NGE: THE ENLIGHTENING MUSIC
This chapter is the final nail in this prelude before embarking on the ambitious project I'm about to undertake. At the end, the Evangelion Units are gone, unreachable and what is left is the bonds of connection the Children have formed and the choices they have to make.
Music and art will continue to play a role in the upcoming saga as it did in this story and in the current trilogy I have finished. Also prepare for a long chapter here.
The music tracks that inspired the majority of the chapter are "Maler" from soundtrack to BIUTIFUL, "War, he sung, Toil and Trouble" from Handel's ALEXANDER FEAST/CHILDREN OF MEN soundtrack and finally "When our wings are cut, can we still fly" from the 21 GRAMS soundtrack.
The winds of the world have begun to blow from West to East, the sun has set, the music begins to caress the skin of the planet, and the Gods of the old world are absent and now the Children have to find and live a new destiny without the gods of old.
Chapter 14
DOMINUS VENIT, PRINCIPIUM ET FINIS. ALLELUIA
Tokyo 03…half the city lied in ruins…EVA-00 obliterated when Rei sacrificed herself to protect NERV and especially Shinji. Paramedics rushed to the site to see if any bit of the EVA is salvageable and to see if there was any possible chance to save Rei. And on both fronts…the chances for saving both looked zero and NERV personnel knew that.
(Hours later, sometime around 11:19pm)
Shinji and Misato rushed to NERV and found Rei…alive! Both couldn't believe it, Shinji rushed to Rei and hugged her. Misato was relieved but something was bothering her, 'How did she survive,' was the question that kept popping up in her mind. Shinji and Rei walked off somewhere to talk about what happened and after a few minutes, the two returned and Shinji looked relieved to have Rei back, but had a perplexed look on his face. The drive back was dead quiet…neither Shinji or Misato spoke a word. The sight of Rei bandaged for her minor-looking injuries was surreal enough, but with Rei stating that 'I think…I think I'm the third one,' played over and over in Shinji's head. To compensate for the words unspoken and truths half explained he looked out the window and only noticed half of the city lights lit. The stars above were more visible, but that was cold comfort at best.
When the two arrived back at their apartment building, they entered the lobby and noticed Dante and Asuka heading for the elevator. Asuka had anguish written all over her face and Dante had a similar expression…the two could only guess what happened when they went to NERV to check up on Rei. Misato and Shinji got out of the car and headed upstairs in the second elevator.
(Flashback…11:15pm)
Asuka sat on the sofa with the lights out and the only light to help was from the patio, where the moonlight helped to illuminate the apartment's interior. She then suddenly got up and bolted out the door. She roughly passed Dante who was about to visit her, and he too gave chase after his friend. She ran down the stairs as fast as she could with Dante trailing behind, shouting her name. When the two got to street level, Asuka was about to cross the street and head for parts unknown, but Dante grabbed her from behind and she tried to break herself free.
"LET GO! LET ME GO," Asuka thrashed around and Dante forced her to look at him, "Not until you explain what the fuck just happened," he shouted out of breath from chasing Asuka from ten stories above. Asuka looked at him in the eye, and then at her feet, then to the sidewalk on the other side and seeing the darkened city before her.
She took in a breath to give her explanation, "The thing is…after today I just…I just want to get the fuck out of here. I can't stand to see everyone to care so much about the 'Wunderkind,' she put emphasis on Rei with hidden venom, "I just…I just want to know if I could…go away to Hikari's and deal with this shit for myself for a while," she said what was bugging her for the past few hours.
Dante looked at her and both knew they were on the same page now…feeling useless against something bigger than themselves. Asuka's synch ratios were at an all time low and Dante was now stuck monitoring data from the recent Angel attacks since his EVA 03 was still in repairs. There was something in the back of their minds of…whether or not to just head home when the last Angel is killed.
Dante hugged Asuka who just broke down, "I c-couldn't do anything…it couldn't do anything for me…this sucks," Asuka struggled to get words out as she cried and grabbing Dante's shoulders, "I know…I know. But I'm still here...open up okay? I did to you and Shinji…now it's your turn," Dante said softly, cupping Asuka's face and looked in her eyes.
"I did open up to Shinji…after my birthday and my mental rape thing…just don't know if that's enough now," she said quietly, "I just…I just want to connect again you know," she said and gently grabbed Dante's hands and lowered them, "Yeah…me too," the two looked at each other and headed back inside, unaware their roommate and guardian just arrived at the parking lot.
(The tenth floor 11:23pm)
Asuka got off the elevator and headed for Misato's apartment, "Do you think they'll come back tonight," Dante asked with his right arm around Asuka's shoulders, "Probably not…I don't want to spend the night alone with a penguin and…I guess this is a way for me to repay you with what I did for you two years ago," she said while opening the door and leading her Italian friend inside. She closed the door behind her and both walked to Asuka's room.
"You can sleep on the floor," she said while spreading out an extra futon. She handed him a pillow and an extra blanket. Both got settled and got under their covers and yawned loudly, "Sleep…need sleep," Dante said groggily and nodded off, "Yeah, good night and…thank you," Asuka said and dozed off.
Misato and Shinji entered quietly and Pen-Pen ran toward Misato. She picked him up and petted him as she entered her room. Shinji turned to his room, but quietly opened Asuka's bedroom door. He noticed Dante sleeping on the floor facing Asuka's bed and Asuka sleeping in the fetal position toward the window. Shinji took in the sight a bit more and closed the door.
He walked to the patio and felt a soft cooling breeze from the mountains and felt the dust from the streets below brushing against his face. He breathed in the cool air and looked up at the now visible stars. He rarely saw night sky so clear, even during the blackout days of his youth back in Kyoto.
He immediately remembered a moment where he was taken to a funeral for one of his teacher's friends who passed away from cirrhosis. When his teacher drove back home with himself in the passenger's seat, he noticed the paper and plastic blown by the wind down the deserted streets.
Shinji snapped back to reality and stared out to the darkened void where half the city once stood, 'I hope this shit ends…people have suffered enough and…how are we going to continue? Rei's back, but something's wrong…and Asuka…what can I do to help her…and Dante…how is he going to cope with Asuka slowly breaking down? Why am I thinking about this now? Or have I always thought this…'
Shinji exhaled and went to his room. He took off his school uniform and slipped into his t-shirt and sweats. He left the door open to let the little bit of moonlight to enter his room. He didn't want to feel isolated tonight any more, he had to feel the presence of others.
(December 21, 2015 8:35am)
Shinji walked down the familiar route to school, but stopped when the road ended with rubble and deep cracks that reached to the bedrock below. He then turned around and headed for a demolished church building. He sat on one of the last remaining wooden benches and looked up at the stained glass windows and the semi-collapsed roof overhead. The barely dangling cross with Jesus Christ in his all bloody suffering glory with his face contorted in agony and ecstasy of death. Shinji found the image rather disturbing, he never understood a religion that's based on a suffering soulful man that in reality is a death cult.
He noticed the grand piano covered in bits of wood, stone, and plaster. He opened and brushed his hand over the keys. He twiddled with the ivory and the instrument was still in tune. He then played a simple tune, the Ode to Joy melody by Ludwig van Beethoven. As he played the melody he hummed to it, to make the music's ethereality more visceral…more physical…more alive. Then he recalled images of Asuka crying over the kitchen table, Dante consoling her, and the news from Misato that Asuka ran away. He also remembered the day where he learned the horrifying truth behind Rei's existence…where clones of her body suspended in a viscous liquid and Ritsuko destroying the false Rei clones replayed in his head over and over again. The image that struck him was Ritsuko collapsing to her knees and begging Misato to kill her. Misato refused and lowered her gun which prompted Ritsuko to continue to holler out her despair; and the question that Misato asked to herself which Shinji caught, 'What have the EVA done to us? What have we become because of them…'
Shinji exhaled to relax, but that and sitting in a house of worship didn't help much. Instead it intensified his anxiety about heading for NERV and doing another synch-ratio test while Asuka gets criticized for underperforming from the tech crew and Ritsuko. He was getting tired of it actually…'It's not her fault.' After what passed for 12 minutes, Shinji got up and headed out into the blinding sun of midday. He walked back to the apartment where Misato was waiting for him. He got in and both headed for NERV headquarters.
