Author Notes:
Special Thanks to LoopyBeast for supplying the Artwork and to my Beta Reader Rae
story starts off between the Sandalphon and Matarael Angel attacks in the show, canon divergence and possible romance. T-rating due to in-universe violence, angst, Trauma Limited coarse language and other dark topics.
"Monsters are tragic beings; they are born too tall, too strong, too heavy, they are not evil by choice. That is their tragedy." Ishiro Honda.
Prologue:
Yui Ikari stared at the remains, the decrepit bones of the Monster of Man's creation glared back at her. Rage, so much rage, an energy strong enough to break through the strongest of AT-Fields screamed at her.
"Kill me, let me rest… but Humanity still deserves annihilation!" The joining of flesh would soon commence, and balance would show how humanity may advance forward, through death and rebirth.
Her thoughts lingered on the poem, written in the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Apocalyptica. The heretic text, which SEELE had long since removed from the annals of history, from the files of the organisation and even the minds of the council itself. The prophecies of the Scrolls are naught but interpretations of how humanity perceives itself. To become one with God, you must first forsake his light, to become one with all you must turn away from the flesh.
To evolve beyond the soul, one must die and be reborn. "God judges above the firmament, as we have judged." The mantra of SEELE engrained in her mind, like a ceaseless echo rebounding against the interior of her skull. Taught and retaught as the plans unfolded, such was not her goal, her mind still affixed on Apocalyptica.
"Hark to thee sacrilegious fiends, those who wish to become Gods of men and Men of God.
Hark to thee, the sons of Adam that draw ever near,
hear thine warning and repent, for Lilith's wrath falls also unto thee.
Hark to thee, Lilith-born, who wish the Apocalypse onto the world Forsworn.
Doom to reshape it in their image as a blasphemous obelisk to a dying world.
Hark to the hubris of both Lillin and Adam-Born,
Flawed and doomed to destroy themselves and the world in roses thorns.
Take heed all, for a Leviathan Will rise, punisher and redeemer of lives.
Fiery breath and Teeth like vicious Knives.
That wrought in iron and impenetrable hide.
Mountains tall and strength beyond Lillin Mind.
Nature's call and Lilith's wrath falls unto those who destroy the world as if they can rewind.
All will be punished for what they Wrought, and all our sins, our souls to bind.
Angels will cry and Demons will scream, as The Leviathan cometh to bring balance to all.
Hark and remember his call." Dead Sea Scrolls: Codename Leviathan: Status Dormant:
Chapter 1: What sounds bring death?
Noises, noises were not something Shinji really paid much attention to in Tokyo-3. He always tried to drown out the ever-present sounds of the bustling city that housed so much life, life that was often in his very hands. The clicking and clacking of trains, the almost animalistic growling of automobile engines and static constant feed of cicadas.
These various sounds that were neither comforting or overly intense always seemed to nag at him despite it just being noise. Since Shinji was taught Cello at a young age, he often found it very difficult growing up to separate these noises from each other and prevent them from overwhelming himself. But at least in such moments he didn't feel so alone.
'Groceries, groceries, rice, fish, curry and definitely more beer for Misato.' Shinji drummed over to himself once again catching his thoughts before they could wonder like a lost child into dark and dangerous places. Not that he was unaware of what those places had in store for him, just that he had a job to do, and he certainly didn't want a scolding from Asuka just because he got lost in his thoughts. He'd wouldn't hear the end of it.
Shinji already recalled the conversation they had earlier in the day, where she demanded in her usual German brutalist tone that Shinji "Act like a man" and get the groceries for them since.
"Such menial work was far below her talents". He mocked putting on that 'annoying child voice' in his thoughts, before growing viciously anxious, paranoid even, that Asuka would somehow know of the slight against her, and that divine retribution would soon fall upon him in all her violent fury.
He chuckled a little to himself at that last thought because despite what his friends, or more specifically what Toji and Kensuke called her. Shinji knew she wasn't always the "Red Demon" her persona would suggest. The conversation they had shortly after coming home from the hot springs two days ago showed him that she could at least be grateful.
He let play thoughts of her smile she openly gave him that day, a genuine warm expression, one that he couldn't help but cherish. It reminded him of the smile Rei gave him after Ramiel, that warmth, that feeling. The thought was contagious as he soon caught himself smiling quaintly like a dumb idiot. But, yet again his doubts soured those happy memories, he would ruin anything between them if he tried to reach out, he sighed resigned to his 'fate' before pushing onwards.
"Why does everything have to be so confusing." He muttered bitterly.
Leaping forward, his feet landed cathartically as he reorganised his stream of consciousness to the steady rhythm of his footsteps, that carried him forward. He Yet Shinji walked cautiously, creeping along as if to take up as little space as possible. To some passer-by it would seem that the 14-year-old boy was either lost or worse, up to some mischievous scheme. Shinji couldn't stand either thought one bit.
Attempting to remedy 'the issue' he sought to relax his muscles and calm his thumping heart, before once again noises trickled into his ears. Many of the noises were the same as before bar one…
Thump… Thump…
It was a deep, resonant or even subsonic sound. He could feel it like they came from his very bones. Shinji paused and listened, as he tried to tune his ears to the incoming sound.
