Chapter 18
Makoto Hyuga sits on a bench near the Geofront lake. He is dressed in his standard NERV uniform, sitting with his hands on his knees. For a moment, he leans back against the back of the bench and lets out a sigh.
"Where is she?" he wonders.
Hyuga bolts upright at the sound of approaching footsteps. He turns in the direction of the footsteps and spies Misato coming towards him. Acting on instinct, he stands up quickly and salutes the Major.
"Hello, Major!"
Misato approaches the rigid bridge bunny and shakes her head.
"Hyuga, how many times have I told you, you don't have to do that when we aren't on duty or at NERV?"
Hyuga drops the salute and sits back down on the bench.
"Sorry, bad habits."
Misato leans up against a light post besides the bench. She turns to him with a serious look on her face.
"So what do you have?"
Hyuga rests his hands on his elbows on his knees and looks straight ahead.
"They've given the OK for the next Eva series. Seven different countries have gotten the rights to start construction on the Evas."
"Seven different countries? How many are going to be made?"
"Apparently there will be a total of nine units."
"So that makes the series up to number 13 then?"
"Yes."
"Any info on the designs for the Evas?"
"From what I collected, they will be all of the same design. I'm still checking for more data."
"Thanks Hyuga. You've been a big help."
"Anytime Misato."
3 days later…
"Status!" shouts Misato as the lift brings her up to the command bridge.
"Sensors have detected an unknown object in orbit. The MAGI have just confirmed, blood pattern blue. It's the 15th Angel!!" reports Hyuga.
"What's the estimated time till contact?"
"Estimates show contact with the target in about 30 minutes."
"What's the status of the pilots?"
"They have just been inserted into their Eva. Starting up activation now," reports Maya.
"So, any ideas on how we destroy this thing?" asks Misato.
"Well, seeing that it's in orbit, we can only attack it with long-range weapons," says Aoba.
"Well, Ritsuko?"
"We can equip one of the Evas with the Type 20 Positron Cannon and another with the Positron Sniper Rifle, though this time we won't be able to draw power from all of Japan like we did with the JSDF rifle against the 5th."
"Ok, then! Equip Unit 01 with the Positron Cannon, being that he has the highest synch-ratio, and Unit 02 with the Sniper Rifle."
"That is unacceptable, Major."
Misato turns around and stares up at the Commander, who is sitting in his usual position, his gloved hands intertwined, resting in front of his face, blocking the view of his face below his nose.
"How come, sir?"
"Unit 01 will remain in cryo-stasis until I see it is needed."
"Keep it in cryo-stasis?"
"We cannot afford contamination of Unit 01. Is that clear, Major?"
Misato cringes slightly.
"Yes, sir."
She turns back to the bridge crew.
"Change in plans. Sortie Unit 02 with the Positron Cannon and Unit 00 with the Sniper Rifle."
Fuyutsuki looks down at the Misato and then steps up next to Gendo.
"Are you sure that was a wise decision, Ikari?"
Gendo continues to look straight ahead with an emotionless look on his face.
"Yes, I am sure. It is all part of the plan."
Fuyutsuki looks at the main monitors.
"Your son will probably not approve of this."
"It doesn't matter. The scenario will be fulfilled."
"You know what's going to happen, don't you Gendo? You're just trying to protect Yui from what's about to happen by putting Asuka in her place," he thinks.
10 minutes later…
"WHAT?!" shouts Shinji from inside his entry plug.
"It's the Commander's orders, Shinji. Unit 01 is to remain in cryo-stasis until further orders. I'm sorry."
Misato cuts the comm link to Unit 01.
"Damn you father," thinks Shinji, "How can I protect them now?"
5 minutes later…
Unit 02 stands on the once lively streets of Tokyo 3. On its left shoulder was attached the Type 20 Positron Cannon. The large, white weapon was attached to the Eva's shoulder, which meant removing the shoulder wing. The main section of the cannon was encased in white metal, to protect the circuitry within. At the end of the cannon, just before the semi-circular section that attached to the shoulder, was a blue circle with the numbers '20' written on it. Behind the red Eva was Unit 00 with the Positron Sniper Rifle resting on a building in front of it. The sky was dark, the sun blocked by the dark gray clouds. Rain pelted the massive bio-mechs as they stood, waiting.
