Doctor Who: The Evangelion Error (Book Two)

E10 Part 3: The Sybilline Sisterhood

Inside Unit Two. The Eva Cages.

The lights flickered. Glancing back over Unit Two's shoulder, Asuka saw the closing restraint locks freeze in place. "Command, I'm seeing some equipment failure in the cage area," she said. "And what the hell is making that noise?" She could hear a repetitive sound not unlike that of a hammer striking an anvil -- or maybe the other way around.

"Stand by, Unit Two," said the male voice on the other end of the connection. "We're, uh, trying to find that out now."

Well, that was helpful. Asuka brought up her HUD menu and selected the tactical status display. The screen went blank, save for the words DATA FEED NOT FOUND. She growled and tapped her fingers impatiently. What was with everyone today?...

***

Command Center

Misato raced up the last set of stairs and bounded into the room. "Get me manual sensor access within Test Area 2!" she shouted. "Plus any security cameras inside of the access tunnel to the cages!"

"Never mind that." She turned to see Commander Ikari standing at the back of the room. "Bring up MAGI diagnostics."

"Not responding, sir," the warrant officer currently at Makoto's station said. Misato couldn't remember his name off the top of her head. Started with a T, maybe. "Log files suggest some sort of hardware-related failure."

"Doctor Akagi?" The commander glanced at Ritsuko as she entered.

"On it." The chief scientist strode towards the ladder leading down to the command center's lower levels. "Maya, Lieutenant Hyuga -- with me, please." Makoto darted out over to his desk. He pulled something out of a drawer before skittering after the two women.

"Sir, we've got active hostiles within the test area," Misato said to the commander. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rei silently step into the room. "We triggered the containment protocols. But I know for a fact they have access to explosives."

"In due time, Captain." The commander pushed his glasses back. "We need to first focus on --"

"Sir!" Starts-With-T pointed to one of the active video feeds floating overhead. "The cage area --"

***

Inside Unit Two

Asuka heard concrete shatter. She turned the Eva's head. Behind her, she saw a giant chunk of wall fly across the cage area and into one of the launch platforms.

***

Command Center

On the video feed, Unit Zero emerged through the wall and into the cage area. "Manual controls," the commander said. "Flood the room with Bakelite. Freeze everything."

"Yes, sir." Warrant Officer T pulled the cover off of a switch and flipped it.

Nothing happened.

The officer toggled the control again, with no effect that Misato could see.

"Hm." The commander eyed the switch. "Now I'm impressed."

Misato grabbed Officer T's shoulder. "What's Asuka's status?"

"Still online. She didn't make it all the way back into the cage."

"Perfect. Patch me in." Misato looked up to see Asuka's face appear above them. "Asuka, listen to me. Unit Zero's out of control. You don't need to engage, but we need you to --"

"Belay that." The commander cut her off. "You are to stop Unit Zero at all costs. Use of live weapons authorized."

"Really." A knife-like grin spread across Asuka's face. "Day's looking better already."