1:45 pm, NERV Central, Commander's Office

The four of them stood, plugsuited and backs straight, before NERV's Vice and Supreme Commander. It had only been half an hour before that the four teenagers had been enjoying their swim, only to be roughly called out of the pool by Section 2 agents who'd barged past the security of the place.

Shinji's blood boiled being under the gaze of this man again. They hadn't exchanged a word since the day he arrived and the Seraph war began. Since then, the boy's enmity had only been enhanced through his father's disregard for him, and his lack of care for Rei. He could only imagine how little Gendo Ikari regarded the safety of his subordinates, and that frightened him.

How many of us are, "expendable?"

"I have called you here to serve a purpose. We have identified a blue signature in Mount Asama itself." The Supreme Commander said, a hologram flickering into life on the floor between him and the Pilots, some twenty feet in distance. The hollow image of the volcano, within which resided a bizarre creature, provided dim light for the dismal room.

"Shouldn't be too much trouble. Just destroy the volcano and that'll either kill it or bring it out into the open-" Samuel was saying before Gendo's gaze fixed itself upon him.

"Do not interrupt me." His said so plainly it was threatening.

"Very well, sir." The Imperial acknowledged, hiding amusement.

Oh? What's this? A General who doesn't like other opinions...that won't get you anywhere good, old man.

"I desire this specimen to be recovered alive. There is much we can learn from this situation. One of you will be lowered into the mountain to recover it, whilst the rest remain on standby." Gendo continued. Shinji lost control of his expression and scowled.

"So you want to lower one of us into an active volcano and try to pull out this thing, we aren't even sure is actually hibernating? That's a suicide mission." Father and son looked at each other, neither willing to back down.

I don't want to see any of them die for your science project. Shinji inwardly snarled.

"Oh come on, Third. A-T fields can handle magma, it'll be a walk in the park for me." Asuka said with a cocky grin.

"I presume we have a volunteer for extraction?" Kozo asked, faintly bemused.

"Yes you do. Don't worry, Commander, I won't let you down."

"Soryu-san..." Shinji hissed.

"Can it, dummkopf. I can do this." She glared daggers back at him, crushing any retort, completely ignoring Samuel's look of concern or Rei's inquisitive expression.

To be lowered into magma...to retrieve a live monster...that is not a mission I would like to take. If I die, I can be replaced...but I'd rather it not happen that way.

Gendo did not move, or even nod. He just spoke in his lifeless monotone.

"Satisfactory. Cranes are already in position, you will be deployed immediately."

"Good luck." Kozo added, with much more humanity than his superior could ever manage.

The children all acknowledged this with their own culture's equivalents of "yes, sir" then filed out of the office.


NERV's lifts lead to everywhere in Tokyo-3 and its surroundings. But for further afield, they would have been in trouble were it not for the confiscation of the "Rapid Homeland Defence System." Over the years, the organization had wisely adapted it for Evangelion deployment to other parts of the country if needs be. However, it would still take a good hour for them to reach their destination.

In that time, most people would talk to one another about the upcoming mission or try to lift the mood. The four Pilots remained quiet however, the time going by agonizingly slowly. The bravado of the western Pilots was not as present as it was in that first engagement with the 8th Seraph. Clearly, to Shinji's slight amusement and relief, the eldritch abominations had knocked a good bit of "reality" into their heads. This, the 9th Seraph, was going to be handled in a far more professional manner.

Nevertheless, Asuka and Samuel looked childishly bored, totally untroubled by what they were about to deal with, whilst Shinji only just managed to control his breathing. Meanwhile, Rei, the infallible rock of serenity in a sea of chaos, had leaned back in her seat with a blank expression.

"So..." Samuel said, tiring of the silence.

"What?" Asuka responded.

"Quite remarkable, all this, isn't it? An underground system that runs from one end of the country to the other...I'd always heard Japanese technology was good but I didn't know they were fine engineers."

"...you're literally part of an operation involving giant metal monsters being sent to destroy an enemy that can waste cities, all heralding from a city with skyscrapers that can lower themselves into the ground, and an oversized Leopard Underground is what's got your attention?"

"I don't know...it just reminds one of home a little bit."

"I think it's impressive too. Which makes it even more of a shame that NERV stole it." Shinji grumbled. This was Japanese engineering, built on Japanese blood, sweat and tears, to protect the Japanese nation. What right did his father have to shove a UN requisition order into Parliament's face and snatch it away?

Oh well. At least he did it

after the war was over...it's strange to think. I thought Fukuyama would be it, that I'd never see the like again. Now I'm here, in the front line of a war against demi-god abominations, in a machine that makes me feel pain. Will the universe ever stop making my life a joke?

"The needs of NERV outweighed those of the Japanese State." Rei put bluntly. Her brother inwardly seethed, but didn't start a disagreement. As a non confrontational person to begin with, he knew he wouldn't change her mind. Not if that had been hammered in by his sperm donor.

