"Wait, Chief Satsuma." Kaworu hasten after the Chief who kept waking towards one of the slipgates, a round circular machinery that is used for transportation. Once he catch up to him the Chief was already putting the sought coordinates for the desired designation.
"Kaworu, if you want to request a visit to Earth, I'm sorry but once again I must deny it. You're much needed here just as the rest of your siblings are needed here as well."
"But it's been years now." Kaworu said, pleading with the Chief. "Please, I must see if Earth is recovering since Instrumentality. We haven't been employed to battle yet and I must use this time to go to Earth. "
"Is truth you're not employed but that will change sooner or later once I, along with a few trusted individuals, dissuade the High Council from holding you back. In the meantime, you must continue to remain here and continue sharpening your skill in warfare until the time has come for combat. But I must ask. There's more than to Earth's recovery that you wish to know, I reckon. Tell me, is there something there on the planet that you need to ascertain?"
"I… can't say." He looked away, but the clear distress and frustrated visage clearly tells Satsuma of what's troubling him. "But… Earth, I need to travel there for my own reasons."
The Chief sighed as the portal of the slipgate had been opened, the blue light highly luminating the room. "I do not want to pry these matters that are private to you but my answer still stands. The mission on Earth is long over. Now, you need to focus on the one you were assigned to from birth. Push those thoughts of Earth away and prioritize what is more important. Defeating Hell."
He entered the portal, leaving Kaworu there who didn't get to continue his pestering. Once the portal is closed Kaworu fell still for a few moments. Then he bellowed in clear frustration hitting a steel wall, leaving a baseball-size dent on it. How vexing! This is absolutely absurd! No matter how much he requested to head to Earth it always gets shut down. Why must they still keep him here while Shinji is still on Earth with no one. All alone. People in the Black Moon's Chamber of Guf have the free will to return to Earth if they wish so. But the Chamber of Guf acts like the most protective and safe place in their collective minds.
A womb. The warmth and love of a mother's womb. The need to stay with a familiar maternal place that is the origin of life. Why return to Earth when you can stay in the place that gives you the most love. But once again they also have the free will to leave. The question is will they leave and return life on Earth to human normalcy, or reimagine it in their own order.
And Shinji, he has no one. No one in that utter nightmare Earth has now turned into. Not only that but his mental state. With that broken mind of his there's a high possible chance the demons of Hell sense it and manipulate him to open a gateway for them to invade and conquer this Earth. And once they come over they'll kill him. Massacring his body until there was nothing left. And Kaworu can't let that happen. No matter what, he can't let Shinji fall to an even darker path that ultimately leads to death, thinking that, in the end, nobody wants him and that he never found happiness and love, only hate.
"What? What does that mean?"
"It means… you're worthy of my love."
He means it. He truly does. Everything before that has been nothing but a senseless direction in life. Taking the reins by SEELE he would always be commanded to execute their almighty word. Never question, taught to see their picture of a perfect eternal paradise. His free will of wanting to see what's beyond such nihilistic doctrine was curbed repeatedly. That the wider scope of the world is meaningless in the end once they achieve the glorious rapture that is Instrumentality, and change Earth to their own Heaven with each member ruling over it with their own throne of God.
Keel was by far the most obsessed with this ideology. Thinking all will be right with the world if humanity comes together as one with him as their Shepard. And he will be damned if something went even a slight disarrayed from the Dead Sea Scrolls he followed and executed step-by-step with no smudges of flaws and inaccuracy. But such perfection he carefully precision got derailed once Gendo decided he wanted Instrumentality under his hand. Not for the rule of Earth and ascension to Godhood. But for love. Twisted it may have been down the road he has paved to reach his goal. Even though Keel was the closest thing to a parental figure to Kaworu through his life, it amused him to see that thick skin finally squirmed as Keel tried to get Gendo back on his leash.
But that was all in the past now. Kaworu is now concerned for the future and for Shinji. He has to think of another approach. Find some way to change the Chief's mind. But to get that desire he had to first fight the nightmares that come to life. If the Chief wants the High Council to let the Angels loose and run their swords through the bodies of the infernal monsters then Kaworu will help that appeal. First, he needs to compile his case for the High Council and see his logic. It will be a difficult task, but he made SEELE change their tune for the small stuff he wanted so he felt no pressure once he presented himself before the Council.
