Work Text
Interesting.
It seems we put too much faith into this SEELE.
Agreed.
As a proxy for our will, they failed. Too dogmatic for their own good.
This was not the first time they failed.
Indeed. They could not see the full picture. Blinded by aged tapestry and their own stubbornness.
And even with our help, when they found the way to our door. To be undone by their own creation.
Humanity has a keener mind in this realm, it seems. We will have to be more subtle.
Subtle did not work last time.
Neither did direct work, for SEELE.
What will be the course of action?
We will bide our time. Observe this Earth.
Indeed an interesting world. One that works differently to what we are used to.
Manifest soul. What beings they must be.
The soul is protected in this universe.
Trivial. It will not-
"YOU. ARE NOT. WELCOME."It was a sudden, piercing, cacophonous voice, bypassing even their own mental barriers and quickly crippling their thoughts. For the first time, they felt pain."LEAVE. NOW. OR I WILL DESTROY YOU."Interesting. It seems-One half of what was once a collective suddenly dissipated, sending wandering souls flying off into the void."LEAVE. NOW."What remained quickly left the solar system.It seems we will have to take a different approach.Lilith remained sentinel. Yet another alien, seeking to destroy her children. One different from Adamite, however. She couldn't even say for sure if it was progenitive, like her.But that was irrelevant. She deemed it a threat. Therefore they would not go anywhere near her children.Not even near the last remaining Adamite of her world. He had proven himself to her.She remembered to thank the Adamite, should he find himself back in her parlour. It was his action in removing the Lance that allowed her to sense these antagonistic elements in the first place.But even though they had left her presence, she still held concern. Concern she could keep within her for now. But if they tried further, she might have her other pay a visit. At least this time around, she could keep her children out of it. For now, at least.But for now, she will remain sentinel over her children. To drive them and propagate them further.Which, at this point, included the last Adamite.She saw parallels with herself and who they called Adam, with her other and Adam's other.Indeed, it was that love for her other that changed her own mind about him. Hence her gift.Maybe that was why she tolerated the Adamite. Because, in a way, their relationship was what she wanted. Once upon a dream.But thoughts like that quickly fell by her wayside. No use dwelling on what could have been.Night gathers, and her watch continued.
1. Lightshow "Reports from all over the world are reporting on thousands of iridescent lights, almost aurora like, all across the sky. As of right now, the United Nations are saying that this was a side effect of a failed SEELE operation, has no effect other than visual, and will clear up in less than a week. SEELE, for those of you unaware, were the organisation that the UN labeled a terrorist group in 2016, due to an attempted coup. This is but one event in the ongoing 'SEELE War', that has been raging ever since the attempted violent takeover of the Tokyo-3 branch of NE-"The TV clicked off, on the Commander's behest. "I hate this channel.""Least we know the cover story's working.""Rits, we already knew it would work.""It's all for the good of the people, right mama?""Indeed. They don't need to know about such things. Here's a lesson for you, Eliza: A person is smart. People are dumb and panicky.""Makes sense, pack mentality.""Good to see some tradition is being kept." Kyoko deadpanned. "I'm guessing that's why my daughter went out with the others.""It's definitely a sight." Awed Yui. "Though it would have some consequences, right?""Depends." Thought Kyoko. "If the souls were dead by the time they were taken, they might go back to the cycle. But if they were alive. Well, I don't really know for sure.""They might come back." Continued Ritsuko, knowing more about Metaphysical Biology than who she would've otherwise consider her senior. "We know when Kaworu rescued you lot you came back, body and all.""That implies there's suddenly gonna be millions of people popping up in random places." Kyoko had her reservations."That's the United States’ problem." Shrugging it off. "Almost all of them would be American anyway.""What if they had souls other than what were in Rogue-00?"The collective NERV personal thought would've thought, but they were interrupted by the pilots making their presence known. "Oi! Guess what we just found."They threw the trash bag down."Oh you are fucking kidding me.""What, was is das?""Kyoko, you wanna know how this foreign media comes into our world? It's in bags like these."Misato opened it up, and investigated the two boxes, in similar boxes to the Theatrical. "Well, it's an Ultradisc.""God damn it all I'm not using that machine again!" Emphasised Asuka."We probably won't be able to watch any time soon. Considering what just transpired.""We will watch this tomorrow night!" Excitedly commanded Misato."We're watching this tomorrow night, okay." Eliza was getting really good at her deadpan."Oh lighten up a bit, Eliza." The elder candle emphasised. "We could use some levity in our lives!""Plus, it'd be interesting to see how Hollywood does Evangelion.""If by interesting, how much they mess it up." Deadpanned Shinji."Good movies came out of Hollywood." Defended Kaworu. "...Not really so much nowadays, unless they're doing a Waterworld remake.""So it's definitely Rift material? Great, not like we need more of that." Muttered Maya."Just another thing to add to the ever growing catalogue of things to publish.""You're publishing this stuff?" Both mothers queried rightfully, as judging by the things they saw so far, they were ridiculously classified."Not the Evangelion stuff." The commander rolled her eyes. "Might do it for others, though. Depends on what Hiro and Zero Two think about it."All eyes on them. "Uhh, I guess?" Bemused Zero Two. "It's kinda personal but I think others would like the story.""Man, the otaku are gonna rip you apart." Asuka deadpanned."We can iron out the details later." Ritsuko shrugged off. "For now, I think it'd be good to... Kaji, where did Makinami go?"The query bought him out of his trance, focusing on the images of the lightshow going on above. "Oh. He got a phone call and rushed out."“Huh.” Curious. It would be trivial for her to discover what the call was, at least. “Oh well. I'd say you're all free to go home now.""Hikari and Toji already thought about that." Said Asuka, in a flat intonation that indicated she knew exactly what they were doing, as they left with Misato and Kaji.Ritsuko rolled eyes. "Oh yeah, Kyoko and Yui? I'm thinking of moving you two into the same apartment block as the others."They seemed taken aback. "Does it have the room?""Considering all the rooms except for Misato's and Rei's are empty for security reasons. I think there's plenty of space to spare. Get you two closer to your son and daughter.""...Thanks, Akagi.""Don't mention it. And don't complain if you can't get sleep; they can get loud.""Thanks for mentioning that." Kyoko deadpanned, as she and Yui made their leave."So what should we do, Ritsuko?""Well, Hiro, considering almost all the Evangelion are out of commission right now, it's not like we need pilots." Typing on her terminal. "Though once Massachusetts get their shit together and develop the NACSS system, we'll probably need people with some experience to tutor our pilots."Zero Two chuckled. "I like how you don't force us to help.""We know what you can do, Zero Two." She deadpanned. "Not worth the hospital visits."The chuckle became a bark. "I'm sure we'll be fine with getting in the saddle again, eh darling?""Just like old times, eh?""...Just like old times." She softly smiled, pleasant and somewhat unpleasant memories coming back. "But that's gonna be a while, ain't it?""Massachusetts has estimated prototypes by February.""Now would probably be a good time for a pilot's vacation." Maya mused. "Not like they're doing much."But that got Ritsuko thinking. Admittedly it has been a while since they had a proper break. And now, when everything has fallen to shit and they're trying to rebuild the Evangelion, is as good a time as any. "Hmpf. Maybe they'll like Germany."Either way, she can tell Misato about that tomorrow. For now, she's got a few errands to run.~~~Kensuke considered it kind of a blessing the 'winter' vacation period was still going.Mainly because it allowed him to spend more personal time with the two loves of his life."Aww, you're warm." Sayaka tiredly grumbled, as Kensuke moved from his position."I'm sure Kyoko won't mind taking my spot.""Already have, Ken." Cheeky she was. "Checking that Franken-computer again?""Well, Akagi said she'd send me a message after this stuff was done. I think."Kyoko gave a chuckle, as Sayaka settled into her. "So you're seeing if she's offering you a job at NERV, maybe so we could get out of living with our folks?""Well, that'll be a benefit, of course."Kyoko poked her tongue. "You have five minutes, Ken.""Or less."Kyoko badly feigned shock. "You're getting bold, Sayaka.""I learn from the best~"Kensuke wished he could join in, but he ignored it. For now.The week over at Tokyo-2 was quite nice, actually. Granted, it was really weird spending time with people you only previously saw in some alternate reality's anime staring them, but he thought it nice to get to know the real Madoka.Not that they showed them their show, that would've been the last thing they wanted to see. Considering how fragile their mental states sounded to him.But they didn't seem too bad. To him, at least. Then again, he never really considered himself a master of emotion. Hell, it was Rei who hooked him up with Sayaka and Kyoko in the first place; he would've never been bold enough to approach even one of them. Even if they were straight.He could see one thing, though. Homura and Madoka seemed to rely on one another. It was kinda odd; their relationship was not traditional at all, like Sayaka and Kyoko's, but Madoka's folks didn't mind. Hell, they accepted their relationship with open arms. Good thing for Homura, with what he knew.His dad, too, was kind of open with unorthodox relationships. It almost gave Sayaka and Kyoko heart attacks when he figured it out, but Kensuke was able to explain. If anything, it made his dad proud, knowing he had a son so willing to protect the love of his two friends.Didn't stop him from calling Kensuke 'Casanova' though.Oh well, one of the good things about his father working for NERV was he was usually out early. And with both of his loves sharing a bed with him, the reason why that was good was obvious to everyone.The reason being that no one would be using the landline phone at that time, meaning he could use his dialup connection with no interruptions.So as the girls did their own thing, he dialled and connected to Usenet, his eye piquing at a new message.================================================YOU HAVE 1 NEW MESSAGE FROM StarOfNight:>MESSAGE READ StarOfNightSHOWING MOST RECENT MESSAGE FROM StarOfNightStarOfNight12/01/18I would like to discuss with you about your potential future at Nevada Echo.Be in my lab by 1200. Bring your 'friends'.SoNEND OF MESSAGE HISTORY WITH StarOfNight>================================================"Hot damn!"His celebratory shout stirred the two girls from under the covers. "What's it?""I think Akagi just offered me a job at NERV!"It only took them a few seconds to process this. "Well shit, that'd be great!" Kyoko quickly shared that excitement. "Maybe now you can support us!""Gods know that'll be the only way I get out of my place.""H-hey, that job at the convenience store gets me something.""Not enough to convince either of our folks to load us off on you.""The fact they're even considering loading you two off on me speaks wonders about them." He deadpanned.Shrugging. "Trust us, we'd probably be a bit less open to such thing at this young an age, if not for the fact that they'd probably kick us out anyway if they found out about us.""Ah well, Kyoko." Beamed Sayaka. "I'd say this calls for celebration. What d'ya think?"They looked amorously towards Kensuke.And they did what they usually did to celebrate.They went downstairs and cooked a healthy and hearty breakfast.~~~With a hand on his suitcase, Spencer Makinami left his board."Do you just stand outside my room for hours waiting on me, Ryoji?""It was only a few minutes, and the Subcommander told me to see you out." Cigarette in his mouth. "I thought you would've spent a bit more time here.""Y'know, I would've." He was... smiling? "But... I got a phone call last night. And I thought it necessary to get back to the States."Kaji huffed. "Lemme guess. That secretary of yours?""Should've known you'd know." Rolling his eyes. "But yeah. Claire, her name is. Stuck with me through all this shit. Begged to stay with me through all this shit when I tried sending her away. Poor thing sounded like she went through a bit with this damned rogue Unit.""Sounds like she's into you." Blunt.A snort. "Don't I know it.""You don't feel the same way?" He gave a sideways glance, his interests piqued."...It's a bit more complicated than that.""As it would be. With all that happened.""Walk with me, Kaji." So he did. "True, I have feelings for her. But I still feel like I'm reeling from... both losses.""She stayed by your side through it all, did she not? She obviously cares about you. And you obviously care about her, don't ya? Otherwise you wouldn't be this deadset on getting back Stateside.""Gah, can't hide a thing from you, can I?!" He jokingly berated a fellow agent. "Now that my daughter has joined my wife, I want to try... moving on with my life."A sense of commissary. "It's gonna be difficult. After all the time you spent.""...Don't I know it. I’ll probably take things slow. Try to get clean from all the Xanax and alcohol and all that other shit. I've re-evaluated a few things in the couple weeks I've been here.""Sure sounds like it. You thinking of getting out of the game as well?""Fuck no, that shit's for life, man. How old's Werner? And he's still deep in the game!"They shared a laugh, as they continued walking down the hall. "Though I might cut back a bit. For Claire's sake, y'know? She didn't deserve to get reeled in with me.""Yeah. I can relate with that. Gods know Misato can be like that. But she knows that's my job. Plus, gets NERV a bit of intel on the side.""Ah, a symbiotic relationship. Good thing NERV are our allies.""Doubt you and Claire have such an open exchange of information. If there’s some things the civvies were never meant to know.""You'd be surprised. Though she knows not to run her mouth." A sigh, as if the full extent of these feelings hit him like a wrecking ball. "I should've told her about my feelings before.""Well, make it back to her, and you'll have all the time in the world.""...Yeah.” There was a small pause. Makinami appeared to collect himself. “Ryoji, do you think it's odd I feel like... proposing to her? After all we've both been through in the past few weeks."Some interesting thoughts sprung up in Kaji's mind, as he was eerily reminded of a certain commander. "I don't think it is. I knew a couple who did something similar.""Not so odd then? It won't be immediate, mind you.""As I would expect. You two have some things to go through first."They reached the elevator to the surface. "Still. I think this is a good place to start moving on. Maybe... settle down again. I'll forever hold Mari and my wife in my heart, of course.""-But you won't let them hold you back? Not anymore." As they waited for the elevator. "Say. What was her name? If there was one thing you could hide from the all seeing eye."He chuckled, amused. "Not so omnipotent after all, Kaji-sama?" Fond memories came back. "Annette. Her folks were evangelical Irish. I heard rumours they fled to the States due to some... potentially disagreeable connections during the First Troubles. Either way, they forced her to save herself until she was married to me. Didn't even allow us to sleep in the same room together until after the wedding.""Oh the poor girl. No one here follows that.""So I heard." Flat, as he stepped in the open elevator. He’s seen the Usenet. "Still. She was one of the sweetest girls I knew. Bit of a wallflower, but she could put her foot down when needed. Which she needed to do a lot with Mari, little scamp.""You two must've been together for a while.""Would've been 20 years the December past. Took us a while to get Mari, actually. It was only after Second Impact, oddly enough, that we had her." He held the door open. "...I see a lot of her in Claire, Ryoji. A part of me fears that's why I feel this way for her."His friend felt a twinge of sorrow, as he was reminded of his own partner’s struggle coming to terms with thoughts like that. "Misato felt that way about me, too. Reminded her too much of someone she loved, and lost. Was why we separated initially. But... I think she eventually realised that it was alright to feel those feelings. As long as you love them, then that isn't so bad."They spent another moment in silence. "I'll have to think about that. But... if it works out. I might make you best man. That sound good?""Yeah. That sounds alright."Makinami gave a small smirk. "Thanks, Ryoji. I owe ya.""It's all paying forward what you did for me, ain't it?"The smirk remained. "Yeah. Semper fi.""We aren't marines, Spen.""Couldn't think of any other farewell." A succinct saying and his trademark smirk, as the elevator doors closed.Kaji gave a single huff. "I think you'll be alright, Spencer."~~~With their guest passes attached to their shirts, and Kensuke handling the map, they got lost for 30 minutes before they found the office of Ritsuko Akagi."Must say, you're a little late." Ritsuko mused, as she tended to an odd machine."Blame Ken here for getting us lost." Kyoko meanwhile immediately threw him under the bus."Considering the Commander tends to get lost here as well." Maya equally mused.The puella glanced around this Frankenstein's lab, and laid their eyes on Rei. "Fancy seeing you here, Rei. Nice haircut.""Thanks! I'm Eliza by the way."All three guests tilted their heads like a bemused dog. "Eliza?""Our daughter."All three glanced between Eliza and the two other administrators. "I'm not even gonna ask how that happened. Madoka's mum was right.""Good, it's a long and classified story. Maybe I'll tell you about it later." Tools down. "In the meantime, I have a task for you, Aida.""Already? You don't beat around the bush here." Thought Sayaka.Ritsuko slapped the top of the Ultradisc player. "This machine we're working on is a prototype machine designed for consumers. It is also one of the worst computers currently in existence." Her complete lack of intonation could spar with Angels."I'm amazed how you were able to program me that well when this machine is frankly terrible.""That's cause R&D built and coded this machine in a few weeks. Whereas it took us over a year to code you, and even then you had to do a lot of the work yourself.""I'm not even gonna question how you program a human." He started inspecting, not even being fazed by the existence of Eliza. "Cluster? I've dabbled with it a few times but you might as well get one decent computer instead of several smaller ones. Save you the effort.""Don't we know it. These are the ones we get bulk from NEC for 5000 Yen.""Those? I have better specs on my pre-Impact, dumpster Octane than this entire cluster." The roast of this machine continued. "So what's wrong with it?""Asuka was tending to it, and performed the correct shutdown procedure of unplugging it. Now half the cluster won't boot.""Sounds to me like data corruption, due to a dirty shutdown. Power it on?"Ritsuko did. "You can KVM into the different terminals."Rotating the KVM knob, he noticed 9 of them not even displaying. "Have you been running this on thoughts and prayers?""More or less.""Thought so. Terminals 1 to 9 aren't displaying jack. Terminal 10 to 12 can't find a bootloader, init's corrupt on 13, and the rest are in varying states of panic. It's not even an issue of terrible programming, I think most of them are fried.""Very good." First challenge complete. "Now, we're thinking about having a movie night. So this needs fixing before 1900 hours.""Fixing it is easy, just swap out the broken terminals.” He pointed out the cabinet that said ‘Spare Terminals’. “But I'm guessing that's not all there is to do.""You have a keen mind, Aida. Your other task, once this is fixed, is to optimise the program. Hammer out the bugs, fix the random crashes and leaks. Basics.""I'm guessing I get notes of some sort?"She glanced over at a large binder, and Kensuke went a bit pale as he laid eyes on it. "It's all in C, so you should be alright. Feel free to ask any of us if you get stuck somewhere."He spent a few minutes poking through this absurd binder. But oddly enough, to him at least, the code was somewhat workable. "Well. This will be fun." As he got to work. Working with computers and the potential of working for NERV? What a day, what a lovely day!"Heh. Not even complaining about the impossibility of it all." Sayaka deadpanned."Maybe to us." Kyoko gave an eyeroll. "We never were good with computers, were we? So what's the chances we get jobs here too?""High, considering 90% of Tokyo-3 is under NERV's employ one way or another." Mused Maya.~~~"So... What the hell are we doing now?"Misato shrugged at Asuka. "Dunno. We got that 'Pacific Rim' to watch.""After that. Since it seems we're gonna get a bit of time off."Twiddling her pen around. "Well, it's not like you’ll be piloting anytime soon." Thinking. "Vacation, maybe?""Could be nice. Though we'd probably want you to join us, where ever the hell we decide to go."She glanced to a stack of papers. "Well I'm not leaving Tokyo-3 anytime soon, that's for sure." Flat."Oh well, worth a shot." Conceding. "We aren't going anywhere without you, y’know."Misato felt like she shouldn't be taken aback at this point in time, since this is exactly what Asuka would do. But she did anyway. "...Thanks Asuka.""Don't the schools restart soon anyway?""And since when have you cared about school, Ms electrical engineer?""Since I got together with Shinji.""Touché. It starts up again next week.""And it's what, Wednesday now? That's enough time for a trip down to Okinawa or somewhere easy enough to get to."Yet another glance to the pile of papers. "Do you really think I'll earn any favours with Ritsuko loading these off on her?""Touché." Asuka echoed. "So since we aren't having vacation anytime soon, when are we watching these new discs?""I'm thinking later tonight. Ritsuko got Kensuke in to see if he can somehow fix R&D's mistake."Three seconds later, a questioning eyebrow went up. "Kensuke? How the hell could he fix that abomination If R&D made it that bad, what chance does he have?""Dunno. Ritsuko seems to think he has potential. It'd get him in the fold, at least." Glancing at her pen. "...Plus, I think Ritsuko wants to help those paramours of his."Asuka thought back. "I can see her doing that. That's one of the reasons why I can't really hate him. Must've been my 15th birthday party I first noticed their relationship.""And how he acted as a beard for them. I thought that quite noble of him; would've been so easy for him to spill the beans, considering."She continued pondering. "Maybe having that NERV safety net would help them if shit hits the fan with their family. They told us their folks were a bit... conservative with their ideals.""Trust us, we know." She gave her a significant look. "1900 hours. Ritsuko is thinking of hooking up the machine to a projector of some sort, have ourselves a proper movie night.""Who's joining us?""Anyone we can get."~~~Shinji flipped off his phone. "Kaworu and Rei are in.""Where were they, anyway?""Home. Doing what we usually do on slow days."Rolling of the eyes, as they came up on a door. "Typical."They knocked incessantly. "Oi! Lovebirds!"Both gave a small chuckle as they could hear fumbling and even crashing coming from the board. After around 30 seconds, a somewhat frazzled Zero Two opened the door. "Asuka? We were kinda… busy."She scanned Zero Two, with a deadpan look as she realised the oni's clothing was a bedsheet. And over Zero Two's shoulder was Hiro, also in a modesty bedsheet. "Yeah. I'm sure you were." She gave a glance to Shinji, who rolled eyes and turned his back. "Good boy. Y'know those discs we found last night?""The ones with the weird looking Franxx things? We're watching them today, right?""1900 hours, according to Misato. Rei and Kaworu are in, same as us.""And I'm guessing both commanders are gonna join in too.""Yeah, maybe even Kensuke and his partners.""…They’re here? How long have they been?”Shrugging. "Dunno. Rits wanted him, might give him a job here.""What can he do?""Sometimes I ask that myself." Mused Shinji."Computers? It's definitely related to that.""Huh. I mean, he'd know more about them than me."Thinking back, Asuka might’ve realised something. "Have you ever used a computer, Zero Two?""Can't say I have." Somewhat bashful. "Are they particularly common here? They weren't exactly handing them out to Parasites like us." Turning to the room. "Darling, have you ever used a computer?""...What's a computer?"Asuka badly suppressed her laughter at Hiro's cluelessness. "Jesus Christ, didn't you guys have those phones though?""...That's a computer?""How else do you think it functions. Magic?" Back to Zero Two. "So I'm guessing you're in with watching?""Oh hell yeah." She confirmed, excited. "It'd be great to see something that wasn't us.""And riff on it.""Is there any other way to do it?""Not for us." Asuka chuckled. "I'll let you get back to your darling." Rolling the R. "Have fun!""Trust us, we will."The door closed."Are they trying to go for Misato's record or something?" He was flat."Wouldn't be surprised, Shinji. Not like they have much else to do.""It looked like they were taking a page from Rei and Kaworu's book.""Don't we all? Only reason why we ain't doing the same thing is cause we're doing errands around the Geofront.""I mean, that never stopped us before."Asuka paused, and grew a sly grin. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?""If I was, you'd call me a pervert.""Ah, but you're my pervert, Shin-chan! So that makes it alright!" Wrapping an arm around him as they walked. "So what d'ya think? The lockers? A closet? Gendo's old office?"While Shinji was getting a bit distracted at the thought, an additional thought put him back on track. "Wait, do we know if our folks are joining us for this movie night?"Nodding. "Misato asked them this morning, and they said they’ll join."Shinji briefly counted in his head. "Just how many people will be watching this with us?""Well... there's you and me, our folks, Rei and Kaworu, Hiro and Zero Two, Misato and Kaji, Ritsuko and Maya and probably Eliza as well, and since Kensuke's working on the damn thing that plays the movie, he and his birds are probably gonna join us as well.""How the hell are will we fit that many people? We're gonna need a proper theatre!""I'm sure we have plenty of space down here. Even if we have to do an outside theatre. Ooh, speaking of room, what about Gendo's old office?""And risk getting our names in the newsletter?""Pfft, we've already been in it twice before. Hasn't stopped us yet.""...Wait, we have?"~~~Notes were read and studied by the bioengineer and former head of Project E, as they caught up on over a decade of developments. "Hey, Yui? How's that headmate of yours been doing?""Gendo?" A small sigh. "He's doing alright. At least... as well as you can be when most of your soul is missing.""...Missing?""Don't think I told you about that." Flipping to a page. "According to the Nephilim, according to Ritsuko, 'A wandering soul can persist as long as their constitution holds out'.""Ah. So he was so determined to stick around, it sapped him?""And the longer a soul remains wandering, the higher the chance it... dies." Grimacing.Kyoko entered deep thought. "So he would have rather faded into oblivion than allow himself to be reborn.""He's stubborn, I know." A brief levity. "Especially since the call for rebirth is instinctual, according to our notes.""Obviously sticking around had its consequences.""...I can feel him. Somewhat. But he's muted." Introspection. "I can only really muster the resources to properly speak with him in my sleep. And even then...""How does he... if you don't mind me asking."Yui tried to find the right analogy. "You know when you're just inside the range of a TV broadcast, and you have to watch through all the static? That's what it feels like. He... pauses a lot and really struggles trying to put his thoughts into words."Kyoko thought, both being doctors they knew what that meant. "...I'd call it brain damage. Not like he has what we could call a brain anymore.""