2022-11-13: life ⇔ death( birth + growth ) ~INFILTRATION~

• Log: 2022-11-13 life ⇔ death( birth + growth ) ~INFILTRATION~
• Cast: Kaworu Nagisa (cameo only, NPCing Koji Takao and the Ninth Angel), Eisen Daiwel, Yuta Hibiki (ft. Max and Samurai Calibur), Misato Katsuragi, Sonia Sophia-Grace
• Where: The Sea of Trees, Mt. Fuji Area, Free Japan
• OOC - IC Date: November 13, 0096 (2022)
• Summary: As a team of fighters in mobile suits battle the storm, a volunteer team of on-foot infiltrators seek out the core of the true Ninth Angel. Afterwards, Yuta and Eisen have a disagreement with their fists.

---

<Pose Tracker> Rei Ayanami has posed.

"The data is coming in. Melchior's judgment has shifted. Standby... stand by..."

The great holographic screen grid lit up. It was expected, predicted, known as a certainty if not the hour nor the day, but now it is happening.

> SEVERE TYPHOON "CINERARIA" METEOROLOGICAL SCAN COMPLETE..._

The residents of the command center - save, perhaps, one - held their breath.


LEVEL 2 ALERT! LEVEL 2 ALERT!
                           ANALYSIS COMPLETE

                                                          
                 Pattern Analysis : Blood Type BLUE 09
                       3rd INSTANCE of 9th ANGEL
                                                          


> TRACK ANALYSIS...
> Impact in 00:09:32:22.3601--

> OPERATIONAL CORE DETECTED
> 35.4747 N, 138.6680 E

"That close?!" exclaimed Lt. Maya Ibuki.

"It's a stroke of luck. Staging won't be difficult," said Ritsuko Akagi. "Commence the operation!"

-=-=-=-=-=-

In the end, they only had seven hours and a little more.

Perhaps it will be enough.

Tokyo-3 is a fortress city. Seven hours was time enough for evacuation. The city's life drained into the great armored blocks and fortresses; weeping children and screaming pets and the doddering elderly, all of them were brought away. Last sweeps in the final twenty minutes before the block descent found most of the stragglers. Perhaps some will be missed. The towering buildings marked for shelter and protection descended to the Geofront, which shall be something.

Perhaps it will be enough.

In the emptied streets of civilian construction, the public loudspeakers recite a message on repeat. Who speaks it? Perhaps someone recorded it - perhaps the MAGI have generated it, as a rare moment of loving-kindness for the small made explicit. It echoes in the emptiness as the air becomes tense, thick, curdled.

'A special state of emergency has been declared in the western Sagami Bay area. All residents and visitors must report to emergency evacuation shelters. If you cannot reach an emergency evacuation shelter, please move to the ground or second floor of a large concrete building and stay away from windows. Strong winds and storm conditions are expected. We repeat: a special state of emergency has been declared in the western Sagami Bay area...'

The first raindrop lands on a classic glass Ramune bottle someone had left in the gutter, an uncharacteristic spot of litter in a Japanese city.

Then the second.

And then it begins, as does the wind, rattling down empty streets and testing and pulling at the myriad structures of Earth's life...

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

So how do you fight a storm, anyway?

One could argue that they don't need to. This battle is a holding action. Perhaps they could simply throw some N2 weapons at it to look good.

But could they? Sandalphon, through deceit, has now survived two conflicts with human forces, broadly defined. Sandalphon has been learning and developing, despite its inauspicious first foray. Sandalphon, in other words, would *expect* to be attacked by the figures of human innovation and defense in the face of threat. If it were not, it might think that something is wrong... and change its strategy.

A fourth attempt is all but certain destruction.

But this establishes the why, and not the how. Consider the structure of Typhoon Cineraria. The outer rain bands which have already passed over much of the peninsula southwest of Tokyo-3 as well as the nearer islands are, so to speak, typical for cyclonic storms: immensely high and destructive winds and intense rains, but not anything anomalous. Devastation, flooding, high winds... but the sort that simply happens, despite the Federation's experimentation with weather engineering; despite the net energy imbalance of Earth's elevated greenhouse gasses, only faintly balanced by the Orbital Ring's subtle shadow.

It is the inner rain bands that have changed. Even the towering, overweening power of an Angel may have its limits - because the space under the Angel's direct control is "only" seventy or so kilometers of diameter. These areas have changed from the usual spiral-mode structure into something more like interlocking rings; a mandala that seems to be *optimized*, drawing from the immense energy of the ocean's thermal inertia to drive its way to atrocious levels of force, pressure, and intensity. Though there is an "eye" to the storm, it seems shrouded in thick clouds, faintly ovoid from its relentless passage.

So much can be told by the best weather radars of the OCU and Britannia. NERV's degenerate-matter probe array reveals slightly more: the Angel's AT Field has been spread out, spread almost impossibly thin, throughout the organized space. The Angel's made the storm of itself, or perhaps it made the storm; it is a semantic difference, in the end.

NERV's hours of advance warning allowed for the preparation of means of transport, of assistance, for the Evangelions stationed in Tokyo-3 and others alike. Weapons are available. Anything. Everything. They've turned out the arsenal. There isn't time to make new, but it's all there.

Means of transport may be more important. Air-pack equipment, with reinforcing back-up power supplies, are available for the Evangelions. Thruster packs, hastily-constructed Minovsky effect equipment, at least one derivative lifting body inspired by the Gundam Maxter's air board; all are available. With a sufficient altitude envelope, one could simply rise above the worst; the storm is no joke 8,000 meters up, but the intensity is much less.

And one can always go beneath the waves.

But even so, the boundary where the storm becomes the Angel is easy to spot once you're near enough. The dense clouds become dense enough, a gun-gray wall of clouds, shot through with strange threads of light. They could be taken for regular and vigorous lightning if they did not seem to have a certain regularity to them: a hexagonal perfection, a *grid*, perhaps, or a *net*, something containing the clouds and guiding them. The natural forces of Earth, driven into something beyond what has been seen in human memory. Perhaps in Earth's history. Perhaps no storm could match this, save the towering turbulence of Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

It is that wall that you must break.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        At the same time that NERV prepares to meet Typhoon "Cineraria," a separate, smaller team is being formed. Not long after the MAGI made their determination on the true nature of the storm, they reviewed the data so far and triangulated the energy signatures of the three instances of the Ninth Angel. That pinpointed the location of the true Ninth Angel, the "mother" that has birthed all these new variations with increasing power and might: in the depths of the Sea of Trees in the foothills of Mt. Fuji.
        
        If there was a little extra data fed in from somewhere within NERV to help this triangulation along, then surely so much the better for everyone.
        
        Kaworu, at the controls of Unit-00, remains at the Geofront, extending the Evangelion's A.T. Field to shield the gap between the underground cavern and any of the torrential rain and flooding that will rush in due to the storm. It's a finely created Field, permeable to gas but not to fluid; no one will drown, and no one will suffocate, either. As this is defense is crucial, he's been assigned to focus on that and that alone. If he is actually capable of monitoring many situations from within the entry plug, he doesn't bother to mention this to anyone. He simply does his assigned duty with his usual faint smile.
        
        Out in the Sea of Trees, a team has been sent to a certain cave, dressed up in special hazmat suits and driving an all-terrain vehicle with two main loads: a set of manual tethers to hook onto the belts of the volunteer team, and a roughly broom-sized pillar marked with strange arcane symbols, mounted on a stand and set with a cap. The reason for these things will become shortly apparent.
        
        The cave in question is deep in the heart of the twisted woods. The forest floor seems clear enough until one spots the gnarled root system that forms waves in the earth. Moss clings to the growths below, while branches embrace each other like lovers above. The ground becomes uneven, even layered, deeper in; some tree trunks become white with fungi below a certain height. Some trees bend over themselves and burrow their tips back into the earth. If there has ever been a place where the fae truly exist, it might be here.
        
        There's no lack of caves, either. In the winter, they fill with ice and become impenetrable. Even now, they're so deep and rotten that it's a genuine risk to enter one, even without an Angel lurking within. How did the MAGI know which one cave was correct?
        
        It's because of the L Containment Field.
        
        The phenomenon is poorly known. The term was only coined earlier today by Dr. Akagi. It appears to be an altered space transformed by the Ninth Angel's core that has changed the inside of the cave to something that resembles a spore under a microscope. Fungal growths quiver and reach out like arms; porous holes gape like silently screaming mouths. The texture is deeply unpleasant, both to touch and to step on, and stepping on it leads to an even more unpleasant bone-like crunching. The color is an unsettling shade of bruise purple on the edges and a brilliant crimson deeper within.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02TTUxbjSRY
        
        More to the point, based on the MAGI's calculations, the normal matter that used to be inside the cave has been corroded, and any other normal matter (such as human beings) that come in contact will share the same fate. For the protection of the infiltrating team, they've been given specialized hazmat suits with oxygen tanks and masks, along with an experimental portable Sealing Pillar--the carved, mounted thing they need to carry in with them. The spools are simpler but no less practical: the infiltration part of the team are tethered to it to guide them back once the job is done. A few folks will remain behind to make everything goes smoothly on the outside and serve as a back-up team. They've also got those hazmat suits, but those ones are normal ones; only those actually entering had theirs treated to protect them from this corrosion.
        
        Hopefully. NERV only learned about this phenomenon literally today. It's hard to know for sure what will and won't work. This is thus a volunteer-only mission. One of those volunteers is Lt. Takao, who has the portable Sealing Pillar strapped to his back. Keeping it safe is his entire job. Keeping him safe will be the jobs of everyone else... but theoretically, as long as the pillar works, that won't be too difficult a job to carry out. At least they can use whatever handheld weaponry they like short of actual explosives.
        
