Interludes After the Eleventh Angel, Part 4
Note, the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English, Greek, NeoGenii,
Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).
April the 18th, 2009
Source Wall (1)
Incredibly big figures chained to an inconceivably vast wall. All of their faces twisted in agony, projecting beams of intense light from their eternally open eyes and mouth.
A lone figure, wearing strange and shiny black garb, adorned with circuit-like lines, watched the figures intently, studying them, analysing any little bit of data that could be extracted from them. He sat on a complex mechanism, shaped like an elaborate throne, but instead of ostentatious gold and jewels, the Moebius Chair was covered in simple metal plates. From the back, bottom, and sides of the Chair, complex instruments had been extended around it.
Metron, of the New Gods (1). The only neutral New God. Although he tended to ally himself with the New Genesians more than with their Apokoliptian counterparts, he was no more loyal to them than to any other entity in the universe. Being the God of Science and Knowledge, he was at best, amoral; the only thing that mattered to him was Knowledge itself. The means used to acquire it were secondary.
Now, he was once more, probing into the deepest mystery in the universe.
The Source Wall (2). The almost living frontier that surrounded the whole of Existence. And what was beyond it.
But at the moment, his whole attention focused on the warning covering the Wall.
The Promethean Giants (3).
All of them found guilty and sentenced for the same sin of Arrogance.
All of them had tried to delve into the Source. The origin of everything.
In the unknown aeons before the Universe had its beginnings, two punishments awaited those guilty of the sin of arrogance.
Punishments fit for those trying to see what had come before.
A powerful time-machine could show a startling image at the far, far past. A colossal hand holding what seemed to be a galaxy in the palm (4). That was the farthest any entity was allowed to see. Trying to see more had immediate consequences.
If the watcher was lucky, they and their time machine would simply be destroyed.
Of those unfortunate enough, two examples were known to the metahuman community of Earth. Krona (5), the prideful, renegade Malthusian, was the first living creature to breach that barrier, and had released Evil in the then young universe. His punishment was enacted by his fellow Oans, Krona was discorporated into atoms, and exiled into the furthest end of the universe, only for him to return billions of years later, still determined to unravel the origin of the universe, and to hell with the consequences. The other one, Kell Mossa, now known as Pariah (4), a human-like scientist, was subjected to a worse fate. His world was destroyed, but his life preserved; and ever since, he was drawn to cosmic armageddons, able only to watch as race after race, world after world, are annihilated.
But while Krona and Pariah tried to look at what had Been, others had tried to look at Whom. To look at the owner of that mysterious hand (6).
They were subject to eternal imprisonment at the Wall of the Source. (7)
And Metron came here from time to time, looking for a way to cross the Source Wall and learn the secrets of the Source itself.
It was here that the Phantom Stranger found the New God, watching intently at the nearest Giant. The Moebius Chair probing delicately at the giant himself. Metron was very careful of keeping his analysis to the Giant, and only to the last molecular frontier before it made contact with the Wall.
Metron's elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his fingers laced in front of his face. his unblinking eyes watching ahead. "(What brings you here, Stranger?)" he said, without even turning around to face his visitor. His mouth hidden behind his hands, in an eerie echo of Commander Gendo Ikari.
"(I have need of your knowledge, Metron.)"
"(This is not a good moment. My research is advancing at a good pace. I will not abide distractions.)"
"(This could provide a new angle for your research.)" Knowing Metron's character, the Phantom Stranger was not above stretching the truth to achieve his goals.
Metron's eyes moved, impassively looking at the Phantom Stranger. For all the warmth in them, the Stranger could as well be an insect.
For seven heartbeats, the two stared at each other. It was Metron who blinked first. Pushing a button on the armrest, he set the Moebius Chair to record. "(Show me.)"
With a hand gesture, a single image floated between the two. Metron's eyes opened in a show of emotion he had never shown to any living creature, the only exception was Darkseid himself, as the Apokoliptian showed Element-X to Metron.
The New God's fingers danced on a divided keyboard, a half set in each armrest. "(This…)" he said. "(Yes. It could help. What do you require in exchange, Stranger?)"
"(I need a complete and accurate translation.)"
"(Bring all your data to me, if you have more.)"
"(I have. There is, to my knowledge, a complete set of documents. I have acquired a copy. I have no access to the originals, only to images, that I have collected and copied.)"
"(Acceptable.)" Metron pushed a combination of buttons, and the instruments retracted into hidden compartments into the Chair. "(I can work with copies if necessary.)"
