A/N: Damn, did I took my time to update? Well, sorry everyone, but I definitely used my trip to think some stuff (damn, i'm pretty rushed actually, because I want to get to the ending part quicker now). So be ready, cause now I'm sure I will get this story finished, no matter what. BTW, feel free to review.
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Overview
"55.9 billion dollars"
"Is that the cost? It seems small and meaningless next to the profits"
"The cost is unimportant, be it massive or small. What's really important is our own progression, not Ikari's"
"But we have progressed. We are only a few steps away form our goal. The nineteenth messenger is soon to arrive. His doings will probably give us the chance to start our plan"
"Such a stupid comment"
The room is a dark, circular meeting room, all too familiar. The common SEELE sound only monoliths are gathered once again, with Keel Lorenz sitting in the middle of the room. But another person has entered the room; it is the figure of an old woman, her hair long and gray with some black streaks here and there. Her face shows many years of living, and her eyes wisdom too deep to be understood
"Stupid? Why shouldn't the nineteenth angel be able to defeat the pilots? No power like his has ever been seen" The sound came from SEELE 07
"It's not about how powerful the Angel is, it's about how powerful is the power he stands against. Ikari has put Eva Units 00 through 03 to work. Also, he owns the two Custom Evas, both of them ready to act. His own, personal army of Evas overwhelms any Angel you can bring" The voice of the woman was weak, but owned a deepness and knowingness that made her scary.
"You say Ikari can't be defeated now? That's absurd"
"Not now, not right away, but eventually… If there's one weakness in Ikari's side, it has to be the psyche of his little soldiers. Just look at the pilots that make the last defense of mankind: Ayanami is a doll, Sohryu mentally unstable, Ikari owns a massive insecurity, Suzuhara has no skills for the job, and Kazegawa is still affected by his brother's death…"
"The council already knows this, Lentai. You are avoiding the question"
"The answer is simple: I don't know. But I can tell you it will take a while. Plus, the attack of the nineteenth will be completely useless: his power doesn't stand a chance against the Evangelions"
"Then, may we know what kind of Angel does stand a chance?"
"I wonder if the council saw the battle the pilots had with the fifteenth and sixteenth messenger"
"Of course we did"
"Then you will notice that's were my two points connect: all pilots have serious psychological problems, so an Angel based on strength won't defeat them, but an Angel capable of attacking their minds will. Just like Arael brought the Second Child to the edge of death, and Armisael incapacitated the First, forcing her to self destruct the Eva. That's where Ikari's weakness lies: in the mind of his defenders"
"Then it's just a matter of waiting. It shall give us more time to prepare our own attack, so I don't see any problems with that. You are dismissed Lentai."
Keolan Lentai left the room, her mind going over the conversation she just had with the council: the old men were willing to wait, as long as she made sure the pilots would eventually be neutralized. An angel like Arael or Armisael… it would take a while, but she would make sure such an Angel like that attacked Tokyo-3. NERV would never find out what attacked them.
Plus, her daughter-in-law and granddaughter could use a lesson about being defeated.
NERV-Control Room
Misato enters the room to find a deep silence; no one is in here, only two figures: the vice commander, Fuyutski, and Jeyn Lentai, her face displaying a smile.
Nothing good can come from Lentai smiling
Repressing her laugh, Misato walks towards them, mindful of her own steps as the silence is too deep.
"Major Katsuragi, how convenient of you to join us" Jeyn's voice was filled with sarcasm
"I was asked to come here"
"And here you are, Major. Now, Doctor Lentai, if you would please tell us what can be so important" Fuyutski was clearly ignorant of the meeting's purpose.
"You will see, commander, just wait a little"
After a few seconds, the screen of the room turned on, showing a video of sorts: it was the battle with the Third Angel. The screen quickly changed, showing Unit 01 crushing the Fourth Angel. It followed on and on until the battle with Unit 03 during Judas's madness.
"All of the battles fought by Evangelions are tapped inside of Judas's computer, each one has been deeply analyzed to the slightest detail and literally, they have been corrected, one by one. Judas's analyze is very important, for it is the only source of knowledge about Eva fighting we have. I thought it might be interesting for you and Major Katsuragi, Commander"
Two folders lay on the table in front of Jeyn, she took both of them and handed each one a folder. Misato opened hers and found what Jeyn was talking about: it was a detailed evaluation of every battle or Eva deployment. Every thing an Eva had done was pointed out, described and evaluated. It was literally an evaluation of Misato's and the pilots' job.
"I would be pleased if both of you would read the reports and see if there's anything interesting, specially you Major"
Although she felt personally hurt that a computer had evaluated her job, Misato couldn't say no: her job was literally described here, so she had to look at it.
"All right"
Fuyutski doesn't answer, only leaves the room, his hands opening the folder. Misato does the same and marches home.
"Now, if I spend the night here, I will probably get Judas working by tomorrow, if I don't, it will take another day. I think the answer is pretty easy" Lentai sat on the console next to her and started working, ready to finish the master piece of her work: Judas.
Misato's Apartment
Misato walks into the house to be greeted by the smell of Shinji's miraculous cooking. She makes a quick run for the fridge, grabs a beer and looks herself in the room. She immediately starts sorting through the files, looking for the main notes. She finds one referring to the battle with Gaghiel.
Major Katsuragi showed an incredible creativity formulating her counter attack, but Pilot Sohryu's performance was less than expected: by not immediately assuming her battle duties, casualties among the sailors increased massively.
Nothing she hadn't noticed herself. She looks at the previous file, the battle with Ramiel.
Operation Yashima was a poorly prepared counter offensive, not because of those who prepared it, but because of the small time and low resources NERV disposed of. The plan must be considered an absolute miracle considering the circumstances; an outstanding performance from both the strategy section and the pilots
Yep, that was probably her best moment: she had made a victory from almost nothing. She kept looking through the files, and found the sheet that talked about the battle with the fourteenth. She had seen it before inside the MAGI, but most of it was classified: this sheet wasn't, most of the sensitive stuff was there, but she didn't need it anyway: Kaji had showed her that.
A small sigh escaped her mouth, but she continued: the next sheet that interested her was one she didn't recognize, it was titled: The Fourth Branch Incident
During the activation tests for Evangelion Units 14, 15 and 16, the dummy plug system deployed by SEELE showed some massive deficiencies in the synchronization with the new Evangelion Series, II version. The design of the Units, created by Professor Albert Kazegawa, showed to be incompatible with the CENSORED-based dummy plugs.
Censored? Why should they censor something? She already knew the origins of the dummy plug system: Ritsuko had showed her the clones of Rei that the system used. She chose to keep reading
The three Evangelions, still incomplete, entered what has been called the berserk mode, a state in which the Eva loses control and is able to operate without an external power source, attacking targets randomly (or at least, this was the case of this incident). The three Evas immediately activated their independent power sources and attacked the nearest target they found: the Old city of London. Evangelion Unit 06 was, also incomplete, was immediately deployed to stop the three Evas. Pilot Dorian Kazegawa seemed unable to stop the Evangelions and was almost defeated, but Doctor Jeyn Lentai whispered an unknown command to the pilot and, miraculously, the Evangelion reentered combat and destroyed the three Mass Production Evas. This was the first battle of Unit 06, and it should be noted that the pilot acted without any strategy orders, all of his doings were his own thinking. Also, it should be noted the pilot received a small degree of mental contamination from the battle, as his own Evangelion almost entered the so called berserk mode. The highest mark of his synch ratio was 99.9, barely below the dangerous zone.
That explained why Kazegawa had such a skill with Unit 06, he had used it previously on battles. Also, he had destroyed three Evas on his own. Wow. But what had Lentai told him that got him back into action? Plus, the file made reference to a "second Eva series". She had heard of the first series of the Mass Produced Evas: two made in Germany, one in the UK, one in China, two in the US first branch, two in Russia and the last one in France. But a second Eva series? Not only that, but the document said it was designed by Professor Albert Kazegawa, Dorian's father.
