Standard Disclaimer!
Well first work for the New Year for me
Hope you all had a happy holiday season regardless of your beliefs, and I hope the New Year is a joyful one for you. As you know this is the last official chapter of Out of Disaster. I'll be posting two epilogues for it, so there will be a little more, but this is the official 'end' of the story.
I'd like to thank all of you that read this far and supported me with this story. It was a long two-year trip from start to completion but I'm glad I did it. Now more Love Hina/ Evangelion stories are up and I'm glad.
So again I'd like to thank all of you for reading this sad little story of mine. A lot of changes occurred in my planning and ideas for it. Originally Shinji and Rei became an item way in the beginning and Shinji and Shinobu started a friendship type relationship until Rei died, then Shinobu comforted Shinji and they paired up.
That didn't happen, and I'm glad I changed it. The Omake were kinda odd at times to. But that's neither here nor there.
Well enough of this talking, you're here for a finale aren't you? I know I am! LETS STAND TALL AND SHAKE THE PILLARS OF HEAVEN!
-Section Divider-
Out of Disaster
Chapter 24 – Stand and fight or surrender and perish
Misato wanted to be there for Shinji after he was forced to kill his friend turned enemy. So as the boy was taken out of his Evangelion, she sat thinking. She had too much to do and very little time to prepare. Thanks to Ritsuko's announcement Misato learned the truth behind Nerv and Seele, and that meant she had to prepare for either side to make a move.
With all the angels dead, Misato would have thought their need was at an end, but then Ritsuko's words kept playing in her head over and over again. 'Something is going on here that the Commander hasn't told us.' As that thought continued to assault her mind, Misato delved deeper into Nerv's files with the help of Kaji's last present to her.
Seated inside Casper, Misato's laptop was directly connected into Nerv's mainframe and bypassing all the firewalls that Ritsuko had installed. Misato took a moment to look at the HUD display on her laptop to find Rei hugging the crying Third Child. 'I wonder how much of that thing is the old Rei and how much is Ritsuko's work.' Misato thought sadly before she noticed the blinking email icon on her screen. 'Now what is I?'
From UnknownKatsuragi Seele is planning on attacking Nerv in two days. The enclosed image files are all I can send to assist you.
To say Misato was dubious was an understatement. A lot of crackpots had tried 'helping' Nerv in the past with false information. And seeing how her newfound information came without a name to help add credence to the claim she was tempted to not even check the attached files. 'Bet it's a virus or something some dumb kid sent.' But they knew of Seele so they couldn't have been that ignorant a part of Misato's brain said, and it was that part that drove her to open the files.
The breath was stolen from her body as Misato opened the first file. It was an image of a monstrous white Evangelion being loaded into a plane by JSSDF soldiers. 'My Kami-sama they are planning an assault!' With trembling fingers, the prone woman opened the next file. Finding the schematics for what she now knew was the Mass Production Series Evangelion, Misato was privy to even more bad news.
"They all have S2 engines," her voice was small and weak. The term Mass Produced came with weighty connotation. Soon not only the JSSDF assault force, but also an unknown number of Evangelions' that didn't require an external power source would attack Nerv. But Nerv's Eva units were superior to dummy plug controlled units, how could the JSSDF think they could win? Misato answered her own question "By killing our pilots first."
Slamming the screen against the walls of the Magi, the tired Major wanted to cry. They had won! He had finally won! Shinji was supposed to be freed from this curse and leave this town, but now he was on the hit list for death. 'Why can't that boy catch a break?' Misato was thinking as she crawled out of her hiding place. She'd get Shinji to base soon, but first she had to let the untrained staff of Nerv know that they'd just been fired.
"I don't get paid enough for this shit," Misato said trying to lighten her own spirits she failed.
-Section Divider-
After crying for the loss of Kaworu in Rei's arms, Shinji thanked the girl who at the time seemed lost in thought and went home. He was hurt by the death of his friend, but Motoko's training came to his mind again. 'Kaworu didn't want to destroy humanity. If I didn't kill him we'd all be dead.' Taking a deep breath Shinji and had a tiny smile knowing it was better to die at the hands of a friend than in cold blood by a stranger.
Opening the door to his apartment, the Third Child was greeted by a loud yelp and thud. Peering around the obstructed door, Shinji found Shinobu dazed and lying on the floor. "Shinobu are you alright?" he asked as he slide into the room and knelt by the prone girl.
Her eyes spinning and her vision hazy, Shinobu tried to sit up under her own power only to have Shinji help her. She had fallen asleep leaning against the door as she waited for him to return. Kanako told her that it might not be till late and retired herself for the night, but Shinobu didn't listen. So when Shinji tired to get in, Shinobu was woken from her light slumber and sent into a panic. "I'm fine, really I am!"
The sheer oddness of his homecoming sent Shinji into a fit of laughter. He needed something like that to help him cope and Shinobu performed admirably. Offering his hand to the recovering girl, Shinji pulled Shinobu up to her feet. "I'd ask if I woke you up, but I don't think I need to," Shinji finished with another chuckle.
Shaking the fatigue out of her head, Shinobu could almost feel that something was wrong with Shinji. She couldn't tell why she knew something happened but she knew it all the same. So when Shinji sat at the kitchen table, she sat next to him and took his hand into hers. "What happened Shinji? You rushed out of here so fast and its so late now…what happened?"
Squeezing Shinobu's hand, Shinji's eyes clenched shut. He had cried a lot for the death of Kaworu, and he didn't want to cry anymore about it. "Kaworu is dead, he was the last angel." Shinji knew that Shinobu had never met the boy, and all she knew of Kaworu was what he told her, so when he heard her start crying he was shocked. "Shinobu?"
