Chapter 13
Kensuke stepped out of the plane and walked down the air stair towards the waiting welcoming committee. Mist and Cayla followed, with Cayla maintaining a bit of distance between her and Kensuke (she was still embarrassed by what she saw and couldn't look at him without blushing. Mist had gotten over it rather quickly).
Kensuke step towards the man who was standing just in front of the others.
"Harris?" he asked.
The man nodded. "That would be me Director Aida. Welcome to England." He then glanced at Mist and Cayla. "And who might these be?"
"Mist and Cayla." replied Kensuke, indicating with his hand who was who.
"And what do they do?"
"Mist is……security." Kensuke said with a smile, "Cayla is in training."
"Very well." replied Harris with a nod, "Unfortunately, we must follow procedure. You will have to turn over your weapons."
Kensuke frowned. "But under UN laws……all UN personal do not have to surrender their weapons while in member countries."
"True." replied Harris. He then pointed at Mist and Cayla. "But they are not UN Personal." He motioned to two of his people. They walked towards Mist and Cayla.
Kensuke looked at the two Goddesses. "You ok with this?"
Cayla looked nervously at Mist who nodded. The first person searched Cayla, then looked at Harris. "She's clean."
The one who searched Mist was a bit more rough, and his hand got a bit more personal. Mist took exception to that and handled it quickly.
CRACK!
The man dropped as Mist's elbow shattered his jaw. The others present pulled out their guns, but Harris waved them down. He walked over and looked down at the man who was crying out in pain as he held his jaw.
"You're fired." He then looked up at Mist. "Very nicely done. Are you happy with your currently employment?"
"Very happy." replied Mist.
"Ah well…..my lose." Harris looked at Kensuke. "This way." Harris and his group headed towards a waiting VTOL, it's jets slowly winding up as they were started.
Kensuke began to follow, Mist and Cayla right behind him.
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"We found the base quite unexpectedly." began Harris as the VTOL raced over the English countryside. "We were handling a vermin problem that popped up in a local town and stumbled upon it. What is even more strange is the fact that no one seems to remember it's construction."
"Well how big is it?" asked Kensuke.
"We haven't yet fully explored it, but it seems to be the Geo Front's little brother."
Kensuke whistled. "That's big. So what was the vermin problem?"
"Ever heard of Ghouls?"
Kensuke frowned. "Ghouls? There's still Ghouls?"
"So long as the Nosferatu exist, there will always be Ghouls. But in this case, it was a freak chip."
"I didn't think they were still being produced."
"Neither did we, but they are, and God willing…we'll stop them."
Kensuke glanced back at the two goddesses. Neither one seemed to be paying attention to the conversation that he and Harris had been having, but you never know………
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The VTOL landed in a forest clearing on the outskirts of a town. Harris led the way into the forest. After walking a minute or two, they reached a large gate in a hillside that had been blown apart.
"Security here was rather tight." Harris pointed to a camera that had been blasted apart next to the gate. "They used retina and facial recognition to allow access. No second chances either."
"Oh?" asked Kensuke, "What happened if you failed?"
"You died." Harris pointed to two small hatches above the gate. "50 cal. Machine guns to kill off any trespassers. Rather interesting way to deter solicitors don't you agree?"
"Oh yeah…" Kensuke stared at the gun hatches, "They off?"
"Of course." replied Harris with a smile, "It wouldn't do for either of us to get shot now would it?"
Harris led the way through the gate into the entrance. They walked quickly through corridors, passing signs of battle along the way. Bullet holes riddled ways, some of which were accompanied by blood splatter. Along the floor was more blood, along with uniforms with a mysterious gray powder spilling from the arms and neck. Both Cayla and Mist stared at the gray substance, but while Cayla looked confused, Mist had a very serious look on her face. She looked up at Kensuke, concern in her eyes.
"This way." came Harris's voice. Kensuke turned and walked towards Harris. He was waiting beside an elevator. "It won't hold all of us, so we'll have to break up into two groups.
Mist immediately stepped forward. "I need to speak with Director Aida."