This kid didn't just appear out of nowhere, he was linked with Evas since the beginning. But why the hell is he so freaking talented for this? One battle and he is the hero.
She chose to set her doubts aside and continue to read, for now. The report ended there, but she found more papers she hadn't heard of. One of them titled: First Eva Battle.
During the construction process of Unit 01, many incidents occurred, two of them remarkable: the death of Yui Ikari, and the death of Thomas Lentai. The death of Yui Ikari happened about a month before that of Thomas Lentai. She died during the first activation test for Unit 01, as she was trapped inside the Eva. The case of Thomas Lentai was different: he died due to the first attack of an Angel on NERV.
The next paragraph was censored. She skipped it and kept reading.
The Angel was defeated thanks to the help of Rei Ayanami, who piloted Evangelion Unit 00 and stopped the Angel until the UN took over the situation and contained the creature. Thomas Lentai's corpse was found after the attack, next to Unit 01. It was discovered that he tried to self destruct the Unit before the Angel contaminated it, as the computer he had with him showed its last operation was accessing the Unit's inner system and trying to self destruct Unit 01.
On the bright side, we can notice the first effective combat with Evas: Unit 00 managed to stop the Angel with massive success. Plus, pilot Ayanami showed an incredible skill during her assignment to capture the Angel. Considering the battle conditions (an absolute surprise) the outcome must be considered spectacular. The only notable losses due to the fight were Doctor Lentai, who died during the attack, and his wife, Jeyn Lentai, who resigned from project E immediately.
So Lentai quitted because her husband died… can't blame her for doing so. But then, why did she come back? What could be so important to make her return? Sure, she had a lot of cards under her sleeve, but what about her true reason?
She drops the subject, intend on reading the next file she finds. It's a sheet titled: The First Defeat.
Couple of weeks after the attack of the fourteenth Angel, Zeruel, the Geofront was in a very delicate defensive state: most of its defenses were only half way through reconstruction, leaving only Eva Unit 00 to defend it. In a rash doing, Commander Ikari requested the incomplete arms of Evangelion Units 05 and 06 to reconstruct Unit 02, intend on increasing his defenses. Evangelion Unit 02 was put back into action for the battle with the fifteenth Angel, Arael. The Angel attacked from outer space, were conventional weapons were unable to reach him, so Unit 02 was deployed alongside the JSSDF-made positron rifle to counter attack it. The decision was absolutely incorrect, considering the complications that pilot Sohryu had to synchronize with the Eva. The only shot the Eva made missed the Angel by almost five miles, and then the Angel attacked. Using a new tactic, the Angel used a wave beam capable of penetrating the Evas mind, and therefore, the Pilot's one. The attack neutralized Pilot Sohryu, rendering her mentally unstable. According to recollections made by Doctor Akagi, the Angel penetrated the Pilot's mind and forced the pilot into reliving the worst memories of her life. This turned the pilot into such a mental distress that eventually it turned into her becoming comatose. Evangelion Unit 00 was deployed, managing a direct shot against the Angel, but it was useless due to the Angel's powerful AT field. In a second foolish decision, Commander Ikari decided to use the Lance of Longinus that CENSORED LINE locked in Terminal Dogma. The Evangelion retrieved the Lance and used it to attack the Angel, destroying the creature. The Lance reached escape velocity and got caught up in the Moon's gravity field. Overall, we can see the dramatic power of the Angel because it attacked the pilot's mind, which was in a clearly unstable moment.
The mind of a pilot… it was the only real weakness of the pilots, their own minds. But then again, it was also their biggest strength: it was the mind of each one that gave them the power to continue fighting: Asuka had overcome her comatose, Shinji had defeated Leliel and Zeruel, Dorian had destroyed Kurael (the 18th) and Rei had stopped Armisael, all thanks to the power of their own minds.
She closed the folder and went to the kitchen. She found Asuka and Shinji already eating.
"You two don't have any patience?"
"You took too damn long" Asuka was no patient person
"I was busy doing some work"
No more words were spoken during dinner: it was odd for Misato to have read so many comments about her and the two kids, so she was in deep thought the whole dinner. After dinner, she grabbed six beers and sat on the couch, intend on relaxing her mind with some TV and alcohol.
Shinji and Asuka said goodnight and went to bed. But Asuka stopped halfway there, as the folder on Misato's room caught her attention. She opened the folder and started reading. Quickly, her eyes were wide open, reading every word carefully. She slowly went to her room and continued to read, getting more surprised with every word.
Shinji' Room- Midnight
As Shinji lies in his bed, he listens carefully to his SDAT player. There's nothing knew in the song, but every time he hears it, it gets a new meaning. He used to listen to it to block out the world, but know he listens just out of boredom.
BAM!
The door snaps open as Asuka enters the room, startling Shinji.
"Asuka? What is it?" His voice is filled with tiredness, but Asuka doesn't mind.
"You Idiot! Just, just look at this…!" She puts a folder in Shinji's hands, one of it's pages wide open. The title reads "The First Defeat". As he starts reading, he realizes his mind isn't getting anything of what he is reading.
"Asuka… could you just tell me what's this all about?"
"Oh, I will tell you! It says I'm "mentally unstable", "unfit to pilot", and some other stupidities!"
"So what? It's not like its actually true, right?" Shinji wasn't in the mood to fight with Asuka this late.
"Of course it isn't, you Idiot! But it's not about what it says! It's about what's behind it! Shinji, there's someone freaking judging us, and this folder has everything we have done inside of it!" Her voice showed a certain degree of fear. As that wasn't common in Asuka, Shinji got the point that this was important
"Okay, then let's see" He grabbed the folder and started reading. It would have taken him hours, but the report included an "Overall Conclusion" at the end of every analysis, so it took him about ten minutes.
"So?" Clearly impatient, Asuka demands her answer
Shinji doesn't know what to say. The report is mainly an overview, but with some offensive comments between the lines such as:
It can be noted that Unit 01, combined with pilot Ikari, is a threat for both Angels and NERV. Clearly, the pilot and the Unit are both bloodthirsty and tend to suffer mental breakdowns.
The actions of pilot Ayanami in the defense of pilot Ikari during operation Yashima can be considered incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid.
Pilot Sohryu has showed a serious lack of skill, performing way below the expectations and showing unable to control her instincts in a battle situation. Her mental health should also be questioned.
The Fourth Child has showed a lack of any skills for the job, as he wasn't able to avoid mental contamination from the Angel. Plus, the Angel was completely able to use the Eva, instead of the pilot self-destructing it.
Pilot Dorian Kazegawa has showed an incredible imagination in the development of an strategy against Kurael, but it should be noted that both his plan was way too risky and incomplete: it put in stake all chances of survival and didn't include a way to save Unit 06 once Unit 00 shot against the Angel. His carelessness for his own life should lead to questioning his fitness for the job.
"Asuka… I… It sounds awful, but… should we truly care?"
"WHAT? Do you realize what you are saying? This is a judging of us as pilots, and you just say we its unimportant!"
"It's not that much of a big deal, I mean, you pilot how you pilot, and that's it"
Asuka is taken back by Shinji's response. It was uncommon for Shinji to just pass over critics. After all, he was the boy who said he piloted for his father's acceptance, he was the boy that almost ran away when he realized people didn't like how he first piloted and he was the boy who didn't like himself and thought badly of himself.
"You say you just don't care what other people think?"
"I do care, but…"
His words stop right there, turning back into the Shinji he usually was: insecure. He does care for other people's opinions, but why bother about this report?
"I knew you wouldn't get the point! Of course, everything is about Shinji, the hero of the moment! But no, nothing else matters, right!"
What? Then this wasn't about him? Then, was Asuka talking about herself?