'How many more need to die? Why do they even need to die?' Shinobu's mind reeled at the news. "I'm so sorry for you Shinji, he was your friend." Shinobu moved from her chair and embraced Shinji lightly. Her tears were absorbed into his shirt as Shinji's arms wrapped around the crying girl.
'She's so caring,' Shinji couldn't help be realize, as Shinobu cried for the boy she never meet. "Lets go to bed Shinobu, it's late," he said in hushed tones as he led Shinobu towards her temporary room. "And it looks like we both could use some sleep." Opening the door to Asuka's room, Shinji felt Shinobu's grip on his shirt tighten.
"For tonight, could I," Shinobu's face started to glow red as she stalled and gathered her courage to speak, "could I stay in your room?" The fear she saw in his face when he ran off earlier that day, the doleful tolling of the angel siren, and her talking with Kanako pushed her onward. 'I almost lost him so many times, but now I have him.' Looking into Shinji's eyes, she could see him debating it, "please?"
The last pleading word from Shinobu's lips sent him over the edge as he smiled and headed towards his room with her still in his arms. He had lost much in his short life, but now with all the angels defeated he could start rebuilding his life. 'And I could use her support,' he thought. "I'd be honored if you would."
As the two timidly walked into Shinji's small room and bashfully got into his futon, both were nervous. Both thinking, 'we should just sleep right? Its to soon for anything else.' Shinji found his arms wrapped around Shinobu as pressed her back against his chest as they lied down. The warmth was intoxicating and soon both tired teens fell into one of the best nights sleep either had had in a long time. Both thought as sleep stole over them, 'this nightmare is finally over.'
Sadly they were wrong.
-Section Divider-
As Misato let the bulk of Nerv know that they no longer had a job and Shinji and Shinobu snuggled into bed, Rei was lying down for sleep as well. She was glad that the Kaworu was dead. 'He continually infringed upon my attempts to be with Shinji,' she thought as she lied her head down.
Shinji, holding the crying boy in her arms did something to her. To be more precise, seeing Shinji crying had struck a cord inside Rei's mind and she couldn't comprehend why. Her memories were still mostly dark and muddled. 'They don't seem to be my memories,' Rei couldn't resist believing. "He didn't seem to be happy."
"That is because he wasn't, and they are your memories," a voice called from out of nowhere. Rei's memory of Shinji crying over her after the Fifth angel had finally started to jog her memory.
As Rei's eyes opened, the girl realized she was no longer in her apartment and wasn't alone anymore. Before her was a girl that looked exactly like her, but adorned in a plug suit. "Who are you? I am the last." Rei said to the stranger whose head was down.
The other Rei looked at her t-shirt wearing companion. Her eyes were filled with sadness. "What have you been doing to Shinji? Your actions are terrible." The plugsuit Rei said as she continued to stare.
Confused at the accusation, Rei's voice lacked the usual monotone quality it often had. "But I wish to be with him. To show my love for him."
Slowly shaking her head the other Rei replied, "There are other ways. We were not like that yet and so you scare him. Have you truly forgotten what made him special to us? What made us special to him?" The other Rei made a step forward.
Tears started to form in Rei's eyes. She had been lost for as long as she could remember. All she knew was the calling to be with Shinji. "I don't know how else to be. I don't remember anything. He comforts me, is calming, but I don't know how else to show to him…" She stopped as she felt arms embrace her.
The other Rei hovered above her and comforted her. "This was all he wanted, all we needed." Touching her forehead with her counterpart, "I know it has been hard for you, it was for me as well, but together we can remember."
The fear of that knowledge was great, but so was the fear of being abandoned by her one source of joy. "What I have been doing was wrong?" She could feel the other her shaking her head no. "What must I do?"
Slowly the two Reis' started to phase into one being, but before the other Rei vanished, "All you need to do is remember." And then two became one, and Rei's memory, all of her memory had returned. And she was ashamed of her actions, but knew at the time she knew no better. Gripping her shoulders tightly, Rei planned to make up for her past actions, but a sound ripped her away.
Her phone was ringing and the sound woke her from her sleep. Answering the device, Rei was given her last command. After the man on the other end hung up so did she. Setting the phone down by the glasses of the man to whom she had just been talking, Rei took them into her hands. 'He used me for his own needs. Lied to me about my purpose. I am not a doll. I am not his tool. But it is thanks to him I have life, and that I meet Shinji.'
Her hands clenched the fragile frame and lens. 'I honor the fact that I owe him that much, but I will no longer be his tool.' Rei looked out the window and saw the moon shining brightly, dropping the shattered remains of her once proud possession, Rei headed to Nerv to fulfill a need, but whose need she didn't yet know.
-Section Divider-
Impatience and anxiety were the words of the day for Misato. The sun had just crested the sky and she had yet to have even a few moments peace. She just finished ruining the day of many former Nerv employees. 'Not like I want to fill out condolence cards for them dying,' Misato thought sickly as she headed towards her apartment.
She had left Makoto in charge of preparing the remaining staff for the inevitable as she said she'd go get Shinji. "Grab him, some cloths, and we'll stay holed up in Nerv until this mess is over." She said softly to herself in an attempt to persuade herself that they had a chance of surviving. The odds weren't in their favor however.