A Boom Tube opened close to the two mysterious entities. A young New God emerged. His clothes were white and red, with golden bands over his forearms and ankles. Metron addressed the newcomer. "(Lightray. (8) What brings you here?)"
"(A very urgent message for the Phantom Stranger.)" Lightray said, as it was his way, simple and direct, "(A message from the Source itself.)" He cleared his throat, and intoned the words written by the flaming hand: "(Unbreak the boy, unbreak the girl. Forge anew the sundered soul to heal the Earth.)" He scratched his head, "(Does that mean anything to you?)"
May the 18th, 2003
Themyscira (Paradise Island)
Main Staging Area
Underworld Entry
"(Hurry! Bring them to the healer!)" A young amazon ran to the returning patrol. A group of seven amazons, charged with scouting the caves that lead to Tartarus itself. They dragged their feet, holding each other. All were walking wounded.
The leader of the group waved the healer's attentions. "(Tend to my sisters first, Maelina. I can wait.)" The healer nodded, having evaluated the wounds of each scout as she entered the tent. Maelina turned to the young runner, waiting at the entrance, ready to relay any messages. "(Go to the Queen. Tell her I have strange news. Ask for a meeting in my name. Deianira of the Scouts.)"
"(I will, sister. Recover and rest.)" And the runner hurried to deliver the message.
Ten minutes later, the flap of the tent opened. Queen Diana entered, followed by her right-hand warrior, Phillipa. Both armored and armed, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"(Sisters.)" She said, while Melina applied ointments to Deianira's wounds, before wrapping her arm in bandages. Diana raised a hand, stopping them, "(No, don't kneel, you are wounded.)"
They saluted as well as their wounds allowed.
"(My Queen.)" Deianira bowed her head. "(I…)"
Diana smiled at her. "(I was told you have strange news, Sister.)"
"(I do, my Queen. My sisters and I patrol the northern lower tunnel, the one called Red Abyss. We were ambushed by a large group of striges, keen on drinking our blood. They were too many for us, outnumbered us by at least five to one. They attacked us with the fury of a ravening pack of wolves, with fang and claw; and I was ready to hope the gods would accept my soul into Elysium. Then a shadow surged from the darkness, like a daemon shrouded in black silence, his head crowned by horns that rose straight to the sky, or would have had we been on the surface. I thought we were to die the most horrible death, my Queen.)"
She gulped, preparing herself for what was to follow. ("I am ashamed to say, I allowed Deimos to insinuate his gift into my heart for a moment. I rallied my sisters to me, ready to sell our lives at a dear price. But that dark demon never touched us. He leaped and punched and kicked at the striges. I heard bone crack and teeth break with each strike. He fought one and all. We retreated to bring you the news of the incursion. A strige waited in ambush ahead of us. Wounded as we were, any of us would have been easy prey, but the daemon whipped his hand, and threw something. At first I thought it was a knife, but it was as dark as the daemon himself. It spun end over end, until it struck the strige right in the eye, felling it while the daemon kept on fighting. The strige fell dead before our eyes. Then the daemon roared, with a voice that was like gravel. He looked at me with eyes white as snow, and said, "Run! I'll cover your retreat!")"
Deianira gulped, her hands looking for something in her clothes. "(We took no chances, and did as told. As we passed next to it, I took this strange blade from the strige's corpse as we passed next to it. Here it is, my Queen.)" She opened her hands, on the palms rested a familiar shape.
Diana took it reverently, looking at it with a small, sad smile. "(Today, you may think you encountered a daemon. But he is not a daemon, he is a man. A man who fights for justice with every beat of his heart, with every breath of his lungs. A man I thought gone to Elysium itself. Yet it seems he cannot rest yet, and has come to us in our time of need.)"
Her fingers caressed the curved blade. With a tilt of her head, Queen Diana called a scribe to record her words. Her stylus flowed over a wax tablet, the scratching noise heard clearly by the silent amazons gathered in the tent.
"(Let it be known that a true hero stalks these caves. A man who lives in shadows to let the light shine over the world. A warrior. A protector. A man who would give his very life to save an innocent. A man who won't ever yield, not even with Thanatos' hand wrapped around his heart.)"
She raised her hand to show everybody the blade brought by Deianira. It was curved on one side, the other one scalloped, five sharp points equally spaced, from one tip to the other. An elegant curve flowed from each point to the next. Each one of the small curves sharp as a sword.
"(I knew the man who forged this blade. I fought at his side at Man's World. I bled with him in many fields of battle, and he bled with me as a fellow warrior. Until the moment he made the last sacrifice a soldier can do.)"
