Fallen Angel
NGE Fanfic
By Devaro Ayanami
I step down from the shattered steps of an apartment complex, and glance around me at my fellow pilots. Four of us, four Children out of a original five. Four 15-year old kids. My Friends.
First, Twelfth Children: Terinami "Hellfire" Soryu, daughter of the Second and Third Children, she chose to use her mother's maiden name. Her coppery hair tied back in a single, loose ponytail, and her stormy blue eyes so much like her father's.
Next, Eleventh Children: Arael "Angel" Ayanami, she is the daughter of Kensuke Aida and the First Children. Her shoulder-length blue hair gently frames her face, and contrasts with her sharp, red eyes.
Then, fifteenth Children: Alexander "White Knight" Kaji, son of Ritsuko and Ryoji Kaji, he gets his nickname because he bleaches his hair white. Unlike his father, he keeps his hair short, reducing the contrast with his brown eyes.
And lastly, me, fourteenth Children: Ryoji "Iincho" Horaki, son of the Fourth Children and Hikari Horaki. My nickname is because I was our class's Iincho, like my mother, before we became Eva Pilots. My hair is short and brown, matching my brown eyes.
None of them look up, all of them lost in thought. He's dead, and so are three of the five enemy pilots, the other two in the infirmary. What have we come to? To be sending kids to war, to kill other kids. But which is worse? That kids are having to grow-up in a trial by fire, or that some of those kids gleefully leap into the flames?
My team is lucky though, we work for Nerv, and our parents learned from their experiences. They do everything they can to keep us safe, without leaving us un-prepared for the reality of what we are asked to do.
But it wasn't enough. In our first engagement, we've lost someone, a new kid who never sat in the plug before today. No real chance to get to know him. It sickens me to realize I don't even remember his name.
And what makes it worse is that we did everything right. He may have been new, but he did good, better than my uncle Shinji said he did in his first match. We just got ambushed. We didn't screw-up, we just lost. But like Terinami says, "Losing and screwing-up are the same damn thing".
I look at Soryu, and just barely spot the tears on her cheeks as she looks at the building her Eva, Unit-02, is hunched behind, her eyes not really seeing. I know how she must feel, because although we didn't really know him, we had still grown attach to the quiet and subtle jokes he made through-out the day.
I turn next to Arael, and am not surprised to see a blank expression on her face as she looks at the hood of the battered car she's sitting on, an expression we've grown-up to expect from both the Ayanami women. What I am surprised by is the tears slowly filling her eyes, something totally at odds with her lack of expression. I'd never seen her do anything but show a small smile or frown, and the one time that she laughed.
As I start walking towards Arael, I glance over at Alex. He's my best friend, and I see on his face an expression I'm used to from him: sadness. He always seems sad about something, but this time I know what it is: the other pilot. He catches my glance and nods his head, then turns to look at Soryu. He'll be fine after he's had some alone time, but I know he'll stay with Soryu, bottling his hurt away 'til later.
I reach Arael and place my hand on her shoulder gently.
"Angel...?" I say.
She turns her gaze to my face as I touch her shoulder,
"Iincho, I...Ryoji-kun, Michael is…" She tries to speak in her typical calm and quiet manner, but stops, and her mask falls away as all the tears she had been holding back begin to flow slowly down her face.
I step around to kneel in front of her and I hug her close as she begins to silently cry. I gently rub her upper back, whispering it would be alright. After a moment she wraps her arms around me, returning the hug. I wish I could do more, but I don't know what to say or do, so all I do is hold her, trying to take some of the hurt away. I'm not really sure why, but she seemed to have an almost sibling-like relationship with Michael from the moment he arrived in the briefing room that first day.
I wouldn't know until later how similar Michael, her, and Rei's backgrounds were.
I feel horrible. I feel empty inside, gaining no comfort from the knowledge that I killed those trying to kill me.
I feel hurt, both physically and emotionally. My body aches from remembered hits my Eva took during the hurried combat to protect Nerv. I feel tired as well, the adrenaline beginning to wear off.
"I'm tired," Terinami says quietly, but loud enough we all hear her, "let's head back."
We all nod, and follow her to the Recovery VTOL that is waiting for us nearby.
"The idiots! Nerv trains their pilots, guides them in building Eva-type combat-support vehicles, and what do they do? Bite the hand that feeds them." the Director of Operations and Nerv Sub-Commander, Asuka Langley Ikari, yells. We stand nearby in the Observation room which overlooks the Geofront, waiting for the commander, Rei Ayanami, to arrive.