Kicking the door open, Misato wanted to be in and out of the apartment as quickly as possible. "Shinji get up its we have to go now!" She yelled into the still quiet apartment. Making her way into the kitchen for a quick cup of coffee to wake her frazzled brain up, the agitation of things kept crawling deeper into her. 'Who warned us about this? How many of those damn things do they have, and…' Finishing off her coffee in record time Misato voiced her last concern. "Why aren't you up yet Shinji?"
She felt bad abandoning him for the past few days. Misato knew that Shinji had been dealing with a lot of problems, but now wasn't the time to be having a breakdown. 'I'll make it up to you afterwards Shinji, but please help me out with this one.' Walking to his door, Misato stopped. 'So will he be crying, catatonic, curled in a ball, what…' Again remorse for her action hit her.
Pulling the door open and turning on the light, Misato's eyes widened. "Oh hell! SHINJI! What is she doing here?" Misato screamed as she noticed Shinobu's now waking form as well as Shinji's. "We don't have time for this Shinji get up were going to Nerv." Misato couldn't believe her eyes, but she had to accept what they told her. Shinobu was sleeping in Shinji's room, that she had no idea how long Shinobu had even been in Tokyo-3.
His brain slowly adapting to the waking world, Shinji saw a visually agitated Misato. "Misato-san its not what it looks like." Shinji said assuming her anger came from his choice in sleeping arrangements. He blushed as Shinobu sat up and dabbed her eyes with her arm and smiled at him.
Following Shinji's line of sight, Shinobu quickly drew the sheets over up to her face, "Katsuragi-san good morning." Such an awakening wasn't something the young girl had anticipated, not after Misato had been gone for so long. 'I guess she's upset with us, but we didn't do anything.'
For a moment, Misato's face lightened at the sure innocence of the two teens. 'They think I'm upset for them sleeping in the same bed.' Misato was quick to note both were clothed and their was no lingering smell of sex in the air. "Shinji, Shinobu get up and dressed we're going to Nerv now, I'll explain on the way."
Shutting the door behind her, Misato heard the two talking and getting ready. 'At least one good thing has happened since I've been away.' But the truth was Shinobu was going to be a liability not a benefit. "Maybe I should leave her. She's untrained, unprepared, and could be used as a hostage if Seele knows anything about her relationship with Shinji."
"She won't be left behind, I'm going with you and I'll watch her," a voice said flatly from Misato's side. Kanako had been roused from her slumber by Misato's loud declarations. Fully dressed and ready to go, Kanako wasn't about to let Shinobu stay in a place where Misato was hell pressed to get Shinji away from. "So maybe you should tell me what's got you so agitated."
Seeing Kanako looking at her Misato's heart dropped another notch, "Oh hell not another one of you! How many of Shinji's girlfriends are here right now?" Misato exclaimed in a defeatist tone. She wanted to grab Shinji and go, now she had to worry about the damn creepy girl from the Inn, "Is the bitch here too? That would just make my day complete."
"No, Naru isn't here," Kanako said as she gauged Misato's reactions. 'Things must be bad or she wouldn't be this upset.' Leading the now visibly tired major to the kitchen, Kanako fixed a small meal for her. "Talk."
Glad to sit down, Misato felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. Downing another cup of coffee and the re-warmed supper from the last night, Misato told Kanako all that she knew. "So now I have to take two civilians with me back to a base that will be attacked in fear that the men attacking us might take you two hostage to force Shinji into action." It pissed Misato off to have to admit it was for Shinji's well being she was doing something so stupid. 'But Shinji would do anything to keep Shinobu safe, and I bet Seele knows that.'
"Is all that true Misato-san?" Shinji asked from behind her as he readjusted his shirt. He had heard most of what his guardian said. "They'd try to do something to them?" Shinobu was quick to latch onto his arm, in as much of fear as affection.
Misato just dropped her head, 'So much for keeping him in the dark about this.' With her hands tied, Misato ushered the three into her car and was soon speeding back to the relative safety of the Geo-Front. 'Just how safe this place is I don't know. But Shinji seems to be in better spirits than I thought after this whole mess. Guess I should be thanking those two girls.'
-Section Divider-
The ride to Nerv was made in silence. Shinji and Shinobu sat huddled together in the back seat while Misato and Kanako in the front. Misato was pleasantly surprised by how calmly the group seemed to be taking the incoming threat. She wished she were as calm about it. Upon arrive at the Geo-Front Misato deposited the trio in an abandoned lab. She deemed it the safest place, as nobody would likely check it.
"Now Shinji, if you hear anything odd, I send word to, or you get the feeling that something has gone wrong I need you in Unit-01 as soon as you can get there ok?" Misato informed the only viable pilot of his task. She had to head up to the command bridge and see how Makoto was handling things in her absence.
Giving the stowaways a sidelong glance, Shinji nodded in confirmation. "I'll head to the hangers if I suspect anything or you tell me to." He didn't want to think about fighting people, but if they were planning on killing them he really had no choice. Before Misato could shut the door, "What about food?"
Shinobu smiled bashfully as Misato stopped and looked perplexed. "I brought some food with me. I got it while you were talking in the kitchen." Her voice contained a bit of pride as her actions served to help not only herself but Kanako and Shinji as well.
Taking Shinobu's bag and going through the contents, Kanako nodded. "This should last us a good while. We'll know what's happening by the time we run out." Misato walked back to the shy girl and patted her head before telling them all to stay quiet and keep out of danger before heading to the bridge.
As the door shut, Shinji sighed heavily. "I thought that after we defeated the angels this would all be over." Taking a seat on one of the two lab tables, Shinji felt the strain of the last few days catching up with him.
