Chapter 5

Beginning of the Fall




"I think that should do it." said Dr. Taltamir as he pushed out from his terminal. "Eject the plugs and we'll continue tomorrow morning."

"Yes sir." replied his assistant. Taltamir looked back out at the 5 Evas. Each bent over slightly and a silver plug appeared from their backs. An arm began to move into position to remove the plugs.

"Don't worry about that." said Taltamir.

"Sir?"

Taltamir glanced at his Assistant. "It's not like their going anywhere. Besides, it will save us that much time in the morning."

"Very well sir."

Taltamir took one more look at the Evas before he left with his Assistant. The cage remained quiet for several minutes. Then the robed figure appeared before the Evas. With a wave of his hand, switches in the control room moved, and the plugs were inserted. All 5 Evas activated. All the Evas turned slightly to look at the figure.

"I know who you are." the figure said. "Inside each of you is the Angel, Kaoru Nagisa."

The Evas shifted slightly. All seemed to glare at the figure.

"I know you still wish revenge on those who drove you from the earth a millennia ago. I can help you."


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Shinji and Yui Ikari sat across from Asuka. Asuka had just finished telling them about Sayoko. Shinji closed his eyes as he thought of his friend. Yui rested her hand on her son's, then looked at her daughter-in-law.

"How is Belldandy taking it?" she asked.

"Badly." replied Asuka. "Skuld says she has never seen Belldandy this upset. Ever."

"It's hard losing someone," said Yui, "even harder when its your child."

"Rei isn't taking it well either." said Asuka.

"She and Sayoko were good friends." said Yui quietly, "Remember, only Sayoko knew of Rei's true origins. She probably felt comfortable talking to her, knowing that Sayoko would not anyone else."

"I know how she feels." said Asuka quietly.

"Where is Rei?" asked Shinji.

"She's with Skuld. She said she wanted to help over there."


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Rei sat quietly on the couch, watching as Skuld talked to someone on the phone. Megumi had already been called and would be arriving soon. The sound of a door opening caused Rei to look down the hallway. Keiichi walked out from Sayoko's room closing the door behind him. He entered the living room and sat down next to Rei.

"How is she?" Rei asked quietly.

"She cried herself asleep." Keiichi said. He placed his head in his hands. "I don't know what to do. I can't comfort her, I'm a wreck." His shoulders began to shake. "Sayoko....My little Sayoko." Keiichi began to sob. 2 arms encircled him from behind as Skuld pulled him to her. Keiichi's cries began to grow quiet as he slowly fell asleep. Skuld carefully lowered Keiichi's head onto the couch. She then motioned for Rei to follow her into the kitchen. Both sat down at the table.

"I just got off the phone with Kami-sama." she said quietly.

"How did he take the news." asked Rei.

"Whoever did this will wish they hadn't." said Skuld. "Kami-sama will see to it. I only wish I could find them first." The intense look that appeared on Skuld's face startled Rei. Skuld noticed this and calmed herself.

"Sorry Rei. I didn't mean to......" Skuld got quiet for a second. "This has been difficult for everyone. How are you feeling?"

Rei glanced at Skuld. "I felt something the same time Sayoko....."

Skuld nodded slowly. "What do you mean, you felt something?"

"It was as if something had reached into my chest and ripped out my heart."

Skuld's eyes widened slightly. "You...felt that?"

Rei nodded.

"But...that's not possible....Your no longer an Angel!"

Rei's eyes narrow slightly, "I am aware of that."

"Sorry." Skuld sat back and thought for a second. "I have no idea what it could...." A memory flashed in Skuld's mind.

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A plane flew off into the night sky. Kami-sama, Skuld and Urd watch it fly off.

"We'll have to keep an eye on them. Rei and Touji too."

"Why Father?"

Kami-sama turned and looked at them. "Because of the Evas. The Evas were clones of the 'Angels' and they piloted them." He turned and looked back at the plane. "Its possible they could develop powers."

Urd and Skuld stared at him. "Are you saying that they'll...."

