He'd died.

.

That's what they told him. That his heart had actually stopped for several minutes.

He could believe it easily enough. Still shuddering from the pain of having his ribcage melted open- or rather, Unit-00's ribcage- Shinji sat, crumpled on a bench.

Misato had some harebrained scheme to kill it, as he might have suspected. Something about a gun powered by Japan…

He didn't want any part of it. He didn't want to pilot anymore.

Of course, he'd have to. Shinji didn't have any say in the matter.

The boy lay down on his side, curled up into a ball, reliving the nightmare of a few hours ago.

Neon Genesis Evangelion:

(Not) the End

Chapter 012: You Will (Not) Survive

"Eva Unit-00, launch!"

Once more, Shinji sped upwards, before Unit-00 reached the cloudy surface. The clamps unlocked, and the orange Eva took a step forward, looking across the lake on the edge of the city.

What happened next wasn't pretty.

The rolling clouds split, exposing the Angel in all its glory. Nearly a kilometer wide, the being reassembled a massive octahedron carved from solid blue crystal. Above each face was a triangular plate, floating several meters away.

"High energy reaction detected!" Someone shouted over the radio, far too late to help.

The crystal's edges ignited, turquoise fire coursing to a single point on its tip.

Shinji's eyes widened.

And then Ramiel opened fire.

.

After that, Shinji didn't remember much of anything. The only thing left was the unrelenting, burning pain- not just from the feedback, but from the LCL boiling in the plug.

Needless to say, unconsciousness was swift.

But the memories weren't.


"Alright then!" Misato announced. Gathered around the table were a number of people, including the NERV bridge crew, a few members of the JSSDF, the heads of the other NERV subsections, and- most noticeably- the First and Fifth Children.

"Here's the plan."

"The Angel- Ramiel, we're calling it- has started drilling through our armour plating, and will reach us in an estimated maximum of twenty-four hours. If that happens, we're all screwed."

"Ramiel's AT Field is the strongest we've seen yet- we'd be absurdly lucky if a single Eva could neutralize it. Additionally, it has an area of denial that covers the entire city and then some; it locks onto anything hostile within this radius, and destroys it with a high-power particle beam, thus rendering conventional Evangelion combat and tactics useless."

"There's only one way we can destroy this thing: hit it with something hard enough to break its AT Field, and do that from outside the area of denial. Fortunately, NERV and the JSSDF have been collaborating to build such a weapon for the last few years. Rits, if you will?"

Doctor Akagi sighed at the informal nickname, but stepped up nonetheless. With the flick of a switch, the table's projectors flipped up, rearranging into hologram-projection mode. A shape flickered into existence, before solidifying about a foot above the surface.

It was clearly a weapon, with a very long body and barrel, a wide stock, two handles- one on each side- and a number of cable connection ports along the body.

"This is the Long-Range Positron Sniper Cannon, the result of NERV and the JSSDF's collaborative efforts. Aside from the Evangelions, this is the most powerful weapon we have available. It has a long enough range to be fired from outside the denial zone, and can take an extremely high-energy charge."

Ritsuko stepped back, letting Misato take the reins from there.

"We're setting up a series of capacitors and transformers to focus the entirety of Japan's power grid into the cannon, in order to penetrate Ramiel's field. This means that we can't continually move the weapon- but we should be able to keep some maneuverability from our firing platform. Mari, Rei, up here."

At the mention of her name, Mari perked up further, leaning closer. Rei just blinked, waiting for the woman to continue.

"You two are the key to our operation, given that Shinji's…"

"-Completely traumatized?" suggested Mari.

"-In less than ideal condition to pilot?" suggested Rei, at the same time.

"...yeah," Misato sighed. "Mari, because of your high synchronization and the stable platform Unit-05 provides, you'll be in charge of aiming and firing the positron cannon. Rei, you'll be in charge of defending Unit-05 from attacks using one of several electro-reflective heat shields. If one shield get damaged, discard it and take another, that's why we have spares. And as for Shinji… well, we're setting him up as emergency backup, in case one of the Evas is too badly damaged."

"Is that understood?"

The reply of 'yes ma'am' was resounding, causing a grin to sneak across Misato's face.

"Alright then! We've got twenty four hours to make this happen! Let's do this, people!"


T-17 hours, Operation Yashima. 2:00 AM.

Ramiel hung in the air like a monolith, the floating plates slowly orbiting it. The lower four had elongated, a pair twisting through the ground like a drill, while the other two continually shoveled out material. The upper four tilted as they orbited, turning towards moving objects within the denial zone. The Angel's main body didn't move, except for the occasional flicker of teal along an edge.

.

A few missiles swooped in from an out-of-view launcher, aimed in the general direction of the Angel. The response was immediate; one of the upper plates broke orbit, flying forward to block the explosion. Ramiel's edges ignited, before a thin, blue-green beam lanced out from a point, spearing the second wave with ease.

