo on it.
"Ah, Hyuuga-san…?" Shinji said, surprised.
Makoto Hyuuga gave a quick smile, shifting the weight in his arms. "Ah, Shinji. I'm just doing some 'extra work' for Doctor Akagi." He lifted the bag slightly, revealing it was full of clean clothes. "You better not let any of this get wrinkled, or she'll kill me."
Mana raised her eyebrows curiously. "Doctor Akagi?"
"Yes, she and Hyuuga work at NERV." Makoto explained, before glancing at his watch and hurrying on his way.
Changing perspective...
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, I met up with Asuka and Rei. The atmosphere between us seemed hushed but determined. Wasting no time, the three of us headed together toward NERV, knowing something important awaited them there.
I was the first to break the silence as I approached the entrance.
"Good morning." I said, with a brief wave to Rei and Asuka.
The three of them positioned themselves in front of the NERV access panel. I took out my ID card, swiped it through the reader… nothing. No beep, no light, just the distant sound of wind rushing through the entrance hallway.
I frowned, swiped the card again, a little more slowly. Still nothing.
"Strange…" I muttered.
Rei, without saying a word, took out her own card and repeated the process. The panel remained dead, as if it had no power.
"Neither does yours?" I asked in surprise. Rei just shook her head.
Asuka, already starting to lose her patience, snatched the card from her hand. "You guys can't do anything right!" she complained, swiping the card quickly… and again, nothing. She tried a second time, this time forcing the gesture, almost scratching the surface.
"Argh!" she grumbled. "This thing is broken or turned off!"
The silence that followed made the three of us realize: it wasn't just the panel. There were no lights on, no sounds of machinery or ventilation. It was as if the power to the entire complex had just gone out.
Asuka crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "Okay, but… why would that happen?" she muttered, looking around as if expecting an employee to appear and explain. "It's not like NERV just turned off the lights and left…"
Rei remained motionless, her expression unchanged, staring at the sealed door. "There was probably a power outage." she said neutrally. "The power might be out."
I raised an eyebrow. "'Power out' is a fancy way of saying we're in the middle of a complete blackout." I looked up, noticing that not even the emergency lights were on. The air seemed more still, without the usual hum of the building's ventilation. "Whatever it is, it's not normal."
Asuka snorted. "So what do you suggest, Subaru? We just stay here and punch in until someone opens the door?"
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "No. The best thing to do is try to contact NERV headquarters. There should be a security post or emergency line nearby."
Rei turned slightly to me. "There's no power for internal communication."
"Okay, but…" I pointed toward a side hallway. "The city still has power outside. If it's just NERV that's out, you can still use the phone or radio."
Asuka grimaced. "What if…" she emphasized. "What if it's something worse? Like an attack? Or another one of those damn angels?"
I looked at her seriously. "That's precisely why we need to confirm. Standing out here in the dark is just asking to be targeted."
Rei, without hesitation, took a step toward the street. "I agree. We should check."
Asuka muttered something about "not having time for walks during work." but ended up following. I was the last to leave, casting one last glance at the silent NERV building, as if trying to commit the strangeness to memory.
The feeling was uneasy, and I knew that when something felt like this, something big was about to happen.
Rei opened her bag with her usual calm, pulling out a thick manual, the cover marked with the NERV logo and labeled "Emergency Procedures – Restricted Use." She flipped through a few pages quickly, as if she already knew exactly where to look, and then pointed to a diagram folded in the middle of the book.
"Here." she said dryly, turning the manual for Asuka and me to see. "If the base is completely out of order, we should head east to the contingency entrance via Route 07."
"Then let's go, I'll lead the way." Asuka declared, placing her hands on her hips and lifting her chin. "It's not like I'm going to let you two get lost on the way."
Rei didn't even look up from the paper, continuing to explain as if she hadn't heard. "Route 07 goes through a maintenance tunnel. There's less chance of encountering blocked automatic doors. We should keep our pace and avoid open areas."
"Hey!" Asuka protested, pointing at her. "Did you hear me? I said I'll be the leader!"
Rei folded the manual and put it back in her bag, already starting to walk. "Let's head that way, Subaru..." she replied, without changing her tone.
