I came up with this concept after watching a short film called Voice of a
Distant Star. Seriously, it is good. The emotion at the end was perfect
and makes the thing rather understandable. Now onto the story! Oh, and
I'm planning it becoming dark. And this is an AU set in the year 2021.
Across Time and Space
Prologue: Departure
Asuka Langley Soryu, child prodigy and beautiful, should be happy. She had graduated the Berlin Institute of Technology as well as the Paris Institute of Science by the time she was fifteen. It was quite impressive even for someone like her. Now she was preparing to join the UN Special Technologies department in Tokyo 3 and work with her mother and Dr. Yui Ikari, another accomplished scientist. Everything was perfect except for one thing. Her fiancé was leaving for Mars.
Lieutenant Colonel Shinji Ikari had joined the UN Space Force and with his credentials he was immediately selected for some kind of secret project on Mars. He was also to leave the day before the planned wedding. Needless to say, this did not make Asuka happy.
"Why the hell do you have to go so soon!" Asuka screamed.
"It isn't my choice. Space Command is shipping everyone involved with this project on that day and I can't get excused. Can't we move up the wedding?"
"The only reason we set that date is because we couldn't!" Asuka shot back, "Why is your job more important than our own wedding?"
"It isn't more important. But how am I supposed to help support our family if I don't have a job?"
"Get technical training in something else!"
Shinji took hold of Asuka.
"Asuka, I'm not leaving forever. I'll come back, I promise you this. Now can you please calm down?"
Asuka turned her back to him. Shinji sighed and wrapped his arms around Asuka.
"Believe me Asuka. If I had a choice, I'd stay here and get married to you. But I will come back and marry you no matter what it takes. You have to have some faith in me."
"I do believe you," Asuka said through her tears, "It's just that this was too sudden. Why does the UN need you there? Why not here in Japan?"
"I don't know. What I do know is this project is important to all of humanity and I have to do this. Think about it. I'm not just doing this because I have to. If it's that important, then I'll be doing it for you too."
Asuka closed her eyes and let her head droop. She leaned back against Shinji and felt his heart. It was a strong and slow beat. She had felt it so many times before when Shinji embraced her and for some reason it had always comforted her. Now she needed it more than ever. She turned around and returned the hug.
"Why is this happening now?" she whispered.
"I don't know. What I do know is that we'll get through this, and our love will get stronger."
Asuka smiled. "Idiot."
Shinji returned the smile. "I know that was cheesy but you have to give me some credit."
"Maybe. Just come back, okay?"
"Of course."
The two let go of each other.
"I have to go back now," Shinji said.
"I'll help."
The two walked to the room they shared in the apartment complex. Many of their family and friends also lived in the apartments on this floor. Because Shinji's dad was such an important figure in the UN he was able to buy the entire apartment. No one could live in the complex without his approval, and Shinji had managed to get his dad to let his friends move in.
The master bedroom was huge and had a king sized bed along with a wooden dresser as well as a bookshelf filled with books the two liked. Shinji opened the closet and grabbed a suitcase while Asuka started pulling out the clothes he might need. Besides the uniforms she took out his underwear and shirts. There was also a jacket just in case the colony was cold.
Shinji refolded all of the clothes and packed them inside the suitcase. In the end Asuka had to get another suitcase out for all the stuff Shinji was going to have to take with him. They finished packing and went to the living room and sat down.
"I'll write," Shinji said, "It'll take several hours to have messages sent and I'm pretty sure our cell phones won't allow text messages, but I'm sure the colony will have a letter service."
"Okay," Asuka said quietly.
"Don't be like this Asuka. You'll still have all of your friends here and I will have leave. We can get married when I get back on leave."
"Good, cause I am not that patient," Asuka said playfully.
Shinji chuckled and looked at her fiancée. She really was perfect.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Cheers!"
The group around the table lifted their cups before drinking. Shinji smiled and thanked everyone.
"I should have known Asuka would prepare a sendoff," he said, "and I'm glad to see all of you."
The gathered people all nodded. Asuka had invited basically everyone, including Kensuke and Toji. It was well known she disliked the two but today she would tolerate them. Hikari, Toji's girlfriend was also here. In reality, this was a sendoff for both Toji and Shinji. The two were both being sent off to Mars. The only difference was that Hikari and Toji weren't engaged yet. However, it was common knowledge that Toji planned on proposing to Hikari after he returned from his assignment.