Asuka sits in the entry plug of her Eva, her hands crossed across her chest.
"Stupid Angel! Why doesn't it move faster?"
"Patience Asuka," says Misato over the comm.
She just slumps in her plug and waits.
10 minutes later…
Asuka grips the controls inside the entry plug as she concentrates on the targeting system's screen.
"C'mon, just a little bit closer…"
The two targeting cursor slowly make their way from the sides of the screen towards the center. Slowly, she begins to depress the trigger. Suddenly, the clouds in front of Unit 02 form a circular opening. A beam of light enters through the hold in the sky and engulfs the Eva.
"What is that? Is it the Angel's weapon?" asks Misato.
"No, there are no thermal energy reactions coming from it," replies Shigeru.
"I'm getting abnormal readings in the pilot's brain patterns! Mental contanimation is occurring!!" shouts Maya.
"A psychic attack? Is it trying to understand the human mind?" questions Ritsuko.
Inside the entry plug, Asuka fires wildly at the Angel. Two shots fly towards the Angel, but miss. The other shots impact at various locations along the hillsides surrounding Tokyo 3.
"The Positron Cannon is out of ammunition!" says Shigeru
"What's the analysis of that ray?" asks Misato.
"The pattern is similar to that of an AT Field, but the details are unknown," replies Hyuga.
Asuka's screams of pain echo throughout the bridge.
"No! Stop! Stop it! Don't rape my mind!!" screams Asuka.
Inside Unit 01, Shinji cringes slightly as Asuka's cries come over the comm.
"Asuka…"
"Rei, it's up to you!" shouts Misato.
Rei pulls down the targeting screen and prepares to fire. The targeting cursors blink across the screen until they line up in the center, one atop another. She grits her teeth as she pulls the trigger, sending the deadly beam towards the Angel. The crew stares at the main screen as the blue streak flies towards space. As it approaches the Angel, it impacts its AT Field, the orange hexagonal wall flickering for a moment at the point of impact. The AT Field causes the blast to split in several directions away from the Angel.
"Can we give more power to the rifle?" asks Misato.
Ritsuko shakes her head.
"There isn't enough time."
"What if we loaded Unit 00 on a F-Wing and had it fire while its airborne?"
"If we did that, it would leave Unit 00 vulnerable to attack."
"Damn."
Inside Asuka's mind…
A younger version of Asuka stands in the doorway to a hospital room. On the other end of the room lies her mother in the bed, cradling a doll in her hands. The doll had blue button eyes and red yarn hair. She gently caresses the doll's hair.
"Now, it isn't nice to stare at strangers," she says to the doll.
Asuka turns and leaves the room.
"I hate dolls," she whispers.
A younger version of Asuka runs down a path, her red hair flowing behind her.
"Mama!" she cries as she runs.
"Mama! I was selected to be an Evangelion pilot!! Mama!!"
She opens a door to a dark room and stops dead in her tracks, her expression changed from one of great joy to one of shock. In front of her was her mother hanging by a rope attached to the ceiling. Next to her was the doll, also hanging by a rope.
A younger version of Asuka throws a teddy bear to the floor.
"Asuka, why did you do that? Don't you like the gift from your new mother?" asks her father.
"I don't like dolls! I'm not a child anymore. I'm going to be an adult!" she shouts.
She crosses her arms and looks away.
"And she isn't my mama," she whispers.
Asuka lets out another cry of pain as she grips her head with her hands.
"No! Don't make me remember!!"
She curls up in the entry plug, bringing her legs up to her chest.
Shinji grips the controls inside the entry plug as she listens to Asuka's pleas and cries of pain..
"Mother," he whispers, "help me."
"Major!" shouts Maya as she turns away from her console.
"What is it?"
"Unit 01 has activated!"
"What?!"
"Increase LCL pressure in the entry plug to subdue the pilot. We have no time for this," says the Commander in his monotone voice.
"Yes, sir," replies Maya weakly.
She begins to input the appropriate commands into her console.
