Disclaimer: Evangelion does not belong to me. It belongs to GANIX and ADVision. Squat would probably happen to me if this wasn't here but whatever.

Note: If there is anyone who for whatever reason likes my story then sorry for the delay. For some reason I got out of Eva then my friends wanted to watch it and so here's the next chapter. Oh well, I hope none of you guessed what the 2nd scenario was but here it is now.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Part 7: Press 'Start' to begin 'The Second Scenario'

"So, I heard your bunkin' with Ayanami" the 4th child emphasized the name

"Yeah, so?"

"So...c'mon, everyone knows ya look" he made a goofy face

Shinji jumped out of his desk at the accusation "Jah...What is that supposed to mean?"

"C'mon, ya gotta be a ladies man. First you live with Misato, then you date Asuka, regardless of the bitch she is that's how they come, and now Ayanami! Tell me you don't know what I'm sayin"

"Yeah, c'mon Shinji tell us" the puberty-infected voice urged

"I-it's not like that"

"C'mon, Asuka's depressed every since ya came to ma house, no way you just left. The devil wouldn't cry at something pitiful like that" he jammed a thumb in the red-heads direction

"N-no really, it's not like that!"

"Your no fun" Toji crossed his arms and awaited the ever recurring questions from Kensuke

"Yeah...So...Toji, what's it like to pilot an Eva?" he spat the words out so fast they were just audible

"It's weird" it seemed like he had this rehearsed

"Like how weird?"

"I don know, ask Shinji, he's done this more then me" he shrugged

"Yeah Shinji, what's it like?" the boy had no problem with bugging Shinji

"Oh, it's...different, you can feel the stuff happening but...it's not really happening. It's like one big VR game"

"Wow" he had received this answer many times but it never ceased to amaze him

"Why didja 'cide to do it Toji? After what happened before" the 3rd and 4th child had already informed Kensuke of the mishap "If you didn't pilot...I could!"

"Yeah, Toji. Why did you decide to pilot that thing again?" this was the first time the question had been brought up

This had never been asked before and Toji didn't feel like answering it "I-I just did!"

"Alright, stand up!" the class rep interrupted

Like soldiers the students stood "Now Bow!" they followed "Sit down" the students sat down at their leisure

The blind teacher got up to the front of the room, adjusting his glasses as he did so "Alright...It has come to my attention that 'A midsummer nights dream' is unable to retain any of yours. As such we shall read 'Nobunaga's desire'" what this actually meant was that he would read, as it was in Japanese, while they dozed off into their pleasant dreams of other places.

***

The bell rang to interrupt the unneeded history lesson, indicating it was time for the students to feed themselves. The 3 stooges had retreated to the rooftop they used so often. Their lunches just about finished their mouths were free to talk.

"Seriously Toji, I know that you wouldn't want to pilot the Eva so..." Shinji wanted to know why his friend made such an important decision the way he did

"Just drop it Shinji" Toji interrupted and silenced

"Wow, so ahh, do you guys know if there's going to be another attack?"

"No" Shinji turned from Toji to Kensuke "We thought the one before last was going to be the last one"

"That's weird, my dad's files don't even have any info on the attacks. It says they were supposed to stop a long time ago"

"There were supposed to be 17 but after the last one no ones sure"

"Yeah, we still have to go through synch tests almost every day, those things are the most tedious tests ever. It's always the same thing, sit. Concentrate. Get scores. Leave."

"They're not that bad, as long as it keeps them from yelling"

"What are you talking about? They're like 5 hours of sitting in a tube being berated by Asuka"

"I guess..." the 3rd child choose to retreat for now before being interrupted by his roommate

"Shinji, Pilot Suzuhara. Our presence is demanded at headquarters. Will you two be leaving shortly?"

"Uh, uh, I'll be right there" Shinji contemplated what to do for a moment before dumping the contents of his lunch onto Kensuke's lap

"Eew, what am I supposed to do with..." his speech was interrupted by the remnants of Toji's lunch landing on his head "Ahhhh!"

***

The trio found themselves at NERV headquarters before they would have had to be in class. They hadn't run into Asuka along the way but Shinji liked it better that way. The entire headquarters had been placed on first level alert and the children were quickly hurried off towards the change room. Seemingly waiting for them was the second child; Asuka Langley.

