Evangelion: Prophecy
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Genesis Trilogy: 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: I don't own Evangelion. This story takes place after the initial storyline (after Koaru's death).
The Second Book of Shinji
Misato awoke early, something she normally didn't do. Today was different though. In the past week since the 17th Angel was destroyed, she had started drinking less, and going to work more. Every morning, she checked on her ward, Shinji, hoping to see some improvement. Each morning was the same, as was the evening when she came home, and it broke her heart.
For the entire week, he did nothing, said nothing, and ate nothing, just laid in bed listening to his SDAT. Nothing his guardian, Misato, did could make him acknowledge him. He wanted to die. But it wasn't his death wish that worried Misato.
It was the fact that he should already be dead. In spite of having not slept, eaten, or even moved for a week, he was still alive.
This was why she was going to work early today. The day before, Ritsuko had been released from the brig at NERV. Misato hoped she'd know what was wrong.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"No idea?" the purple-haired Major asked again.
"None," the doctor replied, sullen.
Misato sighed. It was obvious that she wasn't going to get any answers from the fake-blond. She left NERV and headed back to the apartment. Shinji's friends should be coming back tomorrow, she mused. Maybe they can snap him out of it.
Entering her apartment, she was surprised to see it was cleaner than when she left. It wasn't perfect, but it made her wonder. "Nice to see you got up, Shinji!" she called happily, opening the door to her charge's room. Shinji was still lying in bed, unmoved from when she had last seen him. What surprised her though was the girl with blue hair sitting nearby, watching him.
"What are you doing here, Rei?" Misato asked.
The First Child turned toward her, "I came to see Pilot Ikari, Major. I have not seen him report to NERV and wondered if he was ill."
"I wish I knew, Rei," Misato said, leaving for the kitchen to get a beer. Ever since Ritsko had shown her and Shinji the Dummy Plug System, the Major had always felt uncomfortable around the red eyed clone. Though I wonder who she was cloned from, she thought yet again.
Back in Shinji's room, Rei decided to try to wake up her fellow pilot. She reached out and touched his hand.
"I'm not sure what to do in this type of situation."
"Why don't you try smiling?"
Reaching out to take his hand, feeling warm, smiling…
Rei snapped back to the present and sat back, confused. It had happened again. Ever since she had used her AT Field to help Shinji stop Kaoru, she had been experiencing strange memories and feelings. Most were associated to times when she thought of the dark-haired pilot in front of her. He reminds me of something. No, someone. Who? Who?
"I'm scarred."
"Its okay, Rei, I don't think he'll hate you. Those wings actually look quite beautiful."
"But…"
"Those wings are a good thing. It means your body is stable enough to handle your AT Field. You won't suffer from cellular breakdown anymore."
Again, Rei snapped back to the present. That last memory had been even fuzzier than any of the others. It was like it was from so long ago, that she could hardly remember it. I should ask the Commander about this, she thought, and rose to leave.
She was unaware of the battle that was currently raging inside the poor boy's mind.
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"What is this?"
"This is the result of your father's work," Misato said. "This is Instrumentality."
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
For the first time to her knowledge, Rei was afraid of being in the Commander's presence. She had reported these 'flashback' moments, and was surprised to see him suddenly rise and question her about them as if she were a criminal. Aparently, she had answered his questions to his satisfaction as he had calmed down and sat back in his seat. His hands were folded in front of his face, showing he was thinking deaply.
She remained were she was, at attention. She took another breath, and saw the puff of carbon dioxide that told her just how cold it was in the Commander's office. Her skin had already gone numb from it, and she wondered if she'd get frostbite if she stood here for much longer.
Finally, he answered her. "Pay no heed to it, Rei. It is just a side affect from your activation."
Rei bowed politely, "Thank you, Commander." She turned and left the gloomy office.
"Are you sure it was wise to tell her that, Ikari?"
"I cannot afford to have her develop a will of her own yet again."
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Red skies, red sea, desolation, destruction, sadness.
"How disgusting."
The vision vanished.
'That ending again? No! Reanalyze. Show me another possibility.'
The vision began to open again, showing another possible outcome. Not everyone knew it, but Tabrias had also read the Dead Sea Scrolls when she was a child. She didn't remember much, but it was enough to predict the outcome.
'This is why he called me the Angel of Alternatives. I can predict Alternatives. If I concentrate hard enough, I can look at the world around me, what others do, how they react, and predict their moves. I used to do that in the Eva simulator training in Germany. I did it in college, which was how I could graduate. The reason why I haven't been able to do so recently is because I lost my focus. There has to be more.'
Gendo laughing. Third Impact. "How disgusting."
'Damnit!'
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The doctor watched the monitor with interest. One week ago, the Second Child's brainwaves had been spiking. She seemed to be undergoing one continuous lucid dream that was repeating itself over and over. The doctor looked at the pilot's face, noting the signs of REM sleep, made a note on his clipboard, and left to write his report.
Had he paid more attention, he would have noticed the faint blue-wave pattern on the screen.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I guess…
What?
I don't have to pilot the Eva, if I want to be happy.
Won't others die?
Yes. I can still pilot Eva. But I don't need my father's approval to be happy. I have the approval of others, and not just with Eva. There's school, there's other hobbies I have…
So what will you do instead?
My cello. I've always been good at it. I'll try out at places.
What if they don't like you?
There are other places.
So?
So I always have another option, another choice.
Yes!
He was standing now, standing above the world. Everyone he knew was applauding him. He took a bow. "Thank you, everyone."
Everyone else vanished, and he saw a single being. It was a woman, covered in white armor that resembled an Eva. An S2 core pulsed in her abdomen. Her head was topped with blue hair that had streaks of silver, and her bangs hung down into her red eyes. She hovered in front of him with feathery wings of gold, approval on her smiling face, as she nodded and spoke.
Yes, that is correct.
Take care of yourself.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Shinji opened his eyes, and for the first time in a long time, he smiled. "I will," he promised. He didn't know who he was promising, but he knew that he was at least making that promise to himself.
I will not run away from what happiness I can find anymore, he thought. Then he dragged his stiff body out of his bed and headed for the bathroom.