Harris nodded, "Very well, you can join us on the first trip."
Mist nodded then glanced at Cayla. She didn't say anything, but Kensuke saw recognition in Cayla's eyes. She nodded and began to look around. Kensuke joined Harris, Mist and 2 others in the elevator before the doors closed. Mist glanced at Harris, then looked at Kensuke. She muttered something softly.
Harris glanced at her, "What did you say?"
Mist ignored him and looked at Kensuke. "We can speak freely without them understanding."
Kensuke frowned, "What did you do?"
"I cast a small spell. For now you can understand and speak Old Norse." replied Mist, ignoring the confused looks of the others in the elevator. "Do you realize what those piles of dust were?"
"Ghouls if I'm not mistaken."
Mist eyed Kensuke, "You knew?"
Kensuke nodded, "He mentioned it on the ride in."
Mist looked about the elevator, "The stench of death is strong here." Her eyes then narrowed even more.
"Demons." She hissed.
"What the bloody hell are you two saying?!" shouted Harris.
"Nothing." replied Kensuke, "Nothing at all." However inside, Kensuke was very worried.
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Toyko-2
Hikari, Belldandy, and Asuka walked along the sidewalk towards the park. Well, Hikari and Belldandy walked, Asuka limped. Up ahead, Kirika and Mereille pulled Rei along, trying to get to the playground as fast as they could. Hikari watched them worriedly.
"Don't worry Hikari." said Asuka, "With Belldandy, Rei and me here, no one is going hurt them or you."
"How can you say that after she tossed you around the apartment?" asked Hikari.
"Ah I've been beat up worse by Lind." replied Asuka with a smile, "Don't worry about it. You should be more worried about what your going to make for dinner tonight."
Belldandy frowned, "I still don't like the idea of you cooking. You are a guest after all."
"We've been through this." replied Hikari, "You've been kind enough to let us stay, the least I can do is cook dinner for you."
"Just let her Belldandy." said Asuka, "She just as stubborn as you when it comes to paying back a favor."
"I am not stubborn!" muttered Belldandy.
"Yeah sure…." Asuka said with a laugh.
Across the street, a figure in black watched, and waited.
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Tokyo-2
A bar.
"HOW UGLY WAS SHE?!"
"She was as ugly as a tiger's hairball!" came the reply.
Several patrons turned and stared at the back corner of the bar.
"HOW UGLY?!"
"Ugly as a mud wrestler's navel!"
"HOW UGLY?!"
"Ugly as a pickled perverts promise!"
Several people got up and left the bar.
"THAT'S NOT UGLY!!"
"I'm telling you she was so damn ugly that the earth tried to quake and couldn't…….it just shivered. So ugly that five drunken sailors pretended they didn't see her. Two dog's relieved themselves on her until I came to her rescue, that's how ugly she was. She was so desperately ugly my zipper fused itself shut. And THAT, my gentle friends, is the gospel truth!"
Mara snickered from where she was sitting at the bar.
'Urd was right. This bar is great!'
"Hey barkeep!" shouted Mara, "Another Sake!"
"Yeah yeah." muttered the bartender, "Keep your shirt on."
"But if you don't we wouldn't mind at all!" came a holler from down the bar.
Mara rolled her eyes and looked in the opposite direction around the bar. The bar had the usual wall decorations, beer advertisements, sports memorabilia, even some UN Navy plaques that some sailors had 'borrowed' from their ships. Other patrons had seats either at the bar or in semi secluded booths. It was one of these booths that caught Mara's attention. Only one person sat in it, a woman. That in itself was not what she noticed. What she noticed was the red markings on the woman's face that announced her as a demon. Since Queen Hild had been keeping all the demons in hell except for a select few (Mara supposed her friendship with the Norns had something to do with her being one of the few), she knew this was one of the rogue demons. Mara was all set to make a phone call to have this one picked up when she got a better view of the demon, and recognized her. She grabbed her glass of sake that the bartender had finally refilled and walked over.
