Mother
By Cryshalo
\\~~~~//
The Third Testament
Second Apocrypha
Concordo
Preface
September, 2017
It's been a long time. It hasn't been pleasant; in fact it's been a nightmare. We rose like God's and suffered on that scale. Someone has to tell this story, and I guess it's fallen to me. I'm sorry, I know prefaces usually last at least a few paragraphs and sound intelligent. But I don't know what to say.
We stood, we hurt, we died. And some of us are left standing to try and move on. For those that aren't, this is for you.
Shinji Ikari, Third Child
\\~~~~//
Prologue.
\\~~~~//
July 7, 2015
"Asuka!" yelled the unshaven guardian. "Asuka! Get back here!"
As the girl heard the voice of her young love her eyes widened. The power of her strides sent a fiery mane lashing out as if a banner of her presence. "I'm coming, Kaji!" she trilled from across the greens. "Wait for me!" Grass bent under her imperious treads as she made her way across the greens of the courtyard.
"Hurry, Asuka," urged the anxious agent beside the emergency elevator. The beautiful red-head slammed into him full-tilt, throwing him against the rear wall of the chamber. With jagged pain lancing up the nerves of his back he slammed his palm upon the control panel. The gates slid shut and internal lighting sprang on. Lights indicating the many floors of the base flew past as they descended into the base.
"Well, what's the big rush?" she asked with a touch of petulance. "Not that I don't mind being with you," she said before pausing with a lovely smile, "but I was enjoying myself up there."
Kaji had no touch of play in him now, however. "It's begun. They want you to watch," he informed with barely a whisper.
Asuka frowned and searched Kaji's eyes. "What's started?" she asked, the beginnings of anxiety colouring her voice. Legendary for his calm under fire, Kaji Ryouji was not one to ever panic, let alone show it. When the lion feels the need to run from danger, wise creatures did the same, though in different directions.
"Angels," was all he said and Asuka understood his concern. For so long the threat of the Angels had been an abstract concern, now all too real.
The doors of the elevator opened up onto their floor and Kaji led his charge at a breakneck pace through the labyrinth of passages and offices. Past startled staffers and rushing technicians he led young Asuka by the hand and arrived at the Senior Conference Room. Not bothering to knock he opened the door and gestured for Asuka to enter. Once past the steel threshold of the room she was in a darkened room, lit only by the flicker and glare of numerous monitors and displays upon the wall. The senior officials of NERV Germany were present and watching the largest display at the fore of the room with manic intensity.
It was easy to tell why. Evangelion Unit-01 had just made it's appearance on the surface.
"Unit-01, deploy Progressive Knife and prepare to engage," came a tinny voice from the speakers. The Ops Director, Asuka guessed.
"I'm ready," replied the Pilot.
"Third Child," whispered Asuka, mainly to herself. Son of the NERV-Japan Commander. Time to see if this appointment was nepotism in action or a valid choice.
"Combat Operations are approved. Captain Katsuragi, you have TacCom."
"The Commander," whispered Asuka again, this time with far more awe and anxiety. There were rumours about the people who earn the Commander's ire. Rumours that all to often contained disturbing phrases. Like 'well, he's in a better place now'.
"Acknowledged. Unit-01, engage the Third Angel."
"Aye."
There was a palpable sense of worry and fear in the Third Childs voice and Asuka let herself sneer. But she had to wonder, what would she have felt, facing down this creature. And what was it that the Third Children truly felt?
//~~~~\\
"Unit 01, engage the Third Angel."
Easy for you to say Misato, you just have a little image on a screen. I have … this monstrosity filling my vision, thought Shinji as he levelled his gaze upon Sachiel.
"Aye," replied Shinji quietly before he bent his mind to the task. The Prog Knife hummed in his hand, he could feel the vibrations dimly. Sachiel began to close and Shinji rushed forward. He stabbed down with the knife, aiming for that red jewel of a core. No such luck, Sachiel pulled back with disturbing limberness and snapped an arm forward, grasping Unit-01's head. Much of Shinji's vision blanked out by the hand and he gasped at the quick reversal.
He threw his head back and his arms up and with the grace of trains colliding the grip was broken. As Sachiel's hand was swept back the pulse of energy that had been building discharged against a building as it steadied itself. The apartment block collapsed in ruin, smoke and debris whistling away from the blast. The street was filled with a haze of rising smoke and Shinji's heart hammered in his chest.
If that had hit my head… Shivering with fear, Shinji pushed that thought aside.
"Watch out Pilot Ikari, it's got that little weapon on either hand, so be careful if you grapple," informed one of the technicians.
If I close with him I'm going to have holes knocked out of me! worried Shinji. "Right," he answered quickly, trying to regain his bearing. "Let's try that again," he whispered.