As if summoned by the thought, Commander Ayanami walks into the room, a folder held under one arm as she looks over each of us, pausing on her daughter as a small flash of concern flows across her face.
"Pilot Soryu, Pilot Kaji, you are dismissed. You performed well, now go get some rest." she says, her face softening slightly.
"I'll be home in a little while schatzen, your father is already there." Asuka says, sounding far more gentle than a few moments before, as Terinami and Alexander leave the room.
"Pilot Horaki," Rei says drawing mine and the other's attention back to her, "What I am about to tell you is highly classified. Only five other people, including myself, know this: Michael O'Neil was an Angel. Similar to the the 17th, Tabris, whom most knew as Kaoru Nagisa."
"WHAT!?!" Asuka explodes, storming over to Rei, "You let an ANGEL into the base and pilot an Eva! What were you THINKING!?!"
"He posed no threat to us." she simply says.
"He…posed no THREAT?!? He was an ANGEL for crying out loud! How could he 'not pose a threat' !?!"
"Because Lilith and Adam are gone, and neither I nor my daughter have sufficiently pure angel genetics to initiate a 'Fourth Impact'. More so than Tabris, Pilot O'Neil had free will to choose what he wished to do. With Adam and Lilith gone, there was nothing drawing him. No need to bond with the First or Second."
I stand there, not sure what to do or say. I'm not sure what shocked me more: the fact that Michael was an angel, or the little fact Rei let slip that she and Arael are both part angel as well.
The last part made sense, I guess. I, like the others, had simply always believed the hair and eyes were oddly colored because Rei was a clone of Yui Ikari, and that Arael simply got it from being her daughter. None of us had ever connected their eye color with that of Kaoru's eyes from the few color pictures there were of the 17th angel. We had also not made the connection between Michael's grey hair, at seventeen no less, with Kaoru's hair color. Though in our defense his eyes where not red, but purple.
"Commander…" all three turn to me when I speak, and I clear my thoat nervously, "Did you just, uh, just say you're part angel…?"
She blinks, and I can almost see her replaying her words in her mind, and then her eyes widen. She turns her gaze, which was hinting at panic, towards Asuka, who simply shrugs. Rei then turns her gaze, now looking slightly worried, to her daughter. Arael shrugs and turns her face so I can't see it, but not before I catch a hint of fear on it.
"I did." she says, turning back to me, her face blank.
"Could you…clarify please?"
Nodding, she explains her origins and original purpose. She also tells me of her choice to alter Shinji's wish to return alone by sending others back. Asuka smiles, her eyes distant, as Rei tells of her returning to find Shinji and Asuka dating, and their including her as Shinji's sister. She also reveals the presence of other Angels, like Tabris and Michael, that she and the Magi computers have discovered.
"You mean there are MORE of them?!?" Asuka interrupts.
"Yes, though they are few. So far seven have been found, not counting Pilot O'Neil, all in Japan. I do not know if others exist. Michael was the only one found in Tokyo-3, and the only one contacted to be a Pilot." Rei replies, glancing over to Asuka.
"Fine. So, what now? Obviously we can't trust China any more, and we may have to guard against Russia as well!" Asuka says as she and Rei begin to discuss future plans for Nerv.
The sudden change in topic throwing me off, I turn to Arael. She meets my gaze, and I still see the fear in her eyes, but I see hope too.
"Truth?" I simply say.
"…all of it…" she replies after a moment, determination entering her eyes.
I walk over to her, keeping my face a blank as I can. I see the determination waver a moment before hardening again as I stop in front of her.
"Thank you." I say, before gently wrapping my arms around her, silently letting her know I'm not mad and that I still trust her.
At first tense, she relaxes and returns the hug. We stand there for a moment before I hear a sigh behind me. We jump apart, startled, as we both remember there are others in the room. Asuka chuckles as she watches, and Rei simply smiles her normal smile, as we both turn slightly red.
"Go on home you two." Asuka says.
"I will see you soon, Arael. Pilot Horaki, I will see you before the synch test tomorrow, along with the other Pilots." Rei speaks as she turns back to Asuka, and we leave the room.
