Carcaptor Evangelion
Chapter 1
Unfamiliar Ceiling
by Teknomancer

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TOKYO-3
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"Shinji-kun, just focus on walking right now." Dr. Ritsuko Akagi's voice crackled over the Evangelion's speakers. Shinji gritted his teeth. "Walk..."

The purple Unit 01 took a shaky step forward, and the cheering of NERV could be heard over the speakers. A bolt of lightning struck down a short distance away from the Angel.

Shinji's second step was not so good. Tripping over the umbilical, Unit 01 crashed to the ground, the towering form of the Angel approaching.

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TOKYO-3 - A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY
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"This isn't good..." Kero said. "That purple robot is radiating power too...and it's almost the same as that of the Angels."

"But isn't it fighting the Angel?" Sakura asked.

"Possibly," Syaoron admitted. "Either way, we still need to stop the Angel."

Sakura nodded, clenching the Sealing Wand with one hand as she withdrew another Sakura Card. "O Woody, bind the Angel where it..."

"Stop!" Syaoron grabbed Sakura with his free arm, his sword held in the other. "That Card will be too obvious...there's got to be something else we can do."

Just then, Unit 01 collapsed. "We don't have a choice, Syaoron-kun!" Sakura shouted. "If we don't stop it now, humanity is doomed! Bind the Angel where it stands...Woody!" Tossing the Card into the air, it began to glow as the Wand touched it, wooden tendrils lunging forward and wrapping around the Angel.

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NERV HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL DOGMA
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The mood was a picture-perfect snapshot of confusion. When Unit 01 fell, Katsuragi and Akagi both seemed scared. But with those wooden tendrils wrapping around the Angel... "SEELE?" Fuyutsuki asked.

"Doubtful," Gendo Ikari said. "They couldn't have made this much progress with the Complement already."

"And we have?" Fuyutsuki replied. "We still don't understand these powers...we don't know what they'll do. They could destroy us all."

Ikari gestured to the screen. "As could that."

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TOKYO-3
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"Shinji, get up!" Akagi screamed over the speakers. The pilot looked up to see the Angel tearing away the wooden tendrils that had surrounded it, its free hand reaching down to pick up the Eva. Dropping the broken pieces of wood, it grabbed Unit 01's arm and began pulling it.

The pain was indescribable. Shinji grabbed at his arm, heedless of the voice coming over the speakers. "Shinji-kun, calm down! That's not your arm!"

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TOKYO-3 - A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY
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"Sakura-chan, do something!" Tomoyo begged.

"Leave it to me," Syaoron said, pulling out an ofuda. "God of Lightning, descend!" Syaoron intoned, throwing the ofuda towards the Angel. Guided by mystic energies, the ofuda struck the Angel, calling forth lightning from the still-brewing clouds.

The bolt struck down, but was stopped by a sudden orange-colored energy field.

"Real effective, boy," Kero laughed. "Perhaps you can throw a plush toy at it next?"

"Like you?" Syaoron shot back.

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NERV HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL DOGMA
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Chaos reigned once more in Central Dogma. Dr. Akagi stood over a horde of panicked techs. "What's going on with the Evangelion's defense system?"

"The signal's not working! The field's not unfolding!", a male tech replied.

Akagi gasped. "Have we failed?"

On the screen, the Angel's attempts finally bore fruit, as Unit 01's left arm flopped at an odd angle, where a joint was not supposed to be. "Left arm damaged!" "The circuits have snapped!"

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TOKYO-3 - A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY
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Sakura, Kero, Tomoyo, and Syaoron watched the proceedings in panic. "It's...it's like The Shield..." Sakura whispered.

"And you can't use the Sword card without being seen," Syaoron said. "And with that robot damaged...wait, that's it!" Syaoron jumped up, almost knocking Kero out of the air. "Use the Time card!"

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NERV HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL DOGMA
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"Shinji-kun, dodge!"

But it was too late. The energy blade shot forward, smashing into Unit 01's head. Repeatedly.

"There's a crack in the front of the brain case!" a tech yelled out. "The armor won't last much longer!"

Again, the energy blade struck, then lanced out further, piercing the head and sending the Eva crashing into a building. Blood began to leak out.

"The head's been damaged!" another tech reported. "Extent of damage, unknown!"

"The control nerves are breaking off! We're not getting any readings on the pilot!"

"Shinji-kun!" Katsuragi screamed as another bolt of lightning came down, striking near the Eva.

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NERV HEADQUARTERS - HOSPITAL
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Shinji gasped as he awoke, then paused. This...wasn't Unit 01. He lied back down, and glanced around. He was in a hospital room, clearly. And the ceiling...

"This ceiling is unfamiliar."