Disclaimer- Who owns Eva. Not me. This is just essentially fan-based babbling on the subject. If gaining control of the Evangelion market share was as easy as claiming ownership through a fanfic, I'm sure someone with more savvy than I would have tried it by now. It's almost been out for almost a decade now, just be glad someone is still enthused about the work, and don't go harassing them, oh powers that be.

Chapter 1

2015, Tokyo-3

A screeching of tires accompanied a blue Renault's slide as the car skidded to a halt beside two teenagers. The passenger side door flew open.

"Hurry you two. Get into the car." The purple-maned beauty from within called urgently.

Shinji looked up surprised at Misato Katsuragi. His breath was coming back slowly but surely. "What's going on?" He reached up and wiped the perspiration from his brow.

"An angel."

Shinji's eyes widened. Rei was beside him, staring incredulously at Misato. She was dirty and sweating as well. Her school uniform was a mess, and mostly discarded. She was down to a shirt and skirt now. The rest was somewhere on the path behind them. "Aunt Yui says it's not due for another two weeks."

A loud explosion rumbled from the distance. Windows rattled in their panes, and the wires of power cables and telephone lines shook. One came loose, and struck the sidewalk about twenty meters from where the trio was talking. If the streets had been as crowded as they usually were it would have been a catastrophe.

"Nobody told the Angel that. Get in the car! Hurry!"

Rei jumped into the backseat quickly, and Shinji scurried into the front. As soon as his foot had left the pavement, Misato started driving.

"Hey!" Shinji shouted. He was thrown into the car by centripetal force as Misato turned the car.

"You're late as it is. We have got to get you two to HQ now."

"Waiting three seconds isn't going to kill us, but you're driving might," Shinji snapped.

Misato gritted her teeth. She liked these kids, she really did. But growing up with the Sub-commander of Nerv as their guardian had made them something of brats. Especially Shinji, who was by all accounts a mamma's boy.

"I don't need any distractions now, Shinji, so just let me drive in peace," Misato said with forced calm.

Rei was staring out the back glass, seemingly oblivious of the conversation from the front seat. 'Wow' was all Shinji heard her mutter. He looked in the rearview mirror, and saw what had caught her eye.

The Angel was making its way into view from the other side of a hill. U.N. VTOLs were engaging it. A white face with a beak was encased on top of a dark-green hulking frame. Grey trim ran all across its body, and swirled around a circular red shape in the center of its torso. The beast brought up a clawed hand and a shaft of energy flew from its palm into an aircraft that had been firing missiles at it.

"That's where we were," Shinji whispered in awe. Rei had wanted to visit a mall on the far side of the city, citing that it was fun because it was 'off the compound.' The Section Two agents that were assigned on their detail should have taken them to Nerv when the sirens activated, but for some reason the security men hadn't been around. With everything in the city down, Shinji and his cousin had taken off running for the base. Misato had caught the two as they were jogging after a mile sprint in the direction of Nerv.

The Angel destroyed two more aircraft in quick succession. Rei sounded like she might cry as she turned back. "Why do they keep sending the pilots in? Conventional weapons will have no effect; we know that! It's killing them."

"Because the U.N. is stubborn and proud." Misato's voice was tinged with antipathy as she made the proclamation.

"Looks like they're getting over that problem," Shinji said, still gazing in the side mirror. He turned around for a better look. "All of the aircraft just disengaged and flew off.

"What!" Misato looked to see that it was true. She stopped for a moment, and heard a sound that made her blood run cold. 'A bomber,' she thought, as she heard the sound of the jet engine over her own vehicle's idling motor. She started searching the road frantically, and saw a suitable brace point. They were lucky in that they were near an overpass. She pulled the car off the road and as close as she could to the side of the concrete support that merged with the ground. It was angled, with a meter between the front corner of her vehicle and the foundation for the overpass. She got out of the car quickly.

Shinji rubbed his head where it had banged the ceiling when they had pulled off, and looked back to his cousin. "Has she gone crazy?" Shinji asked Rei. His answer was interrupted as Misato began hauling his cousin out.

"Shinji, Rei, hurry," Misato beckoned anxiously. He scrambled towards the driver side and out.

"What is this?" he asked, stifling anything more sarcastic due to the seriousness of the situation. Katsuragi was actually scared.

"They're going to drop an N2 mine. Help me push the car."

