"They're all crazy?" Kensuke asked, shocked.
"Not exactly." Urd said, "The virus is just…….. causing them act more aggressive then usual."
"And you think Sayoko's infected?" Kensuke asked.
"We don't know." Urd said softly, "But Keima is, that means it's……"
Urd was cut off by loud screams from inside the house. A second later, the house was rocked by an explosion.
Chapter 14
Before the sound of the explosion had even ended, Urd and Kensuke were running into the house. They towards the stairs past a startled Celes.
"What the bloody hell is going on?!"
The two ignored the vampire and ran up the stairs. By the time they had reached the top, yelling could be heard.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING ASUKA!?!?!"
"MIEN GOTT!! I'M SORRY!!! I THOUGHT YOU WERE EVIL!!"
"EVIL!?!?!? I'LL SHOW YOU EVIL!!!"
Another explosion rocked the house. Urd reached out to open the bedroom door, her staff out, when the door was opened from the inside, revealing a very unhappy Goddess. Sayoko's blue eyes burned with fury. Urd recoiled slightly.
"Ummmm…..Hello?" Urd said softly.
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Sayoko stared at her Aunt.
"Everyone?"
"Everyone." Urd said.
Sayoko was shocked. "What about my parents? Auntie Skuld? Keima?"
"Keiichi is hiding out with Megumi somewhere." Urd glanced at Asuka. "Asuka and Shinji saw him but she won't say where he is. Your mother was frozen in magical ice with Cayla in her office by Skuld. I haven't seen Skuld since."
"Keima is being held at the Maimya Apartment under the watch of Yui, Rei, and Ceres." Arael said, "He was also infected."
Sayoko looked up wide-eyed. "Are there any others on the surface?"
"No." Urd said, "You and Keima were the only ones on the surface. And there will be no one else coming down either. All the gates are closed. The only way in and out of heaven is by teleporting with either the Guardians or Arael."
"So what do we do?"
"We have the virus on a disk. We're going to use a mortal computer to try and counter act the virus." Urd glanced over at Lorelei. "Lorelei here is going to help us."
"Lorelei is three hundred years out of date on Earth computers." Sayoko said.
"Yeah but she is an excellent programmer." Urd crossed her arms. "Why? You know a better programmer?"
"I do." Sayoko pointed at herself. "Me."
Urd frowned. "You've never worked on Yggdrasil. You've always been in the GRO or the T2O."
"You forgot who raised me. Skuld taught me a lot about computers. I also know who to talk to about Super Computers on Earth. I'm coming with you." Sayoko started to stand up. She just as quickly sat back down, letting out a soft moan. Kensuke was right next to her in a second.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I feel woozy." She muttered.
"The hangover?"
Sayoko shook her head. "I made some of Urd's famous Hangover Potion. Besides, it's been over a day now."
Urd frowned. "You used the potion?"
Sayoko nodded. "Yeah."
"And you still feel sick?"
"Yeah."
Urd stood up and walked over to Sayoko. She then pressed a hand against Sayoko's stomach and closed her eyes.
"HEY!" shouted Sayoko
"URD! WHAT ARE YOU…..?" began Asuka.
"SHHH!" Urd shouted. She then concentrated. Seconds later, she opened her eyes and a smile appeared on her face. "I'll be………" She wrapped Sayoko up in a hug. "You little…."
"Urd." Kensuke said, "Do you mind clueing the rest of us in?"
"Yeah!" Asuka added, "What's going on?"
Urd ignored them and looked right at Sayoko.
"You've been feeling weak lately? Like you don't enough power to cast spells and such?"
Sayoko frowned. "Yeah. How'd you know? I hadn't told anyone."
Urd grabbed Sayoko's hand and moved it onto her niece's stomach. Sayoko looked at Urd curiously.
"Just open your senses."
Sayoko looked at her Aunt dubiously, but complied. Seconds later, a stunned looked appeared on the Goddess' face.
"No way." She muttered softly.
Urd just smiled.
"What is it Yoko?" Kensuke asked.
Sayoko turned and stared at Kensuke for a moment before jumping at him. Kensuke landed hard on the floor, Sayoko on top of him. She immediately began to pound her fists on his chest.
"You did this!" she shouted, "It's your fault!
"What did I do?!" Kensuke shouted trying to block Sayoko's punches.