"Asuka? You mean you do care?"
"Well, of course I care idiot!"
"But I thought you were always so confident of yourself…"
"Shut up! How I am is nothing you can speak about! Don't know why I bothered talking to you, you self-centered jerk…!" She stands up and leaves the room.
Shinji is left to wonder by himself. One day, she had kissed him, and the next she was mad.
Asuka is Asuka. There's nothing to be done about it.
Yet in his heart he knows that he had looked for something awful about himself in that report, and didn't notice anything else. Perhaps he was a little self-centered…
Apartment 702
The apartment is silent, save for the sound of a frying pan coking. Cremina stands in front of the oven, carelessly throwing random complements to the steak she is frying. Her mind is somewhere else, far away but so close. Her mind is thinking of him, of Demian. Of the kid who died, but remains. Her mother had explained her, when he had died, that he would never truly leave the world: he would always live inside of each person's heart.
But she didn't say anything about him living inside an Evangelion.
She had told so to Dorian yesterday, after the disaster with Unit 03. She had heard them, as they thought she was asleep. But she didn't like what she had heard: Demian still lived, not only within Unit 06, but also within Judas. He still acted, he still manifested himself and he still made sure everyone knew about it.
Dorian spoke to him, my mother spoke to him… but I can't. Why? Why not me? What makes me different?
She had grieved for the kid's death: she had been friends with him, and loosing him was a tragedy for her and Dorian. She also told her mother she wouldn't pilot, not because she actually got scared, but because Dorian had asked her so. She done as he had asked, and forced her mother to need them both: she could have kept her job with one pilot left, but not without any. She had forced her to stop project Judas and to stop the construction of Unit 05 and 06. She had given Dorian the time to gather himself together and grieve for his brother. All because he had asked her to.
Between Dorian and my Mother, I chose Dorian. But why?
Her mother had always told her since she was little her objective would be to pilot an Eva and defeat the Angels, but she jeopardized all of that just because of a simple request. Dorian and Demian meant more to her than her own mother.
Because I don't mean a lot for my mother. I'm her tool, the instrument of her vengeance. I'm merely the physical manifestation of her wishes: to avenge my father. When my father died she chose to shape me into her revenge. She chose herself over me. So I did the same, I rejected her.
Her mother did care for her, but if she had to chose between herself and her daughter, she would always chose herself, no matter what.
But, deep within her, Cremina knew she didn't choose to back off because of her mother, she had done it because Dorian meant too freaking much for her.
The boy in question was lying in his bed, with a book in his hands. Cremina had seen him read the book over and over: it was his escape, his small refuge that allowed him to run away from the world, into a better place. She knew why he read it: he was hurt, hurt because of his brother's death and sudden reappearance now. He was hurt, so he read that book so he dream of a better place where no one was hurt. The book in question is an English book, very common in the subject of utopia. The book in question is titled A Brave New World.
Within the book lies Dorian's biggest dream: a world where everyone was simply content, no problems and no grieves. Her mother had told her once: "If Ikari succeeds, Dorian's wish might become true. That bloody book could become our reality"
She never understood the meaning of those words, so she thought it was just a random lie from her mother.
She didn't know she was telling her about the future.
The door opened suddenly, and the said woman entered. Jeyn Lentai showed clear signs of exhaustion; her work was evidently killing her. But Cremina didn't care anymore: the last time she had told her she worked too much, she had merely told her: "if it's for a greater good, then why stop?"
"Cremina?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you up so late?"
"I… couldn't sleep"
I'm just like my mother: a liar.
"I have heard that from you a thousand times, yet it has never been true"
So deeply she knows me?
"Well… yes, I was lying, but so what? Not like if it's really important if I'm up. No emergency alert has been given, so no need to be fresh for piloting"
"Piloting isn't the only thing you have to do, Cremina"
But it's the only one you care about
"Ma, you do your job with science and I will do mine with Eva, I think that was our deal right?
"No, our deal said you would pilot, but it didn't say anything about you escaping your life or speaking like you are doing now"
Yet, in your mind, you want me to only care about piloting, because then I would be your perfect tool, right?
"Right"
"Okay, so I guess that's settled. Now, grab your coat, we are going out"
"Wha… where?"
"Somewhere. Now, hurry up and get ready"
Cremina sighs, giving into her mother's orders and grabbing her coat. The two women leave the apartment, get in Jeyn's car and make their way to the surroundings of the city: they are now on top of a cliff that overlooks the city.
"Why are we here?"
"I thought it would be better: to have an overview of the city, so you could understand"
"Understand what?"
"It's pretty tough t explain… let me put it this way: this city represents the greatest creation of mankind. Using the only true power they own, intelligence, they built this city to defend themselves from the Angels. Truthfully, they do this because they don't want to change, because they are afraid of change, and the Angels represent the top expression of it: a new form of mankind. This people are afraid, and they just want to go on with their lives as they were before the Second Impact. The thing is, mankind can't be saved without sacrifices, and although only a few ones will have to die, mankind will go on"
"That sacrifice is the pilots, right?"
"I wish I could say no, but it's true. You, those chosen by me, approved by Ikari and ratified by SEELE are the only ones who can save us, but your task is no easy one: you must hold on until the Angels stop coming, and then, only God knows what will come"
"The Human Instrumentality" Her mind screamed.
"So, we just have to fight until they stop?"
"Yes, but that's not important"
Maybe not for you, but if I'm the one who is going to pilot, I would rather know.
"Then, what is important for you?"
"For us, Cremina, for us. What's truly important for us is the stakes in this battle: I know that sometimes you will be tempted to quit, abandoning your objective and giving in to fear, but if you do feel like that you must remember that all these people, who built this city and entrusted you their safety, will die if you give in"
"So it's no longer about my father, hu?"
Jeyn goes silent at the mention of her husband. He is no subject to be discussed: her daughter's purpose is to avenge his death and be the last part of the scheme that will separate men from Eva.
"It's always been about your father, but I know, considering your nature, that he probably means nothing to you: a man you never knew of, you don't remember and you truly don't care about. So, if you feel like quitting, remember those people who entrusted you, me and everyone at NERV their safety"
"So, I should pilot because of them?"
"Yes"
She gives her mother a simple look, nothing really important behind. But Jeyn knows what she is thinking: "If that's the best you can come up with"
"That's it"
"I was waiting for you to say that"
"No, that's it with you, Cremina. What is wrong with you? I understand that Demian's death and the incident with Judas must have left you pretty messed up, but to the point of not caring about this? You have been prepared your whole life for this, yet now you just don't care?"
"Yes, I have been prepared my whole life for this, but I always believed that there was a reason behind it, and when I heard of it, I tried to give it a meaning for me, but I just couldn't. So, what I'm saying is: I don't really care, not anymore, because it's not important to me. I don't care about father, this people, or anything you can bring up"
Jeyn's face doesn't even move her look is still on the city, but her mind is working feverishly: if she doesn't care bout anything, then perhaps she should just quit, but…
"What about Kazegawa? I thought you had resigned after Demian's incident because he asked you to, but now you are just going to walk away from this? From him?"
If anything, Jeyn had given right in the spot: Dorian Kazegawa was perhaps the only person her daughter had learned to care about, so he was literally the only weakness in her: "I don't care about anything" façade.
"He… I… I don't know. I mean, fighting just to stay near him?"
It was time for some desperate measures
Jeyn looks down to the city and starts talking, but her voice is different: it's absolutely inhuman, a voice of pure coldness, not even a hint of humanity left in it.
"What is your objective?"
"I…"
"What is your objective?"
"I… don't have one"
Jeyn gives her daughter a look filed with hatred and madness: she must remember.
"What is your objective?"
