Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Enlightening Music
I do not own Evangelion, Gainax, I.G. Productions, or any of the parties that were involved in either the anime or the current manga. If I did, I wouldn't be struggling with unemployment.
Takes place after the episode, "Dance like you want to win!" I wanted to redo this story with the advice of certain authors here. I will try to make this as original as I am able to. In this story of Evangelion, I want to emphasize the emotions the Children will go through and the music that will serve as themes in the chapters.
With that cleared up, the character I like to add is Dante "Akihiro" Yamato, a 14 year old boy who like Asuka had mixed European and Japanese heritage (in this case, half Italian and half Japanese). Also like Asuka, a child prodigy/genius in his own right, graduating from an Italian university at the age of 11, he is considered one of the brightest child prodigies in the world.
Author's Note: Im editing some chapters before the final chapter is put up. As I might have mentioned in the story's description, this fic will later show the connection the Children have toward each other and how their fates are intertwined. If you read my profile, the information's there so...I won't explain any further here.
Another Author's Note: Dante is NOT A SELF INSERT. My ID is based on Dante and Virgil from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Dante Yamato is an OC, no more and no other hidden meaning behind him.
I was inspired by Unit 05's story Evangelion: In the Shadow of the Beast with Tanus Harrab as the main character and having a complex past. I also like to thank Unit 05 on helping me on my first chapter:)
Chapter 1
The news from abroad
Rome, the queen of cities as it was called in her glory years. After Second Impact and the brutal wars that raged in its aftermath, terrorists that had made use of the upheaval to bolster their ranks with rage-fueled refugees and build up their arsenals by raiding abandoned military sites, targeted major cities of the world in order to instill anarchy and hoped to restore a theocratic government that will demolish democracy and liberal freedoms.
After a decade long battle with terrorists and extremists on all levels in which many lives were lost, the cities of the world regained their dignity and grandeur; Rome was no exception. This ancient city still had the character of a sensual woman, not overly beautiful, but rather an earthy aroma of passion and pride. However, the buildings and landmarks of this noble city were still in a state of decay from the conflict, the Forum, Coliseum, The Trevi Fountain, and even the Vatican are only just being rebuilt to their original grandeur, while the other half was leaving behind the old world and embracing the new with contemporary architecture.
Meanwhile at night in the empty streets of Rome, a young adolescent boy wanders the streets and arrives at the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona. With Ganges staring down upon him, he ventures into the fountain and begins to walk in its frigid waters. He began to move as Sylvia from La Dolce Vita and went under the waterfall that spouted from the edifice of the gods. Even with the gods watching over the boy, they know their reign on this world has ended, with construction of modern structures taking place all over the city. He stands under the gods, with the water flowing down and hitting his head and body, for a long time he stands as motionless as the statues around him, then he mutters a single word, barely audible over the rush of cool waters, "Asuka…"
(Tokyo-3)
"Another day, another Angel crushed under my boot." Asuka announced, grinding the sole of her plug-suit into the floor for emphasis, "Even you've got to admit it feels good, Ikari."
Shinji nodded distantly from where he was, sitting at one of the briefing room's desks, "Yeah, I suppose you have a point."
The girl snorted dismissively, "Political as always, try giving me straight answer once in a while, okay?"
"Hey, I only care if we make it back alive."
"You both performed excellently," Misato interrupted, standing at the front of the room and tried to divert the brewing argument, "I'll bet the Commander was impressed."
"Of course," Asuka shot back, "What else do you expect from a highly trained pilot like me?"
"Perhaps a little modesty," Shinji suggested, but flinched when Asuka spun back around.
"What did you say?"
"N-Nothing!"
"Humph," Asuka dismissed him with a wave of her hand and turned away, "coward."
"Hey that's not fair."
"Cry me a river Ikari."
The door slid open to admit Ritsuko with a soft hiss the doctor flicking though the papers on her clipboard with an almost bored air as she walked,
"We just got a message from the Third Branch in Germany." She said to the room at large, "It's for you Captain."
She passed the papers to Misato and rolled her eyes at the two arguing pilots.
"A message from Germany?" said Asuka, forgetting Shinji for a moment, "What does it say?"
Misato tapped her rank badge as she read, "See this Asuka? This means that this message its for me to know and you to wonder about."
"You might as well tell them," Ritsuko added, "They'll find out soon enough."