I, who had been watching the two of them argue until then, let out a half-laughing sigh. "Well... looks like we have a real 'leader,' " she said, looking at Asuka with a slight, teasing smile. "Even if she doesn't want the title."
Asuka snorted, but ended up following behind. I positioned myself in the middle, keeping an eye on my surroundings, while Rei led the way, turning right as instructed.
NERV's silence made the air even heavier, and the feeling that something was wrong only grew.
We walked for a few minutes until they reached a narrow corridor, its concrete walls marked by damp stains and signs of rust on the exposed pipes. At the end, the so-called "Route 07" was nothing more than a heavy metal door with a manual lock and a side lever almost as long as my arm.
"There it is." Rei said, stopping in front of the door as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Asuka, on the other hand, crossed her arms and smiled mischievously, tilting her head slightly. "Very good, Subaru. It's your turn to shine." she said in a tone that made it clear it wasn't exactly a compliment.
"My turn to shine?" I repeated, arching my eyebrow. "This feels more like 'my turn to do the heavy lifting' than anything else."
"Exactly." Asuka nodded, taking two steps back and adopting a spectator position, almost as if she were waiting for a show. "Go on, hero. Show your strength."
I sighed, approaching the lever. I placed my hands on it, testing the weight, and immediately felt resistance. "Tsk… of course, it couldn't be light," I murmured, planting my foot more firmly on the ground.
"It's not too hard, is it?" Asuka teased, her tone thick with false concern.
"If I get hurt, you'll be the first to pull this lever." I replied, slowly beginning to turn it. The metal creaked loudly, as if it hadn't been lubricated in years, and each turn seemed to require more effort than the last.
Rei, who had been watching silently, finally commented, "It takes four full rotations to release the mechanism."
"Four?" I complained, already feeling the muscles in my arms protest. "This door is conspiring against me."
Asuka let out a short laugh, leaning against the wall. "That's because you're not used to real work. I bet Shinji would open this faster."
"Oh, sure…" I said wryly, turning around once more. "I bet Shinji would open it and even give a speech about how 'it's not that heavy.'"
The sound of the internal mechanism finally began to change, indicating that the lock was giving way. The air in the hallway was thick with that smell of metal and dust, and the tension of not knowing what they would find on the other side only increased.
When I completed the last turn, I stepped back, rubbing my shoulders. "There… I hope it was worth the effort."
Asuka approached and, before I could even open it, placed her hand on the manual doorknob. "Let's see if you did the job right," she said, pulling the door open with a satisfied smile.
Changing Perspective...
*Defense and Strategy Force Alert: An unidentified object is heading towards this area. Head to your designated shelters*
As afternoon began to fall over the city, the streets were lit by streetlights that flickered occasionally, as if the power there was also unstable. Shinji, Mana, and Hyuuga walked side by side, trying to decide what to do next, when a loudspeaker boomed in the distance, broadcasting a firm, almost urgent voice:
> "Attention all citizens. There is a possibility of an Angel manifesting nearby. Follow safety instructions and avoid open areas."
The announcement echoed between the buildings, bringing that familiar chill Shinji knew all too well. He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, clasping his hands lightly, and looked at Hyuuga.
"That… that means I have to go back to NERV now, doesn't it?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Hyuuga, with a serious expression, nodded. "Exactly. And the sooner the better. If it really is an Angel, they'll need you in the Eva immediately."
Mana looked around worriedly. "But how are we going to get there? Public transportation will probably stop because of the alert."
As the tension grew, the sound of lively music and mechanical clapping began to draw closer. Turning their heads, they saw a small car covered in colorful stickers, with a megaphone mounted on the roof. Through it, a female voice spoke with exaggerated energy:
"Vote for Takahashi! A new era for Tokyo-3! Safety, progress, and hope! Takahashi for mayor!"
The car slowed as it passed them, revealing a smiling woman at the wheel, formally dressed, with a scarf around her neck and a practiced expression. She waved mechanically to the people on the street as she repeated her election speech.
Mana looked at Shinji, confused. "Are you… thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That she has no idea what's going on…?" Hyuuga replied, already approaching the side of the car. "Exactly."
Mana, surprised, saw Hyuuga tap lightly on the window. "Excuse me!" he said, maintaining a respectful but urgent tone. "We really need a ride, it's an emergency."
