Review responses:
Marco A. Salazar M: Actually the original Superman could breathe in space but they eventually took that power out because they believed it made him too powerful but I kept it in because he needs it, he communicates with the Angel by telepathy and I just don't have much time, and that's why I can't update or write chapters much.
Nefcanuck: Well, superpowers usual equal a higher metabolism so if Rei didn't eat meat she would have starved to death.
A/N: Updates may be a little longer and rushed because school is really, really busy at the moment. Although I'm working on a small pet project of mine that might come out in the near future.
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Superman stood on the highest point of the highest tower in Tokyo-3, his cape billowing behind him in the wind.
Like a silent sentinel he watched the city for any signs of injustice and cruelty.
The 16th Angel, like the 15th was no real challenge. Superman even thought it was almost…afraid of him when he touched it.
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Kaworu watched Superman from the bench he was sitting on far, far below.
You are not one of us…he thought. But you feel almost like one of us. A distant cousin, almost.
He chuckled softly at this suggestion. How then, can the lilim stand up to you? How can any Angel stand up to you?
It would be suicide to fight him. There would be no point in sacrificing himself, because even if SEELE unleashed their mass-produced Evangelions Superman would simply annihilate them…and in reality Kaworu was afraid to die.
He didn't want to. He wanted to see this through to the end.
"Shinji Ikari," Kaworu said with a smile as he stood up. "You truly are full of surprises."
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"I don't like it," Ritsuko growled into the phone. "Commander Ikari's suspecting something's up and we can't alert him now before the 17th Angel is defeated. It's too early to act!"
"I know," Kaji replied. "But keep him in the dark for as long as possible and we should be fine. By the time he finds out – it'll be too late."
The scientist turned off her phone quickly as Misato entered her office.
"Yes?" Ritsuko quickly filed away several documents in her desk. "I still need to finish a full analysis of the 16th Angel's structural remains."
But Misato's eyes were cold. "Tell me about Rei Ayanami. What's wrong with her?"
Ritsuko frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It was while I was doing an evaluation of the battle…"
"YOU didn't do anything – Superman nearly obliterated the 16th!"
Misato growled. "But anyway as I was doing an evaluation…"
-FLASHBACK-
"That's weird…" Maya said as she looked at the data scrolling across the screen.
"What is?" Misato asked, coming up beside her.
"According to this, there was a second AT field deployed at the time when the 16th attacked Unit-00. Combined with Unit-00's I think this is what allowed it to repel the Angel and let Superman finish it off."
"Can you pinpoint where it went off?"
Maya typed furiously at the keyboard as she brought up another window on the computer. "According to this…" She stopped, looking at the screen in shock. "The AT field originated inside Unit-00's cockpit!"
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Ritsuko sighed deeply as she shuffled the documents and filed the rest of them away. "I guess I can't get out of this one now."
"So what is it?" Misato demanded, one hand now loosely holding her pistol. "What's wrong with Rei?"
The doctor stood up. "Come with me."
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"…So you showed Misato your little Reiquarium, destroyed it, and now she knows about Third Impact?" Shinji asked as he buttoned up his shirt, hiding the last traces of his Superman suit.
"We need more allies," Ritsuko explained. "And besides, she doesn't know all the truth. Like you and not all of Rei's secrets."
At this Shinji grinned. Rei had proved herself to be a very useful ally in the weeks earlier. Thanks to her they could both tackle different crime scenes not just in Tokyo-3 but also all around the world at the same time.
Because of their hard work this week was incredibly special in that there were no crimes being committed. Everyone had heard of the two superheroes and now they had some space to rest because of the fear in criminals.
Ritsuko sipped at her hot coffee before leaning her head back and sighing in satisfaction. "This is really good coffee, Shinji, but you didn't really have to…"
He shrugged. "Once I finished up with a would-be murderer I saw a nice and small coffee shop and figured I'd get you some."
"And it's great and also hot, but really you didn't need to."
Shinji grinned. "I don't hear you complaining now, not like you usually do when the coffee machine breaks down or you have cold coffee."
Ritsuko winced. "I forgot you have super-ears. But Shinji, even Superman can't save everyone."
"But Superman is sure as able to try," Shinji replied.
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"The machine that Dr. Akagi has been working on is…different, Ikari." Fuyutsuki said as he returned.
"How different?" Gendo pushed his glasses up.
"It appears to be able to generate energies that give a person superhuman abilities. She really shouldn't keep this information in files in her cabinet…"
"Do you believe this is part of the Anti-Superman project?"
"…Unknown."
There was a moment of silence between them as each had their own thoughts.
Finally Gendo came to a conclusion. "No matter. The machine poses no threat to us until someone enters it. However, I want Section 2 working at full capacity to investigate the reports of this new…superhero known as Angel. I want to know everything."
"Understood, sir."
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Fuyutsuki stood before a large cluster of sleek, black robots, designed as part of the Anti-Superman effort.
Each one was taller than a tank, machine guns and rocket launchers strapped to their arms, as well as shoulder-mounted lasers.
He heard a rustling behind him. "Interesting – you adapted technology from the Jet Alone project to create these robots."
Ritsuko stepped out from the shadows. "It was the least I could do. Those old files were gathering dust in my drawer anyway."
"How effective will these be against Superman? You remember that even an Evangelion wasn't able to stop him."
"Don't worry, Fuyutsuki. You'll see exactly what these are for when the time is right."
"And that little
machine you're building," Fuyutsuki interrupted. "For the
Anti-Superman project also?"
Ritsuko froze. "How do you know
about that?"
"Some things you want to find out, you find out yourself," Fuyutsuki replied cryptically. "I'll report to Gendo and say it's for the Anti-Superman project, but I know you're up to something, and I'll want answers soon."
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Hmmm…fascinating. Gendo brooded. If that machine is capable of doing what Fuyutsuki said, then it will be an important asset.
He smirked, as a plan began to slowly form in his mind.
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One afternoon as Shinji was lying on the couch, taking a nap (in reality his super-ears were listening in for any possible crimes), when Misato came in.
"Shinji," she stated. "We need to talk."
The boy frowned as he got up. "What about, Misato?"
Her face darkened. "I know your secret."
Shinji looked at her strangely. "Misato, if this is some joke I DO NOT steal the panties out…"
"NO!" Misato snapped. Shinji was surprised, as she never snapped like that. "I know your alter ego."
Shinji's eyes widened. "You mean…Ritsuko told you? Everything?"
"HOW COULD YOU!" She screamed suddenly. "What you're doing, it can kill you! It's already enough that you're an EVA pilot, but…this?"
"What do you think I'm meant to do?" Shinji shouted back, his coward act all gone. "Hide these powers and hear as countless numbers of people all over the world scream for a saviour? What? Should I shut them out and hope that the police get to them in time?"
Misato was shocked at this sudden change.
Shinji continued. "How could I sit here and do nothing, especially with these powers? And how would people handle this if I told them? They'd think I'm a freak, or even worse, an Angel!"
"Shinji, you can't always be a hero!" Misato yelled. "You're doing enough as an EVA pilot, let the cops do their job!"
"I don't want to be a hero! I want to be a good person who helps people, and is someone to those who are nothing! I want to be a hope! Because of Second Impact that hope was gone, but at least now because of Superman it's coming back!"
"Shinji, I…" she fell silent. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I couldn't," Shinji stated, "For exactly the reason why we are having this argument."
There was an awkward silence between them.
Shinji then continued. "You know of SEELE's and NERV's plan. There's only one thing that stands in that way, and guess who that is?"
Misato resigned as she quietly walked away.
For the rest of the night neither of them talked to each other.