The other woman sighed, and tossed the file onto Shinji's desk, Asuka snatched it from his grasp, "It's a report on the Fourth child, he's already refused our previous requests from him to join us as a pilot, but apparently he's decided to meet with us in person to discuss it."
"Huh, if he's already refused, why bother?" Asuka muttered, throwing the file back down onto the desk, "He'll just turn out like this doufus."
"Perhaps he might be the most normal of the bunch" Misato added with a grin, "But it doesn't matter, he arrives tomorrow."
"He graduated from the University of Bologna at the age of eleven and working on his PH.D at the University of Rome, that means he certainly can work out what's best for himself and humanity," Ritsuko agreed, folding her arms, "Perhaps he's reconsidered, he passed all the preliminary tests with flying colors."
"Hah," Asuka shot back, her confident stance wavering slightly, "So what's new? I've done that stuff too."
"But have you become a scientist in Europe by the age of fourteen?" Shinji cut in, still reading the files, "It says here that he's continuing his father's research on extra-solar planets and searching for extraterrestrial signals."
"So what," The second child snarled, "That means he's a slimy little geek and not suited for fighting off bullies, let alone Angels."
Misato shrugged, "If he's not, we can train him up, with the threat of Third Impact looming, we need as many pilots as possible. We'll meet with him, that's final."
Asuka threw up her hands, "Fine, let this fucker screw up humanity's chances for survival, I don't care."
She stormed off, muttering curses in German as she pushed past into the corridor.
"Asuka," Misato muttered, staring after the girl then brought her attention back to the files, "That's strange, why would Asuka get upset over this announcement? I thought she would be glad to have someone from her neck of the woods," Misato commented. Shinji was thinking along similar lines, but couldn't be bothered and headed off for the showers.
After the two pilots changed into their regular school uniforms, they began to leave NERV for home. On the way home, the two children barely spoke a word until Shinji dared to speak while Asuka's busy thinking.
"Um Asuka..."
"What is it," she gruffly asked.
"Um... I was wondering um... do you by any chance know who this fourth child is exactly? Because the way you reacted back at NERV and..."
"Why do you want to know," she interrupted him.
Shinji chose his words carefully replied back, "Well, since you were in Germany before coming here on the Over the Rainbow perhaps you know who this next Eva pilot might be."
Asuka replied back, "How should I know? Many of the pilot candidates I've met were either from Germany (off course), Sweden, Switzerland, France, the US, or even Russia; but never from Italy. And as for earlier reaction, that was just my reaction to someone I...used to know in Italy. No more, no less."
"Oh, just thought I asked."
"And besides, anyone daring enough to challenge me, even from my old home will face total annihilation!" Asuka said while she shook her fist to the sky.
Shinji thought to himself, 'Just hope this new Eva pilot isn't as crazy as this one here.' But unknown to him, Asuka was deep in thought, she never showed it facially of course.
Their walk back home was quiet, neither one said a word. When the two arrived home, Asuka slumped on her bed, facing the floor and then looked at the photo of her colleagues, especially at one boy in particular...who for better or worse, was a friend for life.
(Flashback-December 2014 Hamburg, Germany)
Asuka stood at the railing of the bridge with the ocean breeze blowing her reddish brown hair. She looked at the port before her and the city in the distance. She sighed, "Sorry dude, but something came up and won't be able to talk for the next few months. Nothing personal and you haven't done anything wrong...I don't know why I'm like this with you...but I guess...I'll see you when I see you. Bye," she hung up her cell phone.
She took one more look at the city and ultimately the country she's leaving and headed for her her quarters...
(End flashback)
"Dante...if you're the one that's coming...either as a pilot or a NERV technician, I don't know how the hell I'm going to deal with it. You scared me once and...if something like that happens again...I don't know what I'm going to say to you..."
She said quietly to herself, she then placed the photo back on her desk and and lied on her side, facing the window with the faint light of the night filling her room. She let the cool breeze caress her skin and soon...sleep took hold.
[30,000 feet above somewhere over China]
Meanwhile, over the Gobi Desert on a commercial airliner, the adolescent boy of Rome listens to his favorite CD: Scarlatti-Concerti & Sinfonie performed by Europa Galante. With Alessandro Scarlatti on the headphones the flight attendant makes an announcement in Italian:
"We will arrive in Tokyo-3, Japan in approximately 2 hours. Please remember upon landing, fasten your seatbelts, no smoking, and absolutely no disturbance of the captain. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your flight." The message was played again in Arabic, Russian, French, and Japanese.