The woman frowned, but maintained her forced smile, as if unable to turn off campaign mode. "Oh, sure, sure! More voters to learn about the Takahashi project? Get in, get in!"
"Yes, yes… the project…" Hyuuga replied, gesturing for Shinji and Mana to quickly get into the backseat.
As the car began to move, the campaign music began to play again. Shinji, somewhat uncomfortably, stared out the window as the streets sped by. At every corner, the city's warning sirens blared louder, but the candidate seemed completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation, continuing her political speech as if nothing were happening.
"So…" she said, glancing in the rearview mirror, "you're going to vote for Takahashi, right?"
Hyuuga just smirked and replied, "If we make it to the base alive, I'll consider it."
The muffled sound of the engine grew louder as Hyuuga leaned forward, his voice thick with urgency.
"Accelerate!" she said, pointing to the road ahead.
The driver, without losing her practiced smile, simply replied, "Oh, of course, for the safety of the citizens of Tokyo-3!" and slammed on the accelerator.
The car lurched, and everyone held on as best they could. The speedometer rose rapidly, the wind began to rush through the cracks in the windows, and within seconds they were approaching a makeshift evacuation toll booth with a metal turnstile. Instead of braking, the driver floored it.
"Sir, the turnstile!" Mana shouted.
But it was too late. The metallic impact echoed loudly as the turnstile was ripped off and thrown to the side, spinning in the air before hitting the ground. The candidate didn't even blink, just adjusted the scarf around her neck and continued, "Takahashi is for those who accept no limits!"
As the car disappeared down the road, the sound of the city's sirens faded.
Changing perspective…
Me, Asuka and Rei walked in silence down a narrow corridor, lit only by small emergency lights, many of them flickering. The floor vibrated slightly, as if something in the distance was moving, but it was unclear whether it was machinery or… something alive.
Asuka, walking a little ahead, huffed impatiently. "We've been walking for minutes and still nothing!" Are you sure this route is safe, Ayanami?
"Safe is relative..." Rei replied, without changing her tone. "But it's the quickest."
I stared at the walls, smelling the metallic, damp air. "It doesn't seem like many people have been here recently…"
"Because no one has been here," Rei said, discreetly turning left, not even looking back to see if they were following her.
The gloom around her only deepened, and the footsteps echoed long, almost drowned out by the silence. Each shadow cast on the walls seemed to move a little more than it should.
Asuka, even trying to maintain her confident tone, quickened her pace. "I hope this Route 07 isn't another one of those places where 'strange' things happen…"
"Let's find out," Rei added enigmatically, before continuing on.
The narrow corridor began to open up into a wider space, where a rusted panel in the ceiling let out a faint light. brightness.
I stopped, frowning. "Hey… did you hear that?"
Asuka lifted her head. From above, muffled but recognizable, came voices. The unmistakable timbre of Hyuuga, hurried, and Shinji's hesitant voice.
["An Angel is approaching! I repeat, an Angel is approaching!"]
"It looks like they're right above us…" I commented, taking a few steps toward the center and looking up, where all I could see were small gaps between metal plates and the pulsing light of monitors.
"It's the upper part of the base," Rei said, assessing the structure with a clinical eye.
I instinctively tried to speak: "Shinji! Hyuuga! "Hey, can you hear me?!" My voice echoed through the hallway, but there was no response. The figures above continued moving, oblivious to their presence. It was as if the sound didn't reach them.
"Damn it… they can't hear anything," I muttered, banging my fist on the wall.
Rei turned to him with that almost unnerving calm. "Through the structure, there's a quicker way. A shortcut through the pipes."
Asuka raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Pipes? That sounds cramped, dirty, and smelly."
"That's right," Rei added without hesitation. "But it's the only way to reach them before they move to the lower level."
I sighed, looking at the narrow inspection door Rei pointed to in the corner, marked by peeling yellow paint. "Of course it had to be something like this…"
"Go ahead, hero, I don't want you to see my panties," Asuka said crossing her arms.
I rolled my eyes, but she bent down and pulled the latch. A loud creak echoed, revealing the dark interior of the pipes, lit only by the rare red dots of electrical indicators. Hot, stuffy air rushed out like a heavy puff.
"Great… it's like an oven." he muttered, before crawling inside.