Shinji put a CD into the stereo; it began playing a song appropriate to where he was today. He let the vibe of the slow electronica with a steady beat take him away while looking at the scenery passing by. The blinding sun above in the ultra clear blue sky, the trees moving to the slight breeze from the mountains, the light reflected off of the water that filled the city sized crater, the crows flying overhead, and the debris that made the now decimated city look like a photo in National Geographic or a part of an art installation he vaguely remembered from months passed.
Misato broke the silence, but her attempt was awkward at best, "I can tell you're worried about Asuka and Dante but you can't dwell on…" but she was interrupted by Shinji, "Worried doesn't begin to describe what I've been feeling for nearly two months now," who continued to look out the window, "I've felt that…whatever that's going to come…with the Angels the EVA or the JSDF…is just the beginning. I want this to end," Shinji continued under a hushed tone.
Misato continued to drive in silence, not knowing what Shinji meant, "…Listen, I don't know what's going on, but you have to fill me in on what's going on. I can't help you if you keep it secret," she said with concern and professionalism. Shinji nodded his head, "…I don't know how to explain it…having dreams of crucified people in space, Asuka…Asuka and Dante getting killed and…a-and Rei with a boy with white hair acting really strange and white light…I don't know what that means," Shinji explained his situation to Misato while he struggled to keep his composure and not lash out at his guardian or crying hysterically.
She couldn't say or do much but rub his right shoulder to show she cares. He found this comforting, but it was cold comfort at best.
(Later that night 10:05pm)
Asuka stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at herself on going over what happened at NERV earlier. Her synch ratio hit zero, she was relieved from active duty by Misato, which pained her. To everyone's shock and slight horror, Asuka didn't shout or cause a scene she just stood silent and headed for the locker rooms. While looking at herself, she felt her throat clenched up, pressure building in her chest, and let loose her tears. She stifled her breathing, but her face remained stoic, she refused to show emotion even to herself. But for some reason, she remembered expressing herself completely to Dante when the two got home that afternoon. The two remained in Dante's apartment until Misato and Shinji came home.
She dried herself off and put on her nightwear. She put her hair up in a bun and walked to the kitchen to get water. She drank the water and grabbed her bag and headed for Dante's apartment. Misato tried to console her but all she said to her was, "Contigo no quiero hablar," Asuka's use of Spanish threw her and Shinji off, her anger was more volatile than ever and the two are at their limits with tolerating the German girl.
She slammed the door and went to her colleague's apartment. She settled down and decided to sleep in Dante's room. He laid out an extra futon for her and she got under the blankets, "Danke…für heute abend," Asuka quietly said to Dante as he got in bed and turned off his lamp, "Non è un problema…Buonanotte," "Gute Nacht," Asuka said and drifted off to sleep.
Back in Misato's apartment, Misato did paperwork and got an email from Ritsuko that the Fifth Child was found. His name was Kaoru Nagisa and she revealed the profile Ritsuko attached to the email. All it showed was his place of birth (Hamburg, Germany) and his birthday, which got the red flags in Misato's head waving (September 11, 2000). The boy's limited profile prompted to ask herself the obvious, but perhaps most important question, "Just who is this boy?"
(December 22, 2015 5:48pm)
Shinji stood at the shore of the new lake that consumed half of what's left of the city. He just listened to his recent voicemail from Kensuke, the last one he'll ever receive, "Shinji…I know we haven't talked in a while and during the past few weeks I've started thinking…My dad and I are moving to Kyoto where it's safer. Same with Hikari and her folks, but Asuka would probably know that…Anyway, I think this is the last time we'll talk for a while…maybe ever. Maybe when the shit with the Angels and the EVAS is over, maybe we can pick things up where we left off…anyway…see ya."
The voicemail ended and Shinji hanged up the phone. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket and suddenly heard humming to his left. It was a boy with white hair and in the same school uniform as he wore. Shinji listened as the boy continued to hum a familiar tune for a few moments until he spoke, "Nice melody huh," the body asked while looking at the water.
"Huh," Shinji snapped back into attention, "Ode to Joy, the melody I was humming to. I think it is the greatest achievement for the entire Homo sapiens species. Don't you agree Shinji Ikari," the body said and looked at him. Shinji was mesmerized by the boy's red eyes and fair complexion, "How do you know my name," he asked the new boy, "You're really famous in NERV circles. Not to be rude but you're rather ignorant of your own position," the boy said with hints of genuine interest, "R-Really, well who are you," Shinji asked, "I'm Kaoru, Kaoru Nagisa."
(December 23, 2015 7:34pm)
Asuka was waiting at the train station, which was the only thing that survived the explosion side from the highways and the remaining clinics. She remembered a conversation she had with Dante from the night before…
(Flashback)
"I've overheard the fifth child was found and is now an official pilot," Asuka said to Dante as she drank the mate Dante made for her. What she said stopped him from taking his sip of mate, "What? There are still pilots coming up," Dante asked now curious. Asuka shrugged her shoulders, "I suppose…and that isn't the bombshell of information I just learned," she continued now with bitterness.
He looked at her prompting her to continue, "They're planning to change the core of Unit 02 in order for the new pilot to use MY Unit 02," Asuka practically yelled at the end of her revelation.
"Have you met him? Or has Shinji met him," Dante asked, "No…and I'd rather not…" Asuka's calm demeanor disturbed Dante, he's used to seeing her burst with emotion when something or someone gets in the way of her goals. The rest of their moment together remained silent…except for the noise of the kitchen light above.
(End flashback)
The announcer came on the radio, "Attention passengers, the train bound for Kyoto has been delayed due to protesting surrounding the city. The delay will last well into tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience and try again when trouble subsides," "Trouble my ass," Asuka cursed under her breath. She gathered her stuff and headed for parts unknown.
Meanwhile, Dante ran around frantically trying to find Asuka around neighborhood. He even resorted to looking around the middle school and Hikari's now abandoned apartment. He searched for her in the apartments that were left open, the rest were shut up. He proceeded to call Misato and told her that Asuka ran away, she told him she'd have Section-02 to fan out a search party. Dante thanked her and continued his search.
On the other side of the remaining city, Asuka found herself in a Catholic church and went inside. It was getting dark and she set up her stuff to stay there for the night. She looked at her watch, it was already 10:05pm and she felt exhausted from walking around in search for food and water. She got what she needed in order to trek to Kyoto, by foot if it was necessary. She noticed the moon, now a waxing gibbous moon, 'In seven to nine days, it will be a full moon…wish Dante was with me so he could go on and on about this church and the stars above,' she looked up and admired the cold beauty, 'It's so beautiful…' She fell asleep with the Christ in agony and the Virgin looking down on her, as well as the saints and apostles. In a strange light from the moon, both looked like they were sheltering her from the world outside the church's doors.
When morning came, she rinsed her face with the 'holy' water that's leftover in the basin. She gathered her stuff and headed out the door, she noticed Section-02 agents and their cars a kilometer down the road and she quickly left in the opposite direction behind the church. Once she was out of sight, she walked down the street for the abandoned Latin district. There wasn't much left except for trash and plastic bags on the streets and broken glass. Abandoned cars filled the streets as well as clothing, possibly in the rush to leave the city for safer areas, 'I can't say I blame them…wish I could leave too. But can I and will they let me go freely?'