"Sir! Unit 01 isn't accepting the signal!"
Just then, Shinji opens a comm to the bridge. He gazes through the video feed with determination in his eyes.
"Father, I give you two options. Either you launch Unit 01 or I force my way out to help Asuka. The decision is yours."
The entire crew turns their gazes up at Gendo. He stares at the screen for a moment before responding.
"Sortie Unit 01."
Misato smiles as she turns away from the commander. She looks at the bridge crew.
"Well? You heard the man!"
They begin the preparations to launch the Evangelion.
Fuyutsuki steps up next to Gendo.
"She's sided with her son."
Gendo doesn't respond.
After the preparations were made…
"Evangelion Unit 01, ha shin!!"
The purple Eva is hurled up to the surface through one of many launch tubes. After what seemed like an eternity to Shinji, the Eva comes to an abrupt halt.
"Disengaging final safety locks."
Shinji wastes no time. As soon as the Eva is released, he charges towards Unit 02.
Gendo opens a link to Unit 00.
"Rei, head down to Terminal Dogma and retrieve the Lance."
"Ryokai."
"The Lance of Longinius? I don't think SEELE will be pleased with this, Ikari."
"It doesn't matter. The main priority is to destroy the target and the Lance is the only way to do it."
Unit 01 stops next to Unit 02, out of the way of the ray.
"AT Field, full power!" shouts Shinji.
The Eva lifts its arms up in front, its palms facing outwards. A familar orange field manifests in front of the two Evas.
"The AT Field is having no effect!" reports Maya.
Shinji grits his teeth and concentrates on the field.
"I promised, no, I have to protect them, protect them all. I can't loose her. I won't let Asuka die!" thinks Shinji, "Mother, help me."
The Eva's eyes glow brightly.
"Ma'am! The AT Field is blocking out 5% of the ray!" reports Maya.
"It's working…," mumbles Misato.
"10% of the ray is being blocked, 15%, 20%, 30% and rising!!"
Misato smiles.
"When you're in love, anything is possible," she thinks.
Inside, Unit 02, the effects were also visible. Asuka began to relax more and more as the ray was being blocked.
"65% of the ray is blocked, and holding steady."
Shinji opens a comm to Unit 02.
"Asuka!"
She slowly opens her eyes and looks at the floating image of Shinji.
"Shinji-kun…"
"Hold on Asuka! I'm right here!"
At the same moment…
Unit 00 was slowly descending towards the deepest region of NERV: Terminal Dogma. Inside the entry plug sat Rei, her arms crossed over her chest as she gradually descended.
"Why am I doing this?" she thinks, "I know the Commander is ordering me to, to destroy the Angel. Why do I feel as if I want Asuka to suffer? Am I jealous of her, of her being with Shinji-kun?"
Her thoughts are interrupted by a message from one of the bridge crew announcing that she was 100 feet from the end of her journey. Rei repositions herself in her seat and prepares for the task at hand. The blue Eva stops with a slight lurch. It looks up and proceeds to its destination. After a few moments, the Eva stops in front of a massive metal door.
Back at the bridge…
Gendo stares at the monitors inside Terminal Dogma. He sits up from his position and presses a button on his desk. A panel slides away, revealing a palm scanner and a number pad. He proceeds to remove his left glove and place his bare hand on the scanner.
"Identified as Ikari, Gendo. Please enter password," said a soft, female voice.
Without removing his hand from the scanner, he uses his right hand to input a ten-number code.
"Password accepted. Opening Heaven's Gate," came the voice again.
Gendo removes his hand the scanner and replaces the white glove. The panel closes. He adjusted his gloves and resumes his original position.
The massive metallic doors shuttered for a second, then begin to move apart, allowing the Eva entrance into the heart of NERV's LCL production facility. They stopped with a slight, hollow crashing noise. Unit 00 walks in the shallow, artificial lake of LCL. It steps over a small metal landing before coming to its destination. In front of the Eva stood a giant, white being crucified to a red cross. The nails that held the creature to the cross by its wrists resembled black crosses. Its bald head was slumped forward at a slight angle. An oval, purple mask covered its face. On the face of the mask were seven eyes in two columns, four on the left, three on the right. The eyes themselves were oval shaped, with the pupil in the center. The creature had no legs, only a lumpy mass where its legs would have been. Final, embedded in its chest, was a red, two-pronged lance. The staff part of the lance looked as if the two tips were twisted together to make it.