That was all the boy from Rome could do at this point, already so far from home flying on the Concorde only his music comforted him. The only thoughts he conjured up were: 'What the hell am I doing? I should be at home with the remainder of my family,' he then remembered certain events that affected him back home, 'Or maybe...maybe I should get away for a while. But the offer proposed by NERV is a little weird...just hope I'm given the rest of the information when I get there.'
He stared out his window and saw the night sky approaching with the stars looming deceptively close, frost on his window, the endless desert below, and his own reflection. All he could see was someone who doesn't belong to one of his ancestral roots. 'Tomorrow...starts something I have to finish and Asuka, when I get back you better explain why the hell you dropped off the face of Europe.'
He returns to his music and going over memories from the past few weeks in his head before sleeping, his German colleague, his mother, father, his diverse family, and the fucked up situation that's happening back home with immigrants getting arrested by the police and the increasing amount of protests from Arabs, Eastern Europeans, and Latin Americans.
Note: Video for Alessandro Scarlatti's piece visit YouTube. Name of piece is Concerto grosso no.2 en ut mineur (allegro)
(Tokyo-03: morning)
The city's skyline against the already risen sun looked like hazy monoliths, clouded by smoke and early morning fog. The city was fully awake now, traffic clogged up the dual-carriageways and the people on the streets walked to work or did their morning shopping. Children held onto their mothers while crossing the streets, even tourists could be seen on the streets (they were taller than the general populace after all). Campaigners drove on the streets, urging people to vote in the upcoming elections, a few passed shouting nationalistic slogans while the others called for more inclusion and transparency.
The boy woke up in a hotel room, already the alarm clock read 8:15am. He was asleep for seven hours since his landing around 11pm the previous evening. He looked out of his window and sees a modern metropolis, nothing like his father's home, Kyoto down south. Before he could even take in the foreign atmosphere, the phone rang...
"Hello," The boy answered.
"Hello, this Dr. Ritsuko Akagi head of the Department of Research and Engineering at NERV. Are you by any chance my client? Dante I presume?"
Dante replied, "We wouldn't be talking if I weren't."
"Hahahaha. True, anyway are you still able to come to NERV for our meeting?"
Dante again replied, "Well, I might as well come; it would be rude of me to not show up."
Ritsuko said, "Perfect, I'll be expecting you to show up in an hour. Do not be late," she hanged up.
Dante sets down the receiver and thought to himself, 'I hate being punctual, but at least I won't be surrounded by tourists like back home.'
He got dressed in his dark-coloured clothing (black shirt, dark blue jeans, and black/white sneakers), fixed his tousled hair quickly, grabbed his backpack and headed for the lobby. Once there he was greeted by NERV's Section-02 agents that escorted him last night. He got into the unmarked car and rode off for NERV. By the time he arrives to NERV, he was already becoming agitated, just for the fact that he refused to come here twice already. Ritsuko only told him of a position he would work for was defense, but he had strong convictions against jobs involving the military. Nevertheless, he's here and after going through standard security procedures, he was greeted by Dr. Akagi herself.
"Ah, you must be Dante Yamato, I'm Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. I'm glad you could come." Ritsuko says while shaking his hand. Dante does the same, "Likewise Dr. I have a few questions to ask if you don't mind," he said professionally.
"Certainly, follow me," Ritsuko said and both wasted no time. They headed for he elevator and headed down. Dante follows Ritsuko through a series of corridors, escalators, and elevators until coming across the ultimate expanse of NERV, the descent into the Geofront and seeing Central Dogma; he now finds out that NERV is far more mysterious and enormous than he first thought. After 3 minutes, they arrive at her office where Misato is also waiting for them.
"Hello Misato, nice of you to be on time for once." Ritsuko remarked semi-playfully. Misato replied back sarcastically, "Nice to see you too 'Rits.' So is he here," she asked, "Just look behind you," Ritsuko remarked and sure enough she does.
"Hi, I'm Captain Katsuragi, Head of Operations and Tactics.""Hi, I'm…" but was interrupted by Misato, "Dante Yamato, yeah I know. Ritsuko filled me in yesterday," She said.
He nodded in response, "Anyway, may we start our meeting now Dr. Akagi?"
"Yes, please have a seat," she motioned to a chair right across from her.
Dante took his seat, he hoped for a non-confrontational discussion.