The monster before acted first though. As the Prog Knife came around the Angel's own hands knocked it away to career off into another building just to Shinji's right. It tore out a great swath of destruction as it tumbled down and more smoke entered the street brawl. Shinji screamed in pain feeling fingers break under the assault. The next blow felt like a pile driver as it landed upon his chest, knocking him back a few paces. Gasping for breath Shinji curled up in his seat.
The Angel's eyes flared and then there was light; searing light that scoured out a path of destruction along the thoroughfare, with Shinji in it's midst. His agonised scream carried over the speakers of the Command Bridge as his Eva was knocked to the ground, to screech back dozens of metres, landing some distance from the Angel. Ears ringing with the pain and eyes wanted to force themselves shut as Shinji tried to recover.
The Angel walked over and reached out to grab him by the head.
Inside NERV, the Commander sprang up from the seat at the upper command dais and screamed out "Fight it, Shinji!"
With the entry plug of Unit-01, Shinji heard the call through the pain and looked at the display of Headquarters and the upright commander; the black uniform the tinted glasses, the powerful presence. He growled abruptly and his hands rose up to challenge the Angel before him. Grip and counter grip was made and with a strained grunt of exertion, Shinji ripped his arms free. Pain flared as his arms loosed themselves from the enemy grip and he cried out.
With pain slowly driving out his normal mindset, Shinji was increasingly seeing red as his breathing grew increasingly ragged. His right arm came free with the most power and it shot behind Shinji, pawing the ground, raising up a cloud of dust and debris as it shot behind up, coming up with fingers curled, ready to choke and strangle and decimate an enemy. The crouching Eva braced itself as the Angel recoiled, one arm broken.
He spared a glance for the image of the commander. "Yes, mother."
Standing upon the command dais in Central Dogma with a grey-haired loyal Sub-Commander on her right stood Commander Ikari. And as the right hand of Unit-01 came around with renewed fury before the awed presence of the bridge's technicians, Yui smiled.
\\~~~~//
End Prologue.
\\~~~~//
Authors Notes.
Well, here's an exploration in a different direction. I don't think I've seen this concept arise before, but maybe that's just because I'm far stupider than anyone else. I guess when you read this, you'll be able to decide for yourself.
Expect:
- My extrapolations on events if Gendo, rather than Yui had been chosen as the Test Pilot for the 2004 Contact Experiment.
- A look at the darker cloak-and-dagger fighting that assuredly was taking place beneath the surface.
- Mental effects of losing the father rather than the mother upon Shinji as well as Rei's place in the world.
- A few other things.
It's flameable, but different and I pride myself on not being thin-skinned anyway.
By Cryshalo
\\~~~~//
The Third Testament
Second Apocrypha
Concordo
Preface
September, 2017
It's been a long time. It hasn't been pleasant; in fact it's been a nightmare. We rose like God's and suffered on that scale. Someone has to tell this story, and I guess it's fallen to me. I'm sorry, I know prefaces usually last at least a few paragraphs and sound intelligent. But I don't know what to say.
We stood, we hurt, we died. And some of us are left standing to try and move on. For those that aren't, this is for you.
Shinji Ikari, Third Child
\\~~~~//
Prologue.
\\~~~~//
July 7, 2015
"Asuka!" yelled the unshaven guardian. "Asuka! Get back here!"
As the girl heard the voice of her young love her eyes widened. The power of her strides sent a fiery mane lashing out as if a banner of her presence. "I'm coming, Kaji!" she trilled from across the greens. "Wait for me!" Grass bent under her imperious treads as she made her way across the greens of the courtyard.
"Hurry, Asuka," urged the anxious agent beside the emergency elevator. The beautiful red-head slammed into him full-tilt, throwing him against the rear wall of the chamber. With jagged pain lancing up the nerves of his back he slammed his palm upon the control panel. The gates slid shut and internal lighting sprang on. Lights indicating the many floors of the base flew past as they descended into the base.
"Well, what's the big rush?" she asked with a touch of petulance. "Not that I don't mind being with you," she said before pausing with a lovely smile, "but I was enjoying myself up there."
Kaji had no touch of play in him now, however. "It's begun. They want you to watch," he informed with barely a whisper.
Asuka frowned and searched Kaji's eyes. "What's started?" she asked, the beginnings of anxiety colouring her voice. Legendary for his calm under fire, Kaji Ryouji was not one to ever panic, let alone show it. When the lion feels the need to run from danger, wise creatures did the same, though in different directions.
"Angels," was all he said and Asuka understood his concern. For so long the threat of the Angels had been an abstract concern, now all too real.
The doors of the elevator opened up onto their floor and Kaji led his charge at a breakneck pace through the labyrinth of passages and offices. Past startled staffers and rushing technicians he led young Asuka by the hand and arrived at the Senior Conference Room. Not bothering to knock he opened the door and gestured for Asuka to enter. Once past the steel threshold of the room she was in a darkened room, lit only by the flicker and glare of numerous monitors and displays upon the wall. The senior officials of NERV Germany were present and watching the largest display at the fore of the room with manic intensity.