"It's not all his fault." Urd said, "After all it takes two to tango."
Asuka, Lorelei, and Celes all blinked.
"Sayoko's pregnant?" Asuka asked.
"Well they have been going at it like rabbits." Celes muttered.
Kensuke smiled and wrapped his arms around a still fuming Sayoko.
"Even though it's unexpected," he said, "I'm happy."
Sayoko let out a little humph, before burying her face into Kensuke's chest and wrapping her arms around him.
"Guess that means you stay here when we go to Earth." Urd said.
Sayoko immediately turned and looked up at her Aunt.
"No. I'm still coming."
"But….." began Kensuke. Sayoko cut him off.
"They need access to major computing power." Sayoko said, "I know of only one person who can help them do that. They won't trust anyone else but me. I must go."
Kensuke crossed his arms. "Fine. But Celes so going with you."
"What?"
"Well I can't go." Kensuke said, "You told me yourself, once I decided on Terra 2 I could never go back. And there's no way I'm going to let you just wonder around Earth alone."
"I'll hardly be alone. Urd, Lorelei, Lime, and Arael will be there."
"As well as Celes."
Sayoko scowled and looked at Celes.
"You have anything to add?"
Celes shrugged. "Aida does have a point."
"Fine. You can come." Sayoko looked at Kensuke. "You happy?"
"Yes."
"Back to the original subject," Lorelei said, "Who do you know on Earth who has access to a super computer?"
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Earth
Neo-Tokyo (formerly Toyko-2/3)
The Suzuhara Apartment.
The sound of the door bell echoed throughout the apartment.
"I GOT IT!" shouted a young 10 year old Shinji Suzuhara. He raced to the door and pulled it open. Standing before the door were seven figures, all in hooded cloaks.
"Uhhhh Hi!" he said.
"We need to see Touji Suzuhara." One of the figures said in a soft female voice.
"Suzuhara?!?" said one of the other figures, also a female, "Why would we…….?" She was cut off by a look from the first woman. She then turned back to Shinji.
"We really need to see your father Shinji."
"How'd you know my name?" Shinji asked.
The woman pulled back her hood, revealing her face. Shinji blinked. She looked just like the pictures he had seen of Sayoko Morisato, the Fifth Child, in history class. The woman smiled.
"I know your name because your father tells me all about you and your sister Aya every year near Christmas."
Shinji looked at the woman curiously. He then remembered that every year, his father went out to the Memorial Church to meet someone. This past year he had gone with and his father had told him who he met with.
"Are you really 545 years old?" he asked.
The woman blushed heavily as some of the others with her chuckled.
"Don't you know it's not polite to ask a woman her age?" she said, "Now please get your father."
Shinji turned and ran to his father's office.
"Dad! Dad! That woman is here! The one you meet at the church every year!"
"What?!" Touji Suzuhara the third stood up and stared at his son. "Where is she? Did you let her in?"
"She's at the door."
"YOU DIDN'T LET HER IN?!?!?!" Touji was on his feet and headed towards the front door. "Kira! We have guests!"
Touji rounded the corner of the hallway and spotted Sayoko still standing outside the doorway along with six other people.
"Megami-sama." Touji said, bowing slightly, "Please enter. Your are most welcome in my home."
Sayoko gave a small frown. "Touji, I thought I told you to knock that off." She then smiled. "Thank you all the same."
"What brings you here?" he asked as he lead the way into his apartment towards his office.
"There's been a incident in the heavens. We need access to a Super Computer."
Touji scratched his head as he walked into his office.
"That's going to be hard." He said, "PILOT is even more heavily guarded then the NORN or MAGI ever were.
"PILOT?" asked one of the others.
Touji stared at the figures. "I'm sorry. Have we met?"
"Sorry about that." Sayoko said, "Touji Suzuhara the Third, You remember Celes Victoria? Good. This is my Aunt Urd, Lorelei Maimya, Lime, Arael, and last but not least, Asuka Ikari."
Touji blinked. "The Second child?"
Asuka smiled. "None other."
"Is she 500 years old too?" came a voice from the hallway.
"SHINJI!" shouted Touji.
"Sorry Dad."
Touji sighed, "Sorry about that. Shinji's been curious about Sayoko-sama ever since Christmas."
"Shinji?" Asuka said, "You named him Shinji?"
