Disclaimer: Check the Prologue.
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AN: In this chapter, the 12th, Leliel, will appear. All will proceed as in the episode, with Gendo being absent. Well... almost everything Sweat-drop
To Laser Crusader: Actually, two chapters, this included, and an epilogue. After that, it will be a sequel, named 'Ends up owning you!', where we'll see Shinji and company get rid of the rest of the Angels and SEELE. However, I can't give teasers, since I haven't yet written the Eighth Rule and Epilogue, so I bear only vague notions, motions, and concepts for it....
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This is narrative.
"This is a dialogue."
"THIS IS SHOUTING."
'This is a quote/EMPHASIS made either during a dialogue or narrative.'
These are thoughts.
These are mouthed and facial expressions before, during, and after, a dialogue.
This tells where and when the following happens.
(These will be Author Notes)
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"Fights will go on as long as they have to."
-Tyler Durden
One week later
Central Dogma, NERV HQ, Geofront
"So, how's Shinji doing?"
"Here, see this."
Humm Opening a com link to Asuka, she said
"You're still on the top Asuka, but you better be careful, Shinji's nearing yours."
"As if that baka could ever pass mine!" Misato turned the com link off, and turned to Maya
"Alright, I think that's it for today. – Turning to Ritsuko, she saw her nod- Go ahead and end the tests."
Maya then opened a com link to the three pilots and told them it was enough. Seeing each giving her a nod, in Asuka's case a bored-out-of-her-mind nod, she ended the exams. However, just before Shinji's Plug being offline, she caught something. Calling Maya, she told her to check it.
"Just before 01's Plug was offline, his rate had a stable spike."
Misato, bent over the console, saw indeed that, just for a moment, Shinji's rate had surpassed Asuka's. Intrigued, Misato said
"Check Rei's."
Maya changed the graph to Rei's, and said
"No changes."
Misato, biting softly her lower lip, turned to Ritsuko, whom responded in an amused tone
"Maybe some good memories jumped at the last minute. It's not surprising, seeing who he lives with." Now smirking, Ritsuko went to another console. Misato, with a very small scowl, exited the bridge, trying to remember the nearest bathroom.
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Female Locker Room, NERV HQ, Geofront
Asuka, with a very satisfied smile and bright eyes, gazed at Rei, whom was removing her plug suit. Curiosity enticed to ask her what had happened last week on her plug, however, pride kept holding her facial muscles, in order to prevent her of being even remotely nice to Rei. Turning again to her locker, she sighed. How come Rei's so lifeless, like a doll? ... Then again, she's no longer a doll... Is she? Turning again to Rei, whom had her bare waist and torso uncovered, she asked, with a stoic voice
"So, tell me, it must've not been very nice, being naked with Shinji, whom was also naked, on your plug. What happened there?"
Rei, only turning her head partially to Asuka, replied
"We... I did something... new, something prohibited. Comparatively, my reservoir broke, and all the still water within was freed... - She rested her left palm over her upper left chest, though Asuka only saw Rei's arm raising, due to her body still be facing completely her locker- You would not, can not, understand, because it is something you have never done with anyone." Asuka, now clearly pissed with this entire philosophical speech, replied in an angry tone
"Well, you're right; I've been protecting my womanhood, unlike you!"
Rei, now turned just an inch, replied, in a sad tone
"You lock yourself away from everybody. You do not allow anyone to enter nor grasp your soul, presenting to everyone, even yourself, your masks."
"What are you talking about? Pfff You're the one who doesn't understand anything!"
Rei, now back to her initial pose, facing completely her own locker, murmured
"Indeed, we do not understand anything, because they don't want us to. But we're changing; Shinji and I are freeing ourselves from their... shackles."
Asuka, with an eyebrow risen, said, in a mocking tone
Oohhh "And here are two slaves, fighting for freedom! – and now with a mocking face as well – Do warn me when the epic battle begins, so that I can join you!"
Rei, whose façade was full of pity, said
"A certain individual said 'We've been all raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won't. We're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.'"
Asuka, blinking, asked
"Who said that?"
However, due to the alarms blaring, her answer never came...