"Right. Because the JSA wouldn't have loaned it to you if you needed it...smells like a bloody power grab." Samuel said with disapproval. Despite not making any sign of agreement, Asuka agreed with that. After all, one who could navigate the court of the Reich and steer well clear of intrigue, was not the worst judge of character.

What a control freak. And to think...if he doesn't deem me "satisfactory"...

The girl suppressed a scowl.

No. I trained for this, for most of my life. I gave up everything to prove I am the best, I am an Eva pilot elite. And the world will see that.

Taking her mind off such things, her mind drifted back to the great balls of New Windsor and Sanssouci she'd attended. The freckled girl had always stood out, gaining looks and sniggers from the other effete nobles who dressed in frilly ball gowns whilst she remained in her beloved yellow sundress. In the end, Asuka had the last laugh, as they'd all swelter under those many layers and have difficulty moving around whilst she remained beautiful and free.

But it wasn't like she hated high society functions. With her sole dance partner, they actually became quite enjoyable. Of course, there was the side effect of everyone thinking she and Samuel where "an item", but it wasn't too much of a fuss.

Hang on...he's not my only dance partner any more, is he?

She cast a quick look at Shinji.

Well...he hasn't stepped on my foot so far.

"Soryu-san...are you sure about this?" Shinji said with concern. Clearly he was still uneasy over her volunteering for this dangerous mission.

"Absolutely. Can't pass up an opportunity to show you all who's the best here." She grinned, eliciting a deep sigh from the boy.

"Alright. But if the tiniest thing goes wrong, or you feel you can't handle it, you bug out. Got that?"

"Not sure whether or not to be offended or touched, Third. I don't think anyone's ever managed that before." Asuka arrogantly shrugged him off, knowing her boasting was entirely justified in this situation. She had the best Unit, the most training, and the most aptitude for Piloting. Not once did she consider these things anything other than facts.

"One of the easiest things in the world to do is offend you, Asuka..." Samuel chucked.

"Shut up, Sam." She growled.

Rei observed the exchange between her colleagues with a strange feeling. Amusement was new to her, but she wasn't troubled by it.

Unit cohesion leaves much to be desired. I fear something may go terribly wrong...but the true question is, why do I find that "entertaining." It is almost like a...train wreck in slow motion. An event so terrible yet one can't look away.


3:00pm, Mount Asama research station

Misato stood before the facility's main monitor with folded arms. She couldn't get a proper tactical display, but the JSA had been kind enough to provide a drone and vid link with which she could observe the overall operation and movements of her troops. The vid links of the four Evas had been linked into the monitor, with the external cameras of Evangelion Unit 02 being given room as well.

A great deal of information to take in, but the purplehead was a competent soldier. It was not beyond her capability.

Along with the Evas and about fifty other NERV staff, the Sub Commander of Section 3 had been loaned an entire JSA Infantry division, specifically the 40th, two Tank battalions from the 2nd Armoured division, which had been used to fill the holes left by the devastation of the 1st at the hands of Sachiel, and an Orochi class FCV.

Whilst not as impressive as the Susanoos, the battleships of the air fleet, Orochi's were still impressive and well armed for their smaller size of being a hundred metres in length. The term, "flying Destroyer" suited them well.

As the FCV was becoming more commonplace, they were starting to be treated less as super weapons and more as important components of a modern military. Hence the need for air fleets across the world to enlarge and diversify, build ships with more specialized roles. For example, the Orochi was to become the scout and screening vessel of the Japanese Air Fleet, to supplement the jack of all trades Susanoo. And of course, the class of ships being built in secret that few knew of, the Amaterasu class carriers.

Misato was impressed by how quickly her countrymen had adapted to the modern age. Whilst the Empire was more interested in flash and firepower, the Federation in compactness and technological superiority, the Communists in mass production, her people were already building the first dedicated carrier class FCV. Ingenuity and adaptability like that would win Japan dominion over the Pacific.

Pushing such thoughts from her mind, of delightful glee at the wretched Tokuajin being utterly at their mercy, the thirty year old woman focused on the dispositions of her troops.

Unit 02 was already being attached to the vast cranes in place around Asama's crater, and its Pilot was looking impatient and eager to get on with it. The other three were deployed some three miles from the volcano, all equipped with pallet rifles and standing in a line just five hundred metres ahead of the massed regiments and tanks of the JSA. Every single gun was levelled on mount Asama.

Directly above, ready to rain down fire, the HIMS Fuso maintained a stationary yet alert position.

As to be expected of the trained professionals who crewed her.

Let's not lose them like we lost the Tsushima or the 1st Division. Thousands of good lives lost...fucking Seraphim.

The sound of chuckling broke Misato out of her moment of thought.