Rei looked up at the white being for a moment. Slowly, she willed her Eva to grip the red Lance. The Eva reached up with its hands and grips the Lance. With one swift motion, it removes the Lance from the creature's chest. Just then, the lumpy mass at its waist expands for a brief moment and then changes into a pair of white legs that shoot down into the lake of LCL, creating several waves. The now whole creature made no further movements. It was clear that it was sexless. Rei turned and left for the surface, Heaven's Gate closing behind her, sealing the creature off from the outside world once again.
Unit 00 is lifted to the battlefield, the Lance of Longinius in hand. Shinji turns slightly and sees the blue Eva.
"Rei, eliminate the target!" orders Misato.
The Eva grips the Lance with both hands, preparing to hurl it at the orbiting Angel. Rei stops her movements as she thinks.
"Why am I doing this? I know I'm jealous of Asuka for having Shinji-kun. If I kill the Angel, I'll save her, but if I don't she may die or have severe brain damage, leaving Shinji-kun for me," she thinks.
She looks at the image of Shinji floating in her entry plug. He has a look of determination on his face as he concentrates on protecting Asuka.
"But if Asuka dies or can't be with him, he will be saddened. I will do this not for Asuka, but for Shinji-kun, so that he may be happy."
The Eva leans back partially before charging forward. As it pulls the Lance back in preparation to throw it, it releases its left hand from the Lance. With one, swift movement, it sends the Lance of Longinius flying towards the Angel.
As the Lance passes through the sky, it seems to push everything away from it. As it passes through the clouds, it produces a large hole from where it pierced the cloud mass. The entire bridge crew is glued to the main screen, watching the Lance. Just as it passes above the clouds, the two tips twist around each other, changing the Lance into a single-tipped spear. In an attempt to stop it, the Angel puts up its AT Field, but it is useless. The Lance flies right through the field as if it was never there, shattering it. It passes right through the Angel and its core, without losing any of its momentum. The Angel explodes in orbit, leaving no trace of it.
In the bridge, the crew was celebrating their latest victory.
"What is the position of the Lance?" asks Gendo in his monotone voice.
The celebration dies down as everyone returns to his or her stations.
"It has just achieved lunar orbit," reports Shigeru.
"The Lance is lost, Ikari," says Fuyutsuki," SEELE will not be pleased."
"I shall deal with them when the time arises," responds Gendo.
Misato turns to face the bridge crew.
"Send recovery teams for the Evangelions!" she orders.
Later…
Asuka sits on top of a building, her arms wrapped around her knees, with Unit 02 standing next to it, behind her. The area is blocked off with yellow tape. On the tape are the words:
'Warning! Contaminated Area. Do Not Cross.'
Shinji steps up to the yellow tape and looks at Asuka. He reads the warnings, but pays no heed to them as she ducks under the tape and walks up to Asuka.
"Asuka-chan…"
"Leave me alone! I don't need your sympathy!!" she shouts.
Behind them, Unit 02 begins its descent back to NERV HQ.
"But…"
"I said leave me alone!!"
Shinji starts to turn around, but stops. He takes a deep breath and walks up to her, kneeling down and embracing her.
"Get off of me, ecchi!"
She tries to throw Shinji off of her, but to no avail.
"I won't leave you. I made a promise, to be there for you, no matter what. This is one of those times. I won't leave because I care about you, because I love you. I will love you no matter what."
Asuka stops struggling as the word sink in. Tears begin to fill her eyes. She clutches his chest as she buries her head in his shoulders, crying.
Shinji looks down at the redhead, caressing her hair.
"It was horrible, Shinji-kun! Horrible…," she says between sobs.
"Shhhh. It's over now. I'm here."
Behind the door that leads to the stairwell, a pair of crimson eyes watches the two pilots from a crack in the door. She turns and heads down the stairwell, a single tear falling down her cheek.