        The parameters are simple enough, at least: enter the cave; cut down whatever's in their path; locate the core; shoot it dead. With the Angel focused on its instance battering down the shores of Japan, it will surely not notice this low-tech intrusion until it's too late.
        
        Again: hopefully. As ever, the hope of mankind is lined with sorrow--and at the same time, there will always be hope.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Gearing up to defeat an Angel's core - A.T. field or no A.T. field, isn't something Eisen takes lightly. As a typical human, he's quite mortal and prone to dying under the wrong circumstances. Which leaves him somewhat armored up even beneath the hazmat suits they have been assigned. A black mask is fitted over his mouth, which slowly pulses green light.

A similar ghostly and eerie emission rises from his right eye, which is fully active. There's the occassional 'CLICK' that can be heard from it, as it constantly switches between various patterns of light. Shifting from X-Ray to Nightvision to Heat-Sensor, giving Eisen as much information as he can absorb as the youth stares out of the window - as countless trees rush by.

He's got what looks like a large 'case' in his lap which he's slowly starting to open. Using his thumbs to unlock the case. Approaching the target site, he wants to prepare and be armed. So he takes out what looks like a simple service pistol attached to a holster which he carefully slings over the hazmat and under one arm. Next, the case is put on the ground and he kicks it shut as he pulls out a black metalic cylinder the size of his lower arm, and with a magnettic 'click', attaches it to his left lower arm.

A second case is pulled out from underneath his seat, and he opens that one up. Checking up on medical supplies as well as various solutions to sealing Hazmats. He's being quiet and meticulous thoughout all of this, as if he's done these checks a thousand times. Looking calm as he considers the contents, ensuring nothing is broken and memorizing their places within the case. Then, removing a plastic strap and hooking it on the edges of the case, closing it and pulling it under his left arm.

Soon, the terrain turns proper wyrd. The bent trees, the unusual ground. Reality and nature being warped to the designs and influence of the 'alien' presence of the Angel. Eisen takes it all in in silence. Those who've observed him in the last weeks have noticed him getting quieter and quieter as the Children of Eva and friends of NERV have slowly been disappearing. Asuka, Ouka, Rei, Yuka... people he knows personally.

The moment the car halts, Eisen pushes the door open and swings out to ensure others can get out quickly. Moving over towards the pillar itself on the back of the truck and the long line that has been availed to them. Without a word, he helps Lt. Takao get the pillar onto his back, before patting his shoulder and starting the line.

Personally seeing to it that the infiltration team is locked in, checking their hazmat suits one last time for any risk factors. "If you don't have a weapon on you, and you know how to use one - I have spare Heat Knives and some pistols here in the back. Keep the heat knife away from your hazmat when using it. You don't want to risk a tear." He warns, taking a moment - before starting to make his way in.

The normally rather Chuuni and excitable youth is eerily dour about the whole situation. The idea of facing an Angel's core like this should be utter excitement for him. But instead, he begins to lead the crew into the cave, taking the cable's lead. Aiming to keep Lt. Takao near the center if at all possible.

He sets a very firm pace as they start to engage into the cavern entrance and step onto the crimson-and-purple brittle bone-like mass within. A flashlight on the shoulder of his Hazmaz suit engaging to light part of the way inside.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Red hair vanishes beneath a hazmat suit, an enormous man helping Yuta into the protective gear. Before his face disappears behind the oxygen mask, the young boy looks frightened -- but determined. Yuta swore to himself to be there for his comrades, to not let anything prevent him from helping those who had helped him.

In a stark contrast to the others around them, Max and Samurai Calibur are not gearing up with the offered hazmat suits. Calibur, a lanky, scruffy man in a formal suit, slouches near Yuta. Three swords at his back, and he keeps a wary eye on the entrance to the tunnels. Max, the far larger of the two, seems focused entirely on Yuta. This man wears a mask over most of his face, while also being clad in a formal suit. He has no visible weaponry, but he gives off the vibe of someone quite prepared.

"Are you two sure about this? I know you're strong, but we have no idea what this stuff could even be. What if something happens to you?" Yuta's voice, slightly muffled, wavers with anxiety. "I couldn't take that. Being down here all alone..."

"Y--you're not going to be alone. We have allies with us." Calibur mutters, not turning away from his vigil. "B--besides. We need to be able to summon our weapons."

Max places his hands on Yuta's shoulders. "Indeed. Do not fear for us, Yuta. It is our job to protect you. Your decision to help your friends was extremely commendable, and we will not let that be in vain."

Yuta closes his eyes, one foot tapping the ground in a frightened, stacatto beat. "Rikka's up there... Maybe we should've stayed with her. I can't bear thinking of her on her own against an enemy like this."

"Our skills are best utilized here. Trust in what Kaworu told you. Calibur's speed and strength are unmatched, and my defensive capabilities will not allow any harm to befall you, or our allies." Max sounds entirely sure of himself, and Calibur backs him up with a nod.

"Right." Yuta says, squeezing his eyes closed. He's here for all his friends. Yuta thinks of them. Kaworu, Shinji, Rikka... Everyone fighting up above. He has to be successful down here for his friends' efforts to matter. "I can do this. We can do this."

Calibur approaches, now, kneeling so he can meet Yuta's eyes. "Y--yes. Focus on the outcome you want. Thinking of anything else is a waste of time."

In a moment of fright-driven courage, Yuta wraps his arms around Calibur and Max both, pulling them in for a hug. The two larger men allow this, each bringing an arm down to embrace Yuta in return. They share a look, and a quick nod. Nothing will happen to their young charge, no matter what awaits them in the caves.

"W--when this is over." Calibur says, standing back up to his considerable height. "I have a gift for you. L--look forward to it."

Calibur gets a smile from Yuta at that, some of his anxiety easing. "Thanks, Calibur. I can't wait."

As Eisen offers weaopns, Yuta glances at Max for guidance. He's certainly never used a pistol before, but is it better than nothing? Max shakes his head, and Yuta nods. Yuta could far too easily injure someone else with a weapon like that. "Thanks anyway." Is offered to Eisen, quietly.

Yuta and Max take up a position near Lt. Takao, while Calibur moves to the front of the group. The less people in the way of his swordplay, the better.

<Pose Tracker> Misato Katsuragi has posed.

MIsato Katsuragi is frankly glad for these 'on foot' missions because she feels she excels at that relative to trying to fight an Angel she can't really hurt with a battleship while making vaguely supportive gestures over the comms with the occassional strategy. The kids honestly work well enough that she doesn't feel she needs to inform them about basic tactics as much as she used to.

She's suited up, looking over to Yuta. "You good?"

She wonders why she even brought a gun but she has taken up a Heat Knife as well since by her estimation that will be more useful. "They're really changing up their strategy a lot, feels like they might have their own commander sometimes." She mutters.

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

It's not that Sonia wasn't capable in a mecha fight. On the contrary, she could've brought a hulk of the unit in. On the other hand, when there's a volutneer mission, odds are that actual volunteers who are willing to go will be slim. She's had this argument of reasoning before, though - if she won't get her hands dirty, can she really be trusted?

Truly, an unusual number ... of people might disagree with that. This not the time nor the place, though. Her quiet faith in the success of the mission, however, cannot be denied.

While already packing a gun, after a moment the slight woman (she's shorter than Yuta) reaches out and pockets a Heat Knife, gauging it's shape for a long moment.

"I cannot say do not worry, but your hope and faith shine brighter." She murmurs to said fellow tiny one, her smile warm behind the mask. "We're a team. Sergeant, we going?"

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        With Eisen and Calibur up front, Yuta, Max and Lt. Takao in the center, and Misato and Sonia defending the rear, it seems as though the group is plenty prepared. The team left behind to monitor the tethers and secure the retreat raise eyebrows at Max and Calibur going in without hazmat suits--but if Administrator Nagisa gave the green light, it must be for a good reason. (Even if maybe that good reason is that they signed waivers.) They keep to their monitoring equipment and bid the others godspeed.
        
        "Thanks," Lt. Takao tells Eisen in his deep voice as the Child helps him don the portable Sealing Rod. He seems quite calm too, despite the fact that this could well be a death mission. Misato might or might not know him as a friend of Kaji's; he seems comfortable in her presence, at least.
        
        "That's a scary idea, Colonel," he comments; despite what he says, he doesn't seem too put out by it. He seems more concerned about Yuta, giving the teen boy a long look, his slight frown and dark skin barely visible beneath the face shield. Still, Sonia's confidence is a boost, and he gives her a nod. "All right. Here we go."
        
        Despite the pace Eisen sets, the trip inside the cavern is, by necessity, relatively slow. Crunchy, squishy stalagmites and stalactites jut out before them, shrink within a certain area around Lt. Takao, and rise up behind them as if they were holding their breath. There doesn't seem to be an intelligence to it, though; they simply react to their passage. The ground feels sticky, though--hot and wet like a throat oozing with phlegm--and while nothing comes tearing at them yet, it can be potentially exhausting just trying to move forward.
        
        This will get especially dangerous when the flooring abruptly dips, falling in waves towards a tightening depth. Lt. Takao's saved from a tumble by the sheer size of the Sealing Rod, which wedges him in partway through--but to advance, he has to edge it sideways and climb his way down. He'll need help if this isn't going to absolutely tank everyone's momentum or get stuck in something unpleasant at the bottom when the tunnel tapers into a more reasonable angle. Fortunately, he's not the type to be too proud to accept.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Eisen doesn't know much about Yuta and his companions. But Kaworu had entreated him to trust them and go along with their wishes. It's clear to him that Yuta's allies are not 'humans' in the typical sense. The lack of hazmat suit is more than enough proof of this as they step into the cave, and nothing untimely begins to happen to them. But why the boy? He doesn't seem like he knows how to defend himself.

But that is not for him to worry about now. Instead, it's his footfall. Each step crushing and crunching the unsettling substance beneath his feet.

"Based on how Nagisa talks about them sometimes, it feels like they are each their own commander and strategist in one." Eisen answers Misato in an idly wondering tone. "Some of them fight almost like a wild animal, aggitated by the presence of -something-, and others like this one then ignore such convention. Each uniquely singular, yet part of a whole through cause."

He wishes to keep setting a firm pace, but indeed, the terrrain just does not avail itself to such a thing. Setting steps with firm confidence doesn't mean the terrain gives way like a highway before oneself. Spotting the way they react to the Lieutenant -- or rather, the device he's carrying -- his concern about being detected rises ever so slightly.

The pace further dips soon, and he takes a moment to gather a sample of the phlegm like substance in a tube. Though he may be more quiet, he's still a scientist. And if there's any chance to learn more about their natural enemy, then so be it. After the plegm, some of the broken unnatural materials are gathered. But only when he has an opportunity to do so without slowing them down.

When the flooring suddenly dips, he lifts his hand. "Careful." He notes, but Lt. Takao already is taking a tumble. Eisen grabs onto some stalagmites and holds in case Takao goes down. But it seems he gets stuck.

The youth lets out a sigh, his heart beating faster. Looking down, he pulls out something from a pouch at his side, and throws down a few green glowsticks. One further than the other. Lighting more of the path for them, letting it get stuck on the sticky plegm. "Watch your steps. Hibiki, please help the Lieutenant." Figuring it's best to get the boy to do so, since he's not carrying a proper weapon at the moment. "I'll keep lighting the way forward and try to find the best spots to step. Follow my lead." He remarks, before pulling the metalic cylinder off of his left forearm.

There's a rattle-CLICK as he flicks the telescoping device. Revealing it to be a shortspear. Using the tip at the end to help himself go down on a more even pace.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Misato -- Yuta remembers her from the new student gathering back in Tsutsujidai. "Yeah. I can do this." Yuta assures her. "A commander?" Yuta thinks of Akane, leading her kaiju. "...could someone be creating these things?"

Sonia is given a thankful smile -- somewhat difficult to see beneath all Yuta's protective gear. "Thank you. I don't think we've met before. My name is Yuta Hibiki, and this is Max." Max nods graciously. "Up there is Calibur. It's nice to meet you, um, ma'am."

Yuta meets Lt. Takao's eyes, trying to nod in a confident manner. Does it work? Who knows. Max is practically glued to Yuta's side, appearing far more formidable than the lanky, slouching samurai up front. Yuta recoils as the outcroppings of rock rise and fall, murmuring a deadpan "What the hell."

"This place is really gross..." Yuta says, disgusted. How are Max and Calibur managing to look so untouched by all of this? The two unprotected men don't seem to have a hair out of place, despite the odd heat in the tunnels. Yuta's sure his hair has turned entirely to frizz by now.

When the floor dips, Calibur unsheathes a sword, moving fast enough to become simply a blur. Max lifts Yuta clean off the ground, his free arm curling protectively around the boy. Crystalline spikes seem to grow out of the large man's suit, viciously sharp. It's a fairly substantial weapon, especially since it just... appeared from Max's body?

"It's okay." Yuta says, calming his comrades down. "I think this place is just being weird."

With a grunt, Max lowers Yuta back to the ground and goes to help Lt. Takao. Notably, both Calibur and Max keep their weapons out, now, careful to avoid damaging their allies. "I will carry you if you wish, Lt. Takao. I understand your burden is unwieldy."

In this moment, Eisen orders Yuta to help Lt. Takao. Yuta quickly moves to do so, Max at his shoulder. "Right. I think it might be more helpful to help him arrange himself, Max. There's not a lot of room down there." Yuta offers, in an attempt to help preserve the man's dignity. "Maybe if you helped guide one of the ends? I can manage the other."

With a nod, Max turns back to Lt. Takao, awaiting guidance.

Yuta especially focuses on keeping himself up as Max helps Lt. Takao. With how squishy and... strange... the floor is, it's a significant undertaking. The young man sends a grateful thought to his past self for enrolling in dance club, certain that it's helping guide his steps now.

Calibur, for his part, keeps his focus narrowed to the path ahead of them. He's still slouching, but there's a different energy to it, as though the samurai is a coiled spring.

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

The rear is always the part that needs the extra person - how many attacks can you name where a feint from the back was super effective? Sonia can name at least fifty. Therefore, she's content to chill with M&M (that's Misato & Max) in the middle to back back. That, combined with her smaller legs, does mean she lags a bit, but that's not a issue in this adventure - the both crunchy and squishy nature of the stalagmites and stalactites offer no chance of truly stable footing, and it is with no means of grace - heh, -grace- - that she makes her way with the group.

"Oh, I'm new." She confirms for pretty much everyone's sake. "This is my first time out for one of the Angel battles." She tells him. "I only joined NERV a bit back at the start of the year, I was with the Brittanian Forces - I was moved as part of the thing the Viceroys did. The name's Sonia, Sonia Sophia-Grace."

Thankfully, she is able to get with the group when getting stuck is part of the process. She's ... not actually surprised by this, and it shows in the gleam of mirth in her eyes; she's not laughing at Lt. Takao, just the situation. Sonia's cheerful enough even in the doldrums - that's just who she is. "A suggestion?" She calls out.

"How large is the object our Lieutenant has? Perhaps we should make a note of that - even if it's one of our tallers-" A nod to Yuta's companions- "Simply using their arms to measure."

<Pose Tracker> Misato Katsuragi has posed.

"Heh, yeah." Misato says, "Pretty scary, right?"

Misato ends up using her heat edge knife to keep from tumbling down extending a hand to Lt. Takao instinctively but he seems to be able to stabilize himself so she pulls it back.

Exhaling faintly, Misato kind of...drags the knife along as she slides down a bit towards the bottom of the tunnel.

"Well, could be worse," She says, glancing over to Yuta as he suggests that someone might be creating the Angels?

Dr. Hell is always her first thought when that theory crops up but wouldn't he have made some kind of claim by now?

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        There's time enough for Eisen to collect some samples on the way down. It'll get increasingly more difficult as they go on, though, when the outcroppings shift more and more towards that dangerous scarlet. The glowsticks are a help, too. These are unfortunately not the conveniently bioluminescent type of cave fungi.
        
        Lt. Takao instinctively reaches towards Misato when she offers him that hand, but fortunately the matter isn't put to issue; he gets stuck, and both of them withdraw their arms. To lighten the mood, he jokes, "Bet Kaji'd say you're scarier any day, though."
        
        Instead of Misato's help, he accepts Yuta's when Eisen directs him his way. This works out, since they're both in the center with Max regardless. "Much obliged," he tells Yuta. Max's offer to carry him gets a surprised stare. Rather than take offense, though, he laughs. "If I was gonna make you carry anything, I'd make you carry this giant stick!" He jabs a thumb at the Sealing Pillar strapped to his back. "But--no offense--this is some highly experimental stuff, and I was trusted with taking care of it." Yuta suggests they help balance out the ends, and Lt. Takao nods. "That works for me."
        
        He's not offended by Sonia's laughter either, though he does shake his head a bit. "No need for that. I'm about six foot, and this thing's a little shorter than I am, so I'd guess it's about five and a half feet," he says, jutting a thumb over his shoulder. "Though if this cavern gets any narrower, we're all gonna have a problem, not just me."
        
        Fortunately, they'll have precisely the opposite problem as they move onwards. The path coils in a slow spiral--it's hard to tell if it's the cave itself or the fungus-like fixtures causing that effect--but the wetness gives way to dry patches of mushroom-like caps. Here, where people step, clouds of what might be spores but are probably something far worse puff up and around them. With the hazmat suits and the oxygen tanks on, and Max and Calibur too metahuman to be affected, fortunately no one will be corroded--but the particles in the air will definitely make it more difficult to see outside of the range of the Sealing Pillar.
        
        That'll be especially alarming when, seemingly in reaction to these puffs of maybe-spores, sticky threads extend inwards-outwards to the front and to the rear, forming a web-like substance to trap them in. It can be cut through and shot, but heat knives will be the most effective; otherwise, they'll end up sticking to their weaponry or growing back too fast to actually get past. By contrast, the mushroom-like caps that expel the strange clouds are best dealt with by bullet: a shot at the center makes them curl up in on themselves and shrivel.
        
        Either way, as the team advances, Sonia will--may have for a while--notice a presence. A truly alien intelligence. It's distracted, extending itself to a separate, intensely stormy presence out back towards Tokyo-3, spiraling with diaphonous materializations of its A.T. Field. Controlling it seems to take up a lot of its attention... This is a good thing for all of them. It means what they've seen so far is still just an automatic response. But it does mean they need to be very careful. If an A.T. Field materialized inside the cavern with all of them in it...
        
        Well, best not to think too hard about it. It's Sonia's choice whether she shares this information with the others or not, though.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

As they descend further down into the spiral below, Eisen is starting to have that feeling creep up on him. He isn't a leader. Certainly, Misato is here. She can take this over at any moment in time. But isn't he supposed to be the Great Eisen. Mad Scientist? Destroyer of Angels? Then why is he having doubts. Doubt that have been creeping into his heart since the first disappearance.

