Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cry of the Heavens
Episode 01: System Error/Freedom
In the medical wing of NERV, Shinji stood outside room 303, Misato at his side. Thoughts were running through the young boys mind as he stared at the door. He had no idea what he should do, how he should react. He was scared, no he was terrified.
Misato: C'mon Shinji!
As Misato started for the door, Shinji said something. It was a whisper, barely audible, meant only for his ears.
Shinji: I must not run away.
The door opened and Misato went in without pause, but Shinji hesitated. He took a breath, and then he went in after her. Shinji was in this room no more then a day ago, and not much had changed in the room except the figure on the bed, who was now awake with her arms crossed, not looking particularly like she was in a good mood.
Misato: Asuka, I'm so glad your awake! Are you ok? How do you feel?
Asuka: I feel fine! When can i get out of this hellhole?!?!
Misato: The doctors want to keep you overnight just incase--
Asuka: There is nothing wrong with me! Why should they?!?
Misato: It's just a precaution.
Asuka: Arggh!. . . .When will I be able to pilot Eva again Misato?
Misato: You just woke up Asuka! Slow down when you get better---
Asuka: I TOLD YOU I--
Misato: Okay okay already!!
Misato shifts uncomfortably under the angry red heads glare.
Misato: Look, I know....but regulations--
Shinji stood unnoticed in the background the whole time. He couldn't help but smile to himself. Asuka was back to her old self. But it was short lived, the smile disappeared when Asuka noticed him. At first Asuka did not know what to say, but of course that did not last long either.
Asuka: Oh, if it isn't the great Shinji.
Shinji: . . .ahh hello Asuka. . .I'm glad to see your okay!
Asuka: Of course I'm ok! Don't start the same thing as Misato, idiot!
Shinji: . . .I'm sorry!
Asuka: There you go again saying your sorry. I guess nothings changed after all! And here I thought they might have.
Shinji: Im so--
Misato: Anyway, you should get your rest Asuka, because tomorrow you're coming home!
Asuka: I don't see why I can't come home today!
As Asuka began to rave on about the doctors being idiot's and how she was fine, and Misato protesting, the smile returned to Shinji's features. Maybe everything was getting back to normal?
Katsuragi residence, five days later.
The only sounds in the apartment were of building crews beginning to rebuild Tokyo-3, mixed with the sound of water running coming from the kitchen. The water stopped promptly and the apartment started to stir with life as Misato came out of her room. She looked like she had been dragged through hell. But nonetheless she found her way to the kitchen where Shinji was already cooking breakfast. Shinji smiled when Misato came in to the kitchen but he then cringed at her appearance.
Shinji: . . . good morning. . .
Misato: ahhhh good morning!
Shinji: Did you sleep well?
Misato shot a glare out the window as she held a beer to her lips.
Shinji: Yah the construction, well I guess they are pretty loud. . .I wonder how Asuka sle--
Shinji was cut off by the sound of a door slamming open, followed by Asuka stomping by the two and into the bathroom.
Shinji: Never mind.
Shinji turned back to the sink as Misato let out a satisfied sigh as she finished chugging down a beer.
Later that morning
Misato sat at the table with a bowl of soup in her hand. As Misato went to take a sip of the soup, just then Asuka slammed open the door of the bathroom clad only in a red towel, yelling her head off. Misato coughed as she spilled her soup.
Asuka: HOW MUCH LONGER ARE THEY GOING TO BE REBUILDING FOR!?!?
Misato: coughing Awhile! Your just gonna have to get used to it like the rest of us.
Asuka: THEY NEED TO SPEED THE HELL UP!
Misato: They're going as fast as they can, rebuilding half of a city is hard work. . . but I just wish they wouldn't start so early.
Asuka quickly stormed past Shinji, who had just left the kitchen. Upon reaching her room, Asuka slammed her door shut, leaving it partially ajar.
Shinji: . . .umm?
Misato: She's just upset about the noise.
Shinji: Oh. . . How long is it going to take them to rebuild?
Misato: Well they have men from all around come in to rebuild but it will still take a month or two at least.
Shinji: Well that's good.
As Shinji sat down to enjoy the breakfast he had made, Asuka's door was opened once again, but this time not slammed. as the red head made her way in to the dining room, she calmly took a seat. Shinji and Misato stared at Asuka like she was on something to have calmed down so fast.