She then found an abandoned apartment on the tenth floor in an abandoned apartment building. The only thing that worked to her surprise was the water; it flowed freely whenever she turned on the faucets. She set up her stuff in the chaos induced living room where all that's left were few articles of clothing, knocked over photos of an unknown family and La Virgin cracked down the middle. It was still, a welcoming sight, as if the scent of life still hanged in the air…
(December 26, 2015 2:47pm)
It's been three days since Asuka ran away; Dante fell into a hypomanic state and grew frantic with Asuka's disappearance. He did a couple more searches until Misato forced him to retire the search and let Section-02 take over. On this day, when Misato was still at NERV watching over the new pilot during one of the physical tests, he left his apartment after faking sick and continued his search. He tried the Latin district and spotted Asuka heading back to one of the apartments carrying chips and fruit. She didn't notice him and headed for the tenth floor. He followed…
On the tenth floor, she entered the apartment and Dante treaded carefully. He entered and found her opening one of the bag of chips, "So this is where you've been loudly," he said loudly and she was startled and turned around, "How did you find me," she asked forgetting her opened bag, "Simple, I looked and we need to get home," he approached her with an angry and worried expression on his reddened, sweaty face.
Asuka however, backed away, "No! Please don't take me back! I can't go back," Asuka yelled in desperation and shook her head violently, "Asuka, please…don't make me leave you here…You helped me out before and…I'm repaying the debt," Dante sounded torn between respecting his friend's decision and bringing her home. He held out his hand, "Please, come home…I don't want you to die out here alone," Dante practically pleaded.
"Why do you even bother," Asuka asked which Dante stood silent, "I've been nothing but a bitch to everyone at NERV…especially Shinji. So just leave me…I deserve this punishment," she said as she felt the sofa behind her and stopped, "I mean, look at us, completely damaged beyond repair and what's left are memories that hurt us rather than help us! My synch ratio is 0, I can't be the second child anymore and no one would care if I die here. Not Misato, not Shinji, no one," from this Dante almost lost it, "You're not the only one who's suffering because of the EVA! Can't you see that everyone is on the verge of breaking down? JESUS CHRIST! IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU! LOOK AT SHINJI! LOOK AT MISATO! LOOK AT ME FOR CHRISTSAKE!"
Both looked at each other and Asuka was at a loss for words. Dante stepped forward, but this time, Asuka didn't lash at him or backed away, she stayed where she was and stood her ground.
Dante and Asuka now stood a foot away from each other and he regained his composure, "I'm just worried...worried that you might do something drastic," he looked at her and felt the memories of his own breakdown, "I'm going home, but now hopefully I know where you are and we can stay in touch," he turned to leave but Asuka walked up to him and grasped his left arm, "But don't tell Misato," she muttered and looked at him, "Right," he replied just as softly. He headed for the door and left, leaving Asuka alone with only a bag of chips and a three pounds of fruit.
(December 27, 2015 9:05pm)
After a day, Asuka returned home where Misato scolded her than hugged her like no tomorrow. She set down her stuff on Misato's sofa, she looked around and something was off, "Misato, where's Shinji," she asked as Misato handed her some green tea, "He's sleeping at NERV in the Fifth Child's quarters," Asuka looked at her, who looked concerned with Shinji sleeping alone with a complete stranger, "I see…and thanks…for the tea," Asuka gave a small smile and sipped the hot liquid.
Misato and Asuka stood apart from each other in silence, drinking their tea and thinking about what to do at NERV the next day. When the two finished, Misato went to her room and Asuka headed for the patio, she was exhausted after carrying her stuff from the Latin district back to Misato's apartment. The night air felt fresh enough for her to decide to sleep outside for the night. So she brought out a blanket from her room and brought it to the patio, as well as a pillow. As she let sleep take hold, she noticed something strange in the air. A feeling of…something getting unhinged in the mechanism that she felt…governed the reality of her situation, and her life as an EVA pilot.
'Something is seriously wrong…why did Shinji decide to sleep with the new kid? He never would've done something like this months ago when we both started our official duties as pilots. Even with Dante who often treated Shinji as his cousin or nephew, he always maintained a distance from us. So why the sudden change with the Fifth,' while thinking about, she found herself thinking more about Shinji, 'Shinji…when I see you again…I'm gonna…well…I don't know what I'm going to do…but hopefully the both of us can leave on good terms when this Angel shit is over…I just hope it does end…I want my life back. Or what's left of it…'
(December 28, 2015 2:47pm)
Asuka and Dante were at a café located in the upper levels of the Geofront, overlooking the pyramid structure of Central Dogma. Both were talking about plans for tonight and the following two days to celebrate the New Year.
"So, we use the northbound train tonight and head for the tip of this island and take the overnight ferry for Hokkaido Island. Then tomorrow morning we head for Daisetsuzan National Park and spend our nights in the town of…ah Mitsumata. There we'll spend two days just by ourselves and ring in the New Year," Dante laid out the plan excitedly.
Even though Asuka watched his hypomanic episode, excitedly planning out their getaway for four days, she was glad she was going. Getting her mind off of NERV would do her good.
"Sounds like a plan. Do we bring camping equipment or something," Asuka asked, "No, we'll be staying at an inn. But we will do a lot of hiking in the park. Breathe in the fresh air, take pictures of the scenery with the wild grass, the wild primrose, the sight of morning fog in the morning that isn't laced with car exhaust and…" but before he could continue, Asuka interrupted him, "Okay, I get it! So, basically we'll get away from the city and get back to nature," Asuka tried to confirm what her Italian friend was trying to plan, and he nodded a yes, "…I can deal with that. And its one of the few things I actually enjoy."
She shrugged her shoulders and gave a smile, looking forward to the trip, "Perfect, then all we have to do is persuade Shinji to come and…" but Asuka interrupted him, "No way! This trip is to get away from it all! I don't need him tagging along that serves as a reminder of…well you know," she managed to express her thoughts, not really wanting to remember what happened to her.
Dante looked at her, "Do you still get headaches," he asked concerned, "Not as much as it happened weeks ago, but whenever I look at my own EVA…I get this pounding sensation and not just in my head," he looked now with terrified curiosity, "I get it on my back and hands whenever I play the violin for too long," she vocalized her personal diagnosis, "Do you think that Angel attack on your mind must have dealt long-term damage to your nervous system," he suggested a probable cause.
Asuka shrugged her shoulders and wore a worried expression, "I don't know…the last thing I want is to become paralyzed from the neck down."
"But you know, at least we get to enjoy some rest and relaxation, even if it isn't sanctioned by dear old Misato," Dante said semi-sarcastically, "Agreed," she said with a devious looking smile 'To hell with protocol,' she thought.
But then, the alarm sounded and both immediately got up and headed for Central Dogma. It took them 10 minutes to reach Central Dogma and immediately upon entering, they saw the NERV tech and Misato in frenzy like behavior. Then the two Euros noticed the monitor depicting the operating levels of the EVAs. What struck them to the core was the fact that EVA 02 was operating without a pilot, let alone the Dummy Plug system.
The two then remembered their encounter with the Fifth while on their way to the cafe. He gave them a glance and a smile...the smile was what got to them, it had an unnerving, ethereal quality. His gaze was penetrating, the red irises sent shivers down the two's spines and a cold sweat around their necks, but the two kept walking, paying no heed to the boy who's been spending a lot of time with Shinji.