"What do you two plan to do once you get to Mars?" Yui asked the two. She had come but Gendo was too busy.
"Don't know," said Toji, "I still have to figure out what my assignment is. They told us we'll get them once we arrive."
"How are you getting there?" Kensuke asked.
"We're using one of the UN's new GF-90 space shuttles," said Shinji, "I'm sure you've seen the picture. Nothing like the old American shuttles."
"Yeah. It's shaped like a long triangle," Hikari put in, "I wonder if they're safe?"
"They're the best the UN has," said Kensuke, "I doubt there'll be a problem."
"You always trust technology," said Asuka, "Heck, you'd trust anything that had to deal with the military."
"That's not true!" Kensuke protested.
"Oh yea? Well I remember you kept talking about the X-17 space fighter and how good it was and that was a complete failure!" Asuka shot back.
Well, maybe she couldn't tolerate them very well. Kensuke froze and couldn't think of a comeback, everyone else laughing at his expense.
"You did deserve that," Shinji said to his friend, "Never try to outwit Asuka like that."
"One of these days."
"Which will never come," Asuka said confidently.
"You sure you can't tell us anything more about this mysterious project?" Kensuke asked, ignoring Asuka's jab.
"You think we know anymore?" Toji replied, "The UN's being pretty tightlipped about all this."
"It might have something to do with the accident at the north pole," said Shinji, "They had a large water mining operation there that disappeared."
"I've seen some of the reports," said Yui, "Something about a huge amount of energy being released though how that kind of energy was even there in the first place is questionable."
"Probably something the UN brought up there," said Shinji, "Let's see, what do we have here?"
He picked some of the meatballs on the table and commenced eating. Asuka rotated the little table on top to get at the lobster. The dinner was expensive but very good. This place was actually one of the few remaining five-star restaurants in Tokyo 3. After the melting of Antartica because of a meteor, the world wasn't exactly back to the way it was before.
"You have to know what the name of the place you're going is," said Hikari.
"I think they call it the Geofront," said Shinji.
"Well it's no brainer they have one," said Asuka, "What exactly is this place called? Like the name? No what it is?"
"I heard a rumor," said Kyoko, joining in on the conversation. "I do believe it is known as NERV."
"NERV," said Shinji, "Isn't that one of the UN divisions that works a lot with cybernetics and biotechnology?"
"Yeah," said Asuka, "Only the best get there. But I don't know why they'd want the stooge. He's completely clueless about anything to do with biology."
"Hey!" Toji shouted in protest.
"Toji," Hikari said sternly.
Her boyfriend refrained from making any snide comments.
"That's a good boy," she joked.
Toji grumbled as the others now laughed at him.
"That is a point," said Shinji, "Why do they want us to go there? I don't know much about biology either. I'm a pilot."
"That may be true, but you never know," said Yui, "The UN has certainly been spending a lot of money. I've heard they sent several new mining teams with equipment to Mars and are starting three more sites. If this keeps up, they'll probably be able to set up the first civilian colony."
"Who is endorsing all this?" Asuka asked.
"Oh, the major powers. China, Russia, and the United States mostly. Japan's been getting more and more involved though."
"Speaking of Japan," Asuka said in between stuffing her mouth, "I heard something about a JA project. What is that?"
"JA?" said Kensuke, "I think that's an attempt to make a large bipedal combat unit."
"A what?" Hikari and Asuka asked.
"It's kind of like a robot that stands up with two legs," Shinji explained, "I thought the JSSDF scrapped the project after that failed demonstration."
"There was a demonstration!" Kensuke asked excitably.
"Slow down," said Toji, "This is still technically classified. All you need to know is that there was a demonstration and there isn't a JA project anymore."
"Does the name Lancet ring a bell?" Asuka asked.
Both Toji and Shinji thought it over and shook their heads.
"Well maybe it hasn't filtered down yet," said Asuka, "but the media sure got on it quick."
"A little too quick in my opinion," said Kensuke, "I haven't even heard of this Lancet."
"Hmm, seems security is getting better," Shinji joked.
"Ha ha, very funny."
Shinji smiled and grabbed some more beef. The food was too good to waste and reheated it never tasted as good.