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Ceres sighed as she drank her beer. She had thought that working with SEELE would be a blast, like being a demon in the old days. But it had been anything but a blast. Sure she had gotten to create acts of chaos and mayhem, but only at the behest of SEELE. And then later at the behest of HER. Then the whole spaceship thing with Proserpine and her capture had left a sour taste in Ceres' mouth. That taste got even worse when she was introduced to 'Lucy'.
She wished she'd never heard of Lukas Keel now.
"WAITRESS!" she called out, "I need another pitcher!"
"Beer is the last thing you need to worry about."
Ceres turned her head and froze. Standing next to her table was a demon. It took her a second to recognize her.
"Mara?"
"Been a longtime Ceres." Mara said as she sat down across from the other demon.
"Not long enough." muttered Ceres, downing the last of her beer.
"I really should call you in," said Mara, "you being rogue and all."
"Go ahead." muttered Ceres, "I don't care anymore."
Mara frowned. "What do you mean you don't care?"
"Just that." replied Ceres, "it doesn't matter what I do or where I go…….I'm dead."
"I think you'd better do some talking."
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England
Harris led Kensuke, Mist, and Cayla into a rather spacious office. As he entered, a stench hit Kensuke's senses.
The stench of death.
The office was rather modest. The far wall was covered by metal slats, the side walls had shelves full of books, and in the middle of it all was a desk. On the floor were several puddles of dried blood.
The offices former owner was still there as well, sitting behind his desk. The corpse griped the arms of the chair tightly, it's head tilted back. The eyes were closed tightly while the mouth was opened wide in a soundless scream. Cayla stared in shock at the corpse, having never seen one before. Mist stared for a moment before exploring the rest of the office. Kensuke, however, was not shocked. He had seen this sight all to often now, starting with Commander Fuyutsuki.
"Director Aida," began Harris, "May I introduce to you Mr. Allison, formerly of SEELE." Harris stared at the corpse for a moment. "He's a bit on the silent side though so I doubt very much he'll give you any information."
"Not funny." Kensuke said.
Harris shrugged, "I've been in this business for along time. I seen many corpses in my time, perhaps to many."
Kensuke moved to the corpse's side of the desk and slowly pushed him out of the way so that he could search the desk.
"We've already been through it." Harris said, "There's nothing in there about SEELE's plans. Though we did find a few things of interest."
"Such as?"
Harris moved beside Kensuke and reached under the desk. A panel popped up on the desk, revealing a control display. Harris pressed a control. The office darkened and a monolith appeared in the middle of the room. Red letter's stated what it was.
SEELE 06.
"This is what anyone he talked to would see." said Harris.
"Can we trace the other members with this?" asked Kensuke.
"No." replied Harris, "The units history was wiped clean. We know he used it, but we just don't know who he contacted."
"Wouldn't he be contacted by SEELE?"
"You'd think so." replied Harris, "But it seems that they did a little house cleaning. SEELE is the reason this guy is dead."
"What?!"
Harris pressed several more controls. "Our friend here was apparently making the freak chips for his own profit. SEELE found out and dealt with him."
A smaller image of the office appeared in place of the monolith. In it Mr. Allison was alive and well and staring at the doorway.
"Paranoid our boy was." said Harris, "He recorded every thing that occurred in this office, other then the SEELE meetings."
"Have you seen this yet?" asked Kensuke.
Harris shook his head. "Once we discovered this was a SEELE base I immediately called you. The others have been busy securing the facility."
The office door in the image opened and in walked a brown haired demon and another figure. One in all black and wearing a helmet.
"That's the demon that attacked me in Washington." said Kensuke quietly, "and attacked Hikari."
Mist leaned closer to the image. "She's bleeding."
Kensuke looked at Mist. "What?"
Mist pointed. "Look at her side. She's bleed all along it." Mist frowned. "It looks like someone cut her with a sword."
"Mr. Allison." The brown haired demon said. "Keel is not very pleased with you."
"Keel can go to hell." replied Allison, "And so can you."
The brown haired demon sighed. "Now you've done it, you've gone and made me unhappy." She turned to the armored figure beside her. "Lucy dear, you know what your to do."
