Episode 48 - Epilogue II: Momma's Home (Three, to be precise!)

The NERV-related folks took a moment to pick their jaws up off the ground as they beheld the woman in front of them who, just moments ago, was a masked giant stuck to a metal cross.

"Y-you're Lilith?" Ritsuko asked, still a bit stunned by the way the now human-sized Second Angel greeted them.

Lilith's smile didn't fade. "It's what the higher ones of the cosmos beyond dubbed me, don't wear it out." She then exchanged a few high- and low-fives with Freakazoid and Freakazette. "Much obliged to you two for keeping this wanderer of the stars company throughout this earthbound happening. And Freakazoid, been meaning to tell you, that pie you gave me the day we met? Outta sight, one of the most far out sweet treats I've ever had. It was like my taste buds were hearing the music of the spheres, you know?" She then addressed Kensuke and Mayumi. "And thank you both for keeping those two on their toes. (Most of the time, at least.)"

"Oh, uh, no problem," Kensuke replied, rubbing the back of his head absentmindedly.

"Happy to do it," Mayumi chimed in, a tiny bit of unease in her voice over such praise.

Misato and Ritsuko, for a moment speechless, traded looks briefly before facing the scene in front of them again.

"Huh-the progenitor of humanity's a space hippie," Misato noted. "Who knew?"

Lilith's ears perked up at Misato's descriptor. "Oh, I wouldn't call myself a 'progenitor'," Lilith said. "To be honest, I barely had anything to do with your development. I may have given a few subtle 'nudges' over the millennia, but never did anything outright. I'm more of soul who goes with the flow of things."

"So wait, you're saying you've been watching the human race all this time?" Kaji asked, scratching his head.

Lilith nodded, her smile disappearing only for a brief moment. "Yes. I've got what you might call 'total awareness' at a level no human would be able to comprehend. They'd freak out, as it were-not your kind of 'freak out', Freakazoid, Freakazette. Anyway, because of that, I was able to see humankind during its bad times and good times. I tended to like the good times more-Woodstock was a big thing for me especially."

"That explains a lot," Asuka whispered to Shinji.

Lilith then turned her attention to the pilots, kneeling down to be on their level. "Many thanks to you three for keeping the children of Adam from totally bringing things down. I know it was a long, strange trip and could be a big hassle at times, so if there's anyone who needs a break, it's you." She then looked specifically at Rei. "You especially, my half-child of the stars."

"Th-thank you," Rei said, a slight blush in her cheeks.

Lilith arched a curious eyebrow briefly before her serene smile returned. "I can sense you're more at-home with the others here, especially the one you've begun calling a brother. I can tell having your foot halfway in the cosmic door might make things a drag for you. Please, allow me to remedy that." With that, Lilith began to glow, and to everyone's surprise, phased her right hand inside Rei's left side, making the bluenette glow too. Lilith, after a few moments, removed her hand from Rei's side, and the glow subsided. At first, no one noticed anything different, until it became apparent that there was a bit more color to Rei's complexion, making their eyes widen with surprise.

"What did-?" Ritsuko began to ask.

Before she answered, Lilith opened her hand up, revealing a tiny red orb in-between her thumb and finger. "I helped bring her more down-to-earth. All I did was remove her core and rewrite the Angelic half of her genetic structure, while adding in a genome for blue hair, since I figured she wouldn't want to give up her azure locks any time soon. Long story short, Rei's now as human as any one of you."

Rei's eyes lit up with great surprise. "R-really?!" she asked. Lilith nodded affirmatively. "Thank you. Especially for the hair color, I do have an image to maintain."

"How did it feel?" Shinji asked curiously.

"Honestly?" Rei replied. "I believe the proper word to describe it would be 'trippy'."

"Took the word right out of my mouth," Lilith said, before turning to Ritsuko. "I'm guessing that's all of Adam?"

"Er, yes," Ritsuko replied as she held up the container. "I'm still wondering why Freakazoid wanted me to bring it in here."

