I opened my eyes. A moment later, pain came all over my body, my elbows, knees and left side hurt the most, obviously abrasions and bruises. The light spot before my eyes slowly turned into asphalt, there was a ringing in my ears, something warm was flowing down my head.
Overcoming the unpleasant tremor in my hands, I slowly stand up and look around.
The torn and burnt remains of a helicopter, some twenty meters away from me, a scattering of broken stones mixed with upturned asphalt nearby. And skyscrapers... Hmm... Very unusual skyscrapers. So old-futuristic-metallic. The definition was frankly not very good, but it was the first that came to mind, because the buildings were clearly from the breed of the very first high-rises, when people had just learned to massively build residential buildings higher than five or six floors, but at the same time with such smoothed and rounded corners, as if they came from the pages of science fiction about the houses of the future in the mid-twentieth century. Well, and the abundance of metal elements on the outer walls also seemed to pay tribute to the fantasies of mankind on the theme that someday all houses will be built from pure aluminum, and the need for brick and concrete will completely disappear. And, by the way, these skyscrapers, now, with feeling and passion, together carried away a huge swamp-colored angular monster, vaguely resembling a humanoid, and a flock of helicopters pounding it with all their guns. The skyscrapers snapped back, from the gun batteries installed on the roofs...
The new world greeted me... it was original, that's for sure.
Chuckling, I look at myself. Black trousers, a white shirt, a backpack on my back, soft brown boots, an old cassette player on my belt, headphones, by the way, are still in my ears, but I still have problems with my hearing - the ringing just won't stop.
I examine my hands. Another chuckle. Yes, that's right. Too bad there's no mirror, but that's not important anymore. Everything went as expected. I'm in the body of Ikari Shinji, also known as a pathological whiner, a weakling, a natural berserker, a narcissistic egoist, a multiple savior of the world, and a horseman of the Apocalypse all rolled into one. In short, a versatile personality, in every respect. And where is he?
Yeah. That's it. Locked himself in his inner world. You can't make out his thoughts, but you can see his emotions: confusion, fear, doom, the whole package. Well, okay, let him sit for now, we'll chat later.
But the body is not very good... No muscle mass, the build is puny, if not emaciated, the height is below average... Although it could be worse, so the body is normal. It will take about two months to adjust to my soul, but for now we will be patient, it is not critical.
Hmm, and here comes the restoration of hearing. Scorpions? Holiday? Respect! Haven't heard this composition for over a hundred years. Okay, then what do we have Angel?
About fifty meters tall, triangular torso, an absurdly shaped head sticking out of the chest and most of all resembling a bird's skull, two arms, two legs, narrow and angular. Ribs protruding from the body covering the Core, on the sides several pairs of something resembling gill slits. The coloring is again dark green, swampy. And it is felt... It is not felt at all. Light with a chalky taste, the most accurate definition. However, now I have the sensitivity of a cat licked valerian - self-control.
A dozen missiles flew overhead, and the Angel disappeared in the cloud of a gigantic explosion. It seemed that even a couple of helicopters were hit. However, the result remained the same and the absurdly huge giant did not suffer in any way even after being completely drowned in flames, only in the smoke that replaced the fire a translucent film of some kind of force field became visible, slightly distorting the appearance of the monster, which reeked of spiritual energy. If I am not mistaken, it is called here "AT-field", whatever this abbreviation means. Meanwhile, before the fire in the clouds of smoke had time to completely dissipate, a pale pink flash passed through it - and three more helicopters fell to the ground as charred heaps of scrap metal. Another second, and the film of the AT-field around the Angel was painted with a golden glow and he quite easily soared into the air. Once again, minus two helicopters, which did not manage to fly away from the trajectory of the fifty-meter carcass.
There was about a kilometer between us, and I was on a hill and he was in a lowland, but Green managed to cover this distance in just a few seconds and landed right next to me.
A monstrous, absurdly sized, dirty green foot landed right on the remains of the downed helicopter, crushing it into the ground. Four huge black claws left long furrows in the asphalt, and at that moment, apparently, the unexploded ammunition detonated. An explosion flared, and I was thrown to the side. Having habitually grouped myself and strengthened my body with spiritual energy, I landed on my feet. But my body still left much to be desired, and having landed on my feet, I was unable to maintain my balance and fell on my butt. It turned out very embarrassing, but... fortunately, as strange as it may sound, since a new character appeared on the stage, to whom it was not yet worth demonstrating my capabilities.