Lucy nodded and left the room. Allison frowned.
"Where is she going?"
The brown haired demon smiled. "You know what happens when a freak feeds? Well, You seem to have collected a few in your basement. Lucy will be freeing them."
Allison paled. "Are you mad?! There must be hundreds of ghouls! They'll turn everyone on this base into Ghouls!"
The demon smiled, "Not quite." She walked directly to his desk and leaned over it. "I have something special in mind for you."
The demon pressed her hand against Allison's chest. Her hand began to glow. Allison began to scream an inhuman scream.
Cayla could watch anymore, she closed her eyes and covered her ears, trying to block out the sound. Kensuke, Mist, and Harris stared wide eyed as Allison's body jerked one finally time before coming to rest in the position they found it in. The brown haired demon let out a sigh of satisfaction and left the room. The recording continued on a bit longer, accompanied by screams from the hallway. Finally Harris turned it off.
"That….demon." Mist said, in shock, "She…..removed his soul!"
Harris looked at Mist and then looked at Kensuke.
"What's this demon nonsense?" he asked.
"That was a demon." Kensuke said, "Two demons actually."
Harris laughed. "Not this demon nonsense again. You UN types are hung up on ancient religious icons. Just like SEELE, Goddesses, demons……Hah!"
Kensuke looked at Harris curiously. "Aren't you hung up on religious icons as well?"
"That's different." replied Harris, "Ours exist. Your so called 'Angels' are dead and have been dead for the past 22 years."
Kensuke crossed his arms. "I don't see a difference. How do you explain how he died?" He pointed at the corpse.
Harris shrugged. "There could have been a small electronic device in her hand. A good shock would produce the same effect."
Kensuke rolled his eyes. He was about to say something else when the sound of gunfire came from the hallway. Everyone turned as a soldier burst through the office door.
"Sir!" the soldier shouted, "The Ghouls! There on their way here! We're trapped!"
Harris frowned. "I thought we had eliminated the Ghouls."
"We did sir." replied the soldier, "But we were searching some of the other areas on this level and found a bunch more."
"Damn." Harris turned towards Kensuke. "Looks like we'll have to leave this area for now."
"Sir we can't"
Harris looked back at the soldier. "Why not?"
"The Ghouls have taken over the elevator. Powers been turned off to keep the Ghouls on this level. Back-up is on the way, but it will take them about a half hour to get down here."
Harris paled slightly. "How many troops are left?"
"Only a squad sir. 12 men."
"Damn." muttered Harris. He pulled out his hand gun. "I won't go down without a fight."
"That may not be necessary." stated Kensuke with a slight smile.
Harris looked at Kensuke confused. "What do you mean?"
Kensuke turned and looked at Mist. "Feeling frisky Commander?"
Mist smiled. Her entire body glowed for a second, blinding everyone present. Went the light faded, Mist was standing before them in her Valkyrie armor.
Harris was speechless. Mist crossed her arms and lowered her head as a circle of light appeared below her. Smoke surrounded her as she vanished into the circle. Then the circle vanished.
Harris turned and looked at Kensuke.
"What the bloody hell is going on here?"
Kensuke shrugged. "Maybe you should rethink your opinion on the existence of Goddesses."
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Mist reappeared in a hallway behind a bunch of soldiers who were blasting away at an army of Ghouls marching on their location. She flicked her hand slightly and a short sword appeared in it. Mist let a small smile creep across her face as she looked at her sword. The sword had been given to her when she had become a Valkyrie, 900 years ago. And this would be her first chance to use it in 600 years. She looked up and started charging at the Ghouls. One of the soldiers looked up at her.
"Hey lady! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Mist let out a cry, something that hadn't been heard by mortal ears in 7 centuries.
The Valkyrie battle cry.
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Tokyo-2
Park
Belldandy and Hikari sat on a bench, watching as Kirika and Mereille played with Asuka and Rei. Kirika was trying to push Asuka on a swing while the German girl laughed, while Rei pushed Mereille on another swing.
"They'll make good parents." Hikari said with a smile.
"Perhaps." replied Belldandy, "One day."
