I know the idea of a New Bet went no where, but I had this little
gem sitting around. Such a fuku'd up idea deserves to be flung
upon the unsuspecting masses.
Disclaimer: The Bet and Toltiir both are concepts created by
Gregg Sharp. Hotaru Tomoe is a creation of Naoko Takeuchi. I
own the rights to neither Neon Genesis Evangelion, nor Pretty
Soldier Sailor Moon. I neither intend to demean the
aforementioned works, nor threaten the creators' livelihood.
Author's Note: The characters are OOC from their canonical
series, but they've have years to work on each other.
Chalangel Parts 1 & 2 - by Daniel Gibson
Part 1:
Rei Ayanami heard the voices as she regained consciousness.
"How is she?" came the Commanders voice, gruff but
concerned.
We all know what is coming, she thought, keeping silent so
she could listen, always listen, He does not dare show that he
cares, except to the 1st Children.
"She'll heal," female voice, amused, her friend, "I'll see
to that."
"The Angels have been spotted, I'll need you both," the
Commander told them, "And yes, Rei, I know you're listening."
I can practically see their smiles at that, she thought as
she crafted a smile her friend had taught her, I do not see how
it can be 'efficient', it is ambiguous in meaning.
"Are you prepared to go out alone? The 3rd Children will be
arriving shortly, we may need to delay the Angel."
I need not see her worry, Rei thought as she took her
sister-in-all-but-blood's hand.
"Commander I - "
"I said _delay_ not destroy," the Commander said warmly,
with a touch of his characteristic sharpness.
"Yes, Commander, that I can do," the voice said, relieved,
"Who did you send?"
"Katsuragi Misato."
I can feel her cringe, Rei thought as she opened her eyes,
and shut them as the brightness launch into her brain, sending
streamers of pain through it, It matches my own.
"Maya might have been a better choice," her friend chided
the Commander, "Drunk, Maya's a better driver than the Captain is
sober."
"Maya had more important duties."
"Yes, Commander."
Rei heard the footsteps receding.
"Ayanami-san."
She always begins her lectures with 'Ayanami-san', Rei
thought.
"Why do you keep doing this?"
"Because it gives you purpose," Rei replied without deceit.
Since the EVAs and their development, you would be shunted to the
sidelines, Rei thought, After all you have done, that is not
correct. Besides, I had little choice.
"You rest, they'll be calling you soon."
"Please." Rei knew she rarely used that word. "Please tell
Makoto-san, my injuries were not her fault. Had I been more
attentive "
"Mako-chan needs to remember that regular people are a lot
more fragile than she is," the voice told her gently.
Rei felt the kiss on her forehead.
"Get some sleep," she was told, "They'll be calling for you
in a hour or so."
"Two hours?" she asked, replaying an old joke.
"Okay, I think I can managed to keep it occupied for two
hours. Then we can go swimming, the lake will be warm."
Rei nodded, despite how much it hurt to do so. She let her
mind relax, let darkness wrap itself around her and sleep take
her. They have come, this time there will be no more deaths.
---------------------------------------------------------
The room's dark, she thought, Which neither surprises nor
hinders me. The door closed behind her, as the guard locked it.
The darkness was total, but she'd walked this path many times.
The smells of the place still confused her, but she continued.
No time like the present, she thought. "Mako-chan, Mako-chan,
Rei will be fine." She didn't expect an answer, she didn't get
one, so she continued, "She understands and doesn't blame you for
anything."
Change the subject! she told herself, She probably feels
badly enough as it is, something happier.
"She tried one of your recipes, made cookies for the whole
command staff. They were a little funny looking you know
Rei." She took a Rei-like pose, not too difficult for her, "
'The taste is the important thing', and they _were_ delicious."
Only the constant sound of heavy machinery and the drop of
liquid broke the silence. So I'll break it myself, she thought
with a trace of irony. "The Angels have returned," she said,
"You must have sensed them already, that's why you lost
control with Rei-chan. Just because she's quiet, that doesn't
mean she doesn't care the way you do, the way the others did.
