At least the delay wasn't as long as last time. Well, what can I say? I was the first to get over 300 reviews for his Evangelion story. Thanks y'all.

-Chapter 27-

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*NERV Briefing Room"

The infamous Commander Gendo Ikari, Doctor Ritsuko Akagi and Major Katsuragi stood around a large rectangular table. It was the only source of light in the room and served to illuminate their faces.

"When did we lose contact with Unit 01?" Gendo said as he re-adjusted his glasses.

"Approximately thirty minutes ago." Ritsuko replied as she studied a written report.

Misato's patience was really starting to run thin. "Sir, why did you call us here when we should be putting our resources towards getting Unit 01 and it's pilot back?"

Gendo turned to face doctor Akagi and nodded. Understanding the unspoken command, Ritsuko walked around the table to Misato and handed her a sheet of paper.

Glancing all the way down the information on the page, Misato's eyes widened as she began to comprehend what had been presented to her. On retrospect however, her surprised look turned in to a frown.

"And exactly what does this have to do with the operation?"

The Commander didn't answer, meanwhile Ritsuko handed her yet another sheet of information.

After reading it Misato looked at the commander and than at Ritsuko. "Why wasn't I told about this?"

"You would have been told once it had been put to use." Commander Ikari stated. "But it seems that with recent developments we'll have to accelerate it's completion."

"How is Shinji meant to put this to use?" Misato asked as she looked at the Commander and then at Ritsuko. "He doesn't even know about it."

"The S2 unit is remote activated." Ritsuko informed her.

Misato raised an eyebrow.

---

*NERV Employee Lounge"

Asuka and Rei were sat on a bench in one of the employee lounges scattered around HQ. Asuka kept her eyes down on the floor and Rei stared forward in to empty space.

"Pilot Sohryu?"

"…"

"I…" Rei's eyes became downcast. "I'm sorry."

Asuka finally acknowledged her. "Rei… just… shut up…" The statement seemed awfully ironic, as Rei barely spoke most of the time anyway.

The solemnly quiet mood was broken by the arrival of Misato.

"Okay you two, suit up!"

Rei stood up and faced the major. Asuka murmured something under her breath but didn't get up.

"C'mon Asuka!"

"What's the point?" She sighs. "I couldn't even save Shinji…"

"That's exactly what we're going to try and do now." Misato said, hoping to encourage the red head. "We've come up with a plan to get him back."

A moment passed before Asuka looked up at Misato. "For Shinji… I'll help."

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*Tokyo 3 Battle Ground*

Evangelions 00 and 02 stood mere meters away from the circular shadow, which had now stopped moving and expanding. It had reached a diameter of over 600 meters, and had swallowed up a large portion of the city.

An even more peculiar thing about the scene was that Asuka's red Evangelion was holding what appeared to be a fishing rod complete with line, and some peculiar looking apparatus serving as the bait, over the Angel.

"Okay guys." Misato's voice came in through the comm. "I'm going to go over the plan one more time, just to make sure there are no more screw ups."

Asuka grumbled a bit. "Shoot."

"Asuka, using the modified line you have been issued, you will lower the transceiver in to the Dirac See from above. With that we should be able to regain contact with Unit 01."

Asuka's tired expression became more hopeful for a moment.

"What about me?" Rei asked quietly.

"Rei, you will remain on standby in case something goes wrong." Misato concluded.

"I don't need her help." Asuka stated boldly, her anger and pride re-ignited. "I can rescue Shinji all on my own!"

"No one doubts your ability Asuka." Her expression hardened. "Now, let's commence the operation!"

With that said, Evangelion unit 02 began to lower the colossal apparatus slowly in to the Angel's shadow.

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*NERV Cell block*

Kensuke and Jason sat despondently on the bench in their cell. One of the guards who patrolled outside had been kind enough to inform them that an Angel was attacking HQ, but he had not revealed any other details about the battle, so they had no idea how it was going.

"This sucks!" Kensuke proclaimed.

The older man grunted in reply.

"The ultimate battle in the history of mankind is in the midst above us and we're locked up in this cell…"

The man grunted again.

"This sucks…"

---

*Inside the 12th*

The endless void was absent of all matter, save for the purple Evangelion that now floated aimlessly, lost without power, and without a means of escape.

Acting on his training, Shinji had switched to minimal life support mode, in hope of expanding the span of his life.

He sighed. "I never thought that doing nothing could be this exhausting…"

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*Tokyo 3 Battle Ground*

The red Evangelion continued to lower the giant apparatus in to the angel, until the line stopped moving and she heard a click.

"This is Unit 02." Asuka said. "The line has reached its end."

"Alright." Misato replied. "Activate the transceiver."

Flicking the switch, Asuka activated the machine that was now also submerged in the Angel.

