Thanks to a nice amount of interest shown by the community, I decided, hell yeah, lets finish this thing. So here it is, Chapter One of 'The Berserker Complex'. Until I remember the specifics, assume the canon storyline up to Bardiel, the 13th angel, where this fic begins.
But first, a big thanks to J.R.G.H for picking up my mistake in 'Indifference'.
Enjoy
Delusion – 1
"Classify the target as the 13th Angel. Launch all units ready to intercept at Nobeyama" Genduo Ikari said.
"Sir, the 4th child is still inside the entry plug, we can't.." Makoto began, a hint of insolence in his tone. He knew his superior would just ignore his feeble remark, though knew the target was an Angel, and despite have a life at stake, it's better than billions of people suffering at the hands of one.
"Unit~3 is expendable, have all unit's stand by for ground combat" Genduo interrupted, as if what Makoto said was but a pause in his own speech.
"Sir!" Makoto responded, feeling like a pawn in such a pathetic game.
"Unit... the target is approaching!" Aoba exclaimed.
The black unit~3 slouched as it came over the rise, immediately turning towards Unit~02. It's jaw was wide open as a green liquid seeped form its mouth.
"Scheisse!" Asuka muttered, clutching her controls tightly
Unit~3 wailed as it braced itself for attack, falling forward onto all four limbs. It sprinted off towards Asuka, leaping forward as beasts do. Unit~02 started firing, equipped with a pellet~rifle in both arms, but to no avail.
"The AT field was supposed to be neutralized! Why won't it die!" Asuka yelled.
Before the command post was able to respond;
"It was. Unit~3 still has 12 thousand plates of fortified armor in it's defense" Rei replied, appearing on Asuka's display.
Why didn't she know. How could that pathetic doll know more than her. Asuka gritted her teeth. She wasn't going to be defeated. In spite of it's obvious failure, She kept firing until every round had been depleted. 'Better safe than sorry' Asuka thought.
Unit~02 rushed off towards the oncoming Angel, throwing the weaponry as it did. It deployed and retrieved it's progressive knife moments before the two EVAs collided. The Angel leaped up onto Unit~02, gripping it's throat and weapon~arm whilst holding itself in place with it's legs around the EVA's waist.
"Asuka!" Shinji cried as he willed Unit~01, running to her aid, unequipped at the time. Rei followed suit from the other adjacent side.
"Fich Abhauen! I don't need you! Asuka yelled, her neck still bound by the Angel's hand. Accepting his aid was not a loss she was not willing to take.
Unit~3 turned its head to face Unit~00, still an encumbrance upon Asuka. Without hesitation, it's arm went rigid, tightening its hold on Unit~02's weapon~arm. Asuka gasped in pain, as the Angel slowly crushed the limb in it's grasp. Blue blood trickled from the maimed arm, now bent to an inutile angle, though still holding the progressive knife. As soon as the prominent snap echoed, the Angel released the limp arm, throwing it's extended reach at Rei.
"The Angel's bio~mass has increased! It created more of itself from nothing!" Maya yelled in fear, though trying to be informative.
"An Evangelion with an S² Organ, a manifestation, not unlike God" Genduo said calmly, implying as if it should have been common knowledge and ignoring his own arrogance.
Maya turned back to the main screen. 'A God...'
The angels fist collided with Unit~00's head, then it unclench to hold the EVA, fully wrapping it fingers round.
"Rei's sync ratio is above 60%, she's in danger!" Maya yelled as she turned to Genduo, the only person capable of any guidance.
'Rei..'
"Cap the synchronization process of Unit~00 at 45%, order Rei to establish an AT field" Genduo said, standing up as he invoked his power.
The Angel groaned as a translucent liquid began seeping from the gaps in unit~3's gauntlet armor. It swept up and over Unit~00's face, veins showing as it slithered down it's neck. The unusual sight to Shinji meant ill intent, and he willed Unit~01, dashing past Asuka's EVA to Rei's side.
"The Angel is attempting to infect Unit~00! The pilot's mental stasis is severely damaged" Aoba yelled, his eyes still fixed on him monitor.
"Cut off the synchronization to Unit~00, and eject the entry plug immediately!" Genduo yelled back, angry his first order was rebuked.
Unit~00's entry plug shot out from it's back. Shinji noticed it path, and caught the cylinder, cautious not to crush the fragile object. With it's spare hand, Unit~01 drew its progressive knife, slashing at the angels extended limb. In a spurt of red blood, the arm went limp, reverting to its original length and severed from its body. The idea made Shinji think;
'An Angel? With red blood?' He thought for a minute while he was out of danger, and then it hit him. It's an EVA. There's a pilot inside. He couldn't kill another human being.
"Father! I can't fight that thing!" He screamed, a small part of him hoping his kin wouldn't respond.
"Eliminate the target or the 2nd child will fall victim to your disobedience" Genduo replied, smiling. Though it was not planned, using Asuka's life as a counter~balance for his son's obedience seemed infallible.