"No, they won't be Angels, but they won't entirely be human either." Kami-sama turned and looked at them. "Watch them closely, but do not tell Sayoko."

"Yes Father."

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Skuld glanced back at Rei. "....has anything else happened?"

"No." said Rei.

"If anything out of the ordinary occurs to you, or the other pilots, tell me immediately."

Rei nodded, "I understand."


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"Yes sir....I understand sir." Peorth sat in the SysOp chair talking into the phone. "Yes sir, I will. Please send my condolences to her." Peorth hung up the phone. She then slammed her fist on the armrest before lowering her head into her hands.

"Bad day?"

Peorth looked up. "What do you want Loki?"

Loki gave a small smile. "I need to access a terminal. Some new information has crossed my desk. I want to follow it up."

"Terminal 14 level 2 is open." She pointed towards its location, just within view of the SysOp area.

"Thank-you." Loki started to walk towards the terminal when he stopped and looked back at Peorth. "What is the matter?"

"Goddess Sayoko was apparently killed earlier." Peorth said quietly. "Belldandy is not taking it well."

Loki's smile disappeared from his face.

"I'm sorry to hear that." he replied. "I was quite fond of the child. She reminded me of her mother."

"I wasn't aware that you knew Sayoko."

"I was the one who nominated her for promotion to 2nd Class, as I nominated Skuld for 1st. I know them well."

"I didn't know about that."

Loki smiled. "I was honored to do so, after all, the fates have been good to me. I just simply returned the favor."


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Draco moved quietly along a row of Demons. He turned and addressed them all.

"The time will soon be upon us. Are your men ready?"

The Demons cheered in response.

"Then go to your troops. When the signal is sent, hold nothing back."

The Demons all disappeared, until only Draco and one other remained.

"Macet, I require you to led the charge until I arrive."

Macet stared at Draco.

"My Lord, Where will you be?"

"Picking up our allies."


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Somewhere in Hell.

Hild slammed her fists onto her desktop.

"DAMMIT!!"

Mara quietly entered. "Something wrong Milady?"

"Yes something's wrong!! That's why I called you!"

Mara quickly bowed before Hild. "If I have offended you...."

"Stand up. You haven't done anything."

Mara quickly complied. "Then what do you wish of me?"

Hild sat down behind her desk.

"I know that you are friends with the Goddess Urd." Mara paled a bit. "No, I see nothing wrong with it. She is my daughter after all. Something has happened to her niece."

Mara looked up. "Sayoko?!"

Hild nodded, "Apparently, she had been killed."

"Oh no.....poor Belldandy." Mara then stared at Hild in total shock. "But that means....."

"Yes....we've lost a Demon. Run a check on the system, I want to know who."

"Yes Ma'am." Mara walked over to Hild's Terminal and began to type. No sooner had she started then alarms began to sound. Both Hild and Mara felt something break.

"What was that?" Hild turned and looked at Mara. Mara glanced at the terminal, her eyes grew wide in shock.



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"STATUS!!" shouted Peorth, trying to be heard above the alarms in Yggdrasil control.

Chronos stared blankly at her screen, Erie was in a similar state. X finally answer.

"The Doublet System....its....gone!"

Peorth stared at X in shock. "What do you mean GONE?!"

"It has been deleted, entirely."

"How?"

Chronos typed several commands into the terminal. "The order for deletion came from terminal 14 level 2." Chronos looked up at Peorth in shock. Peorth immediately turned and looked at the terminal. It was empty.



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Valkyrie Alexis walked along the perimeter of the walls to heaven. The main gate where the souls entered was farther down. It was quiet along the wall. Alexis turned to retrace her steps when an alert was flashed to her.

* This is Commander Mist. The God Loki is to be apprehended immediately. I repeat, the God Loki is to be apprehended. *

Alexis was taken aback. The last time a request like that came through was almost 23 years ago. Except the name then was Celestine.