"Have both of you been given training for zero-g?" Kyoko asked.
"Yeah," said Shinji, "though I still prefer to have some gravity under my feet."
"You just don't want to keep throwing up every few minutes," said Toji.
Everyone else burst out into laughter while Shinji punched Toji lightly on the shoulder.
Yui raised her glass again.
"A toast. To the two future astronauts. May you find your space-legs before the plumbing system breaks down."
This time all around laughed.
"Here here!"
The party ended thirty minutes after that and the participants returned to their respective homes and to bed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shinji and Asuka were sill awake the night before the departure. Neither could sleep, both with similar thoughts on their minds. Shinji was ready to face whatever challenge he would encounter on Mars while Asuka worried about him. Asuka was worried that Shinji might get lonely, while Shinji felt the same way. But the two were too faithful to ever consider finding someone else.
"You know." both started to saw, stopping when they realized the other was also talking.
"You first," said Shinji.
"Fine. It's not like we won't be out of touch. Both of us are going to write. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we'll still be together, right?"
"Asuka, we're always together no matter what. That's the plain and simple truth."
Asuka smiled and leaned over to give Shinji a kiss. Instead Shinji rolled over and pinned her down.
"Ooo, feeling aggressive today?"
"It's my last night on Earth. Why not make it a special one?"
"Hehe. You read my mind."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hikari and Asuka were both sad to see their love go away, but there was no avoiding it. Both were hugged for a final time and kissed their respective man several times as the others watched on. Yui hugged her son one more time and Shinji shook hands with the rest of his friends.
"All UN personnel for interplanetary flight 143 please board now."
"Well, that's our flight," said Toji, "I'll miss you."
This was accompanied by another final hug with Hikari. Shinji kissed Asuka one more time before the two left and boarded their transport. When on board they were shown their seats, rather comfortable ones at that, and sat down.
"You think we'll still have girlfriends when we get back?" Toji asked Shinji nervously.
"Yeah. It wouldn't be like them to cheat on us."
"You're right. What was I thinking?"
With that the shuttle moved away onto the runway catapult. It turned to face the large ramp that would help it slingshot into orbit. The countdown had begun.
End of Prologue
That was a small sample of an idea that wouldn't leave me alone.
Z98
Across Time and Space
Prologue: Departure
Asuka Langley Soryu, child prodigy and beautiful, should be happy. She had graduated the Berlin Institute of Technology as well as the Paris Institute of Science by the time she was fifteen. It was quite impressive even for someone like her. Now she was preparing to join the UN Special Technologies department in Tokyo 3 and work with her mother and Dr. Yui Ikari, another accomplished scientist. Everything was perfect except for one thing. Her fiancé was leaving for Mars.
Lieutenant Colonel Shinji Ikari had joined the UN Space Force and with his credentials he was immediately selected for some kind of secret project on Mars. He was also to leave the day before the planned wedding. Needless to say, this did not make Asuka happy.
"Why the hell do you have to go so soon!" Asuka screamed.
"It isn't my choice. Space Command is shipping everyone involved with this project on that day and I can't get excused. Can't we move up the wedding?"
"The only reason we set that date is because we couldn't!" Asuka shot back, "Why is your job more important than our own wedding?"
"It isn't more important. But how am I supposed to help support our family if I don't have a job?"
"Get technical training in something else!"
Shinji took hold of Asuka.
"Asuka, I'm not leaving forever. I'll come back, I promise you this. Now can you please calm down?"
Asuka turned her back to him. Shinji sighed and wrapped his arms around Asuka.
"Believe me Asuka. If I had a choice, I'd stay here and get married to you. But I will come back and marry you no matter what it takes. You have to have some faith in me."
"I do believe you," Asuka said through her tears, "It's just that this was too sudden. Why does the UN need you there? Why not here in Japan?"
"I don't know. What I do know is this project is important to all of humanity and I have to do this. Think about it. I'm not just doing this because I have to. If it's that important, then I'll be doing it for you too."
Asuka closed her eyes and let her head droop. She leaned back against Shinji and felt his heart. It was a strong and slow beat. She had felt it so many times before when Shinji embraced her and for some reason it had always comforted her. Now she needed it more than ever. She turned around and returned the hug.
"Why is this happening now?" she whispered.