"I…don't…know"
"I taught your objective when you were young, many years ago. You know it, just admit it"
Jeyn's voice starts ringing in the girl's mind. The words come to her like an avalanche: her objective… she has an objective, or at least, she was taught one. Her mind suddenly goes blank, losing consciousness of what's going on. She speaks, her voice similar to that of Jeyn: she has suddenly lost all emotion, and her eyes have gone blank.
"My objective is… to destroy…the threat that destroys humankind… Angels and Evas… alike."
Jeyn sighs in relief, staring away from the girl, and she collapses to the ground. Jeyn knows she won't remember it: it was always like this, she had taught her the main objective of her existence over and over during her sleep, in the hopes that one day she would wake up and understand her purpose in life. It had been a failure until she found out that the girl only remembered the lesson when she used that voice: a voice that owned no feelings, no tone, no nothing, it was merely a sound. But she remembered the last time she had told her those words in her sleep: in her own frustration, Jeyn lost all of her patience and tried to strangle the girl, desperate. She stopped, and contained herself. But on the next day she asked her the objective of her existence, and she had learned. The lack of oxygen had deeply implanted the lesson on her mind.
A small noise told her Cremina was waking up, but as she looked at her daughter a massive flash of light appeared from the skies, blinding everyone in the city and nearing. In a few seconds, they could notice something wasn't right: from one moment to the other, the skies had filled with dark clouds, the storm covering all of Tokyo-3.
A second noise told her the nature of the phenomena: the emergency sirens made their noise, announcing the arrival of the nineteenth messenger
"Mother? What's going on?"
Just in time for the fight.
NERV-Control Room.
The room has suddenly sprung to life as the emergency signs show on the screens, everyone doing their work: the nineteenth Angel has arrived.
The door slides open as Misato enters the room, her entrance announcing the upcoming battle.
"What's the situation?"
"A massive waveform pattern has deployed all over the city, just like the sudden storm. Also, massive electrostatic activity has been registered in the storm's area."
"So, the storm was generated by the Angel?"
"Exactly"
The door slides open again, three figures walking in this time. Akagi, Lentai and Fuyutski.
"Major, what's the status?" Fuyutski asked
"The storm was generated by an Angel, so right now the Angel should be somewhere over Tokyo-3"
"Any signs of a more exact position?"
"No, no way to determinate it"
Fuyutski sighs as he realizes the situation: an Angel is right over their heads, but they can only sit and wait.
"What about the pilots?"
"Rei, Asuka and Shinji are already here. Section 2 is currently retrieving Kazegawa and Suzuhara"
"Suzuhara? He's going to pilot this time?" Ritsuko's voice couldn't hide the concern in her mind
"He's been secretly trained for a couple of weeks, so there's no reason why he couldn't pilot" The cold, harsh voice of Gendo Ikari cut through Ritsuko's question.
"Sir, it's unadvisable for an inexperienced pilot to…" Misato never finished
"May I know, Major Katsuragi, when did your authority overcome mine?"
"Never, but I was suggesting…"
"There's no need for suggestions, Major. Now tell me the situation, all of it"
"The Angel has generated the storm over us in a few seconds and is currently deploying it's AT field all over the city. Once he manages to do so, he will probably attack. Eva Units 00, 01, 02, 03 and 05 are ready to counter attack"
"What about Unit 06?"
"It's ready, but Doctor Lentai told it was unsafe to use until we do further testing"
Gendo turns around, his eyes finding Lentai's face.
"Is this true, Doctor Lentai?"
"As I told you before, I extracted the numbers and combinations that make Demian Kazegawa's "soul" inside of Judas and connected the data to Unit 06. Theoretically, Unit 06 should currently hold all of Demian Kazegawa's soul, so it's impossible it will just work as before"
Gendo let's the answer sink in, waiting a few seconds to decide.
"Unit 06 will be kept as our last option. Eva Units 00 and 05 will be sent to the city in a reckon mission."
The room is filled with feverish work: the Units will be launched, it's a direct command
"All right. Get both units ready. We will launch them once Suzuhara arrives"
Everyone continues their work as Misato leaves the room, intend on preparing her plan, while Akagi and Lentai near the screen, intend on understanding the Angel.
"It just suddenly appeared and projected this storm? That's impossible, even for an Angel" Jeyn questioned
"Not really. If there's one thing you must know about Angels is the power they have over their AT field: by deploying it over the city, even with a minor intensity, they can easily do such things" Ritsuko answered
"But what will it do? Just stay up there?"
"It's waiting for us to come out"
"And we are just going to send the Evas up there to get killed?"
"Nobody says they have to get killed Jeyn"
She frowns in response, clearly not sharing Ritsuko's view.
Locker Room
Cremina Lentai pushes the button on the wrist of her suit, sealing it from any air excess. Her face contours for a second, adjusting to the suit. Then, her face doesn't change: it's still the same look of dread and fear, but it's clearly justified: she will pilot for the first time, she will fight the Angel. Next to her, Ayanami seals her own suit, her face wearing the same blankness of always.
"Rei?"
"Yes?"
"Doesn't… doesn't it frighten you?"
Rei looks at the girl, her face changing for a second: she bears a look of concern, like if she actually does have the same worries than the girl.
"I don't care if I die, because there's still more pilots, but I have to do my best because I'm ordered to, Lentai. I'm only worried of not giving as much as I can. Also, you will be the one to carry the rifle, so I'm ordered to protect you if we have to fight"
Cremina looks down, waiting a little to answer.
"Then I guess we have a problem, Rei"
"Why?"
"Because I'm not really concerned about my own life here. I only want to get this through as easily as possible, so there's the chance I will die too"
Rei looks directly at her, her face showing disgust.
"It's wrong of people to think they will die and say goodbye, Lentai. Don't even let such a thought to cross you mind even for a second"
"I'm merely answering the same you did"
"Then we will both make sure we don't die"
Rei walks out of the room, still upset. If Shinji taught her anything, it was definitely valuing her own life.
Control Room
"Electrostatic activity in the storm has become dangerous! Up to 50.000 megawatts per hour are being measured by the computer! Power readings in the storm are going off the scale!"
The sound of thunders can be heard inside the Geo Front: the thunderstorm has widely surpassed any other storm in history. The magnitude of it power can be easily understood: it can easily release one single lighting comparable to the Fifth Angel's attack… many times over.
"So this Angel is ready to battle? Well, so are we. Hyuga, are Unit 00 and 05 ready?"
"Yes major"
"Both pilots have entered the plugs?"
"Yes"
"Launch them"
Hyuga types some commands, initiating the action: both Evas move towards the launching rail. As they join with the wall, both are launched at a massive speed. They reach the surface in seconds, both ready to act.
"Rei? Cremina? You two ready?" Misato's voce can be heard over the intercom.
"Yes sir"
"Yes Misato"
"Great. Now, Cremina, get that rifle out the city's perimeter. Rei, get underneath the center of the storm"
Both Evas move, positioning themselves in the said places. As they do, the sound of lighting traveling from one cloud to the other one can be heard.
"Okay. Rei, can you reach the storm's altitude?"
"I will try"
Unit 00 crouches to the ground, prepares itself and makes a massive leap towards the storm. A few seconds pass as the Eva keeps rising, and then another flash of light can be seen
In a few seconds, the lightings gather in the clouds, forming ball shaped lightings. They are waiting until unit 00 reaches the storm.
TUM!
The Eva crushes against an invisible barrier a few meters away from the storm. It's the Angel's AT field. It's also the eyes of the beast. A second flash of light occurs
"Rei! Back off!"
The Eva starts falling to the ground, but as it separates from the field, the lightings attack. One, two, thousands of them, each one against Unit 00.
"CREMINA! SHOOT!"
Eva Unit 05 aims Unit 00 and shots. Unit 00 keeps falling to the ground, and is missed by the shot only for a few meters. The shot makes contact with the lightings and reacts, forcing an explosion. Unit 00 is thrown at a massive speed, crashing against the ground
"Unnnnnghh"
"Rei, are you okay?"