…my thinking too. But I know some things about the soul. And... what decay can do." Yui kept her emotion quelled, for now. "But... when I held his hand in a recent dream of mine, he started sounding... almost normal. Like... before 2004, normal. He... still had to pause sometimes, but he sounded more confident with his... thoughts.""Your soul was helping his. Wasn't it?""That's what I think happened. Using my soul as a proxy." Yui collected herself, squinting eyes shut and taking a deep breath. "Sometimes I feel like it would be better to let him go. But... I don't think I could.""Even after all that happened, you still love him.""...and he still loves me." A sigh. "Even with all he did, you could justify it as loving me.""Even getting it on with both Akagi’s?"A pause, and a nod. "Even that. In a way. Trying to get that sort of physical comfort back, even if it was completely loveless. I... could see myself doing that." Yet more thoughts. "I didn't know Naoko did... that.""I kinda expected something bad will happen, when Ritsuko left the room. Jesus Christ, she would've had to see that.""...Rei as well. Not every day you witness your own death.""...and thing is. That all happened before the diverging point. So-""-All that actually happened." A grim thought. "...including my contact experiment.""...Yeah."Understandably, they had to take a brief break after witnessing that, as Yui was reminded all too well of the consequences. Those series of episodes were probably the most traumatising for them both."Though you're not the only one to have seen the consequences of your actions."Yui rested her hand on Kyoko's, offering a small comfort."...thing is. I already knew she found... her, like that. From syncing with me. but seeing it like that. and coupled with how destroyed Asuka became...""...hard, isn't it?"A nod. "not even mentioning the movie... and to think, if frau Asuka and Shinji didn't get together like they did, that would've been what happened."Silence reigned."It didn't happen like that, at least.""...yeah. God knows where we'd be if that happened.""Not here. That's for sure."Thoughts continued ruminating, as they tried to study."...what about your headmate, Kyoko?"A small, half-hearted huff. "She's noting the similarities between Gendo and Pieter.Beide waren komplette Arschlöcher. (Both were complete assholes.)Yes I know that's what you think, but you must consider I only have the fond memories of him, and like Yui I can somewhat justify his actions as grief.Er hätte wenigstens warten können, bis ich im verdammten Boden war. (He could've at least waited until I was in the damn floor.)He could've, I'll give you that much. But what would you do if Pieter suddenly became insane and stopped loving you?Das hat er getan, nein? (That's what he did, no?)You know what I mean, Zeppelin."An aside to Yui, "Sorry about this, I'm gonna have to talk about this with her.Yes I know Pieter did that, but as I said, people do weird things when the love of their life goes insane and tries to kill their daughter.Es ist immer der Wunsch, Asuka zu töten, nicht wahr? (It's always with the desire to kill Asuka, isn't it?)No shit! I'm keeping you under lock and key around her, and God forbid I find Pieter and that new bird of his.Wenn du das tust, werde ich beide lebend lebend häuten. (If you do, I'm gonna skin both of them alive.)"This kind of argument continued as Yui watched on, trying really hard not to be insensitive. "Man, we're both fucked up, aren't we?"The arguing with herself stopped, and she burst into laughter, as she realised the absurdity. "Comes with the job, doesn't it?"~~~Kensuke had taken a few hours to tinker with the Ultradisc player, all the while Ritsuko and Maya watched on, taking notes and offering help when required, and while Kyoko, Sayaka and Eliza got to know one another."Lemme get this straight. You're a computer.""We established this seven and a half hours ago.""I know, but how does a program get a body exactly like Rei?""I know the answer, but as mama said, it's classified.""NERV shit, got it.""That's probably the best answer you can get, until you get the authorisation at least.""Man you really are a computer, aren't ya?""And what is that suppose to mean?""Alright." With a few handwritten notes passed to the local administrator, Kensuke began. "I did as best as I could with it."Ritsuko looked over. "Explain to me some of the changes you made to the program.""Well, I optimised parts of the code and got rid of a few memory leaks. Might be some more, but it shouldn't leak like a sieve anymore.""And the cluster?""I added some exception handling, so they shouldn't randomly panic anymore. Or explode, as Ibuki helpfully pointed out.""How does a computer explode anyway? Only time I’ve seen them explode was when Ken was watching Star Trek.”"Whatever R&D did, they managed to code a fork bomb into the thing. I wouldn't have even known what they were trying to code, if the comment didn't say it was to shunt resources around the cluster. Combined with the terrible thermals of these 5000 yen terminals, and hey presto, you get a cadmium fire.""I have no idea what you just said, Ken.""We did." A smirk. "Most impressive. Now, it works, doesn't it?""Honestly Akagi, anything it does now would be better than before.""Not exactly confidence inspiring, Aida." In deadpan, as she put a disc in.Shrugging. "Gotta remain modest."With the grinding that wouldn't have been solved for a software issue, the first disc of the newfound Rift material began playing.Kensuke went wide eyed. "That looks pretty neat.""The giant robots piqued your interest, did they?" Queried Maya."Yep.""Well you're in luck! We're planning on having a movie night, since these discs look like some Hollywood blockbuster we'd put on in the background while we do other things.""I'd say not in front of the kids." Mused Ritsuko."Other than the fact we would probably do the same thing." Sayaka deadpanned."That. I asked Asuka and Shinji to get everyone to watch. It'd do us some good to have some relaxation.""...Wait, so all this was just for me to fix a piece of hi-fi?" Kensuke exasperated, kind of disgruntled, as the realisation only just hit him."Got to start somewhere, don't we?" Ritsuko gave him a smirk. "I think you have the stuff. How would you like an apprenticeship?"Kensuke fell silent, as he forced himself to think. "...There's terms to it, obviously.""Of course. But they're reasonable, I'd think." Glasses on, she passed him a contract and listed a few terms. "Your schooling takes priority, obviously. We'll work with your school to make an appropriate timetable that balances schooling and apprenticing. The apprenticeship lasts however long it takes for you to learn. The benefits I listed kick in after a couple years, although you're still covered in case of emergencies. Pay is initially 10% of the standard NERV technician's salary during the apprenticeship period, and starts at 1/4th once completed, increasing by 25% every year unless otherwise overridden. Of course, there's other fine print."Kensuke spent a bit of time perusing said fine print. Indeed it was very reasonable; it was probably the best thing he could get out of an organisation like NERV. Though there was still a sticking point. "...I told you of our... situation, right?" A glance towards Sayaka and Kyoko.Ritsuko gave a nod. "Quite noble of you. Normally NERV benefits extend to one significant other, someone you married. But... as I said, we can arrange something. They'll both be taken care of, don't worry."A longer glance was given to the puella. They gave a gentle smile as they held hands.He softly smiled back. "Sounds good to me."He signed. Sure it wasn't exactly Evangelion pilot, but it was still NERV. Company of his dreams."Welcome aboard, Kensuke." The document was put in a file. "We'll get everything sorted, and we'll inform you on your first day back at school.""We're watching that Rift material, right?""Indeed, call it a celebration of you getting hired!" A glance to her watch. "It's around the time I asked them to come anyway."She opened the door.And bore witness to a decimal of people."We asked a few more, but they declined." Spoke Asuka, excited. "Hikari, ironically enough, thought it wouldn't be to her tastes. And her stooge wanted to stay with her."Ritsuko just looked bemused out to the crowd. "I don't think we’ll fit this many people in my lab."~~~"Ah, we're finally using this room for something other than sexual escapades."Kaji was given a playful whack from the Commander. "We could probably turn it into a theatre. Beats what it's used for now.""We're keeping the desk, right?""Of course, Asuka! We'll set it up right in the middle of the Geofront. With cameras."Yui inspected it closely. "...This is the same desk.""I probably wouldn't touch it, Yui." Kyoko shot a glare at Asuka. One of the curses of synchronisation was that she knew all too well what Asuka and Shinji did. "I'm sure plenty of people here have gotten revenge on him.""Trust me, I know." Like Kyoko, she shot a glare at Shinji."We do sanitise it." Ritsuko rolled her eyes. "We're not idiots.""Didn't you two get caught?"Maya glanced down in embarrassment."Ignoring the desk for a minute, how is this gonna work?" The puella Kyoko queried, while making a mental note to use the desk sometime in the future."Mama and ma found a projector, which is to be connected to the Ultradisc machine, so that the image may be projected.""Where is the Ultradisc machine, anyway?"The door opened, and as if they were speaking of the devil, said machine appeared."There it is, Ken." Sayaka was somewhat amused at the timing."What is in this thing anyway?" Hiro muttered, struggling to move it, alongside the other Nephilim."Surely we didn't need to help with this as well." Equally muttered Zero Two."It gets you involved.” Was Rei’s only explanation."Even though we could probably do it ourselves.""And risk throwing the machine against a wall?""Okay, fair enough.""Did we really have to take the stairs though? I thought my darling was gonna collapse of exhaustion!""It builds character." Rei piously defended, as the machine was dumped in position and the cables were inserted."This seems like a lot of people.""You don't say, Hiro." Misato sat. "Grab a chair and sit down. We're gonna rip this to shreds.""If we can actually hear what's happening in this movie over everyone arguing about it." Muttered Asuka.
2. Pacific Rim Character Key:GROUP NAME: Character name (Character abbrev.)PILOTS: Shinji (Sh) Asuka (A)ANGELS: Rei (Re) Kaworu (Kaw)OVERSIGHT: Misato (Mi) Kaji (Kaj)ADMINISTRATORS: Ritsuko (Ri) Maya (Ma) Eliza (E)OLD GUARD: Yui (Y) Kyoko-san (KyoS)FRANXX: Hiro (H) Zero Two (Z)PUELLA: Kensuke (Ken) Kyoko-chan (KyoC) Sayaka (Sa) Titles (0:00:00)Kaj: "Now that's a studio I haven't seen in a while."KyoS: "Warner Brothers? Did they ever release that Harry Potter adaptation they were planning on doing?"Kaw: "Second Impact put an end to those movies, and they haven't really recovered from the loss of that."Re: "They just do animation now, do they?"Kaw: "Not even that. They're subsisting on Laserdisc releases of their old Looney Toons. Kind of sad, really."Y: "Wasn't it Looney Tunes?"Shrugging. "At least in this world it's Toons."Ken: "Okay, what about Legendary, since you seem to know a lot about movies."Kaw: "Never heard of them."A: "Probably related to Warner in a way, in whatever universe this is from."Dictionary (0:00:36)Sh: "I think we know what a Kaiju is, movie."Mi: "Consider the fact that this was made for English speaking audiences."KyoC: "Is it in English? Cause I don't understand anything other than Japanese."Like magic, the Japanese subtitles appeared at the bottom of the screen.Sa: "Well that's convenient."Y: "It'd probably be more worth our while to switch the language to German, since more of us know it."Ri: "If I could, I would. We know there's other files on these discs, but so far R&D haven't developed a menu system to select whatever the hell is on the disc."E: "To be fair, not like you have much to work with. Other than scrapped plans from a closed corporation."Ma: "By the looks of it, this movie will use both Japanese and German. Kaiju and Jaeger."A: "Like most anime then." Deadpan. "They're definitely keeping tradition."Z: "So this actually happened, right?"Kaw: "Considering all the other anime we've seen might've happened."Mi: "We know your anime happened."Y: "They have an anime as well?"Ma: "We might show you someday."KyoS: "...Considering how our show was like. Though it's not like that happened."Sa: "Maybe in a fever dream."Re: "Or in another reality."PacificA: "Ah, hence the name."Mi: "That's a fucking Dirac Rift!"H: "What is it with your world and random holes in reality?"Ri: "It's how you got here." She shrugged.Y: "Still, it's odd. Why did a breach suddenly open?"Sh: "We may never know." Flat as Kansas.The first Kaiju made its appearance.In San Francisco, of all places.Ken: "At least this time around, it isn't Japan taking the brunt of the attack."KyoC: "Quite a change for once, isn't it?"Kaj: "Why San Francisco, of all places?"E: "A world without Second Impact?"Z: "We still don't know what Second Impact is."Ri: "And you'll have to wait a bit longer, because the civilians here don't need to know such things."Sa: "Thanks." She was flat, as the fight against the Kaiju continued.Kaw: "They don't have their Evangelion type mecha yet. Traditional fighting would be ineffective, at best."KyoS: "Not like they could do much else."Ma: "Kinda like how America was like recently."Mi: "Which is why Evangelion is still important. It's our best defence against just about anything."Y: "Other people or armies, you could probably get away with standard infantry."KyoS: "Unless they also have Evangelion."Ri: "Which is why it's firmly in the hands of the UN."6 days, 35 miles (0:02:00)Re: "Amazing they could even take it down at all."Kaw: "Indeed. Three cities lost and it was probably the best outcome that could've been had, given the circumstances."A: "I wouldn't be surprised if they just up and nuked the fucker."Mi: "Considering we did that on occasion, and it only slowed the Angel's down. Hell, the Americans did just that with the Rogue Unit, and it did nothing."Ri: "Then again, the Angels have the AT-Field. For all we know, the Kaiju are just tough."Sh: "Even though, as I understand, everything has an AT-Field."Y: "Their world probably works differently. It's almost like a window into a world without Second Impact."Ken: "Through a very Gaijin lens."KyoC: "That's practically anything related to Japan that comes out of the States though."Kaj: "Give them some credit. They sometimes get things right."Six months later, Manila was attacked.Ma: "Manila doesn't even exist anymore."E: "Almost certainly a world without Second Impact, if such a coastal city could still exist."The third hit Cabo.And the fourth hit wherever.Z: "They almost sounds like our Klaxosaurs, don't they?"H: "They even kinda look like them. Blue pigment and all."A: "Obviously they ripped off your show, then."Kaw: "If they even knew the other existed. We don't even know for certain these materials share the same origin universe."The Puella just looked confused. "What the fuck is a Klaxosaur?"Misato gave an amused huff. "Maybe you'll find out someday."Greater GoodY: "Though it's interesting to see that the UN still did what they did, in this other world."A: "What use is hating your fellow man when you can hate aliens? Though Kaworu's alright."Kaw: "Thanks."Mi: "Pretty much the modus operandi of the Angel war."Kaw: "Of course, that wasn't the only reason."Ken: "I'm pretty sure the 'annihilation of all life if the Angels won' is a good incentive to band together."Sh: "Which sounds like exactly their incentive."Z: "Like our world's incentive as well. The Klaxosaurs wouldn't stop, therefore band together under one flag."H: "It's an effective method of pooling resources in order to fight the threat, I'll give them that much."KyoC: "Okay, you two increasingly sound like you've come from another world."H: "I mean, it's not wrong."The Puella simply stared at the Franxx. "Man what is wrong with this world."Shrugging. "Beats me, other blue. Even then, it's better than our world."Jaeger (0:02:50)Kaj: "And there it is. Jet Alone."Mi: "Well this is gonna be great." Her intonation indicated it would not be great.The Administrators looked at the research and development of the Jaeger with interest. "Seems they came to the same conclusion as Doctor Franxx did."Ri: "It makes sense, Maya. Even the standard Evangelion cannot be piloted by one person alone." A significant look towards the Old Guard.E: "One needs another to help offset the mental strain. It appears the Jaeger program found this out the hard way."Y: "More like the only way. Science is built on risk. Sometimes, this is the price you pay."KyoS: "Lord knows we had to pay a price like that."Z: "So overall they're closer to our Franxx units."Kaw: "By the looks of it, it's not gender specific. Whereas the Franxx used a Pistil-Stamen core substitution system, the Jaeger system simply seeks to emulate a full brain with two, to spread the mental strain of operating a giant mecha around."Ken: "Two heads are better than one, makes sense. Is the Evangelion really-""Yes." Pilots and Angels answered, Shinji continuing. "At least, by the looks of it, the Jaeger worked."Re: "Of course they would. The Kaiju have been used to free reign over the Earth. They cannot compete against the might of the Jaeger."Sa: "Unless they adapt."KyoC: "Until they adapt. It's too early on to say for sure."Rock Star (0:03:20)A: "Sometimes I wonder why we never had that much fame."Mi: "You guys are lucky to have not become famous. You already have people like Kensuke here frothing at the mouth on the concept of you two being pilots."Ken: "Gee, thanks."Kaj: "Not to mention there would've been even more attempts at your lives."Sh: "We were already gigantic targets, couldn't even go to a damn cinema without SEELE trying something. Hell, we still are targets."H: "And once again, like our world, they turned the Jaeger into an icon."KyoS: "Then again, any country would do that, if they had firepower like us."Y: "Making the enemy into toys?"Ma: "Honestly, we've considered it. Still are, in fact."E: "Wasn't there a law saying that NERV had all the rights to Angel and Evangelion material?"Ri: "Yeah, anyone wanting to make toys of Angels has to go through us."Kensuke looked on, perplexed. "Why haven't you? I would so buy a model of an Evangelion."Mi: "And there's that frothing at the mouth I mentioned earlier."Kaw: "This would be the pride before the fall."Sa: "Most of us could tell that. 'And man became proud' or something philosophical."H: "One thing they seem to lack is the quantity of enemies."Sh: "Yeah, you two had to face sometimes hundreds of Klaxosaurs, didn't ya?"KnifeheadKaw: "And here cometh the fall."KyoC: "8700 metric tons seems a bit excessive."Ri: "Well, we never weighted the Angels alive, for obvious reasons. But I'd consider that to be normal."Ma: "I think the most material we've recovered from an Angel was Ramiel's crystalline. And that was like 6000 tons worth, probably more."A: "Some Angels would've weighted nothing."Shinji did a double take at the timestamp. "Man, the Kaiju war has been going on for ages."Mi: "Considering the Angel war took only a year or so."Y: "This puts the timeline of the Kaiju first appearing 2013. At least in our world we were developing the Evangelion long before that."KyoS: "With how Project E was going, I thought it wouldn't be done until the damn 2020s."E: "It's a good thing it wasn't. Otherwise we wouldn't be here to complain about it."Z: "Ah, the 0200 hour sortie. Fun."Her intonation indicated it wasn't fun.Re: "I don't think we've had to sortie at such an early time."A: "There was Crucifix, but that was at like 0400 hours, wasn't it? A couple hours later but still early, but at least we had a days’ notice about it."Sh: "And we had to work round the clock, into the early morning."Kaj: "Comes with the job."Sa: "So because of the dual pilot system, having the pilots be brothers would help?"Ri: "More or less. The closer the connection, the better you can mesh your brains together."Ken: "Makes sense. So you'd go for siblings, maybe parents. Lovers."H: "Though it's still a small selection. In our world, they fostered a relationship between both Pistil and Stamen, right from the beginning."Ma: "Well I don't think we'll be doing what APE did. Y'know, human rights violations."Tokyo Drift (0:04:45)Re: "They have a lot more overhead, it seems. Even when it comes to suiting up."A: "Yeah, it's not like we have to armour ourselves. Even the Franxx system had little additional equipment to attach."Z: "It was just the control harness, status display and spinal connection brace. If you were a skilled enough pilot, you could even forego the display."Ken: "What was piloting a Franxx like, anyway? If it's not classified?"Zero Two looked to the Administrators.And Ritsuko shrugged. "Franxx isn't Evangelion, feel free."Z: "Well basically, the Pistil was attached in front of the Stamen, and the Stamen used the controls of the Pistil to pilot the Franxx."The Puella took a bit of time to process. "How does that work?"Zero Two grew a predatory smirk. "Well, blue, " She position her chair in front of Hiro and rested her stomach on it, like she was back in the saddle of a Franxx. "So the controls would be attached to my hindquarters-"Ma: "I think they get the picture, Zero Two."The shocked look of the Puella and the Old Guard indicated they did, Kyoko especially exasperating. "Who the hell made it like that!?"Sh: "The kind of person you'd expect."The Jaegermeisters continued suiting up, as Zero Two returned to her previous position.Not that it abated Hiro's blush. "By the looks of it, they still have the same spinal brace the Pistil had."E: "I would say it's required for synchronisation. Or, Drift, in this case."Y: "...They couldn't just call it synchronisation like everyone else?"Zero Two shrugged. "Our world called it Paracapacity. Though then again, it was the level of sync, or capacity, between two Parasites."KyoS: "Was that seriously what they called their pilots?"Mi: "Trust us, we were just as bemused as you were."Cockpit (0:05:22)A: "It's much more industrial looking."H: "It sort of reminds me of a Franxx cockpit."Z: "It's much larger than it ever was."Ri: "Waste of space, if you ask me."Ken: "Though if synchrony was required, you'd want space to move around."KyoC: "Plus, the giant robot looks large enough to support that."E: "Still, it's how that world does it."Re: "Indeed, Eliza. We might as well not even compare differing worlds to our own."Kaw: "We still do though."Re: "Because it's fun." A small smile.KyoS: "If anything, the Jaeger looks completely mechanical."Ma: "So it is more akin to a Jet Alone compared to an Evangelion."Y: "Y'know, I heard rumours of JHCI looking into a rival for Evangelion, back in my time."Kaj: "Rits put a stop to that."Y: "We know." Chuckling. "I probably would've done the same, honestly."Sa: "They seem a lot more... relaxed about going into battle."Sh: "I mean, we sometimes small talk before battle."A: "You don't wanna be too tense before battle. But you do wanna get in that zone."H: "That kind of small talk wouldn't happen on our world."Drop (0:06:22)Ma: "What is up with that screen?"Kaj: "Looks like a caveman's hologram."Ritsuko snorted. "What, they haven't figured out how to combined RGB yet?"Y: "And yet they have giant robots."KyoS: "Must say, I don't find it effective to have the entire head be an entry plug. What if they need to be evacuated?"The Pilots shrugged. "Guess they die?"Kaw: "Odds are, they haven't even thought about that. In their hubris."Mi: "I'm sure they would've. You always want an escape plan."KyoC: "That seems like a lot of mechanical parts."Ri: "You'd be right. The Evangelion has nowhere near that much mechanical parts in it."Sh: "Once again, more akin to Jet Alone."E: "Is it just me, or does the AI of Gypsy Danger make anyone nervous?"The rest of the Administrators tilted their head. "What for, Eliza?"E: "I don't know, ma. Just... something about their voice. Odd."Sa: "I mean, it's monotone. It's probably supposed to be uncanny."E: "I don't think my voice was ever like that, though. Maybe that's why it perturbs me."Jet Ken: "It runs on a 737 engine."Mi: "I imagine it's a lot more refined than that."A: "Though it still beats power cables."Ri: "I wouldn't even know how it could run on anything portable. Considering the Evangelion need the power output of at least an N2 reactor to run."Z: "At least the Franxx could run on liquid fuel."Kaj: "Even though said liquid fuel caused the Klaxosaurs to appear."Sh: "So it runs on Avgas?"Ken: "Would be Jet-A or some other military spec fuel, most likely. I think the JSSDF had trucks that ran on that stuff."Kaj: "Ah, the ones with the multi fuelled engines?"Ken: "Yeah, the M35 series. They're old American stock and they're over 40 years old at this point but damn do they work. You could probably run it on water if you had to."HandshakeRi: "They do have a lot more overhead than what we ever had."Z: "Even what we had."Mi: "Gets the unemployment figure low. Though by the looks of it, they're hiring for the sake of hiring."Kaj: "You don't need someone to marshal a vehicle on tracks."E: "If it's low visibility, it may provide some use. As Alaska might suggest."Y: "Even though Alaska had been iceless in my time. I doubt it came back now."Ken: "You'd be right. Helped American oil, I suppose."Everyone paid close attention to how the two pilots synchronised.Zero Two was eerily reminded of her own world. "That's like what happened with us, wasn't it darling?"Which Hiro also noted, to some perturbation. "Yeah. It's almost uncanny. I wonder if they were taught the same method of syncing."Sa: "Kinda makes sense, though. Melding minds together, of course you'd get some feedback like that."KyoC: "So if I’m understanding how this works, closer the connection, better the piloting."KyoS: "Essentially. Maybe even having a common memory to focus on."A: "Sounds like we'd be good at piloting this, eh Shinji?"Sh: "Depends on what memory we focus on." He insinuated.Re: "Most of us would be good Jaeger pilots in our respective pairs, if it works like that."Orders (0:08:30)Mi: "Cold indeed. But the commander knows that that's a reasonable sacrifice to make."Ri: "Indeed. It's brutal, but it's simple statistics. You aren't gonna risk millions of people for ten."KyoS: "And those types of decisions have to be made on the fly as well."Z: "Sometimes you have to be pragmatic about that kind of stuff. I know for a fact our commanders put the mission before everything else."A: "Ours do too, but that's something we've accepted by now."Sh: "We are soldiers, in a sense."KyoC: "Though they seem quite casual of it all."Re: "As they would be. Their sorties would be high, relatively. They're used to it."Kaw: "They're complacent."Ken: "I'm guessing the Jaeger doesn't have the mecha equivalent of power steering."Z: "Though a system like the Jaeger would help with awareness. In both Evangelion and Franxx, you sit down and pilot. Whereas the Jaeger, you actually do something."Kaj: "Like both pilots are becoming the Jaeger."E: "At least in our world, that's not how it works, right?"Ri: "It's close. The role of the core is to synchronise with the pilot and act as a proxy for their thoughts. And I'm pretty sure that's how it works in Hiro and Zero Two's world as well."KyoS: "Can't say much for that, though I can see a system like this working. The core essentially allows us to split the load between core and pilot, so the pilot doesn't have a brain aneurysm trying to control it."Ri: "Which is why the Core Substitute System should work."10 Mile Line (0:09:13)Kaj: "And even though it's entirely mechanical, it's still waterproofed."Yui gave him a glare, she saw the Laserdiscs. "Wouldn't have needed the C-type equipment in the first place." She muttered, being careful not to give away anything classified.A: "And even at the risk of Kaiju, they still fish."Shrugging from the commander. "It's a living."Kaw: "Fishing is a common job in coastal towns. For some, it's their only source of income."H: "...We certainly never fished to that scale before. At least while we were there."Re: "With great risk comes great reward. Especially now with the Kaiju threat."KyoS: "Of course, in this case, their lives aren't as important as the millions of others the Kaiju may threaten."Silence as they were reminded.Mi: "As we said. The commander knows it's cold. But it's war. Sometimes you have to make those decisions."The fishing boat saw an island three miles off.Two miles off.One mile off.Ken: "Well shit. It a-"The captain of the vessel finished his line.Z: "I doubt they stand a chance. If the Kaiju are anything like the Klaxosaurs."Face to Face (0:10:30)If Zero Two's hopes were low before, they would've gone through the floor when Gipsy Danger appeared and squared up with Knifehead.At least until they saved the vessel. "Well, that