Thump… Thump…
It came once again, 'earth tremors perhaps?' They weren't uncommon in Japan by any stretch of the imagination, especially not since the Second Impact.
Thump… Thump… There it was again but this time slightly louder.
Shinji glanced around to others who seemed blissfully unaware of any sound or vibration coming from the earth they walked on. Perhaps it was merely his own heartbeat which built such unknown dread. Then Shinji realised, his heartbeat would certainly not come from his feet or the ground.
Thump… THUMP… That last one turned many people's heads… something was wrong… it couldn't be an earthquake; it was just too rhythmic and far too steady.
He now hoped beyond any reasonable chance, that it was just some freak terrestrial movement that gave the boy such dread. Since he could easily comfort himself in the knowledge that earthquakes and natural diesters could be easily contained by Nerv's shock absorbers, built into the city. More importantly Shinji could feel safe then.
THUMP…THUMP, the sound reminded him of his first encounter with an Angel, with Sachiel.
A sinking feeling, guilt, fear and then a deadly realisation. His stomach dropped, dread rising like a deathly tide of fear in his twisted guts. Which threatened to overwhelm him in frenzy of panic. The noises were footsteps and footsteps of something coming straight towards him.
THUMP… THUMP
"I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I mustn't runaway!"
Alarms blared in its distinctive ear-piercing manner, the type of alarm which instils anxiety and adrenaline into your veins. Adrenaline that spikes up the hairs on the back of your neck and races the heart to a pounding pace. This would be the case for most people if not everyone, perhaps everyone aside from herself, Rei mused curiously as she briskly made her way towards the EVA cages.
Rei had already been inside the GeoFront as the alarms blared to life, which interrupted her from the usual bio-tests and psychographic scans conducted on her by Dr Akagi. The ones scheduled for this day every month, since before she could remember.
Her breath convulsed out of her lungs in a steady, robotic pace, as her thoughts wondered on the possible attributes of the new Enemy.
'This is my purpose, my use… though is it what makes me, me?' she asked herself. Before shaking such thoughts away as she slid into her plug suit, the tight rubberised material vacuum-sealed around her body, she would soon be in-contact with the bridge crew for the incoming Angel attack, as such she had no time for philosophical musings.
Intercoms opened and the cacophony of human voices filled her ears while various members rushed to launch probes and scans against the incoming threat. Computers beeped and buzzed with mechanical fury and the bridge crew themselves worked in a similar manner.
"Rei can you hear me?" Dr Akagi asked, voice dripping with subdued intelligence and perhaps a hint of disdain towards Rei. Her own feelings towards the Doctor could also be described as such, though she could not recall why. It seemed that Captain Katsuragi had not arrived at the bridge yet, she noted before replying.
"Yes, but where are the other pilots?" Rei replied, characteristically monotone and to the point.
But before Ritsuko could reply a brash but vibrant voice interrupted her.
"Sorry I'm late, give me what we got on this thing stat!" Misato ordered strutting onto the bridge, coffee in hand and attitude as confidently in charge as ever.
"How far is the target from Tokyo-3?"
"T-minus 10 minutes moving at a pace of 25km an hour." Maya proclaimed before continuing to type and observe the incoming readings.
"No visual contact established, and the MAGI are unable to analyse the blood pattern." She added as various neon screens blasted diagrams and wireframe displays of the Evangelion units at the current moment, while others displayed diagnostics regarding the conflicting data on the incoming creature. All of which were constantly checked for errors and system-wide status reports.
"Now, where the hell are Shinji and Asuka? They should've been here 10 minutes ago!" Mistato shrieked out, her annoyance with the two leading pilots' tardiness plain to see.
"Asuka has been picked up by Section 2 and is in transit and Shinji is on transit line 2 into Geo-Front ETA to launch 15 minutes," Hyuga explained succinctly.
"Tell them they have exactly 5 minutes to get here, and I don't care if they have shoot them out a god damn cannon, to get here in time!" Misato ordered, her 'serious-mode' attitude surfaced once again as her drill sergeant-like force of will seemed to ignite the room with a sense of purpose and adrenaline. Though much like everything regarding the captain a hint of humour was also present.
Rei appreciated her enthusiasm and vibrancy in life. Even if she herself only experienced a small amount of such energy as her purpose to the commander deemed such feelings as secondary, if not useless to 'His Scenario'.
Her gaze swept above to where the commander sat, his glasses glistened against the various screens around him. He sat there like a mythical sphinx, dangerous and within his mind plans within plans whirled 'round in endless loops of what Rei perceived as 'purpose' and 'drive'.
'He's just like me,' She thought the cold seemingly unemotional personality, driven to the knife's edge of purpose and control. She had a purpose, his purpose… did he care for her?
'Perhaps he made me like him?' she asked herself. He was human after all he could create things, unlike whatever she was but even despite that belief she knew deep inside, that he was not the man or father she thought he could be.