"Well 3rd child, better late then never?" she flashed her smirk at him before preparing to leave "Glad you showed up"

"You could've stayed at school, you never help with the angels" his voice was uncharacteristically cold as he continued towards his specified change room, not allowing his ex to get in the last word

"Jeez, wasn't that a bit harsh?" the 4th child withdrew his plug suit from his locker, removing his clothes afterwards

"Let's just get this over with" Shinji had already discarded his school clothes for his plug suit

"A'kay Shinji, I guess it's yours to deal with..." Toji pushed the button to tighten his suit and followed his friend to the cage

The four selected children were loaded into their entry plugs and prepared for insertion. All the restraints were removed and the Evas prepared for lift-off. Before the inevitable battle was to begin Misato came over the intercom to brief them of the situation.

"Alright everyone, we have just received visual confirmation of the target; the 19th angel"

'19? This is 18 if Kowaru was right" Shinji found it hard to trust what Misato was saying but continued listening

"Now the target is similar in shape to a Eva"

"An Eva, a single Eva?!" Asuka couldn't hold the wonder out of her voice

"Do not doubt your enemies Asuka. Now, Rei and Shinji have the highest sync ratios so they will be taking the lead with Asuka and Toji remaining here as backup"

"What! Why do I have to be backup. I can do a better job then Shinji!"

"Asuka, your sync ratio has yet to recover. This is to big of a risk to allow you to take the lead"

"...Fine" she grinded her teeth for a moment, smiting her commander and guardian

"Alright then! Time to launch!"

After Misato gave the command the two Evas chosen to lead the attack were simultaneously released on the surface. The towers had finished retreating to the Geofront. The battlefield was ready. The second scenario was about to begin.

"Ayanami?" Shinji's tone held worry for his friend

"Yes Pilot Ikari?" hers' was monotonous as always

"We're gonna make it back"

"Why would you say something like that?"

"I want us both to make it back, I-I will...watch your back"

"I, too, will re-inforce you"

"Alright you two, the angel will arrive in 60 seconds"

"Alright Misato"

"I am ready Major Katsuragi"

There would be no surprises this time. The two had a clear view for where the angel would arrive. A full minute passed then, as informed, the angel arrived. It's skin was smooth but no doubt hard. Its arms were paper-thin but long. The legs were proportional but looked as though they may not be able to lift this thing.

The pilots made the first move; Shinji pelted a volley of bullets at it while Rei made her way behind it. Shinji's gun ran out of ammo before Rei had started her blast. Her gun was readied but the brief break had allowed the angel to use its razor arms to cleave the gun in half forcing Rei to evade to the side. Shinji was at least 200 feet away from his target but it was more then able to extend it's arms to cleave the gun in Unit 01's hands. The angel brought its hands back, choosing to stab himself with them. It cleaved itself in 2, splitting apart. The angel's 2 sides then recovered their lost forms, making 2 angels for the pilots to deal with.

***

"Shit!" Misato cursed after seeing the angel's first move

"What should I do ma'am?" her admirer wanted to know

"Launch Unit 02 and Unit 15!"

***

The angel had separated the two pilots. It arms were unbelievably powerful, able to cleave through the Eva's armor in just once slice. The battle seemed grim but the remaining Evas were dispatched to turn the tide.

"Alright Shinji! I knew you couldn't do this by yourself!" the proud Asuka quickly drew her own gun and lined up Shinji's angel "Watch how easy this is!"

Asuka didn't wait for Shinji to get out of the way but he managed to. The redheaded vixen was about to pull the trigger until the razor sharp arm cleaved her gun in half to.

***

"Dammit! It seems to be able to recall what these things do so it won't let them use it anymore!"

"Major Katsuragi, we could send them a positron lance" Ibuki suggested

"Not yet, let's save that for a last resort. We should try to keep a distance away from this creature"

"Y'know Misato, we may have to use my..." Ritsuko attempted to suggest

"Listen Ritsuko, it's not that I don't trust you it's just that...I don't want to use it without testing it"

"I understand"

"I've got it!"

***

The Eva pilots had broken into two groups; male and female. Toji was the closet to the supply points, which popped open.

"Toji, take the pistol and fire a shot at the angel" the voice of his crushed appeared over his intercom

"Yes ma'am" Toji, being an inexperienced child, had to walk slowly towards the pistol

The angel had discarded Shinji to the ground, beginning to charge towards Toji. The scared child pulled the trigger once, the bullet hitting the angel directly in the core. Toji pulled the trigger again but this time the angel extended it's arm to both block the bullet and slice off Unit 15's arm.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!" the 4th child screamed loudly in pain despite the voice of Misato telling him that it wasn't his arm

***

"Dammit!" Dr. Akagi swore at this turn of events "Bring it back! Now!"

