Chapter 25: Retuning Humanity

Chapter 25:
Retuning Humanity

 

THE UN GIANT-TRANSPORT PLANE landed at Hakone’s Daikan Airport. A crane arm removed a tarp with U.S. military markings from the cargo plane’s payload. The makeshift airport’s personnel expected to see a humanoid giant strapped down in the supine position for transport. But they saw something different.

“What the hell is that?” someone in the crowd asked.

The giant looked humanoid, but it was on its hands and knees. When the entry plug was inserted—at a different angle than was typical—and the giant began to move, the figure suddenly didn’t seem so human.

Walking on all four limbs, the giant carried itself with the distinctive, smooth motions of a quadruped. Its movements flowed from front legs to torso to rear legs without any clear demarcation. The tips of its fingers and toes were narrowed into sharp points.

A Q.R. Signum provided its forbidden power to the giant.

“Is that the American Eva?” a member of the ground crew asked.

Apparently, the Americans had taken after the Euro’s Heurtebise and obtained a Q.R. Signum of their own. The source of the Eva’s body wasn’t immediately evident, except that it didn’t appear to be one of the dead mass-production Evangelions that had gone missing after the Battle at Nerv HQ three years prior.

“What are its weapons?” asked another. “How’s that thing supposed to hold a weapon with its hands on the ground?”

From his station in the command center, Aoba was observing the U.S. Eva’s arrival at Daikan Airport.

He called Fuyutsuki over. “That Eva looks specialized for close combat. Do you think the idea is to rely on the military for suppressing fire?”

“Statistically speaking, the majority of our conflicts are hand to hand. Besides, there’ll be plenty of ranged support available.”

“They can call that thing an Eva all they want, but I’m not sure I can think of it as one.”

Fuyutsuki clicked his tongue. “I’d remind you not to judge based on first impressions. Commander Ikari shared Seele’s opinion that an Eva without its human form loses its reason to exist.”

“To play out a role dictated by some myth, you mean? That’s ridiculous.” Aoba shook his head and sighed. “I guess I can’t say that anymore, seeing how we’re living through mythical events. Hell, three years ago, we watched a giant diagram of the Tree of Life appear out of thin air.”

When Maya asked Nerv U.S. to share their data on genetic modifications to create compatible Eva pilots on demand, no one had expected the Americans to offer proof of the project’s success in the form of a direct visit.

The date for the final battle had been set. One week before the operation, Nerv U.S. had abruptly come out from its long hiding and announced that they would act as reserve forces. On the way to Russia, the detachment stopped in Nerv Japan to refuel and pay their respects.

The Eva pilot meowed.

Six’s interest was piqued. She stared at the pilot, a chestnut-haired girl near her own height.

A man in an engineering officer’s uniform introduced the pilot. “This is Mari.”

Despite seeming to be the same age as Six, the young girl was the Evangelion pilot the Americans had genetically altered in secret.

“She looks like a normal girl to me,” Hyuga said. “A human girl.”

But as soon as he finished speaking, his mouth dropped. On top of her head were two cat-ear-looking bumps that he’d assumed were some kind of cosmetic cover for her interface headset. But the cat ears had twitched.

“Er…maybe not entirely normal,” Hyuga said.

What had at first appeared cute suddenly seemed freakish.

Not that Nerv Japan had any right to criticize anyone for tinkering with the human body. But humans were self-centered creatures capable of great hypocrisy.

Perhaps reading Hyuga’s reaction, the officer offered an explanation.

“She has human ears on the sides of her head. We didn’t put the other ones there on purpose. In order to eliminate issues with the mental connection between Eva and pilot, we’ve strengthened the Evangelion’s animalistic impulses. Over the course of repeated synchronization tests, the animal’s physical characteristics have begun to manifest on the pilot.”

Commander Katsuragi crouched down to Mari’s eye level. “Nice to meet you, Mari. How do you do?”

“I’m fine,” the girl said. “So are the rest of my pack.”

Her…pack? Misato thought. Does she mean her team?

The engineering officer sighed and shook his head. “She thinks that the other animals are living inside her as individuals.”

“Not inside me,” she corrected. “They’re with me.”

The officer looked exasperated. “Of course that’s nonsense.”

But one person and one dog took her seriously.

“Lucky!” Six said, eyes twinkling.

“Woof!” Azuchi barked.

 

The giant-transport plane’s too-long wings rocked as it circled the runway, back to where it had touched down. Its engines roared, powering up for takeoff. With the aircraft refueled, the U.S. Eva’s retinue concluded their hurried introductions and reboarded. Without further delay, the plane took off, aiming its nose toward the staging area in Russia.

“Fuyutsuki, why do you think they stopped by here?” Misato asked. “They could’ve flown over the Arctic Ocean without refueling. They had to go out of their way to come this far west.”

“They might have been signaling a positive stance toward our request for their technology, but I can’t say for sure. Either way, they’re bringing their Eva out into the light, so I’m sure they want to make a good impression. What did you charge them for the precious jet fuel they hauled off in that cargo plane?”

“Let’s just say it’s a seller’s market.”