"I… can continue"
"No, that's it. Both of you retreat!"
Misato's order is silenced by another noise from the outside. It's the sound of a thunder.
"Massive sound wave nearing ground level! It's off the scale!"
"GET OUT OF THERE!"
TUM!
The sound waves generated by the storm crash against the ground, sending the whole city and both Evas into a massive earthquake. The few buildings left shake violently as they fall down, the two Evas crashing against the ground. Their armors crack and their eyes break, Unit 00 receiving massive damage. Unit 05 only falls to the ground; the waves don't affect the armor.
"The Angel is using both light and sound to attack! Both Evas will be destroyed if they don't get out of there!"
"BOTH OF YOU GET DOWN HERE!"
This, Misato's order can be heard as both Evas make their way to the launching site and prepare to be retreated. As they near the scaffolds, a third flash of light can be seen as the lightings gather around the center of the storm. A massive ball of lightings can be seen for a second, and then, only bright light.
"IT'S ATTACKING AGAIN! POWER EXCEDS 2000 MEGAWATTS!"
"DEPLOY YOUR AT FIELDS!"
The massive lighting crashes against both Evas in the blink of an eye, but the same barrier blocks the attack. The AT field defends Unit 05 for a while, but Unit 00 collapses immediately. The Unit is penetrated by the attack, making a hole in the Unit's chest.
"GET THEM OUT OF THERE!"
"The scaffold has been destroyed; the Evas must retreat out of Tokyo-3!"
"Rei, Cremina! Exit the city, get out of its attack range!"
Under a barrage of lighting shots, both Evas follow the command, running through the city, their blood emanating from their wounds as they exit Tokyo-3. They move a mile away from the city.
"Cremina, Rei, what's your state?"
On the screen, none of the two looks good: Unit 00 has a massive hole in the middle of its chest, and Unit 05's armor is entirely cracked, clearly destroyed by the sound waves. The Angel doesn't attack: it remains over the city. His shooting stopped once the Evas were too far away.
"Misato… can we get down there?"
"…No, none of the entrances are currently accessible, all of them are within the storm's range"
Both girls remain quiet, the reality of their situation dawning on them: they can't reenter the Geo Front; they have to stay there and defeat the Angel, or else they will die, the extends of their wounds killing them.
"Misato what can we do?"
Misato takes her time to answer, as the question own no true answer. They can't really do anything: attacking the Angel now would be suicide, but if they don't manage anything they will bleed until they die. There's only one solution: to fight.
"You will wait, for now. We have to defeat the Angel, and so we need a strategy. I need you two to wait, because if we do something rushed, chances are we will lose."
The screens go off, leaving the two girls in wonder. Now they ca only wait and hope Misato will come up with something.
"Okay people, we have some work to do!" With that last command the work starts: graphics, readings and analyses are their only referents.
It's truly an inhuman task. But for Misato, it's more than just work. It's her pride at stake, and after the fiasco with the eighteenth, she wasn't going to loose.
Entry Plug-Eva 01
Shinji sits in the plug, his limbs feeling numb because of the long wait. He is suddenly startled by Asuka's voice.
"Hey Idiot, any idea of what's going on?"
"Misato said Rei and Cremina are stuck up there, so she is now preparing a plan"
"Stuck? So that Angel defeated them. Well, I would have seen it coming from that English tart, but not from Wondergirl"
"Rei… Misato said she got directly hit by the Angel's attack, so she is probably wounded… I wonder if she…"
"Now you stop there, Idiot! Wondergirl isn't stupid enough to get herself killed, so stop worrying and be ready to do your job!"
"What job, we don't even know…"
"Well, it's obvious they can't do anything, so it's up to us two and this English idiot to de the job…"
"Just because I'm not speaking doesn't mean I can't hear you, Sohryu…" Dorian's voice cuts the two kids talk
"So what? I just said it's up to us to the job"
"(Sighing) Whatever…"
"Hey, can we just not fight? It's bad enough we have to be here waiting" Shinji said
Dorian and Asuka look at him through the screen, as his voice of filled with concern
"Idiot"
"I think he is right anyway: there's nothing worst than waiting in the dark"
"See Asuka! Why can't we just get along?"
"Well, if you didn't say things like last night!"
Pushing one of the buttons in the plug, Dorian cuts the conversation with the two pilots
"Happens that I'm not interested in what those two do during the night… Gross"
With those two…
"What do you mean? I didn't say anything!"
"You said you didn't care! You lied! You are always worried about the other ones!"
"Well, I chose to change, all right! I just chose to change!"
"Yeah right, like if you could just suddenly change!"
"Well I did!"
"And what the hell could have made you change?"
The boy goes silent as she yells her question, his mind bringing back a certain memory: it's the sight of Unit 03 being destroyed by the dummy plug, the sight of his Eva destroying his own friend, the sight of his father's betrayal… He had worked so hard to accomplish something, to be important in the eyes of his father, to matter for people, but he had been betrayed. And then, when the fourteenth Angel came, Kaji explained him the truth: he shouldn't pilot because of other people, but because he had the power to do something, to change the way things were going…
"That's… that's not important"
"Ah, so now Shinji has a big secret! I wonder what it could be?"
"It's none of your damn business!" With that, he cuts the screen and stops talking to her.
"Idiot… Shinji? Don't you dare stop talking to me, you jerk… Shinji!" She slams her fist against the plug, releasing her anger.
As she looks outside of her Eva, towards the perfectly polished green metal walls, she can a see a reflection of Unit 02, for a second, she thinks she saw a look of disdain coming form the Unit…
"Oh, shut up!"
Control Room
Misato holds a map of the area on her hands, looking through it. Mountains, rivers, cities… nothing useful to stop this Angel. She doesn't even know where the Angel's physical body is!
"Any luck finding the Angel up there, Rits?"
Ritsuko is startled by the woman's voice, as she was in deep thought while staring at the screen.
"Sort of. We found out he is actually the whole storm at the same time, but as any Angel, he owns a core, which is the probably the source of the electrostatic power he owns. Once we get the scans from the MAGI, we should be able to find the Angel's core, and therefore the weakness of it"
"So, it's just bloody waiting?"
"I would say the bloody waiting is currently for Ayanami and my daughter, Major"
The door closes as Lentai walks in, her face bearing a look of tiredness: she was directly ordered to get Judas ready if they needed it, so she's been in front of a screen for a few hours.
"Doesn't sound like you are concerned…"
"Of course I am. I'm just too... tired to show it"
"Doctor Akagi, the MAGI has finished analyzing the data from the Angel"
"Thanks, Maya. Put it on the screen"
Two images appear, one depicting the storm from a side view, showing the electrostatic activity. The other one depicts the storm from underneath it, showing the wave form pattern.
"Ummm, interesting" Ritsuko said
"Care to tell us what does that mean?" Jeyn's voice was stilled sleepy.
"Can't you figure it out on your own?"
"My eyes are closed; my mind is drifting off… No, I can't. Too tired to do so"
"Okay, the… The first screen shows the electrostatic activity, meaning the lightings generate around the brightest areas of the image. In this one, the brightest point is on the geometric center of the storm: that's where the core is. The second image shows the AT field of the Angel: it's currently covering the entire city, but you can see that when he attacks... (The screen made a sequence similar to the attack of the Angel) he opens his AT field in the center of the storm, as the lightings are on the other side of the field he has to open a release point. Literally, when he attacks, he lowers his guard."
"So, then it's settled. We will force it to attack, and when it does, one of the Evas will attack the Angel's core directly" Misato's mind quickly made up a plan
"Major, you didn't look very well at the screen. The Angel's core is about 50 meters over the hole in the field, so we would need to put an Eva right underneath the center of that storm, which is impossible. The other option is to attack from over the field, but Unit 06 is the only capable of such thing, and getting an Eva out of here and high enough to reach the storm is also impossible." Lentai's voice quickly rejected her plan. Misato kept thinking: she wasn't going to give up, not this time…
"Then, what do we do Misato?"
