Fits in well before this, it does:
And because I feel awkward letting story pieces go unanaswered. The others, Jet'll respond to after meeting Shinji..... I can use them interspersed between scene-breaks.
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
Quote:------
“This is a real spaceship?”
The note of disbelief in Shinji’s voice was hard to hide. It was a white snub-nosed bullet shaped vehicle about the size of a large delivery van, with a pair of stubby wings on each side. The name ‘Zuikaku’ was emblazoned on it in Hiragana.
“Uhm-hum” Kotono nodded. “And that,” she pointed upward.
Shinji nearly fell over looking up at it.
It was.... huge. A big, turquoise spear with three engines mounted in what was supposed to be cruciform pattern, with the mounting point for the fourth on top seemingly scorched and buckled, the nacelle that should’ve been there missing. Had it been blasted off?
He recognised the design immediately.
“Outlaw Star,” he gasped.
“Outlaw Class,” Kotono confirmed.
“How is that possible?”
Not in any sane universe. Maybe in this one but....
It was a spaceship. An animé spaceship. An Animé spaceship was suspended from a gantry crane tall enough to support an Evangelion, inside a chamber large enough to hold full-contact one-on-one Eva sparring matches.
“It’s a replica,” Kotono explained. “A lot of people up here like to build replicas of famous science fiction spacecraft and vehicles.”
Shinji stood for a long time, trying to read her expression. She was dead serious. He was standing in a landing bay that must’ve been more than a kilometre long, tall enough to hold one-on-one Evangelion battles with room to properly jump and just as wide.
It was a vast cavern, walls plated in white-painted steel dirtied in patched by dust and corrosion.
“Is this..... real?”
“It’s as real as I am.” she answered with an earnest smile.
Which sounded suspiciously like double-talk. The idea set root in the back of his mind, and began to spread. This is impossible. Just maybe...
There were three fighter-jet’s, three different models. One had been gutted.... another seemed to be missing parts and a third was polished to a bright silver sheen, dressed up in decals Shinji couldn’t recognise. It looked like a racer.
Another one. Also chromed. A little shorter, but broader across with enough of a cockpit for two people. Parked near that, was something from Star-Wars.... a little like a fighter with two tandem seats.
It was.... pink and grey.
There were attack helicopters. Enough for two squadrons. Six were an unusual two-rotor design, painted all in black, except for one with blue and white markings on it’s tail which seemed to older than it’s brand-new siblings. Five were a single rotor, twin-cockpit design with a turret on it’s chin, painted in vivid camo. Three of those were still in factory wrappings.
In back... another two.
“A Hind D. What’s a Russian gunship doing here?” Shinji said aloud.
Kotono just sighed...”Again.”
“Again?” Shinji gave her a puzzled look.
“Remember how I told you about handwavium and it’s quirks?”
He nodded. He remembered how ridiculous it sounded, until demonstrated.
“That’s one of them.” she said, deadpan. “Someone in a group will always say that, seeing them for the first time,”
That idea that’d set root in his mind, slowly began to sprout pushing forward into his conscious mind. Or trapped in another one of those.... hallucinations.
He took a look around and dismissed the idea. This was too real. This was the real world, he assured himself. He shuffled around, inspecting the Zuikaku expecting any moment to find some sort of proof that it was a prop... a fake made of wood. It seemed to be the real thing.
It was just dirty and scored enough to be real. Too clean and it would’ve been an obvious fake.
“C’mon Shinji,” Kotono beckoned with her hand. “Let’s head up to the old mayor’s house,”
------
And because I feel awkward letting story pieces go unanaswered. The others, Jet'll respond to after meeting Shinji..... I can use them interspersed between scene-breaks.
Quote:To: "A.C. Peters" (rock_doc@prometheusforge.fen)________________________________
From: 'Jet-Jaguar' jet@survival-shot.fen
Subject: Armoured boots.
Thanks for that. The first thing I thought of was Shinji Ikari nut-shotting Hideaki Anno, and now I’ve got that image stuck in my mind. I needed a laugh. I’ll make sure he sees it. The message that is.
Even if if Shinji's memories aren't real, the feelings behind them will be. Beyond the mental battle-scars, he’s going to be lonely. Messages like that’ll help. It’ll show he isn’t alone at least... and that more people than just us on Frigga wish him well. We’ve gotten more than a few.
He’s on his way up after Kotono finishes giving him the tour. We’re just doing one last scour of the place for anything with Gina, Rei or Jess in it.... or any Eva items. It isn’t time for that question yet.
I’ve added his technical details as an attachment, in case you’re curious... including the CAD files. He’s the same as Anika inside, with the same hardware glitches.
-Jet
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?