For the first part of the meeting he told her his profession, researcher for ESA and SETI as a radio astronomer. Well, a researcher working on his PhD, but up to speed with his older colleagues. It's a job for those who loved seeing 'dead signals' but still anticipate for the grand prize: Contact with an extra-terrestrial civilization, or at least finding a signal first. After the formalities things got serious…
"Okay, I want to know why you refused our offer to join NERV twice." Ritsuko asked.
Dante sighed, but gave his answer, "I thought I told you already, I don't sit well with anything involving the military, defense or otherwise.
"Yes, but NERV is not really a military facility, though it has contacts with the JSDF and the UN." Ritsuko replied back.
Dante replied, "And from that, I rest my case. Research facilities must involve no affiliations with any Defense force."
"We don't control Defense, that's the job of the UN. No, we handle research of a special kind and that is why we require the military's protection from every possible threat." Ritsuko replied.
"Mmm…you sound like a general but you have a point. So why top security here? It seems a little much, even if it is experimental research.
"Well, it's not only research this involves the benefit and survival of humanity." Ritsuko said with a hint of pride.
Dante was skeptical, "Such as?"
"Have you heard of the recent attacks regarding Tokyo-3 recently?" Misato stepped in.
"Yes, but the news kept saying it involved terrorists. So, my friends from the US got images from satellite imagery and posted them on the Web to suggest otherwise. And quite frankly, I'm slightly disturbed."
Misato replied, "Well, if you follow us, we'll show why we wished it were terrorists sometimes."
Dante followed the two to a huge dark room, he knew the chamber was huge because of the thick, heavy atmosphere it had. The lights turned on and what he saw was monstrous; a giant humanoid figure with black and red armor plating staring ominously at him with two red eyes. He felt terrified but could not look away from the giant's eyes.
"This is known as the Evangelion, the only weapon we have that can stop the Angels. We already have three Eva units operating for combat situations, and this one is yours: Eva Unit 03 So, what do you think now?" Ritsuko presented and asked for his response.
Dante still shocked replied, "I have nothing else to say except you have found the wrong person. There are older people more fitted for this position," he emphacized the age gap with the fantastic situation he was now in.
"Mr. Yamato, only selected children can synchronize with the Eva efficiently. And your brainwaves from recent brain-scans fall within the criteria." Ritsuko countered superbly
So don't worry too much, you're not the only one piloting." Misato replied calmly.
"What?"
"We have three other children already piloting the Eva, you'll meet them later in the evening."
Dante continued to look at his Eva. Ritsuko brought him out of his state of shock with a tap on the shoulder, "So, do we have an agreement?"
Dante snapped and whispered, "Give me a minute." He started to pace back and forth, 'Shit! I'm in their hands now! Calm down dude...as long as they don't know your medical history you're okay.' He thought a little a little longer and…
"Okay, when do I start?"
Ritsuko was relieved by his reply, "In the mid afternoon, along with the rest of the pilots. All four of you will have harmonics synchronization and the actual synch tests with your Eva."
"And I want you to fill out some paperwork regarding your position and your superiors back at the EU if you don't mind." Misato said leading Dante.
Both now headed for her office leaving Ritsuko talking on her blue-tooth telling the Commander the Fourth Child has arrived.
Dante who now regained his focus asked, "So when can I see the Red Queen?"
Misato bewildered, "Excuse me?"
"When can I get a chance to see your Commander?" Dante said.
"After the testing, so don't worry."
Dante replied, "Usually when someone tells me to not worry, I tend to."
Misato replied, "Hehehe, yeah I see your point. Here we are."
Dante was used to paperwork, either at ESA or SETI's branch in Europe, these things ask about your profession, ethnicity, age, gender, any sort of religious or political affiliations, etc. So he answered the questions quickly without a second thought. After a grueling hour of answering questions, he was done and left NERV. He hoped on the train to take him to thriving downtown Tokyo-3. To him, the thriving city had a certain...nostalgia to it. As if the people here are trying to recreate the atmosphere of old Tokyo in the mountains. The city felt out of place, a foreign object in what once was perhaps a farming community, 'Or an Italian in Japan in order to do God knows what kind of job.'
The train continued on its trip until he reached downtown. The train stopped, he got off and disappeared in the horde of humanity...
-to be continued-
Note: Toji will still be an Eva pilot, but as the sixth child, Kaworu is still the fifth. In addition to this, Eva Unit 03 was completed early while the Units 4 through 13 are still under construction.
Edited: September 13, 2011