A minute passed, and Ramiel's edges cooled down, the Angel resuming its steady burrowing.


T-11 hours, Operation Yashima. 8:00 AM.

Unit-05 climbed up the mountain, low to the ground. Its new arms were plenty strong, boxy limbs with five taloned fingers on each hand, all painted in military green, with a few yellow highlights.

The Eva paused, helmeted head turning to stare at Ramiel, illuminated by the rising sun.

~...Bloody blue bastard,~ thought Mari. ~Let's see who's really the better gunner, e-?~

Something poked Unit-05 in the rear.

.

"... 'scuse me?" Mari asked, turning the Eva's view downwards. Unit-01 retracted its finger, and put the hand back on the lower concrete step.

"Pilot Makinami," came Rei's voice. "If you could refrain from sightseeing and internal monologues until both Evangelions have reached the top, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Ah. Right. Sorry, Rei!"

Somewhat awkwardly, the larger cyborg resumed its climb, closely followed by Unit-01.

.

At the bottom of the hill, Unit-00 was still walking, each step heavy and shaking. With its chest barely reinforced with steel plating, and the way it carried itself, the Eva looked like it was struggling under the weight of the world.

.

Or perhaps that was its pilot who was.


T-6 hours, Operation Yashima. 1:00 PM.

The Evas had done most of the work, carrying the heavy cannon up to the top of the mountain where the firing platform rested. Unit-05 had been set up, holding onto the cannon with both hands, pressing the wide stock against its reinforced sternum. An N2 reactor was attached to the backpack, offering not only an exceedingly long time limit, but also a power boost for the actual weapon, and a counterweight for its great mass. Of course, Mari wasn't actually in the Eva- there wasn't any reason for her to be at this time.

No, Mari- along with the other Children- was busy eating lunch on a separate platform.

Rei sat quietly, focused passionately on her salad. This was the first time the other two had seen her in her actual plugsuit- a dark indigo garment with gunmetal and white detailing on the top half around her shoulders and chest. A bit of an odd colour choice for Unit-01's pilot… but then again, the 00 plugsuit also didn't quite fit colour-wise.

Shinji, if at all possible, was quieter than Rei- or would have been, if his meal wasn't instant ramen.

Mari was eating a sandwich. A cheese, ham, and mustard sandwich, to be precise. She'd sealed it in a container, and brought it with her in the entry plug. Typical Mari.

.

Finally, Mari decided to do something about the silence.

"So," she said, taking a break from her lunch. "This is… different. Eh?"

"..."

"..."

Neither Rei nor Shinji replied. Mari sighed.

~This is going to be a long six hours, isn't it?~


T-2 hours, Operation Yashima. 5:00 PM.

Time was almost up. The last few checks were being made; checks on the Evas, checks on the power lines, checks on the positron cannon. Everyone who wasn't making checks was at their stations- including the pilots.

Unit-05 shifted back on its haunches, the closest that the wheeled Eva could get to sitting down at the moment. To its right, Unit-01 sat, hands resting on one of the massive, triangular heat shields. Unit-00, due to being purely backup in this situation, sat further back.

With two hours to spare, Mari decided to give it another shot.

.

The light in Shinji's Plug blinked, a small text alerting him of an incoming transmission. Reluctantly, the boy flicked a switch on his console, accepting the transmission. A video link snapped up, floating in the LCL thanks to the projectors.

"Ikari. We need to talk."

Much to his surprise, the face that appeared wasn't Mari.

It was Rei.

"I… Ayanami?" the boy asked, voice cracking as it started up. "What… what is it?"

"You don't want to do this, correct? You're retreating, in fear of being hurt."

A slow nod came in reply.

"Understandable. Fear is a natural reaction to things that harm people. However…"

Shinji looked back up, the uncertain wording drawing him in. Rei drew in a breath, still expressing the same calm as always.

"... I believe this point was where the Fifth recommended I begin talking about 'kicking aside common sense' and 'seizing life by the horns'... but that's her method. I do not believe that such ideals would work well for you in any manner, as you have not exhibited her hotheaded attitude, nor the masochistic tendencies that I suspect she has. So my own method will be different."

Shinji blinked.

"Ikari. You have been hurt; this is correct. However, you are not the only one at risk here. As much as she will deny it, Pilot Makinami and I are putting ourselves in far more danger than you are. Captain Katsuragi is putting herself at risk, along with the lives of every other human being in the city. At the moment, however, there are only three people who can put that risk to a use; and those three are us."

"But that's… that's just as bad!" Shinji replied. "You're saying that everyone's in danger, but you're also saying that I'm one of the three people who are responsible for them? After… after what happened?! That's crazy!"