A buzzing vibration was felt in his pocket. Taking the small device out he checked and saw a notification informing him it's now his turn for the simulation. Well, he can truly say that it was more physically demanding than the training at NERV. He wasn't that proficient at slaughtering demons up close and personal, more sufficient from long range.
Whatever, he can, like Armisael said, vent out these aggravations in the simulation. These pent up agitations are making him sick. Walking out of the building he crosses paths with the two-in-one Angel, Beta And Alpha. Both of them were whistling a joyous tone as their hands entwined. Once the three of them got closer Beta was the first one to communicate.
"Big bro, how you doing? Don't tell me it's your turn already?"
The Angel who wants to be free... and shoot demons in the face
He smiled at the giddy half of Israfel. It's odd they would rather be two separate entities instead of being the original whole being. But who is he to judge? As a patron of Free Will he can fully express whatever he wants, and this includes expressing his love for Shinji. If Israfel wishes to live literally two different lives than one then they're free to do so. "Yes, Beta. I've been notified for the simulation training. From how early it is I can presume that both of you have your training halted?"
"Yeah," she sniggered, "I've stayed too long on a radiation pool and Alpha here-" she pointed at her other half who looked away snooty in a comical way and a wide grin he couldn't hide "-got shoot on the back from a Legendary Stealth Trooper."
"Really, it must be disheartening for it to end early."
"Not really," Alpha said this time, "we weren't taking it seriously. I mean, we've been doing this for years now and we haven't actually been ship to combat. So, honestly, it doesn't matter if they want us fighting out there or keep us here forever. Is fine with us."
Now Kaworu is reasonably ruffled. Here he is planning his pre-proposal and he never took into account if his siblings wanted to fight the demons at all. What if they wanted to enjoy this rebirth. This new life they never knew they wanted but unknowingly enjoying. He can be certain Zeruel, Arael, Sahaquiel, and possibly Bardiel definitely want to be in the wars against Hell. Israfel spoke their piece, Sachiel, Leliel, Ireul, Ramiel and, by proximity, Sandalphon would also agree to that motion. Shamshel, Matarael, Gaghiel, and Armisael are rather indifferent. Especially Armisael, since she's the leader of the group. And while she could agree to his proposal there's an off chance she'll deny it. Possibly saying not to fight it and let life take its course.
But Kaworu was a patient person. He was patient when SEELE decided to send him to NERV after years of paranoia of Gendo going behind their backs came true. He was patient when he was with Shinji who was on the verge of breaking down. However, he is not patient to wait for the Council who were denying Chief Satsuma's urging to let the Angels fly like stubborn children.
That impatience leads to something that he embraces. Selfishness. He was damn sure he was being selfish, wanting to be with Shinji again. And as the Angel of Free Will he is willing to sacrifice his siblings' happiness and what other joys they were feeling just to get his. Sorry, Israfel, but you're gonna die with that way of thinking. And he will not be responsible for it.
"Even so, Alpha. Is best to have complete focus when you're doing simulation training. The call to the battlefield can be any time and any day now. I don't want either of my brothers and sisters to die the moment they step into the fields of war. Especially those who didn't take it seriously."
"Heyyyy, no need to throw a jab at us. We're just saying to savor every single moment we got before inevitably going off to war. But in the meantime." Both of half of the Angel then nuzzle their faces against each other as their hands tighten in their hold. "We got some stuff to do."
"I'm gonna keep practicing my sweet guitar," said Beta.
"And I'm gonna see what more music I can find on the Wired," said Alpha. Both of them then envelop Kaworu in a hug, surprising him. "Both of us can tell something is troubling you, brother. If you want to have peace of mind, you're welcome to our room anytime."
Then they left. Beta softly singing a song and Alpha humming in perfect synchronization. Kaworu looked on as Israel went back to their homing facility. For a few moments he stood there in perfect stillness as one of the clouds in the blue sky covered its shadow over him. Chuckling he shook his head in amusement. 'I should not be surprised by them knowing what is on my mind. They're the Angel of Music. Feeling the mood is part of their patronage.'
He then continued his trek to the training facility. Down the lobby— saying greeting to the receptionist— taking the elevator and walking down the hallway. Middle way through the corridor the door to the computer workstation opened and out came one of his sisters. Shamshel, the Angel of Morning. And, boy, the look she has does surely betray her title. "Hello, sister. How was your-"
Abruptly cut-off by a hard shove from her, sending him to the wall as she stomped her way to the elevator.