He bites his bottom lip as they enter the spiral-like region. The dry patches certain make it easier to move in theory. But the mushroom-like caps and the puffs of spores make things more difficult. Eisen takes a moment to consider what the spores may be doing near the pillar. But it's quick glance-and-back before he begins to spin his spear, creating a small windcurrent. It's not the kind of supernatural martial arts one might expect from a skilled Gundam Fighter - but Eisen's spear is making some measure of difference; wielding it with skill, letting it flow as the tip begins to glow and buzz at high frequency as it cuts towards the sticky thread that approaches.

"We keep going. Keep the rear protected partially, but focus on the front." Eisen notes. Even if this is a plant-like trap, trying to lead them in to devour them... forward is whence they must go regardless to take care of this problem. The sudden feeling like there is action to be taken bolsters his heart, and his shoulders rise a bit from their former slumped position. A little tilt on his lips alluding to his usual 'presence'. But it's like a ghost of a hint still.

He needs both hands for this. "Colonel Katsuragi - Sonia." Pointing. "The mushrooms." He knows Misato is for certain someone skilled with guns. And when Sonia had come off of the vehicle, he'd spotted that she already came armed. "According to my Sight, there's a weakening at their center." That glowing device over his right eye clicks a few times, snapping across a few spectrums of light in rapid succession.

"Lieutenant. Come to the front. The spores are really not liking that pillar. Stick near my side for a bit as we advance here. That may make our path forward a bit easier."

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Sonphia-Grace." Yuta smiles, doing his best to be friendly despite the odd situation they're in. "Let's watch each other's backs! These other people might step on us."

Max takes Lt. Takao's rejection with a stoic nod. "We'll assist in whatever way you deem necessary."

Yuta wrinkles his nose at the spore clouds blooming around his every step. This place keeps getting more and more disgusting... He's more thankful than ever for the heavy oxygen tank at his back. The high-pitched crackling of the spores that meet the pillar makes Yuta cringe. "Are you still okay, Max?"

"Yes. Calibur and I are unaffected by such things." Max replies.

Spiderweb-like threads appear! Exactly what Calibur has been waiting for. As soon as one comes into view, he's slashed at it -- only for it to grow back before he can even look back to check on Yuta. "Hmm. W--we need heat, here." The samurai says to Eisen, though he continues cutting the threads as they appear.

When Eisen calls the Lieutenant to the front, Max and Yuta stay in the center. They'll move up again to help if needed, but until then, Max seems determined to keep Yuta in the safest possible location. Calibur can provide any immediate assistance Lt. Takao needs -- if he ever stops chopping down those threads.

<Pose Tracker> Misato Katsuragi has posed.

Misato says, "You sure...?" She's a little worried that she'd be popping open and releasing more spores but ultimately, Eisen is the team lead today so she does draw her pistol and take a pop shot at one, first, and if this doesn't result in some kind of horrific immediate consequences, she'll pop another few shrooms there.

Hopefully that's what Eisen was asking her to do!

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

"Taller than me then." Sonia says, with a grin. "I'd probably be a easier load to manage."

Armed with the Heat Knife she picked up at the start, she starts cutting at the threads with a methodical precision, before her attention is pulled. "Ah, direct center? Let's see what we can do, mm?" She -does- turn off her Knife before she starts shooting, because again, haz-mat suits plus sharp objects equal a bad idea.

She's not a fantastic shot, but she's at least had training, managing well enough for the first two or three mushrooms before she suddenly stops, her head tilted to the side.

"Ah." She says, for a long moment, eyes mildly unfocused.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Pressing onwards is... it's hard to say if it's the right choice, since for them, it's the only choice. If they fail here, humanity is doomed. They don't have the leisure to retreat any more than those battling a literal hurricane over in Tokyo-3 do. It's do or die--literally.
        
        All that said, between Eisen, Calibur, Sophia, and Misato, they shoot and blister away enough of the strands and caps below and before them to make progress relatively easier. As Eisen blows away spores with his spear, some of them come in contact with the edge of the Sealing Pillar's sphere of influence. When they do, they spark, then reduce to ash.
        
        "Well I'll be damned," Lt. Takao says in a tone of wonder as he observes this. "It actually works. Not like I'll be taking this suit off anytime soon, but still, good to know. Dr. Akagi'll be thrilled to hear it."
        
        Eisen bids him come to the front. Lt. Takao shoots Misato a quick glance, then nods. "Sure thing," he says, picking up the pace--as much as he can, that is--to close in to a spot next to Eisen. To Max, he gives a thumbs-up of both acknowledgement and appreciation.
        
        This does mean that everyone else is going to have to close in behind them too, as the matter outside the Pillar's sphere is getting squirmier and much more aggressive in their wake, snapping at them with mouth-like prongs and threatening to tear their suits. Bullets will put them down, but they're quick and they seem hungry.
        
        The further in they all go, the presence in Sonia's senses grows exponentially stronger--a throb like a heartbeat, like a migraine, like a parasite bursting from its host's body to be born. Even without the Angel's direct attention, it hurts.
        
        Despite this, there's not much there that could be called malice--maybe more like indignation. It's much more straightforward than that: simply insatiable curiosity and an earnest wish to grow... no matter what must give way for it to do so.
        
        The path widens, and widens, and widens more still as it opens up into a proper cavern. At this point, it's clearly unnatural, not because of the L Containment Field's corruption, but because something neatly and carefully carved out a space for itself deep within the bowels of the earth. Most of it is taken up by a spiral of flesh and bone burrowed into rock and dirt streaked chalk-white. If they had enough perspective, it would seem magatama-shaped, like a flattened circle with a comma-like tail. The scarlet is streaked with black here. Even with the hazmat suits on, the atmosphere is nothing short of oppressive.
        
        At the center of the 'head,' there is a massive sphere, easily bigger than all of them put together. Truthfully, it's hard to say exactly how big it is. Something about it... repels the eye. Still, there is no A.T. Field active here; that is reserved for someplace both far away and very close. Those who manage to force themselves to gaze upon it might realize they can see a reflection of a boundless storm and several mobile suits, including Evangelions Unit-01, -04, and -0S, within. As if they might see what it 'sees.'
        
        It pulses slowly.
        
        It shines red.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Doubt. When Misato asks him if he's sure, he mentally admits; no. No I'm not sure. But; "Trust me - I'm a Mad Scientist." Is what he says instead, hiding his true thoughts on the matter. The physiology of an Angel is so sufficiently different, so hostile to human life, that taking away any of its weapons is most likely to be a good thing than a bad thing, he figures. But there is no certainty when dealing with an angel.

"Sonia?" He then repeats, as her eyes unfocus. Noticing her lingering behind a bit. "Come on, keep moving." Looking to Yuta in that moment. He seems like the kind of boy who cares about people. He has these 'alien' friends with him. He's been listening to them talking back there. The young man figures that Yuta will understand a quick glance from the 'Mad Scientist' having just called Sonia's name.

With Lt. Takao further at the front, things do get a bit more dangerous. Eisen is having an easier time, so he retracts the spear and lays it to the back of his left arm again, and takes out his service pistol instead. Taking the occassional shot at the mouth-like prongs that threaten to get too close to the 'new' Middle point of the convoy. Leaving the back to fend for themselves, because he doesn't want to risk accidentally catching someone in a cross-fire.

As the path widens, Eisen finally speaks up to the team in a way that isn't just all about the mission. "You've got some skilled friends there, Hibiki - that must be comforting." With a pause, before it goes right back to the mission. "Is the cable still good?" Worried about the increased aggression.

Of course, that wondering goes to a slow as they enter the cavern and the massive sphere stands there. That pressure of looking away pushes against him. But, as one of those in NERV who actually actively finds the form of the Angels 'beautiful', he pushes past that lizard-brain instinct of his and forces himself to gaze. Turning his attention to the massive crimson sphere.

There it is. Beautiful. And within in, the boundless storm. The Evangelions fighting, trying to get to the 'fake' core. But at the same time, it is a reminder.

Those around him will see him lift a hand to his chest. An angered look on his face. There's Unit-01. Unit-04. Unit-0S. Three.

Just... three Evangelions. Unit-00 is still active, Kaworu guarding their way in. And then there's Eisen of course. But where is Unit-02, 03? Where is that black machine of Ouka's.

Of course he knows. And this thing isn't even what will free them. This thing is just... in the way. This angel...

"Lieutenant Takao." He pulls his gaze away. "I will do everything I can to protect you. You bear the weapon we need here. This is all up to you." Eisen reminds the man as he starts moving forward with purpose. Spear coming back out in one hand, service pistol on the other. "Team, stick close. Try to get your lights to get us a wider spread of vision. Keep your eyes up as well in this cavern."

Then, purely on instinct... and a bit of document reading; "Sonia, let us know if you feel its attention turn towards us."

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Yuta jumps at the sound of the gunshots, though Max and Calibur don't flinch. "I, uh, guess that's helping, so thank you." Yuta murmurs, watching the mushrooms shrivel. "Thank goodness that pillar works, too."

Indeed, just as Eisen expects, Yuta follows his gaze to look back at Sonia. Yuta walks back to her -- accompanied by Max -- and offers her his arm. "It's tough going. Let's stick together, okay? If it's too much, Max or Calibur can carry you. I know that might sound ridiculous, but they're a lot stronger than they look."

