Disclaimer: see part 1
Part 14
Hearken unto me, part 1: Deathcycle
By Random1377
Shinji sat in room three-oh-three and stared sadly at the girl lying still in the room's sole bed. "Asuka?" he whispered, "Can you hear me?"
The redhead made no reply, just continued to look blankly around the room. It was disconcerting to watch, as it appeared that she was taking in the scenery… but her eyes never rested, they just kept traveling around the room.
Shinji really didn't know what to say to her… and was unsure if she could hear even if he DID say something, so he began to talk about little things, "There was a… spider in the apartment the other day…" he said after clearing his throat, "I don't know if you knew it, but I hate spiders." He forced a laugh, "Misato had to kill it, because Rei wouldn't do it… she just said that it was no bother to her – even though I was standing on a chair like a little girl… pretty funny, huh?"
Nothing. Not so much as a pause as her head swung from side to side.
He shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable, "I've been sleeping on the couch…" he said quietly, "Rei's been sleeping in my room. Misato wanted to have her in yours, but I wouldn't let her." He leaned forward suddenly "Asuka… please come back to us – to me. I miss you…"
Still nothing. Not so much as a twitch.
He sighed deeply, "Well…" he said, rising to his feet, "I guess I should go. When you're ready to come home… I'll be there. No matter how long it takes, I'll always wait for you, Asuka." On impulse, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the cheek. With another sigh he straightened and turned away, not seeing the slight tremor that ran through her.
As he got closer to the door, the tremor intensified, making her whole body shake until finally it coalesced into a sound, "Shinji!" Asuka's voice cut through the afternoon stillness like a clarion.
His head whipped around and he blinked as his eyes met hers – really and truly MET them, instead of hers just sliding away. "Asuka?" he whispered, "ASUKA!" He crossed the room in two giant strides and threw his arms around her.
She returned his embrace, looking confused, "Shinji… why am I in here?"
"What's the last thing you remember?" he asked, wiping his eyes, -Damn,- he thought, -why can't I get through one day without breaking down?-
She frowned, searching her memories. Her eyes went wide, "I…" she blushed furiously, "I remember trying to take off your pants…"
He blinked, -Now that *I* don't remember…- he thought.
She continued, her eyes starting to run with tears, "I remember… Unit 00." A miserable moan escaped her, "I remember trying to destroy it…" she grabbed his arms, "Shinji!" she said desperately, "Did I kill her?"
-Yes… and almost me, too…- he thought. Shaking his head to clear the dark words from it, he said gently, "No… she activated Unit 00's self-destruct and destroyed the angel. She ejected and was retrieved." It was just a little lie, he thought… necessary to calm her before she became hysterical.
"Where is she?" Asuka asked, "I should… I need to apologize…" The very thought of saying she was sorry to the red-eyed girl make her skin feel somehow too tight… but she knew it had to be done.
"She thought it might upset you if she was here," Shinji explained quietly, sitting on the bed next to her, "so she went to do something for… for father…" He frowned as he thought of the Commander of NERV.
Asuka nodded and sat back on her bed, "Shinji…" she said quietly, "I… don't think they'll let me pilot anymore."
He put a hand on her shoulder, "Good…" he said firmly, "I wish I never had to do it again myself."
She met his eyes, "You don't understand!" she said desperately, "That's all I have! I don't wear my A-10 connectors because I think they look good… I wear them to show that I'm a pilot…" her voice dropped to a whisper, "it's all I am…"
He put a hand under her chin and lifted her face so he could see her eyes, "You know something?" he said softly, "You're not wearing them now… and you're still you." He moved his hand to her cheek, "You're still my friend… and I still love you – even if you never pilot again."
She tilted her head against his palm, "I love you too, Shinji…" she said softly, meeting his eyes, "but still, if I can't pilot, I-"
Her words were cut off by the strident sound of an alarm going off. Shinji blinked, "What's going on?" He stood up and walked to the door, watching technicians scramble to their designated posts, "Wonder if the alarm system is broken?"
"Shinji?" Asuka said, making him turn around, "help me up, ok?"
He hurried to her side and put an arm around her waist, blushing as his hand touched her bare back.
"If you look at my butt," she said in a low tone, glaring at him out of the corner of her eye, "I'll slap the hell out of you!"
He laughed, "Now I KNOW you're better…" he said with a smile, "where are we going?"
"What are you, stupid?" she said, putting her arm over his shoulder for added support, "To the EVAs, of course!"