Makoto Hyuga sits on a bench near the Geofront lake. He is dressed in his standard NERV uniform, sitting with his hands on his knees. For a moment, he leans back against the back of the bench and lets out a sigh.
"Where is she?" he wonders.
Hyuga bolts upright at the sound of approaching footsteps. He turns in the direction of the footsteps and spies Misato coming towards him. Acting on instinct, he stands up quickly and salutes the Major.
"Hello, Major!"
Misato approaches the rigid bridge bunny and shakes her head.
"Hyuga, how many times have I told you, you don't have to do that when we aren't on duty or at NERV?"
Hyuga drops the salute and sits back down on the bench.
"Sorry, bad habits."
Misato leans up against a light post besides the bench. She turns to him with a serious look on her face.
"So what do you have?"
Hyuga rests his hands on his elbows on his knees and looks straight ahead.
"They've given the OK for the next Eva series. Seven different countries have gotten the rights to start construction on the Evas."
"Seven different countries? How many are going to be made?"
"Apparently there will be a total of nine units."
"So that makes the series up to number 13 then?"
"Yes."
"Any info on the designs for the Evas?"
"From what I collected, they will be all of the same design. I'm still checking for more data."
"Thanks Hyuga. You've been a big help."
"Anytime Misato."
3 days later…
"Status!" shouts Misato as the lift brings her up to the command bridge.
"Sensors have detected an unknown object in orbit. The MAGI have just confirmed, blood pattern blue. It's the 15th Angel!!" reports Hyuga.
"What's the estimated time till contact?"
"Estimates show contact with the target in about 30 minutes."
"What's the status of the pilots?"
"They have just been inserted into their Eva. Starting up activation now," reports Maya.
"So, any ideas on how we destroy this thing?" asks Misato.
"Well, seeing that it's in orbit, we can only attack it with long-range weapons," says Aoba.
"Well, Ritsuko?"
"We can equip one of the Evas with the Type 20 Positron Cannon and another with the Positron Sniper Rifle, though this time we won't be able to draw power from all of Japan like we did with the JSDF rifle against the 5th."
"Ok, then! Equip Unit 01 with the Positron Cannon, being that he has the highest synch-ratio, and Unit 02 with the Sniper Rifle."
"That is unacceptable, Major."
Misato turns around and stares up at the Commander, who is sitting in his usual position, his gloved hands intertwined, resting in front of his face, blocking the view of his face below his nose.
"How come, sir?"
"Unit 01 will remain in cryo-stasis until I see it is needed."
"Keep it in cryo-stasis?"
"We cannot afford contamination of Unit 01. Is that clear, Major?"
Misato cringes slightly.
"Yes, sir."
She turns back to the bridge crew.
"Change in plans. Sortie Unit 02 with the Positron Cannon and Unit 00 with the Sniper Rifle."
Fuyutsuki looks down at the Misato and then steps up next to Gendo.
"Are you sure that was a wise decision, Ikari?"
Gendo continues to look straight ahead with an emotionless look on his face.
"Yes, I am sure. It is all part of the plan."
Fuyutsuki looks at the main monitors.
"Your son will probably not approve of this."
"It doesn't matter. The scenario will be fulfilled."
"You know what's going to happen, don't you Gendo? You're just trying to protect Yui from what's about to happen by putting Asuka in her place," he thinks.
10 minutes later…
"WHAT?!" shouts Shinji from inside his entry plug.
"It's the Commander's orders, Shinji. Unit 01 is to remain in cryo-stasis until further orders. I'm sorry."
Misato cuts the comm link to Unit 01.
"Damn you father," thinks Shinji, "How can I protect them now?"
5 minutes later…
Unit 02 stands on the once lively streets of Tokyo 3. On its left shoulder was attached the Type 20 Positron Cannon. The large, white weapon was attached to the Eva's shoulder, which meant removing the shoulder wing. The main section of the cannon was encased in white metal, to protect the circuitry within. At the end of the cannon, just before the semi-circular section that attached to the shoulder, was a blue circle with the numbers '20' written on it. Behind the red Eva was Unit 00 with the Positron Sniper Rifle resting on a building in front of it. The sky was dark, the sun blocked by the dark gray clouds. Rain pelted the massive bio-mechs as they stood, waiting.