Max solemnly returns Lt. Takao's thumbs-up. This is clearly a bond between men. Noticing the change in environment around the Lieutenant, Max hurries Yuta (and Sonia, should she choose to accompany them) into its aura. He is not chancing Yuta's suit getting torn by any of those odd mouth-like things... Yuta himself seems a little freaked out by the entirety of this experience.

Shooting a glance back at Max, Calibur gives a subtle nod. Danger is here, growing ever closer. Perhaps this is obvious, but his senses only make him more on-edge.

"I do." Yuta says to Eisen, smiling. "I'm very thankful for them. I never could manage this on my own. But you're certainly brave yourself, leading the way, Daiwel. You're pretty inspiring!"

"What is... that?" Yuta asks quietly, his eyes wide as saucers as he looks on the spiral of flesh and bone. Just looking at it makes him feel a little sick. He presses closer to Max, who keeps his weaponized arm up and in front of the boy. Nothing is going to get by him.

Squinting, Calibur and Max focus ahead at the bizarre sphere. Yuta tries to follow their lead, but he can't look at the thing for more than a few moments at a time. "That's got to be the core, right? Is that --" Yuta steps closer, Max moving as his shadow. "...that's everyone outside! What does that mean?!"

Calibur draws a second blade, leaving only one hanging behind his back, now. "T--this must be our goal. A--allow me to protect you, Lt. Takao." He leans down, swords held back in a prepared stance. He's clearly about to strike, ready for any bizarre, aggressive reaction from the core. Noticing his comrade's actions, Max pulls Yuta back, standing in front of him protectively. Crystal spikes shine red in the sphere's glow.

"Right..." Yuta says, directing his own light back away from the orb. It's too hard for him to look at, anyway.

<Pose Tracker> Misato Katsuragi has posed.

Trust him, he's a Mad Scientist.

Misato frowns as if Eisen saying this has had the opposite effect and, indeed, is going to ensure that no matter what actually happens from shooting those shrooms--she's going to be pretty skeptical of the suggestion even after they get out of this. If they get out of this.

"Well, small miracles, right?" Misato tells Takao wit a grin.

She keeps sticking to the rear herself. She's not intending to run, but if something comes at them from behind, she's most confident in her ability to pop a shot off quickly and accurately than anyone else.

The path widens. She frowns a little. Angels sometimes look alien and incomprehensible but sometimes they look almost a little bit human. It's a frightening idea she doesn't really want to interrogate.

She looks at the 'eye'. She sees the kids.

The grip on Misato's Heat Knife tightens.

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

Her attention pulled back to the group, Sonia flickers a look at Eisen. As they get closer and closer to the core, though, she flags, worry lines etching into her forehead as she gazes at it. She doesn't know many of the people it's showing too well, but there's something... she holsters her pistol, hand coming up in it's glove to clench over her heart. What is it, o Evangelion? There's a question, and as the farthest back, she clears her throat, shaking her head as she gets approached.

"Line's taut, but not solidly. More tension, I'd say." Sonia says, even as her spare arm goes in with Yuta's. "I said it at the start, didin't I?" She says to him, flashing another warm smile, but that has a settled, lopsided edge to it, although when Eisen says what he does, her response is fairly cryptic. "Oh trust me, you'll know." She'll either be unconcious or screaming, both pretty obvious signs.

"Trust me, I probably weigh more than you think. I've got more muscle on me than this haz-mat suit allows to see. It's nice to know that if we need to run away though, I can catch a ride." And she gives both Max and Yuta a playful wink. She draws her gun again though, prepared for what may come.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Lt. Takao shares a glance with Misato as Eisen says to trust him because he's a mad scientist. Having not met the seemingly-older Child before, he isn't familiar with his idiosyncracies, but... he also glances over at Yuta as he praises Eisen for his bravery.
        
        "I don't know nothing about no mad science," he says mildly, "but you've been leading this team pretty damn good so far, I'd say. You might just have a future in command if you're interested in it, Daiwel."
        
        Misato cracks a grin at him and comments about small miracles. Takao chuckles and cracks back, "The real miracle is if we all get out of this intact." The news about the line is good; it means they've still got a way back. Lt. Takao gives Sophia and Eisen a puzzled look about the Angel's attention, though.
        
        The sight of the Angel itself is... in a word, humbling. There's big, and there's Big, and there's BIG, and there's nothing like BIG to make a man feel small. Still, Lt. Takao is a man familiar with grim determination, and it's also weirdly reassuring to have Max and Calibur around (especially with that bit of man-to-man silent communication with Max), so clearly not affected by all this corrosion.
        
        When Eisen tells him it's all up to him, he only nods and unhooks the Sealing Pillar from his back. "Time to see if this thing can do everything it's supposed to do," he says grimly as he twists off the cap and pulls the Pillar off from its mount. The glyphs carved up its length begin to glow. "Supposedly it'll give us two whole seconds of an opening against this god-awful monster, so pull out every last bit of firepower y'all got. The second I jam it in, all y'all unload with everything you brought, and I mean EVERYTHING you brought, because if it's not dead at the end of those two seconds, we all will be."
        
        As bleak of a statement as this is, Lt. Takao takes his own sentiment in stride. He's prepared to die. He wouldn't have come all this way if he weren't. For the same reason, he doesn't bother to tell the others that there's a non-insignificant chance that the Pillar won't be strong enough to do anything to the Angel at all.
        
        He holds the Pillar parallel to the ground, gripped tight as the glyphs flash faster and stronger like a time bomb about to go off. At least if this mission fails, it won't be because he didn't do his part. He looks around at the others.
        
        "It was an honor working with you all, ladies and gentlemen," he states. "Ready? On three. One, two, three--"
        
        THRUST. The Sealing Pillar, less than a toothpick compared to the Angel's massive girth, strikes its side. Not unlike a cone snail, whatever power lurks within it, it injects with enough force to send Lt. Takao flying back towards the other side of the cavern. The Angel SCREAMS, the many tons of earth cracking dangerously as it thrashes.
        
        But its body shrivels against its Core and causes it to slump to the cavern floor within everyone's reach. The Angel's core loses its distant shine but does not, cannot, yet pull itself fully back into itself. For two whole seconds, it is vulnerable to the vengeful hands of Lilim.
        
        End it.

<Pose Tracker> Misato Katsuragi has posed.

Misato says, "We'll be fine," to Takao. "Or at the very least, we won't have to worry about it for long if we mess this up."

She flicks her heat knife, readying it. She can move in an instant. She activates the heat edge and--

The Angel SCREAMS. Misato screams too, though you can't hear it. Her nose bleeds terribly from both nostrils. There's a brief stumble--

--and then she throws herself as hard as she can for that Core, aiming with the knife as hard as she can.

Misato doesn't say anything or shout anything though, really, with that scream you probably wouldn't hear it even if she did.

Misato presses in until something breaks that core anyway. No point in backing off just because it's dangerous.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

"I would think someone 'braving' to lead an expedition such as this would be Mad rather than Inspiring." Eisen calls back to Yuta. Though admittedly, the boy's words are warming and enough to eek a bit at the things that are bothering his mind and heart at the moment. It certainly helps that a Lieutenant is bolstering his ego a bit too. "I'll keep that in mind, Lieutenant." Eisen replies a little gruffly, tapping his spear to his shoulder. Of course, then ruining the moment with an off-putting statement as his response to Yuta asking 'what is that' is...

"It's beautiful, isn't it? The way their utterly alienate the environment around them..." Eisen answers him. "That red orb is the 'Core' of an angel. Their... well, Soul I guess? Their Being from which they extend their Reach." He doesn't want to say 'from which they grow', as he isn't sure their physiology is even limited in that kind of way. "Truly a superior existance to our own... if speaking in terms of power."

Sonia's words concern him a bit though. He'll know? Very well, keep your secrets. Eisen enjoys those anyway. And his own secrets will be kept when Takao gives him and Sonia a look. That little smirk on his lips coming back for just a moment.

"Two seconds. Got it." He answers, as he moves with him. Keeping his eyes peeled for any further expressions of this being assaulting them. The Glyphs glowing makes him wonder - is it really still technology? Or is NERV hiding magicians amigst them?

The youth then grunts at the Lieutenant as he remarks on it being an honor. "Don't go putting a Death Flag on the lot of us will you?" Right before that pillar STABS into the Angel's core. And in that same moment, Eisen pushes his entire body into a forward slam, bringing the sonic spear straight into its core - a miniature version of what he uses when piloting his Evangelion - letting it get stuck within and setting the device to overload. He then immediately calls back, while wincing at the cry; "Remember! When the core detonates, it's going to explode into a massive wave of red liquid! You are going to get swept away. Stay close to eachother, and prepare to grab eachother! MAX! I'm relying on you to stop us from slamming into any sharp points in this cave. Step behind us!" He is shouting at the top of his lungs -- in the hopes that it'll pass by any tinnitus that may be ringing. Whilst he speaks, he grabs the cable that is tied to the Lieutenant and pulling on it, trying to make sure the cable is still sturdy enough.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"I've seen Max lift a car that was parked illegally in front of the Junk Shop." Yuta says to Sonia, smiling. "Don't worry. If things go badly, I'm sure he'll just pick both of us up and zoom back to the surface, anyway."

"It's... a soul?" Yuta says, dawning horror on his face. Wait, is this okay? If this thing is alive, can't they work with it? Yuta remembers the actions of the Angel he fought against in space, and that anxiety drains away. Even if it is alive, it only wants to hurt people. And he can't allow that. "I see."