'I'd hate to be in his shoes.' Alexis thought quietly. She started to continue her patrol when she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She looked down to see 2 prongs sticking out of her chest. She fell to her knees, unable to say a word. Her last vision was of hordes of demons swarming over the wall.


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Draco stood before the Activated Evas.

"It is time. Come with me." Draco began to rise towards the ceiling. The Evas followed.


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"THE EVAS HAVE ACTIVATED!!" shouted Aoba. Maya stared at him in shock.

"Please tell me your kidding!"

"No Ma'am. Evas 05 to 09 have activated. There are no pilots inserted! But....Major...There are Dummy Plugs inserted!"

"DUMMY PLUGS?!"

"I am detecting a type black pattern," said Hyuga. "It's rising from the cages."

"Damn." The entire complex shook. "What was that?"

"The Evas!" shouted Aoba. "Their breaking through to the surface!"

Maya quickly ran to the phone.


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Misato sat at the table with the Ikari's and Professor Fuyutsuki.

"Thank you again for having me over. With Kaji still out of the country...."

"Oh don't worry about it Misato." said Yui. "It's the least we can do for you, after all, it has been a rough day for everyone, plus you had to put up with these two for 8 years."

"HEY!!" exclaimed both Shinji and Asuka.

Fuyutsuki smiled. "So..where is Rei?"

Everyone else got quiet.

"She is at the Morisato residence." said Asuka quietly. Fuyutsuki nodded quietly.

"I understand. She was such a wonderful girl." Fuyutsuki smiled. "Sorry, a wonderful Goddess. She will be missed."

The entire Apartment shook at that moment. Everyone looked about.

"Earthquake?" asked Yui. Misato's cell phone chose that moment to ring. Misato quickly answered it.

"Yes Maya....WHAT!! HOW!! That rotten little...You're damn right place him under arrest!! Alert Dr. Akagi, tell her I need the other 4 readied as soon as possible. Tell her exactly what is going on. Where are they headed?"

Everyone watched as Misato's eyes widened.

"THEY'RE GOING WHERE?!?!?!"


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Inside the walls, heaven was anything but. Demons swarmed through the green fields and up the streets, heading towards the Yggdrasil Control Building. As the Demons advanced, the skies grew dark behind them. Valkyries and other Gods fought to hold back the Demons. The Demons were all armed with a two handed sword. One of them held it aloft and threw it towards a Valkyrie. A blue shield appeared before the Valkyrie. The sword seemed to stop for a second, before it transformed into a Lance. The Lance shattered the shield, its twin prongs ripped into the Valkyrie. The Valkyrie fell to the ground, dead before she even reached it. Many Valkyries and Gods met this fate.

In the chaos, Peorth continued to issue orders.

"Chronos, Erie, X. Search the system. Find out if Loki left anymore surprises. Alert all Gods and Goddesses, Yggdrasil is at emergency level 1."

"Peorth!" called out X, "Commander Mist requests more help to stop the Demons!"

Peorth turned and looked towards the Techs.

"All non-essential personal to assist the Valkyries! Move it!" Many Gods and Goddesses left till only a handful remained in the control room.

Peorth turned and watched the battle on the monitors. "How's the search coming?"

"We have found a program, but it's moving about the system!" said Erie. "We can't contain it!"

"Need help?"

Peorth turned her head. "URD!" She threw her arms around Urd in a hug.

Urd gave Peorth a smile, "Well I didn't think I was gone that long. Mist said we had a few problems. What's up?"

"Loki disabled the Doublet system, shortly there after....the Demons attacked."

Urd was stunned. "How are the Valkyries doing?"

"Not so good. The Demons have weapons similar to what those MP Evas have."

Urd let out a big sigh, "Can it get any worse?"

"PEORTH!!!" screamed Chronos.

The level and tone of the scream caused both Peorth and Urd to glance back at the screen. They almost wish they hadn't. Five white Evas crashed through the walls of heaven. Smiles appeared on the Evas faces as they began a slow march directly towards the Yggdrasil Control Building.

"You had to ask." muttered Peorth.



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