Many of you may have noticed that I answer questions and opinions that my reviewers give, but I rarely refer to them by name. That's because when I write my stuff I don't exactly have a list on hand to see who asked what and such. Also, NERV only asked for ten million per month because while the UN does have a lot of money, it doesn't have that much to spare. I mean, the cleanup for the fifth Angel was over the budget for the UN's allotted funds, and that is kind of sad, so I didn't go up to a hundred million. Hmm, just how much did I set it at? Now I'm not sure if it was ten million.

Flight

Chapter 9: Resolution

Noah's Ark crashed head-on into the EVA, but somehow Unit 01 stopped it from getting any further. The EVA then spread its AT-Field and enveloped the Ark. However, this was only the beginning. Orange wings appeared out of Unit 01's back and the EVA flapped them, sending shockwaves against the Ark. The waves pounded the Ark's hull and started shattering the material. The Ark responded and opened fire on Unit 01. Five blasts struck the EVA and knocked it back slightly, but the EVA was still there. Finally the front of the Ark turned into a sharp point and rammed the EVA. Unit 01 was knocked off balance and plummeted down to the Earth. As it did so, the EVA started glowing a bright purple color. Suddenly a red beam struck the Ark from behind and punched its way right through the ship. It pierced the core and exploded, taking the Ark and Unit 01 with it.

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"What the hell was that," Victor demanded, "Where did that come from?"

"Sensors show it came from the moon. Wait, image is being enhanced. Sir, it was the Lance of Longinus."

"Why did it suddenly come?" Victor wondered out loud, "Sam? Did you do that?"

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Chunks of the EVA and the Ark fell to the earth, creating large craters wherever they landed. Much of the Ark had been destroyed, as had most of the body of the EVA. Part of its shoulder and neck and head survived, and that crashed right outside of a US base. Fragments of the Ark crashed across parts of Siberia, China, and northern Japan. The Ark had been destroyed, but at a great cost. Salvage teams were immediately dispatched to recover the fragments to keep them falling into the wrong hands. The team that went to recover the only intact part of Unit 01 was accompanied by Asuka and the others. They still clung to hope that Shinji had managed to survive the destruction of Unit 01, but it was a desperate hope. The salvage team pried open the back of the EVA's neck and found nothing inside. Asuka started crying again and Kyoko tried to comfort her daughter. Yui held Jessica tightly, both sharing the loss of a loved one. Suddenly, something moved under a plate that had fallen off of Unit 01. The others turned around slowly and looked at it. There was a man there, but he did not look like Shinji at all. He had red eyes and white hair, but seemed to be about the same age. When he stood the guards quickly raised their weapons, not knowing who this person was.

"No need," the man said, "or do you not even recognize my voice?"

Asuka gasped and ran up to the man. She leapt into his arms and held onto him tightly.

"Shinji!"

"Ow! Asuka, let go!"

Asuka did and noticed that Shinji had burns all over his body.

"Medic! Get him back to the hospital!" she yelled.

Two medics hurried over and helped Shinji onto a stretcher. They then applied some painkillers and a sedative. Shinji fell asleep before they even got him onto the jeep. The others hopped in as well and were transported back to the US military base.

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Shinji was still in critical care, being monitored by several doctors at once. He was in a life-support vat and currently his vital statistics were still unstable. The others were waiting nervously outside and Asuka had been pacing nonstop for the past three hours. Hikari had given up trying to convince her friend to stop as it was useless. Finally one of the doctors came out.

"Is he going to be okay?" Asuka asked first.

"We believe so. General Richard's body is healing rapidly, faster than a normal human should be able to, and he should be fine in about two hours."

Asuka let out a sigh of relief.

"However, what worries me is that his genetic structure seems to have changed."

"What?" said Yui, "What do you mean?"

"We took a blood sample and the computer didn't recognize it. An extra base has been introduced into his body and it has mutated him. Currently it does not seem to be harmful but we are still not completely sure."