She just wants to do it right, she knows that after Second
Impact, we can't afford the casualties and property damage that
used to be part of the battles you fought when you were her age.
You both want to end a battle quickly, she just doesn't want
anybody hurt like what you said in Antarctica. Just give her
a chance, and I'll sure you'll be fast friends."
She paused, wondering whether to add this, knowing Makoto's
tendencies. "We're getting another pilot, the commander's own
son." I can practically hear her drooling, she thought, "I think
he's going to be Yui's pilot. Don't sulk, please, we'll need
you." She smiled, listened, silence. "I've got to go and do my
job. Don't sulk, I'll leave some of the monster for you and
Rei." She turned and left.
---------------------------------------------------------
Shinji Ikari was not impressed. Great, I get stuck with
this oversexed weirdo, yeah, she'd pretty, but she can't drive,
he thought as grabbed on to something in the car and noted
Misato's disappointment that it wasn't her, Maybe she drives this
way on purpose, and what's with that attitude, what is she,
twelve? He sighed and centered himself. If this is my dad's
secretary, well she'd have to be, I know he doesn't employ her
for her brain. What other kind of weirdos has he surrounded
himself with? If he dragged me out here, for something stupid
and selfish, I'm _really_ going to be depressed. He stared out
the window at the U.N. forces battling the `angel` that had tried
to step on him.
"Uh, Misato-san, why did all the planes scatter like that?"
he asked.
"An S2 mine!" Misato shrieked and drove off the road, this
time on purpose. She drove the car into a ditch and released her
seatbelt.
"What's goin- !?" His question was smothered as Misato
threw herself on top of him. I know guys who'd want to do this,
but she stinks like brewery! A chili brewery! he thought as the
earth moved for both of them, as the car flipped end over end.
She likes it _really_ rough! Shinji thought worriedly.
---------------------------------------------------------
Gendo stared at the screen, temporarily blanked due to the
effect of the blast. Below him, on their level, the generals
were celebrating. He waited.
"We have her on a side-band Commander," Maya supplied.
"Patch her through to the main screen," he ordered.
The picture was shaky and grainy. Considering it is being
shot through a handheld camera, he thought with a touch of pride,
It's not bad.
The image showed the creature, badly injured, but basically
intact. Below him, the general's speculated and exclaimed, their
best attack had only scratched the surface.
"Commander," came the voice from the remote location, "I can
hit it again, but that might endanger Tokyo-3."
The Commander smiled, and hid it instantly. She plays her
role well, he thought as he stood up and looked down, both
literally and figuratively, at the generals. "Gentlemen?" he
asked, as they absorbed the sheer size of the blast crater.
"Very well, Ikari," the lead general said, "We leave it in
your hands." The sank out of sight, and out of his plans.
"Very well, Hotaru, return to base. Captain Katsuragi's car
should be nearby. Our new pilot might like to see a friendly
face."
"Yes, Commander." The transmission ended.
"Commander Fuyutsuki," he said as he stood, "Please take
care of this." He walked out of the command center. I should
make my `report` to them, he thought with a streak of real
malice.
------------------------------
Part 2:
Gendo walked into the most secret part of NERV. He looked
up at the figure `crucified` on the wall, the odd twin-pronged
polearm piercing its chest. The creature's seven eyes were
closed.
Gendo wasn't fooled, he knew he was being watched. "They
have returned," he told the figure hanging from the wall, "We
_will_ destroy them."
Several of the huge `eyes` opened, each revealing a girl's
or a woman's face.
"You can't do this! You can't keep us here!" the highest
one whined.
"After what you did in Antarctica?" Gendo scoffed, "You are
fortunate to even be alive. If the others ever found out what
you were planning, they would be down here in an instant, and
your deaths would not be pleasant."
"It was for the good of Mankind," a cooler voice from the
bottom-most of the seven `eyes` told him.
"You failed. Your plan to destroy us by ice failed, instead
we were scourged by fire. Half the population destroyed and it
rarely snows anywhere but the highest peaks. Crystal Tokyo
should have been sheltering the remnants of the population by
now. Its cornerstone lies under 600 meters of water."
"You bastard!" another voice told him.