In recent times her thoughts meandered around ideas of what she was and who she could be. Her readings into philosophy and psychology made her conclude that she was in fact very different to what could be considered human. A fact she was already well aware of, yet she craved to have something in common with those around her, with specifically Shinji or Asuka even.
"Rei… Rei!" She was snapped out of wandering thoughts.
"Yes?"
"We going to send you out soon, keep your distance from the target and focus fire with the Positron Sniper understood?" Misato asked voice stern and commanding.
"Understood," Misato's attention quickly diverted towards the bridge crew once again.
"We need to buy us some time for the pilots. Can we send in JSDF VTOLs to stall the target?" she asked facing towards Commander Ikari.
"Request granted," He assented, voice gruff, cold and razor sharp.
'Am I really so cold inside?'…'What even am I?' Rei once again asked herself, as she steeled her nerves for battle.
Ritsuko took a quaint sip from her coffee, while her mind mulled over a million different calculations and possible battle strategies. Her reverie was broken as the steel railings of the catapult grinded with metallic screams as Rei in Unit 00 shot towards the surface. Ritsuko's face scowled slightly as she surveyed various members of the bridge crew at work.
"Senpai we're not getting any Blood Type readings, but strangely there's this huge spike in radiation levels," Maya explained to her, Ritsuko bent over towards her assistant's screen analysing the stats displayed.
"Plutonium, Uranium 15 and various other unidentified trace elements, what in God's name is this thing?" She questioned.
"It's giving off readings like an atomic bomb," Ritsuko realised as dread began to create a black pit in her guts whilst her scientific mind deliberated some possible explanation for this 'anomaly'.
"Do we have visual contact established with target?" Sub Commander Fuyutsuki demanded; the grey-haired former professor was, as always intently focused on the task at hand.
"Commencing visual contact initialization," Maya added diverting her attention away from the strange readings.
"VTOL cameras online-" Maya's voice stopped abruptly, the words she meant to say fell deathly silent. Ritsuko, puzzled and concerned looked towards her Kohai noting her shaky hands.
"Oh god…" she whispered before switching the camera manually to the main screen.
"God help us all."
It was twenty-two excruciatingly slow seconds, twenty-two seconds that seemed to instil horror and a primordial dread amongst the Bridge Crew. The Demon from Japan's past had returned.
"It's Gojira."
Gasps and shouts of fear soon erupted all around as the VTOL craft transmitted pictures of the Monster before them.
"That's, That's impossible…How!" Ritsuko exclaimed, her shrill cries stuttered and seemed close to breaking point. ~
The suburban edges of Tokyo III buzzed with the sound of ever-present cicadas that droned on in endless cacophonies in the summer's heat. A cluster of small apartment buildings stood along the side of the road leading to the city, scattered with various other minor structures, a market and various powerlines. This small town, which was already evacuated, stood tranquil against the searing sun.
Then suddenly it stood no more. The ground heaved and cracked against Gojira's weight, as the titan's foot landed squarely upon one the buildings. Crushing it with not a second thought and with each three toed step, dirt was ripped from the earth; solid concrete crushed to rubble and the steel of roads and buildings became mangled into pieces as if they were but paper.
Powerlines screamed as the steel frame that held the wires bent and eventually snapped as his colossal tail, swayed overhead then against the structure as it moved behind his body with each crushing step. Destroying man's dominion as easy as one might swipe a spider's web. Human lives insignificant to the living equivalent to a nuclear hurricane.
The jagged spines which were shaped in a maple-leaf like fashion, ran up along the tail and back in three rows. Towering above the valley and surrounding buildings as the spines began to pulse brightly with blue light while atomic power coursed through the veins of the resurrected demon. The pulses from the creature signalled the detection of activity, as a dozen VTOL craft dived into view over the high cliffs. And as they circled around the leviathan, Gojira stopped in his tracks, the last footfall echoed against the forested hills of the surrounding valley his path had led.
The VTOL cameras soon paged up towards Gojira's upper body, the darkly coloured scales which stretched its way along his skin and the strong muscles of Gojira's arms and legs flexed as his body moved to track the path of the flying crafts. All colossal in scale, Gojira dwarfed the craft with barely a hand and forearm where massive claws were held high above the skyline of buildings.
The aircraft containing the camera from which the bridge crew was viewed from, swerved in for a closer inspection. Noting the counter shaded body of lighter toned skin on his chest, which led organically towards segmented scales along the titan's chest and neck that housed a primitive form of gills which could be opened and closed at Gojira's will. A monster, capable of destruction in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Such features were only further highlighted by wave-like patterns of darker scales that striped their way vertically up and down his legs, forearms and hands as if serpents writhed beneath Gojira's skin.
Misato stared at Gojira, her Eyes narrowing in anger and dread as the camera focused on the face of the leviathan that the Pilots would soon face. Worry and guilt gripped her for what she now had to ask of them, despite the admittedly shameful ease that she sent them to fight each and every Angel. knowing full well, that any fight could be their last.