Misato made her mind work feverishly: she needed to attack the core of that thing, but getting a shot against it was impossible from outside of the storm. So, an Eva would have to get under the storm… so they would need covering fire. But they would need to get another Eva up there, at least…
"Can Unit 03 reach the position of the other two Evas?"
"Major, Unit 03 isn't capable of operating in coordination with manned Evas: Judas can't process so much data at the same time"
"I'm no talking about Judas; I'm talking about Unit 03"
"Well, Misato, theoretically it is within the capabilities of an Eva, but it will probably get shot, rendering it useless for the attack against the Angel"
"That's the clever part: Unit 03 will be equipped with B type equipment, as it was designed to act as increased armor, plus we will also use the Evangelion special shield and the Unit's AT field."
"Who will pilot Unit 03?"
"The Fourth Child will be the pilot"
Once again the door slid open to reveal a disgusting surprise: Gendo Ikari had just entered the room, but he had clearly heard everything.
"Commander Ikari…"
"It's a very clever plan, Major. It's perfectly viable, so we will have to use it. Section 2 has already brought the pilot, so there's no need for waiting"
"Commander, the pilot hasn't been trained how to use the AT field. I would rather recommend Sohryu or Ikari for…"Lentai was cut by Ikari
"I have decided to assign pilot Suzuhara for the task, so we will continue, Doctor, you want it or not" Ikari's order was definitive: Suzuhara would pilot Eva Unit 03.
Entry Plug- Unit 01
Shinji had fallen asleep as he waited, but he was woken up by Misato's voice.
"Shinji, Asuka, Dorian! Get ready; you will be placed on standby again!"
"What, no action for us Misato?" Asuka was clearly disappointed
"No, Commander Ikari has chosen Unit 03 for the task"
"So that computer will do our job!"
"No, it will be piloted by a common pilot"
"Who? There are no more pilots left!"
Shinji looks down to his plug, his face filled with a guilt that doesn't belong to him.
"There is one…"
"Why does this idiot know!"
"I don't know how Shinji found out, Asuka… but I will tell you myself. Unit 03 will piloted, again, by Toji Suzuhara"
Asuka goes silent, her mind working quickly. Her answer comes with a mix of disgust and worry.
"But… he doesn't know how to do it!"
"That's true"
"So… why…?"
"Because Ikari ordered it"
She goes silent for one last time, understanding that nobody can overcome Ikari's orders. She can't do anything, just give in
"Schiest…"
"Now, you three, snap out of it and get ready, if anything goes wrong, you three will have to stop the Angel on your own"
Control Room
The massive figure of Unit 03 is on the screens, as it's being prepared for it's task: the massive armor platting that belong to the B-type equipment are being installed. With one word, the second section declares the Unit is ready to operate.
"Is the pilot in the plug?"
"Yes sir"
"Insert the Entry Plug"
The room is filled with dread as the plug enters Unit 03: it's another young life on the edge of suicide, all because of Ikari. But nothing can be done: along with the special shield, the increased armor and a field he doesn't know how to use. But Toji is still calm, his mind filled with only one thought: revenge.
"The pilot is synchronizing with the Unit. Synch ratio is on 43 percent."
"Eva Unit 03 is ready for launch"
"Launch Unit 03!"
The unit is launched up the rail, the sound of the air being cut through eases Toji in the plug. His thoughts wander between fear, doubt and anger. He is afraid of piloting, as this is his first time at it. Yet he knows he has to be strong, for himself, for his sister, for everyone who depended on him piloting…
How did I get into this?
It had been a personal choice.
But why?
Because of revenge
Really?
Of course!
REALLY?
The answer never came.
"Suzuhara, you will have to get up there and run as fast as you can towards Units 00 and 05. If the Angel makes a shot against you, you will only have one chance to defend yourself with that shield: a second shot and you are dead. If you use your AT field you have a better chance at a second defense, but don't risk it"
"Eva Unit 03 is ready"
"5 seconds till he reaches surface"
"4 seconds"
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Surface reached!"
The light enters the Entry Plug through the screens. It's a diminished light, as the storm covers most of Tokyo-3. Taking a split second, Toji does the only thing he can do now.
Run
"RUN KID!"
Unit 03 dashes off from the scaffold, running madly to leave the city. A barrage of lighting shots attacks the Unit, leaving a trail of burning streets due to the Angel's attacks. Then, a flash of light shines in the storm, as all of the Angel's attacks gather around the center and prepare one all-mighty shot.
"SUZUHARA, USE THE SHIELD!"
In another split second, the Angel's attack crosses the skies of Tokyo-3. The shot is directly pointed towards the Evangelion. In a second, Unit 03 removes the shield from its back and wields as its only defense.
"Help me God…"
In a moment, shorter than a blink, the massive lighting attack impacts, sending Tokyo-3 into a massive flash of white light, against the intended target: Unit 03.
"SUZUHARA, HOLD ON!"
The Evangelion crouches to the ground, sending a roar of pure pain while it holds closely to its last defense. In another blink, the attack has ended. The massive shield has suffered some damage, but it has survived, along with its bearer.
"Suzuhara, get out of the city!"
Unit 03 runs once again, this time even more desperately. The Unit manages to reach the outskirts of the city, but the Angel prepares a second, full-force lighting shot.
"SUZUHARA, IT'S SHOOTING AGAIN!"
For the fifth time that day, the incredible power of thousands of lightings crosses the skies of Tokyo-3, blinding the city. The attack leaves the city's perimeter: it's going to be a direct shot again.
The next second is crucial, as the Eva makes a daring move.
In one single second, the Eva holds the shield against the shot and makes a backwards jump, trying to escape the explosion point.
CRASH
The shot impacts the ground, missing Unit 03. The massive explosion pushes the Unit further out of the Angel's range, sending the Unit into safety.
"GREAT! Now, Suzuhara, hand the shield to Unit 00; Rei will be defending Unit 05. Cremina will shoot against the Angel and…"
"And I will do what?"
"You will have to get under the storm again and force it to shoot" Ikari's voice allowed the truth to come out.
The words sunk in Toji like a bunch of rocks: again, he would have to risk his life under that storm, without any protection this time, save the armor of his Unit… then, he sees the storm: the lightings travel through the storm, from cloud to cloud, showing off it's incredible electric power… it's taunting him, the Angel is taunting him.
And, in his desire of revenge, he gives in to the taunting
"Ok, I will do it"
For the second time in the day, the control room falls into looks of dread: the kid will die, unarguably, but he will also die because of his own wishes…
"Get ready"
Unit 00 now holds the massive shield; Unit 05 is crouched behind it, manning the positron rifle, ready to shoot.
"Okay. Suzuhara, you will make a run through the city as fast as you can. You must not get shot until you reach the center of the city, then you will have to force the Angel into attacking again. Cremina will shot to deflect the attack, and then, we will use the scaffold to propel you into a jump so you can reach the Angel's core and destroy it. It has to be perfectly timed: the second you see that shot deflected, you get over the scaffold and ready to jump. Got it?"
"Yes Misato"
"Okay, you have one minute. Then, we start"
Toji braces himself, and considers the situation: he is going to get himself killed if he fails even for one second… he is operating next to Ayanami, whom he knows, owns some experience in the subject, and next to Cremina Lentai, who is also on a first time situation… chances are probably against them.
Control Room
"You sure he will make it?" Ritsuko's allows only one emotion to be expressed: concern.
"He is fuelled by revenge and anger… I think he has a fair chance. But God knows that if he fails, we can't make a big deal out of it. After all, there are still three pilots down here, and Judas can use any Eva…" Misato's voice owns a fake confidence, trying to comfort Akagi's doubts.