There was a sharp screech of brakes from behind, and I was covered by a shadow.
- Sorry for the delay, Shinji-kun, have you been waiting for a long time? - opening the driver's door and beaming with a radiant smile, with sunglasses on her forehead, a beautiful girl with an unusual hair color inquired. They were, it seemed, black, but as soon as direct rays of the sun fell on them, it immediately became obvious that they shimmered with a rich purple.
The owner of the remarkable head of hair was wearing a black sleeveless dress with white trim along the edges, a stand-up collar and a short skirt. The girl's palms were adorned with red fingerless driving gloves, her earlobes were adorned with massive golden earrings, and just below the collar, like a necklace, hung a massive metal cross, clearly carrying not so much a religious as a decorative meaning. Well, hello, Katsuragi Misato.
"Not really," I chuckled, spending less than a second looking at the lady, quickly jumping up and rushing to the car.
"Come on, hurry up, get in!" Misato shouted, seeing that I was heading for the passenger door.
- Already, - the door slammed behind me before Katsuragi finished speaking. And now I was already fastening my seat belt. True, the backpack on my back was a little in the way, but these are the little things in life.
"Hold on!" the girl commanded, giving me a surprised look before hitting the gas.
The car's roof was pounded with shrapnel, the helicopters, ignoring us, continued to spray the Angel with all their guns. Naturally, without any effect. Well, except for the damaged roof of the car and an unknown number of lost nerve cells in Misato. Two long seconds - and we broke out of the danger zone, although... I glanced at the rearview mirror, where the Angel had just destroyed the helicopter with another flash. Yes, it was definitely still a long way to the exit from the danger zone.
The sounds of explosions increased, heavy weapons were used against Angel again. Barrel and rocket artillery, rockets and bombs of various types and calibers... Beautiful...
Misato drove, squeezing everything possible out of the engine, while managing to masterfully avoid obstacles and fit into the turns of the serpentine roads along the hills that literally abounded in the city area, saying better than any words that we were in a very mountainous area. And although in my mind I understood that everything was fine and that nothing threatened me, my body turned into a frozen lump of panic from such treatment. An unpleasant feeling.
"Sorry I'm late!" Misato said with a strained smile, not taking her eyes off the road.
- No problem.
- The army tanks on the coast have already been destroyed... And it's not surprising, no matter how much they shoot, he still won't get damaged, - I wonder why she said that? A strange way to calm me down, or is she interested in my reaction?
- I see... And what is he? - I glanced at the brunette with an indifferent look.
"You know, your amazing calm in a situation like this is a bit... irritating," Misato said, no longer smiling, in turn glancing sideways at me. I remained silent, not reacting to the attack in any way. "Joke," the smile returned to the girl's face. "It's 'Angel.'"
- Angel? This? - I pointed my thumb back.
- Yes, but there is no time for details now.
When we had driven about ten kilometers, the cacophony of battle suddenly stopped. Misato, casting a quick glance at the rearview mirror, turned slightly pale and, braking sharply, reached under the seat at the turn, from where she pulled out a huge army binocular, a kind of hybrid of a brick and two telescopes. Then she leaned on me and stuck it out the window.
Hmm... And her breasts are definitely no smaller than a third size...
- It can't be!.. Did they decide to drop an N2 bomb on the city?! Lie down!!!
A flash from the left. Misato flinched, but didn't have time to do anything. I fell on the girl lying on my lap, shielding her head from the window with my shoulder, and at that very moment a shock wave reached us.
The car was picked up and carried away like a feather. Misato was still trying to flutter, apparently wanting to cover me with her body, but I simply strengthened the body with spiritual energy again and all the girl's efforts were in vain. What was missing was allowing her to move freely when the car was doing "barrel rolls", and she herself didn't even have a seat belt fastened.
The car stopped and, as luck would have it, it stopped on its side. On the side where I was sitting!
I let go of Misato and lean back in my seat. Hmm... Unpleasant. Well, it could have been worse. So! Is she going to get off me or not? Hmm, is she even alive in there? Let's check now. He-he...