Dusting and straightening his uniform Kaworu couldn't help being curious of what got his sister in an angry rough. Lingering his gaze at the elevator as its door closed for a good moment he then continued walking towards the door. Once he scans his card he enters the room. Immediately upon entering he saw Doctor Lunatique looking quite tense and very awkward. Both Doctor Carmack and Romero, however, were impassive, watching the monitors that showed his brother, Ireul, who, from Kaworu's view, was mowing non-demons and Imps with an Explosive Chaingun.
The moment he entered Doctor Lunatique noticed him first. "Oh, Kaworu. You're here already?"
"Indeed, Doctor Lunatique. But from what I'm seeing I have to wait until Ireul is done, right?"
"Y-yes, I'm so sorry about that. When Shamshel came out of the simulation room-"
"She threw a hissy fit." Carmack butt in. "Argued for another run. Saying the last one was, in her words, 'complete bullshit' and, naturally, we denied it. One day, one run. That got her very pissed off, Ireul tried to calm her down but she left."
"Oh, and what got my sister furious?" Kaworu inquired.
"She got fucked up by a Legendary Zombieman on the…" Romero checked a nearby computer. "Third map level, Toxic Refinery."
"Oh yeah, came right out of nowhere when she was near the exit. Good thing the walls of the simulation room can self-repair because she busted some of them up once we closed down the program." Carmack said, still watching Ireul who quickly ran across the slime trail on the Phobos Lab map level, not wanting to take 'damage'.
"That's… unfortunate." Kaworu said. It's no secret that Shamshel has anger problems after coming back from the gates of Guf. The only one who had more bottled-up anger was Ariel, Zeruel coming right behind both of them. "Fortunately the group simulation training is coming up. Perhaps that can help her vent out."
"Perhaps," said Carmack, "but, for now, just wait, Tabris. Your brother is doing quite well, in spite of his limited Angel abilities."
"Well, we're gonna have to make the best of what we got." Kaworu responded, leaning against a computer that isn't being used with a small animation of a small ball bouncing across an ocean."Besides me who is also notified for their turn coming next."
"Leliel."
"Oh," his entire behavior changed like someone flipped the switch. "Neat."
Tearju took notice of his fidgeting. "Is something wrong, Kaworu?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm… not cooperative with some of my siblings. And Leliel-"
"Is one of them." Romero interjects. "Is a problem between some of you Angels. Ariel and Zeruel for example. Yeah, even though we're, mostly Lunatique, are tasked with looking over you, whatever family issues each of you have with each other is something you Angels must personally resolve by yourself."
"And we will. We still need to process-" Kaworu motions his hands up and down, clearly directed to his body. "This. I know it's been years. I'm already used to the fact we're back from the dead but some of us are still not believing we're back from the dead."
"Again, that's something you need to handle by yourselves," said Carmack, "but you need to do it fast. Sure, you Angels have been on the sideline for a long time, however, that can change anytime soon."
"And we'll sort it out." More emotion was in Kaworu's voice as he placed a hand where his heart was. "We'll find a way to be a cohesive group."
"But not as a family? Wow, Tabris, way to raise the expectations."
Looking over Kaworu saw Leliel enter the room. Each single nerve restrained him from immediately calling out Shinji's name when he saw his brother whose new body took after Shinji's appearance. Him, Ariel who took after Sohryu's physical appearance, and Armisael all looked nearly identical to the Children Pilots. The only one who doesn't look exactly like the other Children, Suzuhara, was Bardiel. Her rebirth body is completely different, not even a reverse sex look of Suzuhara.
With a bored look Leliel leaned against the wall, looking over his phone. Such a stark contrast to Shinji who'll just stand there with a timid demeanor. "But who am I to talk to? I would rather be alone than be with any of you."
"Leliel," Tearju chastised, "that's not a nice thing to say. Of course Tabris also wants to bring all of you together as a family. Right, Tabris?"
"Y-Yes, together as a family I also seek to come in fulfillment."
The Angel of Night scoffs, "Good luck with that. I mean, I ain't denying of wanting to be close to y'all. But some of that Purple Fucker's traits imprinted on me. All shy and reluctant like a hedgehog. But if you really want us to be brought together then you'll need to get through the barriers of the others like Bardiel, Matarael, and especially Ariel."
