Chapter 2: Heurtebise Over the Atlantic

Chapter 2:
Heurtebise Over the Atlantic

 

Hikari had a hunch.

“It’s like I can feel Ikari-kun and his Eva’s heartbeat,” she muttered to herself. She tilted her head and marveled.

It’s good to know, but how is it possible?

“It doesn’t make sense. I haven’t seen or heard anything about it, so why am I ready to accept it as fact?”

Hikari was talking herself through the problem. The A.I. picked it up and transmitted her words.

<<Kommandobrücke to Heurtebise. What’s going on?>> This transmission reached the Euro Eva in mid-flight. <<Is your entourage bothering you?>>

After receiving emergency repairs on a U.S. aircraft carrier, Heurtebise was now flying over the North American continent, toward the Atlantic and eventually Germany for full-scale repairs.

There wasn’t a single country on Earth that would stand in the way of the heroically wounded white giant and its pilot after they’d saved the world. However, countless aircraft, from those nations—belonging to various air forces, politicians, civilians, and news outlets—swarmed around her. Even now, Hikari could see a small child waving from the cabin window of a single-engine prop plane. Heurtebise waved back.

“Heurtebise to Kommandobrücke. Herr Clausewitz, do you know if piloting an Eva gives you a sense of the vital signs of other pilots?”

<<Are you referring to Soryu Asuka Langley and Eva-02?>>

“No. But I felt the pulse of Ikari Shinji and Super Eva, both of whom are M.I.A. I have no evidence to prove this.”

<<Hang on.>> The window closed itself as the transmission ended.

He’s probably checking on Heurtebise’s telemetry—vitals and brainwaves, the whole package. Hope my blood pressure doesn’t get the better of me.

The experience still embarrassed her, even though she was used to it, and the idea that Clausewitz could be contacting Japan to check…

His transmission window returned.

<<I’m sorry, Hikari. No response from Nerv Japan as to their current whereabouts, though they’ll keep us posted. But I do hope we can see them again if they’re still alive.>>

“I know they are. I’ll have to visit them soon.”

Why did I say that?

Hikari shook her head.