Asuka: What!?
Misato: Nothing!
Shinji: Nothing!
The three sat quietly eating, the only sound was of chop sticks hitting a bowl every so often. After a short time, a most unlikely person broke the silence.
Shinji: Ho..How are you feeling Asuka?
Asuka just glared up at Shinji. Shinji flinching slightly under the glare, kicking himself in his mind for even opening his mouth.
Asuka: I already said, I'm fine. . .
Shinji stared at Asuka, shocked he didn't get an ear full. Shinji stared, obviously surprised, Asuka began to grow more and more enraged as she glared right back. Before Asuka could say anything Misato butted in.
Misato: Oh yah! Asuka you have a Sync test today after school try and be on time ok?
Asuka: Well it's about time! I have only been waiting for practically a week! What took so long any way!?
Misato: Well . . .uh . .everyone has just been busy lately you know?
Asuka: Busy? With what?
Misato: Oh this and that. . .just make sure your on time ok?
Asuka: Yah yah.
As the two were talking, Shinji had left his seat unnoticed and was at the front door putting his shoes on. Asuka noticed Shinji was gone and quickly looked around.
Asuka: Where did the great Shinji go?
Misato: Most likely to go to school. . . You better hurry or you will be late.
Asuka stood up from her seat and ran to the front door down the hall just in time to see Shinji walk out the door.
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Down the street Shinji could be seen walking down the sidewalk as Asuka came running up behind him.
Asuka: You idiot wait up!
Shinji stopped and turned as she came running up.
Asuka: What is your hurry!?
Shinji: Were going to be late.
Asuka: For what? The class is half empty anyway.
Shinji: That's not the point. . .
Asuka: Oh just shut up and come on.
She just walked past him. He watched her for a short time, then ran to catch up.
Asuka: Why couldn't wonder girl blow up ALL the schools along with half of Tokyo-3?
Shinji: . . . . .
Asuka: So you took care of the rest of the Angel's while I was out didn't you?
Shinji flinched at her question, but she didn't notice.
Shinji: . . .Yes. . .
Asuka: I should have guessed after all you're the great third child!
Shinji: . . .Asuka. . .
Asuka: What is it?
Shinji: I'm glad your ok.
Asuka: Huh?
Asuka stopped dead in her tracks, but Shinji just kept walking. It was her turn to watch him walk away
With in the confines of the NERV branch in China, nine white beasts lined the cages as they were held in place with restraints. Red tubes stuck out from the back of each Eva's neck, ready at any moment to be inserted to bring the beasts to life. The atmosphere was tense, tests were being conducted on the dummy plug systems to insure they were ready for there one and only mission, how ever no one conducting the test had any idea of the nine beasts and the dummy plugs true purpose or what the people high up had intended for them. But one lone technician knew. Walking past one of the nine mass production Eva units the technician stared up at its face, or lack of one, the male technician was dressed in a common NERV uniform holding a laptop under his arm, the technician made his way out of the cages. His exit went completely unnoticed, the other technicians were far to busy to pay attention to anything other then there work at hand.
In the Command center of the NERV China Branch, The technician had made his way to a console. The Main screen in the command center was split in to nine screens showing each Mass production Eva unit with the number of each unit shown in the upper right hand corner of each screen. Looking about himself, the technician could see male and female technicians all about him, but all were busy working on a keyboard or looking over what seem like endless streams of data that came flooding on there screens. Looking towards his own screen, the technician begun to type on his keyboard causing a list of information to pop up on the screen, nine lines of information had appeared on the screen showing the numbers 05 to 13 over top of each line. Taking one more glance at his fellow technicians, the tech pulled a small CD from his pocket and inserted it in to the CD drive on his console. As the CD drive spun to life, a window popped up on screen over top of the information already displayed on screen. With only a few keystrokes the information on the disk begun to copy over on to the information already on screen adding new lines of information as well as rewriting lines of information. As the information finished transferring the disk popped out of the drive, the technician quickly gathered it and discarded it in a waste basket; evidence against him would not matter soon. Leaning back, the technician let out a soft sigh. As a smile crept across his lips a hand reached out grabbing his shoulder causing him to jump and turn around.