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*NERV Control Room*

"When the link is established, I want the feed sent directly to this control room." Gendo commanded.

"Yes sir." Turning back to the main viewing screen Misato ordered the technicians to start transmitting.

Everyone held his or her breath for a few moments before Misato spoke up again. "Is there any response?"

"None yet Major." Hyuga replied.

"It's not working?" She asked.

"It's too early to say." Shigero said. "We don't know what kind of distance the signal has to travel before it reaches its target."

Just as he finished saying that, a small window opened on one of the computer screens, they had succeeded.

"Major, I think you should come to take a look at this." Maya said and Misato made her way over to the monitor.

"It's Shinji!"

"Yeah…" Maya noted the readings that were only now, starting to come through.

"What's wrong with him?" Misato asked her.

"Nothing…" Maya looked up at the major. "He's awake… he's just got his eyes closed."

Turning to Shigero, Misato asked if it was possible to speak to him.

"Yes… although there would be a 20 seconds or so delay between the time when the signal is sent and by the time it reaches its destination."

"Alright… put me through."

Shigero nodded a few seconds later, confirming that a visual audio link had been established both ways.

"Shinji." Misato began. "Can you hear me?"

---

*Unit 01's Entry plug*

Shinji was resting in his entry plug. He had pretty much lost hope of a rescue, and was now quietly recalling the more memorable events from the past month or so…

That was until he heard the sound signalling that a line of communication had been established.

"Shinji? Can you hear me?"

"Misato?"

He waited for over 40 seconds before he heard a response.

"Listen Shinji, it is difficult for us to communicate so I want you to listen to what I have to say." Her voice was firm. "There is a possibility that we might be able to get you out, but for that to work you'll need to synchronize with your Eva."

"But I'll have less than a minute of power left…"

Again, there was a timely pause before he heard Misato's voice again.

"Don't worry about that…"

"Alright… here goes…"

---

*NERV Control Room*

"The Eva's been activated!" Hyuga said aloud.

Misato looked back at Gendo who stood up and nodded to Doctor Akagi. She typed something in to a remote terminal and then took a step back, returning her attention to the main viewer.

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*Unit 01's Entry plug*

Shinji surveyed the timer inside his Eva as the seconds ticked by. Suddenly, right before his eyes, the countdown stopped and re-sets itself to 8hours, 88minutes and 88seconds.

"What the hell?" He asks.

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*NERV Control Room*

"It worked!" Ritsuko said facing Gendo Ikari.

"Good."

"What the hell?" Shinji's voice came in over the comm.

"Don't worry Shinji." Misato said absently as she looked back at Doctor Akagi. "What now?"

"Well you see… the Sea of Dirac that has enclosed unit 01 is basically space that exists within an inverted AT field." Ritsuko explained. "If Unit 01 raises it's own AT field from inside, it should neutralise the Angel."

"Okay!" Turning her attention back to the comm., Misato relayed the information to Shinji.

---

*Unit 01's Entry plug*

"So I should just expand my AT field?" Shinji asked, and waited patiently for a reply to come.

"Yeah, we're not sure what will happen after that but this is the best we can do."

"Here goes nothing…" He muttered as he closed his eyes and concentrated.

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*Tokyo 3 Battle Field*

Asuka was starting to get agitated. Rei, as usual was keeping silent, so that and the fact that she had been cut off from HQ was starting to get to her.

"Rei, what's going on?" She asked annoyed. "I've been holding this damn thing for twenty minutes."

"I do not kn-" Rei didn't finish her sentence, as the ground began to shake, almost making her Eva tip over.

"What the hell?" Asuka said in disbelief, as the colossal sphere that stood before her began to vibrate and shudder. She struggled to hold on to the apparatus, and the line suddenly snapped, making it plunge fully in to the shadow.

"Scheisse!" Asuka cursed as she began to back away from the Angel.

Cracks began to form on the Angel with blood poring forth. The whole sphere was now pulsing, and the shadow itself was changing colour.

"Holy crap!" Asuka screamed, when without warning, the Angel exploded in a giant cloud of blood.

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*NERV Control Room*

"Status Report!" Misato yelled.

"The Angel has been destroyed!"

"What about Unit 01?"

"I'm not getting any readings!" Maya exclaimed as she studied her monitor.

"AT Field detected!" Makoto yelled. "Patter Orange! It's Unit 01!"

---

As the scene of the exploding Angel began to clear, the dark outline of the massive purple Evangelion started to become visible.

Far above the city, the mistral form of cloud cupid could be seen watching over the battleground.

"Now I've found you…"

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-To be Continued-

Well, there it goes… I think that it was different enough from what happened in the show. I promise it won't be too long before the next update…

C ya Later!