"What is it, Rits-chan?" She met her friend's mirth with a confused yet genuine smile.

"Sorry...it's just, if we turned back the clocks a few years, Soryu-san would not nearly be so eager to go down there." The faux blonde shook her head at the large image of the huffing redhead.

"Why?"

"Don't you remember? Back then A-T fields weren't quite as powerful so we'd have to provide extra protection."

"Oh...oh! You mean the D-type equipment? And the inflation suit?"

"The very ones."

Both women sniggered at the thought of the proud German girl having to hobble around in that bulbous and cumbersome suit, and her Eva doing the same in that bulbous and cumbersome armour. Back then, there would have been a very real risk of the Pilot suffering serious sympathetic injuries in such an operation as this, or the Eva not being able to stand the environment.

Of course, they'd come a fair way since then. Now their battery life could last half an hour without cables at normal power, fifteen at maximum, and two hours on basic. It truly was amazing how quickly technology progressed, from clunky keyboards and bulky computers in 1999, to the touchscreen freaks of nature that could recognize your fingerprint as an access code.

"Unit 02 is attached and ready to begin deployment, Lieutenant Colonel." Makato reported, having been shipped out here scarcely half an hour ago.

Misato's mirth faded away, her jaw setting itself hard as rock.

Let's do this.

Marching back over to the main monitor, she pushed a glyph which brought up comms with her Pilots.

"We're ready to begin the operation. What about you?"

A series of "affirmatives" satisfied her.

"Good, although I must say, not everyone volunteers to jump head first into a live volcano, Asuka-san." She directed out the redhead, who pouted.

"Seems like a lot of people are wusses." Asuka said dismissively.

"Misato-san, I have a question." Shinji waited patiently for the two to finish what they were saying before speaking. Anything else would have been impolite.

"Shoot, Shinji-kun." The purplhead acknowledged.

"Why is there an FCV above us?"

Misato grimaced, having not entirely filled them in on that yet.

"That...is there to carpet bomb the mountain if anything goes wrong...Commander's orders..."

"Even if I'm inside it?" Asuka said, blatantly annoyed over the issue. As if death was a massive inconvenience for her. The purplehead nodded.

Shinji's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish for a while, as Samuel piped up looking slightly alarmed.

"Th-th-that will be a last resort...surely..." The Imperial stammered.

"I'll be fine, Samuel. Besides, if I'm going to go out...might as well be in style." The German girl relaxed into her seat, accepting the sheer danger of the situation and getting on with it. Misato couldn't be more impressed by these kids, considering what was constantly asked of them.

Yeah, I've got nothing to worry about. They can take care of themselves quite handily.

"A last resort, if it comes to that." She said reassuringly, before barking at her staff.

"Begin the operation!"


3:15pm, Mount Asama main vent

Asuka put all her effort into the maintenance of her A-T field as she was slowly lowered into the fires of the furious mountain. Whilst the cranes where an annoyance, she was aware she couldn't do it without them. Unlike the battle with the 7th Seraph, she couldn't risk readjusting her field and allow one area to become vulnerable. Evangelion armour was tough, but nothing could survive prolonged exposure to magma without protection.

Nevertheless, the German girl was already feeling droplets of perspiration sliver down the back of her neck, either through heat or concentration. Not at all helped by the tight, heat trapping plug suit. This was not the warmth of her plug, but the humid, burning, unpleasant sort of hotness she'd had to adjust to since she'd arrived in this country.

Asuka surveyed her surroundings, knowing her hud would pick up the enemy long before ordinary eyes would. Bizarre really, considering how her eyes were directly linked to those of the Eva, and therefore enhanced. Even then...in this sea of yellow and red, technology was more of an ally than ever before.

Deathly silence reigned within that confined cockpit, and in Misato's temporary command centre, as the depth of the Eva was being reported routinely by Makoto. It was tense for her, but only because Asuka wanted to get on with this, not at all out of any fear of failure.

I am the best, I can't fail.

"You should be reaching target area in a few seconds. Get ready." Came her commanding officer's order.

Asuka nodded, trying to take her mind off how slick and sweaty her body was feeling. However, as it was so deeply unpleasant, she couldn't. And now the redhead was beginning to smell.

Come on you bastard, show up and don't make any complaints.

"Reaching target depth in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-"

The redhead braced and prepared to attack, just in case her enemy wasn't sleeping any more. But nothing happened.

She looked around for a few moments, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"What?" She said, annoyed and baffled.

"I don't know, Asuka-san. Damn, its moved." Misato growled.

"What now, Lieutenant Colonel?" Makoto asked.

"Continue to lower her. We have to get this thing."

"Misato-san, something isn't right about all this..." Shinji cut in over the comms, his tone nervous and alert.

"Yes...I'm not often in agreement with him, but today I am. Let's not chance this." Samuel added, much to his male Japanese counterpart's surprise.