Asuka sits in the entry plug of her Eva, her hands crossed across her chest.
"Stupid Angel! Why doesn't it move faster?"
"Patience Asuka," says Misato over the comm.
She just slumps in her plug and waits.
10 minutes later…
Asuka grips the controls inside the entry plug as she concentrates on the targeting system's screen.
"C'mon, just a little bit closer…"
The two targeting cursor slowly make their way from the sides of the screen towards the center. Slowly, she begins to depress the trigger. Suddenly, the clouds in front of Unit 02 form a circular opening. A beam of light enters through the hold in the sky and engulfs the Eva.
"What is that? Is it the Angel's weapon?" asks Misato.
"No, there are no thermal energy reactions coming from it," replies Shigeru.
"I'm getting abnormal readings in the pilot's brain patterns! Mental contanimation is occurring!!" shouts Maya.
"A psychic attack? Is it trying to understand the human mind?" questions Ritsuko.
Inside the entry plug, Asuka fires wildly at the Angel. Two shots fly towards the Angel, but miss. The other shots impact at various locations along the hillsides surrounding Tokyo 3.
"The Positron Cannon is out of ammunition!" says Shigeru
"What's the analysis of that ray?" asks Misato.
"The pattern is similar to that of an AT Field, but the details are unknown," replies Hyuga.
Asuka's screams of pain echo throughout the bridge.
"No! Stop! Stop it! Don't rape my mind!!" screams Asuka.
Inside Unit 01, Shinji cringes slightly as Asuka's cries come over the comm.
"Asuka…"
"Rei, it's up to you!" shouts Misato.
Rei pulls down the targeting screen and prepares to fire. The targeting cursors blink across the screen until they line up in the center, one atop another. She grits her teeth as she pulls the trigger, sending the deadly beam towards the Angel. The crew stares at the main screen as the blue streak flies towards space. As it approaches the Angel, it impacts its AT Field, the orange hexagonal wall flickering for a moment at the point of impact. The AT Field causes the blast to split in several directions away from the Angel.
"Can we give more power to the rifle?" asks Misato.
Ritsuko shakes her head.
"There isn't enough time."
"What if we loaded Unit 00 on a F-Wing and had it fire while its airborne?"
"If we did that, it would leave Unit 00 vulnerable to attack."
"Damn."
Inside Asuka's mind…
A younger version of Asuka stands in the doorway to a hospital room. On the other end of the room lies her mother in the bed, cradling a doll in her hands. The doll had blue button eyes and red yarn hair. She gently caresses the doll's hair.
"Now, it isn't nice to stare at strangers," she says to the doll.
Asuka turns and leaves the room.
"I hate dolls," she whispers.
A younger version of Asuka runs down a path, her red hair flowing behind her.
"Mama!" she cries as she runs.
"Mama! I was selected to be an Evangelion pilot!! Mama!!"
She opens a door to a dark room and stops dead in her tracks, her expression changed from one of great joy to one of shock. In front of her was her mother hanging by a rope attached to the ceiling. Next to her was the doll, also hanging by a rope.
A younger version of Asuka throws a teddy bear to the floor.
"Asuka, why did you do that? Don't you like the gift from your new mother?" asks her father.
"I don't like dolls! I'm not a child anymore. I'm going to be an adult!" she shouts.
She crosses her arms and looks away.
"And she isn't my mama," she whispers.
Asuka lets out another cry of pain as she grips her head with her hands.
"No! Don't make me remember!!"
She curls up in the entry plug, bringing her legs up to her chest.
Shinji grips the controls inside the entry plug as she listens to Asuka's pleas and cries of pain..
"Mother," he whispers, "help me."
"Major!" shouts Maya as she turns away from her console.
"What is it?"
"Unit 01 has activated!"
"What?!"
"Increase LCL pressure in the entry plug to subdue the pilot. We have no time for this," says the Commander in his monotone voice.
"Yes, sir," replies Maya weakly.
She begins to input the appropriate commands into her console.