He frowned as they started for the door, "I'll help you get there…" he said quietly, "then I have to go find Rei…"
She nodded, "Kinda figured…" she replied, "but in case this isn't a false alarm, hurry up… I don't want ALL the glory for saving the day…"
"Why, Asuka…" he said with wide eyes and mock surprise, "how generous of you!"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh, shut up…"
**
"Should we not check?" Rei asked again, coming up short, "It has been thirty minutes since the alarm sounded, Commander…"
Gendou ground his teeth, forcing a smile. "I'm sure that Shinji is fine," he assured her, "he's got an excellent guardian."
Rei frowned slightly. "Yes sir…"
They were nearing Terminal Dogma… and the fulfillment of Rei's purpose – but she was beginning to feel nervous about the situation.
-I hope he is alright,- she thought as they resumed their interrupted walk, -I must complete my task quickly… then I can be with him…-
Gendou frowned. –She must not hesitate when the time is right…- he thought. Out loud her said, "I will contact him before we enter Terminal Dogma… there is a hard line phone just outside."
"Thank you," she said, the tension leaving her shoulders, "thank you, Commander…"
Gendou just nodded as they continued.
**
They had not met any resistance on the way to the EVA cages, but it had still taken them several minutes longer than usual, as Asuka's legs were not at full strength.
"Finally," Shinji said as the door closed behind them.
Asuka nodded and pulled away then headed towards the rack of plugsuits that lined the wall.
"Turn around… and don't peek…" she said, smiling as she added, "perv…"
"I-I never would!" the Third protested, blushing furiously as he turned his back.
"Oh come on now," Asuka chided, quickly discarding the hospital robe, "like you're so pure. I'm sure you and Wondergirl have stuck to closed-mouthed kisses and holding hands."
Shinji whirled around, his cheeks blazing. "We've never done more than… ummm… more than…"
"What… did… I… JUST SAY??" she grated, her hands clenching into fist at her sides.
A (very painful) moment later, Shinji sat with his head down, nursing several bruises as Asuka finished pulling on her plugsuit, humming quietly.
"I don't know what I'll do if I can't find her, Asuka…" Shinji said quietly, "I… she's everything to me."
"That's very sweet," the redhead replied, "but you're acting like she's all alone in the forest. Isn't she with your father?"
"Yeah…" he answered, shrugging, "but I'll feel safer once I know she's safe…"
-How did I know you would say that?- Asuka thought with a smile. "I'm tired…" she said, pressing the button on the wrist of the suit, "I want to go back to sleep, so hurry the hell up so you can get back here and we can finish this!!"
Shinji smiled, "Yes Ma'am!" he said, trying to force down the rising tide of panic.
She headed towards Unit 02, sparing him one last look. "Shinji… hurry." Without another word, she climbed into the entry plug and began activating her mecha.
**
Misato was stalking. Creeping through the higher levels of Central Dogma.
It had been fifteen minutes since Asuka had launched to fight the ground troops, and since Misato had gone in search of Shinji.
'He's determined to find Rei,' Asuka had said, 'but he's going to find himself dead.'
'I'll get him,' the purple-haired woman had replied, strapping on her riot gear, 'you just worry about defending the base.'
Sighing, she paused at one of the hard-line phones built into the wall.
She had decided to use these rather than her cell to reduce the risk of being caught, as they would be hard to trace within the headquarters (they still had the Magi, thanks to Ritsuko's triple-six defender program).
She knew it was still a slight risk for the person whose cell she was about to call… but if she kept it brief, everything should be ok.
"Hello?" a voice said quietly after two rings, "Asuka?"
"Shinji," the purple-haired woman said, relieved, "it's me…"
"Misato!" the boy exclaimed happily.
"I'm coming for you," she said calmly, "I'm on level Delta."
"I'm on the same floor," he said quickly, "in one of the storage rooms."
"Stay there!" Misato said firmly, "I'll come for you."
"Ok," Shinji said thankfully, "but please hurry… I have to find her."
"I know, out."
Sighing, the purple haired woman hung the phone up. "Now to check in with the command center," she said quietly, picking it up again.
After six rings, she was treated to the sound of Hyouga's voice, "Command deck," he said, trying to contain his panic.
"Hyouga," Misato said quickly, "are you guys still holding?"
"Yes," the technician replied, relieved to her from his commanding officer, "but Asuka's in trouble."
"How so?" the purple-haired woman asked, "I thought she was just facing ground troops?"
Hyouga's voice was replaced by Fuyutsuki's, "She was," the older man said calmly, "but SEELE has sent in the mass-produced Evangelion Units…"
"All nine??" Misato shouted, "Patch me through to her."