Technician B: Hey calm down there buddy!
Technician A: oh. Sorry . . . just a little on edge
Technician B: Yeah I don't blame you, those things give me the creeps, anyways, were still on for after work right?
Technician A: huh?
Technician B: Going to the bar, I was able to talk some of the girls in on coming with us
Technician A: Oh. . Right, yeah sure
The technician said faking a small smile
Technician B: great, meet you in the parking lot after we are done with this
The second technician said as he made his way back to his console. Watching the technician walk away, that was clearly his friend, he hung his head low as he turned back to his screen as it turned red and system errors begun to pop up on his screen.
Technician: I'm sorry. . .
Soon the screen next to the technicians console begun to flash red and error messages begun to appear as did the next one down the line and then another and another till the main screen begun to flash with error messages.
Commander: What the hell is going on!
Technician B: I don't know we can't identify the error!
Technician C: It's Spreading to the dummy plug system!
Commander: Cut off the link to the dummy plugs immediately
Technician B: Too late!
Activation of Unit-05 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-06 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-07 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-08 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-09 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-10 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-11 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-12 dummy plug accepted
Activation of Unit-13 dummy plug accepted
The technicians in the command center watched helplessly as the dummy plugs slid one at a time in to the back of each Eva's neck and locked in to place as plates of super reinforced armor plating slid over top of them. One at a time the Mass production Eva's heads moved up and there lips moved back in to a sneer as they seem to stare at the technicians on the catwalks in front of them.
Technician B: All nine units have activated!
Almost all at once, the nine Eva's begun to try and move but the restraints held them down, this only caused the Eva's to exert more force, effectively tearing the restraints apart. The sound of bending and shattering metal filled the cages as the Eva's broke free. Technicians had begun to flee for there life's as parts of the restraints begun to rain down on to the catwalk as the Eva's begun to brake free, chaos had erupted on the catwalk, making it almost impossible to reach the exits. As unit-07 moved from its restraints it quickly locked in on the fleeing technicians. Reaching out with a lumbering hand, Unit-07 hand came inch's from a group of technicians before Unit-08 came out of what seem like no where's, crashing in to Unit-07, Unit-07 and 08 fell in to the pool of coolant sending a massive wave up on to the catwalk pulling half a dozen technicians in to the thick coolant where they splashed and straggled like insects before they quickly begun sinking in the rough waves caused by the moving Evangelions. As Unit-08 rose from under the coolant Unit-06 came up from behind, biting down on the side of Eva-08's neck. The massive teeth tore through the plates of amour with ease and in to the flesh underneath. Shaking its head violently as it bit in to Unit-08, the sound of flesh ripping and the stench of blood filled the cages. With out warning, Unit-10 grasped Unit-06 by its neck forcefully tearing it away from Unit-08. But Unit-06's teeth did not retract taking what seemed like half of Unit-08's neck with it. As Unit-10 pulled Unit-06 from its pray, it forcefully threw it towards the catwalk. A round of horrified screams went out from the technicians still on the catwalk as Unit-06 impacted the catwalk crumpling it like paper under its massive weight as well as crushing a dozen technicians.
From the depths of the coolant, Unit-07 slowly rose, small water falls of coolant streamed down from its body as it stood hunched over like a primate, its arms half submerged in the coolant. Unit-08 had stumbled away as a jet of blood sprayed from its artery covering a good part of the cages in a thick layer of blood. As the injured Eva came to rest on the far wall of the cage, Unit-07 clinched its teeth in a growl as he rushed towards Unit-08, sending a spray of coolant in to the air with every quick step. Unit-07 crashed in to Unit-08 pressing it against the wall as it did, the wall was no match for the weight and force applied to it, and it quickly failed, buckling inwards the wall gave way sending both Eva's through it and in to the Command center. As the wall was torn through, a massive wave of coolant begun to fill the large open space, panic stricken technicians begun to rush to higher ground where some tried to leave the command center all together and were washed away in the violent torrent of coolant as it splashed over the railings of the lower levels like a flood caused by god him self. A technician still at his post quickly punched in the command to have the coolant drained. Suddenly a loud roar went out as the coolant begun to drain from the cages, but this sound seemed over shadowed and unimportant compared to the battle taking place in the middle of there work space.