"Why tell you, when I can show you?" Freakazoid posed as he took the container, opened it, and put the Adam fragment on the ground. He then got out a watering can with an "ACME Marvel-Sprout" label on the side. He then proceeded to pour some of the solution on the fragment, and the reaction was instantaneous. The fragment soon began to grow larger and regenerate, and also began glowing brighter. At one point, it became large enough that it assumed some sort of chrysalis shape. The others were again forced to shield their eyes as the room was enveloped in a great flash of light; the light subsided after a minute or so, allowing them to see just what was standing where the fragment used to be. And what they saw was just as shocking, especially to one Misato Katsuragi.

The humanoid-shaped chrysalis cracked open, sending pieces flying everywhere, and soon standing next to Lilith was a human-sized version of the giant of light Misato bore witness to all those years ago in Antarctica. It almost looked like an Evangelion, though without any mechanical elements at all. The being stretched its limbs as it briefly let out a roar.

"I live again!" Adam bellowed in a deep baritone. "No more am I tool for the dark ambitions of man! No more shall I-!"

"Adam, baby, mellow out a bit," Lilith said in a calming voice as she put her hands on his shoulders. "It's all cool here, we're cool."

The First Angel paused mid-dramatic monologue with a slight start as he looked to see she was right. "Oh. Sorry," Adam said. "It appears I nearly got carried away again."

Lilith then addressed the others. "You'll have to excuse him a bit, he's the more theatrical of the two of us."

Misato, dumbfounded at first, shook her head a bit before speaking up. "Wait wait wait wait-you-you're Adam?"

The human-sized First Angel turned his attention to her. "I sense a bit of fear and trepidation from you," he said. "Have I offended you in some way?"

"I...It's..." Misato started to say, before taking a deep, calming breath. "It's just that...fifteen years ago, my father accidentally awakened you in Antarctica. He and the rest of the expedition he led were caught in the blast that erupted when you..."

It soon became clear to Adam just what she was implying. "I...see," he said, a hint of sorrow in his voice. "I remember now. The experiment they conducted sent my core into an out-of-control state. My attempt to reassert control was not as successful as I had hoped, it appears. Meaning I must have caused an Impact."

Misato solemnly nodded. "I was...am the only survivor of that expedition. I saw you in your giant form before everything went dark."

Adam could see how Misato was feeling at the moment, and to the major's surprise, he kneeled down and bowed before her. "I am sorry for the pain I have caused you, as well as the damage I accidentally wrought on the planet. I can understand if it will be a long, long time before I am forgiven. I would also express my many thanks for freeing me from the unusual form of captivity I had found myself in for so long." He then stood back up. "Especially considering that it really chafed inside that glove. And do not even get me started on the man's sweaty palm. *SHUDDER* About my children, were you able to prevent them from doing any further harm?"

Misato nodded 'yes'. "We were," she replied. "Though two of them are still here, if it helps."

Mayumi, at that moment, then held Leiliel up in its prog-jar. Figuring it was okay, she unscrewed the lid, and the 12th Angel floated out towards Adam. To the astonished eyes of those who weren't the First and Second Angels, Leiliel glowed brightly and transformed into a fairly-large creature resembling a sheepdog, which then playfully circled around the two bipedal Angels, its tongue hanging out of its mouth, until Lilith kneeled down a bit to pet it, making its tail wag in response.

Shinji and Asuka, still stunned, looked at one another. "Okay...so, it's a dog...of sorts," she said nonchalantly as they looked back at the scene before them.

Kaji then whispered to Ritsuko, "I'm starting to get a strong feeling that everyone was a bit off in what the Dead Sea Scrolls actually laid out."

Adam, after giving Leiliel a petting of his own, looked back up at the others. "I sense that Tabris is also still on this plane. Where-?"

"Don't worry, he's with an acquaintance of ours," Freakazoid said reassuringly while writing something on a little notepad. He then tore off the piece of paper and handed it to Adam. "You'll find him at this address, just let the guy know I sent you."

"Much appreciated," Adam said as he took the paper and tucked it into a small slit that appeared on his upper chest, as if it were a shirt pocket.

"We especially want to thank you all for keeping our power from being misused so malevolently," Adam further said.

"Anything we can do as a solid for you, we can dig it," Lilith added, her arm around Adam's waist.

"Actually, there is something we'd like your help with," Freakazette said, with a nod towards the EVA pilots. "It's on their behalf, actually."

Adam and Lilith looked at each other, curious as to what the female wacky wonder was implying.

The Geofront interior, moments later...