"Sir! Unit 01 isn't accepting the signal!"
Just then, Shinji opens a comm to the bridge. He gazes through the video feed with determination in his eyes.
"Father, I give you two options. Either you launch Unit 01 or I force my way out to help Asuka. The decision is yours."
The entire crew turns their gazes up at Gendo. He stares at the screen for a moment before responding.
"Sortie Unit 01."
Misato smiles as she turns away from the commander. She looks at the bridge crew.
"Well? You heard the man!"
They begin the preparations to launch the Evangelion.
Fuyutsuki steps up next to Gendo.
"She's sided with her son."
Gendo doesn't respond.
After the preparations were made…
"Evangelion Unit 01, ha shin!!"
The purple Eva is hurled up to the surface through one of many launch tubes. After what seemed like an eternity to Shinji, the Eva comes to an abrupt halt.
"Disengaging final safety locks."
Shinji wastes no time. As soon as the Eva is released, he charges towards Unit 02.
Gendo opens a link to Unit 00.
"Rei, head down to Terminal Dogma and retrieve the Lance."
"Ryokai."
"The Lance of Longinius? I don't think SEELE will be pleased with this, Ikari."
"It doesn't matter. The main priority is to destroy the target and the Lance is the only way to do it."
Unit 01 stops next to Unit 02, out of the way of the ray.
"AT Field, full power!" shouts Shinji.
The Eva lifts its arms up in front, its palms facing outwards. A familar orange field manifests in front of the two Evas.
"The AT Field is having no effect!" reports Maya.
Shinji grits his teeth and concentrates on the field.
"I promised, no, I have to protect them, protect them all. I can't loose her. I won't let Asuka die!" thinks Shinji, "Mother, help me."
The Eva's eyes glow brightly.
"Ma'am! The AT Field is blocking out 5% of the ray!" reports Maya.
"It's working…," mumbles Misato.
"10% of the ray is being blocked, 15%, 20%, 30% and rising!!"
Misato smiles.
"When you're in love, anything is possible," she thinks.
Inside, Unit 02, the effects were also visible. Asuka began to relax more and more as the ray was being blocked.
"65% of the ray is blocked, and holding steady."
Shinji opens a comm to Unit 02.
"Asuka!"
She slowly opens her eyes and looks at the floating image of Shinji.
"Shinji-kun…"
"Hold on Asuka! I'm right here!"
At the same moment…
Unit 00 was slowly descending towards the deepest region of NERV: Terminal Dogma. Inside the entry plug sat Rei, her arms crossed over her chest as she gradually descended.
"Why am I doing this?" she thinks, "I know the Commander is ordering me to, to destroy the Angel. Why do I feel as if I want Asuka to suffer? Am I jealous of her, of her being with Shinji-kun?"
Her thoughts are interrupted by a message from one of the bridge crew announcing that she was 100 feet from the end of her journey. Rei repositions herself in her seat and prepares for the task at hand. The blue Eva stops with a slight lurch. It looks up and proceeds to its destination. After a few moments, the Eva stops in front of a massive metal door.
Back at the bridge…
Gendo stares at the monitors inside Terminal Dogma. He sits up from his position and presses a button on his desk. A panel slides away, revealing a palm scanner and a number pad. He proceeds to remove his left glove and place his bare hand on the scanner.
"Identified as Ikari, Gendo. Please enter password," said a soft, female voice.
Without removing his hand from the scanner, he uses his right hand to input a ten-number code.
"Password accepted. Opening Heaven's Gate," came the voice again.
Gendo removes his hand the scanner and replaces the white glove. The panel closes. He adjusted his gloves and resumes his original position.
The massive metallic doors shuttered for a second, then begin to move apart, allowing the Eva entrance into the heart of NERV's LCL production facility. They stopped with a slight, hollow crashing noise. Unit 00 walks in the shallow, artificial lake of LCL. It steps over a small metal landing before coming to its destination. In front of the Eva stood a giant, white being crucified to a red cross. The nails that held the creature to the cross by its wrists resembled black crosses. Its bald head was slumped forward at a slight angle. An oval, purple mask covered its face. On the face of the mask were seven eyes in two columns, four on the left, three on the right. The eyes themselves were oval shaped, with the pupil in the center. The creature had no legs, only a lumpy mass where its legs would have been. Final, embedded in its chest, was a red, two-pronged lance. The staff part of the lance looked as if the two tips were twisted together to make it.