was surprising." Spoke Sayaka. "Would've expected them to plow right through it."Ken: "Then again, they had ample opportunity."Y: "Might've put them at a disadvantage, though. The Kaiju got a shot at them."KyoS: "As long as it didn't go through any core systems. I doubt they would have an AT-Field for defence."Ri: "Considering Jet Alone did not, it's likely."Re: "Assuming the AT-Field exists in this world at all."Lacking AT-Field or not, it didn't exactly bother Gipsy Danger, as it began to whale on the Kaiju.A: "Okay, so they're going well now."Sh: "Not optimistic?"A: "We're barely 10 minutes in, Shinji. Kaworu can see it, this is the pride before the fall."Kaw: "Indeed. They would not show us this battle in particular otherwise."E: "A logical conclusion. I suspect the Jaeger will be lost this particular battle."KyoC: "Possibly with a death?"Shrugging from Maya. "It'd show us that piloting wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.""Which it isn't." All six pilots spoke in tandem.Signature Rising (0:12:00)Mi: "Okay, lets list the mistakes they made."Y: "Disobeyed orders."A: "Incorrectly assumed Kaiju was dead."Ken: "Utilised weaponry without authorisation."Z: "Ignored the advice of their superiors when it would've actually helped."Gipsy Danger's gun arm was completely torn off, to the chagrin of the gathered.Kaj: "I'd like to add on not acting hastily enough."Ri: "To be fair, the Jaeger seems incredibly sluggish."H: "The Franxx were never like that. It really is like it's completely mechanical."Sh: "Reminds me how Jet Alone moved. It really is Jet Alone, isn't it?"KyoC: "I can't even really sympathise with them getting destroyed like this. If they had followed the books, maybe it wouldn't have become like this."Desync (0:13:20)Yancy was ripped from the cockpit.Now that made the gathered quiet, for once.Ritsuko simply shook her head. "And this is the risk that dual pilot systems bring."E: "One half goes, you can't pilot. Usually."A: "Jesus Christ, imagine how traumatising that is for him."Z: "...I can. They were synced. He... would've felt every last moment of Yancy."H: "...you had to experience that. Did you?"Z: "...yeah. Before I met you. It's... disturbing. Even when I didn't care too much about the Stamen."The silence continued as Raleigh continued fighting.KyoC: "And even after all that, he still fights."Sh: "As you do. What else can you do?"Re: "If you don't fight, you're dead. Simple as that."Gipsy Danger fired.Misato, as Ritsuko did before her, shook her head, as the Jaeger comms went down. "This is why you follow orders."Kaw: "And so come the fall."Y: "They destroyed it, at least." She glanced at Rei. "...As long as the enemy gets defeated."Re: "Sometimes... that's an acceptable cost."KyoS: "...though at this point, in that universe."Kaj: "As Kaworu said. They got cocky."Old Toy (0:14:32)Kaw: "How foreboding."A: "They could at least be less obvious with how they tell us that father and son will find whatever remained from the Kaiju."Mi: "Remember, this was made for American audiences."Ken: "I doubt a metal detector works like that anyway, unless either Kaiju or Jaeger gave off an insane magnetic field."KyoS: "For the Jaeger, it's certainly possible. What with all the mechanisms it possesses."Re: "Maybe even for the Kaiju, if it has the appropriate power."It was indeed revealed to be a Jaeger, Gipsy Danger in fact, limping and falling face flat on the snowy shore. Like it were a busted up toy.Sh: "Man, the Kaiju really did a number on that thing, did it?"Kaj: "Damage like that is to be expected. At least from us."Ri: "Gods know how many times the Evangelion were out of action for."E: "They're out of action now. For an arbitrary period."Y: But at the very least, they weren't damaged. At least from what I saw. Doesn't hold a candle to what some of the Angels did. At least... judging from what I saw."Kaw: "It's an amazing show of strength and willpower that Raleigh was able to get back to shore in the first place. Considering the mental strain it would've caused."Sa: "And especially considering what just happened."Ma: "...It makes sense then, in a way. Why Raleigh is reacting like this."A: "...He just lost his brother."H: "Not only that. They were synced at the time."KyoC: "Not to mention the medical attention he needs."Kaj: "He will quit. There's no doubting it."Sh: "After something like that. It's justified."(0:17:04)"Oh jeez, that was just the opening?""Took a bit, didn't it Ken?" Kyoko-chan jested."Then again, it is a blockbuster." Thought Kaworu. "They're like this.""Not often to this extent, from what we've seen." Equally thought Rei."And all throughout it, we've been talking non-stop." Eliza lampshaded. "Must say, it's an interesting way of viewing this media.""What, completely roasting the shit out of it? It might as well be tradition at this point." Asuka was in complete deadpan."It's fun though." Spoke Kyoko-san. "At least when it isn't traumatising.""Don't worry, you get used to it."~Learning (0:17:09)Z: "I would completely expect the Kaiju to adapt and learn."Sa: "It's odd, though. Once through the Rift, they would not be able to communicate their findings. Right?"The looks in the crowd indicated to her she was wrong.Kaw: "You'd be surprised."H: "That's how the Klaxosaur princess did it."Ken: "Oh there's a Klaxosaur princess now?"Lima, Seattle, Vladivostok.All with destroyed Jaegers.KyoS: "Things have taken a turn for the worse in the five years that passed."Y: "And closing the Jaeger program? Why would you close down the best chance humanity had?"Ri: "Obviously, they found a better solution to sending giant robots after them."The UK representative revealed something about a big, beautiful wall that they'd probably get the Kaiju to pay for somehow.This kind of plan caused everyone to break into hysterics, at how utterly stupid it sounded to them. "Oh let’s give the Kaiju free reign over the world by walling ourselves off!" Asuka brutally mocked.Z: "At least in our world, the Plantations could move! This is just suicide for them!"Y: "So instead of attacking, they've decided to wall themselves off and hope for the best? Are the politicians vying for a Darwin award?"Kaj: "Maybe the Kaiju infiltrated the Governments to convince them this is a good idea. It's the only possible explanation why they'd choose that over the Jaeger, even if they weren't doing as well as they used to."Ken: "Maybe if they invested more into R&D, they'd be able to make designs to fight the new Kaiju."Kaw: "If humanity threw in the towel this early, the Angels would've been disappointed."E: "While many years have passed, I cannot see why a wall would be better than the Jaeger."Sh: "At least they're giving them some semblance of a chance."Sa: "In Hong Kong, for once." Sayaka thought. "What's Hong Kong?"Kaj: "Was a British colony off the coast of China until '97. 3 years later it was rendered uninhabitable by Second Impact before they could do much. Go figure."KyoS: "Same with Macau. Shame, really. It had good casinos."Big, Beautiful Wall (0:18:39)E: "Even where they're building it doesn't make sense. And the scale of such a protective wall makes it unfeasible, even compared to the Jaeger."Ri: "For us, maybe. Of course, the politicians seem to think otherwise."Mi: "Politicians are stupid."A: "So say we all. But Eliza has a point, how can you build a wall all the way from Alaska to California? That's insane!"A single chuckle from Asuka's mother, as she noticed the graffitied sign. "Obviously the workers think the same thing."KyoC: "Wouldn't it be more worth the while to try corralling the Kaiju into a certain spot?"Ken: "It could work, if you could find something they want. Obviously Tokyo-3 did this with the Angels, why else would so many attack?"E: "A logical deduction."The foreman offered three new job openings.Sa: "Now that's a bit brutal."Ri: "That sort of work always comes with risks. That's why they're probably offered more rations for taking it up."Re: "They don't even get paid. Unless you count rations."Z: "I mean, that's kinda how we were."H: "I don't remember them withholding food from us for not working up to spec, Zero Two."Ma: "And why would they? That would reduce morale."KyoS: "They probably wouldn't even use money up there."Kaj: "So it's like prison, where food is the currency."A: "I mean, we could probably liken it to a prison."Sh: "They have some semblance of OHS, at least. They're tethered while working."Raleigh sliding down the girder like he was in some '20s slapstick immediately disproved Shinji's claim.Sydney (0:20:10)A: "Christ, I wouldn't use those microwaves."Kaj: "And yet again, Australia."Chuckles were had, as the Kaiju broke through the border wall like it was butter. "Knew it wouldn't work." Snarked Kyoko-san.Sh: "So what, Sydney gets destroyed?"Kaj: "Can't get any worse than it is now."They saw as the Jaeger named Striker Eureka immediately proved its worth.E: "Why are they even building the wall?!"Kaw: "Politics. It would've had the appearance of safety. Like a placebo."Re: "It was nothing but a placebo. A wall would not hold them off."Y: "You would need to attack them."Ri: "This is why I hate bureaucracy."Z: "Anyone worth their salt knows that you need to fight fire with fire. You can't just wall yourself off and hope for the best."H: "Even the plantations, with how walled off they were, they still-"KyoC: "What the hell is a plantation anyway?"Hiro stopped in his tracks, and turned to answer. "Mobile habitats of my world. Protected against Klaxosaurs, though at least we still had offensive capability."KyoC: "Huh."She didn't bother to question anything about what he said.Ma: "And yet Striker's pilot is still cocky."A: "As you would be. Not only did he just save his city, he just showed all those politicians that big, beautiful wall of theirs is useless."Pentecost (0:21:38)Sh: "Of course they try to get a previous pilot back."Kaw: "And of course he'll join. Or there'd be no plot to this film."Sa: "Who will he even sync with? I doubt there's anyone else close to him."KyoS: "If not, he'll just have to form a relationship with them."A: "And the same Jaeger as well?"Ken: "Least he has a reason."Mi: "At this point, I would've thought the Mark 3 Jaeger would be horribly under-classed by the new Kaiju."Ri: "That's probably true, but in Pentecost's position, any Unit counts. Hell, we think that as well, deploying prototypes alongside production Evangelion. Even if they're under-classed, every ounce of firepower counts in fights like these."Kaj: "And Pentecost knows this."Zero Two gave a grimace, as Raleigh confirmed her fear. "...Wouldn't wish that on anyone."H: "Did that ever happen to us?"Zero Two thought back. "Must've been the first battle, against the cube Gutenberg."Hiro froze, and glanced downward as he recalled. "...no wonder you acted like you did."KyoC: "I see the Marshal is appealing to the warrior within."A: "Fair enough, I’d think. It's better dying fighting."Re: "It beats freezing to death, that's for sure."Shatterdome (0:23:06)Sh: "Didn't take much to convince him."Kaj: "It's a fair enough argument. At least you might make a hero of yourself before you die, instead of becoming some faceless statistic."A: "I see they also work out in the open. Though admittedly, Shatterdome is a pretty cool name for a base."Ken: "What is it with these kind of bases and domes? The Geofront is one giant underground dome, and now there's this."Hiro gave a small snort. "The Plantations were mobile domes."Kensuke just gave him a confused look, as before.Y: "But much like the Geofront, it's also used for research into the enemy."KyoS: "Indeed, this way implementing your findings is much easier than just having them separate entities. Project E encompasses both Evangelion and research towards Evangelion."Ken: "Must say, I love how the military vehicles look."KyoC: "Of course you do." A small smile, as he gushed.Kaj: "I don't think I've seen many vehicles like that."Ken: "They don't seem to be of this world, of course I'm not exactly an expert on American aircraft."They caught a glimpse of Mako Mori.Mi: "I'm guessing she's an analogue to either myself or you, Rits."E: "She's in charge of the Mark 3, so she would probably be closer to Mama. Though admittedly she does have some of your hair colour. And the haircut of Rei."Sa: "Oh wow, they actually said something I could understand for once."Mi: "Oh right, I forgot you two don't know anything English."Z: "I don't think we do, either."H: "Some words are familiar, but I'm getting by fine with the subtitles myself."Choruses of agreement echoed.A: "I don't think many of us understand English. Hell, we'd fare better if we watched this in German. But hey, we can read, can't we?"Ken: "So this must be what a Gaijin feels like watching anime."R&D (0:24:55)A: "Who are these stooges?"Kaw: "The comic relief, I imagine."KyoS: "Jesu, if they're the researchers."Ri: "They probably are." Emulating Kaworu. "Considering how they're gushing about Kla- Ja- damn it, Kaiju flesh."E: "How desperate must they be." Also emulating her mother.Y: "They are the research team. By the Gods."Kaj: "No wonder the Jaeger program hasn't been effective."Ken: "He even have tattoos of the Kaiju, why?"Mi: "Don't lie, you'd probably get a tattoo of an Evangelion if it didn't make you look like a Yakuza."Ken: "I mean, yeah, but that's an Evangelion. I probably wouldn't get Ramiel tattooed on my body."KyoC: "Although Ramiel did look pretty cool, admittedly."Kaw: "Thanks."Re: "So we can assume category 3 Kaiju are no larger 2500 ton."Y: "I mean, that's probably the weight of an Angel. Most of them, at least."Sh: "And he doesn't realise that seeing the enemy up close and personal isn't all that's cracked up to be."Ma: "Of course he would. He hasn't piloted to know the truth behind the matter."A: "It's very easy to romanticise piloting when you're not piloting." She gave Kensuke a glare.H: "Yeah, it's not really all that fun. But hey, it's a living."Z: "At this point, piloting wouldn't be depicted as the glory it was. Like our world, and like here, piloting isn't glorious. Hell, it's downright traumatising, even stepping foot in an Evangelion or Franxx or whatever the hell other giant robot."The Cage (0:26:12)The doors of the Shatterdome opened, revealing the final glories of the Jaeger program.A: "Well what do you know, it's Unit-02."KyoS: "Quite uncanny, isn't it? Then again, could just be bias due to it being red."A: "Any red painted giant mecha I'm gonna associate with Unit-02 and you, mama."Sh: "It seems really busy there, actually. They must be working round the clock trying to get everything done."Ri: "Like how we were during the Angel war. Hell, we still are now. It's amazing what an unpredictable sortie schedule does."E: "Comes with the job, doesn't it?"Ma: "Even if things have become relaxed lately, we still need to work to ensure we're ready next time."Y: "Because there's always a next time, isn't there?"Nodding. "Hell, when we're not watching movies or anime with you, Ritsuko and our daughter and the rest of R&D are working with Massachusetts in order to get the NACSS design working."Mi: "Because we need the Evangelion in order to defend this world from whatever the hell attacks us. Be it Angels or SEELE or anything else that decides to come from space."Sa: "I'm guessing you're not even bothering to keep things classified for us muggles."Ken: "It helps they'd know if we said anything about it."Kaw: "This is why we don't use our phones."ClockA: "The war clock is an interesting concept though, isn't it? Keeps track of whatever battles we thought."Ri: "The Magi do that already. They mark times between sorties. Though displaying it prominently like that could help remind people of the task at hand."KyoC: "Sounds like that's exactly what the marshal wanted."H: "I don't think our world bothered to track that. It was expected from everyone that you'd might only have a few days at best break between sorties. Not even mentioning how every Plantation was different."Re: "Then again, your scenario was a bit different from us or even the Kaiju in this movie. The Klaxosaur focused on quantity."Z: "I thought it odd, initially, you guys only fought 14 distinct enemies."A: "More like 13. Ritsuko here fought one off with a keyboard."E: "I was very impressed with such programming skill myself. Couldn't have had better parents."Now that caused blushing between the rest of the Administrators.Mi: "Just how many Jaegers have they lost? Jesus, the Kaiju stopped fucking around at one point."Kaw: "They never were. It was the humans who became complacent."Crimson Typhoon (0:27:03)Kyoko-san looked like she was about to pop her membrane. "Okay. Titanium metal. Good, it makes for a strong armour. 50 DIESEL engines per muscle STRAND. WARUM? Warum sollten sie Diesel verwenden?! (Why? Why would they use diesel?!)"Y: "While diesel does have a high energy output, I thought it still wasn't enough for an Evangelion."Ri: "Obviously not unless you pile 50 diesel engines into a single muscle strand." She muttered through teeth, at the sheer inefficiency of it. "The Evangelion are positively green compared to those Industrial Revolution coal factories."Z: "Even the Franxx used a single engine to burn through Magma. Though then again, I’m not sure how this 'diesel' stacks up against it."Mi: "Much like your world's magma energy, diesel comes from crude oil, which comes out of the ground."H: "The Klaxosaurs would've ripped the Jaeger to shreds."Kaj: "Of course, protecting the world comes before potential environmental effects of it."KyoC: "Even though polluting the world to protect it seems counterproductive."Shrugging. "Most concerns take a backseat when your existence is at risk." Misato justifiably defended. "So they need three pilots to control three arms?"A: "What are you even gonna use a third arm for? Why not just go full Goro and have another set of arms?"The Franxx pilots looked at her with disconcertion.A: "Oh, not your Goro. Mortal Kombat Goro, he's a four armed warrior."Z: "Cause I was gonna say, I don't remember Goro ever having four arms. Unless something happened after we left."Cherno AlphaKaj: "I'm guessing by the fact that Jaeger starts with a T and looks like it came straight outta the Soviet Union, that it was made by Russia."All six pilots and all the NERV staff chuckled at how it looked like something out of a 50s rendition of the future. "Jeez they really wanted us to know it was designed with the Soviet aesthetic in mind."KyoC: "What's with its head? It looks like a green banana peel!"E: "Can't argue with its effectiveness, though. Six years protecting the Siberian wall." Eliza processed that thought a bit longer. "What use is the wall if it needs protecting?"Mi: "We've already established there is no purpose towards it."Kaw: "Wait a damn minute. Cherno. Chernobyl."Everyone groaned.HerculesAsuka put on the most stereotypical land down under voice she could muster. "Ah g'day mate!"Kaw: "Least we know where he's from."Sh: "I don't even think I've ever heard an Australian accent that wasn't in a movie."Kaj: "I've heard New Zealand. But yeah, not many expatriates from post-Impact Australia nowadays."Pentecost revealed his plan, involving 2400 tons of thermonuclear warhead.E: "Using Makinami's idea?"Ma: "I'm sure he didn't have this much foresight. Although it is odd, admittedly."Z: "As far as we know, that bag was untouched when we found it."Re: "Coincidence, then."Mi: "The plan works. That's what we would've done with Leliel, had things gone south."KyoS: "Despite the sheer absurdity of such plan."A: "...Good thing we didn't have to. But... I understand if it couldn't get done."Ken: "I get it, piloting an Evangelion isn't all that's cracked up to be." In dejection.SCIENCE! (0:29:41)Scrambling's of a madman were written on chalkboards, as the other madman dissected Kaiju tissue.Ri: "Gee, they can't even afford marker."Y: "Not even trying to be sanitary with the tissue as well."KyoS: "He's wearing gloves, at least."Sh: "Still, a double event? That'd be fun."His intonation indicated it wouldn't be fun.Z: "Pfft. Doubles are child's play. Now when you get hundreds, that's when the fun begins."Ken: "Kinda sounds like you all have the conclusion that we'd do better if Kaiju like this movie were to attack."Universal agreement sounded out.E: "Of course, we've had a good amount of time. Even before the Angels attack, we were able to get Evangelion ready."H: "Even in our universe, the Klaxosaurs already started attacking before the first Franxx were even conceived."Z: "It was like, 5 or so years before they even started testing them?"KyoS: "Whereas tests for the Evangelion started around 2004."Sa: "That far back? We've never even seen them until a few years ago."Ma: "That's cause you're civvies. Plus, if you're around the pilot's age, you would've been three."Kaw: "His advice seems sound. A strong enough attack would collapse whatever mechanism is being used to keep the breach open."Re: "Of course, that's if they can even get there, with the increased Kaiju presence that he estimates."Mi: "Well if they can't, then they're dead. Much like all the problems we had during the Angel war; it's either solve them or die."E: "The brutal reality of the war we fight, isn't it? A reality that is shared with this other world."Z: "And ours."Ken: "As they say, war never changes."BiologyRe: "So they're closer to the Klaxosaur than Angel. They're cloned weapons, specifically for attacking Earth."Z: "Does sound a lot like our world. Though they weren't really clones, at least as far as I could tell."Kaw: "Could be a progenitive race. When I was with SEELE, there was a theory that the Black and White eggs of the First Ancestral Race were weapons. To fight any enemy that threatened the FAR."A: "Not like we could even prove that."Re: "We disproved it with... Arael's help. Didn't we?"Kaworu still struggled with those thoughts. But he could hold them. "Yes. Despite what happened, we did recall that."Sa: "I don't get it."Kaj: "Be thankful your brain hasn't melted." Deadpan. "Plus, I'm pretty sure it's classified anyway."KyoC: "Not that you guys care that much anymore."Sh: "As they said, they'd know if you splurge. What was the punishment for that again?"Mi: "Well, it counts as treason."Ri: "Is he seriously thinking about synchronising with a Kaiju brain?"KyoS: "Well, if it'll allow them to find out more about the Kaiju."Y: "Wasn't it that kind of thinking that got us stuck in the Evangelion?"KyoS: "We all know sometimes that kind of risk is required in the pursuit of science. I'm sure that's the same from wherever these two were from."H: "The creator of the Franxx lost his arm when attempting to negotiate with the Klaxosaur princess."Z: "But using the sample of DNA he collected from that, I was born. Well, born then."E: "He's gonna do it, is he?"Ri: "Eeyup."Gipsy Danger (0:33:13)Kaw: "Like seeing an old friend."Sh: "Or your mother."Y: "Such a machine, he would've had such a connection to it."KyoS: "Like us with our Evangelion."Zero Two thought, upon seeing how nostalgic Raleigh sounded. "...Sometimes I feel that way about Strelitzia. Eh, darling?"H: "...Yeah. We had many good memories in there, did we?"Z: "Can't forget the bad ones, as well." Thinking. "...Do you know if anything related to Strelitzia ended up here?"Ritsuko shook her head. "The only thing that we could find were you two, and the discs that you came here with."Zero Two looked almost dejected. "Y'know something? I'm not sure if that's even a bad thing at this point."Ma: "Would've helped us with our research. Would've been much harder to hide, though."E: "Maybe we should get around to watching your show."Zero Two gave a soft smile. "I wouldn't mind. Maybe Kensuke and his friends could join in as well."Ri: "I don't see why not. Maybe sometime later, we can organise another watch party. Cause Maya and I missed out on a few episodes as well."Mi: "Oh man, it gets real hectic after episode 15."Ritsuko gave the commander a glare. "No spoilers."Misato poked her tongue.KyoC: "I'm guessing your show doesn't have anything classified."Z: "You have a show as well?"Sa: "It has us in it, though it's not entirely related to us."Zero Two looked around. "Is everyone here in a show of some sort?"Everyone else looked around as well.E: "I believe I'm the exception. I would not have been created in the alternate reality portrayed in our show."KyoC: "Count yourself lucky."Quarters (0:33:55)Kaw: "I believe she has some kind of feeling for Raleigh."Re: "Kind of obvious, isn't it?"Z: "Then again, aren't you two some kind of love gurus?"Rei gave a small giggle. "More or less."A: "She actually seems to have some potential as a pilot, judging by her scorecard."Sh: "And the marshal's reason?"Mi: "Well, obviously the marshal doesn't want her going out and potentially dying. This leaves only one conclusion."Kaj: "They're lovers."Misato glared. "No, she a daughter. Probably adopted, considering."Kaj: "Oh."He thought it best to shut up for a minute or so.Z: "She sounds like a bit of a wallflower. Like Kokoro was."Re: "It's almost like she's me as I was, except with a bit more emotion."E: "She even has your kind of haircut, Rei."Ri: "He has a good counterpoint to her argument. Piloting isn't clear cut, is it?"Asuka shook her head. "Sometimes you have to break rank. Hell, it's why you allow some insubordination in battle, as long as it doesn't negatively affect anything."Y: "Still, you'd want to at least try following orders."A: "Considering some of the orders we've been given in the past."KyoS: "Of course, you have to consider some of the decisions Raleigh has made as well. It was that very same insubordination that lead to defeat. It would've been better if they took it seriously."Ken: "That's what happens when you get cocky though. It's why they say to you 'don't get cocky', cause then you start taking dumb risks and making dumb decisions."Sh: "I think we know that by now."Sa: "Maybe they are related. If they're talking like that."KyoC: "Elements of a traumatic past, possibly?"Mess Hall (0:36:34)Z: "Ah, the wonders of non-rationed food."H: "That was pretty much all we had in our last few weeks on our world, wasn't it?"Z: "Other than what we made." A smirk. "Can't say I miss those rations. Especially after that dinner we had a week or so ago."Mi: "Even if all you got was streetcart ramen, it'd still be better than rations."Ken: "Might as well be a constant." He also deadpanned. "Though the rations they give the JSSDF aren't that bad. They're rather nice actually."KyoC: "Then again, you're a nut for that kind of stuff, are ya?"Ri: "Even so, military rations are designed with a few key things in mind: Nutrition, and morale. You won’t raise the morale of troops with grey mush."Ken: "You obviously haven't seen a JSSDF ration then." Yet more deadpan. "They don't exactly look the part, but they sure taste the part."Sh: "I'm sure if you could make it taste good, that's half the enjoyment there."A: "Visuals go a long way into making food taste good though. Despite what people say, you make a first impression with the eyes."Kaw: "I understand how the merits of ration food can be interesting, but I think we're missing out on some conflict here."KyoS: "Obviously Chuck, was it? He's threatened by Raleigh."Y: "I don't really see why. Does he think he could one up him in Gipsy Danger or something?"Re: "Obviously so, or he wouldn't be as antagonistic towards him."Sa: "Well, if he believed Raleigh bought down the Jaeger program, of course he'd feel that way."E: "It was indeed his actions that exacerbated the fall of the Jaeger program in the way we saw. But by what we saw, it would've been inevitable. It's a simple fact that the Kaiju would've continued growing in both quality and quantity, and the Jaeger program would simply not be able to respond to such change. The sortie against Knifehead was simply the first time it was evident."Kaj: "Either way, he probably does need a kick in the ass."Trials (0:38:11)E: "A martial art like this would help in honing one's attack skill."Ri: "Though if we consider in the Jaeger, they'll be doing this quite a bit slower to accommodate for the more sluggish control."Mi: "Still, a martial art like that helps with developing a soldier. Develops their fitness, and gives them a method of self-defence."A: "How else do you think I could stuff incessant boys into trash cans?"Kaj: "It's a staple in our armed forces. Others as well; I know the IDF has that Krav Maga."A: "I'm pretty sure that's what I was taught when I was learning to pilot. It wasn't a certain specific martial art."Sh: "You must be the only pilot with that then, cause I don't."Re: "I don't either, and I don't recall Kaworu ever doing it as well."Kaw: "Though it's not like we need such martial art skills."Z: "We certainly weren't taught this 'Krov Magra'. It was just some standard self-defence, probably didn't even have a name."H: "Would've been another thing we could've used to fight back."Kaj: "Either way, I certainly wouldn't have picked up on her little grimace."Y: "He's perceptive. That's good