Asuka glanced at Rei, who just followed behind expressionlessly. Finally, with a grunt, the redhead also entered, closing the hatch behind us.
The group emerged from the pipe covered in dust, breathing in the fresher air of the open corridor. The emergency light tinted everything red, giving a suffocating sense of constant alertness.
Just ahead, a fork opened: two identical corridors, both plunged into darkness.
Rei, calmly consulting the emergency manual, pointed to the right. "Route 07 continues this way."
Asuka, on the other hand, crossed her arms and pointed to the left. "No, no, Blue Four-Eyes. I know this base as well as you do. It's this way."
I looked from one to the other, massaging my temple. "Are you kidding me?"
Asuka stepped forward, facing him. "So, Subaru… who are you going to trust?"
The silence hung for a moment, broken only by the faint hum of the emergency generators. I glanced at Rei, who stood firm, her expression unchanged. Then I looked at Asuka, who was already tapping her foot impatiently.
"Okay… I choose Rei." he said decisively.
Asuka's eyes widened. "What?! Are you saying I'm wrong?!"
"It's not that, but—"
"Enough!" she interrupted, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the left corridor. "We're going this way, and that's final!"
Rei, without protest, simply closed the manual and followed behind, her neutral expression hiding any judgment.
I was being dragged along, and he sighed deeply. "Yeah… of course. Because it always has to be her way…"
Asuka gave him a sidelong glance, proud of having won the contest, even though a thread of doubt still nagged at her insides.
I was already starting to get irritated with the endless walk through the narrow corridors. I glanced around and, with my heightened perception, noticed that the slightly inclined floor wasn't descending as before, but rather ascending.
"Wait a minute…" I muttered, frowning. "We're going up. This shouldn't be happening, right?"
Asuka, ignoring him, pushed hard on a heavy metal door at the end of the corridor. The creak echoed loudly, and a blast of fresh air hit the three of them in the face.
She poked her head out and, for a moment, her eyes widened. There it was, a grotesque colossus, with long, spindly legs like a spider's, descending through the city toward the NERV structures. Its eyes, if they were eyes, glowed a menacing yellow. The creature dripped a viscous liquid that corroded the concrete it touched.
My heart nearly stopped at the sight. "What the hell is this?!"
Asuka didn't answer. Reflexively, she pulled the door shut and slammed it shut, panting, sweat running down her forehead. "That... that..." she muttered, swallowing hard.
"It was an Angel." Rei added, her calm almost disturbing. "But I don't know which one."
Asuka slapped her cheek twice, trying to compose herself. She turned to the others, raising her firm voice as if to erase the fear that had assaulted her seconds before. "Change of plans. Everyone to the right, now!"
I threw up my hands in indignation. "Oh, now you want to go right?"
"Shut up and move!" Asuka snapped, pushing him toward the indicated corridor.
Rei simply nodded and followed them, the distant sound of the monster reverberating off the walls. Each hurried step echoed the feeling that, at any moment, the thing might find us.
The trio ran until they found the maintenance entrance that led back to the pipelines. The passage was narrow, with the smell of rust and dust dominating the stuffy air. The metallic sound of the Angel outside still vibrated, as if the monster were clawing at the sky with its giant legs.
"Damn it… there's no choice..." Asuka grumbled, pulling the latch hard and opening the hatch. She turned to them both, her gaze challenging, trying to hide her tension. "This time I'm going first. I don't want anyone slowing me down."
Rei didn't argue, just waited calmly. I snorted. "Fine, fine. The princess commands, and we obey." I crossed my arms for a moment, but then quickly fell in behind, taking up the rear.
The pipe was even narrower than the previous one, almost forcing them to crawl single file. The sound of metal echoed with every movement, as if they were trapped inside a drum.
Asuka led the way, lighting the way with a small emergency flashlight she'd found attached to the wall. Her voice echoed from ahead: "Don't be late. We can't waste time, that creature could attack at any moment."
Rei followed right behind her, in absolute silence, almost like a shadow.
At the end of the line, I grumbled under my breath as I shuffled along. "I never thought my day would end like this... stuck in a tube, behind two girls, with a monster the size of a building outside." I sighed but kept my eyes peeled, ready to react if something came from behind.
The trio moved forward slowly, the muffled sound of the outside world growing ever more distant, replaced only by the metallic thud of their own breathing and movements within that claustrophobic labyrinth.