Now, looking at the monitor with the pattern of EVA 02 now in the blue, and Kaoru's image came up beside the EVA Unit before the camera went static, Asuka and Dante said one phrase to describe the situation unfolding before them, "Che cazzo che succede! Was zum Teufel ist los!" The two cursing out loud brought Misato's attention right on them, "Where the hell have you been," she exclaimed in anger, but it was coming from feeling worried and frustrated with how the two Euros been behaving for the past couple of days. Asuka running away for reasons both pathetic and understandable, and Dante going through one of his hypomanic episodes, thus resulting in anger spells, Misato could only take so much. And with EVA 02 controlled by a 15 year old with white hair and an energy reading similar to an Angel, she was near her breaking point.
"Misato, what should I do," Dante yelled, ready to be of any assistance. Misato looked at him, "Sit with the techs and monitor the Angel's energy level, see if there are any anomalies and check if EVA 02 is affected in any way," she ordered. He nodded and rushed to an available computer. Misato then turned to Asuka, "Asuka, help him too, we need all the help we can get!...Sorry there isn't a spare EVA for you to pilot," Asuka looked at her and momentarily at her feet, "It's all right...I understand," she held back her tears and felt the heaviness in her chest. But she kept her cool, grabbed an available chair and sat next to Dante to monitor the energy readings.
Misato then told Shinji of the new developement, "No! No! NO! It's not possible! I won't believe Kaoru is an Angel! It's a lie," his yells echoed through out Central Dogma from the radio and video monitor. Asuka and Dante looked at his distress and couldn't think of anything to say, but heard what Misato said, "It's a fact Shinji. Now I want you to focus and carry out this assignment. Understand," she ordered, but knew this was going to be hard on everyone involved. Especially since the Angel along with Unit 02 are making their steady descent to Terminal Dogma.
After a few moments of watching the falling EVAs fighting with Kaoru floating non-chalantly beside them, the video feed was abruptly cut and the entire Central Dogma control center shook violently, "What the hell was that," Misato yelled as the techs along with the two Euros scrambled to explain the loss of video and the strange vibration.
"A powerful AT field has been implemented and nothing is getting through! Radio, X-Ray, even sub-atomic particles," Aoba yelled from his station, "It's blocking everything out," Misato asked, then Maya provided even more pressing news, "Because of the AT Field, we can't get a reading on the EVAs or the Angel, they're all gone! I can't get a reading on the pilot either," with this Misato and the Euros grew increasingly worried.
After a few moments of radio silence Misato whispered into Hyuga's ear, "If the Angel gets to Terminal Dogma...," he completed her statement, "I know, you want me to initiate the self-destruct sequence for the entire facility. I understand, its better than to have Third Impact take place," Misato uttered, "I'm sorry," Hyuga reassured her with a subtle confession of his, "Don't worry, if I have to die here, I'm glad it's with you," this took Misato by surprise but maintained her composure, "Thank you."
Asuka and Dante overheard their conversation, both looked at each other and held each other's hands, preparing to die in a moment's notice. Dante looked at the monitor, "The Angel has penetrated Terminal Dogma...The gates to heaven and hell have been opened," he said and muttered the last part," Misato looked at him and finally at the video monitor that still portrayed white noise, "Then God has finally come...get ready," she said with all the courage she mustered, about to give what could be her final order. But then, another strong vibration reverberated from below.
"Great not another one," Asuka yelled as she and Dante tried to pinpoint the source of what felt like another AT Field, "Don't jinx it Asuka," he angrily said as he searched furiously where the AT Field originated, "Aoba have you found something," he yelled hoping to hear something definitive, "Not yet, but I might've got..." but then the signal, "Good God, it just disappeared," Aoba yelled in frustration and fear, "Disappeared the Angel," Misato said with fear in her voice.
Then what followed were two minutes of continual radio silence and the fear of another Angel based on recent detection. Dante tried to hack into the video surveillance cameras of Terminal Dogma to see if he could get updates like that. He hacked into the surveillance system, but as with everything else, all he could get was white noise. The tech personnel sat and waited out the nearly two minutes of communication silence, it was frustratingly tortuously nerve wracking. But then, they heard some crackling over the radio...it was Shinji's voice, but sounded depressed or angry, or perhaps he was just in shock after killing an Angel that looked human, "Kaoru...I mean the Angel...he's destroyed. Terminal Dogma is secured..."
When Unit 01 was finally brought back up to Central Dogma's EVA holding area, Misato met with Shinji and the two didn't exchange words and both walked away from the EVA and headed for the locker rooms. Asuka and Dante watched from above, "Dante...I overheard that the albino kid was the last of the Angels," he looked at her with a mixture of shock, relief and creeping uncertainty, "...God I hope so. I need to take a real vacation," Asuka muttered, which Dante caught, "I think we both do...and thankfully, I got it all planned out," he said to lighten the mood, which worked and got a smile from Asuka.
Later that night, around 9:55pm after Misato and Shinji had their private talk on the edge of lake Tokyo 03, Shinji lied down on the sofa in the fetal position, listening to one of Asuka's CDs she brought over from Germany. It was a collection of music by Robert de Visee, in this case he was listening to Prelude and Allemande from Suite in A minor for theorbo as he thought over what he did and why he did it to the only person that openly expressed his love to him.
'Kaoru...Kaoru...Why did you want to die? It makes no sense...you said you loved me...you were the only one who ever said it and meant it. Why did you love me...why even expressed it at all? Asuka never expressed it,' he then remembered the moments when Asuka was soft in expressing herself, even when she was in the midst of a near emotional breakdown. The moments where she looked beautiful when the two conversed on civil ground, '...But the more I think about, she did expressed herself in subtle ways. Why didn't I pick up on it?...When the three of us decide to move on and return to our former lives, I should leave on good terms with Asuka. Dante's been good to me, despite his moments of hypomania and mild depression,' he then remembered the moments when he was in his apartment and looking at the family photos he had, especially at those with his mom and dad in what he presumed to be Rome, old Tokyo, and Kyoto, 'How come the three of us...a Japanese, a German and an Italian have baggage that we're forced to carry for the rest of our lives? It's not fair...'
He got up and headed for the patio, where he overheard Asuka and Dante talking about a trip, "So tomorrow, we leave around 5am so we can catch the early bullet train for Hokkaido, then we check in by around 11:20am," Asuka was going the plan with Dante, "Right and after we check in we head for the fields and walk amongst the flowers. Won't that be awesome," Dante said rather excitedly.
"Yeah...but remember the both of us have to contact our embassies in Kyoto in order to work out when to head for our respective universities," Asuka reminded her hypomanic friend, "Don't worry about! Jesus, you Germans are always so punctual and blunt. It disgusts me," he gave her one of his playful stereotypes of Germans, "Oh and you Italians would rather enjoy a full day of doing nothing and leave shit off until the last possible moment. How disgusted do you think I feel," she playfully retorted back. Both looked at each other and laughed.
"Say, Shinji's going to come right," Dante asked but Asuka shook her head, "Will you please stop asking me that! Shinji's not coming! I don't want him to come," Asuka almost yelled but immediately looked at her feet.
"Asuka, why are you so against him coming with us? He deserves to come after what he's been through today...killing another friend because of circumstances beyond any of us. He needs this as much as the both of us...so why not," Dante pressed it, "B-Because," Asuka stuttered not wanting to look at him, "Because why Asuka? We never held secrets from each other since the incident two years ago and I want to know why right now," Dante demanded, "B-B-Because I'm scared of him okay," she yelled and he was shocked, "I'm scared of being alone with him...ever since I confessed my distress to him...all these emotions started to come to the surface...I can't handle it," Dante sighed and she forcibly held her tears and nerves at bay.
"So why is that my problem," Dante said and she just looked at him, "If you can't be alone with him, how the hell are you going to leave this country on good terms with him wondering how you feel about him? Even if its at the level of being nothing more than acquaintances, both of you should work it out! Just as we have back in Rome," Dante looked at her, not proud of her moment of vulnerability or his own, "Think about it before we head out tomorrow morning," he said as he went back inside. Asuka followed, "You're right," she said he sighed, "Good night Asuka," and he returned to his office to work on SETI, "Good night," she yelled and heard his door closed. She headed for the door and went back to her apartment.