She could justify it all she wanted: that it's the only choice they have and if they don't fight, humanity will fall, an Us vs Them. but that doesn't change the fact they're sending out teenagers who barely even know themselves, to fight for their lives against Monsters… No, she had faith in her pilots, they had defeated every Angel so far, they had to win.
But Gojira was different, he's the monster that every child since before The Second Impact had learned about in school, the monster that Misato herself could remember nightmarish stories of from her family and from those that survived the razing of Old Tokyo in 1954. Everyone knew of the sea of flames that engulfed the city like a deadly tide plunging it into ruin. She could remember the yearly memorial services that marked the date for remembrance and she recalled rituals and rites dedicated to the spirits of those who were stripped from the world by that Kajiu.
Gojira was the oni of Japan's post war history, a memento mori to the atomic destruction of Japan's past. She hated herself for the fact that she now had to send Shinji, Asuka and Rei to face a walking nightmare. She scowled right back at Gojira; she would not let them face that monster alone.
Gojira's eyes, seemingly pupilless and bone white like some undead ghoul, stared right back at her, perhaps into her soul. At this stage Misato could believe anything, but luckily upon closer inspection the answer was less supernatural than she feared. A thin membrane could be seen which slid on and off the eyes giving them this deathly white appearance. This third eyelid seemed to act as protection perhaps like a crocodile, but that scientific mumbo-jumbo talk was for Rits to worry about Misato corrected herself.
The third eyelid then slid slickly off, displaying vibrant magma red eyes that burned with something Misato could only describe as unending rage, a stark contrast from the lifeless white protective eyelids that she had just observed.
All the while, smoke billowed from the nose of Gojira as if he were some Tolkien-esque dragon from some outlandish pre-impact fantasy novel. His nose twitched and flared as he sniffed the air with animalistic intensity. His face somewhat resembled certain feline like features in its shape and layout. Particularly the protruding fangs from Gojira's mouth which her attention was promptly drawn to.
She could only guess that such weapons could make short work of perhaps even EVA Special Armour. Dread filled her again as Gojira's mouth gaped wide displaying rows of dagger-like teeth before The Monster let out an earth-shaking roar.
"SKREEONK!"
"Open fire on Gojira Now!" Misato commanded, her voice bellowed through the VTOL pilot's intercoms.
"Loud and Clear," The VTOL squad leader answered before a rain of gun fire launched towards Gojira. Smoke and fire began to plum into black clouds of destruction as more and more firepower shot one after the other from the on-board turrets. The pilots demonstrated the full fury of the JSDF's military might against the monster.
Missiles soon followed, which crashed headlong into Gojira with deafening blasts that shook the aircrafts with terrible force. They fired for only a few more seconds until the black clouds of smoke and debris obscured the target.
"Lost visuals on the target but all fire seemed to be direct hi—Ahhh!" The solider could not finish his sentence as Gojira's arm shot from the smoke grabbing the craft in one hand and crushing it between his claws. Screams which were quickly silenced as his sharp claws teared into the craft with ease. While the smoke cleared it became obvious that nothing they could throw at him, could even a simple leave scratch Gojira, let alone hurt him.
The remaining VOTL's moved to evasive action, mimicking dragonflies or birds which darted in and out of range of Gojira's arms and fanged maw. Gojira confirmed such a comparison of his foes to insects as he moved with surprising agility swatting one craft with his claws before slamming another into a nearby mountain with his tail which killed the pilots in an instant.
The earth shook from below as the titanic creature's attacks continued to rip up the terrain, where trees and buildings went flying all around then crashed down onto the increasingly ashen battlefield. All the while the monster's tail and body reduced what was left of those buildings into tiny specks of dust and rubble.
"God Damn it, we've lost VTOL 6: 3 and 2- we can't keep this up!" one of the pilots screamed as panic gripped them while they were picked off one by one. They simply stood no chance against this monster.
"All units move to safe altitude away from target!" The VTOLs did as commanded and rose to various heights.
"Switch to heavy ballistic weaponry full barrage!" Misato ordered.
Gojira looked up towards the waiting forces, the wreckage of another VTOL he managed to grab out of the air still hanged from his mouth. He tilted his head almost in a playful manner, while the screams of the pilot could still be easily heard through comms. Until Gojira shook the remaining chunks of metal to splinters like some colossal chew toy, as his teeth ripped and teared into the now ruined heap of metal.
The barrage launched and 3 of the oversized ballistic missiles landed squarely on his head, the metal casings of the missiles crumpled at the unmoving titan before compressing and then splitting into large ribbons of metal until the warheads exploded in vibrant fury. Two more shot themselves against his neck and chest, pushing the monster back maybe an inch… at most. Gojira scowled at them, rage built up in his eyes which made it perfectly clear, he had finished toying with his prey.
From the smoke and ash, a deep blue light glowed.
"Radiation Levels growing exponentially Atomic Breath Incoming!" Maya warned but it was too late.
Gojira's jaws opened wide, and a beam of blue atomic plasma erupted from his mouth. Panning his head, the beam of atomic death passed through the remaining VTOLs in a single swipe, the Pilots screamed in burning agony before their swift death came mercifully at last.