It was easy to tell why. Evangelion Unit-01 had just made it's appearance on the surface.
"Unit-01, deploy Progressive Knife and prepare to engage," came a tinny voice from the speakers. The Ops Director, Asuka guessed.
"I'm ready," replied the Pilot.
"Third Child," whispered Asuka, mainly to herself. Son of the NERV-Japan Commander. Time to see if this appointment was nepotism in action or a valid choice.
"Combat Operations are approved. Captain Katsuragi, you have TacCom."
"The Commander," whispered Asuka again, this time with far more awe and anxiety. There were rumours about the people who earn the Commander's ire. Rumours that all to often contained disturbing phrases. Like 'well, he's in a better place now'.
"Acknowledged. Unit-01, engage the Third Angel."
"Aye."
There was a palpable sense of worry and fear in the Third Childs voice and Asuka let herself sneer. But she had to wonder, what would she have felt, facing down this creature. And what was it that the Third Children truly felt?
//~~~~\\
"Unit 01, engage the Third Angel."
Easy for you to say Misato, you just have a little image on a screen. I have … this monstrosity filling my vision, thought Shinji as he levelled his gaze upon Sachiel.
"Aye," replied Shinji quietly before he bent his mind to the task. The Prog Knife hummed in his hand, he could feel the vibrations dimly. Sachiel began to close and Shinji rushed forward. He stabbed down with the knife, aiming for that red jewel of a core. No such luck, Sachiel pulled back with disturbing limberness and snapped an arm forward, grasping Unit-01's head. Much of Shinji's vision blanked out by the hand and he gasped at the quick reversal.
He threw his head back and his arms up and with the grace of trains colliding the grip was broken. As Sachiel's hand was swept back the pulse of energy that had been building discharged against a building as it steadied itself. The apartment block collapsed in ruin, smoke and debris whistling away from the blast. The street was filled with a haze of rising smoke and Shinji's heart hammered in his chest.
If that had hit my head… Shivering with fear, Shinji pushed that thought aside.
"Watch out Pilot Ikari, it's got that little weapon on either hand, so be careful if you grapple," informed one of the technicians.
If I close with him I'm going to have holes knocked out of me! worried Shinji. "Right," he answered quickly, trying to regain his bearing. "Let's try that again," he whispered.
The monster before acted first though. As the Prog Knife came around the Angel's own hands knocked it away to career off into another building just to Shinji's right. It tore out a great swath of destruction as it tumbled down and more smoke entered the street brawl. Shinji screamed in pain feeling fingers break under the assault. The next blow felt like a pile driver as it landed upon his chest, knocking him back a few paces. Gasping for breath Shinji curled up in his seat.
The Angel's eyes flared and then there was light; searing light that scoured out a path of destruction along the thoroughfare, with Shinji in it's midst. His agonised scream carried over the speakers of the Command Bridge as his Eva was knocked to the ground, to screech back dozens of metres, landing some distance from the Angel. Ears ringing with the pain and eyes wanted to force themselves shut as Shinji tried to recover.
The Angel walked over and reached out to grab him by the head.
Inside NERV, the Commander sprang up from the seat at the upper command dais and screamed out "Fight it, Shinji!"
With the entry plug of Unit-01, Shinji heard the call through the pain and looked at the display of Headquarters and the upright commander; the black uniform the tinted glasses, the powerful presence. He growled abruptly and his hands rose up to challenge the Angel before him. Grip and counter grip was made and with a strained grunt of exertion, Shinji ripped his arms free. Pain flared as his arms loosed themselves from the enemy grip and he cried out.
With pain slowly driving out his normal mindset, Shinji was increasingly seeing red as his breathing grew increasingly ragged. His right arm came free with the most power and it shot behind Shinji, pawing the ground, raising up a cloud of dust and debris as it shot behind up, coming up with fingers curled, ready to choke and strangle and decimate an enemy. The crouching Eva braced itself as the Angel recoiled, one arm broken.
He spared a glance for the image of the commander. "Yes, mother."
Standing upon the command dais in Central Dogma with a grey-haired loyal Sub-Commander on her right stood Commander Ikari. And as the right hand of Unit-01 came around with renewed fury before the awed presence of the bridge's technicians, Yui smiled.
\\~~~~//
End Prologue.
\\~~~~//
Authors Notes.
Well, here's an exploration in a different direction. I don't think I've seen this concept arise before, but maybe that's just because I'm far stupider than anyone else. I guess when you read this, you'll be able to decide for yourself.
Expect:
- My extrapolations on events if Gendo, rather than Yui had been chosen as the Test Pilot for the 2004 Contact Experiment.
- A look at the darker cloak-and-dagger fighting that assuredly was taking place beneath the surface.
- Mental effects of losing the father rather than the mother upon Shinji as well as Rei's place in the world.
- A few other things.
It's flameable, but different and I pride myself on not being thin-skinned anyway.