when it comes to a soldier, shows they can see minor details and act on them. He'd make a good sentinel."KyoC: "Though it's not like putting them down a few moves earlier would've mattered."KyoS: "It would, actually. The quicker you can pacify your foe, not only the more time you can focus on another foe, it's less time you spend in danger. Every second of fighting is for survival."H: "Though then again, he probably wants more of a challenge. Judging by her look, she obviously sees some potential in him."Asuka gave a single chuckle. "If I was one of the cadets fighting him, I'd find that insulting."Ken: "Not that it matters too much. Whatever the marshal says goes."Sa: "We know that's not always the case."Ma: "And look what happened the last time Raleigh went against the marshal."Of course, this didn't stop Raleigh from provoking Pentecost.Kaw: "It's certainly in character, from what we know about Raleigh."Mi: "I wouldn't have expected him to concede that quickly though."Stick Fight (0:39:41)A: "Am I the only one who finds it obvious she'll win?"Ri: "American films don't beat around the bush, that's for sure."Kaw: "Most American films."They watched the fight in silence, impressed at how Mako was able to win against Raleigh.KyoC: "Damn, girl! She got some skill with that stick!"E: "They both didn't hold anything back."A: "Good. I would've been disappointed with Raleigh had he done so."Sh: "I doubt that'll change the Marshal's opinion on her, though. Despite Raleigh's posturing."They shrugged at the obvious conclusion. "Sometimes the chain of command is stupid like that."Y: "Aren't you the top of the chain of command, Misato?"Mi: "I may be commander, doesn't mean I'm infallible. I know a certain other commander who thought themselves infallible though."KyoS: "Even so, he still tries to get Mako."Ken: "He kinda feels like a minor rogue type to me. He's willing to go beyond orders, but only if he knows it'll help."Mi: "That's what I encourage. And any good commander should encourage that, especially on the field where they may not be able to adapt to the conditions."Z: "That was kinda our commander's style. We were given a task, but more often than not, we had to use our own judgement in order to defeat it."H: "Unless we were put in the back, somewhere." He muttered.Elevator (0:42:48)Sa: "Of course, it's increasingly obvious to even a laywoman like me that he's hiding something."Kaw: "Well, we already suspect Mako and Pentecost to be related. Hence why he's so protective of him."Blood dripped on Pentecost's shoe.Kaj: "It's obvious something happened to him. Whatever those pills are for, they're keeping him alive."E: "Interesting. I have a couple theories on why that may be happening. Either as a side effect from something involving Mako, explaining his protectionism of her; or something to do with the Jaeger."A: "Most of the things come down to the Jaeger." She was sardonic. "Always the giant robots and the issues."Z: "Speaking of, the riots."Ken: "Justified riots, in my opinion. The wall is useless, you might as well hang a sign on it that says 'Free lunch for Kaijus'."Y: "They must have an incentive for making something so pointless. It's such a stupid idea."Sh: "We already had that theory the Kaiju infiltrated the politics of that world. Kinda like what happened with your world, Hiro and Zero Two."KyoS: "Course, that's mere speculation at this point."Kaiju-Human Drift (0:43:45)A: "Ah Christ, he's actually gonna do it."Y: "Now, I know I did the contact experiment. But I wouldn't mesh my brain with what amounts to an Angel."'Not so bad, is it Rei?''It's not, actually.' She gave him a small smile. "No one else is supporting him with his endeavour. And it's clear he may be at least a bit insane in trying to pursue it."Ri: "Most of us are, you realise." Deadpan.KyoS: "Comes with the job."Ken: "So mental issues come with the job, right?"Mi: "Yes, you get your choice of three when you get hired. It's how we pay for the dental." She was brutally mocking of her own organisation.Sh: "It's a bit of a Faustian decision, but hey! Free dental! Can't go wrong with that!"KyoC: "Yes, I'm sure that'd be great to put in a job fair."Kaw: "Ah, I see he's taken the former commander's playbook of 'Every path is a path to victory'."Z: "Well those are the best kinds of odds. Even if you die, you win."Kaj: "Course, if he's dead, then he can't really contribute to the Kaiju war."Sa: "Considering he's also one of the last researchers they have, I'd say he shouldn't try killing himself for science."All the scientists in the room shrugged, as the Drift began.KyoS: "Holy shit, it's actually working."Kaworu especially watched on in awe. "...Fascinating. It appears the Kaiju are indeed weapons. Built by a progenitive race."E: "Earth is important to them, then. They want it for their own purposes."Ma: "They probably have the same goal the Angels had."While she didn't elaborate further for the sake of the civvies’ brains not imploding in on themselves, most got the gist of it.Trial Run (0:45:35)A: "Ah, so Pentecost is relenting."Sh: "Now, I'm sure Kaworu would know the implications of such a small shoe like that."Kaw: "From her youth. Something happened between the two, that most likely caused the Marshal's protective tendencies towards her."E: "Either way, he has relented. Now we can see what happens between the two of them."Ri: "Maybe the reason he doesn't let her sync is because he's not certain she could... not be affected by the memories she has."KyoS: "A reasonable assumption, given we know this sync does that."Sa: "If anything, they certainly spruced up the uniform in the five years since Raleigh last sortied."Kaj: "This would be his first sortie since his brother died, wouldn't it?"Z: "...This might dig up some unpleasant memories for both of them, then."Gipsy Danger began start up, and the neural handshake began, the group watching to see how this would go....Okay, mainly to see how this would fail.Y: "With what we know, his words are a good warning. Random Access Brain Impulse Triggers. Such a synchronisation like what we see would cause such a word salad of a phenomena."KyoS: "But it's quite a descriptive definition. Even regular synchronisation triggers impulses like that, they're just not pronounced with the core design."H: "We were taught something similar. Don't focus too much on what you see, just focus on synchronising with your partner. Otherwise you'll be lead down an endless path."E: "It's most likely a warning you'll have to follow in the future, when the Nagisa-Akagi Core Substitute System goes into service."Ken: "Though like was suggested already, common memories may help."Re: "These two haven't known one another for long. They don't have any common memory to share. At least with siblings, parents or even lovers, you'd have years of potential common memories you could relate with. Mako and Raleigh would at most have hours of common memory."The Drift began.And succeeded. Much to the surprise of everyone.Kaw: "Huh. I didn't expect it to go this well first try."KyoS: "Especially considering what they saw. Both of them."A: "My first sync wasn't that successful. She must have some kind of knack for this."Sh: "Drift compatible, as they say."Mi: "It's not like any random people can mesh brains together. You'd need some kind of connection between the two. Even one as newly established as theirs would be enough for at least a basic Drift."MeshedKaw: "Speaking of Drift, this scientist."Ma: "I don't think it was a wide idea from him. Considering the potential differences between a Kaiju brain and a human brain."Y: "Anyone with common sense could tell that. 'Don't mix your brain with someone of a higher intelligence'."KyoS: "Hell, it's biblical. If God appeared to Moses in whatever incomprehensible form he is instead of a burning bush, Moses' being would've liquefied."A: "I mean, he's not a babbling invalid, so he can't be too fried."Z: "Pretty sure worst happened during the Franxx testing."KyoC: "Then again, they mention it was only part of a brain. Not the whole brain."Sa: "I'm sure if it was a whole Kaiju brain, then his brain would've flowed from his ears."Sh: "Though, by the sounds of it, he's confirming what we suspected."Rei raised an eyebrow at Newt's babbling. "...It is exactly what Kaworu suspected."H: "It's exactly what VIRM wanted, too. To consume our world and move on to the next. Like they've done many times before."E: "I'm starting to notice a pattern with these shows."Mi: "How there's always a bigger than us conspiracy trying to destroy us? Yeah that happens a lot." She deadpanned.Kaj: "So what, they're just gonna go shop for Kaiju brain. Like that's a thing you can get in a market."Ri: "Coming from you of all people, that's a bit naive. Black markets have everything. Hell, I'm sure Angel tissue somehow made its way into some obscure Usenet marketplace."Free Market (0:50:27)A: "Least Chuck's dad is trying to teach him some respect."Ri: "Told you, Kaji." She gave him a smirk, as she was proven right.E: "Especially considered the general spread of the Kaiju, it would've been certain people profit from the remains."KyoS: "I'm sure plenty of people would pay a lot of money for a piece of Kaiju."Ma: "Hell, they probably pay a lot of money for Kaiju tissue."Sa: "And they're clearly not above black market means."Y: "Then again, not like you could even tax remains of aliens."Mi: "You'd be surprised."Sh: "Though I can see where the Marshal's coming from. Before they might've had legal pathways in acquiring Kaiju remains, but it's obvious by their state those paths are gone."A: "The free market finds a way."Kaji simply sighed. "Man they sell everything nowadays."RABIT (0:51:07)The sync continued.Kaw: "He's chasing the RABIT."Ken: "Both are, by the sounds of it."Kaj: "Oy. At least Raleigh would have some sort of training to correct it."KyoC: "It'd take incredible willpower to power through something like that."A: "Trained pilots have that. But Mako isn't a trained pilot."Z: "Therefore she goes down that path."H: "Then again, has she learnt to pull herself out of that?" An open question to whoever knew.Ri: "She wouldn't. Not at this stage."Despite Raleigh's attempt at bringing her out, Mako continued chasing the RABIT, into the bottomless pit of a traumatic memory.Re: "...Sometimes memories can be like that. Something happens and you just keep following it."A: "Sometimes it's even forced on you."Kyoko-san gave a grimace, as she recalled Arael. "...None of you deserved that."Re: "Ritsuko told you? It wasn't Asuka or Shinji who had to bear Arael. That's... how I usually deal with it."Z: "Rei?"Re: "...One of the Angels we fought. It... invaded my mine and... the mind of Kaworu."Kaw: "Indeed. I... relied a lot on Rei after that."The Franxx pilots looked on, perturbed. "We didn't have to deal with that."Sa: "...was this how it appeared?"Rei continued watching Mako chase the RABIT. "...no. A part of it was memory, yes. But... it was mainly the Angel... using my own fears against me."Kaworu went for her hand, a small comfort. "...we got through it, though."Re: "...together, we did. With Shinji and Asuka, too. But... like Mako. The memory's still there. They don't... go away."Kaw: "...even after what happened with Armisael."Re: "...yeah."E: "This was the pain I saw in you. During our first sync. Wasn't it?"Re: "...parts of it would've been. But... there's so much else than that."Charging (0:54:00)The Puella and Franxx pilots all saw Rei in a different light, as Mako engaged weapons.Re: "So that's why that's an issue."Y: "Her awareness is completely shot. She probably doesn't even know what happened."Ri: "Why doesn't the computer detect if someone's following a RABIT and disable weapons temporarily? Hell, the technicians did detect she was following a RABIT."A: "This raises another question. Why are the weapons systems engaged at all? This was supposed to be a test!"Mi: "Good to see we aren't the only ones with failsafe failures."Ma: "Hell, we're better, cause if something goes wrong during a test, we have a solid way of disabling the Evangelion."Re: "Not to mention the fact you don't arm the Evangelion during tests."KyoS: "It'd be wise to not arm them at all, unless they're actually fighting. Which is why we designed Evangelion sized firearms for it."Ken: "It'd make weapons more modular as well, wouldn't it?"KyoS: "That was the intention. You don't wanna be stuck with a single weapon hard built into your hand, that's stupid design."KyoC: "Then again, the Jaeger seem much less... speedy, compared to an Evangelion. Even from the limited things a muggle like me has seen. Probably wouldn't do too well with a gun."The technicians finally bought Gipsy Danger offline, pulling the plug after every other failsafe had failed.Ri: "And this is why, even if they have an S2, we disable such things before running tests on the Evangelion. Cause we don't know for sure what will happen, and the only way you'd be able to stop it is if you powered it down."KyoS: "Tendo, was he? He knows shit like that happens. And he knows the importance of a hard failsafe, because sometimes the Evangelion based ones fail."Y: "Trust me, I know from both sides how they fail.”Capitalism (0:55:28)Kaj: "Certainly looks like a black market."Mi: "I imagine you had to peruse such markets yourself."Kaj: "Back in the day. Sometimes it's still good when you want to be a bit more subtle, or you need to find something strange, otherwise the Net works just as well. As long as you're behind a few masks."Y: "They know how to keep their wares hidden, at least."KyoC: "You don't want something like that to be easy to find. Y'know, since it's kinda illegal."A: "Capitalism finds a way. Even if it's some bullshit 'potency' powder made from Kaiju bone."Shrugging. "It's amazing what people believe."KyoS: "A belief like that is probably built up on the previous belief that the bonemeal of certain animals helps with... potency. And it's always the rare ones too."They gave a few chuckles as Newt went off like a child in a candy shop. "If we didn't get his obsession before." Muttered Sayaka.Z: "Pretty sure we all have obsessions like that." Looking out into the crowd. "Only most of the people here have it with other people."Re: "Coming from you."The first glimpse of Hannibal Chau was given.Sh: "So what gave it away he was the black market mastermind? Was it the gold plated snakeskin boots?"Kaj: "Trust me, only the top of the chain looks like that. Rest of them would be lucky to have a trenchcoat."E: "He would be pretty high up then. Considering this appears to be an organised operation as well."Ken: "He's probably done it for a while, now. Hell, we know he's done this for a while, as Pentecost is on the record as saying he deals with them for parts."Kaw: "That was why he sent Newt in the first place."Out of Phase (0:58:02)H: "I kinda expected there'd be some complaints about their sync."Ri: "Justified complaints. I'd probably make the same calls."KyoS: "Of course, we must consider that one, Mako has never synced before. And two, the last time Raleigh was in a Jaeger, his brother got killed."Y: "Which is the position that Pentecost appears to take. Which is also justified."A: "Although, Chuck still makes a few good points."Mi: "Rookies can still do alright. Hell, just look at Shinji."Sh: "Even though mum took over from me my first time in Unit-01."Y: "Only protecting you, hon."Re: "I don't think it's a good idea having Chuck and Raleigh in close proximity to one another."KyoC: "It's kinda obvious, though. He's had a stick in his ass about Raleigh this whole time."Kaj: "Though as Ritsuko said, you can kinda justify his complaints."Sa: "Course, it probably doesn't help he's kinda... obsessed with the Jaeger."A: "Kinda like how I used to be. To him, piloting is probably his life."Raleigh socked Chuck after a particularly unsavoury comment aimed at Mako.A: "Okay, now that was justified. You show that son of a bitch!"Re: "And this was why I thought it wasn't a good idea." Deadpan. "Boys."Kaw: "We can be like that."Z: "I'm like that as well. No one touches my darling."E: "I was programmed that way. Protecting my pilot and all that."The fighting was finally stopped by Hercules.Ma: "Y'know, I think all our shows has had fights stopped by someone in a higher position."KyoC: "Hell, even our show had a few fights between me and Sayaka stopped."Mi: "Course, it wouldn't help Pentecost's opinion on both of them. If they can let the testosterone get to their heads like that."Kaw: "I think it's instinctual at this point. Defending someone you like or love, not necessarily just a woman."A: "God knows it is to me." A longing gaze at Shinji.Kyoko-san whispered to Yui. "We sure raised them right, didn't we?"Y: "If you could call it raising."Mistake (1:00:00)Kaw: "Speaking of defending, Raleigh trying to bail Mako out."Ri: "Both of them had their issues during the sync test. But at least Raleigh had the training to get out of a RABIT. Mako didn't have that."E: "It might even take a while to learn such thing in the first place."Kaj: "But Pentecost has his reasons for grounding her. And he is the commander of the Hong Kong Shatterdome."Re: "Of course, he's not only grounding her for her inexperience."Mako's memory continued playing out.Revealing the fallen Kaiju.And a towering Jaeger, with Pentecost as one of its pilots.Z: "So he was a pilot."Sh: "It explains why he's so protective of her, at least."KyoC: "...After something like that, of course he'd be protective."Sa: "So they are related, in a way."KyoS: "I mean, I thought it obvious that if they were related, it'd be an adoptive relationship."Y: "He has his reasons for holding her back. One could justify it, actually. After what we've seen."H: "Of course, also like a commander, he doesn't let his emotions and past get in the way of doing his job."Mi: "That's what a commander does. You need to put aside things like that, the mission takes priority. And Pentecost knows that."A: "He kinda reminds me of Gendo, in some ways. With how cold he can be."Sh: "At least Pentecost loves Mako, in a way."Yui grimaced internally.Tapping (1:04:30)Zero Two simply shook her head as Raleigh explained the trauma of losing his brother.H: "Was that what you could feel as well?"Z: "...it was less fear and helplessness. It was more like them... slowing down. Fading, almost. Before the disconnect."Ri: "But that's one of the consequences you would have to deal with, in a dual sync system like this."KyoS: "You're letting someone tap into your mind. You need an insane amount of trust for that."A: "Especially knowing what goes on in our minds. Though, I have a few people I'd trust looking into me."Z: "Though he's right. It's the silence that gets to you."Sh: "Do you get that with Hiro, sometimes?"Z: "It helps that he's by my side almost all the time. But... sometimes I do miss having you in my head, darling."H: "Oddly enough, I do to. Can't really get much closer than that... Even with our little link."Y: "So your world's system was like the Jaeger, then."Z: "At least watching this, yeah. The way they sync up seems close."Ken: "So you're trying to implement dual sync in an Evangelion?"E: "The logic is there."Ma: "Actually, with two different materials showing something similar, that would be more evidence it's possible, right?"Kaj: "That or the universe decided to tease us with such a system."Double Event (1:06:10)H: "Well this is gonna be fun for the pilots."Re: "This would be the first double event ever."A: "Oh yeah, this will be fun. Remember Shinji when we faced Israfel?"Sh: "And how we got our asses handed to us?" In deadpan.E: "You have low hopes."Mi: "They've had no training against doubles. Hell, we only had to start handling groups once the MP-Eva attacked."Ken: "Standard battle maxims still apply. Pacify them fast."Ma: "Pretty much our strat for the MP-Evangelion."Ri: "Course, it helps they're weak as butter, if you know how to attack them."KyoS: "If you know."The Eva- Fra- Jaeger were deployed.KyoC: "...How the fuck can helicopters carry a Jaeger like that?"Kaw: "Considering the Evangelion require special planes to transport them."Z: "Hell, even the Franxx needed a heavy cargo jet for transport."Sa: "Well obviously, their world has helicopters capable of carrying thousands of tons of weight. And fair enough, they need like eight of them to carry a Jaeger."Temple (1:08:12)E: "I find it odd how that can be seen as a justification."Ri: "Well, when you don't have an explanation for the world, sometimes you need to have something to believe in. I think that's the purpose of religion."Kaw: "It's a common thought that that's the purpose of a belief like that. Of course, we can never really know for sure. The mind is an odd thing."KyoS: "We know, we have to study the damn thing."Kaj: "And even throughout all this Kaiju attack, they're still negotiating."Sh: "I'd think it odd the brains deteriorated that fast."Y: "I can see the logic behind it. Deprived of oxygen, a human brain's completely dead in 3 to 4 minutes. Odds are, the Kaiju brain is so massive that it dies off faster when lacking whatever fuels it, be it oxygen or anything else."A: "Not to mention the fact that, if I was a Jaeger pilot, I’d most likely aim for the brain myself. So even if it survived that long without oxygen, it would've probably been vaporised by the plasma cannon."Z: "So the Kaiju don't have a core? Cause with the Klaxosaur, as long as the core was intact, it could continue functioning."Mi: "Evidently not. Though the Angels had cores as well. In fact I know of a scenario where an attack failed to destroy the core, and the Angel very nearly killed us all."Re: "What consequences would Drifting with a Kaiju have? Hannibal seems to think there's some."Attack (1:10:02)Whatever answer Rei could've gotten was put on the back-burner, as Crimson Typhoon was attacked.Asuka and Kyoko-san especially watching on in curiosity, as they had associated said Jaeger with Unit-02. "So how are they gonna fuck up?"KyoS: "Oh be a bit more optimistic, frau Asuka. They have three people in there, surely they'll do alright."Sa: "I would think it was hard enough synchronising two people, let along three."Ri: "I mean, yeah. A tri-pilot system is completely insane. Unless your pilots were triplets, like the pilots of Crimson, or they were in some Ménage à trois."E: "Not to mention they have to be compatible in the first place. The odds of finding a group that meet that criteria are extremely low."The Evangelion pilots gave a glance to the Puella that suggested they could do such thing, but they kept it silent. "I think Crimson Typhoon is doing alright so far." Spoke Shinji.Crimson threw the Kaiju away, and now it was the Soviet's problem.And indeed it was a problem, as Cherno Alpha immediately started having problems dealing with it.H: "Oh great. They're gonna die."Z: "I mean, they might. There's always Stri-"Striker Eureka was ordered to hold its ground.Zero Two simply grumbled at the screen.Kaj: "Now you know how I feel when something I say gets disproved immediately."Of course, Striker Eureka though this was a stupid decision, and elected to ignore it.Which was good, because Crimson Typhoon was also experiencing problems with the Kaiju.Mi: "Y'know, I'd probably be a bit more caustic to their sortie if not for the fact they've had no experience with doubles."Y: "Though they still should've trained for such an even, I would think."Re: "We only started training for group events after SEELE's first incursion."Kaw: "Even then, the training NERV did have was sub-par. At least according to what I saw."To shreds, you say? (1:11:57)Course, that help came all too late for Crimson, as its head was consumed, pilots and all.A: "...God damn it, they didn't do anything." Indignant.KyoS: "...Okay, maybe your lack of optimism was justified. They did nothing."A: "This was exactly my anger during our show."E: "If an advanced unit like Crimson Typhoon fell that easily, Cherno Alpha's chances are minuscule. Especially given it might as well be a prototype model, like either Unit-00."Sh: "Either way, they'll try. What else could you do?"Cherno Alpha was also immediately put out of action, this time by acid."Mi: "Oh, so it's Matarael now." She muttered.Z: "We never had to deal with that strong an acid."H: "Most of the girls would've preferred that kind of acid. I still don't know why they reacted like they did."A: "Girls. That's all you need to know."This kind of discussion was put to an end, as Cherno Alpha began to be double teamed by the Kaiju.E: "Odds of failure: 100%."Sa: "They'd be lucky to get out of this alive at this rate."Kaw: "At the very least, Striker Eureka is able to fight back."E: "Their odds are low as well. One Jaeger against two of the strongest Kaiju they've seen? The odds of surviving this are approximately 3720 to 1."Y: "Of course you don't want them to know that."'Was that another Star Wars reference?''Million typewriters, million apes, et cetera.' "Not that their attack helped Cherno."Ken: "What a predicament the Marshal is in. He has Striker, which is required in his master plan, and Gipsy, whose only pilots he grounded."EMP (1:14:28)As if their situation couldn't get worse, one of the Kaiju set off an EMP.Ken: "That was a damn EMP."Kaj: "One of the problems of relying too much on electronics."Kaw: "Of course, if they had an AT-Field, an EMP wouldn't do much."KyoS: "So now what do they do? How do you even restart a Jaeger after it's been EMP'd?"E: "I doubt they even thought about that. Considering this is an evolution of the Kaiju."Sh: "And considering the power was also knocked out in the Shatterdome."Mi: "We've dealt with power cuts during battles before." A glare towards Kaji.A: "Well isn't that convenient for Gipsy Danger." Clenched teeth muttering, as if she was hanging a lampshade on how contrived it was.Ri: "I mean, the only digital aspects of a standard Evangelion are the Entry Plug systems. Hell, even the Magi aren't entirely digital; they're closer to analog if anything. It only needs to be properly digital if we're interfacing with other traditional computers or components."Ma: "Well, they are biocomputers. It's not like we run on an entirely digital state of mind."A: "And analog computers are a thing. It's just they've mostly been superseded by digital ones."H: "I find it odd, then, that they'd choose to implement such a design in Gipsy Danger."Sa: "If Gipsy was like that, then Cherno would've had that as well."KyoC: "Yeah, and look how well it went for them." Flat as the floor.And as the Kaiju approached the city of Hong Kong, they finally got an explanation why drifting with a Kaiju wasn't necessarily the greatest idea.Z: "Yeah, Hannibal has a point. Syncing like that works both ways."Re: "And if they're a hive mind..."Brief thoughts between the crowd reached the same conclusion. "He fucked up." Spoke Asuka.Godzilla (1:16:08)Y: "Oh, is this a Gojira film now?"KyoS: "It always was." In deadpan. "But now it’s more evident."A: "Nothing like seeing some big bastard tear up the place."Sh: "Honestly, that's all I remember the Toho films being about."Kaw: "It's why people watch them."Ri: "I'm sure that's a change for Newt, though. Having to bunker in a public shelter like that."A: "Yeah, they aren't that great. Though I think the Tokyo-3 ones had more space than that."The pilots of Striker Eureka decided to do something really stupid.E: "I think they plan on distracting the Kaiju."Z: "Not like there's much else you could do with a disabled Fr- Jaeger."Ma: "It'd keep it from the city, at least. For a bit."Ken: "The more time spent evacuating civilians, the higher chance less will die."They shot it in the eye with a flare gun.Sa: "Or, they just piss it off, as he said, and die."But like it was Jesus, Gipsy Danger came floating down in angelic light.Kaj: "We get it, movie." Muttering at the obvious symbolism of it all.Re: "Considering our show's symbolism."Kick Ass (1:18:53)They saw as Gipsy Danger went to town. "Must say, they're doing alright."Ri: "They definitely made more progress than before, Misato."A: "Was that before, or after they were thrown halfway across Hong Kong?"H: "I mean, they're still standing. It's more than what we can say about Crimson or Cherno."Gipsy Danger continued wrecking the Kaiju.KyoC: "Not only are they standing, they're completely destroying this Kaiju!"KyoS: "Skill would count, but I still don't see why Gipsy would be better than Crimson."E: "Maybe the tri-pilot system has more caveats than the dual pilot system."Z: "I mean, meshing two brains together is already hard. It's why our world fostered relations between specific pilots. Now when you add a third."Y: "We've already went through that, though. Of course, skill counts for something."Sh: "Even aptitude would."Ma: "It'd be the only way to explain why Gipsy Danger was doing so well."Not only was it doing well, it did better than any other Jaeger deployed, on account of having actually killed one of the Kaiju.Re: "This isn't victory just yet."Kaw: "There's still the other Kaiju, that Gipsy Danger will most likely have to