Once back inside, she met with Shinji in front of her bedroom door, "Ikari, what do you want," she ask harshly, but he didn't flinch. Instead he looked at her in the eye, this unnerved Asuka, "Where ever you're going tomorrow, I'm coming with you and Dante," he said, "You overheard," she said quietly, he nodded, "When did you..." before she could finish, "Just now, up to the point where you told Dante that you didn't want me to go after he suggested it. Why," he asked and had an unknown look about him. She couldn't place it, she looked at him and felt uncomfortable, "I'll, I'll tell you tomorrow," she said, "Huh," he said confused, "Meet us in the lobby tomorrow at 4:50am so we can head for the bullet train. Don't be late," she brushed past him and entered her room. He stood where he was and smiled to himself, 'Finally...on the road to building a real bridge.'
[*Note: The music that inspired the Hokkaido bit was the piece called 'Pajaros' by Gustavo Santaolalla]
(December 29, 2015 1:15pm)
It's been nearly two hours since the three arrived in Hokkaido, the weather there was a definite improvement over Tokyo 03's. The national park was cool for the most part and like the rest of the world, the ecosystem there was returning to normal. There was even some snow on the mountains in the distance from Mitsumata, so the kids brought with them wool sweaters and scarves to ward off the cold. But the best thing for them was walking in the wild fields of grass and small flowers that were once common in the pre Second Impact generation.
Out in the field, the Children sat on a blanket Asuka packed, they enjoyed the sunlight that wasn't punishing and the wind was also a welcoming change. The clouds overhead weren't thick with snow, but threatened to cover the sun. Dante took out a thermos from his satchel, it contained mate, hot enough to drink. He then took out two extra cups and handed them to both Asuka and Shinji. Both drank and their cups of mate and lied down on the blanket side by side, letting the wind caress their faces.
Neither of the three felt this sort of peace in ages, but there was a moment that surprised Asuka and that was when Shinji's hand brushed Asuka's. She looked at him, but his eyes were closed. When his hand brushed hers again, she held it and this awoke Shinji; he turned to look at her but she too had her eyes closed. The sound of the wind was warm, as if the spirit of life never stopped flowing throughout the world, even in the moment of God's wrath back in 2000. The three as with many children their age now feel the crunch to bring the world out of the darkness when their moment comes.
(December 30, 2015 5:45pm)
The sun was setting over the horizon, creating many hues of red, violet, orange, that mixed with the increasing dark blue sky of the approaching night. Dante took pictures of the beautiful moments of light before the inevitable, while Asuka and Shinji stayed inside to keep warm, irony never felt so good. The decreasing light from outside made reading a magazine difficult for Asuka, but not for Shinji who brought with him a portable light to attach to the book he was reading. Shinji looked at Asuka and she at him, he made a slight nod of the head to gesture her to come and share the light with him. She thought about it for a brief moment and scooted over to where he was, she gave him a quick soft smile and returned to reading opposite him.
As both read, opposite from each other, sharing the light, their hands occasionally brushed against each other. They blushed, but never looked at each other, until two of their fingers interlocked. From this, Asuka and Shinji looked at each other in a different way; Asuka's look was soft, but had an uncertain air around her, as if she was expecting something to occur. Same with Shinji, both their lips parted slightly and felt blood flowing in their faces with newfound heat, they breathed in air nervously, but calm. Both licked their lips to stave off the dryness, they unlocked their fingers and Asuka got up to head for the restroom, leaving Shinji to look where she went and sighed as he returned to reading.
(December 31, 2015 11:30pm)
Asuka and Dante placed a bowl of grapes and three glasses of cider on the table, which Shinji noticed. The television blared with announcements of NERV's upcoming relinquishment of power to the freshly renovated core of the UN. The European Union announced for further regulations on possible research into the technology that went into constructing the Evangelions and hopefully to apply them to projects such as pushing back the sea to resurrect cities like New York, Venice, Amsterdam, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, London, most other major coastal cities worldwide. As well as improving agricultural practices in overused and in abandoned areas of land, and possibly, restoring the seas itself to their pre-Second Impact levels of marine productivity within the next 20 years. But since the news was in English, Shinji paid no attention whereas Asuka and Dante paid attention but decided to change the channel to a music network based in Paris.
11:45pm
Fifteen minutes passed, a quarter hour to go before midnight and the start of the new year. Dante thought about his birthday coming up in ten days and what to do, he thought about heading back to Rome and celebrate with his family. Asuka however thought about what to say on her behalf when heading for the EU embassy in five days time along with Dante. Shinji thought about how to explain to Misato about how he ditched NERV for a few days of relaxation and...introspection of a sort, but without the EVA constantly floating around.
Five minutes to go
Shinji sat next to Asuka at the patio, both wearing their jackets, "This is how you celebrate the New Year. No NERV, no anybody really," Asuka said softly as she looked out into the dark night and fields before them, "Yeah..." Shinji agreed.
Asuka looked at him and took out her iPod. She chose a piece and had it played loudly so Shinji and Dante could hear. Shinji immediately recognized the piece, it was the same one he listened to when he thought over what happened with Kaoru.
"I love this piece," Asuka quietly said, but Shinji caught it, "Sorry," he looked at her and she returned his gaze, "I guess...aside from Biber's Passacaglia, this one helps me to sort stuff out...I never knew why. But I guess...I remember what my mom told me that every person has a piece of music that speaks to them most strongly...before she went insane," the last part was hard for Asuka to express.
Shinji looked at her, continually how Asuka over the past few weeks was opening up more and more, but felt a wall was holding her back, "Why...why are you telling me this," he asked.
Asuka looked at him, "I don't know...I guess...I'm tired...of everything. Even EVA piloting doesn't help much anymore...I just want peace...whatever I can find. And if that means telling you a bit about my past...then so be it."
Shinji looked at Asuka with a hint of sadness, because with the act she put up for most the year he has known her, and the moments of how she nearly had an emotional breakdown, and where she ran away and returned...though she did the opposite what Shinji would do...both were similar on how broken both were. He wanted so much to hug Asuka, to absorb the sadness she had and apply it to himself, but knew at this point in their lives...getting close would just put them in a darker place than where they are right now, 'But I wonder...can I risk everything...to have a chance,' he thought, but unknown to him...Asuka and Dante thought along similar lines.
(January 1, 2016)
The children arrived back in Tokyo-3, they got off the train and immediately the heat contained in the valley of the city hit them straight in the chest. As they exited the station, they noticed signs telling whose ever left in the city that all public transportation is suspended due to an unexpected state of emergency.
"What a way to start off the new year huh," Asuka sarcastically commented. The boys nodded in agreement and the three proceeded to head for Misato's apartment. Then the unimaginable happened...bombs were dropped and they heard explosions and felt the ground vibrating around them.
Asuka and Dante headed for nearby abandoned cars and huddled down. They noticed Shinji frozen in fear, Asuka got up and rushed him to her end, "What do we do," Dante yelled as more bombs hit the surrounding area, "...We head for the warehouse in the distance and call Misato to get us out of here," she yelled and Dante nodded.
The two Euros got up, grabbed their bags and ran as fast as they could. Shinji stayed close to Asuka, struggling to keep up and as they headed for the warehouse, they noticed tanks in the far distance...all three children knew where they were headed, NERV.