The fiery death cut its way along the mountainside as Gojira's head continued downwards in a cutting motion, leaving deep gashes in the terrain as the beam ended. Blackened smoke now came freely hissing and pluming out of Gojira's mouth, nose and gills.
He turned; the loud resonant footsteps resumed as Gojira strode away from his destruction towards Tokyo 3. The shattered town where his path had led, crumpled, charred and broken. Served as nothing more than a ruined graveyard to those who would dare oppose Gojira.
Asuka's heart pounded in her chest and bringing with it, that simply intoxicating feeling she gained before every battle. Her life's drive, her chance to test her mettle and prove she was the best. Because quite frankly she Was the best. The Great Asuka Langley Soryu, Pilot of Evangelion Unit-02 Production model, she is the best and she had to prove that.
'To him?' that annoying voice in her head called out. No of course not, not that Baka Shinji she didn't need to prove anything to that doormat of a boy.
'To Mama then?' Always.
Such thoughts regularly seemed to plague her mind when Asuka was on the cusp of battle, she told herself.
'This is no different' but that's a lie.
Her knuckles whitened around the control yokes of her Entry plug, the adrenaline in her veins building and bubbling. She smirked to herself as her vision expanded, as she saw through the eyes of her Eva. This sensation always made her giddy, even if she was annoyed that this 'Thing' had for some reason decided to attack on a weekend. Shinji was going to make her some nice dinner tonight, well not just her, Misato as well obviously, then she could relax, fed, content and with enough video games to last her until the next morning. A 'Perfect Weekend' she'd describe it as, but now her plans were on hold.
'I guess the praise for killing this Angel will be a suitable alternative.' She mused to herself.
Her feed opened to those self-absorbed bridge bunnies and Misato; she half expected some quip from the purple haired captain but the look on her face stalled her voice. She looked like she'd seen a ghost or something worse.
'What could be worse than an Angel?'
"You're Target is Gojira."
"What!" exclaimed Asuka and Shinji, she could see his face in displayed the intercom, his boyish features twisted, and sullen, matching Captain Katsuragi.
"Don't tell me you brought me all the way from home to listen to this nonsense!" She demanded; she couldn't believe the nerve of that woman lying to them like this… wait she's not lying… Asuka's guise of anger fell as the camera footage played back for them.
The destruction and carnage.
"Mein Gott."
Her chest tightened with something, perhaps fear? No, it couldn't be fear, she wasn't afraid! She wasn't afraid of anything, It was just adrenaline. At least that's what she told herself.
"Unit 00 is already engaged with the target deploying long range attacks-"
"Wait you sent Wunder Girl out without me and let her get all the glory!" That pissed her off she wasn't about to let Wundergirl get all the Verdammnt credit.
"Don't worry Misato I'll deal with this giant lizard problem!" She beamed, just a big dumb lizard how bad could it be?
"Asuka!" Misato shouted her voice more serious than she had ever heard before.
"Be careful you two… Launching now."
She didn't even get a retort in before she shot upwards, the steel rails guided her at breakneck speed towards the surface. And there came that adrenaline once again, she imagined this must be what a rollercoaster feels like, not that she'd ever been on one.
'Maybe Shinji could take her to one?'
Yuck, not in a million years with that Baka, Kaji for sure would take her.
Even with that thought she looked over to the boy the hologram displaying his face. The scaredy-cat kid, he always looked worried before a battle but now he simply looked terrified. She should probably shout at him to grow a spine or some other insult but knowing too what 'thing' they were about the face, a small part of her, she had admit, was scared just like him.
"Baka, let's teach this overgrown reptile that you don't mess with us Elite Evangelion Pilots!" She called out her voice trying to convey a sense confidence, if even a false one. Anything to help her nerves but his response did little to maintain that feeling.
"I wish I had your confidence Asuka, I think we'll need it," Shinji replied meekly.
'Me too Shinji, me too.'
The sunrays hit the red and purple titan's metal bodies as they surfaced near the outer ring of defensive walls which protected Tokyo 3. The grey steel barriers designed to provide at least some deal of protection against Angel invasion. Her gaze was quickly caught by Rei who swooped overhead, as she vaulted from building-to-building while she sported a long positron sniper strapped to Unit 00's back.
Asuka scowled at the blue titan's graceful form, that leapt amongst them. Commander's favourite no doubt, so there was no way would she let that Doll steal her spotlight. The Pilot in question settled a few blocks behind them, nestled between a couple tall buildings, that acted as cover for her 'sniper's nest' of sorts.
Snapping into action the remaining EVA units grasped at their individual weapons, as they hauled two colossal Pallet rifles from their stands that fired bullets large enough for an artillery barrage. Asuka passed one to Shinji who nodded as he caught the weapon equipping himself with a satisfying click while he disengaged the safety.
A deafening crash filled their ears and drew their attention as Gojira slowly tore open the alloyed steel walls, peeling back the metal like one might open a can of tuna, except that this can was the over 100 meters tall.
