Disclaimer: Same as before

Chap. 8

"Father."

Misato had just arrived at the Dogma and was shocked by what she saw there. Eva 01 holding Commander Ikari in its deadly grip.

 "Shinji!"

01 didn't seem to respond and Misato ran out, "Shinji, don't do it!"

"No, Major."

Misato looked to see Rei was on the ground recovering.

"That…is not Commander Ikari. It is Adam."

This shocked Misato even more, "What are you saying?"

Rei stood up, "Commander Ikari injected Adam into himself in order to start Third Impact. But the angel is in control of him and wants to use Third Impact to destroy humanity."

Misato blinked at this new information, but then remembered one of the things she saw on the computer screen earlier. Third Impact could be altered, depending on how it was initiated. But Misato would rather if it didn't happen at all. But if that was the case, then why hasn't Adam been killed…?

Oh, Shinji.

Inside, Shinji was in a conflict of emotions. I have to stop him. But I can't kill my own…but he's not my father. Even before that he wasn't. So why can't I do it?

"Fool child."

Shinji looked to see that Adam had regain control over Gendo and had activated his AT field. The field began to slowly rip apart the Eva's hand. Shinji gasped. He wouldn't be able to crush him now. But…at this range…

Outside, Misato and Rei watched and Adam/Gendo was almost freed from Eva 01's grip. He couldn't do it now. But then, Shinji's Eva suddenly began to glow

"What are you doing?"

"Misato. Get Rei out of here."

Misato looked closer and saw what he was doing. "No Shinji, don't."

"I'm sorry, but it's the only way."

Misato silently watched as 01 begun to go critical. Then she ran toward Rei, grabbed her arm, and ran away. Shinji…why?

Adam watched in despair, "What are you doing? No!"

"I'm going to end it all!!"

"Damn you, Third Child!!!!!"

The Eva glowed more brightly and Adam felt himself beginning to incinerate. How…? Wait…? Could…he be…the messiah?

Inside however, Shinji began to feel a sense of peace. Perhaps this is the only way.

Live on, Shinji.

"Huh?"

Outside, a badly damaged Eva 02 was making its way toward HQ after defeating the Eva prototypes when Asuka saw a growing light coming from the Terminal Dogma.

What is that?

01 shone in a blinding light and then exploded altogether. The LCL sea fried as the explosion engulfed and destroyed everything within the Terminal Dogma. The bright light blinded Asuka when she realized what she saw.

That light...The Eva self-detonation system...Oh, no.

"SHINJI!!!!!!!!!!!"

(AN: Yes, I know it's short. I'm working on it.)