"_I_ wasn't planning to sacrifice an innocent, little girl
to end the world and bring about my dreams. The pilots will know
the stakes and that they may be expected to die to save the
world. So which of us is the monster?"
"When we get free -"
"Wait!" another voice called, "Makoto . . . is she all
right?"
Gendo nodded. "She is . . . rougher than necessary. I
think once she has someone to look after, she will settle down."
"Thank you," the voice told him, and her `eye` closed.
"WAAH! Don't turn off the lights!" Two massive streams of
L.C.L. poured out of the topmost face's eyes.
(Hey this is workplace safe, I'm not going to follow the canon
sources on _that_ little tidbit!)
Gendo left, turning the lights off, then stepping back and
turning them on, then off again, crushing hope and increasing
L.C.L. production.
------------------------------
"Ready!" Misato ordered, "Heave!"
Shinji pulled until his feet slipped on the dirt. The car
remained on its side. Rocking it isn't the answer, Shinji
realized, With the angle of the ground, it's more likely to end
up on its roof. He looked up and saw a girl with black-purple
hair and violet eyes, leaning against some kind of polearm,
staring at him, smiling.
"You're willing to work, and Rei's right, you are pretty."
Shinji blushed at that, but eyes intent on how sharp the
polearm looked and how nice she looked in her leotard/skirt
combo. He kept his mouth shut. She's cute, he thought, Weird,
but cute.
She smiled at him again. he felt himself smiling back.
"Good, you can help me teach Rei to do that, her smile even
scares the Commander," she told him with a happy tone. She
focused on Misato, saluted. "The Angel is wounded, but it will
be ready to move soon. The Commander wants to deploy the EVAs."
"But Rei - " Misato began.
The girl pushed Misato's car back on its wheels with one
hand.
Definitely weird, Shinji thought, noting Misato's surprise,
but not amazement.
The girl smiled at him as she pulled his pack from the car.
"You need to visit Makoto before you go out." She leaned close.
"She isn't as scary as Captain Katsuragi's cooking."
"Come on Shinji, let's go," Misato said, trying to wipe the
dirt and debris from her dress.
"I'll take him back, he needs to meet Rei anyway."
Before either Shinji or Misato could protest, he vanished.
------------------------------
And rematerialized in a hospital room.
"GAAAHH! Wha - where - how?!" He focused on the mummy in
the bed who was watching him with red eyes, her blue hair peeking
out between the bandages.
"Here he is," the girl told the mummy, "And you were right,
Rei, he is yummy. You can take him out Saturday nights, I'll
take Sunday afternoons, we can share him the rest of the week."
"Is she alive in there?" Shinji stammered.
"Yes, thank you Hotaru," the girl in the bed said, "You
should show him."
"Rei, you are a spoilsport," the girl, Hotaru, said.
Suddenly the girl spun around in the middle of a light show too
bright to let him really see any of the good parts. Suddenly, a
girl in a school uniform more plain and less revealing stood
there. The huge polearm was gone, replaced by a thick, gold pen,
like some VIPs used. She smiled warmly and sat at the edge of
the bed, somehow avoiding all the wires and tubes going into the
mummy.
"I really rather stay the other way," she said, not as
bright or brash as she had been, "I've always been a bit frail,
so I prefer staying transformed."
"Wait! You and that other girl are the same?" Shinji
couldn't believe it. "There are . . . similarities, but . . . "
he stammered.
The transformation somehow makes her look different," the
mummy said in a tone that implied it was obvious.
Shinji nodded.
"Understand this," the dark-haired girl said softly, "That
thing outside was trying to kill you."
"I _know_ nobody could drive that bad by accident!" Shinji
said, smiled. The dark-haired girl smiled.
The mummy seemed to consider. "I believe driving by
accident _is_ the Captain's way."
"That's twice somebody called her 'Captain'. Is that her
uniform? And is she an army captain, or a navy captain?"
"Army, I think if you gave her command of a ship," the
dark-haired girl said, "She'd run it into something and blow it
up. I'm Tomoe Hotaru, by the way." She bowed. This is Ayanami
Rei, don't bow."