"I'm engaging the target," Asuka stated proudly, preparing to leap from cover.
"Hold that thought Pilot, the target has a ranged energy-based weapon; hold your ground and prepare to ambush," Misato warned, earning an annoyed scoff from Asuka in frustration, her scowl deepening before an idea struck her.
"Wundergirl you take the first shot, distract the lizard then Shinji and I will trade strikes on it to close the distance for melee combat," She explained her militaristic brain, hard-wired from years of training finally switching into gear.
Shinji could feel a tightness in his chest, that urge to run away still beating strong.
"It's getting closer," Shinji warned, his grip on his pallet rifle rose as did his anxiety, though he trusted Asuka's plan to a tee but perhaps not his own skill to complete it.
"Plan accepted, commence the attack," The Commander ordered, as the final shred of the wall came tumbling down before them.
"Skreeonk!" Gojira bellowed with a roar loud enough to shake the glass panes within buildings, their frames rattled dangerously teetering on the edge on shattering. He sniffed the air as his eyes followed along the skyline of the buildings, tracking at least attempting to track a scent that brought him here. Grey upon grey, reflected with the technocratic utopia of spires and towers that filled the skyline. Where sunrays reflected off large solar panel towers and the glass of buildings, making the Monster squint to adjust to the glare.
His eyes now adjusted caught the faint glint of sapphire along the armour of some machine- no Enemy some distance away.
"CRACK!" Like a surge of lighting, the force of the energy blast sent heat and plasma across his head. The bright flash of light only lasted an instant before the searing pain replaced it. Gojira reeled, staggering back as the force of the shot dazed him, he shook his head to rid himself of the disorientation as he began to charge a blast of retaliation.
Then from beside him, with the agility of a cat and the gracefulness of a murderous Falcon, Unit 02 made her move. Firing a volley of bullets along his side giving the artillery-grade ammunition a shot at imbedding itself into Gojira's hide.
Taking a few measured steps, Asuka demonstrated her agility by transforming her forward momentum, into upwards momentum. Wall running up against a particularly tall tower she vaulted her way to the top of an even higher building adjacent to the previous. Her feet compressed into the concrete and glass walls of the building dragging chunks of rubble beside her before she used the continued momentum to launch herself through the air. Soaring above her movements caught the monster's attention as she willed her mecha's body to twirl and contort over the beast to maintain a clear line of fire.
While many of the bullets were at most ineffective, the sharp kick to Gojira's gills earned the Red Giant a gasp of pain, as air was forced out of his lungs. She rolled to the side while she recovered from the large jump, the force cratering the street below. Asuka willed Unit-02 to dart between buildings keeping to adequate cover whilst she continued her desperate barrage.
Rage filled Gojira, his vision matched the colour of The Red Devil attacking him. Then the Blue one then sent another charge his way, this blast directed at his chest while it stung venomously, Gojira braced himself through the pain. Baring his fangs enraged by their attacks he roared in defiance but was quickly cut off by Shinji in Unit-01 whom had charged directly into the Monster's side, taking advantage of the distraction. Shinji pushed with all his might, to bring the Kaiju to the ground and end the fight in a bloody brawl.
Gojira had enough of this, as he grappled at the purple giant, the monster constricted his arms around 01 and dug his foot claws into the concrete. The struggle gouged deep claw marks into the city's asphalt streets with cacophonic grating sounds coupled with Gojira's own animalistic growls. Shinji pressed onwards until the monster would budge no more and his Eva's feet found no grip on the rubble of torn streets. Shinji's attempt to floor the Kaiju faced more resistance that he hoped.
Shinji screamed with at the effort while he willed the fists of his Eva to slam repeatedly against Gojira's guts. Holding back Gojira's claws and arms, Shinji's onslaught of punches proved useless. Shinji reached for his should pylon and grasped his prog knife, holding it aloft with one hand as his arm and body attempted to keep the pressure on Gojira, parrying his claws and crushing grip.
Shinji let out a murderous battle cry as he thrusted his knife upwards, aiming to stab the monster right through the jaw. Gojira defended only enough to maneuverer his arm to block the stab, instead letting the knife stab straight into his forearm. The monster screamed, the stabbing, cutting pain of the prog knife embedding itself deeper into the flesh of his arm agonised him.
With his Maw agape the Kajiu with a terrible rage gnawed down upon Shinji's shoulder, revenge tasting neither sweet nor cold but metallic with a hint of flesh.
"Ahhhhghh!" Shinji screamed as the sympathetic pain surged through his body, he could feel every movement of Gojira's jaws as the teeth penetrated both the layers of armour and the flesh of the Evangelion. Gojira tore at the tense muscles and tendons with his fangs while Unit-01's blood streamed steadily from the gory wound.
"Shinji!" Asuka yelled, a hint of frustration stalled on the tip of her tongue as concern for her fellow pilot momentarily overwhelmed her pride.
With a flick of her command yokes and her own iron will, Unit-02 charged towards Gojira. The monster's eye twitched, becoming instantly aware of the Red Eva's movements, the Undead looking eyelid slid on for protection as Gojira made his move.