"Is that why he has red eyes and white hair?" Asuka asked.

"We believe so."

"Doctor!"

"Excuse me."

The doctor rushed back into the emergency room and the others heard a very high-pitched scream a few seconds later. Hikari and Toji were barely able to keep Asuka from rushing in herself. A few seconds later the doctor returned.

"Y-you can go in now. If you want to."

Asuka crashed into the room and ran to Shinji's bed. To her surprise, instead of the red-eyed man she had left, Shinji had reverted back to his original body. The others walked in and Yui and Jessica hugged him. He returned it and tried to relax.

"The doctor gave us quite a scare," said Toji, "What happened?"

"My AT-Field is still fluctuating. I've managed to stabilize it so that shouldn't happen again."

"What happened to you?" Hikari asked.

Shinji closed his eyes and when he opened them again they were shining white.

"One might say I became something else," he said in a deeper voice.

"Shinji?" said Yui, "Is that you?"

"Daddy?"

Shinji blinked again and his eyes returned to normal.

"I'm fine," said Shinji, "It's really me."

"Prove it," said Asuka.

"Fine. Let me see. Our first kiss. You were bored and kissed me, but you held my noise so I couldn't breathe."

"Asuka!" Hikari yelled, "How could you do such a thing!"

"His breath is tickling me!" Asuka protested, "but at least we know it's you."

She then smacked him behind the head.

"And don't go telling our secrets like that again!"

"Sorry," Shinji said as he rubbed his head.

"So what exactly happened?" Kyoko asked.

"What?"

"What happened in Unit 01, you idiot."

"Hmm. Don't feel like talking about it."

That little statement caused Asuka to explode completely on Shinji. Fortunately for him, the others were there to restrain her.

"You idiot! I nearly went crazy worrying about you and this is how you treat me when you come back!"

Shinji got out of the bed and took hold of Asuka. His eyes were burning brightly again and Asuka couldn't but feel some fear. Shinji bent down and kissed her deeply. After he pulled back, Asuka's face had started turning red.

"That is how I'll be treating you," he said, "If you don't like it, I can stop."

Asuka wrapped an arm around Shinji's neck.

"No, I personally like this."

She kissed him again and a smile appeared on everyone else's face. Just then a four-star general walked in.

"Major General Sam Richards."

The couple pulled away and Shinji saluted.

"General Michael Walker. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Instead of returning the salute the general extended his hand and Shinji shook it.

"I'd just like to say congratulations," said Michael, "Good work Sam, you've done humanity a great service again."

"Thank you general."

"Why don't you introduce me to everyone here?" Michael suggested.

"Yes sir. This is Toji Suzuhara and his wife, Hikari, my mother, Yui Ikari, my sister, Rei Ayanami, my daughter Jessica, Asuka's mom, Kyoko Soryu, and, of course, Asuka."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," said the general, "though the circumstances that brought all of us together were rather interesting."

"General, what's going to happen to Kensuke and the techs?" Toji asked.

"Their punishment will be determined later," Michael answered, "Otherwise, their cooperation is ensuring they will not be charged like Commander Katsuragi."

"General, any chance I can get some R&R?" Shinji asked.

"Don't worry Sam," Michael replied, "Once we wrap up the crimes against humanity trial, you're free to go wherever you want."

"I'd like to stay in the US military, though I would like to continue living in Japan."

"Then you'll have that. Being part of the Joint Chiefs does give me some powers. We take care of our own, Lieutenant General Shinji Ikari."

Shinji smiled and this time the general returned his salute. When the general and his assistants had left, the others turned to look at him.

"I had asked the US government to change my name back when this was all over," Shinji explained.

"And you also got a promotion," Toji added.

"Yeah well, it is odd for a general to be promoted so quickly," said Shinji.

"Perhaps they want to reward you," said Rei, "However, you should know that we are proud of you. Though you did scare us at the beginning. Many of us feared that you had become like your father."