"Shit! If this is what it is...they're going to destroy NERV and take the EVA," Asuka said shocked and confused at the scene unfolding around them. Dante texted Misato and received a reply almost immediately, "Okay she's coming as fast as she could in an armored car," Dante said, "In how long," Shinji panically asked, "In four minutes," Dante said as he adjusted his backpack and held his luggage firmly.
"We have to keep moving. We'll only get killed standing here," the boys nodded in agreement and hurried down the street. For minutes they ran nonstop, Dante kept texting Misato about their movements so she can get a clear idea on how to get to them.
They noticed their apartment in the far distance and rushed to it. After an exhausting 15 minutes, they rushed to their apartments. Their legs burned, but neither of them paid heed, they instead grabbed what they needed most...their passports. Asuka had her's in her desk for quick retrieval, Shinji had his in the cello case for protection, and Dante had his beside his computer. When the three teens got out of their apartments, they took one last look at their homes...stood in silence and then heard a loud horn from the ground level...it was Misato urging them to move it. With the bombs dropping onto the city in the distance...they nodded and rushed down...they all knew their old lives are about to end.
NERV Headquarters
After driving frantically, Misato runned over soldiers and with the bullets streaming around the vehicle, Misato pushed down on the accelerator. The sound of soldiers run over and trampled by the vehicle was disturbing, but no one paid heed.
As soon they got to a secure location, the four got out and ran down the hallway, "What the hell is going on," Asuka yelled as they ran and Misato shot oncoming soldiers dead center in the chest, "Tokyo-02 has issued an Executive Order A-801. That means NERV's special legal status has transferred to the Central Government of Japan."
"Are the American and the European branches involved," Asuka asked, knowing Germany has provided most of the funding and equipment for a third of NERV branches in the United States, Europe, and China, "Not yet, but there have been reports that China and the US are sending in troops in case the JSSDF are defeated."
This alarmed Shinji, "Why do they want to take over NERV this badly," he asked as he heard automatic weapons fire in the far distance behind them, "It has to deal with the EVA in order to initiate Third Impact," Misato revealed.
The three pilots were beyond stunned, but before anymore questions were to be asked, they reached the elevator. But then Misato was shot near her pancreas fell to her knees. Asuka grabbed her gun and shot the soldier in the head. Dante set down his bag and pulled out his NERV issued 9mm. Shinji just looked at Asuka and Dante like they lost it...killing humans was the last thing he was prepared for...Angels were the enemies not humans (then an image of Kaoru flashed in his mind.) Both the Europeans felt an unease after killing a soldier, the two never thought they would even in self-defense situations. Killing Angels and killing humans are completely different situations: one is to fight for the survival of infrastructure and ideologies, but the other was a matter of survival plain and simple.
Misato got up and clutched her wound. She looked at the worried Children, "Don't worry, its not as bad as it looks," She went to the elevator and pressed it open. She looked at her phone, "There's still time...Kids this route will take you directly to your EVA...Lucite was released to protect certain areas, but don't worry...The launch system is able to free the EVAs...There's nothing more to say except to give you this," she handed Dante a small flash-drive, "When this is over...reveal this to the ICC. They will arrest the ones responsible for Second Impact and everything that's happened since...You three are on your own now...no longer EVA pilots but teenagers fighting to get your lives back."
She collapsed to the floor, sweating and breathing heavily. Asuka and Dante pulled her up and gently guided her to the elevator with them. They pressed their floor number and immediately started to go down. Asuka quickly got out her Quick-Clot patch to put over Misato's wound. Dante started to text Central Dogma to figure out a strategy and what's going on outside.
The elevator door opened and noticed the entire EVA holding area was covered in lucite. Misato quickly got out another gun and prepared for anything, "Okay you guys hurry and get to your EVAs now," she ordered.
But Shinji was reluctant to go. Misato grabbed his arm and tried to drag him to the other two pilots, "Shinji this is not the time! Go now," she practically shouted as what anyone in her rank would, "No! No we can't leave you! We have to get you to Central Dogma! Or to the ICU," he said full of worry and took his arm from Misato's firm grip, "Shinji! Go to your EVA now! That's an order," Misato yelled with everything she could muster, "Come on Shinji! We have to get out there and fight," Asuka said, "We can't do this without you," Dante added.
"No I won't leave Misato here to die! She's done so much for us...for me...I can't leave her alone! I won't let another person I care about die because of...those things," he emphasized the last part with venom towards the EVAs.
Misato grasped Shinji's shoulders and made him face her, "Shinji...as a young man now, you have to make difficult decisions...and most of them will hurt the ones you care about. But the pain doesn't last...I've told you this enough times...I've told myself this a few times," she referred to her own relational mistakes.
"But the point is...you have to got out there with your friends and fight as you have never fought before...for yourself and for your livelihood...So please...I beg you as your loving guardian...get out there and give them hell," Misato said and before Shinji could say anything, Misato took off her cross and placed it around Shinji's neck, "After this...live a life again...and that goes to you two as well," she motioned to the Europeans. They nodded a yes and held back their expressivity.
Misato turned again and gave a light peck on the lips. Shinji was beyond surprised, "That's for what you're going to do outside...when you come back all of us will take a nice vacation to Okinawa...how does that sound," Misato said in such a loving tender manner, Shinji couldn't help but let some tears fall, "Yes...Yes..."
Misato smiled and Shinji walked passed her and joined his remaining two friends. Once out of sight, Misato walked back to the elevator and went up back to where she was shot. The elevator was the only functioning one to get to the EVA. She walked to the armored vehicle and strapped on a vest of plastic explosives. She stumbled back to the elevator and soon enough the soldiers came, demanding her to move aside or they'll shoot. She turned to face them and with the soldiers in range, she pressed the detonator...her last thoughts were joining Kaji...wherever he was...
(Deep in Terminal Dogma)
Ritsuko finished setting up the explosives that were already installed in case of an invasion. She programmed the MAGI to accept the program of self-destruction, taking out the entire NERV facility. She rowed her boat up to LILITH'S body and looked up with disgust and shame, to think a scientific facility would go this far in its attempts to change the world through untested technology, and above all...using Children to do the work.
"Mother...I'm about to redeem ourselves from this mess of a world we brought upon ourselves," she looked up at LILITH and took out her PDA to check the programming status of the MAGI, "And hopefully afterwards, our old 'true' colleagues will pick up the pieces...Hope the Children are able to forgive us," she looked down at the LCL and at her diffused reflection.
She rowed her boat back to the platform and was met with Commander Gendo Ikari and a naked 'Rei Ayanami'. She immediately understood what they were doing down here, "Nice of you two to make it," she said and she held up her gun at who she considered the Devil himself and his little AntiChrist. She gave her satisfied smile for what she hoped would be NERV's final moments destroyed by its own system...but sadly unknown to her...it would never be...
(Meanwhile)
The three EVAs were on the surface destroying military aircrafts with ease. And Asuka, after a few minutes of inactivity suddenly was able to pilot as she had done when she first started piloting for NERV Japan. She only revealed that she had an 'epiphany' over the radio. The three EVAs were a sight to behold, in the flaming wreckage of aircrafts they looked like demons from hell unleashed to deliver God's final judgement on Earth.
Then nine Mass-Produced EVAs surrounded the area from above and landed, surrounding the three. All three still had their external cables attached, but knew they had to discard them at this moment. So they did and charged for the nine EVAs.
Asuka struck first, forcing the head of one EVA in half with her hands and stabbing it in the chest with her progressive knife. As she did she felt the S2 Engine; NERV personnel said to destroy the engine, otherwise the EVA Units would simply regenerate as an Angel would. This new asset for the EVA Units shocked the pilots, but they continued to fight with only five minutes counting down to zero. Asuka destroyed the engine and immediately a beam of energy shot up into the air which threw the pilots off balance a bit.