The trio went to work rocking the Mustang until it had made it up on its side. Misato urged the two children hurriedly to the space between the car and the concrete. It was then that she heard the explosion, and threw both to the ground, covering them with her own body. There was a flash and roar, and the hot air that rushed over them was almost suffocating. Rei started coughing quickly from the cloud of dust that came with the warm breeze. She was the first to walk out, shielding her eyes as she looked towards the Angel. Her pale features became brighter as she stepped from the shadow of the overpass.

"Rei no!" Misato sprinted to grab the girl. Rei didn't understand what the big fuss was. Then everything went dark with an abrupt strike to her forehead.

Shinji watched in horror as his cousin walked out from the confines of the overpass, and was caught in a sudden rain of debris. A signpost with a curved arrow managed to clip her head, and she crumbled on the ground. Shinji screamed for Rei as the fragments continued to rain down sporadically. Misato ran out and scooped up Rei, and returned back to the vehicle.

"Is she alright? Oh Rei," Shinji said, cradling her neck.

Misato put her fingers to Rei's neck. She then grabbed Shinji's chin, and turned it gently up to her. "She's bleeding, but still has a pulse, and seems fine otherwise. Be careful with her Shinji; head trauma can be serious. The best thing you can do is help me get this car back over. We're only ten minutes from headquarters, and we can get Rei medical attention there.

Shinji sniffled, but nodded with determination. 'He's a good kid,' Misato thought. 'I just hope he's able to handle combat stress better than what I'm seeing now.'

The car didn't rock because they were working without the help of shocks this time, but by pushing higher on the frame the vehicle gave way to their efforts. The car landed with a loud clang, and Misato winced. Shaking off the trepidation of what damage her vehicle had taken, she helped Rei into the backseat. Shinji cradled her neck, and eased back into the car with her as Misato carried the lower half of the body. He kept his position in the rear of the car, gently stroking her hair and looking anxious.

Katsuragi checked the glove compartment and handed back some napkins. "Hold these to the wound. Apply pressure and it should stop the bleeding." Shinji nodded and took the napkins. Misato started their journey again, going at a slightly less reckless pace for fear of jarring her injured passenger. She dialed her phone when she found a relatively straight stretch of road.

"Hey… Yeah, I got them. Have a medical team on standby, Rei's been hurt… No, a concussion I think, she took a shot to the head... Yeah, I know. It was caused by debris from the N2 explosion… The next time the U.N. drops an N2 mine, they could give active personnel in the field a warning… I understand. Just hope I don't ever meet one. What's the status?… Good. We should begin prepping Unit 01 for a sortie… Yeah, I'll bring Shinji there. How long until the Angel is reactivated?… Oh well, it's something. What are its operational parameters?… Okay. I'll be there shortly. Buh-bye."

Misato looked back at Shinji, who wore obvious concern on his face. "She'll be fine. It's likely a concussion, and will probably keep her out of combat…"

"She's unconscious. She better not be going into combat," Shinji blurted.

Misato stopped the car and turned around, staring levelly at Shinji. "I am your superior officer, First Children. I know you are under pressure. But combat will be just as nerve-racking. I hope I don't have to rely on this sort of attitude during the heat of battle. I want to do the best I can. Trust me to do it, without giving me a smart mouth and insubordination in return." Misato took a deep breath, and then smiled. "Okay?"

Shinji was a bit stunned, but managed a nod. Misato turned back and started the car towards headquarters. "This Angel has demonstrated several means of attack thus far. A kinetic rod propelled through its forearm causes serious impact damage, and has range extensive beyond what would be expected by its casing. It has also shown evidence of a sort of energy attack. A glowing in the eyes will alert you of energy build up before this attack is launched, but the warning time is just a fraction of a second. And don't forget the likelihood of an A.T. Field. This is just what we know based on encounters with the U.N.'s VTOLs. It may have other combat capabilities that it has kept hidden from us."

The Renault pulled into a gray building, and eased into guide clamps. She reached her arm out the driver's side window and typed numbers into a keypad beside them. There was a sound of machinery starting up, and the car started moving down the vehicle escalator. "Are you getting this Shinji?"

The boy nodded quickly to her, and then turned his attention back to the blue-haired girl in his lap.

'Why are you making me nag,' Misato thought tiredly in her mind. "Repeat it to me, First Children."

"The Angel has a forearm spike, can shoot energy, and has an A.T. Field."

"Good." The Geofront sublevel should have been almost accessible by now. As if to her answer her thoughts, the escalator came to a halt. "We're here."