"I don't know. What I do know is that we'll get through this, and our love will get stronger."
Asuka smiled. "Idiot."
Shinji returned the smile. "I know that was cheesy but you have to give me some credit."
"Maybe. Just come back, okay?"
"Of course."
The two let go of each other.
"I have to go back now," Shinji said.
"I'll help."
The two walked to the room they shared in the apartment complex. Many of their family and friends also lived in the apartments on this floor. Because Shinji's dad was such an important figure in the UN he was able to buy the entire apartment. No one could live in the complex without his approval, and Shinji had managed to get his dad to let his friends move in.
The master bedroom was huge and had a king sized bed along with a wooden dresser as well as a bookshelf filled with books the two liked. Shinji opened the closet and grabbed a suitcase while Asuka started pulling out the clothes he might need. Besides the uniforms she took out his underwear and shirts. There was also a jacket just in case the colony was cold.
Shinji refolded all of the clothes and packed them inside the suitcase. In the end Asuka had to get another suitcase out for all the stuff Shinji was going to have to take with him. They finished packing and went to the living room and sat down.
"I'll write," Shinji said, "It'll take several hours to have messages sent and I'm pretty sure our cell phones won't allow text messages, but I'm sure the colony will have a letter service."
"Okay," Asuka said quietly.
"Don't be like this Asuka. You'll still have all of your friends here and I will have leave. We can get married when I get back on leave."
"Good, cause I am not that patient," Asuka said playfully.
Shinji chuckled and looked at her fiancée. She really was perfect.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Cheers!"
The group around the table lifted their cups before drinking. Shinji smiled and thanked everyone.
"I should have known Asuka would prepare a sendoff," he said, "and I'm glad to see all of you."
The gathered people all nodded. Asuka had invited basically everyone, including Kensuke and Toji. It was well known she disliked the two but today she would tolerate them. Hikari, Toji's girlfriend was also here. In reality, this was a sendoff for both Toji and Shinji. The two were both being sent off to Mars. The only difference was that Hikari and Toji weren't engaged yet. However, it was common knowledge that Toji planned on proposing to Hikari after he returned from his assignment.
"What do you two plan to do once you get to Mars?" Yui asked the two. She had come but Gendo was too busy.
"Don't know," said Toji, "I still have to figure out what my assignment is. They told us we'll get them once we arrive."
"How are you getting there?" Kensuke asked.
"We're using one of the UN's new GF-90 space shuttles," said Shinji, "I'm sure you've seen the picture. Nothing like the old American shuttles."
"Yeah. It's shaped like a long triangle," Hikari put in, "I wonder if they're safe?"
"They're the best the UN has," said Kensuke, "I doubt there'll be a problem."
"You always trust technology," said Asuka, "Heck, you'd trust anything that had to deal with the military."
"That's not true!" Kensuke protested.
"Oh yea? Well I remember you kept talking about the X-17 space fighter and how good it was and that was a complete failure!" Asuka shot back.
Well, maybe she couldn't tolerate them very well. Kensuke froze and couldn't think of a comeback, everyone else laughing at his expense.
"You did deserve that," Shinji said to his friend, "Never try to outwit Asuka like that."
"One of these days."
"Which will never come," Asuka said confidently.
"You sure you can't tell us anything more about this mysterious project?" Kensuke asked, ignoring Asuka's jab.
"You think we know anymore?" Toji replied, "The UN's being pretty tightlipped about all this."
"It might have something to do with the accident at the north pole," said Shinji, "They had a large water mining operation there that disappeared."
"I've seen some of the reports," said Yui, "Something about a huge amount of energy being released though how that kind of energy was even there in the first place is questionable."
"Probably something the UN brought up there," said Shinji, "Let's see, what do we have here?"
He picked some of the meatballs on the table and commenced eating. Asuka rotated the little table on top to get at the lobster. The dinner was expensive but very good. This place was actually one of the few remaining five-star restaurants in Tokyo 3. After the melting of Antartica because of a meteor, the world wasn't exactly back to the way it was before.
"You have to know what the name of the place you're going is," said Hikari.
"I think they call it the Geofront," said Shinji.
"Well it's no brainer they have one," said Asuka, "What exactly is this place called? Like the name? No what it is?"