Hikari looked over at Belldandy. "What are you thinking about?"
"Sayoko." Belldandy didn't take her eyes off the two children. "Wondering if we'll find her, if she'll find someone, if……" Belldandy paused for a moment. She then grabbed Hikari and leaped from the bench, moving faster then the 60 years she looked.
"Belldandy!? What…" was all Hikari said before the bench they were sitting on exploded. Belldandy and Hikari hit the ground and tumbled.
"MOMMA!" cried out Kirika.
Hikari looked up to see her kids running to her. Asuka and Rei were looking around the park. Belldandy was back on her feet, her entire body glowing. When the light had faded, Belldandy was in her battle outfit. All signs of age had faded from her face and she once again looked to be 21.
"Where the hell is it?" asked Asuka, frantically looking around.
"I don't know." said Belldandy, "I can't sense anything."
"Me either." added Rei, "And I can't get a hold of Shinji or Touji
"Asuka." ordered Belldandy, "Teleport Hikari and the girls out of here."
"But…" Asuka began to protest, but she stopped when Belldandy glared at her.
"You're still recovering." She said. "Go."
Asuka scooped up the girls then looked at Hikari. "Grab on Hikari."
Hikari grabbed hold of Asuka's arm and all four of them vanished. They reappeared a few seconds later and tumbled to the ground.
"What the hell!" shouted Asuka.
"It's blocking us." muttered Rei, "A demon shouldn't be able to do that."
"It shouldn't." replied Belldandy, her eyes still darting around, looking for their attacker, "But it…." Belldandy suddenly raised her staff and fired. A figure leaped out of a bush just before it froze. The figure landed on the ground in a crouch and stared at them through the visor of her helmet.
"Well well." muttered Asuka, "My dancing partner is back."
Belldandy aimed her staff again, but before she could fire, the demon fired off several force bolts. One clipped Belldandy, shattering her staff and sending her flying. Another just missed Hikari, who was pulled out of the way by Asuka. The last was blocked by Rei who then charged at the demon. The demon ducked Rei's first punch and countered with a kick. Rei leaped and flipped out of the way of the foot. The demon through herself at Rei and soon both were tumbling along the ground. Somehow the demon ended up on Rei's back, her arms wrapped around Rei's neck in a choke hold. Rei tried to break the grip the demon had on her, but the demon was too strong. Black spots began to fill Rei's vision. In a last ditch move, Rei swung her arm back, slamming her elbow into the visor of the demon's helmet. The visor shattered, revealing the demon's entire face and causing the demon to loose her grip on Rei. Rei let out a gasp as her lungs filled with oxygen. She then rolled away as the demon stood back up. There was a collective gasp from Asuka, Hikari, and Belldandy as they saw the demon's face.
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Bar
Mara stared at Ceres in shock and horror.
"But she can't be…."
Ceres downed a beer glass. "You wish she was. But she isn't. She's alive."
Mara shook her head, still not believing it. "Hild is going to throw the biggest fit in history."
"I know." Ceres stared at her beer glass. "It gets worse though."
Mara looked at Ceres. "How can it get worse?"
"While Proserpine and I were playing with that spaceship…..She was busy working on a new…….recruit."
Mara waited patiently for Ceres to continue.
"She 'trained' her." added Ceres, "You know…I thought the stories about her were just that…..stories. But what I saw….." Ceres shook her head. "…it made me sick." Ceres looked at Mara. "You know she even renamed her 'Lucy'? After Lucifer? Only fitting……him being a fallen angel and all. I suppose it was her idea of a joke."
Mara's face paled as realization dawned on her what Ceres was saying.
"Ceres." Mara said calmly, "What are you saying?"
"What are you that dense?" asked Ceres, "Lucy is…."
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Kensuke, Cayla, and Harris watched the massacre in awe. The Ghouls never had a chance. Mist had charged head long into the Ghouls, leaving a trail of body parts behind her.
It was all over within 5 minutes. And she never broke a sweat.
As she strolled past the soldiers, each one stood at attention and saluted her.
Harris stared at Kensuke.