Pinning Unit-08 to the floor, Unit-07 gripped what was left of Unit-08s neck and with a slight jerk of its hands a loud crack went out. The bone was visible through the wound on its neck like a pale white serpent. It was easy to tell the bone had been broken through the bleeding torn flesh. Not giving way to the limp dead Eva, Unit-07 begun to pull on its neck witch came off with ease sending a waterfall of blood pouring from its neck. Looking towards technicians on the bridge, Unit-07 growled as it held the head of its dead victim up. Sneering, the Eva threw the severed head towards the level with the most technicians.
In the cage, the sounds of screams echoed out from the hole leading to the commander center, but were soon silenced as the sound of metal striking metal rang out from beyond sight.
In the cage, the chaos was reaching new heights. Unit-10 had pinned, Unit-06 to the wall and had begun to tear its internal origins out savagely with its teeth and hands, easily fending off the steadily weakening attacks of it's pray. As Unit-06 placed a hand on unit-10's head to try and fend its attacker off, Unit-10 only grew annoyed by this and thrust its hand through the dying Eva's stomach grasping its spine, Unit-10 pulled Unit-06's spine viciously through its stomach, snapping it in the process. Moving up to Unit 06 and 10 on all fours, Unit-05 bit down on one of Unit-06's right hand and begun shaking it violently with in its mouth, as if trying to tear it from its arm like a wild beast trying to feed. Unit-10 let out a roar of protest as it noticed Unit-05. Releasing Unit-06's hand from its mouth, Unit-05 let a low growl escape its throat directed towards Unit-10, witch simply reacted by lunging at Unit-05. Both Eva's fell towards the opening in the wall as Unit-07 was returning to the cages. Pinning Unit-10 down, Unit-05 bit down on its left shoulder, causing streams of blood to run down from the inflected wounds, the remaining Eva's quickly noticed this conflict. Noticing Unit-10 was already injured, and the easier victim, they quickly begun to join in on the carnage. As the remaining seven Evangelions encircled Unit-10, Unit-10 let out a howl as each Eva begun to rip and tear in to its flesh like savage animals.
From the half destroyed catwalk, a Technician watched the chaos curled up in a corner, only wishing for the madness to end with his life intact.
Blood and parts of Unit-10 were tossed about the cage painting the walls in blood. As the carnage begun to subside, one of the Eva's roared seemingly at a random Eva placed in front of it, causing all the other Eva's, besides the one roared at, to stare at the next chosen victim. Unit-12 begun to back away slowly in a timid manor, the seven Eva's were covered in thick layers of blood that slowly streamed down there white armor plating causing the scene to appear to be an image straight from hell its self.. As Unit-12 backed away from the six other Eva's, it let out a roar as if trying to deter the on coming attack, witch failed of course. Unit-05 lunged forward at Unit-12. However,Unit-12 was able to catch the attacking Eva, but was thrown back wards from the force of the impact. As the other Eva's moved in to finish the job, Unit-12 was able to throw Unit-05 from its self. Leaping back to its feet, Unit-12 lunged forward on top of the fallen Unit-05. Holding both its fists up, Unit-12 begun to bring them down on to Unit-05's head, over and over again, as its fists impacted the Eva's head, its amour plating bent inwards as its skull begun to brake under the saver force of the blows. When Unit-12 was done, Unit-05's skull had been completely crushed exposing its brain that had been mashed in to an almost unrecognizable state.