As soon Misato was out of the driver's seat and had let the seat up Shinji came rushing out. A medical team was nearby, and he carried the girl over. He placed her on the waiting gurney, almost fighting the medics who were trying to take her off of his hands. The EMTs finally managed to elbow him out of the way, and moved the gurney with a hurried pace. Misato knew the crew could have forced Shinji aside easily, but most of the staff was familiar with the two pilots. They seemed to understand, and were being much more gentle than they could have been. Shinji acted as if he would follow the medical staff to one of the emergency rooms, but felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Misato.

"No time, kiddo. If you don't hurry up and make it to your Eva, the Angel will destroy us all. We've got to move."

Shinji watched the gurney going away, and then finally turned back to Misato. "Let's go."

Misato had several occasions along the course of their journey to be glad to have the boy with her. She would have been lost ten times over, but Shinji seemed to know the place like the back of his hand. He made it to the cage area quickly, and Misato felt confident enough to leave him with Dr. Akagi while she went to take her place on the bridge.

"Hello, Shinji," Dr. Akagi said, walking with him as he made his way to the entry plug loading level.

"Hi, Naoko," Shinji replied quickly, sparing a brief and warm glance to the older woman accompanying him.

"The Magi will be monitoring your vitals and synch ratio. I just wanted you to know that everything will be fine. Just do like you did during the simulations. You'll be able to beat this Angel if you can do that."

Shinji smiled back up at Dr. Akagi. "Thanks. I'll do my best."

Naoko stopped suddenly. Shinji looked, and saw his mother waiting for him at the platform. Naoko wished him good luck and left. Shinji would be happier if the friction that existed between his mom and Naoko wasn't there. He had never understood what it was about. He saw the dour look that had briefly crossed his mother's face brighten as he approached.

Yui embraced her son in a hug, and kissed him on the cheek. Shinji looked around embarrassed by the attention that the techs were giving him. "Mom," he protested in the whining manner of all teens that feel they are being publicly humiliated by their parents.

She stood up, and smiled. "Be safe Shinji. Please." When she released him from her embrace and looked at him there were tears standing in her eyes. "This angel is dangerous. Fight smart."

Shinji nodded, and hugged Yui again. "I'll be okay mom. It's not like Rei and I haven't been practicing for the last two months on the simulations. I'll be fine."

"Don't be overconfident. We don't know what this Angel will do."

Shinji nodded. "I'm not; I'm just trying to calm you down."

Yui laughed, stepped back. "I need to let you go. I'm proud of you Shinji, and your father would be proud of you too."

Shinji waved, the last bit almost enough to choke him up. Then he turned, and made his way to the entry plug.

On the bridge, Misato was going through the pre-launch checks with various technicians who were calling data out. Commander Fuyutsuki watched with apparent disregard. He knew when he heard the pressurized whiff of a door opening that Yui had returned. He started updating her immediately.

"Rei is suffering a concussion. Naoko determined that it would affect her synch ratio for the near future. I have advised that she be kept under medical watch and close to the area of Unit-00 should an emergency arise." Fuyutsuki turned to see Yui's face as she took the news.

"We tried to prepare for the prophecy, and it still blew up in our face, didn't it?" Yui sighed as she watched the command bridge. She had an especially watchful eye for Misato. She knew on an analytical level that Misato was competent, and had done all she could to keep her children safe. Still, in her heart, she blamed Misato's negligence for Rei's current state.

"One cannot circumvent the word of God; all we can do is creatively interpret it." Kozo looked down onto the floor and saw the various screens showing the pilot's bio-signs and one showing a live feed to the cockpit. "Are you going to be able to handle this? Watching your son go into battle must be hard for you."

"It's better than not watching. Besides, I've had over a decade to get ready. I'm a bad mother for saying this, but it's a relief to finally be done with the worrying. I've lived most of my life in fear of these battles." Sub-commander Yui Ikari had walked over to Kozo's side, and now stood rigidly with her hands clasped behind her back. He wanted to grab her hand and squeeze it reassuringly, but knew such would not do.

With a gray skirt and matching jacket, she cut a serious and commanding figure. Her occasional smile and tendency to wear her emotions on her sleeve undid any stern image she could have hoped to achieve on normal occasions. Fuyutsuki was pleased to see the professionalism Yui carried herself with now. He could do no less.

"He'll be fine Yui. Your boy is coming back to us."

"He is. But I don't know if he'll be the same. He's about to start a journey through Hell."

Captain Katsuragi was shouting. "Final safety lock released. Evangelion Unit 01 ready for launch."

"Proceed," Commander Fuyutsuki stated loudly, and the room filled with an almost tangible excitement as the Eva went grinding along the launch rail to the streets of Tokyo-3 above.