Gojira wretched Shinji and Unit-01 from the ground and swung the massive bulk of the colossus around like pathetic ragdoll, before he opened his jaws just enough to let the momentum carry the Evangelion unit screaming into the Asuka. Which sent both flying into nearby buildings, that tumbled around them in a crash of dust and rubble.
Gojira hissed in pain as he slowly slid the knife from his arm, teeth bared as the blade was then tossed to the side. His gaze then furrowed, eyes darkened blood red with his burning rage as Gojira refocused on dismantling his enemies.
Asuka groaned painfully at the impact, the blunt force trauma knocked the wind from her lungs as she rolled to regain her breath.
"What- The – Hell! Baka!" She spat, panting the words as she attempted to breathe freely once again. Shinji whined and hissed as the purple giant which had been thrown straight through the side of a building, managed to pull himself from the rubble. Dazed and confused he couldn't fully grasp her words through the pain.
"Sorry…" he replied falling back to his default. As bits of cracked concrete and torn metal armour flaked off the Titan in shreds, all the while the steady stream of blood from 01's shoulder dripped and splashed on the buildings below. Shinji tried to clear his head but only managed to catch through ringing ears and dizziness.
"Radiation spike, prepare for Atomic Breath!" The bridge crew warned, as the pair of dishevelled giants looked towards Gojira.
Building like a tide of Sapphire plasma, Gojira's spines erupted with light one by one as his primal growl shook the ground beneath their feet. The sound soared in intensity as it bellowed in the Kaiju's throat. Gojira's eyes glowed blue with iridescent rage signalling to the Pilots knew they had no other choice.
"A-T Field!" The pair screamed, extending the hidden force that coursed through their Unit's flesh as they wielded the barrier made from the life force of the Evangelions themselves. The Orange energy shield materialised from their hands and converged with one another in a dance of vibrant amber flares and sparks.
Gojira instead, met them with his Atomic Fury, a million-degree beam of plasma that could melt anything in its path. The beam screamed its way towards them: it sliced through neighbouring towers, melted steel, turned stone to lava and laid waste to high tensile armour alike. The epitome of an unstoppable force meets and unmoveable object. The Cobalt Plasma colliding endlessly with the vibrant amber A-T field which erupted in bursts of green, red and gold as the two forces fought for dominance. All the while the Pilots groaned, as tried their best hold ground against the strength of the Gojira's beam of atomic death.
No more than 10 seconds passed when Shinji noticed something in the corner of his eye- cracks beginning to form.
"Oh no" He breathed, helplessly, before the entire A-T field collapsed all at once, shattering like a hammer to glass. Asuka screamed as the heat of the beam threatened to fire right to her core.
Shinji dashed in the instant it fell, shoving the Red mecha to relative safety. Gojira's beam stopped as the pair ducked behind a nearby building. The Plasma feeding back before being snuffed out by his closed jaws. Smoke plumed out from his nose as Gojira attempted to expel the excess heat from his body. Such an attack taking a toll if only a little.
Asuka turned to Shinji, once again pissed he had collided with her 02. She wished to spout some insult or tirade against her fellow pilot before Shinji's screams of pain reached her ears. Half his left arm was gone, burnt to a charred stump and much of his torso was burnt as well taking a glancing blow of Gojira's atomic breath.
"Damn it, Shinji! Why did you have to try and save me again!" Asuka cursed, frustrated at two things, one at having to be saved by Baka Shinji and Two that the idiot got hurt doing it.
"Shinji are you alright?" Misato blared through the comms, Shinji continued to scream in pain, he couldn't respond. 'Of course she would be worried about him' Asuka thought dryly. To add salt to the wound Asuka noted that both their power cables had been sliced clean through and cauterised shut.
Her timer ticked away as Asuka breathed in deeply, steeling herself; Shinji was incapacitated and with only five minutes on the clock, it was all up to her now.
Asuka leapt upwards into the sky from behind her cover, thousands of tonnes of metal, flesh and raw rage, glinted against the backdrop of the scorching sun. Her hand reached to her shoulder pylons grasped her Prog Knife, leading the knife beneath her, she dived towards her foe.
"You Bastard, I'll show you pain!" She growled before landing into Gojira's chest, sparks flying and a loud crash erupted as the two combatants slammed into the ground. She screamed as rage filled her, as she tried to plunge her dagger's fury into his flesh but the scales proved too tough to break. Asuka wildly stabbed at the Kajiu, desperately fighting with all her skill and anger.
With, only 2 and a half minutes left Asuka was running out of time to end the fight. As she batted away Gojira's defensive claws and bites, her knife simply glanced off his scales with every stab, the weapon gained no purchase to penetrate the hide protecting his chest.
Gojira roared as the monster clawed her arms and chest as he tried to rid the Red Evangelion from his body. Blood rushed from Unit-02, the gore pouring onto the struggle as she felt every metre of his massive talons while they ripped through flesh and armour alike. Gojira kicked Asuka back into another building while he managed to stand once again.