The party was now in front of the gathered Evangelions, with other NERV staff and the Freaks' allies looking on. Adam had mentally urged the Lance to shrink down to his size, where upon his reclaiming it, it transformed into the non-threatening shape of a gardening hoe. The Freaks and Ritsuko explained to the two Angels the circumstances that led to Yui Ikari, Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu, and part of Naoko Akagi being absorbed into the cores of, respectively, Unit-01, 02, and 00.

"Whoa," an astonished Lilith finally said. "That's a real bummer."

"Indeed," Adam concurred.

"So anyway," Freakazoid started to ask. "Think the two of you can get them out of there?"

Adam and Lilith looked to one another as they pondered this for a moment, before nodding and facing the others.

"We can," Adam replied. "The first thing we will need to do is reabsorb the Angelic material that makes up the Evangelions. If you could all stand back, please."

The gathered group stepped back a ways as suggested, and watched as the two Angels glowed, and caused the EVAs themselves to glow as well. Soon a bright flash of light enveloped the area; when it subsided, to the surprise of the non-Angelic folks, all that was left of the EVAs, both NERV's and the fallen SEELE ones, were the armors that restrained the EVAs' full power, and the three respective cores of Units-00 through 02.

"Huh. That was fast," Misato noted.

"Now we can work on the cores, without any Angelic material accidentally becoming infused in the process," Adam stated. He and Lilith then telekinetically lifted the cores and floated them towards HQ.

Moments later, everyone was gathered in what was formerly the EVA 'junkyard', where the cores had been put on three platforms hooked up to machinery. Unit-00's core was being connected to an additional device, the reasoning for which Roddy explained.

"Before Adam an' Lilith work their magic on th' cores," the Scotsman elaborated. "We need ta make sure Naoko uploads herself inta Unit-00's so mind and soul can be properly reunited, especially before she gets physical again."

Naoko herself, in holographic form, concurred. "Fingers crossed it works," she said, mainly to reassure herself, before turning to face her daughter. "See you on the other side, Ritsuko."

"Same here, mother," Ritsuko replied as she got to her station. "Ready, Maya?"

"Ready," the tech replied. "Commencing upload in 5...4...3...2...1!" The two of them, in-tandem, then raced their fingers across the keyboard to ensure the upload sequence worked properly, Naoko's image fading from the holo-projector before a glowing pulse traveled along a series of cables and into Unit-00's core. The core itself briefly lit up, indicating the reunion was a success. Once confirmed, Roddy and Makoto removed the cables from the core as Adam and Lilith stepped up to face all three cores.

After joining hands, the two once again began to glow, which in turn caused the cores to glow just as brightly. Soon, all eyes watched as the round spheres began to disappear in a manner similar to the way images would download on a late-90's computer screen, albeit faster than that particular level of download speed. The more the material of the sphere disappeared, the more three female figures began to materialize. Finally, after several minutes of this, the cores were gone, and the figures of Naoko Akagi, Yui Ikari, and Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu (who slowly came to, taking their first breaths of fresh air for the first time in 11 years) were left in their wake as soon as the glowing subsided. Once it did, a number of the men in the room blushed and quickly turned around. (The only exception was Kaji, who merely glanced off and to the side while whistling idly.)

"Uh-oh, spaghetti-o's..." Freakazette noted.

"Oy, I nearly forgot this was gonna happen," Freakazoid said while giving himself a slight slap upside the head. He then looked off to the opposite side. "Wardrobe!" he called out. On cue, members of the production's wardrobe department came into the room, rolling some racks full of various articles of clothing. They soon made their way to the slightly-embarrassed trio of women scientists (who thankfully covered themselves up as best they could). Freakazoid then nodded towards Kusagabe. "Kusagabe, you know what to do."

Kusagabe nodded affirmatively and walked to the center of the shot, where he held up a tarp to cover the action of the wardrobe department helping the ladies with their outfits. Kusagabe looked over his shoulder at us as he did so.

"Kids, right now you might wanna grab a glass of milk, or maybe some fresh fruit," he suggested.

After a couple of minutes, one of the wardrobe assistants spoke up. "All done!" she confirmed. On hearing that, Kusagabe lowered the tarp, just in time for us to see the wardrobe department folks leave, and a now fully-clothed Naoko, Yui, and Kyoko standing there.