As Sonia draws her gun, Yuta grows solemn. Playful winks and joking aside... This is a deadly situation. He'll support Sonia as long as he can, but if she starts firing, he'll take cover with Max. Yuta would only be in the way if things go down that path.

Two seconds. Yuta looks up to Max, gently taking his arm back from Sophia to allow her to aim properly. "This will be simplicity itself, Yuta. Stay back."

Stepping forward to join Calibur, Max extends his un-weaponized arm, allowing crystalline spikes to grow along it as well. He takes a fighting stance, nodding once to the samurai at his side. They both move out of the line of fire of those with guns. For his part, Calibur brings his two katana together. With a whoosh of mist and electricity, they form into one ridiculously huge sword -- larger than the man himself, though he still wields it with the same grace.

One.

Yuta moves back anxiously, keeping his eyes down on his comrades instead of the orb itself.

Two.

Max tenses up. One hand slowly extends forward, almost touching the core, then pulls back. His first strike is lined up.

Three.

Samurai Calibur bends, sliding his weight back onto one foot. Sword still sparking, the lanky man prepares to leap.

SCREAM

Yuta screams as well, bringing his hands to the sides of his hazmat suit to try and drown out the angel's agony and the sound of gunfire echoing in the tunnels. Stumbling back, Yuta falls onto his rear, then curls in on himself. Blood gushes from Yuta's nose, though he hardly notices. This was horrible... so much more horrible than the Angel in space had been..!

Heedless, for once, of their charge's distress, Calibur and Max spring into action. At the sound of the scream, Max's fist rockets forward, creating a boom of sound as it passes through the air. Each one of his crystalline sprikes has aligned forward, driven into the angel's core at the same time as Max's fist. After that initial sound-shattering punch, Max's arms become a blur. Punch after punch strikes the wicked red orb, sending spiderweb cracks further with each impact.

Calibur waits. Staying in position, he counts the moments. One second passes, one half... And he moves. Pushing off his back leg, moving faster than can be seen, the Samurai launches himself at the impact point Max has been working on. With a horrible shattering sound, Calibur passes through the entirety of the core, enormous sword-first. He emerges on the other side, bracing on the side of the cave, and rockets to the very top of the core. Two quick slashes carve an X into its crown, then he's gone again, leaping to the top of the cave. One breath, and he plummets down, bisecting the core a second time.

As soon as Calibur has made his move, Max abandons the core, taking up a position behind his allies. The crystal spikes lining his arms extend outward, instead of inward now, and he bends low. With a grunt, he rockets straight upwards, breaking the sound barrier once more as he punches the roof of the cave. An exit is created -- extending straight up. Any rocks that would fall down upon the group are either pulverized or sent into the air outside.

"CALIBUR!" Max roars, and the Samurai goes into action. Yuta is plucked from the ground, his tether severed with a single slash of the man's enormous sword. Once again nothing but a blur, Calibur rockets straight up, clinging to the opening Max has created. He hangs there with Yuta under his arm, prepared for the oncoming flood.

Now that Yuta is safe, Max braces himself. The crystal weapons on his arms vanish, and instead, he prepares to catch his allies, should any need him to. Firm as a tree, the man focuses especially on Sonia -- the flood is surely going to hit her hard.

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

"Thank you, Lieutenant!" Sonia says cheerfully as Takao gets the Sealing Pillar set up. While she's already fighting, um, a rather decent fight, and at his warning, makes sure her pistol is in her good hand and extricates herself from Yuta with a smile. "We'll reconvene soon." She says lightly enough, Heat Knife claiming her off-hand. Is she really that good to be trusted? On any other target, probably not.

This Angel-core, however, is big enough not just for the two of them, but for the whole lot to get in and a random cat, if one so happened to appear.

She does seem distracted, everyone can tell that much, but then the Scream-ening happens, and takes out ... many of them, at least momentarily. Sonia herself stays upright for about half a second, before it reverberates inside of her head and she staggers forward and drops down next to the Core on both knees, eyes streaming, nose bleeding, as she frantically chops and shots at the Core.

They only get so much time. When she finally runs out of bullets (no time to reload), she keeps knifing til there's no more time. "Please, please please, please--" She can be heard whispering like a frantic mantra.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Lt. Takao shrugs at Eisen's chiding to not trigger any death flags. "When you die, you die," he says fatalistically. Still, he makes sure to wait until everyone's ready, and when he's blasted back, he lets himself roll with the force. He'll be battered all over and sore as hell tomorrow, but he'll manage to make it out of this with no broken bones. From that, at least.
        
        Because Eisen is right: when an Angel's core is destroyed, it reduces to an equally red liquid called core fluid. Given the size of the thing, it will indeed definitely sweep them all away. Thank god for oxygen tanks and tethers: they won't drown, and they'll be able to make their way back to the surface. Eventually.
        
        Max batters against the defenseless core with his gauntlet-like crystals. Misato hurls herself full-body, heat knife-first, into the Core, as if she might make herself into a weapon to strike the target of her revenge down. Eisen thrusts his spear in and sets it to detonate before getting the hell out of dodge, looking out for the team all the way. Sonia unloads all her bullets and, when she runs out, stabs at it like she's a slasher villain and the Core is an oblivious teen. And Calibur--Calibur is steel and death itself, sweeping forward in a samurai's cut, then launching himself up and redirecting off the ceiling to bisect down.
        
        The screaming stops as abruptly as it had started. For Sonia, only a palpable sense of shock at the unseen strike of a predator and the agony of incoming oblivion remains. The Angel never noticed their approach; it's best not to think of how things might have gone differently if it had. For a second, all is deafeningly still.
        
        Then the crimson orb ruptures starting from the points of its many injuries, loses its form, and floods the cavern. Calibur has Yuta snatched up and out of the hole he'd cut in the ceiling in an instant. Max will be able to stand his ground and help defend the others, give them something to rally around to keep from getting slammed fatally into something hard and unforgiving.
        
        At the end of it all, they'll be able to make it out, whether it's up through the hole Calibur carved or back through the tunnel they'd come in through. With the Angel's death, the fungoid growths have gone inert. NERV will need to come back and clean up the core fluid later--this entire section of the Sea of Woods will be uninhabitable for a while--but for now...
        
        Mission accomplished.
        
        Far away, and not so far at all, Kaworu gazes upwards from Unit-00's entry plug, his faint smile bittersweet. "Goodbye," he murmurs to no one.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Everything around Yuta happens so fast. Calibur and Max showing exactly why Kaworu had okayed them joining the battle. Why Yuta is here. But most importantly, why they are lucky to have them. Compared to that kind of firepower, Eisen wonders how much his spear truly adds. Seeing Calibur tear through the core in its entirety with that absolutely massive blade.

Somewhere in Eisen's heart, envy and jealousy sprouts at such a sight. After all, he is but human. And similarly to how he regards the Angels, there is beauty in the source of that envy. Something so super-human, it's utterly superior in its form. Yet, it creates a goal as well. It's part of the reason he's in the biomechanical secret of science. To elevate humanity to such a point.

The roof of the cave is torn apart by Max, blasting out, then returning. Yuta is retrieved. Now, all that is left is for the rest of them to survive.

The moment the Angel's scream goes silent, he calls out: "HERE IT COMES!"

Core Fluid bursts out, and Eisen braces himself as well as he can. Holding onto the cable to the Lieutenant. Washing back towards Max and using the big immovable man as a way to stop himself from being washed into the unknown depths of the cave. Holding on for dear life and feeling the deadly pressure against his body.

When the wave finally ends, and the pool of red has formed a whole basin within the cavern, he motions for people to surface towards where Caliburn took Yuta. Luckily the red core fluid still allows for SOME visibility. "Let's go up." He calls out against the dense waters, and swims towards the surface.

Once there, calling to Yuta and Calibur to help him pull on the cable that is still attached to him to help the others get out.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Recovering himself as he dangles in the air, Yuta looks down at the sheer force of the floodwaters. "Thanks, Calibur." He says, a little thickly. His nose is stuffy after all that blood.

"A--anytime." Calibur responds, watching Max try to gather their comrades impassively. It seems he could hang from the ceiling all day.

Max easily gathers Eisen and Lt. Takao, holding them to his chest as the floodwater (?) rushes by him. Thank goodness he's such a massive person, if Calibur had tried this, he wouldn't be able to hold nearly as many people. Once he's certain everyone is safe and well, Max lets go, allowing everyone to swim to the surface. He joins them shortly, taking one last look at the shattered core of the dead Angel.

This world... It can truly be a horrific place. Max does not wonder why Akane Shinjo chose to retreat to her own creation. One without the filth and terror the outside seems to be rife with.

As everyone recovers, Max raises his voice. "Calibur and I can carry you all through the hole above, if you wish. Or, we will accompany you in returning the way we came. It makes no difference."

Eisen makes his decision. With a nod, Max looks up to Calibur. Swinging his legs, the samurai flips and vanishes through the hole Max created. He returns a moment later, once more clinging to the ceiling. Yuta's face can be faintly seen peeking in from the other side of the cave ceiling -- almost comically small. With easy movements, Max gathers Eisen's tether in his hands, then tosses it up to Calibur. The Samurai gathers it in his arms, hoisting Eisen up until he can be picked up much like Yuta was. Another flip, and the lanky man vanishes in a blur, Eisen in tow. He will be deposited next to Yuta.

"Are you alright?" Yuta asks the other young man, putting a hand on his shoulder softly. "That was pretty rough. I guess I can see why you think they're so beautiful, though. That wasn't like anything else in the world. It was like watching a star die."

