Chapter 7:
Reactivating Eva-0.0

 

SHINJI’S CHAIN OF CRAZY EVENTS continued. Eva-0.0, the Eva equipped with the powerful gamma-ray laser cannon, lay dormant at an altitude of 1600 kilometers. Its external, rear-mounted S2 Engine was in a state of hibernation. Like Angels, Evangelions usually self-destructed within a few hours in the event of a total system failure, but the engine hummed gently, indicating that it could still act as a power supply. Restarting would be a cinch.

Eva-0.0 was looking pretty good, all things considered, and that was including the slight damage to its satellite dish from a stray meteor. Trois quickly prepared for the plug insertion, despite Shinji’s insistence that they should do a more thorough check of the unit’s exterior.

“What if something like Bardiel got inside it?”

<<Highly unlikely, at least as far as Bardiel itself is concerned.>>

“How come?”

Rei Trois paused before elaborating. <<You’ve fought particular Angels multiple times over the course of this whole ordeal, but have you ever come across multiple copies at once? Angel Carriers aside, have you ever fought two Sachiels in one encounter?>>

Huh. Never thought of that before.

“I don’t think so…but I wonder why not. We know they can keep making copies of themselves…”

<<Suppose they were never copies… Suppose we’ve been fighting the same individual Angels this whole time. They probably need to die before they can be brought back. That’s how the world works. That’s why my existence is an anomaly.>>

“Don’t say that.”

<<I use the word in its technical sense, not to wallow in self-pity. Strange as I am, I still wish to understand myself. In any case, that’s why I don’t think Bardiel is here.>>

Shinji remembered the metal cylinder in his hands.

“It can’t come back, because it’s not really gone. It’s still a part of Toji’s shadow… Is that what you’re saying?”

<<Yes. A mere hypothesis, of course.>>

I wonder who she’s mimicking now.

“Sounds like a straight-up ghost story…” Shinji mused, though he understood her logic. If anything, humans were a bigger threat to Eva-0.0 than Angels. There had been multiple instances of the Eva being hit with large compression signals, though Nerv Japan could never figure out which country, or what machine, had produced them.

<<Resuming communications. Hakone to Super Eva, do you copy?>> Misato said through the comm link.

Eva-0.0 floated at an altitude of 1600 kilometers. Reaching it had been estimated to take a good 120 minutes, during which time Super Eva would be unable to establish contact with any of the available satellites. Seventy minutes was the blackout period for communication with Hakone.

<<You’re not inside yet? Hurry up! We don’t have time to lose. Or do you still need to say your goodbyes?>>

What is this woman’s problem? I swear…

<<I want you to run this new simulation software by the end of our next blackout period. Can you do that?>>

“Super Eva to Hakone, we’ll try. Trois?”

<<Cutting off Super Eva’s power supply to the plug. All prepped for insertion. Proceed, Ikari-kun.>>

The external power cable connecting the gamma-ray laser cannon to Eva-0.0 was disconnected before Shinji could insert the entry plug containing Trois. Misato reassured him as he hesitated over the next step.

<<Just like we planned, Shinji-kun.>>

“Copy that.”

Super Eva began to shift and reposition himself. He fired up his Vertex wings to stabilize his lower body, then removed the Powered 8 railgun from his shoulder pylon, loaded it with a twelve-round magazine, and aimed it at Eva-0.0…just in case the unit decided to go berserk. The seemingly docile S2 Engine on the Eva’s back had consumed Cinq, after all.

“Super Eva, ready to proceed.”

<<This is Hakone command. Monitors online.>>

Trois had been waiting for those words.

<<Initiating reactivation sequence of S2 Engine.>>

The external unit on Eva-0.0’s back began emitting a green glow.

<<This is Hakone command. Unit Zero has entered normal power levels.>>

<<Initiating S2 Engine.>>

The light glowed brighter and brighter.

<<This is Hakone command. Ignition power of Unit Zero has peaked. You are clear to reactivate.>>

<<Activating Evangelion Unit-0.0.>>

The Evangelion’s body stirred as it awakened from its sleep. Excess ignition power was converted into infrared rays, which were released by the S2 Engine’s blowoff valve.

Trois slowly stretched Eva-0.0’s arms and legs to loosen it from its long slumber and rebalance its center of gravity. The orange giant moved sluggishly.

Thirty seconds passed after reactivation. “This is Shinji. No anomalies at T plus thirty.”

Sixty seconds passed after reactivation. <<This is Hakone command. No anomalies at T plus sixty.>>

Trois took deep breaths in the flowing LCL as she listened to the low growl of the S2 Engine. Her entry plug was a new model, but she’d learn its quirks by simply breathing as the reactivation process continued.

“This is Six’s Eva… We’re going to find your master now. Before the storm rolls in.”

Just then, a huge chunk of the moon exploded, sending shock waves rippling through the nearby space.

 

Misato had replaced Toji and resumed her position as commander of Nerv Japan. At the battle of Novaya Zemlya, Asuka/Eva had gained the Torwächter designation when she was seen aiding the enemy. Consequently, her previous designation of A1 was changed to Torwächter A1. The commander of Nerv Japan had taken the brunt of the blame, but the UN Security Council’s hearing had to be postponed because of the moon rock emergency.

Misato sighed. She stretched in her seat as she watched the display.

“What’s wrong?” asked Fuyutsuki.

“It just feels like we’ve used up all our pieces.”

Every one of Nerv Japan’s Evas had been wounded. Some had turned to the enemy’s side, while others had been outright destroyed.

With the Eva-00 Type-F Allegorica missing, Super Eva was the only functional unit they had. The lone Eva-0.0 in orbit was in pristine condition. With that unit’s reactivation, Nerv Japan would finally run out of reserve Evangelions and reserve pilots.

“If all goes well, this is the last time we’ll need them.”

 

The work went smoothly, despite Super Eva almost getting lost in space three times. Eva-0.0 was resupplied, rearmed, and updated as best as it could have been.

Hyuga’s voice came over the intercom. <<This is Hakone command to Shinji. Return with Super Eva once four simulation runs come up green.>>

“Copy that.”

Super Eva’s eyes were locked on to the terrible engine on Eva-0.0’s back, waiting for the slightest anomaly to occur.

The giant moon rock kicked up massive sandstorms, obscuring its trajectory from observers. As it was, the gargantuan mass looked as if someone had taken a picture of the underside of a landslide.

It’s not safe to be here, especially by yourself.

A wave of conflicting emotions rushed through Shinji as the time to part with Trois crept closer.

<<I’m starting up, Ikari-kun.>>

With a blow of the reaction control system, Trois flipped Eva-0.0 upside down. Her head and shoulders usually faced the Earth, but tonight, they pointed to the stars.

The timer to Shinji’s return trip began counting down.

“Be seeing you,” Shinji said, accelerating away. The two giants were finally separating.

<<Thank you for keeping your promise, Ikari-kun.>>

“Promise…? You mean about finding a color? Wait, when did that happen?”

Eva-0.0 pointed to the round horizon of Earth under her parasol.

<<You gave me the color of the end of the sky and the beginning of the Earth.>>

But that was just an opinion…

“I don’t think that’s good enough to be a color that suits you. It needs to be more… You know.”

<<No. This is my color now.>>