"(Let it be known that he has come to us when we are tired and wounded. Let it be known too that he is a friend and ally. He is not to be harmed or impeded in any way.)"
"(If you see him, know he will fight at your side as bravely as an Amazon can aspire to. In his veins flows the blood of a true hero. If Lord Hades has seen fit to send him to our aid, we won't deny him.)"
"(Let it be known that I, Queen Diana of Themyscira, welcome his help. And that in the whole Man's World, I couldn't choose a better fellow warrior to fight at my side.)"
Diana raised her hand, showing the blade to her sisters. "The Batman fights at our side, my Sisters!"
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages, Testing Cage 01
Unit-01 Plug.
"We are ready to start, Wonder Girl. This is a simple exercise of free association. I'll send a word to your holo-display. Read it and tell us whatever comes to your mind. Then I'll send the next word, and so on. This will help us to calibrate the interface." (9) Dr. Akagi paused for a moment, as if consulting something next to her, "Once you reach minimal synch, we will stop sending words, just keep associating ideas by yourself. Do not restrict yourself."
"Understood, Dr. Akagi"
The first word appeared on the holo-display in front of Rei. Her voice didn't show any particular inflection as she allowed her thoughts to flow.
MOUNTAINS
"Heavy are the mountains, but that changes.
With the passage of time."
SKY
"Blue sky.
What your eyes can't see.
What your eyes can see."
SUN
"One.
Only one."
WATER
"It is agreeable."
No new words appeared, so Rei continued by herself, as instructed.
AGREEABLE
Commander Ikari.
IKARI
SHINJI
COMPANY
FRIENDS
BROWN
BLUE
RED
Red, the color I dislike.
RED
BLOOD
The scent of Blood.
BLOOD
A Woman who does not bleed.
Blood on the ground. Red ground. Red soil.
SOIL
From the red soil the humans come.
Humans made by man and woman.
HUMANS
PEOPLE
CITY
A human creation
CREATION
Eve, EVA, a human creation too. What are humans? A creation of God? Humans are just created by humans.
What are humans?
What is me?
What is mine?
This is what which is mine.
My mind. My heart. Am I a vessel for my heart?
VESSEL
ENTRY PLUG
A throne for my soul.
WHOSE SOUL?
Who am I?
What am I? Who am I? What am I? Who am I? What am I?
I am I.
I am myself.
I am who I am.
I am.
I am me. I am myself, I am she who watches the self. I am the self who watches who I am.
I am one of many.
I am one.
I am unique.
I am.
I. Am.
I can see myself. Melting into myself.
I am one that is many.
I am many who are one.
I am more than myself, yet I am myself in many.
I feel a presence that is not me.
Welcoming.
Warm.
Agreeable.
Longing.
Who is here with me?
Feels like myself. And yet not myself.
Like a reflection distorted by time.
External distortion.
Shinji? I know this other person, Major Katsuragi.
Doctor Akagi. People, Aida, Suzuhara, Horaki.
Huntress, the pilot of Unit-02.
Commander Ikari?
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
With a gasp, Rei came out of the trance she had allowed herself to fall into. Dr. Akagi's voice echoed in the silence of the plug.
"So, Rei? How does it feel to be piloting Unit-01 for the first time?"
"It feels familiar. Like Ikari. I can feel his presence. It smells like him."
Tokyo-3
GeoFront, NERV HQ
Evangelion Cages, Testing Cage 01
Observation Room
"The synch ratio is higher than in Unit-00." Dr. Akagi watched the graphs on Lt. Ibuki's screen overlap one another as they moved across the screen.
Lt. Ibuki commented, "Unit-00 and Unit-01's personal data patterns are almost identical."
"That's what makes this experiment possible."
Standing a few paces away, Major Katsuragi watched the two scientists by the corner of her eye. Ostensibly, she was watching the purple Evangelion Unit.
"Error margin is zero point zero three. Harmonics are normal."
Dr. Akagi approved Lt. Ibuki's report. "No compatibility problems detected between Rei and Unit-01. It seems Unit-01 approves of Rei's presence. She could pilot it without any major problems. Okay Rei, the test is over, you can get out now.
Meanwhile, in Testing Cage 02
"Pilot's status is normal." Lt. Ogata reported. Asuka didn't know him very well, he was one of the second turn Bridge Bunnies or something.
"Of course it's normal. What did you expect?" She asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Nothing else, but it is necessary to confirm it. Now, just relax. Robin's test is about to begin. Do you want a connection?" Lt. Yamaguchi asked.