Touji nodded. "You'd be surprised how many Shinjis, Asukas, Reis, Toujis, and Sayokos are running around these days. Of course, none of the girls can compare to the originals in beauty."
Sayoko and Asuka blushed.
"I like him better then our stooge." Asuka said turning towards Sayoko. "Can we swap them?"
"No."
"Damn." Asuka turned back to Touji, "Alright back to the topic. What is PILOT?"
"About 200 years ago," began Touji, "Neo-Tokyo grew larger then what the NORN system could handle. A new, more powerful system was developed. Instead of three cores, PILOT contains five, each named for an Eva pilot."
"Great." muttered Asuka, "Now I'm a computer."
"As the NORN system was created by the famous Doctor Akagi," continued Touji, "It was moved in its entirety into the Japan Museum of History, the Angel Wars wing, where it now runs the entire museum."
"It still works?" asked Sayoko.
Touji nodded. "….and of the available super computers, it is the most easily accessible."
"It will do." Urd said, "How soon can we go?"
Touji glanced at a clock on his desk.
"It'll be night soon. The Museum will be closed up. We can go then."
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Two Hours later.
Thunder rumbled over head as the rain poured down in heavy sheets.
"I'm sorry about that." Touji said as they walked down the street.
"It's alright." Celes said, "Really….I didn't mind it."
"Still…I'm sorry. I'd forgotten Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on. The kids love that show for some reason."
"I said don't worry about it."
Further back.
"Why the hell are we walking around anyway?" Asuka muttered, "We could just teleport and be there just as quick."
"Yes. You could." Sayoko replied, "I can't."
"What?"
Sayoko glanced around to make sure the others were occupied, then faced Asuka.
"I had Arael teleport me." Sayoko said, "Being……you know, I don't have the kind of power needed to do that."
"So what happens if we get attacked?"
"I'm not that weak." muttered Sayoko, "I can still defend myself."
Thunder rumbled overhead.
"This weather sucks." Asuka said, "I think I preferred the constant heat of Tokyo-3."
"Why do you think I had everyone put on the hooded cloaks?"
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He watched silently as the group passed by below him. He had waited a long time for this. He didn't care that he couldn't sense one of them, nor did he care that that four of them felt different from other humans. All that mattered was her.
Celes Victoria
He would face her again.
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"Wow."
Lorelei looked up and up at the large entry hall of the Japan History Museum.
"It's not that impressive." Asuka said, "I mean the Main Corridor of the Yggdrasil building is twice this size. Hell, the Eva Hangers were bigger then this."
"Right." Touji started walking off. "This way."
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"Welcome to the Angel Wars wing." A recorded voice announced. "This entire wing is dedicated to the War which occurred in the Year 2015."
On one side of the entrance was a statue of Unit 01. On the other, the Third Angel. Arael paused a second to look at her lost brother.
"You think Otaru, Faust and you will be in here?" Lime asked, looking at Lorelei.
"No Lime." Lorelei said, "This is Earth. They still think the Mesopotamia was lost with no survivors."
"Oh."
"HEY!" came a shout further up the hallway. "THAT'S MY PLUGSUIT!!!"
"So it is." came Sayoko's reply, "Looks like your type D suit."
"WHAT?!?" shouted Asuka.
"Well it's that or they picked a fat mannequin."
"FAT?!? ME?!?! Oooo You just wait. In a couple of months you'll see fat!"
"WHAT!??!"
"You heard me! Or did you forget about your 'condition'?"
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I'M GONNA BE FAT!!!!!! NO FAIR!!!!!"
"What are they talking about?" Lime asked.
"Sayoko's pregnant." Lorelei said.
"Pregnant? What's that?"
'Oh boy……'
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Touji led the group into a large chamber. The chamber was dark, the few lights within only strong enough to provide enough elimination within a few feet of them. Ahead of the group, a screen glowed softly among three large box like units. The NORN Super Computer. Touji headed straight towards it. The others followed.
Once Touji reached the screen, he pressed lightly on a panel just below it, popping out a keyboard. He immediately began to enter a series of commands. Asuka walked up to Sayoko who was staring at the nameplate on one of the NORN. Asuka looked at the nameplate.
It said simply: Verdandi.
"You know the last time we stood next to this thing," Asuka said, "we got sent to the past."
"I know." Sayoko said.