Taking her seat next to his, Shinobu leaned up against the boy. "This is the last thing though isn't it? After they handle whoever this Seele group is won't it all be over?" She was hoping it was. She wanted to be back in Hinata with all her friends and the safety it provided for them all.
Wandering about the lab, Kanako started opening cabinets and closets. "I would agree with you. But for now we have to get ready." Taking out what looked usable Kanako started planning for the inevitable attack. 'We can hope they don't find us but if they do we'll need to be ready.'
Watching Kanako work, Shinji was perplexed. "What are you doing Kanako-san?" Seeing her bundling up clothing, tearing wiring from the wall, and generally acting oddly, Shinji had no idea what the girl was doing.
"If soldiers do get into this place we have to be ready to defend ourselves. My martial arts training is good but against trained soldiers it won't help out much more than in a surprise attack." The young woman said as she took a seat across from the other two. "You'll have to do your duty, and I have mine. Keeping her safe." Kanako's eyes fell on Shinobu, who in turn cringed closer to Shinji.
She hated feeling powerless, but that was what she was in this situation. "You're going to set traps again Kanako-san?" Memories of their first meeting so long ago when the young Urashima had skillfully trapped and manipulated the whole of Hinata lodge.
"Traps?" Shinji said fearfully, "shouldn't you try to find a hiding place instead of that?" He didn't like the idea of either of them being in harms way, let alone possibly provoking people.
With a small smirk, Kanako informed the pilot of her previous exploits with her grandmother and back at Hinata lodge. Shinobu added to the stories of the lodge with telling of Kanako's ventriloquism and the other oddities that occurred while the raven-haired girl vied for her brother's heart. Soon the atmosphere in the room wasn't as ominous and hushed laughter could have been heard if somebody had been listening. However all those that could have heard had been dismissed and were enjoying their first day of unemployment.
-Section Divider-
"How are we looking" Misato asked the moment she was within earshot of her crew on the bridge. Maya was looking nervous as the weight of her sidearm pulled at her side. Makoto was diligently at scanning military instillations for any movement, and Shigeru was busy instructing the few remaining armed personnel about their orders.
With only the photos and official order forms ordering the attack, Nerv had very little information to use in preparation. "Ma'am I'm getting an incoming transmission from Nerv Germany." Maya said as she called Misato over to her. 'Something isn't right about it though.' Before Misato could get over by her, Maya registered several more transmissions from other imitation Magi systems around the world. "MAJOR!"
Moving away from Shigeru, whom Misato thought had the more important job, to the now panicking Maya. "What's wrong?" Misato asked while giving the Commander's observation deck an expectant glance. "Can't you handle it?"
Maya just shook her head vigorously. "We're being hacked by a large number of Magi systems! Well lose control of our systems soon!" Misato asked if she could prevent it. Maya's response was direct, "Akagi-sempai can!"
Misato's eyes shoot back to the Commander's viewing podium. She saw the man give a small nod and soon, escorted by two armed men, Ritsuko was back at her place on the command bridge. Had she arrived moments later, she'd have lost her chance to help. 'I knew this was why he kept me alive, he was expecting this.'
Halting the bodiless invaders temporarily, Ritsuko started one of her greater creations. "The Triple-Six encryption algorithm will buy us a few hours," Ritsuko told the assembled as she leaned back into her chair. "But our actions are limited now."
'Shit I thought we'd have more time than this,' Misato thought as she realized the truth behind the hacking job. "Seal off all entrances, fill unused corridors with bakelite, and get on the horn, we need…" Misato's words were cut off as Makoto yelled to her they just received a call.
"Major! News from the hospital ward, Asuka's woken up!" His tone was hopeful and energetic. With two pilots they had a substantially greater chance of surviving soon to arrive assault force. "What do you want us to do with her?"
Remembering how Asuka couldn't even sync with her Eva, Misato didn't know what to do with the pilot in all reality. 'She deserves a chance to live as well so…' Misato ordered the still waking girl shoved into Unit-02 and launched into a safe location for the time being. "Now get me a line to Shinji."
Ritsuko shook her head, "Sorry Misato but that's not possible. With the Magi being attacked our lines of communication are limited. The call from the hospital ward was a secured line, all non secured lines are down." Ritsuko could see how her words seemed to cause her one time friend physical harm. 'She'll do what she has to…now its time.'
"Damnit! Does Kami-sama hate me or something?" Misato raged. Things seemed to get good then go straight to hell. With only a non-physical assault, she doubted Shinji would be on his way to unit-01 yet. "We need to get him to his Eva now! You have your orders," Misato took her sidearm out, checked the clip and slid it back into place. "I'll go get him."
Words of protest were fired off that Misato was needed at the bridge, but she didn't listen. When the building shook as the first of many explosive charges went off, they knew time was up. "They're attacking! Get to your posts now! I'm going to insure Shinji gets to his Eva. That's my priority!" During all the confusion, Ritsuko was able to shake off the eyes of her guards and follow Gendo off towards terminal dogma.
'I'm going to do it this time,' she thought as her fingers danced across the top of the gun she had borrowed from her one time protégé.
-Section Divider-
Shinji fell against the side of the hall as another explosion sent shockwaves through the Geo-Front. He hated leaving Shinobu and Kanako alone in the lab, but even he knew that the soldiers wanted to kill him not them, and that they would be looking for him. 'I just hope that they're safe.'
Finding many of the ways to the Eva hangers blocked by the molten rubber, Shinji was quickly running out of options. 'I have to get there soon, or all this was for nothing.' Coming to a stop, Shinji heard the shot before he saw the hole in the wall by him. 'They got in already?'