"You've already been that responsible before. Remember the last two Angels? The ones that you killed?"

"That- I had back up!" he protested. "T-the first one, Mari was there! And the second one, Misato was there with the intercept system! All I did was-"

"All you did was enter combat with beings twenty times your size, wielding godlike powers, and slay them with minimal loss of life," Rei interrupted. "You could do, despite the odds. Despite the fact that your training has been minimal at best, when compared to the other Children. Despite the fact that you were piloting the least advanced Evangelion at NERV's disposal."

"I- but-"

~But that was different! If I'd had time to properly think about it, I never could have done that! I-

"Shinji Ikari."

Rei stared at him intensely.

"Like it or not, you have proven yourself to be successful in your efforts, even when severely disadvantaged against superior opposition. You are an Eva Pilot; and the Evas are the only thing that can save humanity. Yes, you have the largest responsibility of effectively everyone on the planet, but so do the others."

"I am not asking you to be a hero. I am not asking you to sacrifice yourself for mankind's sake. I am not asking you to act as if everything is alright, because it is clearly not."

"What I am asking for you to do... is trust us."

"Unless Unit-01 or Unit-05 are disabled, or otherwise unable to perform their intended function, you will not have to do anything. You have had backup before; now you are backup. You are not the trump card, not the focus of the plan; you are the card NERV will play if everything else has started to fail."

"If that offers any consolation, trust me when I tell you that," Rei finished. "Goodbye, Ikari."

The transmission ended, leaving Shinji to mull it over.


Mari leaned back in the saddle, sliding open her helmet's visor. The girl made a few gestures in the fluid medium, letting her synchronization deal with the intent. As easy as that, the video link with Unit-01 opened up.

"So… how'd it go?" Mari asked.

"It was... within acceptable parameters," answered Rei.

Mari's eyebrow rose up.

"Did ya' use my speech thing?"

"No." The reply was blunt and simple.

"...why not?"

"I found numerous flaws in your argumentative style," answered Rei. "You made assumptions that would not mesh well with Ikari's psyche, least of all motivate him. I simply laid out the truth of the matter for him."

.

"... Huh." Mari blinked. "... Well, just so long as it works."


T-0 hours, Operation Yashima. 7:00 PM.

Operation Start.

.

All was silent. The diamond floating over Tokyo 3, the Evas waiting on the mountain top, everything. The last rays of the sun flickered over the mountain top, dazzling on Ramiel's body.

~This is it,~ thought everyone.

Far below the city, the silence was broken.

"Commence Operation Yashima!"


All over the country, power was shunted off into special cables, designed to withstand the massive amounts of energy flowing through them. Like a system of roots, every power station intertwined with each-other, finally linking to the 'trunk' of the special power grid; a series of transformers that led up to the top of the mountain, where they'd funnel into the Positron Sniper Cannon, held by Unit-05.


The bridge was a cluster of activity, crew reading out displays or monitoring instrument panels.

"Coolant systems at maximum output!"

"All power links are accounted for, and ready for usage!"

"Positron generators spinning up! Particle storage at 50% capacity and rising!"

"Non-Nuclear cyclic fusion reactor's feed is performing optimally!"

"Connections from power grid to Mt. Futago are nominal! We're ready to go!"

Misato smirked. Everything was going according to plan.

"Alright then!" she shouted, voice rising above everyone else's. "Disengage the safeties! Output to the positron cannon!"


"Disengage the safeties! Output to the positron cannon!"

Mari grinned, bringing up the HUD inside her helmet.

"Disengaging safety locks!" she called back, as one of Unit-05's massive fingers flipped a switch on the weapon's side. "Positron cannon, receiving full output!"

Mari shrugged back her shoulders, tugging the control grips lightly. The Evangelion pulled, raising the massive rifle to near parallel with the ground.

"Beginning targeting procedures!"

Three targeting triangles appeared on the visor, inching towards the Angel in the middle.

"Weapon fully charged. Lock-on and discharge in five seconds…" Mari muttered into the microphone. "...four… three… two… on-"


Ramiel's mind sharpened.

A threat, it thought. The fire of its passion built up in an instant, ready to lash out at those who dared attack it.

.

Destroy.


"High-energy output in the Angel!" Someone yelled, cracking Mari's concentration.

"-Shit!" the girl gasped, reflexively pulling the trigger.

With an earth-shaking roar, the Positron Cannon discharged, throwing a meter-thick beam of anti-electrons at Ramiel!

Ramiel's edged flashed, its own beam firing in retaliation with a scream! The two attacks, one blue-green, one pink, flew towards each-other- only to wrap around each-other, their identical charges repelling themselves! But even with the distortion to each-other, the beams still flew towards their targets- it'd take more than repelling charges to stop them!

Each side had their own defense, brought up frantically to save them.