Asuka and Dante would attack head on while Shinji let the EVAs come to him and divert them to the paths of Unit-02 and Unit-03. Asuka split the head of one with her hands, raised it up above her and split the EVA in two. She threw down the two halves and stabbed the S2 core and again, a beam of energy shot up. Dante would try something similar, but would use capoeira moves to kick the Units off balance, body slam them to the ground and stabbed their cores with his own progressive knife. Asuka and Dante tried to maintain their methods of attack, but soon had to adopt the Units EVA sized weapons to take them out.
Shinji tried something different, instead of attacking straight on, he would let them come and he would dodge out of the way and attack from behind. Then one lunged toward him, but he grabbed the weapon, pushed him back and used the weapon to attack the EVA and stabbed the core and used the weapon to stabbed the other Unit he already incapacitated.
After three minutes, the three pilots took out six Mass-Produced EVAs. Three MPEs remained, still had their disturbingly, cannibalistic smiles and carrying their weapons. Dante gripped his controls until he received a reading from Central Dogma...it was massive, "Guys, a massive energy reading coming from below! Pattern Blue," he yelled over the radio.
"Shit! Not another Angel," Asuka cursed under her breath, "No...i-its h-human," Dante stuttered, now genuinely afraid of what's to come.
(Deep in Terminal Dogma)
Rei had fused with Lilith, and Gendo looked up at her with fear and extreme vulnerability. Rei/Lilith felt a power growing inside her and felt the connection towards Shinji and strangely to Asuka and Dante as well. She then felt images going on in her mind that soon led to multiple minds in NERV...she felt herself grow taller and flowing upwards to the surface...to her destiny and final task...
(Geofront)
The three pilots continue their fight with the three MPEs, but with only 1:30 left, their fight turned savage and almost cannibalistic, but then felt the ground shaking violently and blindingly painful light enveloping them. Their communication with Central Dogma ceased with the now prevalent white noise and terrifyingly their minds felt like they were losing grip with the world around, thus making the Children go into unconsciousness...and felt their bodies floating upward and pulled back...as if the veil has been lifted and covered them in a comforting warmth of reassurance.
(Central Dogma's perspective)
As Maya broke down, Hyuga monitored the energy levels and the CCTV footage of the Geofront and how the light of the Lilith/Rei enveloped the six Evangelions fighting out and saw something almost divine, despite the horrifying result that's to come...Third Impact. But the light remained on the Geofront, it didn't levitate upward, but the energy level continued to increase and concentrated around the six EVAs.
"Energy level has reached equilibrium, but the threat of Third Impact is still imminent! Probability level for it to occur is between 76-98%," Aoba shouted out the readings and Sub-Commander just looked at the monitor and as with everyone in Central Dogma held their breaths, "The final judgement is taking place...and Shinji has to make the ultimate decision," Fuyutski said out loud in a stoically calm voice, but edged with anticipation.
"What decision," Ibuki muttered, clutching herself in a futile attempt to maintain composure, "What decision does he have to make?"
Fuyutski remained silent for a few moments as he continued to look at the monitor and at the computer screens below, monitoring the brain waves of the three pilots, "Whether to return humanity to its original state in the gates of paradise...or have us continue to decide our own destinies. But I fear that the latter will come with a heavy price for the Children."
"What sort of price," Hyuga asked, afraid to know the answer. Fuyutski gave his reply, "They may have to leave this world behind," he said cryptically, "You-You mean," Ibuki was on the verge of hysterics, "Yes," Fuyutski confirmed everyone's thoughts. Everyone stood silent, the shooting ceased...even the soldiers stood silent stiff with fear and awe of the sight taking place above...as if God had finally answered the world's prayers for peace...and destruction.
(The realm of light and sounds)
Nothing could be seen, except the darkness illuminated with a whitish black glow. Wind is heard, a soft wind that caresses the skins of the plains or mountains when the storm has passed, or the prelude before the storm. Sounds of flowing water was also heard, flowing down the stream from a childhood memory the pilots could scarcely remember. Images of their lives in Kyoto, Berlin, and Rome flooded the children's minds, their happy moments with their parents, the tragedies surrounding their deaths or abandonment, the hard moments of opening their hearts to one another, the friends they've made in the short time in Japan, and above all...nearly reaching some sort of catharsis with one another.
Shinji opened his eyes, he noticed shadows in the distance. They soon converged into a single void covering the horizon while above it the sky remained as it was, white aglow with light. Shinji looked over his body, devoid of clothing. He glanced to his left and right, Asuka and Dante appeared to be sleeping...they were also devoid of clothing. Their expressions revealed to him the same thing he experienced when he was unconscious. He then felt himself lying down...lying down over the void beneath him...he noticed the bluish glow below but before he could get a closer look he felt a presence approaching him. He lifted his head and noticed Rei coming, she soon straddled him and locked her gaze with his.
"Now...you have a decision to make," Rei said, "What decision is that? And why do I have to make it," Shinji asked and Rei looked at him with a soft and sphinx like expression, "Because you have survived your communing with the divinity within yourself...and in that you found God."
"What do you mean? I don't understand," he voiced his uncertainty, "Yes you do...you just have trouble expressing it verbally...Now," Rei eased her position and gently held his face, "What type of world do you want to live in?"
Shinji was quiet for a moment until the thought he had for months now surfaced, "I want...I want a second chance...a second chance to have a life for me..." he felt selfish and the guilt of Toji's death and his friends leaving, killing Kaoru consumed him, the wind grew louder but Rei's look reassured him.
"You have just went through the rain and made it through the wind...now you must enter the storm," she said this and Shinji heard Asuka and Dante groaning and gasping for air. He looked on horrified and the wind along with the light strengthened.
He closed his eyes and abruptly opened them when Rei kissed him on the forehead, as his mother used to do when she lived, she gently caressed his face and placed her hand on the cusp of his neck, "You three will live and will be given the gift of a new life," Shinji widened his eyes more at her statement, "But you must passover, leaving this life and everything you've ever known. Will you be able to handle the burden of forever carrying this piece of history and live a new life for yourselves?"
Shinji felt the void beneath grow and the pull becoming stronger, and even if the premise of carrying an even heavier burden of this moment and their childhoods didn't scare him as it should have...he built the bridges between himself and the only two people who understood the burden...he won't be alone this time and uttered his final statement to the girl who was the embodiment of his missed childhood and the beginning of his teenage years, "Yes. Yes I would."
(Geofront)
The NERV personell, the soldiers for hire, Fuyutski, and radio transmissions in German, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian ceased activity and watched the orb of light expand and contract due to unknown forces. Then the orb of light lifted off the ground, emitting unknown energy, the facility vibrated and then on the monitors, the orb of light expanded and contracted and then abruptly disappeared and sending a shock wave around the facility. The power goes out and then the back-up generators, "What the hell..." Aoba voiced out his astonishment as he looked at the monitor, no hint of the EVAs at all.
"Shinji made his decision...sparing us and paying the price," Fuyutski said and looked down, the Children died on screen and nothing could be done, "Damn you to hell Gendo...Yui...I'm sorry...I couldn't protect your son," he muttered to himself and everyone in the room, even the soldiers felt shame, guilt, and above all...grateful for the sacrifice the Children made for Earth to continue.
(The realm of light and sound)
Shinji felt himself falling, with no sense of up, down, right, or left...just falling. Asuka and Dante also felt this strange sensation of falling and lights and waves of light surrounded them as strong, but non destructive currents of energy. Their bodies vibrated and the ambient light surround the entire event changed from the harsh sunlight of Tokyo-03 to a more steel grey of an unknown landscape of ice and mountains. Even the sun looked different, a halo surrounded the orb of distant warmth, Shinji noticed his EVA landing along with Unit-02 and Unit-03 at his sides. He noticed the remaining three Mass-Produced EVAs landing in the distance, their wings held up as a painting Shinji could now vaguely recall.