"What kind of monster have you brought with you?"
"That is no monster." said Kensuke with a smile, "That is a Valkyrie. A fighting Goddess. Still think the UN is imagining things?"
Harris shook his head as Mist entered. "No, you've made a believer out of me."
Mist walked right up to Harris. "I believe you were going to show us something else before we were interrupted?"
"I was? Oh yes…….I was." Harris shook his head to clear his mind. "Yes, uh…we did find something else." He press another button on the control display.
Behind the desk, the metal shutters rotated, then moved quickly out of the way, revealing a large window over looking a bay.
"This is why you were brought here." Harris said quietly.
Kensuke, Mist and Cayla walked up to the window. Cayla gasped, while both Mist and Kensuke just stared.
Standing against the far wall, pink liquid coming up to their necks were two humanoid figures. One was all black and had the face of a demon. The other was red, also had demonic features, and four eyes. Even though it had been 22 years, Kensuke could still easily identify the sight.
Evangelion Units 03 and 02.
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Rei saw the confused and stunned looks on the others faces. She rolled over and looked back at the demon. Her eyes widened when she saw it was not a demon at all. Standing before her, blue markings under her eyes, elongated diamond upon her forehead, and blue eyes, was Sayoko. The only thing wrong with the picture before her was that Sayoko's hair was now cut short above the shoulders, and the fact that her face wore a look of rage. Rei could not accept that it was Sayoko, but in her heart, she knew it was true.
"Sayoko." Rei turned to see Belldandy on her feet, walking towards her daughter, "It's me…….you mother. Don't you recognize me?"
Sayoko glared at her mother and raised her hands, a force bolt forming in them.
"Sayoko please." Belldandy pleaded, "Come home."
Sayoko fired off the bolt, aiming for Belldandy's head. It was only because of Asuka pulling her down that the force bolt missed hitting Belldandy. Rei automatically raised her hands to fire a force bolt back, but she froze.
Sayoko didn't.
Rei was blasted through the swings, bouncing off of a jungle gym, before landed off in the bushes. Sayoko turned and started towards Hikari. As she walked, she stumbled. Looking down, she discovered that she had tripped on Belldandy's dropped staff, the ornamental head snapped off, leaving a jagged tip. Sayoko smiled and flipped it up to her hand with her foot. She then continued her march towards Hikari. Hikari was frozen in fear, clutching her children close to her. Sayoko stopped and raised the staff over Hikari. Hikari closed her eyes, waiting for the end. But it didn't come. She felt someone shoving her, followed by a loud scream of pain. She opened her eyes to see Belldandy laying in agony on the ground beside her, the staff piercing her back and pinning her to the ground. Hikari looked up at Sayoko. Sayoko's face showed no sign of emotion after attacking her mother. Sayoko turned her head slightly and stared at Hikari, her hand rising, forming a force bolt. Then a red haired blur slammed into Sayoko, sending her tumbling. Asuka and Sayoko tumbled along the ground for a bit, before Asuka somehow ended up on top, pulled back her fist and caught Sayoko right under the jaw with a vicious punch. Sayoko's mouth slammed shut with a crack, and she lay stunned. Asuka rolled her on her stomach and tied her hogtied her using a piece of her robes, before running over to were Belldandy still lay pinned to the ground. Asuka grabbed hold of the staff with both hands.
"Ready?"
Belldandy nodded and gritted her teeth. Asuka pulled with all her strength, pulling the staff both from the ground and Belldandy. Belldandy let out a small cry of pain, as Asuka knelt next to her.
"You alright?"
"I'll be fine." replied Belldandy, "Where's Sayoko?"
Asuka turned and pointed, "She's right over……."
At the spot where Sayoko had been tied up was a pile of the torn robe that Asuka had used to tie her up, and a sliver of mirror.
"Damn." muttered Asuka, "She got away."
"Don't worry…." Belldandy said weakly, "she'll be back……."
Asuka looked over to see Hikari and Kirika helping Rei climb out of the bush. Mereille sat on the ground, looking around confused.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Asuka said softly.