"I heard a rumor," said Kyoko, joining in on the conversation. "I do believe it is known as NERV."
"NERV," said Shinji, "Isn't that one of the UN divisions that works a lot with cybernetics and biotechnology?"
"Yeah," said Asuka, "Only the best get there. But I don't know why they'd want the stooge. He's completely clueless about anything to do with biology."
"Hey!" Toji shouted in protest.
"Toji," Hikari said sternly.
Her boyfriend refrained from making any snide comments.
"That's a good boy," she joked.
Toji grumbled as the others now laughed at him.
"That is a point," said Shinji, "Why do they want us to go there? I don't know much about biology either. I'm a pilot."
"That may be true, but you never know," said Yui, "The UN has certainly been spending a lot of money. I've heard they sent several new mining teams with equipment to Mars and are starting three more sites. If this keeps up, they'll probably be able to set up the first civilian colony."
"Who is endorsing all this?" Asuka asked.
"Oh, the major powers. China, Russia, and the United States mostly. Japan's been getting more and more involved though."
"Speaking of Japan," Asuka said in between stuffing her mouth, "I heard something about a JA project. What is that?"
"JA?" said Kensuke, "I think that's an attempt to make a large bipedal combat unit."
"A what?" Hikari and Asuka asked.
"It's kind of like a robot that stands up with two legs," Shinji explained, "I thought the JSSDF scrapped the project after that failed demonstration."
"There was a demonstration!" Kensuke asked excitably.
"Slow down," said Toji, "This is still technically classified. All you need to know is that there was a demonstration and there isn't a JA project anymore."
"Does the name Lancet ring a bell?" Asuka asked.
Both Toji and Shinji thought it over and shook their heads.
"Well maybe it hasn't filtered down yet," said Asuka, "but the media sure got on it quick."
"A little too quick in my opinion," said Kensuke, "I haven't even heard of this Lancet."
"Hmm, seems security is getting better," Shinji joked.
"Ha ha, very funny."
Shinji smiled and grabbed some more beef. The food was too good to waste and reheated it never tasted as good.
"Have both of you been given training for zero-g?" Kyoko asked.
"Yeah," said Shinji, "though I still prefer to have some gravity under my feet."
"You just don't want to keep throwing up every few minutes," said Toji.
Everyone else burst out into laughter while Shinji punched Toji lightly on the shoulder.
Yui raised her glass again.
"A toast. To the two future astronauts. May you find your space-legs before the plumbing system breaks down."
This time all around laughed.
"Here here!"
The party ended thirty minutes after that and the participants returned to their respective homes and to bed.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shinji and Asuka were sill awake the night before the departure. Neither could sleep, both with similar thoughts on their minds. Shinji was ready to face whatever challenge he would encounter on Mars while Asuka worried about him. Asuka was worried that Shinji might get lonely, while Shinji felt the same way. But the two were too faithful to ever consider finding someone else.
"You know." both started to saw, stopping when they realized the other was also talking.
"You first," said Shinji.
"Fine. It's not like we won't be out of touch. Both of us are going to write. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we'll still be together, right?"
"Asuka, we're always together no matter what. That's the plain and simple truth."
Asuka smiled and leaned over to give Shinji a kiss. Instead Shinji rolled over and pinned her down.
"Ooo, feeling aggressive today?"
"It's my last night on Earth. Why not make it a special one?"
"Hehe. You read my mind."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hikari and Asuka were both sad to see their love go away, but there was no avoiding it. Both were hugged for a final time and kissed their respective man several times as the others watched on. Yui hugged her son one more time and Shinji shook hands with the rest of his friends.
"All UN personnel for interplanetary flight 143 please board now."
"Well, that's our flight," said Toji, "I'll miss you."
This was accompanied by another final hug with Hikari. Shinji kissed Asuka one more time before the two left and boarded their transport. When on board they were shown their seats, rather comfortable ones at that, and sat down.
"You think we'll still have girlfriends when we get back?" Toji asked Shinji nervously.
"Yeah. It wouldn't be like them to cheat on us."
"You're right. What was I thinking?"
With that the shuttle moved away onto the runway catapult. It turned to face the large ramp that would help it slingshot into orbit. The countdown had begun.
End of Prologue
That was a small sample of an idea that wouldn't leave me alone.
Z98