Asuka, at the front, paused for a moment and glanced over her shoulder. The dim light from the flashlight only illuminated a fraction of the tunnel, but it was enough to catch my distracted gaze, trying not to lose my rhythm.
"Hey, you back there!" she said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't you dare look ahead. If I catch you trying to peek up my skirt, I'll punch you in here myself!"
My eyes widened, nearly choking on my own saliva. "What?! Are you crazy? I'm not looking at anything! Do you really think I have time for that kind of thing with a giant monster out there?"
"Hmph, I know that kind of excuse all too well!" Asuka retorted, even more irritated. "I bet it's red as a tomato back there!"
"You're the one being too paranoid!" I retorted, raising my voice, causing the echo to spread through the pipe. "If I were to look, I wouldn't be able to see anything clearly in this darkness, you conceited woman!"
The tone of contention between us began to fill the narrow space, while Rei, between us, remained completely silent, moving forward as if nothing were happening.
Suddenly, a deep metallic sound echoed through the walls. The entire pipe began to shudder, as if it were being pressed from the outside. Dust fell from the ceiling, and Asuka's flashlight shook violently in her hand.
"What the…?!" I gasped.
The ground beneath us tilted sharply. Asuka tried to hold on, but the entire pipe groaned with a horrible crack, as if it were about to break.
"Hold on!" I screamed, but it was too late.
The structure gave way. With a crash, the pipe gave way, plummeting like a broken metal snake. The three of them fell together, sliding down it until they were thrown downward.
With a heavy thud, Asuka, Rei, and I plummeted straight into one of NERV's main corridors, rolling to a stop on the cold floor illuminated by emergency lights.
"Ouch, my back…" I groaned, trying to get up.
Asuka coughed, dusting off her uniform and turning furiously on me. "See what you did?! If you hadn't been arguing with me, I would have realized this damn thing was going to fall sooner!"
"What?! It's not my fault you made up that stupid skirt story!" I snapped, standing up.
While the two of us argued again, Rei was already on her feet, calmly surveying the base's damaged panels. "…We've reached NERV." she said neutrally. "But it looks like she's also been affected."
Ritsuko appeared in the hallway, the red emergency light illuminating her tired face, but her posture remained firm. She held a clipboard in her hand, but it didn't appear she'd written anything on it; it was more like a nervous habit of holding it in her hand.
"Finally." she said, exhaling as if she'd been waiting all day. "We're counting on you. The situation doesn't allow for delays."
Asuka and I were still covered in dust, and Rei simply straightened her uniform before approaching with calm steps. I opened my mouth to speak, but Asuka was quicker: "What exactly is going on? I saw the Angel outside. It had huge legs, it looked like a disgusting spider!"
Ritsuko nodded quickly. "It's an Angel. We don't have complete data yet, but we know it positioned itself above the surface and began eroding the ground. NERV is without main power, so…" she took a deep breath, as if she hated the next sentence. "We're preparing the EVAs manually."
"Manually?" I repeated, frowning. "What do you mean by 'manually'? Isn't it all full of automatic systems, cables, that whole sci-fi thing you guys love?"
Asuka snorted and crossed her arms. "Idiot. That means we'll have to synchronize without support, without power cables, and with minimal assistance. It's practically flying in the dark!"
Ritsuko didn't deny it. "Exactly. MAGI isn't stable yet. And without external power, the EVAs will only function for a few minutes on internal batteries. That's all we have."
It was at that moment that hurried footsteps echoed behind them. Shinji appeared in the hallway, sweaty and a little out of breath, accompanied by Mana and the Hyuuga Lieutenant, who seemed more concerned with running than explaining anything.
"Shinji!" Asuka exclaimed, surprised. "You took so long!"
Shinji stopped in front of them, taking a deep breath. "Sorry… we had to hitchhike in the chaos."
Mana still straightened her hair messy by the running wind, but her curious and lively look stood out, even in the dark scenery. "So ... is this nerve inside? Wow… even in the dark, it's much bigger than I thought."
Asuka arched her eyebrow, looking at her from top to bottom. "What is she doing here?"
"It's a long story ..." Shinji answered fast, as if ready for the question. "Let's change the subject."