"Oh for Gott's sake, stop worrying. I've got this under control, keep on going, Misato." Asuka cut them off, indignant at people trying to rob her of rightfully earned glory. Although...it wasn't exactly unwelcome to hear people be concerned about her.

"If...if you're sure..."

"I'm fine, Sam."

The cranes continued to lower her further and further into Mount Asama, the girl becoming slightly impressed by the sheer size of it. She'd seen pictures of volcano structures when she was little, as most children had, but even then Asuka couldn't have fathomed how large it was.

Impression turned to irritation. She didn't like being made to feel small.


Some miles away from Mount Asama

It was so strange. For him to be sat this far away from actual danger, close to other Evangelions and a massive military formation, yet to feel every bit as anxious as he'd been when facing the 5th Seraph. The enemy which had come closest to killing him stone dead, and...quite nearly...took Rei from him.

In his consortium of nightmares, that one was the worst. Of pulling Unit 00's hatch open, only to find the calcified remnants of his sister, ruined face contorted in a silent scream, the only identifiable trace of her being a strand of blue hair. The first night that particular dream came to him, he'd woken in a cold sweat and vomited. Fortunately that evening, Misato was completely out for the count so he could clear up his mess without drawing attention.

Oh the beatings teacher would give him for getting the carpet dirty.

Shinji forced his hand to clench the control stick, trying to rid it of his pathetic tremors. He took a deep breath, and focused on his, admittedly beautiful, surroundings. Mount Asama looked regal as ever, complementing the clear blue sky. The great forests, as were so common for inner Japan, were dotted all over the flat plains and occasional rolling hills.

That took his attention off horrible things, such as thoughts of the redhead he'd just met being lost to the mountain. It wasn't right she'd been sent by herself against this enemy he knew to be more cunning than anyone else would accept. Of course, he'd probably overestimated their intelligence, as Shinji thought he was wrong on many things, but even then...a tiger was not as smart as a person, but could still deceive.

Speaking of which, his enhanced eyes caught a glimpse of orange and black striped movement some ten miles away. It had slunk back off into the trees, but the Japanese Tiger had been there. Honestly, it defied all belief how well these creatures, once kept in zoos before Second Impact, escaping in the chaos, had adapted. Siberian Tigers they were once called, now having their names changed to suit their habitat. Regretfully Japan's indigenous wildlife hadn't done well out of this, the Serows among them. Perhaps the only native creatures which had not just survived but thrived were the Ussuri Bears of Hokkaido. Saved from Second Impact by the mountains, and shielded from the wars by the sheer isolated nature of the island, the massive hairy monsters had continued to raid unfortunate rubbish bins, and make the occasional unwary cyclist or hiker go missing.

Stupid people...don't know why anyone would want to live in Hokkaido. That place is a frontier if I've ever seen it, and the locals...damn...

The majority of that Island's male population where soldiers of the JSA. Half a million men out of a population of two and a half million. One in five. The Hokkaidan infantry regiments were among the best in the army, and they manned the infamous "Northern Defence Line." Bunker after bunker, fortification after fortification, barbed wire, and mine fields stretched across the near entirety of the Island's northern shore. Whilst not as advanced as Capital Defence Line 1 was, it was still something no foreign force could conceivably break through in a hurry.

Aside from the Seraphim. Fuck those things, if only it weren't for those stupid A-T fields we could bring them down, no problem!

"Um...Shinji?" Samuel said, his expression looking confused on the vid link, as his eyes squinted.

"Yes, Meadow-san?" Shinji blinked out of his thoughtful state.

"Unless my eyes deceive me...is that a Tiger?"

"Yes, it is. Quite impressive, aren't they?"

"Certainly. Blimey, the BBC weren't joking when they said they were thriving here."

"Indeed. Nationwide, numbers are meant to be approximately five hundred and rising." Rei added, feeling the "lights" of multiple big cats roaming the local area. It was not for nothing inhabitants of the inner prefectures had firearms in abundance these days.

The young albino had found herself analysing everything about her surroundings. She'd never left Tokyo-3 before, aside from going out to greet Meadow and Soryu, even then only seeing the vague outline of mountains in the distance. But here...it was all so clear. The sky, the thin clouds, the birds, the beasts, the forests, the mountains...now she felt something akin to a "connection" to her birthplace.

Though this world may be one of suffering, this view is aesthetically pleasing beyond measure.

Her hud started flashing. Asuka squinted into the solid wall of redness around her. The outline was vague, intensely vague, but she could see it.

"
Misato, am I seeing-" The freckled girl began before being cut off.

"The energy signature is right. That's our Seraph, get it." Her superior ordered.

Finally!

A few moments later, Unit 02 had been lowered on top of its target. Asuka had struggled to understand what was before her for a second or two, but pushed past it. The human embryo like creature seemed encased in some sort of amber shell, unmoving and frozen in time.