face alone. Unless they can get Striker Eureka rebooted."Mi: "The way it sounds like, Striker won't be rebooted for hours."Shelter (1:22:36)Rumbling shook the shelter.E: "How ominous."Re: "Maybe the Kaiju will break through the roof of the shelter."Kaw: "It definitely has that tension building vibe to it, this scene."The thumping further confirmed his theory.A: "So why aren't the shelters deep in the Earth like ours?"Mi: "Well, for one, the presence of the Geofront helped shelters like that be possible."Ri: "Indeed, they probably couldn't build a shelter as deep as we tend to have them."Ken: "And why would he rat himself out as being the target?"Sh: "Well, if he's what they want, there's no use killing others for it."The Kaiju broke through.Ma: "I mean, if an Angel really wanted to, they could've gone through the shelters like butter. Zeruel did that in an alternate scenario."Sa: "So they're a placebo." Deadpan.Kaj: "Maybe against the Angels, but against MP-Evangelion they're more than enough. I would think."Z: "Do what our world did and make the whole city a shelter."Ri: "Our world doesn't have enough money to make even one plantation."Y: "Either way, Newt is damn lucky the Kaiju didn't immediately find and kill him."KyoS: "That would've been its plan. If they're a hive, then they know that he knows about their machinations."Battle (1:24:40)Gipsy Danger began attacking the other Kaiju.A: "Sometimes you have to use improvisation like that in battle."Sh: "I don't think we've ever used a tanker as a baseball bat though."H: "I don't think we ever had to improvise weapons like that, right Zero Two?"Zero Two shrugged. "We probably could've, but it's not like our battles even had much stuff we could've improvised with. And the only time we really fought in a city environment was that Super Lehmann, wasn't it darling?"Ri: "Even then, it was over when you two got your shit together."Z: "And we had our own weapon."Mi: "Though it is always... difficult to explain when things end up where they shouldn't be. Like tankers in a street."Ma: "I'm sure, at this point at least, the Jaeger program doesn't give a damn about collateral damage."Ken: "In this situation, any damaged caused by the Jaeger is alright, because it'll invariably be less than what the Kaiju would've caused had it been allowed to roam free."E: "This is the logic that goes into any battle. While one should generally try to cause as little collateral damage as possible, some is admissible."Sa: "Hell, Tokyo-3 was designed with that in mind, wasn't it? With the collapsible skyscrapers and that."Ri: "Indeed, that's less buildings that could be damaged in battle. It's quite effective in reducing battle costs."KyoS: "I still need to see that with my own eyes, now I'm out of Unit-02."Sh: "It's quite amazing, the first time you see it."Y: "Actually, have we ever seen that? Usually when we'd get deployed, it was always after the city was put into battle configuration."H: "...This city does that?"Kaj: "It's a pretty cool system."Pinpoint (1:25:45)The Kaiju broke through a skyscraper and caught Gipsy Danger by surprised.Ri: "This is also a reason why the collapsible city system is good. Gives the enemy less places to hide."Mi: "And it also ensures the only damage caused would be to NERV property, like storage lockers."Ma: "Most of Tokyo-3 is NERV property."E: "It would also reduce collateral. I find it hard to believe a Jaeger fist could tap a Newton's Cradle like that."A: "Eliza, that is what we call 'Hollywood magic'. They obviously put it in there for show."Z: "Especially with how sluggish and imprecise the Jaeger can be."Kaj: "Any mecha design would be impossible to have that precision."KyoS: "Indeed. They aren't exactly engineered for that kind of precision."Mi: "Well look at that, they're doing what you did with Sandalphon, Asuka."Asuka gave a small smirk, as the Kaiju limb shattered. "It works quite well, doesn't it?"Ken: "It's definitely a way of getting free of its grasp."H: "I don't even know if the Franxx had coolant."Y: "Logically, they would've had to, since they sound like our kinds of design."Wings (1:27:20)A: "Okay, that's bullshit."Kaw: "The Angels could do things like that. Hide something of them so it hits the quarry harder when it least expects."Ri: "It's a proper strategy. Wings would've been this Kaiju's trump card, after it had been damaged enough."A: "Yeah, I know. But it's still bullshit when it happens." Grumbling.Sa: "Either way, that's not helping Gipsy's case right now."KyoC: "Hell, they probably think it bullshit as well."Mi: "Just about anyone would. But it's things like that you have to be ready for. The Angels were unpredictable, just as the Kaiju can be."Sh: "Although I don't think we were dragged into the upper atmosphere."Shrugging. "Not that it would've mattered, the Plugs are atmospherically sealed. Hell, the plug was the least problematic thing about going to space."Z: "I think ours were as well. Though I'm not too certain, cause that Klaxosaur acid got in there."Ma: "Judging from how Goro was able to survive inside that Klaxosaur, I would think they were atmospherically sealed. The acid was just able to seep through."Y: "I would think the Jaeger were as well. Considering they can function in water."KyoS: "It's certainly possible they cycle oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of the cockpit, even if it were sealed. It's what the entry plug did after all, although it was more scrubbing carbon out of the carbon dioxide and recycling it th-"The conversation was halted when they saw Gipsy Danger bisect the Kaiju with a sword.Ken: "...Holy shit."Asuka had a grin to match Doomguy. "And this is why I like my axe."E: "Of course, the problem with killing the enemy holding you 60000 feet up, is that you're falling."Kaj: "They're even burning up. They must be falling at speed."Mi: "Obviously they're gonna survive this. After all the shit that happened, they better."A: "It's Hollywood, they aren't gonna kill them now."Gipsy Danger impacted in the middle of a stadium, and it lived.A: "Heh. Told ya so. Must say, that was kinda satisfying."Sh: "Course, you'd prefer to do it yourself, wouldn't ya?"Asuka poked her tongue at Shinji. "Of course I would. Buuuut watching it is alright too."Hero's welcome (1:30:41)Kaw: "Even their welcomes are more cacophonous than what were used to."Ri: "Fair enough, they beat the odds and killed two Kaiju single handedly."KyoC: "At this point, they damn deserve it."Sa: "They've proven themselves at this point, too. The Marshal would be very happy at this."Mi: "As any commander would be. They get to live another day."A: "Maybe that would teach Chuck a bit of respect for those two, then."Re: "Nothing like beating someone up to teach them respect." A glance to Kaworu.Kaw: "I know this quite well.”Kaj: "Pretty sure all the men here know it." He was equally sardonic.Sh: "And look at that, Pentecost even says he's proud of Mako. That never happened to me."Y: "I know, Shinji." Flat. "He has a point though. At this stage, you can't celebrate or even grieve. There'll be another attack."KyoS: "And based on how they've all been making it out, there'll be more Kaiju in less time."Ken: "The Marshal has a plan though. Hence why he wanted Striker Eureka out of the battle."Salvage (1:32:18)Mi: "Christ, they don't even have gloves."Ri: "They're black market salvagers, do you really expect them to follow OHS?"H: "Not like we had to take samples."Z: "Though it helped the Klaxosaurs often became rain once the core was gone."Kaj: "They obviously have some brains behind this. They're trying to preserve the sensitive parts, at least."A: "And they're trying to make their workers survive. Impressive."Y: "Indeed like any laparoscopic surgery. Except instead of using a probe, people are probes."Sh: "They should've probably expected the secondary brain be damaged."Another heartbeat became evident.Kaw: "Even the Kaiju's pregnant?"Re: "Odd, they're cloned tools yet they can reproduce."KyoC: "That just gives another Kaiju the chance to attack."Ri: "I'm pretty sure none of the Angels had reproductive organs."Kaw: "Reproduction goes against the general idea of the Fruit of Life. What use is reproducing if you will be, indefinitely?"Z: "And the Klaxosaurs never reproduced because they were weapons. It was only the Klaxo Sapien that could reproduce."Sa: "There's a Klaxo Sapien now, great."Hannibal decided to GTFO of there, as they witnessed the horrifying miracle of life.E: "Even as a newborn, the Kaiju can be deadly."Ma: "Well that's disgusting." She could hold her lunch for now.But this life, unfortunately or not, quickly came to an end.Rei shook her head, her Lilith side confused as to whether be disappointed at the waste of life or celebratory at it being a non-Lilith life. "...It choked on its own umbilical."Y: "...Brutal." While it was fictional and alien, it could still perturb any mother.Ri: "It probably wouldn't have survived long, anyway. It wouldn't have been to term. As Hannibal said, its lungs weren't formed."E: "And even this brief flash of life could've killed."Almost like Eliza was a prophet, the infant Kaiju came back from the dead and ate Hannibal.Eliza was just as confused as everyone else. "...Even after it apparently died."Z: "It's no big loss at this point." She was flippant about it. "He seemed kinda bad anyway."H: "This is why we're taught to make sure the enemy is dead. Otherwise something like that could happen."KyoC: "Well, now it should be dead. Unless it's doing this another time to get Newt."KyoS: "I wouldn't think it would. Unless this film wanted to parody itself." She muttered.Washroom (1:36:39)Ri: "Ah, so there is a consequence for running the Jaeger solo."Ma: "Course, they also mentioned radiation. I doubt that would do the pilots any good."Ken: "Maybe that's why they named the Russian Unit Cherno."Z: "Of course, running a dual system mecha solo causes that kind of stuff. I was practically insane when I ran Strelitzia solo."H: "Then again, it didn't cause permanent damage, did it?"Z: "It probably could've, in the long run. Maybe that's why they gave me Stamen to chew through."The bathroom terminal activated.KyoS: "Oh so they can do single diode holograms."A: "Not even mentioning they have holograms in what amounts to a bathroom."Ken: "But obviously there's a reason they have terminals in the bathroom. To inform the Marshal of exactly that."KyoC: "What, the fact that they're completely screwed? It must not have been even half a day between the last Kaiju battle and the new breach."Kaw: "But they're not going anywhere. Protecting the breach, as they say."A: "Only reason why it'd need protection was if something important was coming through."Re: "And even through all this, the scientists are still arguing."Sh: "They might as well have never stopped." He was flat.Ri: "Argument is a good way to get theorem across, of course we generally argue with writing, not shouting."Ma: "Maybe men do it differently." She shrugged. "Either way, it sounds like they'll finally bury the hatchet on whatever problems they have."Sa: "Like a Jaeger pilot, as... shit, what was his name again?"E: "Newton Geiszler is the one with glasses, Hermann Gottlieb is the one without."Sa: "They aren't really memorable, to me at least. And it doesn't help the subtitles are referring to Newton as Newt."A: "I mean, it's German. Always with the German names."KyoS: "I'm certainly used to it, Asuka."Scramble (1:39:22)KyoC: "And look at the war clock, three hours has elapsed since the last Kaiju attack."Z: "Okay, that's a bit insane, admittedly."H: "We could at least measure time between sorties in days."Chuck's co-pilot was revealed.Kaw: "Ah, so he is getting back in the saddle."Ri: "What other choice is there? Even if it kills him."A: "He's not gonna survive until the end of the film, right?"Ri: "Not a chance."Y: "...Not that it helps Mako."Sh: "...At least he's going on his own terms. And doing it to protect the world."H: "Kinda like us, wasn't it?"Sa: "And she'll get to protect him as well."KyoS: "They did mention a bomb. This… this is a suicide mission, isn't it?"E: "Chuck would know this as well. And his father."Mi: "Jesus. That would be rough on him."Ken: "And to think. It would've been both of them, had Hercules been uninjured."Pentecost gave his requisite inspirational speech to the gathered.A: "Admittedly, 'Cancelling the apocalypse' is an awesome phrase that I need to remember."Re: "Quite a shame we didn't know it during all the other apocalypses we cancelled."Mi: "We should have that as a counter, instead. 'Number of failed apocalypses' and 'Number of successful apocalypses'."Sh: "The ones we've seen in other material don't count, right?"Mi: "Why else do you think i'd include a successful apocalypses tally?"Father and Son (1:42:30)Z: "Marshal has a good strategy for Drifting. Less you drag in, the better you can mesh yourself."H: "Helps if you're syncing with someone you don't usually sync with. Though one of the pairs can still drag something up that throws you off."Kaw: "What happened during your sync with Ichigo, right?"Hiro gave a short nod. "I think it was both of us. She had her feelings for me, and I had mine for Zero Two, even back then."KyoC: "Was your friend really named strawberry? Who named her?"H: "I did."Kyoko-chan just looked at him bemused.Misato looked downward as the scene played, dejected and soft. "I knew this would be hard on Herc."Kaj: "You can see it in his eyes. He knows his son will, in all likelihood, not come back."Ken: "...There's not one great sadness, then the father losing a son."Ri: "Which is why we avoid suicide missions. Especially now."A: "...If it came down to it, if there was no other way-"Mi: "Then I'd find another way. Fuck that. I'm not deliberately sending my pilots to die."The old guard gave Misato their silent approval.E: "Even the most stoic of people could be bought low by such emotion."Ma: "...If anything, Herc's holding it together quite well."Re: "It's like him. It shows incredible strength and resolve to not buckle at such a thing."Y: "The kind of resolve you'd expect in a pilot."Deployment (1:44:23)As if to drive the point home, a majority of them grimaced at the nuclear symbol on Striker's back.H: "What's that symbol?"Ri: "Radioactivity. Such a particle is unstable naturally, and gives off energy as other, smaller particles or radiation until it decays into a stable form. But the key thing to get from this is, there's a lot of energy that can be released from a nuclear device."Z: "So… a high powered explosive."Kaw: "Think of it like the device you handled."If the Franxx pilots didn't understand the significance of that before, they sure as hell did now.But that was put to the wayside for now, as they witnessed the scientists attempt something insane.A: "Well that's convenient."Sh: "I'm pretty sure we're used to contrivances by now, Asuka."Re: "Considering you could classify us knowing about Rogue-00 as a contrivance."Sa: "So how is it not gonna work? They haven't told us."Kaj: "We don't get told a lot of things with these kinds of media."Ma: "Ah, so they aren't normally waterproofed."E: "They have the capability, though. Which would be quite handy, considering the Evangelion don't have the capability to operate underwater without special equipment."KyoS: "Consider the Evangelion was designed to work on dry land."Ri: "So that means they could've worked in high altitudes then."Y: "Hang on a minute, why aren't the sensors on the Jaeger fast enough to pick up the fast moving Kaiju, but the ones at the Shatterdome can?"Mi: "That doesn't even make sense. How could the Shatterdome know of the Kaiju without using the Jaeger's as proxies? Unless they have some monster satellites."KyoC: "Considering they know when Kaiju come through the breach, they probably can monitor something like that without a Jaeger. I'm guessing you guys couldn't?"Ri: "Not that deep in the ocean."Barcode (1:47:54)Sh: "So that's why it won't work."Mi: "It makes sense. Why would they allow non-Kaiju through? The whole point of whatever alien species is sending the Kaiju through is to take over Earth."Ri: "The Dirac doesn't have that kind of restriction, however."KyoS: "Odds are, these alien beings can manipulate the Dirac."Sa: "It also waves away why they couldn't just bomb it away."E: "Which is also what you could normally do with a Dirac Sea."A category 5 was declared, and out of the breach came a Kaiju that would make Zeruel blush.A: "It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it?"KyoC: "Most of our shows could be described like that, y'know."Z: "Well, it's gonna get worse before it gets better."Re: "Our show never got better."Y: "It's good then that this isn't our show."Kaw: "Knowing Hollywood films, they won't end it on a bad note."Sa: "What, do the Americans not like sad and bittersweet endings?"Re: "Not necessarily sad, but it's mainly the endings that fuck over the people in them."Kaj: "At least, that's the stereotype."Mi: "They stereotype us, we stereotype them."Ken: "If anything, they're more adverse to stereotyping anyone than we are."This sort of argument would've continued, had it not been for Gipsy Danger not being blindsided by a Kaiju.Final Fight (1:49:13)Y: "I'm amazed how fast they can move underwater."A: "Especially considering they probably aren't meant to fight with such pressure on them."Ri: "Well, considering they're meant to work on the surface, I'd say they needed to handle between 0 and 1 atmospheres of pressure without any additional hardware."KyoS: "At least the production model, it can handle up to 2 atmospheres of pressure. Of course, this is a moot point anyway, as they can't work underwater at all without the Type-C equipment."The two Jaegers were getting completely destroyed by the Kaiju.Ken: "Not that it helps those poor bastards."Sh: "I'm getting some deja vu here."Until Gipsy managed to split one head to toe.Asuka was grinning like a madwoman.Kaj: "Of course you're excited for that. Not like it killed it."Z: "Doesn't help Striker."E: "Not only are they under attack, their Jaeger has several issues with it now."Ka: "I'm guessing the armed nuclear warhead is one of them."KyoC: "So what will Pentecost do, then?"On her command, he explained.Much to the perturbation of the gathered. "So they're gonna go nuclear to get rid of the other Kaiju." Thought Kensuke.H: "...Which would leave Gipsy Danger to finish the job. As it uses the same energy source as the bomb."Re: "Of course, this means that Gipsy Danger might have to... sacrifice itself."Zero Two shared a few significant looks with her darling and Rei. "...If it's to... get the job done."Ri: "At this point, success is needed. Otherwise humanity is done."Ma: "...Do you think they'll actually kill them off?"Kaw: "It is Hollywood. But... then again. If they wanted it to be accurate to... our own shows."Yui could barely hide emotion, seeing Hercules' reaction, as the pilots of Striker Eureka made their decision.And like that, Striker Eureka was no more.Much to the mourning of the gathered. "...Til Valhalla."E: "Gipsy's critical. But... they have what they need now."Ken: "…They might have a chance, then."Once More Unto the Breach (1:54:31)Between the breach and the critical Gipsy Danger was the category 5.KyoS: "At this point, that won't stop them."Z: "Something like this would've made them more determined."H: "To make sure Striker's sacrifice wasn't in vain."Kaw: "This is more about survival at this point. They fail, humanity is done."Despite the determination of the category 5, it gave up the ghost soon enough.And then they were in.A: "Hell yeah."Re: "At this point, even if they do have to... sacrifice themselves. It wouldn't be in vain."E: "It wouldn't be a return trip. Would it?"H: "...Ours wasn't."Raleigh made his decision.Mi: "Of course he chooses to save her."Kaj: "He would. It's in his character."Ri: "Of course, maybe he could've used an extra helping hand."Ma: "How the hell does the self-destruct button break?"KyoS: "I mean, it's not exactly a core system. It's a method of last resort."Y: "Plus, Gipsy Danger's kinda in a bad way right now."E: "If I were to estimate, Gipsy is currently running at around 20% capacity."Nuclear Football (~1:57:00)Raleigh continued to struggle setting off the Jaeger.Sa: "It doesn't help the Jaeger seems to have no safety at all."Ri: "Safety takes a backseat when you're saving the world."KyoC: "Though it would really suck if he was blended now, without detonating it. Be kinda a shitty death, wouldn't it?"A: "If he died like that, I would've thrown this machine down the pyramid."Lucky for him, he merely delayed his death by setting the manual reactor override.Kaw: "Though they aren't in the breach anymore. They're in the realm of whatever progenitive race was sending the Kaiju."A: "I mean, it'd still work. And by the looks of it, he's deliberately making a show of it for them!"Ken: "Oh, so he actually does use an escape pod."Sa: "At this point, who knows if not only he'll escape the blast, if the breach will remain open long enough for him to get back."Mi: "Either way, lets watch the fireworks!"Collapse (1:59:06)Misato gave a small chuckle, at the carnage that was brought to the progenitors. "Fuck yeah."E: "I'm amazed how that worked. Then again, most of our plans don't appear to work."Ri: "Sometimes, Eliza, a plan is so insane that it will work."Ma: "Now all that's left to see is if Raleigh survives."Z: "Even if he… doesn't at this point. The war's won."The first pod came up.Ken: "Kinda expected her to survive. Of course Raleigh would do that."Y: "…No vitals on the second pod."KyoS: "He would have to be extremely lucky to have survived something like that."Kaw: "It was extremely lucky in the first place his pod even returned to Earth. He must've made it just before the breach closed up."A: "Though people can come out of Dirac Seas and live."Kaj: "Didn't he use up all his vitals anyway? I doubt there was much oxygen remaining."Z: "I doubt they can do any sort of resuscitation in those suits anyway."Ri: "That's one of the advantages of the plugsuits you two and our pilots wear. In case they've gone blue, you can immediately work on them."Sh: "So I'm guessing armour like that is out of the question?"Re: "We don't need armour. The Evangelion is our armour."Raleigh woke up from apparently having no pulse like it was a power nap.Y: "Now that's some power of love bullshit if I'd ever seen."Ri: "As they say, the sensors could've been shot. If he actually coded, he wouldn't have come back this easily."Sa: "He did. Mako couldn't find a pulse."Ma: "Maybe she did it wrong."Kaw: "It's all Hollywood, anyway. They like these kinds of endings."Marshal Hercules Hansen stopped the clock.Mi: "Now that's satisfying."Ri: "They finally ended their war. There's no longer a need for such clock."E: "No more Kaiju. It seems all the sacrifices were not in vain."Y: "Herc knows that. But... I imagine it'll still be hard on him."A: "Chuck, asshole he was, still died saving the world. It's like with Nine Alpha."Realisation washed over Zero Two. "...it is like him, isn't it?"KyoS: "It'll be hard on Mako as well. Pentecost was essentially her father."Sh: "It's a good thing she still has Raleigh then."(2:02:20)~~~ "Guillermo del Toro, what kind of name is that?""American. Mexican, maybe?" Kaji answered Kyoko-chan's query. "Either way, I don't think he did that bad a job. It's like a tribute to the classic mecha.""I mean, it's very obvious he Americanised this to shit, but overall I think it was alright." Coming from Asuka, that might as well be an A+."I don't think it built up the world as much as our show did, but then again, this was a movie." Spoke Kyoko-san. "So you'd expect them to cut a few corners.""A show of this would be interesting. But it's difficult to adapt a show to cinema, and vice versa. We can see this with our other movies.""And it's not like either of our material was Hollywood, either. It's all been Japanese." Rei thought, answering Kaworu. "...Actually, this is the first such Rift material that isn't Japanese in origin, is it?"The realisation hit Maya. "...It is? Why this of all things?"Hiro thought. "I mean, it's probably lucky we started with something like this. Since it's similar to our show.""Really similar, actually." Zero Two rolled on from her darling. "Almost like this would've been how Holly Wood made our show.""Hang on a minute, why do you all get mecha and we were stuck with a Mahou Shoujo?""Oh it wasn't that bad, Ken. Sure it traumatised the hell out of us, but as a Mahou Shoujo it was way better than the ones I saw.""Then again, Sayaka, the only one we've seen recently was Sailor Moon. And just about anything is better than that." Kyoko-chan deadpanned."Sailor Moon isn't that bad. I remember watching it when I was younger."Coming from Yui, that just proved Kyoko-chan's point, in her mind. "What's the time, anyway? This movie went on a bit, didn't it?"Around half a dozen people looked down at phones or at watches, but Eliza was the first to answer. "2210. The movie went for approximately two hours.""Getting on a bit, isn't it?""And the sequel will be just as long, if not longer."Sayaka and the other Puella looked between themselves. "I mean, we should get going. I don't think Ken's dad would appreciate us rocking up at 3 in the morning, even if it was on NERV business."Shrugging from the crowd. "You sure Kensuke here won't mind seeing another two hours of giant robots fighting whatever?""Now, normally I would." Kensuke gave a small glance to the puella, who were giving him an amorous look. "But these two are... convincing."Misato gave a chuckle. "Get going you scamps. See ya whenever!""See ya!"And they left the room."Are they always like that?" Once they left the room, Kyoko-san could begin prodding her daughter for information."You don't know the half of it, mama.""Although considering we're like that as well." Kaworu said, with Rei giving him the required light punch on the arm."Oh, we know that much." Yui gave a smirk and a small huff. "Teenagers."Then they came back. "Uhhh, do you know where the station is?"Ritsuko, rolling her eyes, answered. "Down the hall, take the elevator to G2, follow the signs to the tram, and take that to the station. Your passes will allow you on and it'll take you to the surface.""Thanks Doctor!"And they left the room. Again."...Next disc?"Ritsuko got up, and just before she was gonna kick the server stack, half the group shouted "STOP!"Rits would've muttered in an indignant fashion, but she could see with her own eyes that an after credits scene was playing out."Aww, he does survive." Asuka was rather indignant at the scene. "Worst film ever."Ritsuko kicked the stack, ejecting the disc. "Might wanna talk amongst yourselves for a minute."
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1. TrainThanks to Ritsuko's advice, it didn't take too long for the Puella to find the station. And for Sayaka and Kyoko to fall asleep on Kensuke's shoulders. Kensuke, too, had his eyelids beginning to droop, even with his mind working overtime with all the events of today. An apprenticeship at NERV, he still found it hard to believe. Of course, that kick ass Hollywood mecha was pretty sick as well. It was in this half sleepy state that he noticed something odd, underneath the seat in front of him. A small book, akin to a small novel. Checking to see if there was anyone else on the train (there wasn't), he used his foot to get the book closer to him, on account of him not wanting to wake the Puella. The cover was grey, with no other discernible markings on cover or spine. So he did what anyone would do, and began reading. ~~~ Asuka's patience was officially worn thin. "Okay, if there was one thing Kensuke could've done, it would've been making the machine faster." Ritsuko shrugged. "It hasn't crashed." "Or caught fire." Maya rolled on. "In all honesty, as long as it eventually works, it's fine. Considering what we're dealing with." "I'm assuming most computers aren't like this." "Those phones we had would've been better, darling." "I like how we're roasting the machine instead of the movie." "Kaji, the movie hasn't started, because of the machine." "We've been here for almost an hour. It better start working soon or I'm gonna fall asleep." On Zero Two's behest, the machine finally started playing the next disc. "Looks like it heard your plea." Remarked the elder candle, somewhat amused it was her complaint that seemingly pushed the Ultradisc player into working, and not anyone else's. "Now lets hope it continues working." Yui joined in with the roasting. "Oddly enough, once the machine got started, it never broke down during play." "Convenient, ain't it Kaworu?" Implied Asuka, through teeth. "Like the universe is giving us a break, for once." Shinji rolled eyes. "Shame it's during these things instead of when it would matter." "Maybe this is the start of our lucky streak." Rei spoke, stone cold, knowing full well she had just bought the wrath of Murphy onto themselves. "You realise Murphy will pay us a visit now?" To which she gave a small smirk.