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Tokyo-3
"The DATA of the target is this. It's all we have. Approach carefully to test his reaction. If possible, take him away from the urban area. One of you advances while the others give cover. Do you copy?"
"Hey Misato, this one's mine." Asuka's tone full of confidence was somewhat expected. What wasn't, though such was changing due to past actions, was Shinji voicing his concern
"Be careful Asuka. I'll give cover."
"I will provide cover as well."
The three EVAs advanced towards the Angel, Unit-00 with a Positron rifle, Shinji with a Handgun, and Asuka with an Axe. Several minutes passed, with the only sound being the EVAs footsteps. Asuka, finally reaching the Angel, covering behind a building, checked her radar, for confirmation of the other's positions. Rei was near, around 400 meters to her left, opening a vid-link; she saw that Unit-00 was standing in the middle of the street, with her rifle pointing the Angel. Then, she checked Shinji, her radar telling her that he was behind her, around 160-to-170 meters, and slightly to her right. Opening another vid-link, she saw that he had his right-side leaning against a building, handgun held by both hands, pointing downwards. Smirking, she addressed Shinji and Rei
"Alright, let's start this. I'll initiate the attack, going melee. Ayanami, Shinji, stay where you two are. I doubt I'll need you to help me, so just stand, watch, and drool!"
Not receiving any confirmation from them, nor waiting for it, she held the Axe with both hands, right near the blade and left on the lower end, and jumped to her right, standing right in front of the Angel. Preparing herself to dive the blade deep in the middle of the Angel's body, she was somewhat surprised when she heard three high-bass sounds. Looking at her back, she saw Shinji, around 70-80 feet away from her, handgun pointing the Angel. Then, hearing gasps over the links, she directed her attention to the Angel, but he wasn't there anymore.
Suddenly, feeling a strange coldness in her feet, she looked down, but all she saw was pure black surrounding her. She then swung the Axe at it, because she was now sinking in this new puddle of darkness.
First it was frustration, for not being capable of slaying the Angel, then panic because she had sunk beyond her knees, and couldn't run nor jump away from him. She then heard, over the link
"ASUKA!"
Looking up, she saw a purple hand. Focusing, she saw that Shinji had his own left fist and both feet driven in the building, where she had been covering behind, and right hand outstretched to her. Not hesitating, she grabbed it, discarding the Axe, with her right hand, and grabbed his forearm with her left hand. Pulling herself, she wasn't going fast enough, for now she sunk by her waist. Then, she heard another shout from him
"ASUKA, GET READY!" She then felt herself being pulled out from the black sea, and, much to her joy, soared in the air long and high enough to grab the roof of the building. Climbing it, she looked at her back, and saw that now it was Shinji the one whom was being engulfed by the black sea. He was lying down, the EVA's face looking at her, when she heard
"GO, ASUKA! JUMP FROM BUILDINGS TO BUILDINGS AND GET TO A SAFE AREA!"
Out of the blue, she heard a very deep sound on her right. Turning towards it, she saw, just for the duration of a quick moment, Unit-00 crouching, and then jumping, managing to embrace Unit-01. Instead of losing one pilot, they were now losing two.
Gritting her teeth, she saw the form of the two EVAs disappear completely, before jumping to the nearest building... (1)
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Two hours later
The Sea of Dirac
Since entering this white space, where theunknown ruled supreme, the two pilots had been communicating with each other with their portable links, so not to exhaust the EVA's power source.
"... Rei, can I ask you something?" Asked Shinji, tone carrying doubt.
"Of course, brother." (2) Rei's tone, though, was more jovial.
"Tell me, what do you know about NERV?"
Intrigued, Rei asked
"I do not understand, have I not told you all?"
Fighting the demonic impatience, Shinji explained
"Yes, but... It's just that I need to find as much as I can about NERV. The best I know, the easier it will be to pull her plug."
Now clarified, Rei stated
"Weaknesses! You wish to know her weaknesses."
"Yes."
"When do you plan to carry it out, brother?"
"As soon as possible!"
Confused, and worry seeping her soul, she inquired
"But, what about the Angels? Seventeen Angels, from which fifteen will try to reunite with Adam, and if we fail to defeat them, a Third Impact will be caused, and we will not survive it."