"No. I won't kill" Sounded in the command center as Unit~01 slouched, inactive.
A tear dropped from Asuka's bloodshot eye. 'He chose to save that emotionless doll over me. Am I nothing to him? Should I just die?' She thought as the hand around her neck felt tighter. Her father left her. Her mother abandoned her. And now Shinji. No one was here for her. No one loved her. 'I have no purpose. I've lost. I hate everything. I hate myself' Were the thoughts swirling in Asuka's mind as tears flowed freely, breaking her vow to never cry again.
Time passed, the Angel now toying with the motionless EVA. It released its hand around Unit~02's throat, leaving it to slump to the ground, falling on top of it. Not unlike before, the malicious liquid seeped out from the crevasses in unit~3's armor plating.
"Cut power to Unit~02 and stop the synchronization process. Eject the umbilical cables from Unit~01 and Unit~00. It will at least save the pilots" Genduo said, again seated atop the command center.
"Sir!" Sounded from all 3 technicians. The feeling of obeying him was eased as the commander's tone showed a little compassion, an ideal new to them from Genduo.
The sound of her EVA powering down took Asuka to her limit. 'They too have given up on me. I am nothing' She thought, releasing her controls, and falling limp inside her entry plug.
"Unit~02 is rejecting the process, were going to have to wait till it's internal batteries are depleted" Aoba said, as optimistic as one could be in their situation.
The Angel lifted it's head, taking in it's surroundings before averting it's gaze back to Unit~02. Though it posed no threat, unit~3 began to tear off the EVA's armor, and exposing the tyrant beneath it's flesh. The white liquid began to rush from the Angel faster, covering Unit~02's torso, veins showing all over. Asuka felt her chest ache, showing the sync process was still intact.
"No" rung throughout her entry plug. "You cannot die. You must live"
Asuka looked around her, the voice familiar. A massive smile appeared on her face and her eye's widened.
"Moma!" Asuka cried out. "You're here, you were always here!"
The four eyes upon Unit~02's face gleamed as it's jaw dropped. The Angel reacted immediately, now seeing a threat withing it's once inactive adversary. It began thrashing wildly at the EVA's exposed chest, only to strike an orange shield as the infectious liquid instantly dissipated.
"Unit~02 still has power... it's going berserk!" Makoto exclaimed, his eyes wide as he stared at the data on his monitor. "Sync ratio is at 290%!"
Makoto turned to stare.
"Impossible, the synchronization capabilities were ceased!" He replied, surprised as much as his colleague.
"Sir! What's going on?" Maya said, facing her commander.
Ignoring her question, Genduo stood up, and turned to exit the room.
"Take care of this will you" He ordered, as much a statement as a question.
"Yes commander" Fuyutsuki replied, composed despite the situation as usual.
The entire command post watched the main screen.
Unit~02 kicked forward, throwing the Angel off itself and flying into the landscape. God~speed took the EVA above the stumbling Angel in an instant. Letting out a tremendous roar, Unit~02 threw its uninjured hand at the Angel. Though, contrary to its usual combat tactics, instead of ripping apart flesh, dark orange octagons began to pulse from the EVA.
"Unit~02 is using it's AT field offensively" Fuyutsuki said to the room, not wanting any mindless questions from the technicians.
The Angel cried out in agony, struggling under the EVA as the AT field's edges began to cut into it's torso. As the red blood spurted, a portion splashed from it's inner organs onto Unit~02's feeble arm. The Angel's ability to create mass became active once again as the damage to the EVA's useless limb became non~existent. As if it was planned, Unit~02 immediately tightened it's grip on its progressive knight and began to slice aimlessly at the Angel's exposed organs. Blood and inner gore covered Unit~02 and much of the landscape. The water in the nearby waterways were flooded by flailing organs and blood was spattered throughout the city.
"The 9th designated shelter has been flooded with blood! They are drowning!" Came from a lower portion of the command center
"Let the JSSDF recovery teams take care of that" Fuyutsuki replied, raising his voice making sure the statement carried down to whoever brought up the topic.
It wasn't long before the Angel was nothing but a pile of gore and exposed spine, with nothing left but human like organs and bone covering the mountain side to which the assault took place. A massive cross~shaped explosion marked the angels end, but Unit~02 didn't cease movement. Instead, the red giant stood up, dropping the progressive knife, and made its way towards the inactive Unit~01.
"What's Unit~02 doing?" Maya asked, turning to Aoba, knowing he question remained unanswered if directed towards those above her.
"I am as clueless as you are, Ibuki" Came his reply, delayed because of his complete focus on the main screen.
Shinji waited inside his entry plug, a blank look upon his face. Though he looked calm, his mind raced. Was Rei alright? Is Asuka OK? What happened to the Angel? All these thoughts were familiar to him, despite his want to never have to ask himself them again. His mind replayed what his last words before deactivation were. Did he mean them? What had he done by following though with them.
"No!" He screamed, finally realizing what he had left Asuka to deal with.