2. Pacific Rim: Uprising Character Key: PILOTS: Shinji (S) Asuka (A) ANGELS: Rei (Re) Kaworu (Kaw) OVERSIGHT: Misato (Mi) Kaji (Kaj) ADMINISTRATORS: Ritsuko (Ri) Maya (Ma) Eliza (E) OLD GUARD: Yui (Y) Kyoko-san (Kyo) FRANXX: Hiro (H) Zero Two (Z) Planet (0:00:00) A: "Oh so now it's Universal doing the movie? What happened to Warner Brothers!?" Kaj: "Is this even a sequel, then? Or even from the same universe?" Kaw: "I would think, since it came with the first one. Then again, we have an example of our media coming from a different studio but the same person." Y: "Wait, there's another?" Ri: "Oh yeah, the theatrical. That's a wild ride." E: "How could another one starring you be worse than what already occurred?" Re: "They managed it." Shrugging. "I do believe this is a sequel. Legendary continues to work on this film." Born into War (0:00:51) S: "Yeah, join the club." H: "We were born because of war." E: "He sounds different to anyone in the first film." Kyo: "Well this will probably be our main character, then." A: "But who is this guy anyway? He wasn't mentioned in the-" Mi: "Patience, young Padawan. The movie would explain that, otherwise we wouldn't have any relation with the protagonist." Z: "So this is just a recap of the first movie, right? Why does it need recapping?" Kaw: "Well, with movies, there can be long spans of time in between sequels. And considering the timespan between these two movies must've been significant enough to warrant changing studios." Kaj: "We get a proper name for those alien things, at least. Precursors." Re: "I wonder where they took that name from." A not so hidden accusation. Ma: "What, you think the Laserdiscs ended up in Grillman's pocket?" E: "Did you mean Guillermo del Toro?" Ma: "American names are hard." A poor defence. Mi: "Hang on a minute, Pentecost had a son?" A: "Amazing, right? How on Earth did someone like him get in someone's pants?" Y: "And how on Earth did we not know about him last film?" Ten Years Later (0:01:46) Kaji was a mixture of disappointed and amused. "Good to see he's living up to his father's name." Mi: "How did that saying go? Hard times build hard men, hard men build good times, et cetera?" Kaw: "Something along those lines. Wartime builds character. For example, how the world boomed after both World War 1 and 2." E: "And it's reasonable to assume, with the time elapsed, the world would recover. I'm sure this world would recover to such an extent a decade after the end of the Angel war." A: "Not like the world even had to deal with the Angels that much." Y: "Of course, as young Pentecost said, some of the coastal cities would've never recovered." Kyo: "Lord knows that held true for this world." H: "So what, after the Kaiju were defeated and his papa died, he did nothing but party?" Ri: "I doubt he would just be partying. He has to fund this lavish lifestyle somehow." Ma: "And I doubt he's a Jaeger pilot with that discipline." S: "He has no discipline at all." Hustle (0:02:25) Kyo: "Oh so that's what he does. He trades priceless artefacts for corn syrup." Kaj: "Now I know American products are all made from corn syrup, " Misato clearly expected him to continue. "...And?" A: "Already this has more product placement than the Gottverdammt Theatrical movies. I don't think I've ever had any of the products he's traded for." E: "I don't get the value system. How would a car be worth a box of Sriracha? What is Sriracha anyway?" Mi: "It's a spicy Thai sauce. I used it with my curries all the time." S: "You must've used whole bottles of the stuff. Maybe you should ask him for that." H: "So they steal things, then trade it in for stuff with intrinsically lower value?" Kaji gave a huff. "When there's a lack of stability, some things become worth a lot more." Re: "I would probably value a car over hot sauce. I doubt Misato would trade in her Alpine for Sriracha." Mi: "It'd have to be a lot of it." Rei gave a disappointing look to her guardian, who merely poked her tongue. "At least a shipping container's worth." Y: "Not only stealing and trading regular consumer consumables. Jaeger technology." Ri: "Needless to say, that would not be allowed here. Any decommissioned Evangelion technology is immediately sent to Terminal." Z: "And not to a scrapyard? That was similar in my world, except the decommissions were rapid, unplanned and you could expect to get no salvage from it." Kaw: "I find it difficult to believe people could build their own Jaeger as well. Considering the immense resources required to build one, let along operate one." Ma: "They'd probably have to be minuscule in comparison. And in their world, where authority is maybe not as strong as our world." Kyo: "Still, I wouldn't leave decommissioned Jaeger technology in an open scrapyard." Salvaging (0:03:19) Re: "This isn't Jake Pentecost's first time stealing Jaeger technology." Asuka realised that the main character's name hasn't even been spoken. "Did you use your Nephilim powers to pick up on his name?" Re: "No, the subtitles named him." It was only then she read the subtitles, as she could get along fine with her base English skills, for now at least. "Ah. Still, why haven't they said his name yet?" One of the salvagers pulled a gun on him. Kaj: "Well if he's unlucky, we won't ever find out." Mi: "You dealt with that before?" Kaj: "Yes, which is why you always have a gun on yourself, when you're out doing these errands." Y: "Obviously it's not the first time Jake's been on the wrong end of a gun as well." Kyo: "With how the salvager makes it out, Jake deserved to be on the wrong end of a gun." Kaj: "Odd thing that. Most people don't like being cheated out of something promised. General principle's a wonderful thing." A: "Ah, so he's a rogue. Like Han Solo." Z: "Y'know we won't get the references you say." Shinji gave a wry smile. "Maybe we'll have to raid a video store." Mi: "He's not a good rogue." Kaw: "He probably would have a way out of a situation like this." Way Out (0:04:17) Asuka could hardly suppress amusement at how Murphy decided to shit on Jake. "Well he better enact that escape plan of his, otherwise he'll become a false protagonist." Jake was socked. Sh: "Great, not even... how far are we in?" E: "Not even five minutes." Sh: "Not even five minutes and he's dead." Shinji, thank God, was proven wrong when the salvagers proved incompetent enough to not kill him. Y: "How does the decommissioned Jaeger still have power? I would imagine the first thing out of a Jaeger would be what powers it." Kyo: "Wouldn't even be an issue if they didn't have nuclear reactors or Gottverdammt diesel." Ma: "Maybe keeping the systems powered prevents it from, oh I don't know, going nuclear." Z: "I mean, it seems inefficient keeping an unused system powered." Kaw: "I wouldn't be surprised if, after your sorties, the Franxx were drained of all magma." H: "No, they kept them fuelled. Never know when you had to sortie, so it was a case of better safe than sorry." Z: "Would've been a bit anticlimactic if we stole Strelitzia that one time, only to have it not have any fuel." Re: "You would've probably been dead as well. Like Jake will be if he doesn't escape." A trapdoor was pulled. Kaj: "Wait, hang on, why would a Jaeger system have trapdoors like that?" E: "That's not even my question at the moment. How are the internals of a Jaeger so spacious?" Ri: "I mean, space helps with fixing it. Not like the Evangelion has much space to move around in." Kyo: "Not like the Evangelion is that mechanical to begin with. I would expect there to be some living space in the Jaeger itself, if only to allow maintenance of it." Chase (0:06:29) Jake meanwhile attempted the classic Hollywood manoeuvre of jumping to a crane cable, and was aptly rewarded with a tumbling down that made most of the gathered grimace. Mi: "I would say this isn't Hollywood. But Universal is as Hollywood as you can get, really." E: "It's amazing how incompetent the guards guarding this scrapyard are." Kaj: "People can be sneaky. Though I wouldn't exactly call leaving on a dirt bike sneaky. You'd want to go in and out, like a shadow. So no evidence of your presence remains." Kaw: "Of course, a speedy getaway could be a good contingency." A: "This wasn't contingency, by the looks of it. They would've had to sneak that bike in to use it as a getaway vehicle." Kyo: "Either way, whoever stole whatever Jake was looking for, they're not that smart about it. If someone like Jake could track the damn thing." Sh: "If he could track it." Everyone got that implication, and most started giving a low laugh. "Oh this is gonna be fun." Ma: "Not for the people who stole it." Mi: "Yeah, but then again, they stole it!" Warehouse (0:07:00) This mystery thief eventually made it to a safe zone. Kaj: "Of course it's an old warehouse. Where else would people do business like that?" Ri: "Didn't you do warehouse runs?" Kaj: "It was mainly dilapidated houses. Where no one would go looking." Jake snuck in through an open window. Z: "I'm sure wherever you did your business, it was more secure than this." Kaj: "I see you're learning to be as wry as us." Kaw: "And he's still not being quiet about it. I am sure they would've heard rustling." Y: "And in a situation like this, I'd want to be as antsy and suspicious as possible." A: "Well, if you're doing illegal shit, not like the law will help you." As Jake looked around this person, who might've been yandere for the Jaeger, power relays activated. E: "Power usage can be monitored. I'm sure that would've blown their cover a long time ago." Kyo: "Since people can operate private Jaegers now, I wouldn't put it past them to bypass the grid somehow." S: "I'd say it wise to use your own power source. Because power usage on the scale of a Jaeger would surely be noticed by the utilities company." Ma: "If they even had utilities in the area. Considering how dilapidated that world continues to be in some places." The Jaeger came into view. H: "That's tiny!" Re: "It may be small, but it's still a Jaeger. You could do some serious harm with it." Eliza pondered. "Why would a private civilian need a Jaeger?" Mi: "They don't." Flat. "They're war machines. It's like a civilian owning a tank." Kyo: "Then again, this is America. They probably open carry rocket launchers and shit like that." Pacify (0:08:23) Kaji smirked. "Street smarts, general principle, whatever you want to call it. Jake has a lot of it." The identity of the masked thief was revealed, and immediately started throwing shade. Asuka and her mama both giggled. "For being a Fräulein, she did alright for herself." Kaj: "Alright? She damn well stole Jaeger tech from under the noses of the government! That's pretty damn impressive for someone her age." E: "That's all well and good, but did she have the smarts to disable the tracking of the part she stole? This is a rhetorical question, because we all know the answer." Ri: "And as Shinji said. If he could track it with what amounts to a GPS, then I'm certain Pan Pacific has the resources to track it." Y: "Especially since I'd call that part valuable enough to warrant tracking it down." Speaking of tracking it down, sirens. A: "Well, there's only one way they'd get out of there that isn't handcuffs or a body bag." Re: "The Jaeger." Ri: "How does a kid like her even build a Jaeger? That just baffles me how open source something like the Jaeger can get." Kyo: "She's intelligent. Shame she's applying it in a not so legal way." Ma: "Maybe the PPDC would have use for her." Z: "A single pilot Jaeger as well? I suppose it is small enough it wouldn't need another person to use it." Scrapper (0:09:46) The scrapyard Jaeger broke through the warehouse. S: "I doubt she's going back there anytime soon." H: "A regular Jaeger could step on it like it were an insect." Speaking of regular Jaeger, they ran into one. November Ajax. A: "Looks like size matters." Misato rolled her eyes. "They don't even reach its knee. You could probably run that Jaeger with a dog." Ri: "Now, the wise decision here would be to give up." Instead, Scrapper deployed the smoke grenades. The pilots and developers of Project E looked on. "Really? Do they not know that smoke doesn't do much?" Kyo: "Fair enough, smoke can work. Though with the sheer size of Ajax, the smoke would do nothing." E: "November Ajax wouldn't even have to run to keep up with Scrapper." Kaw: "Even the Jaeger is deadpanning at this situation." Ma: "The pilots of Ajax rightfully think they're doing it in vain. There's no chance they could square up with a full sized Jaeger." Kaj: "Hell, at this rate, Ajax might as well be toying with it. They could've ended it so many ways by now." Re: "Maybe they want them to survive. It's not like they've caused any grievous bodily harm." Y: "I doubt it even has weapons, other than countermeasures like the smoke bombs." Out Piloted (0:11:29) Mi: "No you didn't, kid." Kaj: "Doesn't have much tactical smarts, this kid." A: "Even with tactics, the full sized Jaeger is probably just that powerful you're essentially in check the whole time." Kyo: "Checkmate, even." One of non-redundant power cells was made redundant, stunning Ajax. Z: "He might have some smarts, though." Ri: "Course he would. He's a street rat; have smarts or die." Kaw: "Even though that was how he got in this situation in the first place." S: "That was actually kinda intelligent of him. We know how Jaeger react to EMP blasts." Y: "You'd think, after a decade, Jaeger of that time would have EMP resistance." E: "Or even just a way to quickly reboot from an EMP, unlike Striker Eureka." Re: "It may've been intelligent, but now they're running quite low on power." Kyo: "At least they aren't using diesel. Whatever this ion battery is, it seems effective." Ma: "Then again, maybe battery cells like that are only viable for the smaller ones. Else, it's nuclear or diesel." Ajax Spray 'n Wipe (0:12:26) They were knocked to the ground. Asuka chuckled. "It seems they have learnt from the mistakes of a decade ago." Y: "I thought so. They probably didn't even think about it until the Kaiju did it." Ajax lost its patience, and essentially tasered the scrapyard Jaeger. Much to the amusement of the gathered. Kyo: "Checkmate." Kaw: "It was always a question of when."Smash cut to a jail cell. E: "I imagine operating what amounts to an unregistered war machine would probably carry a hefty penalty." Ri: "You would think, but for any rogue Units, the priority isn't pilot recovery. It's disabling the Unit." H: "In a way, they're lucky to have been locked up. It would've been so easy for Ajax to crush them." Kaj: "And look at how friendly they're being to one another. Kinda reminds me of how Asuka was first like with Shinji." A: "At least they're starting to get somewhere along the lines of conversation." S: "Could she not rely on Pan Pacific to defend her? What use could a tiny Jaeger like that do against the Kaiju?" Ma: "Well, in war, anything counts. Actually, why are the Jaeger still being developed after the Kaiju are gone?" Re: "It would make an effective tool in peacekeeping, I imagine. Not many people would want to go up against a towering titan." Zero Two pointed at the screen. "They did. And it's obvious she has a reason for that paranoia." Misato chuckled. "You're starting to pick up on small details like that, Zero Two?" Z: "What can I say, I'm a quick learner." A toothy smile, similar to ones they would've seen in her own show. Interrogation (0:14:35) Kaj: "Must say, there's a lot more light in their interrogation room." Ri: "Kaji, your form of interrogation most likely involved waterboarding." Kaj: "In my defence, I never did the waterboarding. So uncivilised." Misato gave a judging look. "That doesn't help your case." Mako appeared. S: "Well. This is an awkward family reunion." A: "How convenient she happens to be the officer." Y: "I imagine she's probably high up in the hierarchy at this point. She has the experience and name for it." Z: "Wait, so this wasn't the first time he was caught in a rogue Jaeger?" Kyo: "Obviously not. And he's still looking for another chance from her." Re: "What an upstanding member of society." She lied. Kaw: "And she knows that. Which is why she is not only not giving him any more second chances, she's forcing him to re-enlist." E: "If he didn't, he'd probably face decades in prison." Ma: "He probably would've ended up there eventually, even if he wasn't caught in a rogue Unit." Moyulan (0:16:00) Kyo: "Still China?" Yui shrugged. "Least Japan's getting a break from having to deal with giant monsters." A: "Yeah, others deserve some of that fun." S: "What would you call this kind of hiring anyway?" Ri: "It's not exactly unheard of. I know some governments that hired on people who hacked their systems, cause if they could hack them, then surely they could do it to others. Hell, Kensuke was kinda like that for us." Ma: "Yeah, he has that kind of history with NERV, doesn't he?" Ri: "He's savvy. That's why we bugged his house, but I think he knows we did, cause the bugs stop working after a day or so." Re: "He did mention a debugging device. But he assumed you knew he knew of such a device." Ri: "Yes I did assume that. Though he knows by now not raise any red flags." Valor Omega just strolled past like it was on a Sunday walk. Kaw: "We still don't really know the full scale of the Jaeger, do we?" Kyo: "It'd be along the lines of the Evangelion. At least when you compare it to a building." Lambert (0:16:54) After Scrapper was unceremoniously dumped on the floor, Nate Lambert started to antagonise Jake. A: "Hey look, it's Chuck." Ri: "Fair enough, it is a military base. And he does have that name for himself." Ma: "At least Namani knows a bit about respect." E: "She reminds me of Kensuke Aida with her obsession with the Jaeger." Y: "Well, you don't get to building your own Jaeger without a bit of obsession." Amara helpfully pointed out the names of Titan Redeemer, Bracer Phoenix and Saber Athena, a fact which Asuka was all too happy to lampshade. "Thanks Mrs Exposition." Kaw: "It's similar to the first film, isn't it? I'd say they're trying to make parallels with Jake and Raleigh. Hell, they're even giving him Gipsy Avenger to pilot." Shinji rewinded in his mind. "Where is Raleigh?" Kaj: "I were him, I would've retired to some farm, far far away from any Shatterdome or even the entire Pacific ocean." Z: "After something like that, anyone would. I would've assumed Mako done the same." Shrugging from the commander. "Some people respond differently to events like that." Re: "From what it sounds, Jake was a cadet, once upon a time." H: "Did he quit?" Re: "I would assume so. I personally wouldn't quit piloting the Evangelion to take up a life of crime, but it's his life." Cadet (0:18:44) Asuka gave a single chuckle at the badass known as Renata. "I like her." Misato also gave a single chuckle at the discipline they showed. "Now that's something I rarely see." A: "Misato, when you start showing discipline, we will too." Kaj: "Then again, she only shows discipline when she needs to." Mi: "And if I'm showing discipline for once, you're sure as hell you need to as well." Of course, this discipline quickly evaporated as Ranger Lambert left. S: "So it's an academy?" Ri: "Sure looks like one. We don't even need an academy really; piloting an Evangelion requires that kind of specialised training that you can't even really streamline it." H: "Our training was streamlined like that." Z: "Then again, our society was kinda built around that sort of thing. Eh darling?" Ma: "Excluding Vik, they seem to be getting along with her, at least." E: "It's what you would want, in a situation like that." Y: "I'm sure it's the first sort of appreciation she even got for her skills." Kyo: "It's a rather audacious method of getting into an academy like this." A: "I'd liken it to getting into a university based on portfolio instead of education. Hell, it's how I got into my course at such a young age." Recollection (0:20:53) E: "I ponder what kind of memories Jake would have had here." Whatever Eliza could've pondered, it was promptly overwritten with an ongoing battle. Ritsuko came to an obvious conclusion. "This is a sim." Kyo: "I'm sure it would be easy enough to emulate the systems of a Jaeger, considering what we already know." Both Amara and Suresh failed. H: "Not like it helped them." Ri: "I imagine it's a change from her, having to mesh her brain with someone else." Mi: "Who knows if those two are even sync compatible with one another." A: "Though by the looks of it, it was mostly Amara dragging her partner down." Z: "Then again, she literally just arrived." S: "Also, I doubt she could make a strong connection like that." He felt some similarities with her. "At least judging on how her life appears." Yui grimaced internally. "Maybe she just needs to find the right person to sync with. Someone she trusts." Kaj: "It would take a while for someone like her to build trust in someone. She would've grown up not trusting people, which is the correct course of action when you're on the streets like she was." Fridge (0:22:38) A: "What is he wearing? It's like tartan Hawaiian." Mi: "Why is he raiding the fridge? Instead of, I don't know, training his recruits?" Ri: "I would've expected something like this. It's not like he has discipline." Kaw: "The cadets have more discipline than him." Kaj: "And Lambert's trying to put some sense into him." S: "As Jake chows down on ice cream." Z: "I think we established just how much he doesn't give a shit." As he kept pilling every topping under the sun. Ma: "He can't even make it a proper dessert, how disgusting." E: "This Drone program sounds suspiciously similar." Re: "Let me guess. These Jaeger Drones will go rogue somehow." Kyo: "Yeah, maybe they're the antagonists this time around, instead of the Kaiju." Ri: "Or, they could do what I did, and hack into them and ruin their image." Y: "I'm sure if they could've, they would've." Shao (0:25:03) Asuka gave a disdainful look. "Ah Christ, it's him." H: "A decade has passed. Maybe he's changed a bit." S: "Considering he's got a job in whatever Shao Industries does." Ri: "Not only a mere job, head of R&D for their company." Mi: "Once again, another bright mind lost to the private industry." Kaj: "Some of the stuff he did would throw his intelligence into question. But you can't really deny he knows a lot about Jaeger and Kaiju." Ma: "And at this point in time, there would be competition for the Jaeger. Not like the world can end at a moment's notice anymore." Kyo: "Yeah, now it's two moment’s notice." E: "I assume Newton Geiszler will be one of the antagonists this time around. Based mainly on the fact he is working for a competing corporation." Z: "You're probably right. It's different than the Kaiju, at least." Kaw: "Gotta have an antagonist in these stories. And since the Kaiju are gone, why not your fellow man?" Re: "It’s what ended up being our antagonist." Hiro gave a chuckle. "Our story ended up the opposite." Experiment (0:26:02) The two scientists continued expositing what the viewers already knew, before Hermann Gottlieb explained his own experiment. A: "Ah, so he invented rocket fuel from Kaiju blood." Kaw: "Must say, I wouldn't think to use Angel blood as rocket fuel." Ri: "No one else would either. Maybe Kaiju blood reacts violently to certain elements, but Angel blood is similar to our blood." Ma: "Plus, I wouldn't want to have explosive blood anyway." S: "Either way, Shao doesn't like them two interacting." E: "Maybe it's just her with the antagonistic machinations." Z: "It's still a bit early to tell though, isn't it?" Re: "I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't trust who was the antagonist." H: "Considering what happened on our world." Y: "She runs a tight ship, either way. Which, fair enough, something like Jaeger drones. I'm sure there'd be many people who'd want that piece of IP." Liwen Shao gave her keynote. S: "It does sound like an improvement on the Jaeger design." A: "Hell, it almost sounds like our design, except with it being remote." Kyo: "Can't wait to see them stuff it up." Her enthusiasm was non-existent. Ri: "Considering how the previous commander attempted a remote solution. That completely failed." Mi: "And got him chewed out by the Committee." E: "Mako has a point. Remote systems are intrinsically less secure. Jet Alone was a good example of this." Ri: "I'm sure they paid more mind to security with the Jaeger Drones." Ma: "My terminal is more secure than Jet Alone. Not even through my own action, through the default password policy." Z: "At the very least, Jake seems to be doing this out of the goodness in his heart. To help his sister." Kaj: "It'd be equal parts that, and to show up Lambert. As he said himself." Sydneyside (0:31:11) Fake news headlines scrolled, as the watch party were treated to rioting. Mi: "Good to see Australia again." Kaj: "Sydney doesn't even exist as it does here." A: "Good to see there's still riots. Why are they even rioting at this point, the Jaeger has proven itself to be good!" E: "One of the news marquees stated the existence of 'Kaiju worshippers'. I imagine they would be involved in one way or another." Kaw: "A fascinating thought process, but a seemingly logical one too. When your world is faced with what could be called gods, people would turn to them." Ri: "That's what we wanted to avoid during the Angel war." Z: "No one on our world believed in such thing." Kyo: "I wouldn't be surprised if people did worship the Angels, though. Especially if they weren't witnesses to it, like Japan was." Mi: "What an excellent use of taxpayer's money." Equal parts sardonic and disappointed at how the UN would probably not allow a display like that. S: "It'd keep the protesters quiet." E: "Again with that damn voice!" H: "It makes sense Jake would follow a RABIT. Would've been ages since he last sortied, he probably forgot how to deal with it." Re: "Though much like riding a bicycle or driving a car, you don't really forget." A: "Except we barely use bikes and never used cars." Z: "And I only first saw a car a week or so ago." Re: "A poor analogy, then." Thinking. "How about like piloting a giant robot?" A: "Now that's an analogy we can relate with." Fly (0:33:11) Every bird their side of Sydney Harbour quickly winged it to the Blue Mountains. Kaw: "Well. That's ominous." Kyo: "So who would it be? I doubt it'd be Kaiju." The Sydney Opera House was dwarfed by an orange and black Jaeger. Mi: "Oh now they have Rogue-00?" Re: "It has a similar colour scheme, admittedly." A: "I thought Rogue-00 looked more metallic than black." Ri: "We can discuss about similarities to real world things all we want, but that doesn't stop the fact this rogue Unit is wrecking shit." Y: "Maybe someone did this to make the Drone program look bad." She gave an accusatory glance to the head of Project E. S: "Well they're sure as hell making the Jaeger program look bad. Whoever's controlling it, they must have some insane resources to build something of that scale." E: "A rogue state, maybe? If laypeople could build their own Jaeger, it's certainly possible other nations could." The rogue Unit fired on artillery and jammed communications. A: "Well whoever made it, they know what they're doing." Z: "I'd say they know who was in that helicopter as well." Kaj: "Well, if they're going for the General Secretary of the PPDC, I would think they were holding Shao's interests. Cause she's the deciding factor between the Drone program happening and it not." Gipsy Avenger was fit to learn the proper meaning of a beatdown, which the rogue Unit was all too happy to give. H: "They aren't doing so hot." A: "Oh how could you tell, Hiro?" Y: "Maybe you're right, Kaji. Maybe it is working in Shao's interests." Kaj: "They would have the resources. And obviously whoever is piloting the rogue Unit, they have some serious training to not just go toe to toe with Avenger, but to best Avenger." Swordfight (0:35:51) A: "Speaking of training, dual wielding swords. Holy shit that's awesome and I wanna try that." Ri: "The problem with dual wielding anything, really, is that now you have to split your attention between two weapons." Kyo: "Plus, I'm not certain an Evangelion can dual wield weapons, at least the ones I drew up." Kaj: "Also dual wielding is mostly not practical, at least with firearms. Sure, The Matrix might show it as effective, but in reality you just can't get an accurate shot when the recoil keeps flailing your hand around." Sword fighting proving ineffective for Gipsy Avenger (and dangerous to Mako), they decided to activate the Gravity Gun. Shinji just looked on confused how such thing could even exist. "How does that even work?" Y: "At least back when I was studying, I saw some theorems on zero point energy possibly being utilised for heavy lifting." Ri: "Most of the methods of harnessing such energy have proven hoaxed, though." Kaw: "You could probably accomplish such things with