Chapter 27:
Phase Shift

 

MISATO WAS THE FIRST to notice the anomaly in the noise. An enhanced image from Trois’ optical sensors was being displayed on the main screen of the command center. She discovered something that was Eva-sized, though not quite the size of Sahaquiel’s arms.

“Switch off the delay for motion compensation,” she ordered. It looked as if the giants on Yomotsu Hirasaka flickered in and out of existence. The effect was made by predictive image technology to compensate for the inherent delay caused by the distance the signal had to travel. Misato wanted to get rid of this effect.

“Ma’am, these images aren’t being processed,” Hyuga started, but then the screen displayed something that caused him to gasp. For a few long seconds, Yomotsu Hirasaka was an empty rock, but the giants returned almost as soon as they had disappeared.

Had there been some kind of technical difficulty? If so, what kind?

The command center ran tests on Trois and Eva-0.0’s mental statuses, since their vision was the source of the feed.

“All green,” Hyuga declared.

The actors on the stage of Yomotsu Hirasaka really had disappeared for a moment.

“Maybe there was a large-scale spatial shift?” Hyuga proposed.

“Then why are the giants the only ones affected by it?”

“Because of the phase differential from their A.T. Fields.”

“So, we’re seeing a spatial distortion…but not to the point of shifting polarities.”

The screen flickered again, and they saw the flock of birds that had been present throughout the entire drama of the moon rock. There was talk that the birds were flying to the moon, to set the stage for the next world. It was an odd interpretation, but birds had been known to possess strange powers, even on Earth.

“Would you laugh at me if I said that everything we’re seeing down here is exactly what’s happening up there?” Misato quietly asked Fuyutsuki.

“What are you talking about? It’s more than probable at this point,” he answered.

“Commander, Euro Sixth Army is requesting for support. It’s been approved by the UN Security Council,” Aoba announced through the multitude of transmissions. Misato didn’t bother hiding her contempt.

The transmission came through Eva-0.0, who was still in low orbit. General Hartmann, of the Euro Sixth Rapid Response Unit, had contacted Hakone through Nerv Germany, in hopes of collaborating on their next mission.

First, he requested that Nerv Japan return their loaned Q.R. Signum, now that Super Eva was gone.

Second, he offered to launch Euro Eva-II, Heurtebise, into space to accompany Eva-0.0. They’d developed a new weapon to deal with the leftover debris and wanted to set up an A.T. Field to protect the Earth from its evaporative effects. Azumaterasu had already razed half the planet, and they didn’t want to burn the remaining half. The general also offered to equip Trois with a parasol.

Eva-0.0’s A.T. Field couldn’t possibly cover the entire Earth, of course, but putting a shield over ground zero should significantly change their circumstances. The closer an object was to a light source, the larger the shadow it would cast over the things behind it. By that token, the closer an A.T. Field was to a radiation source, the more it could cover Earth.

Misato stared at the plan.

“And the closer Trois gets, the more dangerous it will be for her. What new weapon is he talking about anyway?”

“Probably a system to deal with Carriers and Evas if he’s asking for the Q.R. Signum back,” Aoba said. “The schematics look a lot like the Field Piercer.”

Fuyutsuki traced the console, which showed a simplified diagram of the new weapon.

“Code name Devil’s Backbone. Europe’s artificial Angel is fallen. Cocteau is turning in his grave…”

Fuyutsuki called for the intelligence division. Knowledge of Super Eva’s disappearance had leaked.

“Have all the personnel involved with Super Eva’s disappearance been staying at the facility? I want names for anyone who’s been in contact with the outside in the last two hours.”

“He sure sounds confident, though. Devil’s Backbone… Is he saying that thing is as strong as Azumaterasu?”