'I abandoned her. I'm a coward, I'm hopeless, useless' He said to himself. It was true this time, not just a chaotic mindset. He had forsaken her, the already fragile girl. Shinji turned, leaning over a grabbing the self destruct control. He waited, figuring it took time. A moment later, he realized there was no power to initiate his suicide. 'Figures' He thought.
Unit~02 stood above the crouching Unit~01. For only a moment it stared at the inactive EVA, before a roar was emitted from the still berserk unit. Before the sound was gone, the EVA lifted it's massive foot, and brought it crashing down on Unit~01's neck, breaking it instantly. It's roar ceased as it seemed to take in the sound of another spine cracking. Content, Unit~02 deactivated.
The EVA's behavior stunned even Fuyutsuki. This action was not even expected from a rampant Angel, let alone a piloted weapon such as Asuka's beloved EVA.
He seized charge;
"Have we heard from Ritsuko Akagi?" Fuyutsuki said to the room.
After the moment had sunk in, a technician, phone still in hand turned to their second in command.
"Yes, Sir. Herself and Major Katsuragi are on their way to the command center as we speak" The woman said.
"Good, have them notified of the results of the encounter as soon as possible" He replied, turning to leave the room as commander had done.
The rest of the room sat quietly, all still amazed at what had appeared to them on the main screen. As Aoba stood up, he turned to Makoto.
"Have a recovery team retrieve what's left of the EVA's" He said slowly, still showing signs of disbelief.
Despite their equal ranks, Makoto picked up a phone and made the call, before following suit and exiting the room.
"So you are saying after going berserk, and silencing the Angel, Unit~02 proceeded to return and break Unit~01's spine, even though it was inactive?" Ritsuko said, taking in the last deep breath of her cigarette before the filter began to burn.
"Correct. Have you any idea why the EVA would act out like that?" Maya said, seemingly being the only one interested in Ritsuko's explanations.
Genduo and Fuyutsuki were already informed, and the useless questions were beginning to get on the commander's nerves. Akagi filtered through some papers before returning her eyes to her computer screen. She looked up, and removed her glasses.
"I found some documents from over 10 years ago. It's a direct translation from German, so I assume its from Gehirn's 3rd Branch in Germany. Though a little unclear, it states that when two embodied souls interact directly, genetic material can be transferred between the two host bodies" Ritsuko began. "It also begins to say this sort of interaction may occur within an Evangelion between it and a pilot"
Even though she had expressed it in dull terms, Genduo still questioned the ambiguity.
"So, a pilot can exchange genetic material with an EVA? Seems a little uneducated, don't you think?" He asked, his tone less arrogant than usual in light of whom it was directed.
"From what it says here, yes, and the Magi seem to agree" She replied, glasses back on and focusing on her screen. "Though, they question how the two hosts interact at such an eminent level"
"Berserker!" Maya said, almost interrupting her mentor.
Ritsuko looked up for a moment.
"Makes sense. When an Evangelion goes berserk, and it's pilot's synchronization levels excel, they may have enough interaction to perform the genetic transfusion, after all, thats all the sync ratios are; the pilots ability to will the EVA" Ritsuko said, directing her answer to her superiors mid~sentence.
Fuyutsuki, being the only other to have studied meta~biology, still queried the idea.
"In theory, that is. At the moment there is no way to tell whether or not this interaction occurred, or Unit~02 was merely acting out in the bestial way EVA's tend to whilst berserk" He stated, first looking at Akagi, and then to Genduo.
Ritsuko nodded in approval. After all, they were basing their assumptions off a 5 times outdated, poorly translated document.
Genduo stood up, and walked towards the exit of the conference room, leaving it until he was halfway through the door to speak.
"We will refer to this as 'The Berserker Complex', and I want you to begin further research into the possibility of this theory becoming fact immediately. Notify Misato" He said, facing no one before he left.
The three sat in silence for a moment before Fuyutsuki posed a difficult question;
"What is the status on the 4th child?"
Asuka awoke in the NERV private ward. Her eyes were still closed, but a subtle smile appeared across her face. Moma was always there for her, protecting her, always with her. 'You never really left me Moma. You came back for me' She thought. 'Moma, we don't have to die together, because we can live together again'. A fire of emotion burned inside her. She was loved, the one who meant the most to her never did forsake her. She can live on.
The red head sat up and looked around. The room had another bed, occupied by Shinji Ikari. Her smile quickly evaded her, now replaced by a confused look. The last thing she recalled from the Angel fight was having power cut and reverting to the lone minute battery life. From her memory, Shinji never even came into contact with the Angel, let alone need be hospitalized. Her usual self returning, a second though came through. 'He left you for dead to save that fucking doll. He deserves what ever he got' Asuka said to herself. Though she still harbored a hate for Shinji, she couldn't help thinking he could've came back for her, after all, he was here now. Maybe the ones she care about won't all end up hurting her. Asuka felt at ease, and drifted back off to sleep.