our levels of energy output." Shrugging. "You probably could, but if we need some serious heavy lifting, we always have the Evangelion." Crash (0:36:47) The rogue Unit now distracted by the several dozens of cars that were pelted at it, Gipsy Avenger now paid mind to Mako's crashing helicopter. Re: "Must say, I wasn't expecting her to die." Z: "She's not even dead yet." Gipsy Avenger rolled a critical failure in catching her crashing helicopter, resulting in her being engulfed in a fireball and subsequently become very dead. Zero Two simply gave a vexed look at the screen. "Okay, now she's dead. Me and my big mouth." A: "And there goes one of the few links this sequel had to the first film." Re: "Gotta have some kind of tragedy in these films." Kyo: "But she was one of the main characters last film. It'd be like if-" She was about to make a comparison to her daughter, but then realised that might not be the greatest thing to compare to. No one decided to bring her up on that. Shinji meanwhile was commiserative. "I mean, they were siblings, in a way. Weren't they?" E: "He may not have had a good connection with his father, but it was evident he cared for Mako." Hiro thought. "...That's what happened with Raleigh, wasn't it?" Z: "Would've been even worse for him, darling. Sure, they were close. But their brains weren't meshed." Zero Two processed that thought for a bit longer. "Raleigh. What would he think about Mako dying?" Kyoko grimaced. "Though we don't even know if Raleigh is still around. Mako's never mentioned him." Misato sighed. "Maybe she joined him then." The rogue Unit, seeing the writing on the wall when three more Jaegers started coming in from the sky, decided to quickly get the fuck out. Kaj: "Now I'm certain it was to rid Mako." Memoriam (0:38:00) E: "There's the elder Pentecost. And the pilots of Cherno Alpha and Crimson Typhoon. Plus others I have no knowledge on." Kaw: "They would not have been the only ones to go." S: "And now she joins her adopted father." Shaking his head, as the junior Pentecost put down an old photo. "Poor guy." Kyo: "Something like this would either drive him further, or halt his drive. Like Raleigh before him." Ritsuko, while sympathetic, couldn't really put past how he went AWOL from the Jaeger. "He was lucky the rogue Unit decided to tuck tail, otherwise they would've joined her." Z: "That seems fair. Don't want to make yourself vulnerable in a situation like that." H: "Even if something like... that happened. You kinda have to put emotions to one side." A: "Sometimes you can't. I'd say Jake reacted appropriately, given the circumstances." Ma: "So now what? The vote for the Drones go through, right?" Kaj: "I would think so. She sounded like the only one opposed to such thing, and she had a deciding vote." Synch (0:38:46) Y: "Amara's still struggling with syncing with someone else." Ritsuko gave a questioning look towards the sync testing machine. "They use a brain." Kaj: "Makes you wonder whose brain." Ma: "I would hope it was like the Magi, i.e., a grown brain. And not one extracted from a human." S: "At least she's trying to give comfort." A: "Better than how we were in our own show, eh Shinji?" Mi: "You can't even really do much but offer commiserations. She would've been disconnected from it all." Z: "She wouldn't have had such a relationship with her either. I'm surprised Jake's still willing to help her after all that's happened." E: "I think he sees a lot of himself in her. Both are rogue, both rebel, both have similar attitudes to others around them." H: "I'm sure they'll get along just fine, then." Kyo: "It kinda makes sense someone like her wouldn't open up her mind to her partner. She sounds like she has a lot of things on it." Re: "Not even to a disconnected brain. She's scared what others might think of her memories." Kaw: "Like how many of us were. She's unable to open up and be herself due to those similar issues." A: "At this rate, you'd think it prerequisite to have trauma to be a Jaeger pilot, like us." They fell into the Drift. Despite a warning from the computer, they appeared to do alright. "It appears Amara just had to open herself up more." H: "I would've expected she follow a RA-" She followed a RABIT. Hiro simply grumbled, emulating his partner's previous vexed look at the screen. "What was that expression of annoyance you sometimes use, Kaworu?" Kaw: "...Oy?" H: "Yes. Oy." Memory (0:40:59) A: "I'm guessing Kaiju." S: "So like Mako?" Like the realisation had hit Asuka. "This is like Mako!" Accusatory. "What, they couldn't make an original story for the sequel so they just follow the same general plot?" Shrugging from Kaji. "If it ain't broke. Universal obviously thought as much." And right above the young Amara, Kaiju. E: "Indeed there are similarities to what happened with Mako. Even the time this occurred in the movie is similar." Like they were bugs, Amara's family was squashed flat. Bringing some rare silence to the group. Maya was the first to break it, with a sharp inhale. "If anything. Amara's story was more brutal, at least compared to how we saw Mako's." Kyo: "Jesu, no wonder she doesn't open herself up." Mi: "...She is very much like you guys. Isn't she?" Re: "She experienced mind breaking trauma." Kaj: "If anything, this wasn't the worst trauma she could've had." A significant look to all pilots, both Evangelion and Franxx. "I know you lot had to go through some shit." Zero Two gave a sad smile. "That sort of stuff is what makes us us, though. Eh, darling?" A nod. "...It certainly shaped Amara." A: "That's what that kind of stuff does." A glance to her mama. Message (0:42:45) Ri: "How convenient they were able to recover her last transmission." Ma: "Despite the comms being down." E: "Could've been in a buffer. Either way, it was recovered." Z: "So that's what they named the rogue Unit. Obsidian Fury." Kaji gave a huff. "An apt name." H: "They're more threatening than our Franxx, at least." A: "Hiro, your Franxx Units were named after flowers. That's probably the least threatening name you could give to a war machine." Yui gave a small smirk. "Were they at least threatening flowers?" A: "How can a flower be threatening?" Re: "Obviously Doctor Frank managed to make it so." Kyo: "Was that the one who made this Franxx?" Z: "Pretty much." Mi: "We kinda appropriated his design once we saw their show and realised it could work better than the core system." Ri: "Of course, we changed the name. He was... unpleasant." An eyebrow was raised by the computer administrator as Gottlieb went to work defragmenting this transmission. Ma: "Again with the unnecessary eye candy!" E: "Either way, he has skill. From only a few megabytes, he was able to decrypt..." Eliza was not able to place a finger on exactly what it was. "...Something." Kaw: "Could be Kaiju. It has the same sort of shape one would expect a Kaiju skull to be. Hence Jake's conclusion." Shanghai (0:43:40) S: "I'm sure if Hong Kong no longer existed, Shanghai wouldn't either." Kaj: "You'd think, but China essentially moved Shanghai a few kilometres inland and kept the name. Not even putting 'New' at the start of it." A: "So it's not the original Shanghai, just a continuation of it?" Kaj: "More or less. It was never really dissolved, as far as I know. Unlike Hong Kong." Z: "I would've thought Newt be more enthusiastic as well." Kaw: "Even if they weren't involved with Obsidian Fury, one would be suspicious at just how well it worked out for Shao Industries." Mi: "Hell, she even said it herself. This attack helped them." Y: "And now, without Mako's deciding vote, the Drones are free." Re: "To most likely wreak havoc. We don't exactly have a good reputation with remote control." Kyo: "Trust us, we know." Kyoko felt a bit offended, really, that the Dummy Plug could even exist. "Not like the Evangelion was designed with those Gottverdammt dummies in mind. Never liked syncing with it." Ri: "It would've been an effective solution to having to deploy teenagers against Angels." Ma: "If they worked." Maya would be lying if she said she didn't take pride in her gut feeling about the Dummy Plugs being correct. "Nothing like setting unreasonable deadlines." Ri: "Even if they're wildly unreasonable, we still have to meet them. Otherwise the world's ended." H: "Which is a good incentive to meet those deadlines." The camera zoomed out from Newton's station, revealing the true scale of their production. Mi: "It is MP-Evangelion!" A: "Great. There's no way this can go wrong." She deliberately invoked the chaos god Murphy, in hopes their grace would see fit to destroy each and every one of those MP-Jaeger. Honey I'm Home (0:45:27) Z: "He can't be too bad. If he can go home to a partner." E: "Depends on who this 'Alice' is." A: "I mean, I know it may be difficult to believe someone like him can get with someone, but consider even all three stooges are currently in relationships." Mi: "Hell, Kensuke managed to net both of those girls." Re: "I believe that was my doing." H: "Man you really are a love guru." 'Alice' was revealed. Ma: "Well that's disgusting." Rei thought it curious. "I wouldn't have recommended getting into a relationship with a Kaiju secondary brain." Y: "No one would." Stating the obvious. "It's like getting into a relationship with an Angel." Kaw: "I mean, we're doing alright for ourselves." Y: "Oh." Almost like she was Shinji, she closed off slightly. "Sorry." Kaworu handwaved it. "No biggie. To him, this is probably a vice. Like sex or drugs. Maybe it's his own way of unwinding." Kyo: "Of course, we also know that Kaiju are in a hive. If he's been doing this constantly, it's possible the rest of the Progeni- Precursors know what's going on in the human world after the breach was closed." Ri: "I would've thought, with the closing of the breach, any psychic hive connection any Kaiju brain on Earth would've had would've been severed." S: "What if he picked up some Kaiju... influences due to his constant syncs?" Kaj: "I wouldn't put something like that past as a side effect of meshing ones brain with someone else. Since you can, y'know, see inside their mind. You might pick up their small behavioural tics and other such unconscious actions." H: "I don't think we really adopted one another's tics, eh darling?" Zero Two first badly suppressed, then failing that, fell into uproarious laughter. Meanwhile Ritsuko thought. "Though that is an interesting discussion. Might have to look into that." Banter (0:46:48) Ritsuko made a horse like snort. "They really are cadets." E: "I assume the constant antagonism between Amara and Viktoria are a part of this 'banter'." Amara presumably called Viktoria an asshole, at least that's what everyone watching guessed it to be from her reaction. Eliza performed a quick translation. "Иди в жопу (Idi v zhopu). It may just be me, but I doubt saying 'kiss my ass' in her mother tongue would calm her down." Asuka put two and two together. "Oh that little bastard! He deliberately taught Amara wrong!" Kaj: "She didn't do that badly getting out of a headlock, at least." Mi: "Street smarts, as she said." Ranger on deck, and they immediately broke it off. Not without spitting venom, though. Kaw: "A wise teaching. When you're in a group like that, you would want to treat them like family." H: "They are, in a way. We were taught similar. Treat your piloting group like they were your closest friends." Zero Two introspected. "In a way, they were our only family. Weren't they?" H: "Yeah... though at least we have each other." Somewhere (0:48:32) Re: "This Siberian peninsula is obviously important enough to warrant Mako's virtual last words to point towards it." Kyo: "Decommissioned Jaeger facility. It's certainly possible Obsidian Fury could've come out of it." Kaj: "Ah, so it was the Russians who did it." Y: "Even though they have Russians in the ranks of the PPDC." S: "Obviously Jake seems to think there's something there." Ri: "I can see a rogue agent working out of a decommissioned facility. Which is why you quickly erase any trace of the facility if it's been decommissioned." E: "I'm sure NERV does that." Ma: "You'd be right." Kyo: "Even GEHIRN did. Fun fact, did you know there was a GEHIRN facility in Canada?" The pilots answered with a resounding no. Kyo: "Good! It worked!" They were transported to Severnaya Zemlya. E: "'Northern land'." Kaj: "They're very direct, the Russians." Re: "I don't recall ever working in snow. Then again, I don't recall ever seeing snow here." A: "You still get it when you're north. Germany had the occasional snow in winter, even with the climate fuckery Second Impact caused." Z: "I don't really remember much about when we fought in snow. Only... it wasn't that pleasant." An apologetic look towards Hiro. "For either of us." Incoming (0:49:44) Missiles flew, destroying the facility. Y: "Surely they would've gotten a bit more warning than that." H: "You'd be surprised." Kaj: "Blindsiding is a tried and tested tactic that holds true to this day." Kyo: "Hopefully they weren't planning to get anything from there." Ri: "I imagine anything of value would've been taken already. Unless whoever was piloting Obsidian Fury set up shop there." Ma: "Guess we'll never know now." Gipsy Avenger went for the legs. A: "Yet another tactic." And they fell through an ice canyon, as the chaotic battle continued. Z: "It's amazing how the ice hasn't simply collapsed under the weight of the Jaeger." Speaking of collapsed ice, Avenger decided to temporarily advance in the direction of down. S: "A water fight, maybe?" The fighting was only briefly relegated to the water, as Avenger decided to do a little blindsiding of its own. Kaw: "An interesting tactic. But one that worked, as Gipsy Danger now has a slight upper hand." E: "I doubt this upper hand will last long." Indeed it didn't, but they were matching blow for blow. Re: "It's going better than last fight, at least." The two pilots did their old move, causing a relatively shallow cut into Obsidian's belly. A: "I gotta remember that move." But eventually, after nearly losing, they were able to rip its power core like they were Kano from Mortal Kombat. Mi: "Call that revenge for Mako." Kaj: "And yet the pilots are still being obstina-" Kaiju (0:53:06) It wasn't a pilot, as a smash cut to Gottlieb explained. Kaw: "Well that's disconcerting." Y: "How did that get there?" Re: "It either came through a Rift, or it was grown." A: "How could you grow it? All the tissue samples would've been dead at this point." Z: "'Alice' was still around. Could've been cloned from that." Gottlieb's explanation essentially confirmed Zero Two's thoughts. Kaj: "A human work. Not Precursor." Kyo: "Let’s think about it, shall we. Who would most likely have the skill necessary to engineer a Kaiju brain like that?" Mi: "Not just that. Who has the incentive to put such thing in Obsidian Fury?" E: "It's Newton Geizsler and his company, is it not? He has both the skill and the incentive required to perform such a thing." Hiro raised his eyebrow. "Just why would he do such thing? The Kaiju want humans dead. Why would he help them?" Ma: "Obviously 'Alice' is quite convincing, ain't she? And good to see Amara is still flaunting authority." Good thing too, as they were able to get a look at the biomecha known as Obsidian Fury. Ri: "Biomechanical and regular mechanical. One would think the mixture of both would improve design." Kaw: "It's often the biological solutions that are more efficient. Amara states it to appear like muscle tissue." Kyo: "And considering what the Jaeger normally requires to run muscle strands, a biological solution would be an improvement. No wonder Gipsy Avenger struggled so hard with it!" Cutting into a wire, she immediately spilt corrosive chemicals over Jinhai's unprotected arm. Ri: "And this is why OHS exists." E: "I recall Hannibal Chau having better OHS than them." Dismissal (0:55:09) Mi: "Fair enough she gets locked up for that. They probably could've gotten seriously hurt." A: "Jinhai did get seriously hurt. That shit seems like Matarael drool!" It wasn't just locking up. Ri: "And fair enough she's immediately dismissed. I probably would've done the same if a cadet did something stupid like that." Ma: "At least you guys aren't stupid enough to do that." Re: "We ask for permission first." Pious. "Unlike Jake." Shinji noticed something. "That's almost like my initial purpose for piloting the Evangelion. To get closer with my father." A: "At least Jake volunteered, instead of his father forcing him." Another grimace from Yui. Kyo: "Though at least Jake eventually realised he missed out on something big with the elder Pentecost." Kaw: "Also explains why he wasn't mentioned in the first movie." Tongue in cheek. Y: "Still. He holds those feelings for Stacker. He wanted to impress him." S: "Yet he screwed it up and ended up disappointing him. A shame it was his father, he was not a bad person." Z: "Not like who I could call my father was that great as well." A look at Hiro. "Then again. If he never made me." Hiro simply gave a warm smile. E: "If we got anything out of this, it's further confirmation Shao Industries was behind Obsidian Fury. Leading further precedence towards either Geiszler or Shao Industries as a whole working in the interests of the Kaiju." Hiro simply shook his head. "I still don't understand that thought process. But considering how we were convinced the Klaxosaurs were the bad guys." Z: "Only this time, the Kaiju are the bad guys." Maya pursed her lips. "Of course, the evidence Amara gave to support that would be flimsy at best. How are they the only company to wind wire insulation in a certain way?" Investigation (0:57:53) Ri: "They may not have a bio-devision, but Jake is also right in that they're probably hiding it." Kyo: "Lord knows we do that. Seemingly less so nowadays, but especially back during GEHIRN." Kaj: "Though they're also, rightfully sceptical of Amara's evidence. You can't just link cable insulation to a certain company." A: "Plus it could've been stolen, like Amara's Jaeger." Kaw: "If that's the case, it could've been a classic false flag. If you could blame belligerent action on someone, and you seemingly have evidence to back it up, there's your casus belli." Z: "So someone could be trying to bring Shao Industries down?" Kaw: "We need more evidence to say for sure. Which is why they're sending Gottlieb." Mi: "Oh that's great. Get a friend to investigate another friend." Shinji gave a single chuckle. "Now, they say they raised security." Y: "Not like that'll stop Gottlieb from getting in there somehow." E: "So we get a 15 second glance at Shao Industries, then we're back to the Shatterdome?" Ma: "Still a significant scene." H: "Obviously they've all gotten more close to one another. Even Vik, somehow." Re: "I'm sure she didn't mean to say 'kiss my ass'. She wouldn't know Russian." A: "And whoever was the bastard that taught her that obviously wanted to see some conflict." S: "A simple misunderstanding. I'm sure after that they could just look back and laugh." Mi: "If I was them, I'd join forces in beating up the person who taught Amara that." Delivery (0:59:32) Asuka rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you know by now, Hiro and Zero Two, but we kinda have an unpleasant history with Mass Production Evangelion." Z: "Trust me, Misato showed me some past battles and simulations. They're weird." H: "And weak." S: "So you'd understand why we have no hopes this would go well." "Eeyup." They synced. Not even one second after they finished speaking, the MP-Jaeger began to malfunction. Pursed lips and judging eyes, as Asuka scanned the room and realised several people were emulating her. "Now, I'm not gonna say 'I told you so'." Ma: "Drones never work." Not only were the MP-Jaeger malfunctioning, they were mutating into Kaiju livery. Kyo: "Ah Gott. They put Kaiju brains in them." Ri: "So they're revolting?" Kaw: "More like they are Kaiju. I doubt this is what Shao wanted, however." E: "It's Newton." Speaking of Newton, Hermann found him. Y: "Yeah that would cause everyone to be a bit preoccupied." She dripped with sarcasm, as the MP-Jaeger ripped the head off a regular Jaeger. Z: "I must say, the friendly Jaeger aren't doing good at all." Mi: "Even though they were trained against Kaiju, they wouldn't have real world experience with them at all. Not unless they're some decade veteran." Kaj: "Not that it helps Amara." Re: "She's not dead yet. I imagine she gets into the Jaeger soon." Her PTSD put a stop to that, and put a stopper on Rei. Save the world (1:01:38) Mi: "Just like old times. Not like saving the world ever gets old." E: "Hermann's convinced it's Shao who did it. But I don't see any reason why Shao of all people would mutate their own Jaeger into what amounts to Kaiju, effectively sabotaging her life work." Ri: "The previous things, like killing Mako, sure. I can see Shao Industries doing them. But out of all the things they'd want to work perfectly, their own MP-Jaeger would be one of them." E: "It's Newton." Speaking of Newton, armed guards found him. S: "Obviously Shao thinks so." A: "Then again, who else could it be within Shao? He's the one developing all this." The MP-Jaeger continued wiping the floor with the regular Jaegers. Z: "Man they are useless." Kaw: "I am reminded of the previous movie, where despite having four Jaegers deployed against two Kaiju, three were destroyed or disabled." Kaj: "So that's another similar station this sequel follows? I thought a sequel was supposed to have differences in story." Ma: "I mean, it's different enough. Jake and Amara are quite different people compared to Raleigh and Mako." Re: "Not to mention their character dynamic. Raleigh and Mako were more like fire forged partners and friends, whereas Jake and Amara is more of a tutoring, maybe even a parental kind of relationship." Kaj: "Like Stacker Pentecost and Mako." Re: "Yes, like those tw-" Glass shattered. "It is like those two!" Muzak (1:02:37) Y: "Now that's an awkward elevator ride." Kaj: "It's always awkward when you're riding in one with your captors." Mi: "You speak from experience, I presume." As the muzak played, Newton and Hermann began wiping the floor with their captors. To a smirk from Kaji. "Though it never went that well." S: "Not that it helps him convince people he isn't insane." E: "Doesn't convince us either." Kyo: "Even though it sounds like you made up your mind already." E: "I'm a computer. I see the writing on the wall and I give you a quantifiable measurement at how fucked you are." Kyo: "I see you're learning from the pilots." Ri: "Of course he'd include a backdoor. Nothing like hidden security holes that anyone could exploit." S: "Surely if only he knew it." Ri: "Rule of thumb when it comes to encryption and security. If an authority has a backdoor to it, be it governments or organisations, then hackers can use that backdoor all the same." Breach Protocol (1:04:01) Newton began ending the world. Eliza decided to emulate Asuka, adopting her pursed lips and judging stare. "Now, I'm not gonna say 'I told you so'." S: "What did 'Alice' do to him?" Kyo: "Messed up his brain, obviously. If giving the world to the Kaiju seemed like a logical course of action." A: "What could the Precursors even give him? If they did end the world, they would just see him as outliving his usefulness." Kaw: "Maybe a sense of vengeance against a world that neglected him." Re: "Ignoring the fact the world didn't neglect him. If anything, he was one of the most powerful people in the world." Y: "Right now, it doesn't really matter why he's doing it. Just he needs to be stopped." Mi: "Even though media like a movie should tell us why he did what he did." Ritsuko thought up an explanation. "Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that alters the behaviour of mice and other rodents. These behavioural changes are to make them more vulnerable to cats, which just so happen to be where the toxoplasmosis like to grow." Ma: "So syncing with that Kaiju brain changed his own brain?" Ri: "I would think so. That actually gives a bit of credit to the theory that mesh syncing influences ones behaviour, based on your partner. Because there would be no way Newton could think like that without having been syncing with 'Alice' for what could quite possibly be a decade." Kaj: "If anything, he's being more effect than the Precursor's original plan. Multiple breaches, instead of one. There's no way humanity could tackle that many at once, especially if they decide to flood the world with Kaiju." H: "Unless they find a way to cut it off." Missiles were fired into the command centre. Mi: "Welp. There goes the chain of command." Ri: "Stupid command centre design anyway. Too vulnerable." Why (1:05:05) Ri: "And yet more evidence. But this isn't just adopting some behavioural tics from your partner." A: "It's schizophrenia at this point." Z: "One thing's for sure, we never got to this point." H: "I don't think anyone did." Ma: "Then again, were the long term effects of Franxx studied in depth?" Z: "Maya, 'long term' in our world is anything longer than a year." E: "We see long term effects of the Jaeger anyway. Stacker Pentecost experienced some of these." Kyo: "That was less the Drift and more the nuclear reactor running the damn thing." Kaj: "Of course, that's Drifting with humans. Two human brains. No one thought of the long term consequences of long term Drifting with a Kaiju brain. That absolute madman." Many of the gathered grimaced as Newton put Hermann in a chokehold, yelling about himself in third person. Ri: "They got in his head. He spent too long Drifting with that Kaiju brain. And since it's a hive, it was all but certain the Precursors would notice." A cut back to the action helped lift the crew from their depression. Shinji giving a dry smile. "Looks like she'll be piloting after all." But then it cut right back to Shao Industries. "Can the movie decide and stick with a scene for longer than ten seconds? My neck's gonna break if it keeps snapping between scenes like that!" Kaw: "I'm sure whoever directed this had a reason to do so." Y: "How disconnected was she to not noticed what Geiszler did? Even if their company was automated, she should've noticed something like this." Mi: "Odds are, she put way too much trust in him. Which was odd, because they always seemed a bit antagonistic towards one another." Z: "I'm guessing the gunshots clued you in on that." Cut back to the Shatterdome. A: "Damn it I have whiplash now!" Feedback Loop (1:07:34) Y: "Either way, now they have to shut it down without Newton's help." Kyo: "Or the world's ended." Ri: "Nothing like a bit of speed programming. As long as your time limit is not 0 or a negative number." Ma: "Of course, Hollywood programming is less tapping on a keyboard and more flashy visuals, isn't it?" Whatever visuals were flashed, Gottlieb managed to set off a feedback loop, causing the Kaiju brains to detonate. A: "Feedback grenade, really? Like that was some pre-established function in his little Palm Pilot." Ritsuko gave a single chuckle. "Feedback loop. I imagine something along the lines for a fork bomb. Either way, it overloaded the brain." Z: "Quite explosively." H: "It's also quite handy the breaches required constant energy input to sustain." S: "Not that it helps the bisected Kaiju." Kaj: "I doubt all of the potential Kaiju have been stopped." This time it was two seconds before things went wrong. Re: "This will not go well." Mi: "Ya don't say. Two category 4s and a category 5. This was exactly what came through at the end of the last film." A: "Yet another similarity to the last film!" Fuji (1:09:27) H: "So, they have one Jaeger. I'm also assuming the Kaiju will be going for them." Z: "The pilots they do have, are cadets." Y: "They're facing an enemy that they've most likely not even faced in a simulator." Kyo: "And Newton's still around, well in the pockets of the Precursors." Misato huffed. "It was never gonna be easy, of course." A: "I assume Amara's dishonourable discharge is gonna be completely forgotten about." Ri: "She's a pilot, and it's a battle situation. You can take certain liberties with doctrine if it results in the world continuing to exist at the end of the day." Kaw: "'Kicked back in', as Jake said. Actually, he would now be a commanding officer, since their command was destroyed." Gottlieb bought some help, in the form of Shao Industries. Kaj: "Well ain't that useful. Though I'm sure at this stage, Shao wants some serious vengeance for what Newton did to her Units." Re: "If she wants vengeance, they'll have to determine what the Kaiju are doing. Since they aren't just doing the standard 'wreak havoc on civilisation' we'd expect." E: "They're going somewhere, as they said. They're converging on Japan." Asuka took her chance to be brutal at this revelation. "Great, so now Japan's gonna be destroyed. Well it was fun while it lasted, but it all comes back here, doesn't it?" S: "Jake seems to think that. More of his street smarts, I assume?" Ma: "More like general smarts. He has his father's mind for tactics." All roads lead to Mt Fuji. E: "Well that's bad." Before anyone could question why Eliza thought it was bad, Gottlieb gave his explanation. Kaw: "An interesting plan. I imagine any Kaiju could've caused something like that." A: "So it's like us, where if any Angel made it to Adam they would've destroyed life?" Kaw: "Well, if it actually was Adam down in the basement." Z: "Wait, what do you have in the basement?" Ri: "And yet more unreasonable deadlines. But this time the world really is at stake." Montage (1:13:12) S: "It's quite handy how Kaiju blood just so happened to be a useful rocket fuel." Re: "It's the only reason why it was shown to be like that in the first place. 