"We won't need any other pilot, Suzuhara will do the job he is been assigned to. Plus, if anything goes wrong, it won't really matter" Gendo's voice has sent everyone into another moment of dread: NERV no longer cares for the pilots, just their own objectives…
"One minute is up. We must start, Major"
"….Okay. Suzuhara, get ready. Cremina, aim for the possible way of the shot, but don't fire until he has reached position. Rei, if the Angel attacks, you must defend Unit 05"
The massive storm is now quiet, clearly waiting for the attack of the Evangelions. Unit 03 is currently on the borders of the Angel's range. In a few moments, he will have to cross half the city, dodge the shots of the Angel, force an attack and jump to attack the Angel's core.
"Ready?
"Yes Major"
"All ready Misato"
"…I'm ready"
"Okay. Begin!"
With Misato's order, the three Evas prepare: Unit 03 runs through the city with swiftness, desperate to reach the center. Unit 00 prepares the shield and Unit 05 aims for the Angel's attack
"Suzuhara, five seconds till you reach the center. Cremina, get ready…"
"The Angel's attacking Unit 03. Power readings have gone off the scale!"
"SUZUHARA, USE THE AT FIELD!"
The same flash of light runs through the city as the lighting falls to the ground, seeking for Unit 03. The Unit comes to a complete stop, as Toji prepares to deploy the field. In a split second, the familiar hexagon pattern appears around the Unit, ready to defend it.
BUM
The lighting crashes against the field, the waves trying to penetrate it.
"Waveform pattern of the AT field is weakening! HE WON'T HOLD"
"SUZUHARA, GET OUT OF THE WAY, REACH THE CENTER!"
"Unknown object nearing Unit 03!"
With the sound of metal crashing, the massive Evangelion shield reaches Unit 03. In the course of it's flying, the shield blocked the shot from the Angel, neutralizing it. Now, Unit 03 stands, some of it's armor damaged, with the destroyed shield near it. Toji looks at the shield: Ayanami used Unit 00 to throw the shield so he could defend himself
"SUZUHARA, MOVE!"
Unit 03 runs through the city once again. In a few steps, it reaches the center of the city, the massive storm's hole right over him. Beyond the hole, he can see the Angel's core: a blazing blue sphere.
"Suzuhara, prepare to jump! Cremina, get ready, your shot must deflect the Angel's one!"
Light flashes again over the city as the Angel prepares the next shot. Underneath him, Unit 03 prepares to dodge or jump: it all depends on Cremina's accuracy.
In the split second that takes for the Angel to attack, the unthinkable happens. The shot crosses the sky just as before, but with a different target: Unit 05.
"CREMINA, COUNTER ATTACK!"
The girl does nothing, as she is unable to target the shot's way in the time she has. Then the shot impacts, but it has missed it's intended target. The impacted: Unit 00.
"Unit 00 won't hold, it's too damaged!"
Rei can't hear the words, but instead she hears Cremina's voice.
"Ayanami, get out of the way!"
"Pilot Lentai…? You could die if I get out!"
"GET OUT! You are no good defending!"
"What!"
The next she knows, the stinging pain in her chest subsides as Unit 00 is thrown to the ground, Unit 05 taking her place.
"Pilot Lentai!"
"Ayanami, get to the gun!"
Unit 00 stands up and moves quickly to the gun, waiting for Misato's order.
Luckily for them, the woman's mind has worked up her master plan.
"Ayanami, get ready to shoot. Cremina, you will have to step out when Rei shoots. Toji, Rei's shot will cause the Angel's attack to stop, and then you will jump!"
"Major! Armor integrity of Unit 05 won't hold any longer!"
"REI SHOOT!"
Stepping away from the all-mighty shot, Unit 05 walks out of the beam's way. As she does, Rei fires her shot, making it's way to the lighting concentration on the field's hole. The shot hits home, as the lighting ball explodes in a massive lighting release.
"The Angel's field has weakened! The field's center has lost cohesion!"
"Suzuhara, get ready! All the power to the scaffold"
As Unit 03 reaches the scaffold, it backs off about a 100 meters, and then, it rises up with unbelievable speed.
"Suzuhara, jump! Aim for the hole in the field!"
Unit 03 jumps away as the scaffold reaches the surface, ascending into the skies. The Unit reaches the AT field barrier height, crossing through the hole
"Suzuhara, attack the Angel's core!"
In one single stab of the it's knife, Unit 03 blows the Angel's core, destroying the sphere. The remains turn into flashing lightings as the Angel makes one last attack.
"The storm has reached electric activity at 200.000 megawatts! It's releasing all electrostatic energy!"
For the last time, the city is whitened by the flashing light of the storm, until it vanishes, releasing thousands of lightings at the same time. In one perfectly timed moment, they all hit the ground, shaking the city and sending it into a massive explosion.
For a second, all screens go blank in NERV, the shaking altering the reception. Next thing, the storm has disappeared, leaving only scattered, peaceful clouds. But the city is another story: the lightings have damaged it dramatically, altering not only the city but the landscape as well. Buildings damaged here and there, fallen structures, blistered streets, it's all the result of one single, last attack.
"The 19th Angel has been destroyed"
The price of destroying it: three extensively damaged Evangelions, and the corresponding pilots.
Entry Plug-Unit 01
As Shinji felt the trembling inside the plug, he also heard the voice of Asuka, as he had unlocked the screens while he was asleep.
"See Idiot? That's how they win: because they listen to Misato and the other ones"
He had been asleep the entire battle, so he hadn't heard anything of what happened. Apparently, they had destroyed the Angel, but now Asuka was talking to him, so he had a bigger trouble in his hands.
"I really don't get how you can say you don't care about what other people think or say. I think you are just trying to bother by lying to me. Now isn't that right Idiot?"
That's it. Shinji had had it with Asuka's attitude.
"Enough! God damn it Asuka, you think I just chose to change from one day to the other one just to bother you? You can't be that self-centered! Some times, people have other reasons that just aren't all about you!"
"Well, if you actually told me so, then I would know what your bloody reasons are!"
"ALL RIGHT! You want to know, fine! I will tell you! It's because of Kaji, all right! The God damned Kaji who died! Yeah, happens that he told me it was wrong to pilot for other people! That I should pilot because things shouldn't be how they were! Everyone was going to die, and I had the power to do something, so I should pilot to save them, not for them to like me! I don't care if people don't like me piloting, because for once in my life, I have the power to change things!"
Asuka is taken back by Shinji's sudden outburst. She understands she pushed him too much, but… Kaji had told him that. She had admitted she didn't like Kaji anymore, but she knew Kaji had been a source of some wisdom for everyone. If Shinji had found some strength, she shouldn't screw it.
"Shinji… I'm… I'm sorry. For this one time, I think.. I think you are right. Perhaps, perhaps they aren't that important. But that wasn't the problem: they spoke badly about me, so I jus expected you would have the decency to… respond"
"Asuka, you still have that folder?"
"…Yeah"
"Then let's look at it. Tonight, if you want"
With a silent nod, Asuka gives the boy a small smile. It's barely a movement of her lips, but for Shinji, it's one of his greatest successes till now.
NERV Hospital-Room 303
Doctors, nurses, surgeons…they all continue to come in and out of the room, as the occupants: Toji Suzuhara, Rei Ayanami and Cremina Lentai have been extensively wounded fighting the last Angel. Suzuhara has minor burns on his skin, result of the explosion resulting from the core's destruction. Ayanami and Lentai are worst: the direct shot against both of them has leaved deep wounds in a very sensitive area. The doctors declared they would make it, but it would take longer. Now, another sort of people is entering the room: NERV people. Among them: Misato, Shinji, Asuka, Dorian and Jeyn Lentai. The first three move towards Rei and Toji's bed, which are contiguous. Jeyn and Dorian sit next to Cremina's bed.