- Ow! - the girl squealed. - Why are you pinching?
"Alive," I stated out loud. "Misato-san, maybe you should stop pestering me, now is not the time."
- You bastard! Who's harassing who else!? You impudent little brat! Why did you pinch me? - they righteously raged from above, frantically but in vain trying to find support with their hands to get off me.
- For what I reached. And anyway, I was checking whether you were alive or not - I feel that if her hands weren't busy and she wasn't hanging upside down, I would have been beaten. Maybe even with my feet.
"Why did you have to pinch my ass?!" the girl didn't even think of calming down, managing to glare menacingly at me with her brown eye from under the intertwining of her arms.
– As far as I know, this is one of the most sensitive places for women, and when touched, the shock reflex is immediately activated.
- You bastard!
- I am guilty.
- Shinji, are you okay? - Misato twisted around and looked at my face with concern. It seemed that such calm answers, spoken in an absolutely dispassionate, even somewhat dead voice, had upset her quite a bit. And I was simply too lazy to show emotion and pretend to be an embarrassed teenager.
- Physically, yes. But I'm not sure about my psychological health anymore.
- Uh... Oh well, it'll pass. Let's get out of this tin can...
It was easier said than done. But never mind, we managed.
Hmm... Harsh!
We were carried away from the road, about thirty meters, at least the road was level with the ground, without significant differences, such as a meter-high road embankment and roadside ditches. Another good news was the absence of trees along the road and the fact that the lamppost was ten meters further. I'm afraid that crashing into it would have been fatal.
- Shinji, are you sure you're okay? The look in your eyes is... - Misato hesitated, trying to find the right word.
- Yes, I'm fine. How are you, Katsuragi-san?
- Great! And you can just call me Misato, - the girl responded with exaggerated cheerfulness. - Come on, help me! - The girl leaned her back on the roof of the car. I stood next to her. - Ready? One, two! Got it!
Once again, feed the muscles with spiritual energy and the car rises to its wheels with a plaintive creak.
- Phew... - the brunette sighed. - Well done, Shinji-kun!
- Just Shinji is fine.
- Good, - the girl gave me a wide, and most importantly sincere smile. And then, becoming exaggeratedly serious, with a fair amount of pathos and extending her hand for a handshake, she said: - Nice to meet you, Ikari Shinji! - I smiled slightly.
"Likewise, Katsuragi Misato," he said, and returned the handshake.
- Well, that's better, otherwise you're standing there as if you're not alive.
Oddly enough, after all the abuse it had endured, the car started and even drove. And although I was mentally prepared for this, my respect for its manufacturers nevertheless increased significantly. Somewhat distracted by thoughts about the upcoming action, I did not immediately notice when Misato started talking on the phone.
– …I have to ensure his safety, so prepare a platform for the car and a direct train… Yes, since I volunteered to meet him myself, I take full responsibility… No, there's no need to send anyone else, I'll handle it myself. No, no helicopters. Yes… Yes… We're almost at the backup entrance. That's it, lights out, – Misato sighed, turned off the phone and put it down.
I glanced at it. Not much. The second blow must have really battered everyone here, no time for fancy civilian devices. The mobile phone is old and massive, like they were when they first appeared on the open market. But Katsuragi is far from an ordinary person, what is available to ordinary people here?
Meanwhile, the slightly relaxed beauty suddenly became despondent, with a sad, sad look sliding over the cracks on the windshield, turned it to her dress covered in dust and dirt, sighed silently, looked at the orphaned emptiness gaping in place of the rearview mirror, sighed again. Well, and closed her eyes, obviously immersing herself in not at all cheerful thoughts about the fate of her unfortunate property.
- Misato? - I turned to the girl, considering that now would be the best moment to ask questions, since she herself would want to distract herself from sad thoughts.
- Yes, Shinji?
- There are two questions. First, where are we going? Second, why "Angel"? I didn't notice a halo or wings on him.