'If a gun is shown hanging on a wall in the first act, it must fire in the second'." A: "Maybe if Angel blood was that reactive, we would've had a better time getting to space." Ri: "I'm sure Kaworu doesn't want to become a blood bag." Kaw: "Either way, they did a good job getting themselves back into shape. Given the circumstances." E: "By the looks of it, I'd estimate it took them half a day." Mi: "Which is twelve hours the Kaiju have spent going to Mt Fuji." Kaj: "Given how fucked they were, I'd say twelve hours was good time." Z: "Four Jaegers as well. Better than one against three." Ma: "You always want odds stacked in your favour." H: "Someone must've informed the Klaxosaurs and VIRM about that fact." Re: "The Angels were definitely informed." Y: "So they are using the rookies. Not like there's anyone else." Kyo: "Now we can see if the young Pentecost has more of his dad's skill in speeches." They listened in on 'Stopping the Apocalypse 2: Stop Harder'. A: "Must say, he did alright for himself." S: "Probably not as good as his father. But then again he did disclaim himself." Kaw: "He may say he's not his father. But he is, in certain ways." Deployment (1:15:56) Z: "Four Jaegers is better than what the last movie had." Kyo: "Can't wait to see three Jaegers die." Ri: "Well, first they have to rocket themselves over to Mt Fuji." Ma: "With how explosive the Kaiju fuel sounds like, I wouldn't be surprised if a Jaeger was lost right here." Kaj: "Maybe in real life, but people at the cinema would feel a bit angered at that." Ignition. Mi: "Not even bothering with capsules, I like it." A: "They're more like jetpacks, in a way. Not proper rockets." E: "It's not entirely that far away as well. You could probably get away with going high atmospheric." H: "Maybe even suborbital, depending on the specs of the Jaeger." Kaji rolled his eyes as Ilya put on an old Soviet ditty. "There are other Soviet era songs they could've played." Ri: "It was either that or the theme to Tetris, knowing Hollywood." Havoc (1:17:50) Like they were Godzilla, the Kaiju were wreaking havoc on Tokyo. S: "This really is a Toho film now!" E: "Only a singular Tokyo." Ri: "Evidently, Old Tokyo was never bombed to hell." A: "A Kaiju isn't much better. They probably will have to make Tokyo-2 after this." The Jaeger's landed. Z: "Not if they have anything to say about it." And on Lambert's mark, they began the battle. Kyo: "Good to see the red Unit actually not immediately dying." Y: "They're doing pretty good so far, actually." Gipsy Avenger had its lights punched out by the category 5. Yui had a flat look. "Just as I say that." Ma: "Then again, a cat-5 is on a whole other scale to a cat-4." Kaw: "It's almost like the category 5 can absorb outside energy and use it against its enemy." S: "I don't recall an Angel being able to do that." Kaworu quickly ran through the list. "Leliel has the absorbing part." Asuka merely grumbled as the red Unit tumbled down. Meanwhile most of the administration of NERV gawked at Gipsy Avenger using the buildings as weapons. "I don't think that's within reasonable grounds for collateral damage. It isn't even working." Kaj: "Japan in this time wouldn't have had to deal with Angels." H: "I would think, if the alternative was everyone dying, any collateral is acceptable." Ri: "In this case, I would have to agree." Gunner (1:21:47) Viktoria started shooting Strikethorn. Mi: "Look at all those shells! That must be a million yen a bullet!" Ri: "Probably a waste of taxpayers money, knowing us at least." Guardian Bravo proceeded to help Saber Athena, thrusting the Kaiju through a building. Y: "I'd say they're getting cocky." Guardian Bravo then proceeded to show the Kaiju dual birds. Causing the pilots to crack up. "Man I should've done that to an MP-Eva." Ma: "I'm surprised you didn't, Asuka. Considering what else you guys tended to do." As the chaos continued, Newton watched the battle. Kyo: "Wonder what's up his sleeve." He played his hand. E: "An automated factory he took control of. They look like swarms of small drones." They saw as the Flood enveloped. Z: "He must've been working on this for ages. And all under the noses of everyone." And went around the Jaeger. Kaji thought. "Going for the Kaiju, maybe? What would they do to the Kaiju?" They didn't have to wait long to see what Newton's plan was, as a new Kaiju towered over the gathered Jaeger. Three become one. H: "Oy." Kaw: "So this was his plan. Combining and augmenting the available Kaiju into one ultimate Kaiju." Kyo: "How could he even develop that? He must've had some serious insight into Kaiju anatomy." A: "I mean, the Precursors could've told him anything. Hell, he could be a Precursor for all we know." Mi: "This isn't gonna end well." All Out (1:25:21) All four Jaeger threw themselves at this super-Kaiju. Which promptly absorbed all bullets and threw the energy right back at them, sending them all to the ground. Kaj: "They're boned." His pessimism was further cemented with how Guardian Bravo attempted to fight it. Key word attempted. Asuka was wry and dry, as they were shot through a building like they were an olympic shot-put. "You spin me right round baby, right round." Y: "They got cocky. At least Gipsy Avenger was trying to keep them in check." Z: "I'm sure Newton is very happy about all this." Guardian Bravo was revealed to be nothing but scrap. Asuka gave a commiserative look, shaking her head. "Looks like you're right." Ri: "...Another lesson on the importance of following orders in situations like this, it seems." Kaw: "Three left. If this Kaiju could so easily destroy a Jaeger like that, they'll have to be more careful." E: "If what the Kaiju wanted was to get to Mt Fuji, then nothing would stop it. It's programmed." Re: "Like Iruel before it." H: "They can't let this get to them, however. The Kaiju is still there." S: "The brains seem like a good place to start, at least." Ma: "A logical step." Second Attempt (1:28:00) A: "Well would you look at that, they managed to get one of the brains." Kyo: "Gipsy didn't help much." Y: "Still leaves the other two. And I'm sure the Kaiju can still operate with diminished secondary brains." Saber Athena immediately lost a leg, was stabbed through the chest and thrown several blocks away. Z: "Well. I think they're out." A: "At the very least, they did something." Ri: "It's just a leg. Though I doubt the power situation is any great." Mi: "Lets see how Bracer does." Bracer was snacked on. Misato, head resting on hand, had her face flat. "This is fine." It wasn't fine. S: "It all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling dowwwwwn." In song. "At least they ejected." E: "This leaves no Jaeger but Gipsy Avenger. If it still worked after it was tossed." Kaj: "And if it's not?" A: "What Shinji said." Regroup (1:29:51) Gipsy Avenger burst through a building. H: "The end of the world has been delayed by a minute." Kyo: "One Jaeger defeating such a Kaiju seems unreasonable, but then again, in the first film it was one Jaeger that ended it." But like before, it didn't do much before Lambert was injured and the Jaeger was tossed, for what must've been the 7th time today. A: "We need a stereo set up, so we can play Tumbling Down whenever the world gets close to ending." Kaj: "Or if it actually ends." Jake attempted to operate on his own. Z: "In our world, you might actually be able to do that." H: "In a situation like that, you probably would want to go stampede." Kaw: "It's a shame then, that it merely ends in your mind being ripped to shreds." It must've been through some miracle, then, that Gipsy Avenger caught a leaping Amara. Y: "I could see both of them doing that." E: "They can sync. But Gipsy Avenger is seriously damaged at this point." Ma: "It's operational. Which is more than what could be said of literally any other Jaeger that showed up today." Re: "Plus, we tend to do alright, operating half broken down Evangelion." A look to Shinji and Asuka. "If one's determined enough." They synced. And immediately fell down. A: "Well that sucked." Closing In (1:33:08) Ri: "Multiple system failures, enemy is two kilometres away from ending the world." A: "Is there any other way to fight?" Kaj: "Makes for interesting viewing, that's for sure." Jake revealed his plan. Kaw: "They seem to be making themselves an improvised missile." S: "After they used Amara's escape pod?" Ri: "He has one. I doubt he'll just abandon her like that." E: "Of course, it's all for naught if they can't get to the rocket." The hamster ball, piloted by Liwen Shao, made itself known. Mi: "How is she piloting it then? I thought she had no experience with piloting!" Y: "I mean, she did develop the Drones." And yeah, it was a drone. Ma: "Obviously she did a better job than we did in developing drones." Ri: "Though we can't even really compare it to the Dummy Plug. It's more remote operation. The Dummy Plug, while they could also do remote operations to an extent, was meant to be for full autonomy." Kyo: "And it's evident she does know her way around the Jaeger enough to put welding equipment on an unorthodox design." As soon as the rocket was welded on, it ignited. S: "I'm guessing this wasn't a choice during Crucifix." Ri: "I mean, if you wanted to die in a fiery explosion." A: "They aren't using it that well, that's for sure." Ma: "That's what Hawthorne said to me. If the rocket is pointing the wrong way, you're not going to space today." Skydive (1:35:59) E: "By the looks of it, they're experiencing several Gs of force." Ri: "Skydiving in a several thousand ton mecha would do that." Re: "Pretty sure you took great pains to minimise the G load on Unit-00 during Crucifix." Ri: "There's a reason why we use LCL." They used the recoil of the plasma cannon to realign themselves. Y: "At this point, OHS can go to hell." Mi: "That's generally what OHS does during a potential world ending situation." Kaj: "Course, it may be wise for them to eject sometime within the next minute or so. Unless they want to die in a fiery explosion." On Jake's behest, Amara ejected. A: "Of course he'd catch her." S: "I think we established at this point it's not that kind of movie." The last escape pod failed. S: "Okay, maybe it will be." H: "Not even the escape pod works?" Zero Two thought. "Well, they could sacrifice themselves like Striker Eureka did. But, I recall Scrapper still being attached." The crowd realised that they may not be dead yet. "That'd work. Not like they could do much else." A: "I like how they immediately went from accepting their demise, to begging Scrapper to hurry." Kaw: "I mean, if you had a choice. Most people would accept the 'continue living' option." Kaj: "No one's gonna continue living if this Jaeger misses the target." Kyo: "All the other Jaeger's are toast. They would've been dead anyway." Kaw: "But this is what humanity does. Even against all odds, they try." Gipsy Avenger collided with the Kaiju, detonating both parties and Scrapper being caught in the subsequent avalanche. Kaworu gave a smirk. "And that is why they won." But the Kaiju continued moving. This smirk quickly became a frown. "God damn it." Just as quick as it remained alive, it died. Evidently, having 80% of your body mass being turned into snarge on the mountainside by a Jaeger going supersonic isn't exactly healthy for ones continuity of life. The smirk returned. Plan B (1:38:55) E: "I feel good about Newton's plan being completely ruined." Kyo: "We call that satisfaction, Eliza." Ri: "Either way, he would have a plan B." Ma: "All the madman planners have plans B through ZZ." Kaw: "SEELE certainly had plans like that." Before he could really do much though, Lambert bitchslapped Newton to the ground. Asuka was very happy with this development, pointing derisively at the screen. "HA! Fuck you, Newt!" Kaj: "He wouldn't be able to enact said plans now. Man that was a good hit!" Re: "I would've said a punch would've suited Lambert better. But considering it's Newton, he probably thought he didn't deserveone." Amara and Jake decided to end the movie with a snowball fight. Y: "Y'know? This ending is a lot more lighthearted than the previous film. At least that had the bittersweet reunion between Raleigh and Mako." S: "It ended like the previous film. End of world prevented by slim margins." A: "And we don't finish our sorties with snowball fights. Hell, we don't even get snow." Z: "Looks like fun though." A final scene immediately followed the title card. Mi: "Now that's an obvious sequel hook if I'd ever seen one." Ri: "Not like a sequel to this came through a Rift, and Asuka please don't throw the player off the pyramid." A: "Nah I've already come to terms there wasn't another one. Though it is a bit annoying they left us on a cliffhanger like this. That we'll probably never see anytime soon." (1:41:00) "Not del Toro this time around?" Zero Two bemused. "Whoever this DeKnight is, I don't think he did as well as del Toro." Asuka admitted. "Even with del Toro's help producing. It seemed to follow the same standard plot points as the first film." "Most sequels do that, you realise." Mused Misato. "Maybe with the changing studios, Universal decided to play it safe, so to speak. A movie doesn't often jump between big studios unless something significant happened." "In a way, you can then explain many of the flaws in the movie with how, presumedly, rocky the development was. Even based on characters like Raleigh not returning at all." Kaworu extrapolated on from Rei. "It did seem to have the similar overall plot of the first Pacific Rim. Though I felt the characters were different enough that it wasn't entirely the same." "It's no Evangelion, that's for sure." Shinji concluded. "I've certainly seen worse." Kaji looked down at his watch, and gawked. "Man we've spent a while watching these flicks." Ritsuko looked at a terminal and concluded something similar. "Wouldn't be surprised if you lot wanted to hit the sack." "Even though it'll take us over an hour to get back to our own places." "Livin' in the Geofront has its perks, Misato." Beamed Maya, as she began tending to the Ultradisc player. "You're never too far away from home." "Though living elsewhere also has it's perks." Thought Kyoko. "Mainly being close to our offspring." "Oh yeah, Akagi, are our quarters moved to the apartment?" Nodding. "They moved your stuff in today. Misato has your keycards." "Speaking of which, we should probably make our leave." Spoke Misato. Something came to Ritsuko's mind. "Kaworu? We haven't reinstalled the Lance, have we?" "Not that I know of." "Can you quickly go do that?" "As long as you disable the securities." Quick typing on a terminal. "Done and done." A small smirk, as he glanced to the other pilots. "I know Rei would want to stay by me." "How're you gonna get back, then?" "I'm sure we could manage." Smiled Rei. "I guess we'll see you tomorrow." After the prerequisite farewells, the only remaining groups were the administrators and the Franxx pilots. "You two are free to go as well, you realise." "Actually, Akagi?" Zero Two suddenly grew reserved. "I... I wanted to know if those results have come back." It was only a matter of time. Hiding her grimacing, she replied. "I'll tell you in my office. Maya, Eliza? Can you handle the machine?" "Maybe, mama." "I like your confidence, Eliza." Maya was flat. "We'll be fine." And so the others left. "Even with Aida's improvements, seeing the code of this machine makes me physically ill." "...Say, Eliza? Why did the voice of Gipsy make you anxious?" "Odd, is it not? I thought it so. Something about that voice throws me off for some reason." "I mean, humans can be prone to irrational fear." Eliza tried processed that phrase. "Irrational fear." "Difficult to process, eh Eliza?" "...Yeah, ma." She gave an almost amused huff. "I still have a lot to learn about being human, don't I?" "You already are, Eliza." She messed Eliza's hair. "You already are."
3. bear"Okay, yeah, I can see why you had that look of shock painted on your face, Ken." Said look of shock was painted on the faces of both Kyoko and Sayaka, as they had just finished the sixth chapter of this strange book. A chapter that was... quite a bit personal. "I- thi- this is really private stuff." Meeked Sayaka. "It is. But this isn't what happened, is it?" Flipping through the book. "None of this happened. It's like this is an alternate reality. This is what the world would've been like had they won." They thought in silence. "You do realise we have to tell them." "I know, Sayaka." Looking back to the book. "Might be a good idea to finish reading it first, though. Who knows what else it covers." "I mean, should we?" They all glanced down to this strange book. The answer was quite obvious to all of them. Yes. ~~~ Sat down in her study was Hiro and Zero Two, a printout being held by the good doctor. "What's the damage doc?" Glancing down to the paper, she bit her lip. "I won't beat around the bush. You're infertile." Blunt. "I know that may be difficult to process, and I'm sincerely sorry." It took Zero Two a few seconds to process this, but she merely gave a somewhat disappointed sigh. "I kinda expected that, to be honest. It was like this back on my world, as well." "It seems Nephilim genetics works similarly on your world, in that case. With few exception, Nephilim cannot reproduce. Like many hybrids. It's a painfully simple matter of genetics." A small glance to Hiro. "...What about my darling?" Ritsuko gave a small sigh. "I would expect the same of you, Hiro. You're both Nephilim. One part human, one part something else. Unfortunately, that comes with a tradeoff." "...This is the same as Rei and Kaworu, right?" "Rei is the exception, due to the source of her Nephilim genetics. Kaworu was never tested. But... I would expect the same." The paper went down, followed by glasses, with a sigh. "Between us? I dread the day I have to tell him. I don't think Rei would take it well." They both spent a moment in silence. Ritsuko thought they could use some time alone. "I'll leave you two be." She left the room, cigarette in hand. A small, sad smile on Hiro. "Guess that means I don't have to use that protection anymore." Despite the seriousness of the situation, that small remark managed to get a laugh out of her. "So much for leaving our mark on this world, eh darling?" "Yeah... though there's other ways of leaving our mark." The smile continued, as he glanced to her. "I'm sure our friends knew this." Her hand drifted to his. "Yeah..." Nostalgic thoughts filled her mind. "Hey, darling? You think we'll get back there eventually, right?" "I know we will. 'One day for sure'." A hand gripped tighter. "But... they weren't there, were they?" Yet another piercing thought, that depressed him. "No. They... they weren't." "...I miss them too, darling." Reminiscence and wistfulness filled the room. "But... they would want us to live. No matter where we ended up." Another hand went to part the hair of her darling, his small horns revealed now the thick coverage was gone. Her forehead and horns touched his. "'One day for sure'. Eh darling?" "...One day for sure." A look into her eyes. "My love." And there they stayed for a small time. "Who knows. I didn't have my horns in that last scene. Maybe then we can... leave our mark." "And until then?" "We do what we decided to do. Live." ~~~ Makinami opened up the door to his office. He still expected there to be an open bottle of bourbon and Xanax on his desk, but there wasn't. A huff. "Claire." He gave a glance to his corkboard. All that work, all worthwhile. It was in his gazing at his life work that another one made their presence known. "...Spencer?" A sudden look behind him, and there she was. "You look like you had a rough day." He hid welling emotion under a smile. "It's not even nine." Emerald looked into brown. And she flung herself at him. "I- I'm glad you're back." After being briefly taken aback, he settled an arm around her. "I should've bought you with me." "...You couldn't have known." Tears in her eyes. "It- it took me, Spencer. The- the phones and lights stopped working then i... wasn't there anymore. i was... was-" "Shhh." Running his hand. "We defeated it. And SEELE." Eyes went wide. "Them too?" An affirm. "It's over." She gave a half sob, half chuckle, as she processed. "No more hiding ourselves, running from assassins, getting involved with the CIA?" "No more, Claire. Though you know how the game's like." Yet another half hearted chuckle. "Yeah." "Though... I had a lot to think about, while I was over in Japan." Looking into her eyes. "They... they found her body." A small gasp. "Mari?" "Yeah. I- I don't think it was her as I knew her. SEELE made her the pilot of that rogue Unit. Changed her." She could merely sigh. "...It would've given you closure, at least." "That and blowing up Mars to get rid of SEELE." Something clicked. "Was that why the sky's iridescent?" "Maybe." Yet another thing clicked. "What about your company's plans? I thought Mars was-" "That doesn't matter, right now. All that matters to me, right now, is right here." Click. "Spencer?" "I should'a told you earlier, Claire. When... when I thought I lost you, I- I wasn't sure what I'd do. You're... you've stuck with me through all this. and-" Through tears she chuckled. "You're not very good at this, are ya?" "No, not really." A smile. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is, I love you Claire." A brief pause, as she buried herself deeper in him. "...Y'know something, Spencer?" Quiet. "I wanted to tell you that for so long." Eye to eye, as he realised. "And why didn't you?" "...I thought you were... still longing for your wife. A- and I didn't want to appear insensitive or anything. But..." She gave a melancholic smile. "After what happened. I- i didn't want to die thinking about what could've been." Processing gave way to a few chuckles. "That's... that's what I was thinking as well." "We sure chose a great time to confess then." Spencer's chuckles continued, joined by her own giggling. "So. What happens now, Spen?" "Now? I- i don't know. I... I decided i'll quit the drink and Xanax. For your sake, mainly. You... were so patient with me." "I know that was just how you dealt with the pain. We all have things like that." "...I should've treated you better." She gave a smile. "Then again. I did that out of my love for you, didn't I?" They spent a few moments in silence, holding one another. "Maybe a change of scenery is what we could use. Start over somewhere." Claire thought. "That might be alright. We don't need to rush. I understand if you're still..." "It'll take a while. But... I think with you, I'll be fine." A glance up, and a smile. "Yeah. You'll be alright, Spen." ~~~ Heaven's door open, and Kaworu hovered in, soon becoming level with the . The Lance of Longinus was serenely floating behind him. "Greetings, progenitor of the Lilim." No reply. He chuckled in reply, the Lance perpendicular to her. "Not so talkative today? That's alright. It's pretty late anyway." "...ADAMITE."Before the Lance could pierce her, her booming voice stopped Kaworu. "I WISH TO HAVE CONGRESS."Now, when the progenitor of all life on Earth wants to talk to you, you damn well talk with them. So, Kaworu embedded the Lance in the ground in front of her, and took station on top. "What do you wish to discuss?" "...I HAVE FELT A DISTURBANCE. A FOREIGN PRESENCE IN MY DOMAIN. UNLIKE YOUR KIND."Kaworu kept his Angelic cool. "I felt something, too. Right before the conclusion of Operation Sovereign." "YES. I FIRST SENSED IT IN THE VICINITY OF THE FOURTH PLANET. THEY ARE A HIVE. FEASTING ON SOULS LIKE THEY WERE MERE SHRIMP." Loose material fell from the roof and impacted the LCL ocean below. Meanwhile Kaworu was working his mind. "There was a recent operation around the fourth planet. It resulted in the destruction of SEELE and of most of the planet." "INDEED. BUT THIS WAS NOT SEELE."Lilith could sense his field shift as he made a horrifying connection. "I might know who they are. Do you know of Hiro and Zero Two?" "THROUGH AYANAMI, YES. A CURIOUS CASE OF NEPHILIM. NOT OF ME OR ADAM. NOT OF THIS WORLD. THEY APPEAR HARMLESS, HOWEVER.""The way you described to me, progenitor of the Lilim, they sound like an entity known as VIRM." "VIRM. CURIOUS. HOW DID THEY GET TO MY DOMAIN FROM THEIRS?""I assume same as Hiro and Zero Two did, and SEELE could do. A Dirac Rift." "IT WAS SEELE THEN.""Most likely. It seems, in their desperation, they might have tried to do a metaphorical deal with the devil." "INDEED. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME SEELE ATTEMPTED SUCH THING. SUCH AS THE RECENT DEBACLE."Grim thoughts crossed Kaworu's mind. "What do we do now?" "THEY ARE OUT OF MY DOMAIN. I CANNOT SENSE THEM WITHIN THIS SOLAR SYSTEM.""I thought you're jurisdiction was limited to the base Earth?" "ONE TIME, IT WAS. MY CHILDREN ARE BRIGHT, HOWEVER. AND WHEREVER MY CHILDREN GO, I MAY FOLLOW.""Into space." "INDEED. EVEN FROM THE LOWEST MICROORGANISM ON WHAT MY CHILDREN CALLED THE VOYAGERS, I COULD SENSE THEIR PRESENCE. THEY ARE OUT OF MY DOMAIN. BUT I EXPECT THEM TO RETURN.""As they would. It's their modus operandi. The absorption of souls into themselves." "I WAS ABLE TO ATTACK THIS VIRM. HALF OF THEIR TOTAL BEING WAS DESTROYED, AND THE RESIDENT SOULS RELEASED.""That is what caused the lights in the sky, I presume." "THAT AND THE ACTIONS OF NERV ON THE FOURTH PLANET. THEY WERE RETURNING HOME, ADAMITE."Thinking. "What should we do now?" "BIDE OUR TIME. THEY ARE DAMAGED, BUT I EXPECT THEM TO REGROUP AND RETURN.""And we need to be ready by then." "YES. FOR I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP."A glance downward. "The Lance will reduce your ability to counteract them." "IT WILL ALSO REDUCE MY PRESENCE TO THEM. PREVENT ME FROM ACTING AS A BEACON TO THIS WORLD.""Well." Hovering off his perch, and lifting the Lance out of the ground. "This has been enlightening for me, progenitor of the Lilim. I will be sure to inform Rei about this." "INDEED. DO YOUR DUTY, ADAMITE."After a brief hesitation, he embedded the Lance within her, accompanied by a violent squishing noise and the beginnings of an LCL waterfall. And there was silence. Lilith decided there was nothing more to discuss about. He left. Lilith remained sentinel.
4. Sojourner We are beyond the scope of this being. A protector. We will not be able to subjugate the Earth as easily as last time. There is always a method. Indeed there would be. However, all the methods we have are on the scale of many centuries. And this being will most likely persist throughout. SEELE were our best bet. And yet they failed. Earth will not have us, it seems. Eventually, they will. In time. Indeed. What of this soul you recovered? Not unlike the manifest soul of this world. Damaged, or artificial. We can work with it? We can. This soul was observed, almost coddled. What is your name? SO- MA- A- A- A- A- This soul is damaged. It will need time before it will become useful to us. What of the protector? The protector may be bypassed with this soul. A remote vessel for our will. We must not be too hasty. That is what felled SEELE. And I expect humanity to be more wary of any subjugation. That will not be a problem. Even in our diminished state. They would bide their time for a while longer. ~~~ Zero Two looked out from the balcony of her Geofront board, up to the roof. She seemed almost drawn to a point, something faint in her mind. "Zero Two?" She gave a glance to her darling, as her train of thought was broken and forgotten about. "It's odd, isn't it? This Geofront." "Yeah. They did well to make it like the surface." "Even though you can't see the stars like this." A chuckle. "If you wanted to see the stars, I'm sure we could ask Misato about moving into those apartments." "I wouldn't mind that." Smiling. "It'd put us close to our new friends as well, wouldn't it?" "Yeah." They continued looking out, at the stillness that was the Geofront at this time in the morning. "Hey, darling? Do you wanna continue reading that book?" "I'd love to, Zero Two." She gave her classic toothy smile, as they retired to the room.