Rapidly, Unit-01 shoved into the path of the Angel's beam, raising its shield! The shot dissolved into a spray, superheated plasma and anti-particles deflecting off to the side, carving a trench through the earth before it cut off.

At the same time, Ramiel's plates dropped from orbit, flying into the path of the Cannon's beam! The pink discharge pooled against the surface of the triangular plate for a moment… and then the center of the crystal cracked, and the blast shattered it, punching through the other three plates with its remaining charge before Ramiel managed to raise its AT Field, diffusing the scraps of the beam.

.


"Dammit! Get the next shot ready!" Misato yelled, as if she could speed up the cool-down cycle with sheer volume. Fortunately, this wasn't too bad of a screw-up; they still had a few more minutes before the Angel-

"Penultimate armour plate destroyed!" someone called. "Captain! The Angel's drilling is speeding up! We have less than sixty seconds left until it penetrates the final plate!"

.

The Positron cannon took twenty five seconds to charge. This was going to be close.


Unit-01 stumbled back, the heat shield dripping onto the dirt. Mari gritted her teeth, yanking on one of the gun's grips to eject the spent fuse.

~C'mon, c'mon…~ the girl thought anxiously, eyes flicking to the reset timer! ~Just a little faster…~

And then she heard someone say it. Four words that promised nothing good.

"High-energy reading detected!"

.

Ramiel's edges ignited, energy coursing towards a single point on its surface!

"Fuck!" Mari cussed again, leaning away from the Angel. Not that it would help.

With superhuman reflexes, Unit-01 dove in front of her once more, bracing its massive shield!

.

Not a second too soon.

With the scream of an Angel, a spike of energy lanced out from Ramiel, slamming head-first into the AT-reinforced shield! The electro-reflective coating did its job, diverting some of the positrons away to slide around them like water- but with the shield already half melted from the previous shot, it was only a matter of time before their defense fell.

"Makinami, how much longer until you can fire?" Rei asked, digging Unit-01's heel into the dirt.

Mari's eye flicked down to the timer.

"Crap! Fifteen seconds?!" In this situation, fifteen seconds could be a death sentence.

.

Just then, Ramiel, hurt and very, very pissed off, decided to go the extra mile. The plates that had formed its drill retracted, and combined, sliding in front of the beam.

Just like a lens.

.

Magnified by the focusing plates, the shield didn't stand a chance against Ramiel's beam. The layers of metal and ceramic buckled, liquefying in an instant, leaving only Unit-01 itself to protect Unit-05-!

.

The blinding light cut off.

.


.

Mari's eyes widened at the shape interposing itself before the beam. Unit-01, hands steaming and dripping metal, watched as well.

.

Evangelion Unit-00 stood, bracing one of the spare heat shields against the ground, as it held off Ramiel's onslaught.

"W-what are you waiting f-for?!" Shinji grunted, as the barrier began to melt away. "J-just shoot the damn thing already!"

Mari shot a glance down at the timer; four seconds until charge.

"Right!"

Once more, Unit-05 raised the Positron Cannon, as Unit-01 helped the orange Eva with the swiftly-disintegrating shield.

"Target lock in three seconds!" Mari shouted. "Two! One!"

"Everyone, move!"

The pair of cyborgs gave one last shove, before dropping to the ground.

Howling to the world, the Positron Cannon discharged once more!

The pink beam cored the Angel's attack, breaking through its defensive plates and AT Field, before striking! Ramiel's back half erupted, the anti-particle attack tearing a ragged hole right through its body!

With a feeble call, the dying Angel's levitation gave out, and several thousand tons of sizzling crystal crashed to the ground.

.

The Angel was dead.


The rifle dropped to the ground with a clatter, Unit-05 forcibly ejecting the power connections from its back as it hunched over to look at the others.

Unit-01's hands were completely exposed, mottled flesh still steaming. The rest of its armour was marred, drips and trenches dipping into its surface, and the umbilical cable had dissolved into molten metal and rubber.

Unit-00's jury-rigged chestplate had already begun to melt, even in the short time it had been using the shield. Its red mono-eye sparked, the camera most likely overloaded by the brightness.

"Rei! Shinji! Are… are you guys okay?" Mari asked.

.

"Aff-affirmative," came Rei's reply, Unit-01 giving a slow nod. "I am… unharmed."

Mari nodded, before turning to the other Eva.

"Shinji?"

Unit-00 creaked, pushing itself up with shaky arms.

"I'm… I'm fine," the Third Child said, breathing deeply. "Just… one thing. P-please don't ever do something that stupid again. I'd rather n-not have to play hero again."

A smile of relief crept onto Mari's face. Spontaneously, the girl surged forwards, Unit-05 pulling the two other Evas into a crushing hug.

"N-no promises, you guys."