"Sure, why not?"
Testing Cage-03
Observation Room
It was Shinji's turn to try to synch with Unit-00. He had already entered the plug, and now was in his place at the controls of the blue EVA.
Aside of the usual contingent of techs and scientists, Rei Ayanami stood next to Major Katsuragi, watching the gigantic biomechanoid as it stood immobile at the end of the testing cage.
"What about Unit-00's personal data?" Akagi
"Already reconfigured, currently reconfirming." Lt. Ibuki tapped a few keys in her console.
"Subject status?" Dr. Akagi asked.
"A bit jittery, but no problems found in the nerve patterns." Lt. Hyuga watched Shinji's vitals like a hawk.
"This is Robin's first time in Unit-00. And his first time piloting any other EVA. That's natural." Major Katsuragi pointed out.
"You're forgetting the time he co-piloted Unit-02 with me." Asuka observed.
"I meant by himself. That was an anomalous situation, one we can't replicate in safe, controlled conditions." Akagi commented, "I don't want to risk two pilots for the sake of data we cannot use."
Testing Cage-03
Unit-00's Plug
Actually, Shinji was nervous due to a very different reason.
He knew the secret of the Evangelion Units. He knew the secret of Unit-00.
He knew who powered the core.
Part of Rei Ayanami's soul, sundered years before, when she was just a child.
Testing Cage 02
Unit-02's plug
"This is ludicrous. Why should it matter to him which unit he's piloting?" Asuka asked, more to herself than to anybody else.
"Well," Misato connected to Unit-02's holo-display. "He did synch very well with Unit-02, didn't he? If he can do the same with Unit-00, it would mean he could have more piloting options if necessary. The same goes for Rei."
"Then why aren't you guys running the same tests for me? If Robin synched with Unit-02, then why shouldn't I be able to synch with Unit-01? Or do you think there's something wrong with me?"
"You know, that's a very good point. Rits?"
Dr. Akagi sighed. "Commander Ikari only approved this cross-compatibility test. I'll ask him to authorize you for compatibility testing."
"Good." Asuka nodded to herself. "I'd hate to be left behind."
Once the red-haired pilot had been placated, Misato thought, 'I am not sure if the other pilots would be compatible with Unit-02. Well, actually, I think Shinji would be, but what about Rei?'
"Beginning -entry. LCL electrolyzed." Lt. Ibuki's voice brought Misato out of her thoughts. "Commence first connection."
Shinji closed his eyes, trying to anticipate the connection with the core.
"Robin? How does it feel in Unit-00's entry plug? Dr. Akagi asked without much emotion in her voice.
He thought for a long moment. "It feels kind of weird."
"Like incompatibility?"
"No, not like that. Its just that… " he paused, looking for the words. "It smells like Wonder Girl. I can't…"
"Wait, WHAT?" Asuka interjected. "What does that even mean? Are you being perverted or what?"
"No, no! It's like the shampoo she uses! The smell must linger in the LCL or something. It's very faint, but I can still smell it under the LCL smell."
Major and Doctor sighed, pinching the bridge of their respective noses with astonishing synchronization.
"Drop that, Asuka."
"Hrumph!"
Testing Cage-03
Observation Room
Spiritual Plane
"Now, that I didn't see coming." Deadman commented from the unseen peanut gallery.
Testing Cage-03
Observation Room
"Data received, reconfirming. Pattern green." Lt. Ibuki reported.
"All restraints are nominal." Lt. Aoba's voice.
"Acknowledged." Dr. Akagi made a note in her tablet. "Now, let's shift to the second stage of the cross-compatibility tests. Pay attention, Robin. We are going to start a simple exercise of word association to calibrate the interface for you. I'll send a word to your holo-display. Read it and tell us whatever you think of it. I'll send the next word, and so on. Once you reach minimal synch, we will stop sending words, just keep associating ideas by yourself. Do not restrict yourself."
"Understood. I'm ready to begin, Dr. Akagi."
"Beginning feed."
While Shinji followed the instructions, the tech crew in the observation room analyzed his results.
"How is it?" Misato asked.
"Just like I though. His synch ratio is lower than in Unit-01, but not by much. The discrepancy is less than expected."
"Harmonics all normal." Lt. Ibuki said, "It's almost as if he were in Unit-01."
"These are very good readings." Dr. Akagi sent the results to her own computer terminal. "This means we can implement the plan."
"The Dummy System? For the record, I disagree. It's not ready yet!" Lt. Ibuki protested.