"Hmph..." Asuka looked away, pretending disinterest, but stood with her arms cross, clearly uncomfortable.
Ritsuko, without patience for teenage dramas, intervened: "We have no time for presentations. Shinji, you will also take action. Units 00, 01 and 02 are being prepared now."
Shinji widened his eyes. "Come into action… already? But the energy…"
"I already explained." Ritsuko cut him firmly. "It will be a manual operation. You will have to rely only on themselves, in the Evas and their synchronization skills."
I swallowed hard, looking at others. "So ... that means I will have to pilot it again, right?"
"Obvious!" Asuka grunted. "What did you think, what was going to watch our shirt to sweat?"
Ritsuko straightened her glasses, her voice getting even firmer. "They meet in the preparation room. With every minute we lose, the angel continues to advance. If he reaches the bottom of the base, it will be too late."
A heavy silence fell on the group. The distant sound of the grinding structure remembered everyone that there was no doubt. Rei only began to walk towards the preparation room, without even waiting for others.
I sighed scratching my head. "There we are going again ..."
Shinji looked at Mana, who just smiled slightly, as if he tried to encourage him. "It will work ..." She said, almost whispering. "I believe in you."
Asuka noticed the gesture and narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Just turned and followed Rei.
Ritsuko finally looked at Hyuuga. "Take them immediately. We have to put these Evas into operation before it's late."
And so, everyone began to move in a hurry, the tension in the air growing with each step towards the preparation stalls. The fate of Nerv and perhaps the whole city was in our hands.
Mana stood by the steel door slowly, separating her from the preparation room. She stared at Shinji with a tender smile, though her eyes were concerned.
"Shinji…" Her voice came out low, almost trembling. "Good luck."
Shinji stopped for a moment, the hand already supported in the railing of the stairs that led to the EVA-01 entrance capsule. He turned, hesitated, but responded with a slight nod, trying to show confidence, even if his heart hit too fast.
"I ... I'll be back." Said, simple, but heavy loaded.
The metallic gate closed between them, and the sound echoed in the hangar as a definitive farewell.
Just above, Ritsuko's voice sounded through the firm speakers, with no room for distractions:
"Units 00, 01 and 02, start immediate preparation. Pilots insertion in 30 seconds."
Rei was already positioned, her Plug Suit uniform glued to her body, without any expression. She rose calmly on the platform and settled inside the insertion capsule, which closed slowly with a metallic wheezing. Her voice sounded cold and soft in the communicator:
- Unit 00, ready for launch.
Asuka and I, in turn, divided the same space for the preparation of EVA-02. The double plug was coupled, and the scene was almost suffocating.
"Don't get in the way, understand?" Asuka said, adjusting the controls beside. "This is my Eva."
"Relax, I won't hold your hand." I grumbled already uncomfortable. "I just hope you don't cry like that time in the sea of magma"
Asuka turned her face and snorted, but her slightly blunt cheeks denounced that her proximity bothered her more than she admitted.
Finally, Shinji settled within EVA-01. The insertion plug closed with a metallic crack. LCL liquid began to slowly fill the capsule, rising through your body until it covers the entire face. Shinji took a deep breath, closing his eyes the moment the metallic smell invaded his lungs.
"LCL filling ... _ echoed Ritsuko's technical voice through the speakers." Stabilized pressure. Starting synchronization. "
Shinji's heart accelerated, but a memory of Mana's expression, that simple and sincere smile, returned in his mind. He squeezed the controls harder.
- Unit 01, synchronization started.
On the other side, Asuka and I started listening to the same warning:
- Unit 02, double synchronization, starting…
"I said not to disturb! Concentrate!" Asuka repeated, already nervous.
"I'm focused!" I countered.
Rei, as always, said nothing. She just closed her eyes, silently, as if Eva were an extension of herself.
The metallic clang of the hangar echoed as the massive platforms began to move. The mechanism slowly lifted the EVAs into the launch corridors, where reality would hit them.
"Units in position…" Hyuuga announced from the control room. Countdown to launch: five, four, three…
And then, with a deafening roar, the EVAs shot to the surface, toward the battlefield already vibrating beneath the shadow of the Angel.
Without electrical power to propel the launchers, the EVAs were trapped in the underground corridors, immobile and heavy as statues stuck in concrete. The silence of the base was broken only by the hurried voices of technicians trying to coordinate something amidst the chaos.