"Not going to get me that easy!" Asuka cried out before she shot forward aiming for a downwards slash- then suddenly pitched to the side as she swung above the Kaiju by grabbing onto the side of a building. Asuka grabbed onto the towering monster, as she willed Unit-01 to hold on for dear life.
Gojira lashed his tail trying to knock the pesky giant which crawled all over him. Gojira thrashed around like some mad rodeo show until the enraged pilot pushed off against Gojira's back, sending the monster crashing into through a nearby skyscraper while Asuka landed with a proud pose.
"Is that all you got, you overgrown lizard!" Asuka smirked as the titan lay before her dazed. Dust and debris caked the Monster in a layer of rubble, as the steel frame of the building stood twisted and bent by the monster.
Asuka brought the knife high above Unit-02's head, the shimmer of sunlight glinting on the blade before she plunged it down with full force.
Gojira would not suffer such a blow, his maw moved with surprising speed as it clamped down with fanged fury upon Unit-02's arm right below the wrist. Asuka hissed and screamed as her knife arm was being crushed, the bones of Unit-02 cracked underneath the pressure of his jaws. Asuka tried to bash the titan's head in with her free hand but he would not let go. Eyes white and undead but Gojira still growled with fury as his fangs dug deeper and tore Asuka's arm to shreds.
The pilot reeled, panic threatened to defeat her but with a quick thought Asuka tossed the prog knife to her other hand and with the 1000 tonne strength of the titan's arm she stabbed right into Gojira's exposed gills. 30 seconds remaining.
Searing agony filled Gojira as the knife choked in his throat. Blood gushed in a tsunami of acidic gore, which painted the rubble that surrounded them crimson with blood. As he released her arm, Gojira took advantage of the brief reprieve of Unit-02 around the rest of his body and brought up his leg. The leviathan kicked her away from with all the force he could muster.
The force sent Asuka hurtling back before she slammed abruptly into a building, before she could land another strike to his gills. Nothing was left of the structure except crushed rubble, while Asuka noted the sensation of cracked ribs and breathless gasps as dust obscured her view.
Power Zero.
"No, no no No! not now damn it, fucking work!" Asuka screamed as she yanked the control yokes around frantically. Despite her effort nothing worked to will her Evangelion to move: to fight back, to do something, anything! She could only watch, as with a gasp Gojira pulled the knife from his gills with his clawed hand. The blade fell to ground as tides of crimson flooded the streets below, until it trickled at her feet. Air finally filled Gojira's lungs with the blockage removed, he then turned his attention to Asuka, the dormant titan slumped against the dilapidated building.
He scowled or more bared his teeth in rage, as the blue light began to build once more, the Atomic death to cleanse humanity's filth. Asuka, looked on tears threatening to form in her eyes as she could do nothing but watch as her doom was decided.
"I don't want to die." She breathed, voice breaking.
Not today… "THuNNN Bang!" The positron blast launched against Gojira, catapulting the monster blocks away into rows of concrete and steel buildings. The Kaiju's head slumped against the floor, while another unstable building crashed onto Gojira.
Rei cocked the weapon back as she prepared for another shot.
"30 seconds until charged next shot, insufficient time, engaging target. Must protect fellow Pilots," she slid off the building, Positron sniper still in hand as she ran faster than she had ever done before, until she bridged the gap between her and the Monster.
Gojira rose from the rubble again, his body ached, blood, steam and smoke erupted out of every orifice of his body. the Kaiju simply couldn't keep this up for much longer. While he staggered up from the previous the blow; Gojira had no time to react as Rei launched towards him, wielding the Sniper by the barrel, she swung the weapon and smashed it against Gojira's face. The sniper itself shattered against the monster's scales but the force of the impact knocked a tooth clean out of his maw. The tooth went swirling in the air before it landed like a spear implanted deep in the rubble below.
Rei gave no quarter as fists followed where the rifle had once been, she targeted weak spots, the gills, head, arm and other wounds.
"Skreeonk!' Gojira roared before he threw out an exhausted strike against her, the colossal arm narrowly missed, which gave Rei a chance to grab his arm by the elbow then.
"CRACK!" agony once again ran up Gojira's spine as his arm was bent back at the joint. With the last shred of energy the Kajiu had left, Gojira clawed at Rei's face with the unbroken arm, slashing against the cyclopean eye which forced Rei to falter. Gojira took what may be his only chance and swung his tail against the blue mecha. Careening down the avenue, Rei tore up buildings, concrete and ultimately her cable as she tried to halt her momentum.
When the dust settled, she looked up, breath sharp and ragged. Gojira stood panting, exhausted and battered. His breath stopped and choked before spewing streams of corrosive red liquid from his mouth. Soon the Kaiju was nearly obscured by all the steam emitted from the beast and as he cradled his broken arm and having halted the blood like vomit, Gojira had no intention of continuing the fight.
"Skreeeonk!' the roar echoed amongst what was left of the ruined buildings, before he turned towards his entrance into Tokyo-3 and walked his way back to the sea from whence he came. The sounds of footsteps slowly faded as Rei's Unit-00 powered down, content she had kept them safe.