"That just makes this easy..." The girl smiled, signalling up above to send down their "cage."

The science of that thing fascinated Asuka. It was a series of iron bars that fit together and formed a hollow cuboid around its prisoner. It would then activate and seal the gaps with walls of energy which emitted an inward electromagnetic pulse. Hypothetically, enough to cripple but not kill the Seraph.

Speaking of which, the monster still wasn't moving. So deep in hibernation, it seemed oblivious to its incoming demise. Not that Asuka was fussed about this, but...it would surely have to notice sometime?

"This is too easy...Misato, something isn't right down here?" She said, warily.

"Don't worry, just get the cage attached. It's in hibernation, it can't do anything."

"What do you mean, "something's not right?" Samuel cut in, worry etched into his tone.

"I don't know. This just doesn't feel right at all."

"What's the Seraph doing?" Shinji asked.

"Nothing, it's just sitting there..."

"Misato-san, get her out."

"Shinji-kun..." The purplehead chastised.

"You know this isn't normal Seraph behaviour!"

"All of you pipe down! Gott, you're giving me a headache-"

The lone eye of the "hibernating" Seraph, swivelled and fixed on her.

"Oh schiesse."

You are mine, Vooren.

The casing cracked open, shattering the cage, as the embryo transformed into something else entirely. Flattening out, eyes bulging on top of stalks, long fins extending from its rear, the Seraph assumed its attack form. To Asuka, it looked like a giant, fat, Anomalocaris with sharp arms, a creature of the cambrian period.

It had been a long wait down here, but not unenjoyable. The heat of the mountain had been comforting, and yet the Heir's blood had boiled in inaction. The desire to wreak violence and vengeance upon the enemies of his people, the slayers of his kin, was nearly too much. But the thought of hauling one of these creatures back to his Sovereign's throne, was too much to resist.

The Vooren contraption had already pushed away, and was being pulled back up to the surface as fast as it could. Rogziel jettisoned off out of sight, circling his prey with vicious delight. The enemy was afraid, and they had exceptionally good reason to be. Although...he wasn't quite right in that respect.

"Ficking bastard! How dare you try to sneak up on me like that you verdammt coward!" Asuka snarled.

As much as she wished to engage and rip the enemy apart personally, the redhead knew she was in no condition to fight at this moment. Right now, she needed to focus on her A-T field and not let her armour melt.

Still getting pretty hot in here.

Far above and away from the volcano, Misato and her colleagues were already being evacuated to the Fuso via JSAF VTOL. The mere presence of an active and angry Seraph had compromised the entire area. As much as Ritsuko had moaned at the loss of her cage, she'd still left in no less of a hurry than the rest of them.

Misato had already given orders for Asuka to rip herself free of the cranes once she reached the surface, clear the area, and regroup with the other Evas as the FCV would commence bombardment. Until they reached the vessel however, the redhead would be entirely cut off from command. But she could still communicate with the other pilots.


Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!

Shinji was beside himself. Although he didn't know Asuka too well, he still lived with her. And despite how on the nose, temperamental, and rude she could be, he certainly didn't dislike her. And now the girl had been put in mortal danger for his father's curiosity.

Seraphim are not science projects to be studied. They're forces of nature to stop before they kill everything.


She'd reach the surface soon. She wouldn't have to worry about being melted by the insane temperatures of the volcano's magma, or being murdered by a Seraph in a position which she was helpless. Asuka hated that feeling, to her very core. Hated it enough to forgo the glory of getting a kill and instead get to safety. Besides, if the JSA failed to handle this, and they probably would, the redhead would still get her chance.

Her hud flashed, alert signatures popping up all over it. The vague silhouette of the Seraph appeared in the distance, racing towards her.

Going somewhere?

"Nein...nein, fick aus!" She shrieked, anger seeping into her young tone. Asuka wanted to kill this thing very badly, but she couldn't like this.

"Asuka! What's happening, Asuka!" Panic had taken control of Samuel as he desperately tried to get a response. Though it was comforting to hear the concern, to know she mattered to someone, Asuka didn't respond. If she wanted to stay alive, she had to focus on the here and now.

The Seraph was upon her, mandibles and arms opening up. The redhead roared in defiance before it impacted Unit 02. Rogziel struck with such force that the black Eva was slammed against the inner walls of the mountain. Asuka savagely slammed her head against the metal headrest of her cockpit, stars obscuring her vision.

She expected to feel a tearing sensation, as the Seraph ripped into her now helpless guts. Or the intense burning as it neutralised her A-T field. But that didn't happen, for instead Rogziel enveloped her field with his own, and clamped his mandibles around Unit 02's metal neck.

There will be no escape, Vooren. For your own sake, answer any question the Fist gives you. If not...well...perhaps Arael shall have a bit of fun.