"We can't, the Eva is nowhere near a launch pad!"

"Shit!" Misato clenched her fists at the sight before recomposing herself "Alright, we need to send a lance and any shield to the pilots"

"What are you planning Major?" Ritsuko was demanding more then asking

"You'll see"

***

Asuka was finding it hard to perform all the stunts she was able to when she had her ratios up to normal. Her Eva had been grazed by the attacks many times but she still had not been directly hit. However when the 4th child was immobilized her guard had been let down. The angel took advantage of this, using its razor arms to stab Asuka in both of hers'. She screamed, demanding that Rei help her but her partner was now found closer to Ikari. Despite her screaming she was still able to hear the plan that was being formed.

"Alright you two, the angel seems to allow itself to be attack once, then the weapon is useless. Because of this we feel it important to use a positron lance. Rei, you will take the shield and distract the angel while Shinji takes the lance and stabs the angel, thereby eradicating it. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am"

A small shield popped up beside a long lance. Rei was closer to the items and choose to throw the lance to Shinji while she picked up the shield. The angel was charging Shinji but the 1st child distracted it with an attack with the shield. The angel spun and used its arms to try to pierce Rei but the shield managed to hold. Shinji took hold of the lance and approached the angel from behind. Raising it high above the head he prepared to bring it down on the angel but was halted when he heard Asuka.

"Shinji! Help me please!"

Shinji glanced over, finding that the angel had removed the protective coating of Unit 02, attempting to smash it's power crystal. He paused for a moment, recalling the words of Kowaru.

You must make a choice. It will affect everything

He looked back and forth. Like his dream they were the same two girls and like the dream he had to make a choice then and there. There was Asuka who was in dire straits and Rei, who was being covered well. Shinji contemplated for a moment before taking a few steps in Asuka's direction.

***

"What? Are you sure?" Misato questioned one of the messengers sent to her

"I'm sorry ma'am but I don't know much more then that"

"Go find out then!"

"Yes ma'am"

"You heard him Hyuga. If this is true then prepare the launch deck"

"Understood"

***

Asuka was relieved. Had Shinji forgiven her? Could they live happily again? Could she have peace once more? All questions were answered when the 3rd child turned again, heaving the lance at the angel attacking Rei. He readied himself for the attack as the angel flailed, finally breaking Unit 14's shield. When the shield fell Rei was off balance and fell to all fours. The began swinging it's arms and with it's last motion it would cleave off Unit 14's head. Shinji made the same choice as he had two times before and leapt to push Rei out of the way. However, while Rei was saved and the angel dead, Unit 01 had gone silent.

Rei slowly got up. The first thing she saw was that Asuka was no longer trying to defend herself. The clone sprinted towards the angel, drawing its prog knife on it. It stabbed it in the side, using the momentum to lift it off of Asuka. The pilot of Unit 02 did not bother lifting her Eva off the ground, leaving Unit 14 and it's pilot to fight the last angel. Rei threw the knife but the angel broke it. Unit 14 threw a kick into the head of the angel but had its foot sliced off. Before it could fall the angel made it go silent by dismembering it.

***

"No! It-we, we failed..." Ritsuko slammed her hands upon the control panels, grumbling something underneath her breath

"Maybe not" Misato still held a confident look in her eyes

"How can you say that?"

"Don't worry, besides you'll get to see your invention"

"What?"

"Just watch"

***

The angel stepped over towards where the 4th angel had drilled through the ground, choosing that place to start it's decent. It used its arms to dig through the ground and then to cleave the metal when it reached it. It had reached the first barrier when it had been sliced in the back. It stumbled forward, turning around after. Before it stood another Eva with a much larger prog knife, more like a sword, in it's hands. The angel attack with both its arms on a level plane but the Eva leveled the sword, which easily reduced the arms to nothing. The new Eva then sprinted to the angel and stabbed through the angel's core, causing it to go silent.

***

"I-I'm sorry Misato" Shinji bowed low to his superior, apologizing for the battle before. Behind him stood the rest of the Eva pilots

"Don't worry about it Shinji. Oh, by the way, meet your savior"

Another child appeared from the darkness, along with a man "Hello Shinji"

"Kowaru!?"

"Kaji!?"

***

Note: Okay I lied. You don't find out what the second scenario is but it does start. Anyway I hope this time the next chapter will be out soon. Later.