As unit-12 begun to rise, Unit-09's hand reached over top of its head gripping the top of Unit-12's mouth as it hung open in a pant. Yanking back with an amount of force immeasurable by any human means, the top of Unit-12's head was torn back snapping the Eva's upper spine, as well as sending a jet of blood spraying up from its throat like a geyser. The top of Unit-12's head came to rest hanging down past its shoulders. As Unit-12 fell to the floor of the cage as a lifeless mass of meat, hanging over the body of the dead Eva, Unit-09 was unable to defend its self as Unit-11 grasped both of its arms from behind. placing its foot between Unit-09's shoulder blades, Unit-11 begun to push away with its foot as it begun to pull on Unit-09's arms, The sound of metal being bent, and flesh being torn, and bone snapping could be heard once more as Unit-09's arms were torn off at the shoulder sending fountains of blood spraying on to the floor of the cage as it fell to the floor with a loud crash, Letting out a cry of anger and pain, Unit-09 tried to rise to its feet, but was soon halted as Unit-11 brought its foot down on the dying Eva's head, sending a spray of blood and other matter flying from its crushed skull. Looking towards the last remaining Eva's, Unit-11 was just in time to watch as Unit-13 fell to the floor with its head twisted around back wards. Unit-11 and 07 stared at each other for what seem like an eternity until unit-11 let out a bone chilling howl and lunged towards Unit-07. Impacting Unit-07, Unit-11 brought it crashing down to the floor, causing the whole level to shake from the impact of the two demons striking the floor at once. Pulling its fists up, Unit-11 begun to punch rapidly in to Unit-07's chest, causing the metal plates on Unit-07's chest to buckle inwards, raising its hands, Unit-07 caught both of the Eva's assaulting fists one at a time. Unit-07 begun to squeeze down on each of its attackers fists, the sound of metal braking and bone cracking filled the cage yet again as Unit-11's fingers were crushed like they had been placed in a vice. Continuing to squeeze down on Unit-11's hands, a shower of blood exploded from the Eva's hands as its figures were split open and disfigured. As unit-07 released Unit-11, it fell back wards holding its deformed hands in to the air. Climbing to its feet, Unit-07 stood over top of its downed victim. Sneering down at the fallen Eva, Unit-07 begun to stomp on Unit-11's head repeatedly even after the Eva's head had been crush to the point of being unrecognizable, looking around its self at the mutilated Eva's, Unit-07 seem to come to rest as it's shoulders relaxed and its arms hung limp. Still watching from the Catwalk, the lone technician watched as the Eva seemed to power down. Suddenly a flash of light erupted in front of the technician's eyes causing his pupils to contract.
Outside of the China NERV branch, the ground suddenly rose up wards and then flattened out in a perfect circle as a shockwave rushed through the ground in the form of a wave of dust and dirt. The quake from the blast could be felt from miles away in every direction.
In an undisclosed location, the scene was of a dark room with a single desk at the far end of the room. On the opposite side of the desk, on the far side of the room, a door slid open as a young man dressed in a military style of clothing that showed signs of high rank.
Military man: It's done
On the other side of the desk, a man shrouded in darkness dressed in a common business suit was sat in a chair that was facing in the opposite direction of the man that had just entered.
Man behind desk: How many were killed? Mr. DeGiano
DeGiano: Its hard to tell sir, the base was most likely full do to the testing of the dummy plug system, we estimate a complete lose of NERV personal.
Man behind Desk: I see, thank you, report any new developments to me if there are any.
DeGiano: Sir, what about the second phase?
Man behind desk: Yes, carry it out as planned, try to minimize lose of life, but use deadly force if the need arises.
DeGiano: Sir, can I speak freely?
Man behind desk: Of course.
Aaron: Riddell, we can't worry about lose of life, if we leave people alive they could see something important and report back to NERV HQ and then it will reach SEELE and we could be discovered before the time is right, a few dead NERV staff is nothing compared to what we are trying to do here.
Riddell: . . . .
DeGiano: They joined NERV of there own free will, they will have to die some time if they don't surrender.
Riddell: But they don't know what they joined, they are blind to what there commanders are plotting.
DeGiano: But they are still are enemy because they chose to fight on behalf of there commanders.
Riddell: very well, don't leave any witnesses, make it seem like it just disappeared off the face of the earth.
DeGiano: Yes sir, and of the second one and the seventh child?
Riddell: Leave them be, we will give them those.
DeGiano: I hope it is not a mistake sir.
Riddell: So do I. . .
In a poorly lit room twelve monoliths stood tall above two men, Ikari Gendo and Fuyutsuki Kouzou. The room was filled with a tension that you could cut with a knife.
SEELE: All the Mass production Eva series units have been destroyed!
SEELE: Along with the Dummy plug program!
Fuyutsuki: The Dummy plug program has been erased from all magi's in all NERV branches, as far as we can tell.
SEELE: only the highest ranking officers of NERV can even acquire clearance to access the dummy plug program
SEELE: Witch gives us more then enough reason to suspect you of erasing the program and destroying the Mass production Eva series, Ikari.