- Ahem... - Katsuragi glanced at me warily. - You know, considering everything that's going on, you're just indecently calm, - I shrugged, as if to say what you are. Misato sighed. - We're going to a special NERV institute. And about the Angel... Honestly, I don't know who came up with the idea of calling them that. Oh, by the way! - the brunette climbed into the glove compartment and pulled out a brochure with half a fig leaf and the inscription "NERV" on the cover, as well as the stamp "Top Secret". - Here, read it.
At that moment, a metal gate appeared ahead, right in the grassy hill. The doors slid open, and Misato carefully drove into a corridor finished in metal and gray plastic. At the end of it were exactly the same gates, and behind them was a platform for a rail elevator for cars.
A smooth female voice came from the speakers:
- Be careful, the gates are closing. The special train is leaving on the F-9 route.
Behind us, the metal doors closed again, and another armor plate with the NERV logo descended on top of them. The locks clicked from below, securing the vehicle's wheels. The white light of the fluorescent lamps went out, and everything was bathed in the pleasant red light of the emergency lighting.
"This is where I work - an employee of the intergovernmental organization NERV, which is under the direct control of the UN. Just like your father..." Misato smiled at me in the semi-darkness.
- Clear.
- Why are you such a grump?! Do you even know what he does?
- No, - by the way, it's the purest truth! What if he's picking his nose now? That's also an activity, but I don't know that.
"Damn," the girl said resignedly. "It's so difficult with you, you're just like Ray!"
- Ray?
"Yes, you'll meet him someday," Misato waved her hand. "And your father is in charge of research that is necessary to protect the entire world!"
- Pretentious.
"Oh, come on," Katsuragi pouted, offended, and taking out her makeup bag, began to put on her makeup.
And I got deep into reading the introductory brochure. So, what do we have? Pathos. Self-praise. Pathos again. And why is there advertising here at all? And this is a document marked "Top Secret"? Where did I end up? Well, the introductory part seems to be over. Yeah. Well, the reason for the Second Strike is not very interesting to me, but the history of this world is a little longer. The year 2000, on September 13, the second strike occurs, the Antarctic ice is rapidly melting, the level of the world ocean rises. There is a shift in the earth's axis, in particular Japan ends up practically on the equator. Europe, the USA, Britain suffered the most, many large cities simply drowned, as did some countries. Tens, if not hundreds of millions of victims. Plus, there were hotheads who decided that World War III had begun with the use of nuclear weapons and they really did unleash it, happily bombing their beloved neighbors. Fortunately, giants like the US and Russia did not take much part in this, or rather, they did not bombard each other with missiles, having managed to sort out the situation. But still, everyone got it, and significantly. Then, in 2003, the largest players were finally able to come to an agreement. The UN was restored and updated, and now it is this structure that actually controls the entire world. NERV was created by the UN in 2010, along with several other institutions, officially to protect humanity, that is, to fight the Angels. That's all.
Well, that's enough for now, and then, if necessary, I'll look for additional information.
I, still looking indifferent, closed the brochure and put it back in the glove compartment. Misato glanced at me sideways, but said nothing. A couple of minutes later the tunnel ended and the elevator entered the Geofront. The girl's gaze, with which she had supposedly been discreetly watching me, became expectant and impatient. Well, what can I say about the Geofront? Big... A sphere... Or rather a hemisphere, since the lower half is buried underground. Pyramids... Well, one could say that the one that is the headquarters was simply pulled out of the ground, and they forgot to fill the hole, if only the hole weren't four times bigger. The ground, mostly covered with forest, and two lakes, one much smaller than the other. Buildings of different heights hang from the ceiling and many wide pipes descending directly to the headquarters pyramid. Well, that's about it. Perhaps you could add natural light, or a good imitation of it. And what was so grandiose about it? Well, yes, I agree, for the local level of human development, this is incredible and unattainable. But it is also impossible to say that it is so beautiful here.
- So, how do you like Geofront? - Katsuragi couldn't resist, - it's the secret headquarters of the NERV organization and the main stronghold of humanity!
- Hmm... Grandfather Freud would have gone into detail about his creators...
- Uhm! - Misato choked on air. - The brat! I'm here crucifying myself in front of him! And he! He ruined all the solemnity of the moment! The vulgar little brat!
"Hmm..." I rested my chin on my fist with an indifferent look.
- Oh... - the girl let out a heavy sigh. - How difficult it is with you...