There was a click, and Asuka's voice came into her ear. "Something you need, Misato?" the redhead asked nonchalantly, "I'm kinda busy right now."
"Hold them off as long as you can," the purple-haired woman said, not bothering with small-talk, "I'm not that far from Shinji. I'll get him to Unit 01 so he can help you."
"Take your time," Asuka said airily, "no rush. Just a few pesky things to deal with… no big deal."
"Put me back to Fuyutsuki," Misato replied, impressed by the girl's calmness in the face of such overwhelming odds.
There was another click and Fuyutsuki came on. "They haven't landed yet," he informed her, "right now they're just circling."
"Not for long I'll bet," the purple-haired woman muttered, "and once they land…"
"Miss Ibuki has just informed me that there is a clear route between you and the Third Child," Fuyutsuki said, his voice holding the slightest trace of hope, "and there is an emergency elevator approximately three minutes from his location."
"Ok," the purple-haired woman replied, "I'll get him."
"Hurry, Major…" Fuyutsuki's voice came back to her, "I don't know how long Souryu can keep them at bay once they touch down."
"Understood," Misato said, hanging up the phone. –No matter how good she thinks she is… nine to one is bad odds…-
She hurried towards Shinji's location, her face set in a grim mask.
**
Shinji peeked around the corner. –Looks clear,- he thought.
He ducked back into the room he had been hiding in as his cell phone rang again, "Misato?" he said hopefully.
"Hardly," came the stiff response.
"F-father…" Shinji whispered, "father, is Rei with you?"
"That is unimportant right now, pilot," Gendou replied, "you are to report to Unit 01 and defend this base at all costs."
Shinji blinked, "But… Rei, I have to-"
"That is an order, pilot," Gendou cut him off, "do it!"
Shinji closed his eyes, "N-no…" he stammered, "Father, I have to find her, I-"
"She is dead," the elder Ikari said coldly, "shot by a JSSDF soldier. Now report to your post."
"No…" Shinji moaned, the world swimming out of focus, "she was… no…"
"I have no time for this," Gendou said calmly, "do as you're told – protect the base."
The phone slipped from Shinji's fingers as the line went dead.
**
"Is he alright?" Rei inquired as Gendou came out of the small room.
The Commander smiled. –Ordering her to stay outside was wise,- he thought, -so trusting.- Out loud, he replied, "Yes, and he will defend us. He also asked me to give you a message. He said, 'Please tell her I'll see her soon… and that I love her.'" Even speaking the words made Gendou's insides twist… but he maintained his casual smile.
Rei blushed slightly, "I am… surprised that he would… tell you that."
Gendou patted her arm. "This is the final battle," he said coolly, "once it is all over, you will be free."
Rei nodded. "Yes," she whispered, "when we enter Lillith and destroy her, there will be no more need for me… and I can be with him forever…"
-Oh, you'll be with him forever,- Gendou thought as he nodded, smiling indulgently.
Together, they continued their walk to Terminal Dogma… where the evolution of mankind would take place.
**
Shinji wandered down the hall in a daze.
Though he was still close to where he had been hiding, he no longer cared about getting helped by Misato – no longer cared about anything, when it came right down to it.
"Gone…" he whispered.
He barely noticed the three soldiers coming towards him down the hall.
"We've located the Third," one of them said as they surrounded him, "proceeding with elimination." He drew a pistol and pressed it against the boy's head, "Sorry kid… don't take this personally…"
Shinji looked up at him, and the man paused, stunned by the look of absolute, unadulterated…
Gratefulness.
The pause saved Shinji's life.
Two shots rang out, taking one of the soldiers in the shoulder and chest.
The remaining two raised their weapons, trying to turn as a woman with long purple hair sprinted down the hallway towards them, firing her high caliber gun as she came.
Three of the rounds found another of the soldiers, throwing him to the ground as the woman reached the small group, slamming her knee into the last man's stomach.
"You can take this personally," the woman said as she pressed her gun under his chin, forcing his head back against the wall.
Shinji watched in silence as Misato pulled the trigger twice in rapid succession, ending the life of the man who had almost killed him.
Misato was breathing hard as she surveyed her handiwork. "Harder to run in riot gear than I thought…" she panted.
Shinji looked at her dully, but said nothing.
"I know I said we could find Rei," Misato said reluctantly, "but Asuka needs you to-"
"Rei's dead," Shinji muttered his voice hollow, "I spoke to father… she was shot… she's gone…"
Misato looked at him sharply, for the first time noticing the lackluster quality of his eyes. "Shinji…" she whispered, "oh I'm so sorry…"
"You should have let him," the boy said softly, "I would have been with her."
The purple-haired woman flinched. "I really am sorry," she repeated, putting a hand on his shoulder, "but right now we have to help Asuka."
"I won't be able to help," Shinji said sullenly, "I can't help anyone. I should have been with her, Misato… she'd still be alive."
Misato closed her eyes, dreading what she had to do. "Come on," she said firmly, "I won't let Asuka die because you refuse to do anything."
Shinji made no protest as his guardian grabbed him by the arm and began to pull him towards the elevator.
**
It had been two minutes since the white machines had touched down… and so far, Asuka had eliminated four of them.
"Bastards," she muttered, "think some mass-produced hunk of crap can take my Unit 02?"
She screamed, swinging the sword-like weapon she had 'liberated' from one of the other EVAs in an underhand arc, neatly slicing the legs out from under the fifth.
Before she could draw back, another EVA pounced, bearing her to the ground.
"I think NOT!" she screamed, as the white head loomed closer.
Unit 02 grabbed the other machine by the chest and thrust its shoulder under its chin.
Asuka grinned wolfishly as the close assault spikes housed in her mecha's red shoulder shot out, piercing her opponent's skull and sending it flying backwards.
"Four more, right?" she said, getting quickly to her feet, "Sorry Shinji… I don't think there will be any left for you…"
She blinked as she became aware of a clock running down, barely visible from the corner of her eye.
"Guess I'll have to hurry up…" she muttered, wondering when exactly she had lost her power supply, "four minutes…"
She charged one of the remaining EVAs, hoping for a quick kill.
**
Rei stood silent behind Gendou for the entire exchange between him and the obviously insane Doctor Akagi.
-Why would she try and stop us?- she thought as the blonde closed her eyes and reached into her pocket, -Does she not know that we are going to destroy the angel?-
"What?" Ritsuko said, opening her eyes and pulling a small device from her pocket, "Destruct code refused… by Caspar? Mother… you chose him over your own daughter…"
A quiet click drew her attention. "Doctor Akagi, honestly…" Gendou began, quietly speaking the words he had so often whispered to her as they had lain in her bed.
She smiled, forcing her voice to stay level. "Liar…" she whispered.
Rei watched the doctor's body arch back off the platform, propelled by the impact of the high-caliber bullet from Gendou's pistol.
She sighed quietly. –Perhaps she will be happier…- she thought, feeling the doctor's soul join with the one within her, -she always seemed so sad…-
As they had neared Terminal Dogma, Rei had become increasingly aware of the fight taking place inside the NERV headquarters… even to the point of sensing the souls as they came to join Lillith.
'It is because her soul senses that the time is near,' Gendou had explained when she'd questioned him about it, 'she is gathering her children, hoping to use them to fight us. She will not succeed.'
Rei had felt that this was not exactly true… but the Commander had never lied to her before, so she had pushed aside her doubts.
"It is time now, Rei…" Gendou said softly, discarding the gun and removing his gloves, "are you ready?"
"Yes sir…" she whispered, shivering slightly as she felt the awesome power of Adam, contained in the older man's hand, beginning to affect her.
Abruptly, her left arm detached, dropping to the floor.
She blinked in surprise, but oddly she felt no pain.
"We must hurry," Gendou said, "your AT field cannot take this for long…"
She nodded, biting her lip as he extended his hand and laid it on her bare breast. He had told her there would be some pain… but she still gasped as Adam touched her, feeling as if her skin was melting away.
Gendou smiled as his hand sank into the girl's body. –Soon…- he thought.
-Shinji…- Rei thought, -soon we'll be free…-
"Now," Gendou said as his hand finished its entry into her being, "take me to Yui…"
Rei nodded, hardly hearing him as she concentrated on making her body to rise.
Gendou smiled as their feet left the ground, marveling that the girl was so trusting.
-Of course,- he thought with a smirk, -that's how I made her…-
Together they rose towards the second angel, their bodies joined, their hearts beating in time… but their understandings of what would happen when they arrived completely different…
**
Asuka was not amused.
"Die, damnit!" she screamed, crushing the throat of the EVA held in Unit 02's grasp.
Blood sprayed from the thing's neck, but Asuka wasted no time in gloating – she had no time to waste, as it had taken her longer than she thought to dispose of the remaining Units.
She willed Unit 02 to throw the one she was holding, sparing a quick look at her timer as she sprinted towards the remaining one.
"Fifty seconds," she mumbled, "this is the last one!"
Rearing back, she slammed Unit 02's fist through the Unit she had thrown… and into the remaining Unit's chest, clutching its core and bearing down.
As she tried to crush the life from the thing, Unit 02's sensor's reported an incoming projectile.
Quickly pulling the hand free, she whipped Unit 02 around and raised her AT field, halting the progress of one of the EVAs spears as it drew close to her.
Even as she was sighing in relief, the spear began twisting… bending until it had rearranged itself into the familiar shape of, "The lance of Longinuss?!?"
Asuka barely had time to gasp as the lance seemed to hesitate in mid-air for a moment… then puncture her AT field, closing the distance between it and Unit 02 in the blink of an eye.
**
"There it is," Misato said thankfully, "this leads directly to Unit 01."
Shinji looked up disinterestedly. –What does it matter?- he thought, -I don't want to live anymore… why bother?-
His eyes cleared a bit. –The others don't want to die…- he thought, -would she just sit around and do nothing?-
As they approached the elevator, the Third Child came to a decision,
He would fight. To protect the ones that were still alive… because that's what Rei would have done in his place.
A small click, like a pebble tapping on concrete, caught his attention, and he turned his head.
"Get down!" Shinji screamed suddenly, grabbing Misato's arm and yanking her towards the door.
Totally unprepared for the shift in the boy's attitude, Misato let out a confused yelp as the sound of machineguns filled the air.
Two steps from the door, Shinji felt something smash into his back, propelling him forward.
As they cleared the door, Misato leaned against the far wall and let out a shuddering sigh. "That was close…" she whispered.
"M… Misato…" Shinji's pained gasp made her turn around… and she barely contained the scream that threatened to burst from her chest.
He was leaning against the wall, his hand up against his side, where blood was seeping out of an exit wound Misato could not see. "It's… not bad…" he said, forcing a smile.
"Shinji…" she moaned, putting her hands over his… trying desperately to staunch the flow of blood.
His eyes met hers. "Tell Asuka I'm sorry…" he said, pushing himself away from the wall.
She stepped back, horrified. –This can't be happening…- she thought desperately, -not now… not when we're so close!-
Misato backed away until her back hit the elevator door. "Shinji…" she said thickly, "we'll… get you help… we'll-"
"Shhh…" he whispered, "tell Asuka for me," he repeated, gently embracing her, "I know I'll see you again, Misato…"
She opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak he leaned up and gently pressed his lips against hers.
As her eyes widened in shock he tapped the button to open the elevator and quickly pushed her inside.
"NO!!" she cried, realizing too late that the kiss was just a distraction.
"Goodbye, Misato…" he said, smiling softly, "I love you…"
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" she screamed as the door slammed shut, "Shinji…" she sank to her knees, tears running down her face.
As the elevator hummed to life, Shinji leaned against the wall.
"Sorry…" he whispered, the last of his strength leaving him as he slid to the floor, a large trail of red marking his descent. "I wanted to help, Asuka… I let you down… I'm sorry…"
The cool floor met his cheek with a dull thud, and he sighed, watching with detached fascination as a small pool of blood began spreading from his wound.
"I'll be with you soon, honey…" he whispered, smiling as he thought of his deceased love.
A small movement caught his eye, and he raised his head. "Rei?" he asked quietly, "Did I do ok?"
The pale girl smiled, but said nothing.
"I just wish I could hold you again…" he whispered, his voice cracking, "I'm coming home to you now…"
The vision of the First Child knelt and placed a cool hand on his cheek, mouthing, 'Welcome home'… as the floor beneath him erupted in a ball of flame.
**
Rei's eyes shot open. "Shinji??" she gasped.
Gendou smiled. "You will see him soon," he assured her.
"He is… hurt…" she whispered, trying to pull free as they neared the white creature… realizing with sudden clarity that it was too late.
For him, and for her.
Gendou looked up at the form of the second angel.
"You will see him soon…" he repeated softly.
A portion of the immense being's chest extended towards them and drew them in… and Instrumentality began…
Continued…
Author's notes: Ummm… yeah, so it's been what, five months since the last chapter? Six? Nine? Whatever, it's been a while. Sorry it took so long, but on the upside, I put in work on this chapter, the next, and the epilogue concurrently. What does this mean for you, the reader? Means that this story will be finished within the next month – guaranteed. Just need to finish up the others and have them pre-read, but rest assured they ARE being worked on. On Asuka not fighting as ferociously as in the film – well, in the film she knew her mother was with her, and she was really, really pissed off. Wait until next chapter, though… I promise I'll make up for it ;)
Thanks to Ryoma (again) for a quality pre-read… now if I could just get you to write some of this stuff for me… ^_^
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com