Yuta seems no worse for wear, thankfully, besides a fairly nasty nosebleed. He didn't even get his hazmat gear dirty.

Anyone who so wishes will be treated to the same fate as Yuta and Eisen.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Eisen is pulled out the rest of the way and ends up seated on the ground next to the newly created 'cave exit'. Panting a bit next to Yuta. His body is sore from the intense force that had been applied to him just moments ago. He doesn't take the hazmat suit off quite yet though. Instead, watching down into the waters, making sure that the rest make it out.

"Hmm?" It's what makes him miss Yuta's words at first. His brain doing a bit of a wind-back in order to remember what was said. Clutching onto context. "Yeah... the strange way they form this kind of... biohorror-esque feature sometimes. The way they are so... alien. It's beautiful." Eisen remarks. "Unfortunately, they are diametrically opposed to us. It's similar in nature to triple-zero in a ways. Even if we can understand them... that doesn't mean we should permit their existence."

He stares a bit idly alongside Yuta. Not quite creating eye-contact. He instead stretches a leg out and rubs along it through the suit. "I remember now though. Calibur... you. You were there in the digital space too. The bleeding heart." The youth then begins to stand up. "Seems NERV has a lot to thank you for. Especially since we're down a few critical members right now because of some selfish bitch kidnapping our allies into some stupid colony in space."

He then calls down into the waters; "Misato, Sonia? Are you two okay down there?"

<Pose Tracker> Sonia Sophia-Grace has posed.

That palpable sense of shock causes Sonia to reel again in the midst of her attacks on the Angel, and that further oblivion gets her to stop wheezing and start weeping, silent, frantic tears of apology. This is the part that she hates the most - that knowledge that, even a danger to the world has this pain that comes with them, and that indelible knowledge of death. It is only when it comes to the eleven o'clock hour that she stops, as the crimson orb ruptures, and then floods.

While not easily fetched, when it dies down, the petite woman can be found clinging to a stalagmite a bit away, having used her tether to help secure herself to it lest she get pulled too far away and become one with the flood. "Let it be known that you have a excellent sixth sense." She informs Eisen after a moment. "Let it also be known that if the Angel had noticed us any earlier there would have been..."

Fucked. A lengthy pause as the shorter older woman peers up at Yuta, tactfully changing her phrasing. "... been an issue. I think I need to speak to someone about this sooner rather than later.

Then, another long moment, hopefully in Max's direction: "... help?"

<Pose Tracker> Mari Makinami Illustrious has posed.

A scream. A struggle.

A sentiment of desperate and confused impressions that only one, silver-haired youth can really understand.

                        understand
                                        don't
                                                grow
        stop
                                live
                live
li

And then silence, as a broad rainbow arcs out over a stretch of Aokigahara in stark defiance of storms and in singular proof of victory.

All is right with the world.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

Yuta seems used to being hurled around by the Neon Genesis Junior High Students, though Eisen is given a sympathetic smile. "Sorry. They're a little rough. Once, Calibur dragged me from my classroom and halfway across the city, all along rooftops. And it wasn't just me, my friends Rikka and Utsumi were there too. I don't know how he does it."

"It's not really my kind of thing." Yuta answers, after listening to Eisen speak about the Angels. "But I can respect it. At first I thought they were like kaiju, you know? Just doing what they were programmed to. But they all do such different, weird things... I'm glad it's not my job to figure them out. I guess that's where the mad science comes in." This is said with a playful tone. "But I'll be here to help fight when you guys need me. It's the same as you've all done for me and Tsutsujidai."

As Eisen chooses to look elsewhere, Yuta does too, watching the NGJHS work on evacuating the rest of their allies. "Yeah, that was us! I guess that guy was Gridman's brother. That is something I need to figure out, I guess."

However... when Eisen mentions the "selfish bitch", Yuta practically recoils. The friendly air between the two young men vanishes, and Eisen is met with an icy gaze. "She's not -- what you said. That's not her at all. She's trying to help. And we don't even know that it's her fault! Maybe your comrades got sick of all this terrible fighting and needed a break. They're -- human beings too!" Yuta's hands clench into fists. "Tsutsujidai is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people. It's not dumb! It's beautiful and worth protecting. It's worth everything."

"It sounds like Akane values your comrades more than you do. They're not just tools for fighting these things. They're real, and they matter. Their choices and desires matter. And -- if they can find peace in Tsutsujidai, I hope they stay there. For as long as makes them happy!"

Yuta takes a breath, then looks away from Eisen. As if on cue...

BEEP.

The young man looks stricken, quickly putting a hand over his left wrist. "...just my phone..." he mutters, still refusing to make eye contact with Eisen. ...could someone sneak a phone into a hazmat suit like this? And would someone really look that upset about the beep of a phone?

Down in the cave, Max nods to Sonia. Much like he did for Eisen, he gathers up her tether and hurls it up to Calibur, where it's caught with acrobatic precision. Soon enough, the woman is hoisted up into Calibur's arm and flipped through the air, deposited next to the two young men. Misato and the Lieutenant, should they wish, will join them. Once everyone is up safely, Max and Calibur both appear in a blur of movement by Yuta's side.

Max frowns, looking at Yuta's tense body language. "...is something the matter here?"

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Eisen is a bit unentheusiastic as he remarks; "What can I say - there's a demon sealed behind this eye. It's good at keeping its host alive." He remarks, touching to the hazmask's visor area near the glowing device. He leaves it to Max to haul her up, what with Misato having arrived to the surface now and no doubt doing Colonel things like calling up Kaworu.

"What kind of talking are you looking for?" He then asks. "After all, there's still elements of Angels that are on a need-to-know kind of basis within NERV. And I can't exactly council you on the matter of what you must have gone through." He adds. "But otherwise... I guess I have some time to kill while we wait for a pickup."

As he looks up at the rainbow that forms, smiling a bit. "Ah yes, they do that too." He motions for Yuta's sake in a melancholic manner. "They leave behind a rainbow for some reason. No doubt a warping of space and time of some sorts catching light the right way." Before that hand comes down again.

That's when Yuta gets a chance to stare at him with that icy look. Eisen's immediate response is to go entirely quiet for a bit as the boy tells him off. Listening to him defend the girl that kidnapped his allies. Who suddenly just... decided to disappear. He seems dispassionate almost, as Yuta tries to tell him that he's wrong. That they don't value their comrades. Talking about tools. About them being real. His hands turn to fists however. Trying to summon an enormous amount of patience.

In that moment, he looks to Max... then Calibur. And before he can even consider the distance between himself and Yuta, Max and Calibur form up near him.

Beings of inhuman strength that would do anything to protect the boy.

So in that moment, Eisen tries to hurt the boy with words instead; "That bitch took people who could fight her and warped their minds against their consent. Forced their minds to change. From my understanding, they're all suddenly going through signs of severe PTSD because of her. And you're honestly trying to defend her? Some kind of poor ill thought-out excuse because what... I assume you were friends with her at some point?" He asks him.

He puts a hand at his hip. "Damn right they are human beings. Human beings who up till then actived in a manner that was predictable. They were irritable, protective. There's no way Ouka would have just left Switzerland like that - leaving her crying. Not even telling her where she went. You're telling me that's something she would have willingly done? Fuck off kid. The girl is a menace and would be better off dead for all the sorrow she inflicts!" Swinging a hand outwards in anger.

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"A demon..?" Yuta asks, looking at Eisen more closely. "What does that mean?"

What does he want to know about Angels? Yuta thinks it over, glancing up at the sky. A rainbow... How beautiful. He smiles at the sight of it. "I guess... Does anyone know why they're attacking? If they're intelligent, they must've realized any Angel that comes here gets killed pretty quickly. Why do they keep coming? And why only one at a time? They must be after something really, really important to them. Something they're willing to die for."

"Don't call her that." Yuta says, his voice low. "I won't say it again."

"There's no evidence Akane did anything but reach out to them. Gridman hasn't detected any kaiju activity, and Akane hardly has the power to brainwash actual human beings. She can't even do that to awakened Repli-Compoids! Are you saying your allies didn't have severe PTSD before this? Maybe they didn't have a chance to express themselves until they had a moment to breathe. You think fighting those things--" Yuta gestures down to the cave. "wouldn't mess anyone up? I have nightmares about that one in space, and I didn't even do that much!"

"Akane is my friend." She's more than that, but Yuta doesn't say it. Eisen wouldn't understand. "And I'll do whatever I can to protect her, and Tsutsujidai. When have you done anything to care for the allies you apparently worry so much for? Do you even know what Ouka's been through? Not to mention anyone else..." Yuta's fists clench more tightly, and he grits his teeth. "I don't know why everyone chose to come here. But I'm willing to respect their decisions. And I'll fight to protect those decisions."

Eisen goes too far. With a snarl, Yuta launches himself at the other boy, aiming to tackle him to the ground. Words fail him, and with his already frayed nerves, all he has left is physical violence. Without any training, he can only rely on the moves his body remembers from hosting Gridman. It's a nasty fight, full of emotion not just from this mission.

Yuta can't escape the feeling that deep down, Eisen might be right. No matter how foul his words may be... Would Akane really do all this? Every time his Primal Acceptor has beeped out of nowhere echoes in his mind, so many nights of sleep interrupted... Yuta can't deal with it. All he can do is try to punch Eisen ever-harder, unable to cope with his rage.