"No power, no launch!" Ritsuko's voice echoed through the comms. "You'll have to manually climb through the maintenance passages!"
The emergency doors opened, revealing a narrow staircase leading to the surface.
"Stairs?!" Asuka burst out in disbelief. "This is ridiculous! We're Eva pilots, not burning building climbers!"
I looked at the scene and sighed deeply, already tired just imagining the climb.
"'Ridiculous' is an understatement… this is humiliating..." I muttered, staring at the seemingly endless steps.
Asuka turned away, huffing. "Shut up and hurry! If you start complaining, it'll be even worse!"
Rei, as always, showed no reaction. She was already climbing with steady steps, unhurried and without pause, as if nothing of the sort were extraordinary.
Eva-02 held onto the railing, grumbling with each step, while Eva-00 followed close behind, panting and thinking aloud: "I bet when they write about the great battle against that angel, they'll cut that part. 'The heroes climbed the stairs'… yeah, nothing epic about that."
The sound of boots hitting the steps echoed through the metal tunnels, while above them the world already trembled under the shadow of the waiting angel.
The ground shook violently as the entrance above them shattered like glass under pressure, and the harsh light from the surface flooded the emergency shaft. The Spider-Angel's grotesque body writhed on the edge, its thin, razor-sharp legs digging into the concrete walls while its orifice-like mouth pulsed with corrosive energy.
Asuka, in Eva-02, surged upward, and before she could even stabilize herself, one of the Angel's legs hit the corridor. The floor gave way, and Eva-02 plummeted.
"Scheisse!!" Asuka screamed, struggling to regain control.
It was at that instant that Eva-01 surged forward, with Shinji pulling Eva-02's arm at the last second, preventing Asuka from falling into the abyss. The impact was brutal, but the two steel titans remained pinned to the wall, breathing through the machines as if they too were exhausted.
"We're trapped!" Asuka screamed, trying to free herself. "Damn it, Shinji, you won't be able to hold on!"
Shinji trembled inside the plug, panting. "I… I'm not letting go of you! Hold on!"
Rei, in her Eva-00, tried to climb up the other side, but each movement was slow and unsteady without energy, as if carrying twice the weight.
I watched the scene from inside Eva-02's plug, feeling the panic rising, but my mind began to spin rapidly. I took a deep breath, ignoring Asuka's screams.
"Wait…" I muttered, then spoke louder. "I have an idea!"
"Don't give me any nonsense now, Subaru!" Asuka snapped angrily.
"Listen!" I insisted. "The Angel is focused on breaking the entrance… if we use the weight of the fall, we can turn it into an advantage. Shinji, hold on a little longer!"
Shinji gasped in confusion. "What… what are you thinking?!"
My eyes gleamed with determination. "If we fall together… we can use Eva-02's momentum to grab one of its legs and drag the damn thing down with us! Then Rei will attack from above!"
The silence on the line was heavy for a few seconds, until Asuka's eyes widened. "…Are you crazy?! You're going to kill yourself!"
"Maybe." I breathed firmly, my serious tone contrasting with my usual sarcasm. "But if we don't do anything, this thing will rip open the entire city."
Shinji hesitated, feeling the weight of Eva-02 in his arms. "I… I don't know if I can hold on that long…"
I gripped the controls tightly, staring into space. "Then trust me just this once."
The Angel above us tilted its hideous circular mouth, beginning to secrete a bright, corrosive liquid that threatened to fall directly onto the Evas. Time was running out.
The metallic roar of the three Evas echoed through the pit, mixed with the thunder of the Angel's paws digging into the structure above. My plan seemed insane, but in that moment, insanity was the only thing that made sense.
"Shinji, let go slowly!" I shouted. "Not all at once, or we'll plummet out of control!"
Shinji, sweating coldly inside the plug, tried to remain calm. Eva-01 creaked like an exhausted animal, its fingers digging into Eva-02's shoulder and arm. Little by little, he released the pressure, letting Eva-02's weight pull him down.
Asuka shouted over the open channel: "Let's kill this damn thing!"
"Let's Go!" I replied, my voice more serious than ever.
