Chapter 23:

Kensuke: "Then we should tear the rest of its legs off..."

Mana: "Oh, I don't think it's going to let us do that."

The Angel starts trying to step on and stab the TRIDENT with its six sharp legs, presumably giving up any attempt to use its corrosive spray, even though the corrosive from its belly continues to flow.

Eventually, the Angel does manage to completely encircle the TRIDENT with four of its remaining six legs, while the remaining two, from the Angel's rear, aim straight at the cockpit, and the Angel's belly starts drooling its corrosive liquid directly above.

Kensuke: "Oh CRAP!"

Mana: "Took the words out of my mouth. Nobody can say we didn't give it our all..."

Kensuke gently touches her shoulder. "Yeah. It may not have been long, but I'm glad I met you..."

Mari: "Now don't go giving up just yet, you two lovebirds! Help has arrived!"

Kowaru: "Indeed. Your plan to rip off its legs is sound."

Eva 01 and Eva 02 appear on the left and right, respectively, and rip off two legs each. This naturally causes the Angel to lose its balance and fall, which Mana barely avoids by jumping backwards.

Angel: "SKREE! SKRREEYYY! SKKKRRRREEEEEE! !"

Mari: "Just to make sure, Kowaru-chan!"

Kowaru: "Roger."

The two remaining legs are ripped off.

Mana: "Kingfisher one to command! The target's defenses are down! Repeat, the A-A defenses are down! Requesting air support!"

Yamamoto: "Acknowledged! Take cover! Initiating fuel-bomb drop!"

Mana: "Everyone, take cover!"

A jet drops the largest non-nuclear weapon ever designed by man right on top of the Angel, later identified as Matarael, and with a thunderous explosion, cracks right through its armor, killing it handliy.

All this time, the cult has not been idle. The troops storming NERV HQ have racked up an amazingly high body-count of NERV personnel, set up lots of booby traps and took hours to fully flush out and exterminate leaving a massive amount of JSSDF casualties in their wake. Even then, once communications are restored, thanks to the hard work of JSSDF engineers, the attack on NERV proved to be only the tip of the iceberg in the cult's assault.

NERV didn't lose power and communications because of sabotage; the Cult of Xian had attacked the nearest power plant and , killing all the workers inside, and then blew it up. Lara Croft's mansion was raided and destroyed. Only the Tokyo-3 school was spared, and then, only because the JSSDF somehow got wind of the incoming attack in time, and barely managed to fend them off.

Gendo Ikari, and the top brass of NERV meet with Admiral Yamamoto of the JSSDF, and attempt to contact Lara Croft.

Gendo: "This is both an unmitigated disaster and an act of war!"

Yamamoto: "I must agree! This can not be allowed to stand unchallenged."

Misato: "Damn! If only we knew where the rat's nest is so we could strike back!"

Ritsuko: "Hello! Lara Croft! Thank god we managed to get through! Where are you?"

Lara: "Here in Hong Kong, the local Natla corp rep tried playing dumb. When he saw that didn't work, he tried using his 'security' goons on me. After seeing that that only served to piss me off, then he, too late to save his sorry hide, tried begging for mercy and still offered little to no help finding the kids."

Misato: "I wish I could say things were better here, but well, I'd be lying. Your mansion was raided and destroyed. NERV was hit, hard; those cultists have openly declared full-out war on the country. The local power plant was destroyed, after all the techs were slaughtered. Ditto that for the nearest communications facility."

Yamamoto: "The local high-school was targeted as well, though we did manage to stop that... by sheer luck."

Lara: "...Bloody bollocks wanker yobs, (bunch of untranslatable British expletives) is there some kind of contest going on to see who's the biggest raging Arse? … Wait, my mansion was raided and destroyed?"

Misato: "Yeah.. I'm sorry..."

Yamamoto: "Judging by their gear, they're getting support from the DPRK..."

Lara: ".. NORTH KOREA?! How the bloody hell did those wankers get the logistics to strike that hard, that far away from their base?"

Gendo: "Does anyone else have some leads? Something solid?"

Ritsuko: "Considering what Ms. Natla shared with us earlier, she must be using some kind of advanced medical equipment, medical equipment on par with a NERV facility, there's only one supplier for such tech."

Gendo's eyes open wide. "I see. Fuyutsuki. Can you pull up the logs on the purchase, delivery and acquisition of.."

Maya: "Already got it, Commander. I queried the MAGI computers and they pulled up the list."

Ritsuko: "Maya..."

Maya: "Yeah, no way I'm letting those kids go through... that any longer than I have to!"

Gendo: "Good work."

Lara: "...The blighters are headed in the direction of the DPRK at high-speeds! We have target confirmation! Heading there now!"

Gendo: "We're sending aid your way. Eva-scale! Be prepared for the arrival of Eva-00."

Misato: "Commander, but..."

Gendo: "I'm sure 'Rea' will be glad to help, once she understands.."

Misato: "Got it! Rits!"

Ritsuko: "Understood. We'll get that water-combat gear ready again."

Yamamoto: "Wait, you have another pilot already? Why didn't..."