Rei looked up at the white being for a moment. Slowly, she willed her Eva to grip the red Lance. The Eva reached up with its hands and grips the Lance. With one swift motion, it removes the Lance from the creature's chest. Just then, the lumpy mass at its waist expands for a brief moment and then changes into a pair of white legs that shoot down into the lake of LCL, creating several waves. The now whole creature made no further movements. It was clear that it was sexless. Rei turned and left for the surface, Heaven's Gate closing behind her, sealing the creature off from the outside world once again.
Unit 00 is lifted to the battlefield, the Lance of Longinius in hand. Shinji turns slightly and sees the blue Eva.
"Rei, eliminate the target!" orders Misato.
The Eva grips the Lance with both hands, preparing to hurl it at the orbiting Angel. Rei stops her movements as she thinks.
"Why am I doing this? I know I'm jealous of Asuka for having Shinji-kun. If I kill the Angel, I'll save her, but if I don't she may die or have severe brain damage, leaving Shinji-kun for me," she thinks.
She looks at the image of Shinji floating in her entry plug. He has a look of determination on his face as he concentrates on protecting Asuka.
"But if Asuka dies or can't be with him, he will be saddened. I will do this not for Asuka, but for Shinji-kun, so that he may be happy."
The Eva leans back partially before charging forward. As it pulls the Lance back in preparation to throw it, it releases its left hand from the Lance. With one, swift movement, it sends the Lance of Longinius flying towards the Angel.
As the Lance passes through the sky, it seems to push everything away from it. As it passes through the clouds, it produces a large hole from where it pierced the cloud mass. The entire bridge crew is glued to the main screen, watching the Lance. Just as it passes above the clouds, the two tips twist around each other, changing the Lance into a single-tipped spear. In an attempt to stop it, the Angel puts up its AT Field, but it is useless. The Lance flies right through the field as if it was never there, shattering it. It passes right through the Angel and its core, without losing any of its momentum. The Angel explodes in orbit, leaving no trace of it.
In the bridge, the crew was celebrating their latest victory.
"What is the position of the Lance?" asks Gendo in his monotone voice.
The celebration dies down as everyone returns to his or her stations.
"It has just achieved lunar orbit," reports Shigeru.
"The Lance is lost, Ikari," says Fuyutsuki," SEELE will not be pleased."
"I shall deal with them when the time arises," responds Gendo.
Misato turns to face the bridge crew.
"Send recovery teams for the Evangelions!" she orders.
Later…
Asuka sits on top of a building, her arms wrapped around her knees, with Unit 02 standing next to it, behind her. The area is blocked off with yellow tape. On the tape are the words:
'Warning! Contaminated Area. Do Not Cross.'
Shinji steps up to the yellow tape and looks at Asuka. He reads the warnings, but pays no heed to them as she ducks under the tape and walks up to Asuka.
"Asuka-chan…"
"Leave me alone! I don't need your sympathy!!" she shouts.
Behind them, Unit 02 begins its descent back to NERV HQ.
"But…"
"I said leave me alone!!"
Shinji starts to turn around, but stops. He takes a deep breath and walks up to her, kneeling down and embracing her.
"Get off of me, ecchi!"
She tries to throw Shinji off of her, but to no avail.
"I won't leave you. I made a promise, to be there for you, no matter what. This is one of those times. I won't leave because I care about you, because I love you. I will love you no matter what."
Asuka stops struggling as the word sink in. Tears begin to fill her eyes. She clutches his chest as she buries her head in his shoulders, crying.
Shinji looks down at the redhead, caressing her hair.
"It was horrible, Shinji-kun! Horrible…," she says between sobs.
"Shhhh. It's over now. I'm here."
Behind the door that leads to the stairwell, a pair of crimson eyes watches the two pilots from a crack in the door. She turns and heads down the stairwell, a single tear falling down her cheek.