The Trash Returned from Warhammer

[Experiment Complete]

[Pilot, please enter the maintenance area]

The entry plugs were ejected, and the light in the eyes of the three steel giants faded along with them. Shinji and the others returned to the maintenance area, first changing out of their plugsuits to take a hot shower, then changing into casual clothes, and finally returning to the lounge to stand by.

”Aaah, finally over. I was supposed to go shopping with Ibuki today, but I got dragged here for overtime.”

Asuka was drying her damp hair. Just as she finished complaining, she saw Shinji looking up from the sofa and quickly corrected herself:

”I’m not complaining about the work! It’s just, could you give a heads-up next time for this kind of thing? I keep having to stand people up.”

”Ibuki-san is Maya’s sister. She should understand,” Rei Ayanami remarked coolly, without looking up from her book.

”Wait, really? They do have the same last name.”

Asuka let out a forced laugh, trying to save face. ”Japanese names are so complicated to read; I just didn’t notice for a moment.”

’Truly... maintaining that shred of pride at every turn.’

Shinji didn’t know what to say. He glanced at Rei and suddenly asked, ”Rei, is your hair getting longer?”

The girl’s hair had originally been shorter, but it was now reaching her shoulders. Combined with the book in her hand and her quiet demeanor, she looked quite the part of a ”literary girl.”

”Is it?”

She reached up to touch her bangs, saying plainly, ”I let it grow out on purpose. Ikari-kun, didn’t you say you liked long hair?”

Shinji froze. He then remembered walking through the shopping district with Rei a few months ago; he probably had said something like that.

It had been a purely offhand comment. After all, during his long years of service, the Astartes around him were either bald or had buzz cuts, their faces covered in scars. You couldn’t find a single woman in an entire Chapter.

He hadn’t expected Rei to take it to heart.

His expression softened—it was these small things in life that were the most moving. But soon, he frowned.

”Asuka, why are you pacing back and forth in front of me?”

”I’m not! My hair just isn’t dry yet, and there happens to be an AC vent right here. I’m just using it to dry off.”

The girl lightly tossed her long, reddish-orange hair. Her hair quality was excellent, falling like a waterfall down to her waist. She was squinting, secretly gauging Shinji’s reaction.

’Hehe, so you like long-haired beauties, huh? Stop looking elsewhere—isn’t there one right in front of you?’

Shinji rolled his eyes and gave a well-meaning warning: ”Standing directly under the vent like that, be careful not to catch a cold.”

”Hmph, none of your business.”

Asuka huffed, then looked at Rei. ”Rei, that’s not how you grow out long hair. Don’t you think it’s a bit messy? Chihaya recommended a hair salon. I’ll take you there after school tomorrow.”

Rei’s icy-blue hair was slightly wavy; now that it was longer, it did look a bit unkempt. She lifted her bangs to look, then gave a soft nod.

”Okay.”

”That’s more like it! Oh, I have a fashion magazine here. Look at some styles beforehand.”

’The relationship between these two has certainly improved.’

Shinji leaned back. Seeing the two fourteen-year-old girls huddled together looking at a magazine—one fiery, one cool, icy-blue and orange representing their personalities—he couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.

The team atmosphere was good.

Asuka had immense pride and a twisted personality, but overall, she was a good kid. She didn’t say it aloud, but she remembered the favor Rei did by shielding her last time. With Hikari Horaki and the others around, the tension wasn’t nearly as high as before.

Of course, Asuka’s ”German Superiority” act was still ongoing, and she would never admit she and Rei were good friends.

”You’ve been getting along well with Rei lately,” Shinji said teasingly.

Predictably, Asuka—who had been shoulder-to-shoulder with Rei a second ago—instantly recoiled half a meter, leaving Rei looking somewhat bewildered.

”Huh?! Are you an idiot? I just think... I think... uh...”

Asuka’s brain went into overdrive. After a full three seconds of hesitation, she finally found an excuse.

”According to the Pilot Regulations, external image is also very important! As the team leader, of course I have to supervise her!”

’I have the regulations memorized back-to-front; I don’t remember seeing that. Also, when did you become the team leader?’

Shinji stared at her. For some reason lately, a sense of ”mischief” had awakened in him. No other reason than—Asuka, red-faced and scrambling for excuses, was truly entertaining.

[Pilots, please prepare for the second experiment phase]

Unexpectedly, a voice came over the intercom. Shinji had to close his mouth before he could speak, while Asuka, looking as if she had been granted a reprieve, immediately started complaining.

”Are you kidding me? Why make us shower if there’s a second experiment? Is something wrong with the Technical Department’s heads?”

Unlike Shinji, who put duty first, or Rei, who was passively obedient, Asuka always spoke her mind.

”Apologies. The experiment was added last minute, but you won’t need to pilot. You just need to act as observers.”

This time it was Ritsuko Akagi speaking. Facing her, Asuka didn’t dare be too out of line.

”Dammit. Soaking in LCL again means another shower later. Fine, what kind of experiment is it this time?”