"Ikari Shinji." He returned the bow.
"We're the First Children, you're the Third Children."
"Why 'Children' and not 'Child'?"
"There's two of us, of course," Hotaru told him with a shy
grin.
Shinji blinked, trying to figure that out.
"_We_ are the First, then there were others," Rei told him,
as if that explained _everything_._
"Okay, is why am I the Third?"
"There is another," Rei intoned.
Thank you, Mummy Obvious, Shinji didn't say. "So why am I
here?"
"In the Beginning - "
"I think he meant at NERV, Rei-chan," Hotaru interrupted,
then whispered to Shinji, "Don't get her started on metaphysics:
talk, talk, talk, talk, she'll never shut up."
"Makoto," Rei said.
Gee, you two are as cryptic as my dad used to be. No wonder
he kept you two and sent me to live with his brother.
"Of course, but I have to show Shinji something," Hotaru
said and carefully unwrapped one of Rei's forearms, scrapes and a
huge bruise were the principle elements. Shinji hissed in
sympathetic pain. Hotaru touched two spots fairly free of scabs,
and concentrated. While Shinji watched the scabs fell off, the
bruise went from purple-black, to yellow, to gone. As Hotaru
sagged, he helped her sit on the edge of the bed.
"You didn't freak out," Hotaru said, smiling broadly.
"No," Shinji said, "I nearly got stomped by a giant monster,
was driven to `safety` by a hard-up drunk who thinks she's the
reincarnation of Dale Earnhart, then someone nuked the monster,
and you can heal bruises and scabs. No offense, but whoopee-do!"
"Let's take him to see Makoto," Hotaru said, "Shinji, I want
you to know, I'll watch out for you. You might get hurt, but
I'll make sure you recover."
"Oh . . . thanks."
------------------------------
Shinji pushed Rei's wheelchair in front of him, even then,
he had to stop occasionally as Hotaru tired easily. "You okay?"
"Sorry, healing takes a lot out of me," Hotaru explained,
then stood and started walking again. She signaled to the guards
to let them pass, which the guards did.
They stepped inside a large room and the doors closed behind
them, cutting off all the light. Ahead of him, dim lights were
eclipsed, then the sound of heavy doors opening.
"Hey, it's dark!" Shinji complained.
"Don't worry, it's straight ahead. I just want to warn you,
Makoto is kind of sensitive about how she looks. Just give her a
chance and she can be really friendly."
Hotaru led him onto a metal track as he pushed Rei's
wheelchair. Then the lights came on.
"Whoa! A face - it's a giant robot!" he shouted with shock,
but little fear.
The green and white robot sat in a huge pool, making it look
like it was resting in a hot spring.
"Ah . . . hello, Miss Makoto." He waved nervously to the
behemoth.
"She can't talk or move," Hotaru said with a laugh, "She
does hear you though."
"This is . . . "
"This is how we'll fight the enemy . . . , the Angels,"
Hotaru intoned, then she and Rei laughed maniacally.
Shinji took a backward step towards the door, then another .
. . and discovered the doors were locked behind him. Their
laughter changed from threatening to hilarious.
"You - should - _see_ - your - face!" Hotaru managed between
laughs, "It's not as bad as it sounds, or as we sounded. Rei
will pilot Makoto back you up. I'll be in the plug to explain
things as we go along."
"So why can't you do it?" Shinji exclaimed desperately.
"I can't synchronize with the EVAs," Hotaru said and
laughed, then grew serious, "Do you want the whole world to die?"
"I don't want _me_ to die!" Shinji shouted back.
"I showed you what would happen if you got hurt. You could
be a great hero . . . everyone singing your praises. Parades,
endorsement contracts. Pretty girls wanting your autograph."
Hotaru coughed. "And _other_ things."
"Ah, that stuff never really interested me," Shinji
admitted.
"Okay," Hotaru told him, "Pretty boys wanting - "
"_THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!_" Shinji shouted, his fists
clenching and unclenching.
"You would have no trouble obtaining violinists for a string
quartet," Rei offered.
"Where is this robot?! It can't be that bad." Shinji
marched through the bays, intent on embracing his destiny.
"Rei-chan," Hotaru said, "You _scare_ me sometimes."
------------------------------
Gendo threw down the papers and stomped on them in a fury.
While his mouth and mind shaped curses, silence reigned. I had
this wonderful speech to crush his spirit and turn him into a
whiney, pathetic brat. All for nothing! he thought, as he
continued his silent tantrum, Hotaru is loyal, but she _never_
lets me have any fun!
------------------------------
Misato ran onto the bridge. Commander Fuyutsuki and Ritsuko
were there also, overseeing Shinji's first sync test. "Why
didn't you wait for me?" Misato demanded.
"Because you're Mostly for fan-service," Fuyutsuki told her,
"So in a purely text medium, you're redundant."
When Misato picked herself off the deck, she glared at the
NERV deputy commander.
Dr. Akagi patted her on the shoulder. "We also need you for
comic relief. PenPen can't carry the full load."
Misato walked away, intent on doing violence to all of
Ritsuko's cigarettes.
------------------------------
Shinji looked at the two linked chairs. "We just sit in
there?" he asked.
"Then they load us aboard the entry plug." Hotaru pointed
at the golden tube beside the EVA.
"That looks like your pen," Shinji said, then noticed how
nervous Hotaru had suddenly gotten. "It's going to do something
weird, right?"
"Oh, no!" she assured him, "I've done it dozens of times.
I'm not weird, am I?" She pouted cutely.
"Ah, no, I guess not." Shinji thought, If this turns out to
be my dad's idea of a practical joke, I'm going to be really
depressed. He sat in the seat, with Hotaru in the seat behind
him. In the distance, Rei was being loaded aboard the other EVA.
------------------------------
Rei looked at all the error messages around her, indicating
a failure to sync with Unit 00 _again_. She frowned, really
frowned. "I see no point in this. It is not truly necessary."
The alarm warnings still glared at her from the surface of the
plug. She shook her head, admitting defeat. "Jupiter EVA Power
Make-up."
The glare of synchronization momentarily blinded Rei. As
the light faded, Rei looked at her nails. Of course they are
painted green, from past experience, I have lip gloss and eye
shadow of a similar color. "With my complexion," Rei said, as
Unit 00 started out of its cradle to the launch tubes. "Green is
not appropriate, it makes me look more cadaverous." Rei had the
feeling the comment was falling on deaf ears.
Change tactics, she thought. "I'll never get a boyfriend if
I look too cadaverous."
There was another synchronization flash. When it faded, Rei
noted her nails were flat jet black with a different green
planetary symbol on each of them. I do not want to know what my
face looks like, she thought as she reached the launch tube.
------------------------------
"We're almost in," Hotaru told Shinji as she at behind him
in the entry plug, "Then we'll take Yu - Unit 01 out after Rei in
Unit 00."
"Don't we need uniforms or something?" Shinji asked
nervously.
"It's taken care of," Hotaru reassured him, smiling at the
back of his head and praying she wouldn't start giggling. Now we
find out how open-minded he is. Kensuke was such a prude about
it. It's why we purified his thoughts and tossed him out of the
program.
The plug was released and rotating to seat itself.
"_Super_EVA_Power!_"
The flash of synchronization filled the tube as they spun.
"What was - AUGH!" Shinji screamed, "What happened to my
clothes?!"
Dr. Akagi's face appeared on a screen. "The bows and skirt
are standard to the uniform."
"And the stiletto-heeled boots?" Shinji asked uneasily.
"Stiletto . . . how long are the heels?"
"I don't know - twenty - twenty-five centimeters."
------------------------------
Gendo watched Ritsuko wipe the drool off her chin.
"How high do the boots go. Don't be embarrassed. It's all
for - science."
Scientific, like the peanut butter and those ropes? The
only thing scientific about this, is how much drool until you
short out the Magi, Gendo thought, as he summoned a janitor.
"Mid thigh, black leather, no, zipper."
"Thank you, Shinji."
"Hey! What about all the bows and - stuff?"
"The uniforms were originally designed for girls.