I lay in my bed, thinking. So much happened today. Struggle, victory, loss, revelation. I'm not sure what to make of it all, but I'm sure I can trust the others. I wonder how they'll react to what I was told, about Michael, Rei, and Arael.
Probably not as bad as Asuka did, I think as I chuckle quietly.
Seven more angels, all of which could be friends if we find them.
Friends…or enemies…
I jump, startled, as thoughts not my own float through my mind.
What was that… I think, before yawning, and begin to fall asleep.
That, my friend, would be me. The voice says, echoing in my mind as I suddenly find myself wide awake and in the Observation room in the ceiling of the Geofront. In front of me, with his arms crossed behind his head, is Michael.
Do you miss me much? he asks me as I stare at him, wondering where I am, and if I'm dreaming.
This isn't a dream…not exactly. Think of it as a…long distance call. Michael smiles.
'Long distance call'? What do you mean? I say.
My kind, what you call Angels, do not truly die. When we die, our minds splinter and are reborn in the next generation. None of these splinter minds are the same as their 'father' mind, but they do have some of the original's memories. He says, lowering his arms and looking down to the floor of the Geofront. My mind has not yet splintered, so I am saying goodbye to you while I still can.
So…why are you here now? I ask, have you said you goodbyes to the others?
He chuckles, shaking his head slightly. Yes I have. You are the last on the list, so to speak. I have something to add to what they told you: each of the angels you have found are splinters of Tabris, like me. But there are more, and they are splinters of the other angels. They may not be as friendly towards the offspring of the first Pilots as I and my siblings are.
What?! What do you mean? Is there going to be another Angel War? I ask, not quiet panicking. Suddenly I find us on the catwalk in front of Unit-01.
Not exactly…but you should be prepared. I do not wish harm on my friends. He smiles sadly as he glance to me.
As the view begins to fade, and I feel myself starting to truly fall asleep, he turns and walks off down the catwalk. Before he rounds the corner, I hear an echo of laughter and a hazy image of us walking with him.
I hope we get to meet one of his splinters. I hope he or she remembers us.
AN: This is the first chapter of a continuation fic for EoE. Beginning twenty years after the end of EoE, it follows the children of the Children, and the child of Ritsuko and Ryoji.
Fallen Angel
NGE Fanfic
By Devaro Ayanami
I step down from the shattered steps of an apartment complex, and glance around me at my fellow pilots. Four of us, four Children out of a original five. Four 15-year old kids. My Friends.
First, Twelfth Children: Terinami "Hellfire" Soryu, daughter of the Second and Third Children, she chose to use her mother's maiden name. Her coppery hair tied back in a single, loose ponytail, and her stormy blue eyes so much like her father's.
Next, Eleventh Children: Arael "Angel" Ayanami, she is the daughter of Kensuke Aida and the First Children. Her shoulder-length blue hair gently frames her face, and contrasts with her sharp, red eyes.
Then, fifteenth Children: Alexander "White Knight" Kaji, son of Ritsuko and Ryoji Kaji, he gets his nickname because he bleaches and dyes his hair white. Unlike his father, he keeps his hair short, reducing the contrast with his brown eyes.
And lastly, me, fourteenth Children: Ryoji "Iincho" Horaki, son of the Fourth Children and Hikari Horaki. My nickname is because I was our class's Iincho, like my mother, before we became Eva Pilots. My hair is short and brown, matching my brown eyes.
None of them look up, all of them lost in thought. He's dead, and so are three of the five enemy pilots, the other two in the infirmary. What have we come to? To be sending kids to war, to kill other kids. But which is worse? That kids are having to grow-up in a trial by fire, or that some of those kids gleefully leap into the flames?
My team is lucky though, we work for Nerv, and our parents learned from their experiences. They do everything they can to keep us safe, without leaving us un-prepared for the reality of what we are asked to do.
But it wasn't enough. In our first engagement, we've lost someone, a new kid who never sat in the plug before today. No real chance to get to know him. It sickens me to realize I don't even remember his name. And what makes it worse is that we did everything right. He may have been new, but he did good, better than my uncle Shinji said he did in his first match. We just got ambushed. We didn't screw-up, we just lost. But like Terinami says, "Losing and screwing-up are the same damn thing".
I look at Soryu, and just barely spot the tears on her cheeks as she looks at the building her Eva, Unit-02, is hunched behind, her eyes not really seeing. I know how she must feel, because although we didn't really know him, we had still grown attach to the quiet and subtle jokes he made through-out the day.