"You know? I thought she would fail. Yeah, I thought she didn't really care about this any longer, so my guesses were on her dying or walking away" Jeyn's voice, although concerned, revealed a total lack of faith.
"It's just plain wrong for you not to trust your daughter, Mrs. Lentai" Dorian's answer was careless: he was concentrated on the sleeping girl in the hospital bed
"It's not that I don't trust her, she told me she didn't care anymore. Bu it seems she does care a little, at least. Plus, I don't know if it was brave or stupid of hers to defend Ayanami"
"I would it was neither: she is just careless of her own life"
"That's probably my fault: I raised her so she would lack of fear"
"Why?"
"Because fear is the natural catalyst of all feelings: humans invented machines, objects, laws, Gods, all because of fear, all because they felt something else that was generated from their fears. So I raised her fearless, lacking of such a feeling. It doesn't mean she lacks of feelings, you know that, but she lacks that particular one"
"How can someone lack of the basis of something and own all of its ramifications?"
"I don't know, I just know she does"
Lentai takes a look at the boy, finding something that shouldn't be there: anger. The kid is angry with her daughter, when she herself is glad that Cremina is alive. It doesn't make any sense
"You mad at her?"
"Sort of: it's like I'm glad she is alive, but this gladness comes from her doing something incredibly stupid, so I'm mad at her for that"
"You said you didn't think it was stupid"
"I made up my mind"
Lentai gives in, accepting the boy's answer despite it not making any sense. Somehow, she is only glad, nothing else. But it isn't a great feeling, just moderately glad, like if she had just gotten something unimportant solved. Somehow, just as her daughter doesn't care about her, Jeyn doesn't care about her daughter. That was probably the reason of their relationship: they continuously hurt each other, so they couldn't get along
"Kid, you aren't mad at me any longer?"
"Of course I am, but we have a common cause here: Cremina's health. So stop wondering about it and just let it be"
It was a shared moment of understanding, but deep inside her, Lentai knew that Dorian would never stop hating her for Demian's death. Plus, she knew her concern for Cremina's health would never match Dorian's, so their understanding was a lie.
"I have to go to NERV, kid. Tell her I came by if she asks. Bye" Grabbing her coat, Lentai leaved the room. Meanwhile, next to Toji's bed, some chat was going on.
"It was some good work, Suzuhara"
"Thank you Misato! I think so too" Toji was seriously cheered by Misato's presence, but Asuka being there was a real pain for him.
"Don't praise yourself, stooge. You just got lucky Misato and that British girl though of something useful and made a plan. You were just the executer here" Asuka couldn't let this one slip, oh no, she had to screw the moment for him.
"Well, I like to think I'm a better executer than you then, harpy"
"What did you just said!"
"You heard me"
Some sounds of fighting went through the room as Asuka tried to hit Toji, while Shinji and Misato contained her.
On the other side, some moving could be heard. Apparently, Cremina Lentai had just awoken. Slowly, words came from her mouth, but the people on the other side of the room were too busy in their fight.
"…My…objective…is"
"Cremina!" Dorian's voice allowed all of his relief to express itself
"…Dorian? Is that you?"
"Yes, Cremina, thank God you are all right!"
"I'm all right? I feel like I'm almost dead and you tell me I'm all right?"
Apparently, Cremina's dark sense of humor never abandoned her.
"…Such a stupid joke you made"
"You are smiling anyway"
"Cause you are all right"
"Awww, how corny of yours!"
"Cremina, it's no time to be joking, you should rest"
"Awww, come on, let's talk a little"
"Fine, but for a few minutes only. About… your battle"
"Speaking of it, I think I did pretty well"
"You know, your mother and I had he same doubt: we didn't know if what you did was brave or stupid"
Cremina caught the slight anger in his voice
"Are you mad?"
"Cremina, you could have died. You told me you weren't stupid enough to get yourself killed, but you are doing just that"
"Because I had to! There's no point in fighting if I can't take any risks!"
"Does the risk have to be you dying?"
"…No, but…"
"But nothing. Cremina, you have to stop doing such stupid things: it was the same on London, you just crossed the whole city everyday mindless of where you were going or your own location. I had to look for you all day, and I next thing I know, you were in some street you didn't knew anything about, not even realizing that!"
Cremina is taken back by Dorian: he is right. She did use to wander around London without any sense of where she was, but… it wasn't because she was careless, it was because she knew that, eventually, she would find her way home, because she knew Dorian was always looking for her… he was her safety device of sorts.
"Well, at least I know that if I ever come close to death, you will be worried enough to help me"
Her tactic worked, as she saw the boy's face turned to a very bright red. Her master card was always forcing him into some romance-insinuating situation.
"Well, it's only natural, you are my friend…"
"Yeah, well, it's good to know you are worried about me. I will try and be more careful, but Dorian…"
"Yeah?"
"Stop insinuating on me"
Blushing furiously, the boy leaves the room, quietly closing it so no one would notice. As for Cremina, she faked being asleep so the other ones wouldn't bother her.
"You bloody stooge! You just think you are better than me, but we will see!"
"We will se that I'm better than you!"
"DUMMKOPF! I'm going to...!" The rest of the fraise never came as Misato blocked her mouth.
"That's it! Can't you just be glad this worked out?"
"Okay, okay. Good for you, stooge" Asuka abandoned the room, clearly upset.
"That was some daring doings, Suzuhara. I have to agree, very good job" Intend on leaving both of the kids alone, Misato left after her comment. This left only Shinji and Toji.
"So…"
"So…"
"Shinji?"
"Yes?"
"About piloting… I know you don't want me to, but it's just… important. It's important to me: as a pilot, when I'm in that plug, I just feel… powerful. Strong. Like if all the strength that Angel took away from me suddenly came back to me. I know you don't like so, but could you…?"
"Toji, if you want me to say it's okay with me, fine. But swear to me you are doing this because you really want to"
"I do"
"Then I guess I just have to allow you, right?"
"Thank you Shinji"
With a silent nod, Shinji walks out of the room, leaving only the quietness of the medical equipment. This time, it's a sweet silence, not like in the control room, because, for now, everything is fine.
Midnight-Shinji's Room
The sound of sheets being turned can be heard. It's the sound of Shinji and Asuka, sharing a small moment of calmness. In front of them lies the open folder containing the analysis made by Judas: but this time the context is different. Having accepted Shinji's words, Asuka now reads the reports light-heartedly, making a joke here and there, getting a little mad over this and that, but it's a moment of understanding.
Until both of them catch the same sheet, their hands touching each other. Now, their moment has been broken, not because of a fight, but because of both of them wishes to push the moment further.
"Shinji…" The girl's eyes close as she curves her lips slightly, waiting for him to advance. For a split second, Shinji's mind has the most stupid thought.
Remember to breathe this time
Then, slowly, he nears Asuka, his mind starting to doubt with every centimeter he advances.
I mustn't run away
But I want to…
Because I'm scared of her.
Of rejection
You said you didn't care about other people's thoughts
This different
How?
Because some else is directly involved. I mean.. I'm kissing her
Not yet. Plus, you know you will run anyway
Shinji's mind makes another daring move, and faster now, he closes the distance between them, his lips touching hers softly.
The time seems longer for Shinji, but the kiss only lasts a few seconds. Asuka separates the kiss, her mind filled with a happiness she doesn't remember feeling in many years.
Once again, they kiss, Asuka closing the distance this time. The kiss is shorter, as Asuka breaks again and leaves this time, but she makes sure to give the boy a smile before she leaves.
Shinji knows that perhaps this time; it will mean something….for both of them.
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Congratulations, Jeyn Lentai will die in the end. Yeah, I need her alive for a while, but she will die, or at least get into a pretty crappy situation. Consider yourself screwed, Jeyn Lentai, cause' I'm gonna kill ya!
Once again, sorry for the massive wait, and feel free to review.