Fuyutsuki: We have not had access to the China facility, it would have been impossible for us to do what you are accusing us of. The more logical explanation would be that of espionage.
Keel: In any case, the dummy plug program must be restored.
SEELE: With out the Mass production Eva series it will be impossible to go a head with are plans. This could have unforeseen consequences.
SEELE: We are entering a dark time that is blind to us.
SEELE: The Angels could return, or worse!
Fuyutsuki: We are not ready to handle another wave of angel attacks. Unit-00 is destroyed, Unit-01 is under lock down with an unwilling pilot and Unit-02 is with out a pilot. After the defeat of the sixteenth angel are defense have fallen to less then half.
Keel: We are aware of the state of Tokyo-3 and you're battle condition, witch is why we are increasing you're funding to be prepared for any unforeseen conditions.
Gendo: Another donation on behalf of the UN I assume.
Keel: Yes, but this time there is a cost, they want one of there own men taken on as a tactical officer to prevent any damages that will cost them.
Gendo: I see.
Keel: Also, Ikari, about the forgotten ones.
Gendo: They have already begun being shipped and two have already been chosen.
Keel: good.
Suddenly eleven of the monoliths faded away leaving only one behind
Keel: We will be watching you Ikari and the incident in China will not be forgotten.
With those last words the last monolith disappeared leaving the two men alone in the dark room, the only light coming from the desk Ikari was sitting at.
Fuyutsuki: The forgotten? Those were too unstable to be used in any useful function I thought.
Gendo: I have been informed they have developed a method of control that can control them.
Fuyutsuki: And who have you chosen to pilot them?
Gendo: Ones that will be unmissed if something were to happen.
Fuyutsuki: . . . .
There was a pause
Fuyutsuki: What of China?
Gendo: It would seem we have some unknown enemies
Fuyutsuki: Should we begin screening are own personal in case of spies?
Gendo: No, we already screen all are personal when we first bring them on, it would be pointless
Fuyutsuki: Then what should we do?
Gendo: We can't do anything for now, not till we know who are enemy is.
Fuyutsuki: Should we suspect the new arrivals?
Gendo: Just keep an eye on them for now.
Later that day
Gendo and Fuyutski were standing above the remains of Unit-00, the men below starting the early reconstruction.
Fuyutski: It appears that Unit-00 can be rebuilt after all.
Gendo: Yes, the Eva's can withstand just about anything.
Fuyutski: It will take time to rebuild Unit-00 I suppose. And we still have to replace the parts that were completely destroyed in the blast. . . which will end up costing us--
Gendo: The cost does not matter as long as we can rebuild Unit-00. . We must be ready for whatever is to happen next.
Fuyutski:. . .Have you spoke with Doctor Akagi yet?
Gendo: . . .
Fuyutski: She could be of help in rebuilding Unit-00.
Gendo: Yes.
Fuyutski: . . . Should we do what Keel asked. . .rebuild the dummy plugs?
Gendo: Yes. For now we will let them think they are in control again.
Fuyutski: Until we have the resources?
Gendo: Yes.
Fuyutski: Perhaps we ask too much with two new Eva's?
Gendo: In this fight there is no such thing as to much power.
Fuyutski: Maybe you are right. . . . Maybe having to much power is the only way we will win this.
Gendo: . . . . .
As the two men gazed down at the remains of Unit-00, the broken red eye of Unit-00 stared lifelessly back at them.
The door to the cell that held Dr: Akagi, once again opened spilling light into the darkened cell. A humanoid shape stepped into the doorway.
Ritsuko: What do you want?
Gendo: You are to begin work on rebuilding the dummy plug system immediately.
Ritsuko: HA! What makes you think I will do such a thing?
Gendo: Because you have no choice. . . unless you want to spend the rest of your life in this cell.
Ritsuko: . . . .
Gendo: You can help, or you can remain here.
Gendo disappeared from the door way but the door was left open. As Ritsuko sat on the bed in the cell she stared down at the ground letting Gendo's words sink in. She sat on the bed for a time, but finally she stood up and gathered what little she had in the cell and walked out. The door slammed behind her, leaving the cell once again bathed in darkness.