I turn next to Arael, and am not surprised to see a blank expression on her face as she looks at the hood of the battered car she's sitting on, an expression we've grown-up to expect from both the Ayanami women. What I am surprised by is the tears slowly filling her eyes, something totally at odds with her lack of expression. I'd never seen her do anything but show a small smile or frown, and the one time that she laughed.
As I start walking towards Arael, I glance over at Alex. He's my best friend, and I see on his face an expression I'm used to from him: sadness. He always seems sad about something, but this time I know what it is: the other pilot. He catches my glance and nods his head, then turns to look at Soryu. He'll be fine after he's had some alone time, but I know he'll stay with Soryu, bottling his hurt away 'til later.
I reach Arael and place my hand on her shoulder gently.
"Angel...?" I say.
She turns her gaze to my face as I touch her shoulder,
"Iincho, I...Ryoji-kun, Michael is…" She tries to speak in her typical calm and quiet manner, but stops, and her mask falls away as all the tears she had been holding back begin to flow slowly down her face.
I step around to kneel in front of her and I hug her close as she begins to silently cry. I gently rub her upper back, whispering it would be alright. After a moment she wraps her arms around me, returning the hug. I wish I could do more, but I don't know what to say or do, so all I do is hold her, trying to take some of the hurt away. I'm not really sure why, but she seemed to have an almost sibling-like relationship with Michael from the moment he arrived in the briefing room that first day.
I wouldn't know until later how similar Michael, her, and Rei's backgrounds were.
I feel horrible. I feel empty inside, gaining no comfort from the knowledge that I killed those trying to kill me.
I feel hurt, both physically and emotionally. My body aches from remembered hits my Eva took during the hurried combat to protect Nerv. I feel tired as well, the adrenaline beginning to wear off.
"I'm tired," Terinami says quietly, but loud enough we all hear her, "let's head back."
We all nod, and follow her to the Recovery VTOL that is waiting for us nearby.
"The idiots! Nerv trains their pilots, guides them in building Eva-type combat-support vehicles, and what do they do? Bite the hand that feeds them." the Director of Operations and Nerv Sub-Commander, Asuka Langley Ikari, yells. We stand nearby in the Observation room which overlooks the Geofront, waiting for the commander, Rei Ayanami, to arrive.
As if summoned by the thought, Commander Ayanami walks into the room, a folder held under one arm as she looks over each of us, pausing on her daughter as a small flash of concern flows across her face.
"Pilot Soryu, Pilot Kaji, you are dismissed. You performed well, now go get some rest." she says, her face softening slightly.
"I'll be home in a little while schatzen, your father is already there." Asuka says, sounding far more gentle than a few moments before, as Terinami and Alexander leave the room.
"Pilot Horaki," Rei says drawing mine and the other's attention back to her, "What I am about to tell you is highly classified. Only five other people, including myself, know this: Michael O'Neil was an Angel. Similar to the the 17th, Tabris, whom most knew as Kaoru Nagisa."
"WHAT!?!" Asuka explodes, storming over to Rei, "You let an ANGEL into the base and pilot an Eva! What were you THINKING!?!"
"He posed no threat to us." she simply says.
"He…posed no THREAT?!? He was an ANGEL for crying out loud! How could he 'not pose a threat' !?!"
"Because Lilith and Adam are gone, and neither I nor my daughter have sufficiently pure angel genetics to initiate a 'Fourth Impact'. More so than Tabris, Pilot O'Neil had free will to choose what he wished to do. With Adam and Lilith gone, there was nothing drawing him. No need to bond with the First or Second."
I stand there, not sure what to do or say. I'm not sure what shocked me more: the fact that Michael was an angel, or the little fact Rei let slip that she and Arael are both part angel as well.
The last part made sense, I guess. I, like the others, had simply always believed the hair and eyes were oddly colored because Rei was a clone of Yui Ikari, and that Arael simply got it from being her daughter. None of us had ever connected their eye color with that of Kaoru's eyes from the few color pictures there were of the 17th angel. We had also not made the connection between Michael's grey hair, at seventeen no less, with Kaoru's hair color. Though in our defense his eyes where not red, but purple.
"Commander…" all three turn to me when I speak, and I clear my thoat nervously, "Did you just, uh, just say you're part angel…?"