"Stop kid, turn around slowly," a gruff voice called out to him from behind. Turning around Shinji saw a trio of guards walking towards him. "You're a hard person to find do you know that?"
With his hands up, Shinji's fear was absolute. He could feel his body as it was threatening to evacuate his bowels without his consent. 'Did I go through all this hell just to die after we won?' Feeling the lead man press the barrel of a handgun against his cheek, Shinji fell to his knees.
As the two other men laughed, the lead officer was more sympathetic. 'This is a kid I'm about to kill. A kid that saved my life how many times by fighting in one of those monsters.' But he was a solder and a solder had to do his duty. Wanting to tell this subordinates to shut up and show some respect to an actual hero, the man couldn't, "I'm sorry kid, this is just my jo." He couldn't finish as a bullet lanced his frontal lobe.
From far ahead of him, Shinji could see Misato rushing towards him, and he could see the barrel of her gun flaring as the bullets left the muzzle. Soon the other two men were down before they even knew what had happened. "They didn't hurt you did they Shinji?" Misato asked in a very unfriendly tone. Inspecting his body and wiping off the larger bits of gore that had clung to him, Misato helped Shinji to his feet.
Relief flooding his mind, Shinji wanted more than anything to hug Misato, but the look on her face at that moment kept Shinji from acting on his thoughts. "I'm fine, you got them before the could do anything." Feeling Misato's hand grasping his tightly, Shinji was soon being rushed down the corridors of Nerv.
"We have to get you to the hangers fast. Their attack force is larger than we thought." Sickly Misato thought it would have delayed their advance had they left the unarmed personnel behind. 'They'd have acted as deterrents and gave us more time,' her military mind said before her sense of ethics reminded her why cause needless death.
Looking down to side corridors and seeing more Bakelite, Shinji didn't know how they would reach their destination. "But with all the pathways blocked how can we?" Spotting a JSSDF solder walking out of a vacant room only to be meet by Misato's weapon and a swift death, fear hit Shinji again. 'They're checking every room!'
Her face hardened by battle, Misato just continued to hold onto Shinji as they walked quickly towards an express elevator. "I know a way. Just stay brave ok Shinji."
-Section Divider-
The reverberation she felt in her entry plug alerted the now almost awake Second Child. 'I'm underwater and I'm being attack by depth charges.' Why she didn't know, but Asuka didn't question the facts. During her coma she had seen many things, and came to one full conclusion. "I don't want to die!"
A crackled voice erupted from her comm. link. "Asuka the JSSDF is attacking us. You're currently in the lake in the Geo-Front. You have to do something to stall them while Misato gets Shinji to Unit-01." It was Maya's frantic orders that Asuka heard and informed her of the events.
"Don't I even get a wake up kiss?" Asuka said jokingly. 'Shinji's alive so that means things can't be that bad.' Doing her best to calm down, Asuka tried to start Unit-02. Shutting out all external stimuli, Asuka felt something, something familiar. 'It can't be…it just can't.' But she sensed it totally. "Momma?"
Twenty seconds later the battleship dropping the charges at Unit-02 was hefted into the air by its target. "You can't beat me!" Asuka roared over the external intercom as she threw the ship at a group of nearby VTOL Helicopters. She could feel her mother inside Unit-02 protecting her and being there for her like she always wanted. "Bring it on!"
Several more VTOL helicopters fired a volley of missiles towards the red behemoth only to have them deflected by Asuka's AT Field. The lead VTOL was soon in the grip of the Eva and was used to smash into the others. "Asuka, Asuka do you read me?" Maya called again over her comm. link, only stronger this time.
"I'm a little busy here!" Asuka responded as a bevy of tank fire sent Unit-02 down to one knee before she grabbed the toy and threw it. "So if you'll kindly tell that Baka to hurry his ass up and help me I'd be much appreciative!" Hearing gunshots over the comm. link, Asuka summed up things were worse than she had thought, "Ibuki-san?"
After a few agonizing moments of silence, Maya returned to the screen. "Ikari-kun is on his way. But you need to be informed…" Maya's connection started going in and out. "Mass produced….from abo…dummy plu…S2 engines…regerner…" then all was static. But Asuka wasn't stupid.
"So they have Eva's too huh," Asuka looked up to see the white monstrosities circling her like vultures. "Sleeping beauty didn't have to put up with this why should I." Asuka said bitterly. Her thoughts however were on a certain boy running towards the battlefield as she engaged her progressive knife.
-Section Divider-
Things weren't looking good for Kanako. About ten minutes after Shinji left, the first solder checked the room Shinobu and she were hiding in. It was one of the line traps that knocked him out. They stuffed the body, fully tied up, in one of the air vents. Then the bombing continued and Shinobu's nerves overtook her senses and the young chef went into a panic.
Crying to loud for what Kanako considered safety, the martial artist quickly and painlessly knocked the young girl out. 'She'd attract more attention if she were to be left awake.' Putting the poor girl's body in a lower cabinet, Kanako stood guard over her. "I won't let anything happen to her." Whether she was talking to herself, Shinji, or Keitaro she didn't know.
Spotting two more soldiers walking her way, Kanako drew the door closed and braced herself against the wall in the case the investigated. Holding her breath, Kanako saw the doorknob start to turn. 'They're coming in.' Even though she was well trained Kanako knew she wasn't invincible, and even one bullet could kill her. 'Those silly girls at the dorm are one thing but trained soldiers are different.'
"See anything?" one of the soldiers said as the door swung fully open. Kanako could hear them walking further into the room. "Kensai said he was going down this way, think they got him?" the same voice said.
"I don't know Gatto, I doubt it. All we've been seeing is piss poor trained simps. I mean half of these guys aren't worth the ammo we spend on them." This voice was younger and much to Kanako's distaste very happy by the sounds of it.
'Ok, wait a few more seconds then the first of them should get a pole to the neck, then I take out the second and hide the bodies again,' Kanako planned as she mentally prepared to face two men that were more than happy to kill her. Hearing her trap sprung and hearing the body of one of the two men slump to the floor, Kanako jumped out from her hiding place and looked the younger man in the eyes.
"Who the fu," was all the solder got out before Kanako's extended palm slammed against his throat and sent him out of the room by the adjacent wall. The man's weapon slid from his hands and clattered across the floor.
'Damn I can't leave him out there,' Kanako thought as she realized the body would attract more attention than deflect it. All in all that little encounter couldn't have gone better. Pulling the older man's body fully into the room, Kanako huffed at the chore of dragging the man's full weight. After the man, Gatto, had been propped against the wall, Kanako moved to grab the younger soldier. The moment her head was outside the door however Kanako realized the nature of her mistake, there had been three soldiers not two.
The last thing she saw before blackness overtook her was the butt of a rifle flying towards her eyes.
-Section Divider-
Panting heavily and sweating profusely Misato and Shinji dived behind yet another corner as a volley of gunfire was sounded. They had into three squads of men on their way towards the emergency elevator. They had seen more than a dozen fallen Nerv personnel as well. 'Have to hand it to the JSSDF they know how to really screw us over,' Misato thought as she checked her clip for ammo.
Her plan was upon finding another weapon give it to Shinji. Fact was the JSSDF stripped all bodies, friend or foe, of weapons, ammo, and communication devices. So getting closer to their destination, Misato had three rounds left. "Shinji are you ready to go the rest of the way?"
Seeing Misato quickly round the corner, fire, and return to a seated position Shinji nodded. "How much further do you think it is?" He was getting winded from all the running, and the fear of death was growing by the minute. 'She can't have that much ammunition left,' Shinji accurately deduced.
Misato pointed down the hallway where the passage opened up to a suspended walkway. "See the door down there?" Shinji nodded that he did, "that's the elevator, and it'll take you right to the hanger." She didn't want to admit it, but the facts were adding up. She doubted she was going to make it. 'The least I can do is act as a shield for him as he runs, he has to make it.'
Sensing Misato's intentions, Shinji gripped her hand. "Misato-san what about you, you're coming with me right?" Seeing the fear in Shinji's eyes, Misato had to act quickly. If Shinji lost his nerve now they might both die.
Kissing the boy lightly on the lips, Misato smiled at him. "Don't worry about me Shinji, I'll be fine. I know I haven't been the best guardian for you, but I intend to make up for that now." Misato stood up and brought Shinji up with her. "I love you Shinji, you're the son I never had so I can't have you dying on me."
His eyes widened as Misato spoke to him, "Misato I love you too." It was so surreal to be talking about the feelings they had shared for each other at this particular moment in time. He felt Misato push his chest, pushing him away from her.
"If you do, you'll honor my last request and run for that door and not look back," Misato looked sadly at him and drew her sidearm up. "I'll hold them off so you can go onward." It broke her heart to see the tears forming in his eyes but she had to do this. "Go."
As quickly as possible, Shinji got turned around and ran as fast as he could towards the elevator door. 'Misato-san don't die, please don't die!' Shinji could hear the guns firing behind him, but he didn't turn around. For to turn, Shinji knew he would falter and that if Misato had to give her life it would be in vain. His body slammed against the door of the elevator and his palm smashed the button to open it.
As he reached his goal and hit the down button, Shinji saw Misato. She was clutching her side and he saw her fire one last shot before the door closed. "Misato…" his voice felt alien to him as he dropped to the floor of the elevator as it descended.
-Section Divider-
"Rei," Gendo said without emotion. Seeing her standing exactly like he had planned all those years ago, Gendo almost felt happy. "It is time." He stepped closer to the young woman who stood in the shadow of Lillith. "Come to me."
Before her father figure, the man who gave her life only to hold said life over her head, Rei took a stand, "No." The single syllable had a drastic reaction on the man who heard it.
His face betrayed no emotion, but he was furious. His left hand lashed out and struck Rei fiercely across her face sending the young girl to the ground. "You will obey me now. You have no options."
Blood dripping from a small slash across her cheek, Rei restated her stance as she got to her feet. "I will not go along with this task." She had honored the man by appearing in this place as she was told, but she would not go any further. 'He has to be stopped.'
Gendo's left hand clenched tightly around Rei's throat. "If you don't do what I tell you now, he will die." No sympathy was found in the man's eyes as he looked down at the young girl whose life was in his hands. "The JSSDF will kill him and you will forever be alone."
Rei felt her vision fading and her head was light. As Gendo's hand tightened around her throat she couldn't refute his words. 'He could be dead, he could die, and I could save him…' How she didn't know, but she knew she had little choice left. Sweet refreshing air quickly filled her lungs the moment Gendo dropped her to the ground.
His eyes filled not with pity but disgust at the girl's attempts to fill her aching body with life again, Gendo smirked. "If you do what you were made for, he will be with you for all eternity. Don't and loose all hope." Extending his left hand again to her, his smirk grew larger as Rei timidly took it. A moment later Rei's AT field flared and she stood before the man nude and awaiting the coming of Adam.
Gendo removed the glove on his right hand and exposed Adam for the first time since it had been implanted in his skin. "Now let us finish this." As he advanced towards Rei a gunshot pierced the stillness of the event.