Everyone turned and looked at Asuka.

"What?" she said innocently.

Everyone burst out in laughter, even Asuka.

"Not surprising," said Shinji after they had stopped, "That was the impression I was trying to send all of you. Also was trying to scare Misato off balance."

"Can you leave yet?" Asuka asked, "and where exactly are we going to stay?"

"So you're willing to move back in with me even after everything I put you through?" Shinji asked.

"Of course you idiot," Asuka replied, "You're the only one I ever opened up to, and you kept your promise no matter what you said."

Jessica was making faces at the pair but a hand on her shoulder from Yui stopped her. Maybe this time everything would work out for everyone.

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The five judges were from Canada, France, India, China, and the head of the five was from Germany. Misato Katsuragi was being put on trial for the attempted genocide of the entire human race, like Gendo Ikari had been so many years ago. However, this time it was different. The prosecution, headed by the United States, were asking for the death sentence. Misato's defense attorneys had been appointed by the courts because basically no law firm was willing to represent her. The best Misato could hope for was dodging the death sentence and getting life imprisonment, plus maybe five thousand years. The trial was not going to be pretty. The head prosecutor began reading the charges.

"One: That the defendant committed serious breaches of a UN sanction requiring NERV to inform the Security Council of all NERV activity. Two: That the defendant did intentionally plan to kill millions in order to obtain Noah's Ark. Three: That the defendant attempted to murder the UN inspections team members listed in appendix 3A. Four: That the defendant attempted to blackmail the United Nations and the rest of the world."

The reading of charges was going to take a very long time. Shinji and the NERV staff were the primary witnesses and with the testimony of so many people that worked for NERV, this trial was more of a formality than anything else. Most of the documents had been declassified regarding NERV, Seele, and Project Evangelion. Popular opinion had taken such a swing against NERV that Shinji was slightly surprised people hadn't tried to trash NERV by hand. The battalion of Marines stationed there probably kept that from happening. Finally, after about five minutes, the reading of the charges was complete and the testimony began. That lasted for the entire day and the court would have to reconvene the next because they had only gotten through about one third of the total witnesses. Shinji and the others would be last.

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"Lieutenant General Shinji Ikari."

Shinji walked up to the box and sat down. A bible was brought up and he placed his right hand on it.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do."

The man backed away and the prosecution started asking him questions.

"General Ikari. When did you become aware of Commander Katsuragi's plan to bring Noah's Ark back to Earth?"

"Six years ago."

"What did you do when you became aware of this?"

"I planned to escape and work to prevent her from succeeding."

"After you had escaped to the States you informed the United States government of her plan, and that she would need you to complete it. Why did Commander Katsuragi need you?"

"Because she needed to destroy Unit 01," said Shinji, "With Unit 01 still online, she would have been unable to send the signal to the Ark. Only I had the power to destroy Unit 01."

"Once NERV found you, you returned to Japan at the head of a US army. What did you find out while you were still free?"

"I became aware of Unit 14 and seized it," Shinji answered, "After that, I attempted to figure out what the commander was going to use in order to ensure that the Ark would be secured."

"Were you aware of the commander's plan to kill you?" the lawyer asked.

"No. I had not thought she was so desperate."

After a few more questions the prosecutor was done and the defense attorney walked up.

"General Ikari. According to NERV files, you were sent to kill the members of Seele."

"Yes."

"And after that you would be a free man."

"Yes."

"Once you were free, did you have a right to pass on information regarding NERV's operation?"

"Are you saying I should have kept Commander Katsuragi's plan of genocide a secret?" Shinji countered.

"No. However, according to files the US government released, you did more than inform the outside world of her plans. You also told the US classified UN information."

"Objection. This has nothing to do with the charges, your honors."

"Sustained. Please stay on topic, mister."

"Very well your honor. General Ikari. Did you understand the repercussions your actions would have on the world community?"

"I was aware."

"And yet you recklessly continued."

"Trying to discredit a witness will only work once," said Shinji, "and you would do the most damage trying to discredit me. However, the things I have learned over the years has taught me much. One is that lawyers will harm others if it means furthering their client's ends."

The attorney was taken aback by Shinji's jab, but recovered.

"I am merely doing my job," he replied.

"And I was doing mine. So do you have any more questions or insults to throw at me?"

This was a rather unconventional way of dealing with questions, and Shinji knew it. He counted on rattling the nerves of Misato and her lawyers. The primary problem was getting the death sentence. That debate had actually turned into an argument for women's rights. After that little lost confrontation, the lawyer was definitely rattled. He finally stopped asking questions and sat down.

"Does the prosecution have anything else to say?" the chief justice asked.

"No your honor."

"Does the defense."

"Yes."

The justice motioned for the lawyer to continue. It was a different one that had questioned Shinji.

"Your honor, ladies and gentlemen, Misato Katsuragi has suffered because of NERV as well. Her love was killed and she had to endure the burden of watching NERV use and hurt the pilots and be unable to do anything about it. Her father was killed by Adam and she was traumatized for many years. She was merely trying to get back the people that she loved."

The lawyer sat down and the justices left to confer.

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"Shinji, do you really want Misato to get the death sentence?" Asuka asked.

"Of course not."

The bluntness of his answer caught her by surprise. She had expected him to take time to consider her question, but apparently he had made up his mind long ago.

"Then why did the US government ask for the death sentence?" Asuka asked.

"It was a decoy. Misato wasn't the only one that wanted Noah's Ark."

"Who else did?"

"My father," Shinji answered, "He was well aware of the fact that Noah's Ark existed. Well, he won't be getting his hands on it now."

"Shinji, are you the Messiah?"

"No, Asuka, I'm not."

"Then how did you destroy the Ark?"

"I don't know," said Shinji, "I still have some mysteries I haven't solved. Perhaps one day we will learn the whole truth, but until then you'll just have to wait."

Asuka made an annoyed sound, which wasn't hard for her. Unknown to the couple, Rei was watching them. Ever since Shinji had returned to them, she had felt a change come over him. There was something Shinji was unwilling to tell them, but she could be patient. Her brother would tell them when he was ready. She disappeared into the shadows. Shinji was not the only one capable of teleporting.

Shinji felt someone use their AT-Field. It had to be Rei. None of the others knew they could tap into theirs. It constantly amazed him on how ignorant lilliums were of their abilities. Well, he was going to change that. Just then Asuka shook him.

"Look," she said, pointing at the sky.

A shooting star passed across the night sky. Shinji smiled and held Asuka closer. She really was a sweet young woman. A pity that everything wasn't ever just yet.

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"Guilty," the chief justice declared.

That wasn't exactly a surprise to the gathered people. However, they had not yet heard the sentence.

"Commander Misato Katsuragi, please stand."

Misato stood.

"You are convicted of eighteen of the nineteen charges against you. Several state that capital punishment is an option. However, it is the opinion of this court that you do not deserve to die by our hand. You are sentenced to life imprisonment, to New Alcatraz maximum security. May God have mercy on your soul."

The guards led Misato away. When they passed Shinji he stopped them and they moved back. Misato looked at him questioningly.

"I suggest you not try anything foolish," said Shinji, "Your life has just been saved again by me, so this time be grateful for it."

Misato considered his words and nodded. The guards then returned and escorted her out of the courtroom. Shinji stood there for a few seconds before being joined by the others. All of them were a bit puzzled by his behavior but he let them wonder. He took Asuka's arm and walked with her outside. One chapter had ended, and another would soon begin.

End of Chapter 9

I know, I kept you hanging, but the epilogue will explain all and then you'll see the reason for the sequel. Also, I revised this because I had not actually finished the chapter and had just run out of ideas. Now that I'm rested, I might as well make it better.

Z98