Now, Shinji was talking with confidence, something that was becoming usual
"Wrong Rei, there's always a way. Take our situation as an example!"
"No, we will not be rescued. We will die in our Plugs, when the batteries run out." Pessimism was practically palpable, with Rei's statement.
"Nope, somehow, we will get out of this one. I'll bet whatever you want on it!" Actually, Shinji did sounded like he was ready to make a bet.
"How?"
"Just look at our past confrontations! We've been winning all this time, against all odds and expectations, never mind the possibilities for some of the near-miracles we pulled in battle." Though Rei didn't saw it, Shinji actually banged his left palm against his seat.
"Are you not simply refusing to admit the truth?"
"Nope, I'm just holding on to life. Because, after all I've been through so far, I'm not going to just quit, and wait for an Angel to take me to Kingdom Come."
Resignation was now the main theme of Rei's phrase. Unavoidable resignation.
"I... I do not possess such determination, such... courage..."
"Why not? What's stopping you, sister?"
Murmuring, Rei tried to explain
"I... I do not know... Fear would be the most logical presumption..."
Chuckles "That reminds me a quote from an old movie. How was it? Ah 'Fear is the mind-killer!' (3) What they forgot to mention, is that fear is also the best proof we're alive in the first place!"
"Yes... 'The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear'..."
"'And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.' (4) Nice quote Rei, and one that I agree with completely."
"And one that concurs and contradicts your statement! – Now Rei's voice was bearer of resolve - Such as fear is an emotion that proves that we are still alive and, relatively speaking, sane, it is also 'the reap before the whirlwind'." (5)
Giggle "Today, you're on a quoting mood... Tell me something, has it ever happened to you doing something usual, a part of your daily routine, and, during it, have a ridiculous, unexpected, idea and will to perform such?"
Spending several moments reflecting, Rei replied
"... Yes."
"Is it constant? The event when it occurs?"
"...Yes. I do not understand, what is your point?" Now she was definitely intrigued with what Shinji wanted in this direction of the conversation.
"My point is, Rei, that, in your inner hidden self, you wish to do something that nobody expects you to. You want to change, and your soul is crying out for it, forming images and concepts to express it! I passed through the same, and I changed. I took the initiative... Why don't you try to do the same? I guarantee that you won't regret it! You might not like of what you change into, but just the act of trying to change will calm your spirit a lot! And it's worth the time and energy, this I speak for self-experience..."
Biting softly her lower lip, she reflected upon all they had just talked about. To change would give me... I do not know what would give me, but... But the sacrifice of self-ignorance is worth the act of trying... But what of the repercussions? ... The Commander would not appreciate, nor allow me to... He would dispose of me... NO! He cannot, otherwise he would've done so already! ... Why the wait? Why? ... Perhaps... Now, with resolve conquering a dominant position within her, she asked
"Could you... Would it be possible for me to take such significant changes now? The Commander keeps vigilant around me, to take such rebellious tactics would certify a termination sentence. I am restrained of such..." At her final phrase, sadness was permeating her voice, no doubt in her soul as well.
Shinji, however, wasn't backing out so easily.
"Even Section-2 takes breaks, every now and again. Usually they change shifts every hour, hour-and-a-half. Look, all we have to do is keep the mask to deceive him, like he does with us! Chuckles As much as I hate it, Rei, my blood is his blood as well, if he can make plans of such magnitude, then so can I!"
Smiling softly, she said
"So I see... Well, if you really think the best to do is to end with the Human Complementarity's Plan, you will indeed need to know all about NERV..."
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14 Hours later
Tokyo-3
"The back-up power from the Entry Plugs are nearing zero." Hyuga was keeping a close call on several parameters, now that the heavy-bombardment mission was about to start.
Maya confirmed it, by reading a chronometer they had set earlier.
"The survival system of the Plug Suits must be in the red area."
"Let's forward the plan by twelve minutes. This might give us a chance of rescuing Shinji and Rei." Misato could tell, just by her tone and expression that she didn't really was expecting to get Shinji alive and breathing away from the Angel.