She blinks, and I can almost see her replaying her words in her mind, and then her eyes widen. She turns her gaze, which was hinting at panic, towards Asuka, who simply shrugs. Rei then turns her gaze, now looking slightly worried, to her daughter. Arael shrugs and turns her face so I can't see it, but not before I catch a hint of fear on it.
"I did." she says, turning back to me, her face blank.
"Could you…clarify please?"
Nodding, she explains her origins and original purpose. She also tells me of her choice to alter Shinji's wish to return alone by sending others back. Asuka smiles, her eyes distant, as Rei tells of her returning to find Shinji and Asuka dating, and their including her as Shinji's sister. She also reveals the presence of other Angels, like Tabris and Michael, that she and the Magi computers have discovered.
"You mean there are MORE of them?!?" Asuka interrupts.
"Yes, though they are few. So far seven have been found, not counting Pilot O'Neil, all in Japan. I do not know if others exist. Michael was the only one found in Tokyo-3, and the only one contacted to be a Pilot." Rei replies, glancing over to Asuka.
"Fine. So, what now? Obviously we can't trust China any more, and we may have to guard against Russia as well!" Asuka says as she and Rei begin to discuss future plans for Nerv.
The sudden change in topic throwing me off, I turn to Arael. She meets my gaze, and I still see the fear in her eyes, but I see hope too.
"Truth?" I simply say.
"…all of it…" she replies after a moment, determination entering her eyes.
I walk over to her, keeping my face a blank as I can. I see the determination waver a moment before hardening again as I stop in front of her.
"Thank you." I say, before gently wrapping my arms around her, silently letting her know I'm not mad and that I still trust her.
At first tense, she relaxes and returns the hug. We stand there for a moment before I hear a sigh behind me. We jump apart, startled, as we both remember there are others in the room. Asuka chuckles as she watches, and Rei simply smiles her normal smile, as we both turn slightly red.
"Go on home you two." Asuka says.
"I will see you soon, Arael. Pilot Horaki, I will see you before the synch test tomorrow, along with the other Pilots." Rei speaks as she turns back to Asuka, and we leave the room.
I lay in my bed, thinking. So much happened today. Struggle, victory, loss, revelation. I'm not sure what to make of it all, but I'm sure I can trust the others. I wonder how they'll react to what I was told, about Michael, Rei, and Arael.
Probably not as bad as Asuka did, I think as I chuckle quietly.
Seven more angels, all of which could be friends if we find them.
Friends…or enemies…
I jump, startled, as thoughts not my own float through my mind.
What was that… I think, before yawning, and begin to fall asleep.
That, my friend, would be me. The voice says, echoing in my mind as I suddenly find myself wide awake and in the Observation room in the ceiling of the Geofront. In front of me, with his arms crossed behind his head, is Michael.
Do you miss me much? he asks me as I stare at him, wondering where I am, and if I'm dreaming.
This isn't a dream…not exactly. Think of it as a…long distance call. Michael smiles.
'Long distance call'? What do you mean? I say.
My kind, what you call Angels, do not truly die. When we die, our minds splinter and are reborn in the next generation. None of these splinter minds are the same as their 'father' mind, but they do have some of the original's memories. He says, lowering his arms and looking down to the floor of the Geofront. My mind has not yet splintered, so I am saying goodbye to you while I still can.
So…why are you here now? I ask, have you said you goodbyes to the others?
He chuckles, shaking his head slightly. Yes I have. You are the last on the list, so to speak. I have something to add to what they told you: each of the angels you have found are splinters of Tabris, like me. But there are more, and they are splinters of the other angels. They may not be as friendly towards the offspring of the first Pilots as I and my siblings are.
What?! What do you mean? Is there going to be another Angel War? I ask, not quiet panicking. Suddenly I find us on the catwalk in front of Unit-01.
Not exactly…but you should be prepared. I do not wish harm on my friends. He smiles sadly as he glance to me.
As the view begins to fade, and I feel myself starting to truly fall asleep, he turns and walks off down the catwalk. Before he rounds the corner, I hear an echo of laughter and a hazy image of us walking with him.
I hope we get to meet one of his splinters. I hope he or she remembers us.
AN: This is the first chapter of a continuation fic for EoE. Beginning twenty years after the end of EoE, it follows the children of the Children, and the child of Ritsuko and Ryoji. Yeah, I keep changing things. I could use a pre-reader, if anyone wants to. R&R please!