Confidence is very important in winning a war. The uniforms were
meant to inspire confidence. Akagi out." Ritsuko cut the
connection.
"Mid thigh with 9 inch heels!" Maya said lustily, then she
and Ritsuko embraced and did a happy-dance.
So much for who to place Shinji with, Gendo thought.
"No true man would ever wear such provocative and effeminate
- " the fat, balding bridge officer managed, before being kicked
repeatedly in places he was never hit in his original series.
Gendo was glad to see his requirement of steel-toed shoes
for all NERV employees was paying off.
Misato wandered in, wrapped in one of Ritsuko's lab coats,
one elbow missing, bits of Misato's torn dress could be be seen
as she clutched the coat closed. Bits of badly scratched Misato
could also be seen. She glared hatefully at Ritsuko. "I _hate_
you," she told the scientist hatefully.
Thought so, Gendo considered.
"Tried to go after my cigarettes, didn't you?" Ritsuko
teased, then turned her back on the Operations Commander.
"So," Hotaru could be heard over the bridge speakers, "If
you didn't want to be a pilot, what did you want to be?"
"A butler actually," Shinji replied, "I'm happiest cleaning
up, cooking meals, washing and ironing, that kind of thing."
Gendo considered, Perhaps I should rethink -
"No!" Ritsuko shouted, "He's mine!"
"Your place is spotless! Mine's a pigsty," Misato screamed
back.
Gendo looked over the bridge and down at the catfight.
"You'll be getting Kaji soon!" Ritsuko shouted as Misato
pulled her hair, "The last one was so afraid of cats we had to
put him to sleep before I could unpack my toys!"
Gendo shuddered at that. I thought about seducing her after
her mother's funeral . . . but that room! The feathers and the
ropes I could understand, but the engine lathe and the live
alligator seemed - a bit much! "Professor, clear things up." He
told his hapless assistant, then looked around.
"I need help reorganizing my notes!" Fuyutsuki announced
from within the fight, then screeched in pain and crawled away.
Gendo glanced down. Ah, two gorgeous women in a half-naked
catfight, it's so sad this is just a text-only medium. This
really deserves full-color, full-page spreads! he thought while
he fumed, and Misato shrieked, Oh, Ritsuko-sensei! That's mean,
I'm glad I don't have one of those! I wouldn't want mine bitten.
I guess Misato _isn't_ the tactical genius we thought she was.
------------------------------
Shinji pointed at the screen, while he pinched his nose
closed so not to fill the L.C.L. with blood. "Do they always do
that?" he asked Hotaru.
"Uh, not outside the budget meetings," Hotaru replied.
"There's the Angel," Shinji said, to distract himself from
the scene in NERV command, "What do I do?"
A green and white blur slammed into the Angel. Unit 00 tore
the Angel's arms off and proceeded to tear the Angel into little
pieces, scattering them over the city.
"Uh, does she always fight that way?" Shinji asked,
beginning to have _serious_ doubts about this job and these
people.
"Not that I've seen," Hotaru said.
A screen with Rei's picture on it appeared. Shinji _heard_
Hotaru blink.
"Oh. Rei-chan . . . that's a nice goth look. Very - you."
The naturally pale girl nodded. "It was a compromise."
Is she _supposed_ to look like Dracula's cute, little
sister? Shinji didn't ask aloud, She is a lot cuter that way
though.
"And, ah," Hotaru continued, "Good fight."
"I suggested that when the Angel was defeated, Doctor Akagi
could schedule a sync test with Unit 00 for Shinji."
"Rei-chan," Hotaru tried to explain, "That could be
interpreted to mean as soon as we get back to base, like _right_
when we get back to base."
"He has adequate stamina, or the Commander would not have
chosen him."
"You remember Hikari?" Hotaru asked.
"She has recovered," Rei countered, "And has no memory of
events."
"That's not the point Rei-chan."
Shinji quietly decided that he was going to get _away_ from
these people, as soon as possible.
---
.-------Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List--------.
| Administrators - [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
| Unsubscribing - [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`------------ FAQ URL coming soon.... -------------'