Gendo: "Not exactly. Let's just say Eva-00 is best to field in this situation."

Some time later, down in the Eva labs...

Rea: "Where is onii-chan? What is going on? I heard a lot of shouting and scary noises..."

Misato: "Shinj-kun is in trouble. Some bad, bad people have taken him away, and we need your help!"

Rea: "...Onii-chan!"

Ritsuko: "We're fitting you with the water-combat gear so you can go save him,... Rea-chan."

Rea: "... I still don't like you, obaa-san, but... thank you."

Ritsuko: "Obaa-san?!" (Vein pops out on her forehead) "Well, I suppose that's better than 'mean-old-hag'. Still, once we learn where he is, we'll send you there so you can stop the 'bad people'."

Rea: "Hee hee!"

Misato: "I don't know if I should be relieved or worried that 'Rea' is giddy at the prospect of wrecking havoc."

Ritsuko: "At least it's directed at our enemies. Be grateful for that."

Lara Croft is in a shady port of North Korea, having stowed away on a Chinese transport smuggling weapons there...

Lara: "Okay, Zip. Tell me what you got."

Zip: "Satellite scan confirms what Major Misato told you. The Tokyo-3 mansion was utterly destroyed, but not before the dagger of Xian was taken. Its unique energy signature is definitely in the DPRK... In Pyongyang... Near 'The Great Leader' Kim Yung Un himself!"

Lara: "Bollocks! As if this tin-pot regime doesn't give the world enough diplomatic headaches!"

Zip: "Got a call from the Major as well. Going from the equipment Ms. Natla is using, NERV suspects one of three facilities holds The Children. You're going to have to move fast. Now that They've got the dagger..."

Lara: "Yeah, they don't need the kids anymore. That bitch could sell, rent, or violate them in all sorts of unspeakable ways... or simply grow bored and dispose of them."

Zip: "Yeah, as 'the great leader' and his 'family' have a rather sordid history."

Lara: "Screw subtlety then. Time to go on the offense!"

She blasts her way out of the dock on the motorcycle she smuggled in with her, heading to the facility closest to the Kim family castle, the most likely location.

At the facility in question... The following conversation takes place in Korean.

Natla: "Per your request, Great Leader, here is the 'merchandise' you wanted to peruse."

Un: "Hmph. They do not look like much. Are these really the 'mighty Angel slayers of NERV, Tokyo-3?' They're just runts! And badly beat up at that!"

Natla: "Of course, that's what they are, outside of their almighty Eva war-machines. Sadly, the goods were a bit … damaged in the collection and extraction process, which is why we're giving you a discount."

Un: "They, and that other item, had better deliver on the promises you've made about granting me the glory and godhood that is rightfully mine that I might have righteous vengeance against all those countries who dare mock me, especially those arrogant Americans!"

Natla: "Naturally. That 'other item' should arrive any moment now."

Un: "I still find it strange to believe that stabbing a dagger into my own chest will make me unstoppable..."

Natla: "Of course, which is why I showed you the video of the last time it was used. You have to admit, it was an impressive show."

Un: "Yes, but if he was so great, why did he lose the dagger to some bimbo!"

Natla: "Because he wasn't a true warrior, like you. He was just a coward who loved to boast while his men did all the work. So when he had to fight for himself..."

Un: "He lost. I see, just like those relatives who tried to sell me out for a quick promotion!"

Natla: "Oh, yes. The ends they met were very fitting for their cowardice. Fed alive to feral dogs, gassed in a train-station with their accomplices, placed before a firing squad.. All too lenient!"

Un: "Hahahaha! Yes, YES! I will have the means that my father lacked to complete his vision! I WILL BATHE THE WORLD IN A SEA OF FIRE! DIE ALL YOU OTHER COUNTRIES JEALOUS OF KOREA'S WEALTH, AND THE COUNTRY WILL BE WHOLE AGAIN!"

Both: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAA!"

Un: "Very well. As agreed, here is the down-payment for the pilots. The rest will be provided once the dagger is delivered and proven effective."

Natla: (Takes the briefcase presented by Kim Yung Un's bodyguard.) "Pleasure doing business with you, Great Leader. If you'll excuse me, I am needed elsewhere by my subordinates."

Un: "I grant you leave. Go. Do not return without the dagger."

As Jacqueline Natla leaves the room.

Un: "Prepare the tools. We shall convince these brats about the 'glory' of True Korea, or they will die."

Bodyguard A: "Of course."

Bodyguard B: "The scorpions, the antidote, and everything you requested."

Un: "Good. I have a meeting with my 'advisers' that can not wait. We shall begin when I return. For the meantime, make sure they're secured, and properly prepared."

Bodyguards: "Sir. Yes, Sir!"

Once Kim Yung Un leaves the room...

Bodyguard A: "I don't think he'd mind if we had a bit of fun with them."

Bodyguard B: "No way, man. He fed his uncle to a pack of rabid dogs for going against him!"

(In Japanese)

Shinji: "What's going on?"

Rei: "We've been sold to Kim Yung Un, and they're going to 'condition' us to serve his regime."

Asuka: "Then we've got to get out of here first."

To be continued...