Major Katsuragi thought it was really important, if Maya was willing to defy her mentor. She paid attention to their arguments.
"I understand your feelings on this, Maya, but we must be prepared, in order to guarantee our survival."
"I respect you, Dr. Akagi, and I will do my duty, but I still have my doubts about trusting the EVAs to digital copies of the pilots' minds."
"So do I, girl, but no one listens to me. Or to you, for that matter."
"People who develop too many scruples, will always have some difficulty working with others. Once you have gotten your hands dirty, you'll understand." Akagi's words didn't convince her apprentice, who simply turned her face towards her computer screen.
Lt. Ibuki averted her eyes. She would obey, but not with the same enthusiasm she usually had for her work.
"Dang, doc. I had that same problem, but the other way around. It wasn't until I developed scruples that I began to work well with others. You should try it sometime."
Testing Cage-03
Unit-00 Plug
"Iniciating third connection."
Unit-00's head rose up, as if standing in attention.
"Self-state of mind graph, stable."
Shinji breathed slowly, trying to calm his nerves, when a holo-window opened in front of him, replacing the one with the word feed.
"Hey, Robin! Are you feeling good? Like being back in the womb?"
"Huntress! Cut it off, you're interfering!"
Asuka cut the outgoing feed, crossing her arms in a huff. "Hrumph, they can't take a joke."
The test continued after the scolding.
"Commence A-10 nerve connection."
"Harmonics level up by twenty-six."
Testing Cage-03
Unit-00's plug
Shinji covered his left eye with a hand. A spike of pain hitting him hard, right above the eye. "Gnn! Something's… happening..! Like something's… trying to… get into my… into my brain!"
A parade of images filled his field of vision. All of them of Rei, all of them recent, and each of them lasted only for a split second before being replaced by the next, and the next, and the next; faster each time, until he couldn't tell one image from the others. All blurring into a blinding kaleidoscope of colors.
Suddenly, the images stopped, and a strange figure appeared in front of her. It looked like Rei, but smaller, and naked. The figure's eyes closed, as if sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly, the other Rei opened her eyes. Two crimson orbs filled with madness stared into Shinji's very soul.
He gasped, whispering an inaudible, "Rei?"
Unit-00 screamed. An awful sound that seemed to penetrate the very soul of anybody who heard it.
Without stopping its scream, Unit-00 began to struggle against its moorings.
To the science crew's horror, the arms anchors broke from the reinforced steel and ceramite wall as if it were made of cardboard.
"Holy Mother of God!" Deadman screamed too. Momentarily paralyzed by horror.
Author Notes
1. Metron debuted in New Gods issue 1 (Mar, 1971). He has no allegiance to either New Genesis nor Apokolips. He was fascinated by the X-Element invented by an Apokoliptian scientist, Himon (who works to undermine Darkseid's regime, and has allied with the Neogenisians), and provided Darkseid (and later, Highfather) with the characteristic means of transport all New Gods use: The Boom-Tube (which itself debuted in Forever People issue 1, Mar, 1971).
2. The Source Wall was shown for the first time in New Gods issue 5 (Nov 1971). One of the most intriguing ideas from Jack Kirby, the Source Wall has been a mystery ever since. The Source itself has been a mystery too. Update: Okami Princess noted in her Review that both the Source and the Source Wall have been detailed by Scott Snyder in recent JLA and Death Metal issues. I must say I havent read those comics. I may do so later on, but at the moment, I'll stick to the DCU as it was between Crisis in Infinite Earths, and after Zero Hour. Anything from Flashpoint onwards is not included.
3. The Promethean Giants were originally shown chained to gigantic rocks, floating next to the Wall itself, apparently frozen in time. Later on, the giants were shown as chained to the Wall itself, projecting light beams from eyes and mouth, as if silently screaming. They were said to be slowed down to a point a single heartbeat took billions of years. Yet still awake and aware.
4. As shown in Green Lantern issue 40 (Oct 1965).
5. The Malthusians were the precursors of the Oans, better known as the Guardians of the Universe, Krona debuted in the afore mentioned Green Lantern issue 40.
6. Pariah's first appearance was in Crisis in Infinite Earths issue 1 (Apr 1985).
7. The Promethean Giants are said to have tried to breach the Source Wall. I did a bit of reinterpretation here.
8. Lightray is one of the best-known New Gods, he is the always optimistic counterpart to the ever-dour Orion. He debuted in New Gods issue 1 (Mar 1971).
9. This was the only explanation I could think of that would make some sense for the scene.