"It's all right, you can turn around now!" Yui indicated.

With that, the male portion of the room did just that, and from there, an overjoyed Shinji and Asuka immediately ran up to hug their respective mothers, having now been physically reunited with them at last. Naoko, on the other hand, walked down from the platform she was on and met Ritsuko half-way, the two of them exchanging a long-awaited hug of their own.

Yui then looked up and noticed Rei looking back at her. Offering a friendly smile, Yui nodded for her to come over and join them, to which Rei, a smile emerging on her face, complied, leading to a first-time hug between mother and newfound daughter.

Freakazette, appearing over the shot, held up her placard from Episode 35, causing the studio audience to once again say:

"Aaaaaawwwwwwww"

Over on the Akagi side of things, Naoko looked up and noticed Roddy next to a console, causing a small grin to appear on her face.

"Well, now, who's this?" she wondered while walking over to greet the Scotsman.

"Roddy MacStew," Roddy introduced himself with a tip of his cap, before taking Naoko's right hand, "enchanted ta meet ye in th' flesh, Dr. Akagi." He then gave her hand a light kiss.

"Oh, please," the elder Dr. Akagi replied, a slight blush on her cheeks, "call me Naoko..."

Ritsuko and Misato observed the unexpected interaction, dumbfounded by how sudden the two of them seemed to click well together. It was then Ritsuko finally said something that put a bit of light on the situation.

"You know, I completely forgot how much of a Scotophile my mother was," Ritsuko said, a sweat drop next to her head.

"Wait, that's a thing?" Misato asked, confused. "I mean I've heard of Anglophiles and Francophiles, but still..."

Naoko and Roddy, overhearing this, looked back at the two, smiling contentedly as they linked arms.

"What can I say, Ritsuko?" Naoko responded with a shrug, before donning an attempt at a Scottish accent. "'If it's not Scottish, it's crud!'".

Roddy laughed heartily on hearing this. "Oh, I love this woman already!" he said while pointing to her with his thumb.

Their reverie was then interrupted by a loud growling noise, and they turned to see that it was coming from Adam and Lilith. Or rather, their stomachs.

"Pardon us," Adam said as he bowed his head.

"Man, even with our S2 organs, that took some energy," Lilith said. "And now we've got quite a case of the munchies."

Freakazoid smiled a bit on hearing that. "I think I've got just the thing," he said before addressing everyone in the room. "Who wants to go out for sushi?!"

To be concluded...(Just a teeny bit longer)…

**Author's Note(s)**

Happy new year, all!

I know, I know, it feels like I'm stretching this out a bit, but I promise you, we'll finish things off (before the 'extras' that follow) over the weekend. So expect an update on Saturday or Sunday!

I understand if anyone takes issue with how fast and loose I've played with the mythology behind the first two Angels and what'd happen if they ever interacted. What inspired me to do so? Basically, a general feeling of 'it's been done'.

Yes, I made Lilith a space hippie. Considering hippies loved to invoke the cosmos a lot, I figured, why not?

Lilith making Rei fully human is inspired by the final chapter of Tribun's "Going Another Way", where ironically it was Adam who did this.

The 'ACME Marvel-Sprout' is a riff on Miracle-Gro.

Speaking of Adam, the way I've written him here is my attempt at spoofing the mannerisms of Goliath from Gargoyles. (The reason why you'll find out in the 'voice credits' part that'll come in the next few days.)

Asuka's line on seeing the pooch-ified Leiliel is a riff on Bill Murray's from Ghostbusters.

The bit with Freakazoid having Kusagabe hold the tarp up is a riff on what Cosgrove did in the season two episode "Statuesque".

Naoko's 'if it's not Scottish...' line is a kid-friendly take on the catchphrase from Mike Meyers's "'All Things Scottish' store" sketches from Saturday Night Live. Funnily enough, according to an interview with Paul Rugg, Freakazoid's producers attempted to get Mike Meyers himself to voice Roddy, before ultimately going with Craig Ferguson. (Personally, I think Meyers would be perfect for Roddy in a live-action Freakazoid movie. As he himself admitted while presenting at Sean Connery's AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, he is of Scottish blood and has played a Scotsman in over half his movies, including Shrek.)