Calibur and Max stand back, watching. Calibur looks to Max, who folds his arms in front of his chest. It seems, for now, they will not intervene.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

"You want to say my allies are so weak that they all have to hide away on your little private getaway in the sky? The place is barely even real!" He answers Yuta with a sneer. "And yes, I have a very trustworthy source that indicates exactly that. That some kind of shitty Kaiju is being used to make my people 'understand her' better." He answers, aggressively using airquotes.

He then motions to the side. "And of course my idiot other allies rather try to ease this shit over and play niceties instead of just dealing with the situation as they should be. With finality!" Eisen continues, showing that Eisen may be the outlier in NERV, not the other way around.

"We are destined to destroy these beings. Us and our Evangelions. She is weakening humanity's defense against these things. What would have happened, if she'd also taken the scientist that made that pillar?" He asks. "What would have happened, if those Evangelion fighting that proto-Angel at the bay of Tokyo would not have been able to show? How many thousands of peoples do you think that your idiot friend has inadvertantly gotten killed, or is going to get killed?" He demands to know from Yuta.

But when Yuta points out that Eisen hasn't even visited - doesn't know what Ouka has been through... he grimaces. Because Yuta is right. He hasn't visited. But that isn't because he hasn't wanted to. There are other factors stopping him from doing so. And one such factor is what Yuta is experiencing right now.

Eisen isn't the kind of people who is good with people. Certainly, put him in the lead of a thing like this, and he'll manage. But ask him to deal with people suffering like his friends are...

Part of his anger, is because he knows he cannot help. He feels like he cannot help.

So the best he can manage is a weak, but angrily spoken; "Shut up! You are so blinded by your friendship, you cannot see that she is destroying people!" And that's when Yuta suddenly launches himself at him. He catches him off-guard in that moment, tackling him to the ground. He hits his head on the hard rock and the hazmat suit's top shatters partially, before flying partially off into an awkward manner. Leaving Eisen's head exposed.

Yuta gets a nasty punch in on Eisen's left eye before the much taller and adult-looking youth literally headbutts the younger boy. Another punch then cracks slightly along Eisen's nose - there's a little crunchy crack - before he gets a hand onto Yuta's to try and stop him from just mercilessly wailing on him. Immediately groaning as he feels a violent pain in his forehead on hitting the boy's head at just the wrong angle above the visor - creating a cut on himself. But he follows it up by using his knee to slam into Yuta's side - aiming right for his liver - or at least to really knock the wind out of Yuta and roll on top of him. To try and grab him by the shoulders and push him to the ground. A bit of blood from the cut that has formed under his eye drips down onto Yuta's hazmat visor through Eisen's broken one.

His strength isn't like that of a regular trained human. Yuta perhaps understands the difference between a regular human and something 'more'. And right now, holding him, is someone who is 'something more'. His eyes don't have this normal look anymore. Eisen's only visible pupil almost seem like it's just... gone. Just this faded field of green instead.

"I keep hearing people use friendship like some kind of shitty excuse. But all it does is blind you to reality!" He yells at Yuta. "So if you end up standing in our way - then be sure that I will go through you and your superhuman friends here if that's what it takes to get my only friends back!" Which is probably the first and only time that Eisen has ever refered to any of the Children or his allies as 'friends'.

A revalation that nobody here is there to really enjoy or understand - before he brings his hand forward and grabs at Yuta's mask and tries to rip it off of his head to continue the beatings. Releasing one of Yuta's arms to do so. "Tell her to give them back!" He then demands of Yuta. Shaking him.

Sonia would feel the demand that is behind that.

'Give me back my friends!'

<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.

"Everyone's weak!" Yuta replies, tensing his entire body. "Everyone has needs, even you, Daiwel! Even the strongest, most badass person at NERV has a breaking point! If you have some proof of a kaiju, then send it to us, and Gridman will destroy it! But nothing we've done has revealed anything like that--!"

Finality. Yuta snarls again. This person... this "mad scientist" so full of their own importance... what would he know about protecting a world? About protecting the people you love? What would he know about what Yuta's been through, about what Akane's been through?

"You don't know -- anything ABOUT us!"

Eisen makes some good points. If all the NERV pilots had been in Tsutsujidai... What would've happened? Could an Angel even be defeated without them? But that doesn't mean what the other young man is saying is okay. Anyone who wants to hurt Tsutsujidai is his enemy, and Eisen gleefully takes that place. "I've given up everything -- everything, to protect Tsutsujidai! To protect her! I have nothing but this fight!" Hot tears come to Yuta's bright blue eyes, half-blinding him. "And I'm not giving up, not for anything!"

It feels horrible, feeling Eisen's nose crunch beneath his fist. Yuta hates it. It's wrong. All of this is wrong, but he can't -- stop. All he can think about is making the other young man shut up. When Eisen grabs his hand, Yuta strains against it -- much like Gridman has in the past. Trying to leverage his own strength against his opponent's.

Unfortunately, Yuta hardly has Gridman's strength in this form. Eisen rallies immediately, and the value of experience and training comes through clearly. Muscle memory isn't enough. With a kick knee to his side, Yuta gasps, the wind fully knocked out of him. This seems to stun him -- has he ever experienced it before? -- and gives Eisen the opening he needs to take down the redhead.

Forced to the ground, Yuta gasps out another little snarl. He's not giving up. How many times has Gridman gotten the hell beaten out of him and kept fighting? This is nothing! Slowly, he begins to realize this isn't a fight he can win. Eisen is... strong. Something's different about him, just like something's different about the NGJHS. Yuta barely notices Eisen's pupil fading out, blinded by his own anger and tears.

Still straining aginst Eisen's hold, Yuta trembles with effort. He wants to win, so, so badly. He wants to make this arrogant man eat his words. "F--friendship isn't half of it. This is true love! Caring about something -- more than yourself." Yuta gasps out. "You wouldn't -- know!"

Eisen adds a threat to Yuta's comrades, spurring on another wave of resistance from the younger boy. All-but flailing in his blind rage, Yuta tries to bring his knee up to Eisen's middle, much like Eisen did to Yuta. In the background, Calibur takes a single step forward. Max is yet unmoved.

Yuta's mask goes flying easily, though with his arm freed, he grabs Eisen's collar, bringing the other young man's face as close to his own as he can. "Try it. Let's see what an Eva can do against a Giant of Light." The words are hissed. Venom and fire radiate from the normally-peaceful young boy. "I don't need an extension cord.

As the fight devolves into aimless shouting and shaking each other, Max finally steps forward. With one hand, he hoists the boys into the air. "That is enough." Calibur joins him, gently pulling Yuta away from Eisen. In a flash, the Samurai is gone, taking his charge with him.

With great care, Max puts Eisen down on the ground. "Young man. I understand these are words said in anger. But such things often come with consequence." Stepping back, Max again folds his arms over his chest. "If you truly have information on a kaiju affecting your comrades, you may send it to this phone number." A business card is dropped in front of Eisen.

Max looks down at Eisen. Two enhanced beings, sizing each other up.

"Do not forget. Tsutsujidai is protected."

With that, he vanishes in a blur of movement.

<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.

Everyone is weak. Yuta is once again right. Eisen even knows this. He may not be some psychology major, but he's in the biomechanical sciences. Which means he knows enough about medical science to be a real danger, and understand the kind of effects that come with enhancing a human. The ethics. The moral objections. The shocks people go through. "Why don't you just ask your friend!?" He asks of Yuta. "Why don't you look her in the eye, and ASK HER! She's a friend, right? Then she WOULD NOT LIE!" Eisen answers Yuta with a sneer. The subtext is clear. Trying to prove to Yuta that what he has isn't really friendship. That it's some lofty ideal that cannot so easily be reached.

But really. Friendship is far more complicated than that. More complicated than Eisen truly understands. "Of course I don't know anything about you people! To most of the outside world, you don't even EXIST! Until recently, you were nothing but a DREAM!" Eisen seems to have an answer for everything, but they are not well put together thoughts. They just come out of anger. "This fight is my everything too. Against the Angels - that is my life. That is the life of most of the Children of NERV! Don't you fuckin' give me this shitty pity-part about this being all you have! Get a fucking hobby if you have to!" Shaking him. Trying to get a better angle at Yuta to punch that young boy's face.

What must this look like? An adult on top of Yuta like this. Using his greater strength to overwhelm him like this? This is sickening. And it makes Eisen feel so much worse. Because in truth, he's probably not that much older than Yuta. What this looks like, and what this is... everything about it is ugly. All of it is just revealing Eisen's utter ugliness. Including the tears that now burn behind those eyes. That drip down alongside Eisen's blood onto Yuta's face.

"If you think this is true love, you don't truly understand what love is! Love isn't unconditional! If your love is hurting people, it means correcting them!" Eisen yells at Yuta. His arm is about to come down as Yuta grabs his collar. Pushing his forehead against Yuta. His hot breath against his face. "I wouldn't need the extension cord to destroy your Giant of Light if your protection of that girl ends up with my friends hurt!" Eisen hisses at him.

There comes that kick! The pain flashes at his side and Eisen grimaces, right before Calibur and Max move. Yuta is pulled away, and Eisen is lifted to the air. The youth man grimaces at Max with anger. Watching Calibur take away Yuta. But he's put down. He isn't hurt by Max.

He quickly brushes his chest as he's released, stumbling, grimacing at Max. But he's not the source of his anger. And in truth... neither is Yuta. "Speak to Mamoru Amami of the Gao Gai Gar team if you wish. He, Kaworu Nagisa and Ikumi Kaidou have the details you seek. I figured you already knew. What with being 'friends' with Akane."

And then they are gone, leaving Eisen alone again...

So alone, and angry.

Since when did he start caring that he is alone?