”The initial operational test of the Dummy System.”

’What?’

Asuka’s expression instantly soured. She viewed piloting the EVA as her life’s purpose; she loathed this system. If a Dummy System could control the EVA, what reason would there be for her to exist?

As for Rei Ayanami, her hand trembled for a split second, and her gaze turned somber.

Shinji remained expressionless, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes. An EVA wasn’t a JA; what could possibly substitute for a soul-synced pilot?

’Still trying to struggle? Fine, I’ll let you doubt your life choices even more. Let the seeds of spirit continue to sprout.’

Soon, the three were back in their cockpits. These were specialized entry plugs; a black, nondescript device had been added behind the seat.

’This is the Dummy System?’

Shinji glanced at the unremarkable thing. He could guess its value. Without a pilot, an EVA was just a giant toy. Yet pilots were too precious; even if NERV was unsatisfied, they couldn’t be replaced. Ultimately, fourteen-year-olds were easy to manipulate, but if it were power-hungry adults...

’Asking me to pilot an EVA to fight monsters? And it MUST be me? I’m not driving it without some serious kickbacks.’

Money, power, status—without real compensation, who would want to save the world?

”So, the value of this thing is to replace disobedient pilots, and to tell the pilots that they aren’t irreplaceable?”

As an adult over a hundred years old who had witnessed the bureaucracy of the Imperium, Shinji could see through it at a glance. As for who among the pilots was the most disobedient and assertive...

’Isn’t that me?’

[Entry plug reaching designated position. Depth between -2 and -5]

[All systems operational. Pilot neural links disconnected]

Maya Ibuki typed on her keyboard, then looked back at Ritsuko Akagi. The latter nodded.

”Transfer control. Dummy System, engage.”

Beep—

The interior of the entry plug went pitch black. Soon, an ominous red light flickered to life.

”Wait, what’s happening?”

Asuka looked around as a rhythmic beep-beep sounded from behind her seat. A device rose and took over the controls. Rei bowed her head, her expression full of worry.

[Unit-00 and Unit-02 links normal]

[Dummy System operational. Sync rate stable at 3%]

[Pilots are locked out of control]

For the Technical Department, this was a routine experiment. Tactically, the Dummy System was highly valuable. EVA damage was transmitted to the pilot via the neural link; if a pilot passed out from pain, the Dummy System could ensure the unit didn’t lose combat effectiveness.

Gendo Ikari stood at the observation deck, silently watching the three steel giants. He didn’t care about Unit-00 or Unit-02.

To SEELE, the Dummy System was the key to the next phase of the script and a shackle to restrain Gendo himself. But to him, the only ”key” was Unit-01. Now that Shinji had completely slipped from his control, he had to find a way to correct it.

’Don’t you always talk about protecting humanity? Surely you can’t refuse a system that enhances combat power? Besides, this is top secret; I’m not giving you time to think.’

”Status of Unit-01?”

[Unit-01 is not responding. Neural link disconnection failed for the second time.]

’Yui... are you rejecting even me?’

He clenched his fist and ordered: ”Continue. Third link attempt. Increase power. Unit-01 MUST be activated.”

[Understood. Third link commencing. Maximum power output]

The interior of Unit-01 was pitch black. Shinji floated in the LCL, resting his head on his hand. He heard the whirring of the machine behind him but didn’t use his psychic powers to cut the remote link.

’Hmm. A signal simulating a soul. Essentially, it’s a fraud attempting to trick the Machine Spirit into giving up control?

But this frequency... it feels so much like Rei.’

A psyker could perceive things invisible to the naked eye. He remembered the secret report he’d swiped. Before he arrived at Tokyo-3, this system had undergone an initial test. The result was Unit-00 going berserk and Rei Ayanami being severely injured.

An EVA isn’t some submissive machine like a JA. If you do this...

Shinji opened his eyes. His pupils looked as if they were burning.

”You will make the Machine Spirit greatly displeased.”

[Dummy System engaged]

[Mental link— Wait, anomaly detected! Circuits L3 through L7 have disconnected!]

”What?!”

Ritsuko Akagi rushed to the screen. Seeing the wildly fluctuating waveforms, she looked utterly incredulous. She had all three EVAs participate at the same time for a control test. Unit-00 and Unit-02 were fine, so why was only Unit-01 having issues?

”Disconnect! Terminate the experiment!”

”Negative! Unit-01 is refusing the feedback command! All control lines are severed!”

Maya Ibuki was drenched in a cold sweat. Alarms blared throughout the lab, and a mechanical groaning sound echoed from the hangar.

With no one at the controls, Unit-01 moved anyway. Massive securing bolts meters in diameter were forced open by sheer, raw power. The hundred-ton clamps began to twist and buckle.

Ritsuko’s pupils shrank. Something even the Angels couldn’t achieve had been triggered by the Dummy System experiment? She had almost forgotten that Unit-01 possessed this kind of power.

Berserk!?

Read ahead (100 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting