I said a couple chapters ago that Pen Pen's Winter Wonderland would be the last I create for a while. Turns out, I was wrong. But that's for much later in the story. You'll know when we get to it. In the meantime, enjoy Joseph's return to badassery. Disclaimer: I don't Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Evangelion, or Anarchy Reigns.

Cruel Angel's Thesis Chapter 5: Joestar Strikes Back

Alarms began blaring around the sky citadel as Joseph smashed his way through numerous Drones. "What is this, amateur hour? I could get a better fight from that Loser Nukesaku." He then heard a giant buzzing noise. Turning in that direction, he saw what looked like a giant mechanical bee hovering in midair. 'Mister Joestar,' came a voice with a Russian accent, 'I'll have to ask that you return to your cell. There is still much we need to learn regarding the virus that gave you your powers.' "I've already told you all you need to know," Joseph retorted, "You're just too stubborn to accept it. Or have you forgotten the riot act Uncle Speedwagon read you more than sixty years ago?"

'I think it is you who is out of touch with reality,' the Russian agent said, 'But you will soon understand our point of view.' The robotic queen bee zoomed in stinger first. Joseph chuckled. "You ever been stung by a bee? Turns out they can only do it once. Hermit Purple!" His thorny Stand lashed out and grabbed the stinger, Joseph using it to pull himself towards the bee and leap over onto it. He then smashed his prosthetic arm into the bee. "Metal Silver Overdrive!" Hamon flowed through his arm into the bee, causing damage to its circuitry.

He leapt into the air and got out a new pair of clackers. "I haven't used this trick in years." He grinned at the sparking bee. "Your next line is, 'The others have mechs more powerful than mine!'" 'The others have mechs more powerful than mine!,' the Russian agent called out, gasping when he realized he had parroted Joseph. Joseph laughed at his trick. "Looks like the old boy's back! And you're a hundred years too early to be beating me. Clacker Volley!" The clackers, coated in vegetable oil, crackled with Hamon as they slammed into the robotic queen, smashing right through it and sending it crashing to the ground. Joseph leapt out of the way as the queen exploded from the damage. "Now to find a way out of here…"

Joseph soon found the rest of his rescue team. "Over here Mister Joestar!," Cadence called out. She, Shining, Shinji, and Rei has commandeered one of the hover platforms, and Shinji had cranked it up well past its normal speed. The group zoomed off, running over various Drones and Killseekers that tried to get close enough to pull them off. The biggest problem was the giant Mutants and executioners that moved in, but Shining had an answer for that. "Radioactive!" The first Executioner felt its hammer bounce off Shining's shield. "Honey," he said, "We need some ballistics."

"On it," Cadence said, getting to the front of the platform. "Deathharmonic!" Several Mutants were obliterated from the sonic blast that erupted from Cadence's mouth. Eventually, they found themselves back at the carrier. "They didn't destroy it," Rei noted, "They must be counting on whatever's next to take us out here and now." The group turned to see a squadron of flying units zoom into the hanger. "Those must be the new Gargoyles," Joseph noted, "Transforming autonomous platforms designed as anti-personnel war machines."

Shinji spotted an automated turret nearby. "Let's take care of as many as possible before they start landing. Cruel Angel's Thesis!" His Stand electrified the turret, causing its IFF to get reprogrammed and start aiming for the Gargoyles, taking out quite a number of them before two landed nearby the group. "Better two than two dozen," Rei noted. She activated her Lightning Mode and leapt at the first one, easily slammed it on its back. Joseph chuckled. "Wamuu's little girl, huh?" Shinji took on the second Gargoyle as Joseph rolled his shoulder. "I'm really starting to feel my age here."

Soon enough, the duo had the two Gargoyles destroyed, letting the group leave on the carrier. Lorenz saw the whole thing from his monitor. "So NERV decides to strike us at our most important site. This time it was just to rescue Mister Joestar. But who knows what they got a peek at during that time. Before long they will want to return to finish the job. Until then, we'll have to finish our current projects and have them moved. It doesn't matter that they made the first strike. We will make the one that counts."

Kaworu Nagisa, also known by his birth name of Tabris, was brought into NERV HQ by Naoko. "We already have Unit-05 transferred into the center," she noted. "That's good timing," Kaworu said, "The third of my brothers and sisters is due to arrive soon. Speaking of which, I'd like to speak to the two you have already retrieved." "Not a problem," Naoko replied. Soon enough, Kaworu was taken down to where the cores of Sachiel and Shamshel were housed. "Brother Tabris," came Sachiel's voice from one of the cores, "So you chose to take the form of one of the Lilim."

"Crafted from various facial and body features, of course," Kaworu admitted, "SEELE is the one who gave me the body, but they had their own reasons for doing so." "As far as Lilim go, they are closest to Lilith's way of thinking," Shamshel noted, "Speaking of which, they do realize the attacks do not end with us, yes?" "Oh they have long predicted your attempts to release our father," Kaworu said, "In fact, they have great knowledge regarding our kind. But you must have noticed it, yes? Many Lilim have evolved beyond her design, becoming true humans." "I did notice as such from the pilot of the EVA that defeated me," Shamshel admitted, "He had a power that reminded me of Father's stories of his creators."

"I hope the Lilim have the means to counter Ramiel," Sachiel said, "He will be a different challenge compared to our own abilities." "Strange as it may be," Kaworu replied, "I actually intend to join in battle against him. Trying to free Father is a noble goal, but you may wind up freeing Lilith instead. And the Lilim know this. They know the history between the two of them." "This explains much of their actions," Sachiel realized, "But our other siblings are unaware. Still, be careful with Ramiel. His defenses are such that it may not be possible to remove his core safely." Kaworu nodded grimly. He hated that he might have to kill one of his siblings, but that might very well become necessary.

Wow, the possibility of actually needing to destroy one of the Angels. I'm sure you're not concerned, after all these deaths happened in canon. But we'll see if Ramiel really needs to be destroyed. Read and review.