"But we trust you that you'll bring us together. For what reason you have."
Out from the other side of the room that leads to the simulation, Ireul came in slightly out of breath as Tearju handed him a towel which he thankfully took. Cormack and Romero were restaging the program. "Out of all of us you're the most Lilin. The most human. Which speaks for itself."
"It really does," remarks Leliel.
"So, whatever idea you have, then I might suggest going over it with Armisael. Her being the head of the group."
"I'll keep that advice in mind," said Kaworu as both Johnsons finished restarting the program and Lunatique saved the file footage for later analysis. "But, for now, I believe it is my turn."
"Yup, it's Tabris's turn to put some digital hot dust in demons' heads. So go right in, Tabris." Romero said.
Bidding farewell to his brothers, Kaworu thought about the discussion. Freck, he didn't expect that kind of additional baggage to build on him. He did not put the blame on Doctor Lunatique but that hastily agreement to her inquiry really is gonna put a roadblock to his plan of getting his family to finally go to war. Oh sure the bond between him and Shinji was something he will never forget and cherish forever and ever. But to strengthen the bonds between him and his siblings? That's a tall order, even for him. He's closer to some than others. Oh father, this is giving him a migraine just as the simulation visualizes the map room.
"Okay, Tabris, you may start." Doctor Carmack's voice was heard from an intercom.
A starting pistol 'appeared' in his hand. Hopefully the training can help him vent as he already shot a zombie right in the head once it came out from the other room.
'Oh, Shinji, I wish you were here with me. Your presence is enough to gracefully heal this headache I'm getting.'
Sadly, the headache was throbbing painful, he couldn't focus at all through the simulation. It ends with him leaning against a BFG barrel. Such an idiotic action made by him it cost him his run when a Suicidal Zombie Bomber ran straight at him with that comical screaming.
He left, but not without getting an earful by the two Doctor Johnsons, an motherly fretting from Doctor Lunatique, and two bewildered looks from his brothers as if he did something so out of the blue it crashes whatever stain-glass image they see in him.
After excusing himself he bumps into Ramiel and Sandalphon. A short greeting followed by him asking where Armisael is as he wants to talk to her. The Angel of Thunder told him the Angel of the Womb was in the holy city doing her own thing. Roaming leisurely without a care, checking establishments and buying energy drinks in an unhealthy bulk.
Bidding farewell he went back to the slipgate building and waited. Hours went, his siblings came back from places he didn't know for their training. He chatted with some while others bid him a quick hello. And still he waited, time passing by more, and he used that time pre-planning his argument for the Council. He'll be a fool if he went there and presented nothing, a bigger fool he'll be if he winged it. Heated, passionate words may work if there was someone there who had a higher status and had a personal bond with him, approving his half-baked reason and ignoring the other council men's opposition and valid criticism.
But he lived among SEELE, paranoid and unhealthy suspicious minds each one they have, Keel getting his rocks off by imaging an improbability in the shadows, twiddling his mechanical fingers in the usual brooding old man fashion, yet even they take consideration of his logic if it may speed up the Instrumentality Project. And if the High Council are like SEELE than Kaworu better give his cherry, charismatic speech that will alter their minds. Like a politician. A forked-tongue politician. Heh.
His ears perked up by the sounds of someone walking. Gazing at the direction where it was coming from, Armisael popped out from one of the corridors and was heading towards the entrance. Carried by the arm were numerous bags of various plastic colors. Kaworu didn't even need to guess what those bags hold as Armisael was drinking a large energy drink in big gulps. She was halfway done with it when she spotted Tabris near the entrance.
"Tabris? What are you doing here? Are you already done with today's training?"
"You're correct, Armisael. I've done my turn and decided to use my free time to wait for you."
"Me?" She blinked quizzically. "For what reason?"
"What reason do I need but to see the leader that is my sister."
"Tabris."
"Alright, I need your help with something… particular."
"Particular?" She mused on what her whimsical brother is formulating.
"Is an idea I'm cultivating. But I need someone for input and to make sure there isn't any error whatsoever. And you in command I couldn't think of a better person than you."
"I appreciate the sentiment but what's this idea of yours you've crafting."
"My dear sister." He smirks that signature lofty smile. "This idea, if it goes perfectly, will finally have us go out there and do something wicked."