"Okay let's get the bastards," Asuka yelled over the radio, "Right behind you," Dante yelled over the radio as well. Shinji then sees his comrades charging for the three remaining MPEs, "Wait guys! NO!"
Shinji's pleas for a cease and retreat strategy fell on deaf ears. Two of the MPEs charged toward Shinji's friends, the two Europeans used everything they had to disarm the MPEs, using their training ranging from Filipino Kali, Krav Maga to Capoeira. But no matter what they could dish out, the MPEs dodged, blocked and redirected the blows back to the Euros. The MPEs used their AT Fields to throw Unit-02 and Unit-03 back. The two MPEs readied their lances and lunged for the two pilots.
Both Asuka and Dante tried to put up their AT Fields, but when the MPEs lunged forward with their lances, the AT Fields provided little protection and the two Euro pilots felt the lances pierce their bodies. Dante's head got slashed and his feet were pierced as well. The pain seared white hot from his wounds and to his horror, felt blood flowing from the stabs. Asuka got stabbed in her hands as she tried to deflect the lance's blows and as she hunched forward, the MPE jumped up, landed behind her and slashed up her back. She yelled in agony, alarms rang in both of the damaged EVAs and the two traumatically injured pilots summoned all the strength they had left and charged for the MPEs. The grotesque two smiled, grabbed the two around their torsos and flipped them to the ground, knocking the two pilots out.
Shinji at his vantage point watched the grizzly scene unfold as he held off the other MPE. Shinji couldn't shake the echoing screams of agony from his mind, "Asuka, Dante. I told you to not attack...I wanted you two to stop...damn it...DAMN IT!"
He pushed the MPE back and punched it in the stomach, but then the MPE lunged forward and bites Shinji's shoulder. Shinji tried to maintain his agony, not to spread his pain to his comrades, but the pain still had him in tears and to his horror as well he felt blood dripping down his shoulder.
"I've had enough! I've had enough! I've had enough! I've had enough! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
He grabbed the MPE by the head and forced the head to split in two by the mouth. He never felt this type of rage since the stint that landed him stuck in the EVA for over a month. He felt energy flowing throughout his body, the adrenaline-fueled rush was addictive and he wanted to destroy the MPEs on his own. He then caught sight of a lance being thrown at him. It hit him in the chest, where his own S2 engine was located but instead of another trip into the depths of his sub-conscious it shout out a light and once again it engulfed the EVAs in the vicinity. Shinji felt the light piercing his eyes and again felt falling into the void...everything went black.
(Moments later on the ice)
Shinji opened his eyes to the steel-greyish blue sky above lit by the ethereal sun. He got up, his body tense and aching, in particularly his torso had a sort of numbness. He sat up and looked around and noticed Asuka and Dante lying down in the fetal position beside him. To his continuing horror, their wounds are exactly the same as shown in his past dreams. He just hoped the second aspect of his dreams were just his fear of being left alone...
"Asuka! Asuka! Wake up," he pleaded as he shook her body hoping for a response...which to his heart's content there was, "Sh-Shinji...it hurts...my body hurts," she said through the pain as loose tears fell down her face. He picked her up to sitting level and hugged her firmly, but was wary of her wounds on her back.
His face buried in her collar area and breathed in her scent. Asuka hugged him tighter and by an unknown force, their lips met and their kiss grew heated, but it wasn't out of romantic longing. It was something deeper, something the two couldn't dare to describe at this moment. They broke apart and just let their muffled cries sound away.
Dante groaned, "Guys...the EVAs are gone...gone for good..." he said through his own pain. His head throbbed with pain with blood coming from above the hairline as well as his feet, "Guys..." he pleaded for a response, wanting to hear a human voice.
"Yeah...we lived so we can die," Asuka said as she continued to cry and in turn, Dante started to tear up, knowing the inevitability of death on a frozen wasteland drew near. Shinji looked at the two, he never would've thought that even with the circumstances they went through that Asuka and Dante, two of the most self-assured people he's ever got to befriend would have the same problems as himself and would be so broken at the end of it all. No more EVA, no more NERV, no more ANGELS, "No more father..." he muttered the last bit so low neither of the Europeans heard.
Shinji shook his head, "We're not going to die. We can't die...we just can't," Shinji said, making the other two look at him. Both were desperate to believe him, but before they could say anything they all heard helicopters and all-terran vehicles approaching them. They felt their AT-Fields dying down and suddenly the cold pierced their skins and with the wounds they have made the pain intensify five-fold.
Shinji got up and despite the pain in his chest, he ran around waving his hands, "HELP! HELP US! HELP! PLEASE! WE'RE HURT HERE! HELP!"
Asuka and Dante watched Shinji running around with blood flowing down his chest and seeing him slowing down, looking increasingly fatigued. Sweat glistened his face and body, his shirt soaked in the obvious areas and thus, causing him to shiver violently. He compensated by running around again to get the attention of the incoming vehicles and helicopters.
(Moments later)
The sounds of the engine and propellors above were inescapable. Shinji looked out the window while paramedics from the UN looked him over to see if there were anymore injuries. Asuka and Dante were further up the craft, also getting examined by the paramedics. Shinji looked to his right towards the back of the craft and noticed American teenagers with their families, 'Tourists.'
Shinji lied down with the permission of the paramedic, he looked above to the window, the steel-grey skies outside were a far cry from the eerie eternal blue of Tokyo-03...which meant it was more comforting. For reasons unknown, the cold he felt, the pain he's felt at the moment, his own degenerated state, the feeling of nature in constant flux...it felt comforting. As if he just woke from a long-term nightmare and now back into what he hoped...was a reality that however painful, he would be prepared to handle.
He got up with the help of the paramedic and walked to Asuka, lying facing down. She had her head turned towards the left side of the helicopter, dried tears stained her face. Her blanket was enough to keep her warm, but the awkward position due to her back injuries she struggled to get to sleep.
Shinji brushed a bit of her hair around her left ear, "I hope I made the right decision," he gave the lightest of smiles as he caressed her head. She then drifted off to sleep.
As he walked back to his spot, his hand was gently grasped by Dante. Both boys looked at each other and both grasped each others hands firmly in an impromptu handshake. Dante closed his eyes, he was also exhausted but the pain enveloping his head was unbearable. Shinji sat back down at his spot and lied down on his back. The pain in his chest throbbed and pulsated as his heart beat, he took one last look of the sky outside his window and let the darkness envelop his consciousness...but this time, no dreams to worry about.
The helicopter flew away from the frozen wasteland, flew between the mountains, headed for the ocean and headed for an aircraft carrier. The radio Shinji faintly heard was in a language he couldn't pinpoint, neither German, English, Italian or any language he came across back home...'Hope I still have a home...Do I deserve a home...Do we deserve a home,' he thought over how in some twisted way...the three EVAs somewhere are looking down at them, arms outstretched to embrace a new life and a new destiny for himself and his comrades.
~FIN~
This story is over, but the upcoming one is about to begin. An ambitious crossover continuing what I started here and in my Danny Phantom story "Four Walls." The story is called LES MUSICIENS-2005.
Since starting this back in 2008, things have changed. My writing and my attempts at exploring the emotions that drive the pilots and the moments of silence that are as important if not more than the action scenes. What changed the most was me not being afraid to explore the depths of human emotions and how destructive and beautiful they can be. I'm still exploring this realm of writing and I hope to find more cave openings to guide me in this unknown terrain.
And why was this even called "The Enlightening Music" ? Well...what moves you when circumstances become difficult and to massive to deal? What helps you in the dark moments of life? What can enlighten you from the confines of irrationality and fear?
Whatever your answers may be...that is music to you and only for you.