As much as the idea of what his brother could do made him feel ill, Rogziel took no issue with inflicting physical harm on his foes. Not to the extent of Shamshel, who would metaphorically bathe himself in the blood of men, women, and children alike, but still sadistic nonetheless.

He'd pin this devil in place, cut its strings, then drag it back to his father's feet. This would be the first triumph of their ultimately victorious war.

"I can't...I can't..." She was passing out, Asuka knew it. Her link with Unit 02 was so great, she could feel her throat being crushed. Her vision was hazy and her brain was not operating as it should, despite how much she raged against it. The faint to her ears cries of Shinji and Samuel made her wince in a little guilt for putting them through this. Misato had made it all sound so easy...but it seemed the soft eyed idiot was right. The Seraphim were far away from dumb animals. The proof was in the pudding with how they'd acted in her engagements against them, and those before her. Tactical and...intelligent.

Now she'd learn the hard way for underestimating them.

Sorry guys. She started blacking out. An image of a beautiful woman with blonde hair and her eyes laughing floated through her mind, eliciting a smile. And then, a greying middle aged man walking through his beautiful gardens caused the freckled girl to sigh.

Vergib mir, Vater. Her subconscious involuntarily muttered.


"Oh to hell with it." Shinji hissed, discarding his rifle and urging his control sticks forward. Unit 01 obeyed instantly, thundering towards the mountain at full pelt.

"Where are you going?" Samuel called after him.

"Those cranes are not going to take the weight of an Eva and a Seraph. We've got to get her out the hard way."

"Ah...yes...yes, I think I see what you're getting at. On my way!" Unit 03 dropped his weapon and broke formation, the lighter Evangelion soon catching up with its purple counterpart. Meanwhile, Rei remained where she was, unsure of what to do, or of what Shinji was doing.

She had no orders, and there appeared to be no instant need for her to act without them.

Ikari-kun is not in danger.

"Ayanami-san, report! What the hell's happening!?" Misato appeared on vid link, now aboard the bridge of the Fuso.

"Soryu-san seems unable to escape the enemy. Ikari-kun and Meadow-san are moving to assist." The albino replied, nonchalantly.

"Moving to assist? How are they...oh for fuck's sake...they're going to pull her out themselves. Stupid boys!"

"Lieutenant Colonel? I do not understand."

"Look, just move to support them. They've got a heavy load to pull out so an extra pair of hands will be invaluable. We can't raise Asuka-san, so something must be going very wrong."

"Understood. Following your orders, Lieutenant Colonel."

Rei moved after the other two Evangelions, keeping her pallet rifle in hand.


Shinji had already reached the mouth of the volcano, wincing inside upon seeing the cranes creak, groan, and bend under the stress of some immense and terrible weight. Some had already broken, and the two remaining ones were at the cusp of snapping.

It's trying pull her down...why is it wasting time on that?

What was up with the enemy of late? The random, vicious, tidal wave like attacks as had been experienced with the first three had stopped. Not that he'd ever doubted there was some sense of intelligence in the creatures, looking into the eyes of the 4th Seraph as it sought to collapse his head had taught him such. But now...this was tactical. Trying to get them at sea, surprise and numbers, and now what could only be described as a trap.

Why does everyone insist on thinking they are dumb animals!? If they are, what does that make us for falling for their tricks half the time?

Samuel was seconds behind him, the Imperial pilot widening his eyes in alarm at seeing the slowly breaking cranes.

"Meadow-san, I need you to take hold of the least damaged crane. Don't let go for anything." Shinji gestured at one of the cranes, the largest one. Still standing strong somehow.

"Are you giving me orders?" On instinct, anger welled up inside the Imperial.

Britain has been talked down to by the world for long enough! No other shall command our destiny than us!

"Just do it." The meek Japanese boy's words became harsh, giving Samuel indication this was not up for debate. Besides, the blonde boy wouldn't have resisted for long. His best and only friend was down there, sod the pride of the Empire.

"Very well. Are you going to help me with this?" The navy blue Eva had firmly grasped the crane and was looking at him with its single cyclopsian eye.

"No. If we pull too hard, the cable might snap...we've got to get that thing off her..." Shinji grimaced, gazing at the bubbling magma.

"You aren't seriously considering-"

"We don't have a choice."

"Look, Shinji, I'm better at controlling my decent in liquid. You're in the stronger Unit so why don't you hold this?"

"And your Unit isn't as robust as mine...do me a favour, Meadow-san."

"No promises, but I'm listening."

"Don't let go."

"As long as you aren't too fat."

Both boys, in that moment, laughed at the simple joke. These two children of very different nations, one of an expansionist Empire, the other of a staunchly defensive military junta, had just engaged in perfectly reasonable discussion. Perhaps...breaking the ice with each other whilst they were at it.

