Chapter 2:
Urgent

 

THE GREAT BOW Azumaterasu had a sharp lower limb that allowed it to be driven into the earth while being held. But it also caused problems in Cage Two, because Super Eva had difficulty gripping it due to its height.

<<Lower the Azumaterasu’s stand by eighteen meters,>> instructed Chief Scientist Ibuki Maya from the control booth.

Shinji watched as the grip lowered to Super Eva’s shoulder height.

<<This is as compact as we can make it,>> Maya said, even though the recently excavated weapon still towered over Super Eva.

“I guess I can hold it if I have to, but…” Shinji knew the bow would be too big to carry around. Azumaterasu was as large as two Neyarl energy cannons.

“What if I just bring this part of it?”

<<The limbs aren’t ordinary frames.>>

Super Eva flexed his muscles as he began lifting the great bow. Shinji succeeded in pulling Azumaterasu out of its stand. He aimed it at the sky, exposed through the opening in Cage Two’s ceiling.

“…”

I needed my heart, a window to another dimension, to use the Neyarl guided cannon. I wonder if it’ll respond if I call on it again…

Shinji’s stolen heart was currently beating in the chest of Torwächter B.

Let’s not do that here.

Shinji doubted he could connect with his heart in a non-emergency situation. He returned Azumaterasu to its stand, letting his speculations remain.

<<Well?>> Maya asked with a hint of expectation.

“Well…if I’m being honest, just holding it gives me bad vibes…”

Maya wrinkled her eyebrows. <<And when did you become so flippant?>>

“I mean, my electrical systems got fried recently, and there was that time I had to fight for my life for way longer than was comfortable. It’s been one crazy thing after another.”

<<I can’t argue with you there…>>

Toji dashed into the cage. “All right, you two, it’s time to put away your toys!”

<<We’re not playing!>>

<<The Azumaterasu isn’t a toy!>>

Shinji and Maya shouted through Super Eva and the speakers of the command booth. Toji plugged his ears and ignored their complaints.

<<We’re launching Trois into orbit soon. The reactivation of Eva-0.0—>>

Should have been tomorrow. The change in plans startled Shinji, and he opened the hatch of his entry plug.

“Wait, what’s going on?”

Toji pointed to the floor. “A trip to the moon’s no walk in the park. I don’t think we’ll get a chance to investigate the thing below us if we don’t do it now.”