"What are you two mumbling about?" Touji asked from where he stood typing on the panel.
"Just talking about some old memories." Sayoko replied.
"Oh. Well this should job a few." Touji entered a final command.
All over the room, lights began to blink on, lighting up the chamber. In particular, lighting up two objects standing against the wall behind the NORN.
Evangelions Units 02 and 03.
"Momma?" Asuka whispered, staring at the Eva.
Arael stared at the Evas and shivered slightly. Celes could only stare, her mouth wide open.
"Do they work?" asked Urd.
"No." Touji replied, entering more commands into the computer. "They're basically just Armor and bone now."
Urd stepped up next to Touji.
"Will this work for our purposes?"
"For the most part." Touji replied. He then stood of to the side. "It's all yours."
"Cool. Comon Lorelei."
Sayoko glanced at her watch then looked at Urd.
"How long is this going to take Urd?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"I'm going to wonder around a bit. Show Arael some Mortal History besides the Angel Wars."
Urd shrugged. "I don't see why not. I'll call you when we're ready."
Sayoko nodded, turned, and started to walk out, Arael beside her. Celes quick ran to catch up.
"Kensuke said to stay right beside you." Celes said to Sayoko's unasked question.
Asuka sighed and sat down on a bench, looking up at the massive red Eva. Lime was soon beside her.
"Ummmm."
Asuka looked over at Lime.
"What?"
"You aren't…..still……mad at us are you?"
Asuka frowned. "Mad about what?"
"Well you used to call me and the others 'Dolls' like you were mad at us."
"Oh." Asuka sighed and looked back at Unit 02. "Things happened to me in the past. That…" Asuka pointed at Unit-02. "….was the cause of a lot of pain in my life, as well as a lot of happiness."
Lime frowned. "How could something bring pain and happiness at the same time?"
"Pain because I lost my mother to it." Asuka said, "Happiness because it brought Shinji and me together."
"How did you get together?"
"Well…….it all started on an Aircraft carrier."
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Sayoko, Celes, and Arael wondered through the hallways of the museum, past room after room of history. Arael suddenly stopped at a doorway. Sayoko and Celes continued further down the hallway till they realized Arael had stopped. They walked back to see what had fascinated Arael so much.
"What is it…" began Sayoko before she peered into the room, "…..Ohhhhhh."
Inside the room was display case after display case of artifacts. Hundreds of them. Sayoko looked up at the name of the room.
'Religion through the ages'.
Sayoko raised an eyebrow and looked at Celes. Celes shrugged. Sayoko then looked over at Arael who was now looking at an Ancient Babylonian Statue.
"We're going on ahead Arael."
Arael just nodded, still staring at the statue.
Sayoko started back down the hallway.
"Why didn't you want to go in there?" Celes asked, "It looked interesting."
Sayoko glanced at the Vampire.
"I'm a goddess remember. I saw enough of that on a daily basis for almost five hundred years." Suddenly Sayoko's face lit up. "Ooooo they have a Car collection! Comon!"
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He still remained in the shadows. From there, he could hear every word that was said. But that did not matter.
Only she mattered.
Then she walked off in the company of two others, two of the ones who felt different then normal humans. He followed silently behind them. Then one went off into a different room, now it was only two.
Two was perfectly fine with him.
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"SWEET!!" Sayoko shouted as she looked at the car. "A '57 Chevy!!"
Celes raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"What is so special about a car?"
"Are you kidding?!? It's a classic!" Sayoko was practically bouncing up and down. "Dad would just freak if he could see this."
Celes rolled her eyes. "I don't see what's so special about painted metal and……." Celes blinked. She saw movement in the chrome of the car. At first she thought it was Arael joining them, but then she saw a flash as light bounced off an object.
The object was a cross.
"LOOK OUT!!!" Celes screamed, shoving Sayoko out of the way.
Several loud thunks echoed throughout the room. Sayoko landed hard on the floor, then rolled and looked back at Celes. Celes' face was one of pain. Four silver blades pinned her to the side of the car.
"The Abomination and the Heretic. We meet again."
Sayoko spun around. Standing in the doorway was a figure, his glasses and cross reflecting the light just enough to give them a soft glow. In a flash, two blades appeared in his hands.
"And now you shall meet the maker." Father Alexander Anderson said as he moved towards Sayoko. "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen."