Evangelion: Prophecy

Summary: The Dead Sea Scrolls predicted 4 Nephilim: Tabris, Tabrias, Azela, and Azrael. They would protect humanity against the Angels. But in order to do so, one would destroy everyone. Is Shinji Ikari really Azrael, the Angel of Death? And what exactly is Instrumentality? How does it differ from Third Impact?

Disclaimer: Auska would kill me if I owned Evangelion, or should I call her Tabrias now?

Chapter 3: Activation

Rei waited until Shinji was released from the infirmary, and then helped him back to the Katsuragi apartment. He was tired, so she told him to sit down on the couch and got him a glass of water.

"Thanks, Rei," he said, accepting the glass she offered.

Her eyes downcast, Rei softly said, "I am sorry, Shinji-kun. I lied to you."

"Huh?"

"I am not the 'Third'," she said. "There never was a 'Third'. I am Rei Ayanammi, the only one. I always have been, and I always will be."

Shinji's expression became grave, "Ritsko showed me the Dummy Plug System."

If Rei was shocked, she showed no signs, "I am regaining my memories. I do not remember much, but I remember someone telling me that my body has a defect that causes cellular breakdown." Shinji raised a questioning eyebrow so she elaborated. "For some reason, my body is in a constant state of decay. The clones were made from me to allow me to survive until a cure was found. But moving into a new body causes my memories to be blocked, because while I remember, my new body does not."

She looked up to see that Shinji was staring at her in shock. Eventually, he found his voice and slowly asked, "So… it's like… reincarnation?"

Confusion flashed across Rei's face before it returned to its usual blank look, "I suppose you could call it that."

Shinji nodded, understanding. He felt slightly better now and suddenly felt hope. Rei and Kaoru look so similar; could he suffer from the same thing? Is that the real reason why he asked me to kill him? He didn't want to suffer decay? "Do you suffer from the effects now?" he asked.

"Before I died the second time, I was cured, so I asked Dr. Akaji to destroy the clones," Rei explained. "Thankfully, she did not do so until after I awoke in my third body." She shuddered slightly, "I hated that room. It was cold, exposed; I felt so… alone… common."

I can understand the feeling, Shinji thought. "Wait, the second time? When was the first?" How much horror have you experienced, Rei?

She shook her head, "I do not remember."

"Sorry," Shinji said, feeling sad. Then his stomach let out a loud growl. "I guess I should make lunch. Do you want some?"

"I do not like instant. The only thing worse is the biohazard waste that the Major cooks," Rei stated bluntly.

Shinji did a double take. Did Rei just make a joke? Or was she being serious? The answer was both, but he didn't know that. Months ago, Ritsko had published an article in a science magazine about the studies she did on the cooking of her friend 'Otasim', and Rei had read it. Thankfully, Misato had yet to know about it. "I'll have to go buy more food then. Do you want to come with?"

Rei nodded, "That would be enjoyable."

As Shinji was locking the door, an idea came to him. "Rei," he asked, "Do you like ice cream?"

The girl looked at him in confusion. "What is 'ice cream', Shinji-kun?"

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The tech stood in the cage for Unit 02, looking at the report. Everything seemed to be in order. Repairs had been completed, and the Unit's backup power had been upgraded to be more efficient. It could now last 10 minutes without outside power.

Hearing the door open, the tech looked to see Auska walk in, clad in her plugsuit. "I didn't know you were up, Second Child," he remarked. He made the mistake of looking at Auska's face and flinched. Her face was being forced into a mask, while her eyes blazed with anger, sorrow, and determination.

"How is Unit 02?" she asked.

"Fine," the tech replied. "We've upgraded it to last 10 minutes without outside power…" he stopped when Auska raised her hand. She turned towards the mech, and the tech noticed that there were two slots crudely cut into her plugsuit, right between the shoulder blades.

"Can it be piloted?"

"Yes. Of course."

"Good," Auska said, heading up the ramp to mount the entry plug.

"Miss, I can't let you do that," the tech said, grabbing her shoulder.

"Release me," the first hint of anger in Auska's voice was notable.

"Sorry Miss, but you can't pilot Unit 02. You're not a pilot for it anymore…" The rest of his sentence was cut off as a blood red AT Field sprang into existence, throwing him back. Alarms rang and hidden weapons suddenly revealed themselves, firing at the source of the field until their ammo was spent. The smoke cleared, revealing an unharmed Auska surrounded by her red AT Field, white feathered wings protruding from her back where the slots in her plugsuit were. "Miss Soryu?" the tech's jaw dropped.

She turned to look at him, her skin and eyes giving off an unearthly glow, "Tabrias." She raised a hand, "I suggest you run." The tech did just that. He ran so fast, he probably broke the sound barrier. Auska-Tabrias allowed herself a smirk. They're so easy to scare! That was pretty damn funny! She then mounted the plug, using her AT Field to activate the LCL fill and inject the plug into Unit 02. The plug lit up and Unit 02 came to life.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Bridge was full of activity. Everyone was in an uproar. First, the test on Unit 01 failed, and now there was an Angel detected inside NERV.

Today just isn't my day, Misato thought bitterly. She had overseen Unit 01 being returned to the cages, so she was late getting to the Bridge. "Status?"

"Second's ago, MAGI detected an AT Field in Unit 02's cage! What makes no sense is that the pattern is red! Even then, the MAGI are still classifying it as an Angel, but instead of a number, they gave it a name!"

Misato was confused, "A name?"

"Tabrias, whatever that means."

Gendo frowned. The Angel of Alternatives?

"Give me the video recording of Unit 02's cage when the Angel was detected," Misato ordered. The recording was put up, and Misato gasped. "Auska? It couldn't be!"

"Unit 02 is active and moving! It's…"

The sentence was never finished as everyone watched Unit 02 shimmy up one of the catapult shafts and jump, landing feet first on the ground of the Geofront.

This was not in the scenario, especially mine, Gendo thought, knashing his teeth, behind his hands. "Where are the other pilots?"

"First and Third Children detected coming our way across the Geofront. Wait! Unit 02's moving towards them!"

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Shinji and Rei ran towards NERV, aware of the red mech approaching them.

Maybe Auska finally got up and is coming to brief us, Shinji thought. Then Rei talked him yelling, "Get Down!" Unit 02 progressive knife shot about a meter above them to dig into the ground behind them. Had they remained standing, it would have killed them.

"Rei, are you okay?" Shinji asked. Then he noticed Rei was unconscious, a small trickle of blood running along the side of her head. In her haste to get them on the ground, she had struck her head on a rock and passed out. "Rei!" Shinji yelled, picking her up in his arms and running again, fully aware that the mech chasing them was not friendly.

This is ridiculous! he thought. I can't outrun an Eva, even without carrying Rei! "Someone! Anyone! Help!" Like that's going to work! Who's going to hear me?

Inside the Eva cages, Unit 01's eyes blazed to life.

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Author's Note: And to my prereader, I am NOT Auska-bashing for crying out loud! Auska was a good character idea, even though my personal opinion is that she need a chill pill (cough Kaoru cough) every so often.

My prereader does not have an account, but he sure reads. A lot.