Rei watched the scene from the other side, Eva-00 pinned to the wall like a sentry. His cold voice came over the radio: "The probability of survival is low. But… Subaru is right."
Asuka clicked her tongue furiously. "Even you?!"
But before he could complain further, the ground shook again. The Angel arched its hideous circular head, and a jet of green acid began to pour out, burning the concrete. Time was up.
"NOW!" I screamed.
Shinji closed his eyes and released his weight. Eva-02 plummeted into the void like a red meteor. Inside, I felt my stomach churn, but I kept my eyes fixed on the image of the Angel above.
"Hold on tight, Asuka!" he yelled.
"I'll kill you for this!" she yelled back, but she was already gripping the controls tightly.
The instant they fell, I yanked Eva-02's right arm with all my strength, extending it like a claw. The energy blades of the Angel's paw streaked across her field of vision. And then… Eva-02 grabbed one of the Angel's legs.
The impact was brutal. Asuka's body shook inside the plug, nearly hurling them against the walls. But the maneuver worked: the Angel's grotesque paw was trapped between Eva-02's fingers.
"I GOT YOU, YOU BASTARD!" I screamed, my voice a mix of terror and euphoria.
The Angel lost its balance. Part of its spider-like body slid, scraping against the edge of the shaft as it was dragged downward along with Eva-02. The creature's deafening roar echoed through the underground corridors.
Shinji, seeing the scene, widened his eyes. "SUBARU!"
"Rei!" I shouted over the comm. "NOW!"
Without hesitation, Rei leaned Eva-00 against the wall, raising his makeshift positron rifle. The shot resounded like thunder in the cramped space, the intense light cutting through the darkness of the tunnel. The beam struck the Angel's upper body, burning through its gelatinous carapace and ripping away layers of its exposed core.
The Angel's scream reverberated in all directions, echoing all the way to the bottom of the Earth.
Asuka, still inside the falling Eva-02, roared along with it: "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE, YOU BASTARD!"
The fall continued, the impact approaching. I bit my teeth, trying to maintain control. "Hold on, Asuka! We're not done yet!"
Eva-02 and the Angel's paw plummeted toward the bottom of the shaft, the enemy still writhing in its grip. Above them, Rei reloaded to fire again, and Shinji strained to catch up, ready to dive after them if necessary.
The battle had become a suicidal descent, where every second was a fight against death.
The crash was so loud it shook the entire basement as if an earthquake had struck Tokyo-3. Eva-02 and the Angel slammed violently into the NERV base, a red and white flash illuminating the entire shaft. The creature's core cracked like glass, sending out a wave of energy that shook the three Evas.
Silence followed, heavy and suffocating.
Gradually, Eva-02's sensors stabilized, revealing that the Angel's monstrous body lay motionless, shattered, its core completely shattered. It had died.
Inside the plug, I was panting, my body trembling with adrenaline. Asuka released the controls and threw her head back, laughing nervously.
"Hah… we did it… Subaru… we really did."
I was still panting, and it took me a while to respond. Sweat was pouring down my face, and my heart was beating so fast it felt like it was exploding. "Yeah…" I murmured, my voice wavering between anger and relief.
I rolled my eyes at her and gave her a tired smile. "Complain all you want later. But first…" I leaned forward, still inside the plug, and spoke firmly: "Thank you. I saved you, so you owe me a 'thank you'."
Asuka's eyes widened, surprised by her audacity. "What?! No way!"
"Are you going to act proud?" I retorted teasingly. "You'd be crushed along with that creature if it weren't for me. So…" I held out my hand to her, as if demanding payment. "Thank you."
Asuka blushed, biting her lip in anger. "Tsk… you're insufferable, Subaru."
The communicator beeped, and Rei's calm voice came over the channel: "He's right. It was his maneuver that secured the victory."
"Rei!" Asuka shouted indignantly. "Don't side with him!"
I laughed in satisfaction and leaned back. "Then it's settled. You owe me a thank you… but don't worry, I'll collect later."
Asuka was silent for a few seconds, looking away, but the blush on her face gave her away.
Meanwhile, Shinji, in Eva-01, was sighing in relief up above. "I'm glad it's over…"
And in the command room, Misato and Ritsuko looked at each other, both tense but relieved. Misato, with a half-smile, commented, "This kid… he's as crazy as he is brave."
End of Chapter 17