Her gun pointed skyward Ritsuko stepped out of the shadows and advanced upon the pair. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Gendo's smirk faded.
-Section Divider-
Using one of the Mass Production Eva's own weapons, Asuka sliced the leg off of one of the monsters. "Shinji hurry your ass up this isn't easy!" Asuka yelled into her comm. link at Shinji who's Unit was quickly accelerating towards the surface after it freed itself from the Bakelite prison that had incased it.
Erupting from one of the launch pads, Unit-01 slammed into one of the Mass Production Eva's that had been sneaking up behind Asuka. "Did I keep you waiting long?" Shinji asked a bit joyfully. He couldn't help the feeling of joy he had after seeing Asuka awake and very much like her old self. 'I don't know Misato is dead so I won't believe it.'
Throwing the large double bladed weapon deeply into the chest of yet another MP Eva, Asuka smirked. "Well I am the best pilot so your help isn't needed, and I was doing fine while you were away." Asuka couldn't define the sense of relief she felt to see Shinji. After hearing that the base was under attack she hoped that that boy somehow avoided being struck down by a bullet. "But I'll take your help since you're hear now."
Watching the hideous white and red mouth of the MP Eva crying as it pulled at the weapon embedded deeply in its chest Shinji asked. "Who is piloting them?" He didn't want to kill if he didn't have to.
Asuka dove at Shinji and knocked him to the ground as a gray lance like object flew at him. "Baka! Pay attention or you'll just make this easier for them! They're all controlled be Dummy plugs so don't expect sympathy from them!" She didn't want to admit it, but Shinji's little accident did much to help them. 'So those blades can change and by the looks of it pierce our AT Fields. Shit, this is just getting worse and worse!'
Getting back up to their feet, Shinji saw the blade of the closest MP Eva hurtling towards them so he pushed Asuka away from him as the blade collided harmlessly with the earth. "Come on sword freak show us your skills and help me win here!" Asuka was getting angry.
Engaging his progress knife, Shinji did just as she commanded. Letting the MP Eva make the first move, a downward thrust, Shinji countered the blow and slide his knife across the length of the Unit's head, severing it from the body. "I told you, don't call me sword freak."
Dodging an incoming attack from both the front and the right, Asuka felt her back brush up against Shinji's. "If the term fits use it," Asuka said simply. 'Shit these things aren't going down!' Watching the damaged Unit's slowly heal back to full health, Asuka swore aloud. "Damn it! How can we stop these things if they keep healing themselves!"
Parrying another blow, Shinji started to notice what Asuka meant. The beheaded Unit was back on its feat with its head back on its shoulders. "They don't have power cords…what if he take out their cores. Just like we did with the angels?" Slowly he could see more Units surrounded them. 'This isn't looking good.'
"Great idea genius, don't you think I've been trying that?" Asuka yelled as she engaged her emergency defense spikes and sent them directly into the face of the closest MP Eva. "They guard those things like you do that stupid cello of yours."
Smiling at how Asuka could still work in a barb at him despite the battle, Shinji cut his question about how she was feeling short. 'She's fine.' Both he and Asuka were completely circled by their opponents. As the two of them walking in shallow circles to keep their eyes on the semi-mindless monsters, Shinji could feel himself almost confident. "Well we won't win if we stand like this will we?"
"First sensible thing I heard you say all day Baka, lets do this," Asuka rallied a war cry and let loose on the closest MP Eva. 'If I have to die, at least I'll die in battle. And with you at my side.' Asuka thought almost happily. Shinji was thinking the same thing.
-Section Divider-
Seeing the man he came in with walking towards him with both packages under his arms, the man dropped his cigarette. "Aren't you glad I called you in on this?"
Seta laid the unconscious Kanako and Shinobu on the floor as gently as possible. "I told you Kaji I was done with this type of work. I have Haruka and my Part-Timer now. This sort of work is behind me." He took the cigarette out of Kaji's extended hand and lit it. Taking a drag he could feel age catching up with him.
Checking the bandage on Misato's side, Kaji smiled at his old friend. "If you hadn't come here, what do you think would have happened to those two lovely ladies?" Kaji's hand gestured to the sleeping bodies on the ground.
Scratching his head, Seta frowned, "They would have either died, been ravished and wish for death, or both." He liked that idea even less, and that was how Kaji had gotten him here. Seta had long given up the spy game, it cost him too much in the past, and he was happy with his teaching/archeology job. "What about you, you get what you came for?"
Checking to insure the blood had stopped flowing from Misato's wound, Kaji shook his head softly. "I almost didn't. She got hit bad. If I hadn't taken out the guy who hit her and given her medical attention she'd be gone by now." And Misato wasn't out of the woods yet in Kaji's opinion. "If we don't get her to a doctor in a few hours she maybe to far gone."
"If she's a friend of yours she'll be fine," Seta said as he put his hands in his pockets. They were now safely hidden away from the soldiers, who mysteriously pulled out the moment Unit-01 reached the ground. "What do we do now?"
Taking the last smoke out of the empty pack, Kaji smashed the flimsy paper in his fist before lighting the cigarette. "Honestly we wait. Whatever happens now we can't control it." Leaning against the wall as a shockwave from above sent more vibrations down through the Geo-Front, Kaji didn't like how things felt. "We played our part, from here on out we're just spectators."
Seta put his hand reassuringly on Kaji's shoulder. "Kaji, next time you need help, ask Haruka and not me ok?" Then the mask of indifference split and Seta had a broad smile on this face and he started laughing.