Shinji inhaled deeply, braced himself for the heat, grasped one of the many thick cables, and jumped in. The crane almost went immediately, Samuel having to dig his feet into the ground and feel his muscles strain.

"God, you are fat!"


Don't let go.

Asuka's eyes flickered. On the cusp of being enveloped by blackness, her vision remained blurry but unfailing. Strength flowed into her body, as if from nowhere. The warmth and comfort of her Eva increased beyond reckoning.

Don't let go.

Her eyesight fully returned, along with awareness. The Seraph was directly in front of her, thinking it had finished containing and ensnaring her. Now, slowly, Asuka could see one of those sharp limbs move upwards to cut the cable upon which she so perilously dangled. A moment, one of utmost opportunity had just been handed to the redhead by lady luck herself, and she would not reject her.

Thank Gott for my subconscious. Never thought hearing voices in my head would be useful.

Had there been time, Asuka may have pondered with some alarm the meaning of this. Voices in one's head were not usually a stellar indication of one's sanity. But after all the freckled girl had been through...it was hardly surprising.

But there was no time.

What do you think? One swift cut or a strand at a time? Rogziel directed gleefully at his "prize." He was not one for enjoying making people feel helpless, but today, especially for these creatures, he'd indulge his darker side.

And then that big black head thrust forward, slamming into his own with intense velocity. Something cracked and the Heir recoiled in pain and shock. But his mandibles were so firmly clasped around the throat of the enemy, he could not pull away quick enough. In a flash, Asuka had whipped out both her prog knives.

"I'm not dying here, bastard!"

The freckled girl roared, commencing her brief but brutal assault. Being inside the Seraph's A-T field, she was not only protected from the heat, but could assault at will without mercy. Her right blade stabbed downwards into the creature's left eye. Her left blade, slashed away its mandibles, freeing both herself and the Seraph, the latter of which recoiled and span away into the murk screaming. But not before it got a good slash at the cable.

Asuka froze, hearing those chords be cut, and the rest straining and creaking under the weight. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck.

One snap followed another.

Oh...looks like I'm dying here after all. She sighed.

There was a dreadful snap...then a sudden jolt.

No falling sensation, nothing. Slowly, Asuka looked upwards to see a purple hand grasp her cable. Unit 01's white gaze was fixed upon her.

The redhead smiled a small smile.

"Dummkopf. Can't just go throwing yourself after girls like that."

So close to each other, the Evas could establish a firm connection through radio. Having already done this, Shinji heard that and responded.

"Just fancied a swim, Soryu-san. Enjoying the hot water?" There was pain in his tone. Unused to this sort of deployment, Shinji wasn't capable of shielding himself from the heat. Asuka felt a pang of guilt over that, but decided to humour him. Besides, Shinji Ikari came off as the sort of person who didn't like being pitied or having his nose wiped. Probably because he didn't enjoy being a burden to anyone.

She could respect that.

"Can't say I rate it, Shinji. I don't think I'll be coming back here." She relaxed into her seat as she felt herself be pulled upwards.

"Heh, nothing fazes you, does it?"

"Not in the slightest, Third. Now pull quicker, it's too hot down here."


"Bugger me that's heavy." Samuel hissed, feeling his muscles cry out in agony at their unjust abuse. It was a painstakingly slow process, hauling those two up. And the Imperial worried whether or not his grip would slip or his muscles, his well built by British army training doctrine, would give way.

I can't do that. Asuka's down there for Christ's sake!

"Evangelions are heavy by nature, Meadow-san." A whisp of a voice nearly caused him to let go and jump in surprise. Fortunately, a new pair of hands had grasped the crane.

Unit 00 had arrived, and had now taken position behind him.

"
You took your bloody time!" Samuel yelled.

"
Forgive me. Once I received orders, I moved as swiftly as I could."

"
Well...at least you're here now. I assume you know what's going on?"

"
Ikari-kun has entered the mountain to assist Soryu-san. We are to pull them out through the use of this crane."

"Hmm, not a complete Plank after all...alright, 1, 2, 3, pull!"

With two pairs of hands it was far easier to haul the weight of two Evangelions back to the surface. But even then...it was no easy task.

"It seems you are correct, Meadow-san." Rei found herself wincing slightly at her muscles pain.

"Correct at what?" He muttered.

"This is indeed, heavy."

"I...ugh...gah...I...well done, Rei, have a bloody cookie..."

"What is a cookie?"

Samuel's lip quivered.

They don't pay me enough for this shit.


Far below, the Seraph spiralled uncontrollably for minutes on end. It was well the Fist wasn't connected to him, or else Rogziel's screams of rage and pain would have deafened him. Eventually, forcing past the agony, the Heir stopped his decent and seethed.

Pathetic...insolent...Vooren, filth! I will not humiliated like this, not defeated like this!