"EVA in position."
"Prepped to generate AT Field."
"Roger."
"60 seconds for bombardment."
Suddenly, the black area, which composed the Angel, started to rumble and shake quite visibly, with red cracks forming, all along it. Ritsuko, clearly not expecting such performance, was trying to figure out what was going on.
"What's this? Has it begun already?"
"Status!" Misato barked. She couldn't lose control of the current situation. With any luck, it would give them a chance to pull Shinji and Rei out of the Sea of Dirac.
"Nothing!"
"The gages went mad!"
"But we haven't done anything!" Disbelief was all over Ritsuko's face and words. Despite such, this was more than enough for Misato to feed the small ember of hope in her heart.
"Then Shinji's..."
Ritsuko wasn't buying, however, the probability of the two entrapped pilots finding a way to get out.
"Impossible! The energy of theUnits arenull!"
Now, a new large crack had appeared in the Angel's round, mono-chromatically striped, shadow, and, a few moments later, a large hand had burst open from within. A second followed the first, with, afterwards, the two hands each grasp a side of the crack, and force it wide open. A horned head came, covered in blood, with the body following. And it wasn't coming alone. Over the Unit-01's left shoulder, it had Unit-00, with its armoured legs limping, and torso and arms leaning against the purple behemoth's back. Exiting by complete of the remains of the Angel's shadow, Unit-01 stood upright, before lowering Unit-00 to the ground, leaving it there. Then, she howled, as a primal beast warning all that surrounded her, of her victory. After its winning battle-cry, it collapsed, falling face-first to the ground.
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Several hours later
The Commander's Office, NERV HQ, Geofront
There stood Ritsuko and Gendo, just the two of them, in his office, with Gendo at his desk, and Ritsuko standing in front of it, holding a clipboard with her left hand. She addressed him, her voice carrying a certain type of fear
"I've never felt such horror, like seeing an EVA like this! Are they really on our side? And what if one day they hate us? Major Katsuragi might comprehend certain things."
"That is correct." Gendo, though, didn't seem preoccupied with such.
"If Rei and Shinji ever find out the secrets of the EVAs, they'll never forgive us." Some will find ironic, such statement, in the near future, after Shinji's rebellion against his father. (6)
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Three days after Leliel's attack
Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu Residence
"... I'll be back in a minute, Misato." Shinji exited the apartment, closing the door. He then approached the elevator, when he snapped his own right fingers, along with his mouth opened. Turning to the stairs, he descended to the first floor, where he left the stairs. Now standing in another corridor leading to several apartments of the first floor, he leaned against the staircase's door. A few moments passed, before he heard
"Hey Shinji, everything's alright with you?" Turning towards the voice, he saw Aoba heading to him, carrying a backpack of intense volume. Intense and, apparently, heavy.
Shaking hands, they sit on the floor, where Shinji told Hyuga what were NERV and SEELE's plans for the future, after the Angel Wars. Aoba, agreeing that they should be impeded, asked what could be done, to which Shinji replied, in an amused tone
"We cut off their power supplies. Actually, better stated, 'Cut off the head and the body dies!' That's what we're going to do; we'll cut off their heads and leave their bodies tumble and roll on the floor." Disbelief starting to show on Aoba's face, he asked Shinji what did he meant with that.
Shinji, smiling, simply asked him if he could find out every major compound and facility belonging to SEELE...
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TBC
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1- Before accusing me of plagiarism, please bear this with me, because this situation calls such. Originally, I was going for Shinji only, but, after re-reading it, I came to realize that, this way; it would improve the plot, especially the next chapter.
2- I've used the term 'brother' and 'sister', precisely because my knowledge of the Japanese language is short, at best. So, to prevent any insult and/or embarrassment, I'm sticking with the English.
3- From the movie 'Dune', by David Lynch.
4- By H.P. Lovecraft, in 'Supernatural Horror in Literature'.
5- 'You called down the thunders, now reap the whirlwinds.' This phrase I don't know who created it, I just know it's very used around the globe...
6- When re-reading it, I couldn't help myself remembering the Star Wars saga, with Luke against Anakin Large Sweat-drop
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