So did Kaji, "I'd sooner jump into the fiery pits of hell than ask that woman for anything, why you love her is beyond me." As the laughter died down, the two men sunk to the ground and looked at their loved ones lying unconscious at their feet.
"For what it's worth Kaji, I'm glad I could save them. Even if it is only to die in the next few minutes." Seta brushed the hair off of Kanako's face, and readjusted Shinobu so she wasn't at an odd angle. "My Part-Timer would never be able to live if something happened to them."
"Shinji and Asuka either," Kaji said as he looked at Misato. He had done that woman a great disservice in life. 'I'll make it up to you Katsuragi.'
In the silence of the small room, both men looked at one another and sighed. They could tell the last act was being played out and they had no part in it.
-Section Divider-
"I told you to put that down," Gendo said as he looked at Ritsuko and her gun now pointed at him and Rei. 'She'll try to kill my doll before I can complete my work,' Gendo thought as his hand snaked towards his own gun. He stopped when Ritsuko fired another shot off to the side of them.
Readjusting her aim back at Rei and Gendo, Ritsuko felt in control now. "I told you Gendo, not to move." Walking closer to them Ritsuko could feel closure in her hands. In the cold recesses of the gun in her hand were all the answers she had been working for since Gendo stole her innocence.
Rei didn't know what to think, she knew Ritsuko hated her and wished her dead, that she had in a fact killed her. 'She is as much a victim of him as I am though.' Rei realized as she saw the way Ritsuko looked at Gendo. With nothing to say, Rei just looked down the barrel of the gun.
"Doctor, I don't have time to waste on you," Gendo finally said after he was through humoring his old bed toy. 'She has neither the courage nor the ability to shoot Rei. She won't betray me, she is to weak.' His eyes widened after he heard the shot.
Looking down at Rei he could see the fresh blood streaking down her bare chest. Looking blankly at Ritsuko, Gendo didn't know what to think, she had actually fired, he had lost his last chance. Looking again at Rei he was stunned to see her still standing, covered in so much blood. Then he felt it. His hand trailed up to his chest and felt the wound in his chest. It was his blood that Rei was bathed in, not her own. "You…"
"All you had to do was love me, to respect me! But you used me! Used her! Used your own son!" Ritsuko's tears started falling, despite it all she still loved the man she had just shot.
Seeing his opening Gendo shoved his hand and Adam at Rei, in one glorious moment he thought he had succeeded. His hand phased into Rei's body and the core that had taken the place of her uterus. Then he saw for a split second another bullet flying at him. Moments later he was dead as the bullet pierced his skull and entered his brain.
Falling to her knees as Gendo slumped lifelessly the ground, Ritsuko was done. With Gendo dead what did she have to live for? Putting the gun to her temple she took one last look at Gendo. "I do love you," she said forlornly at the corpse. Ritsuko's finger twitched as she heard another voice.
"Why did you do it?" Rei said softly as she looked at the blood pooling around the wounds in the commander. "Why did you kill him and not me?" Already Rei could feel the changes happening in her body. With both Lillith and Adam fused together, it was only a matter of time before she had to submit to the call of creating the Third Impact.
With red-rimmed eyes, Ritsuko gazed at the poor child before her. "I wanted to give you a choice. I blamed you for my problems. I used you to get revenge against him when it was he who I should have targeted." The weight of the pistol was growing as the warm barrel burned the flesh of Ritsuko's temple. "I wanted to spare you from his plans. But it looks like I failed."
A sudden rush of power hit Rei solidly and her hand clenched at her heart. "What, what do you mean?" Rei now heard Shinji's voice as he battled above her. She could sense Asuka's life, as well as Shinobu and Kanako's lives in the Geo-Front. She was becoming far more than human.
"You have a choice now Rei. You can live and start the Third Impact. You'll have Shinji as well as all humanity with you. You'll all be one. Or you can choose to die here. Die and let him live a life of normality on this planet." It pained Ritsuko to tell the child this now, after she tried to spare her this problem, this choice. Live and alter the planet, or die and let the love of your life be with another. "I won't be joining you, I don't have the right."
As Rei opened her mouth to protest the gun responded in Ritsuko's hand with a dull click. "Out of ammo, how fitting," Ritsuko said as the gun dropped from her hands.
Looking at Ritsuko, Rei could tell she had to make her choice now or she'd not have a choice to make. With her eyes closed she knew Shinji loved her, and she loved him. That was never in doubt. In a moment of revelation Rei had her answer.
And she didn't regret it.
-End Chapter-
Author notes.
I like to say the story ends here, but I won't do that do you. In the style of many anime the story often ends with many possible choices and the viewer wondering what happened. Eva ends along those lines. But I will have two epilogues to go along with this chapter.
I had to give Rei the choice in the end. In this story she received the harsh end of the stick to many times for her to just get the shaft. Rei suffered about the most in my creation and to repay the character I ended it like this.
I'm refraining from an Omake for this chapter because I don't want to detract from the feelings I tried to impart with it. I'm going release both epilogues at the same time so it'll be a little longer before they're out.
I really want to thank all of you for reading and supporting this story from its inception to finally its conclusion. I've seen my writing improve greatly over the course of its creation and I have all of you to thank for that. If you'd not have read and given me feedback I'd have either stopped partway through or not have put as much effort into it.
I'm sad to know that really soon I won't be writing anymore of this story, having done it for so long it feels sad, but joyful to see my renditions of the characters evolve. Well enough talking.
Thanks for everything on this story and I hope you read my other works as well
Ja Mata
Zentrodie