There was absolutely no question of retreating back to Vhaayn, even if it was what father wished. He had been bested, he had failed in his mission.

I must die for my mistake...or...

The Seraph looked upwards, to where its enemy would be thinking they'd reached safety. How wrong they were. Rogziel thought for a while longer, then quelled the anger in himself with an idea that brought total satisfaction.

Let this end with these Vooren gazing upon true might. Let them know the true grandeur of the Divine Race. And, like all things...let this end in blood.


3:35pm, Crater

It took about thirty seconds of pulling, until finally the two Evas were retrieved from the magma. Some of Unit 01's armour was slightly melted, and Unit 02 had crumple marks around its neck. But ultimately, even with Shinji actually feeling as if his skin was smoking, the two were unharmed.

"
Did you get it?" Samuel directed at them.

"I think so..." Asuka was unsure. The Seraph had looked to be in a whole load of pain and seriously injured. But whether or not it was dead...no, she'd killed it. As was to be expected.

"Are you hurt?"

"No. You know what I'm like, nothing keeps me down!"

"Good to hear that, Asuka-san." A vid link to the Fuso popped up on all the huds of the Units, showing a tired yet relived Misato and the confused command crew of a Japanese FCV.

"Misato-san. What happened?" Shinji breathed heavily, still wondering as to the true activities of the enemy. Granted he'd actually seen the Seraph, terrifying as it was, attempt to do...something to the redhead.

"I don't know. Comms were down for whatever happened in the mountain. Asuka-san?"

The young German girl frowned slightly. Unsure herself of what the monster's intentions for her were..

"I...I..."

The ground started to shake.

"Lieutenant Colonel, we've picking up massive energy readings in the mountain. It looks like...an eruption..." Maya's voice sounded distant, but her words caught everyone's attention. The officer's of the Fuso had gone a deathly pale as Misato's brown eyes widened.

"Get out of there, now!" She barked.

The four children didn't wait around. Asuka was already running before she realised Shinji had sliced the cables off her Unit. The military was backing up at full speed, and even then the Evangelions quite simply outstripped them.


From aboard the Fuso's bridge, Misato watched the carnage unfold with grim control.

"Spirits..." The Captain of the vessel whispered.

This was not an eruption. This was a volcano being ripped apart from the inside by an immensely more powerful force. Fire and magma was spread across the countryside in an apocalyptic manner. Before the eyes of all present, Mount Asama, a part of the beautiful Japanese landscape, was being obliterated. Turned from a great mountain into a black scar upon the land, by the power of a furious God Prince.

"What's happening to that blue signature, Rits-chan?" She said urgently. The faux blonde looked up from Maya's barely salvaged laptop grimly.

"Stronger than it was before."

"Damn it."


Mankind's defensive line had already readjusted, falling back a few miles from the hell Asama was unleashing upon earth. Had it been hardened veterans in those tanks and holding those rifles, they'd have observed with cold discipline. But these were men and women of the Tokyo-3 garrison, unseasoned and deeply afraid.

The Evas had assumed their positions, two of them having picked their pallet rifles back up from where they left them in the initial hurry to save Unit 02 and its Pilot. Rei, having held onto her weapon for much of the operation. Now they faced the ruined crater, spitting lava like some sort of demonic puss, prepared for whatever would come out.

But they weren't. No one was.

At first it was only a silhouette. A massive one, just as tall as an Eva. It was pretty much human in appearance. And then, winds of orange lightening began to clear away the debris and smoke, flickering around the figure, what seemed to be a cape fluttering out from the silhouette's back.

Across the silence echoed a new noise, a vicious and sharp one. The noise of a blade being drawn from its scabbard.

"What in God's name..." Whispered Samuel. He and only he said a word among them, as Shinji, Asuka, and Rei merely looked on. The two normal born humans had widened eyes and gaping mouths, the clone blinked a few times, to ensure what she was seeing wasn't some delusion.

But this was all too real.

What stood there before all the world, was a vast, red eyed, white skinned, white haired human being. Clad in arcane red armour, white cape billowing magnificently, wicked looking blade of obsidian held in hand, this sight stumped all.


"What...is that?" Misato forced her heart to slow its beat, forced memories of a similar pair of red eyes glaring down on her during the worst day of her life, out of her mind.

"It's...the blue signature is coming from...it." Maya looked up, eyes wide as saucers. No one else found words to speak, so she was alone.

"That's the Seraph."


Though his form was exaggerated in size, this was the true shape of the Divine Species. Of the mightiest warrior race in the history of the Universe.

Rogziel threw his head back and roared in his guttural and harsh tongue, anticipating the coming combat with utter relish.

"Hoag Netzach! Keon Geutol, Keon Ejrod!"


Well that cat is out of the bag...for some people...

Until next time my dear readers.