Finding Paradise: Part 2/Day of Days
December 15 2016 (The day of days)
In the early morning hours just before school, Touji and Rei sit under a tree in a park, Rei is asleep and resting her head on Touji's lap. For Touji he cannot believe his life to this point. So much has changed, his sister is started to go back to school, he is in love with a girl he never thought could love, and they have shared that love. Rei has also changed, from cold and heartless, to fragile and insecure, to now, adoring and compassionate. Touji begins to run his hand through the girls light blue hair as he does he sees Shinji Ikari walking down a path that will lead him to the school.
"Shinji-man…" Touji lightly calls out to his friend. "Come and loiter with us."
At first Shinji does not respond, but before Touji can call out a second time Shinji begins to walk in his direction. Once in reasonable earshot, Touji asks Shinji a question.
"That thing around your neck…" Touji points to the Thumb drive Shinji has as a necklace. "You been wearing for sometime… what is it."
Shinji takes hold of the item in question and look out into the sky. "It's to remind me… That I have to face her someday…"
Touji shakes his head as he to looks into the sky. "You now Shinji-man, I had my suspicions about you and her."
The passages with in the very item he hold, speaks the truth Touji talks about. "I don't know what to do… She loved me all this time…"
"What are you stupid…" Touji shakes his head at Shinji's idea. "How can you be confused, you have Hikari? She cares for you and loves you…"
"You had feelings for her once, what happened to them…"
The question silences Touji, as he tries to answer the question as best as possible. "I guess I still care for her…" Shinji goes to speak but Touji is not finished. "But I also care for you, man, we are like brothers…"
"It's as if I was the only one who cared for Asuka…"
Touji goes to speak but stops unable to find a good answer. "She's a hard person to like…"
"Not after you get in her head…" Shinji grasps the thumb drive that is around his neck. "She's the same as me… her past her problems, she just dealt with them differently, and she closed her self off to the world so not to be hurt… Only if I knew…"
"Shinji you can't beat your self up over her, it's been nearly a year damn it, she's gone, and there's nothing you can do about it…"
He knew Touji was right; he knew that in the end, she was gone, and the next time they meet, it will be as enemies. The thought is unbearable for Shinji, for he has nearly memorized Asuka's diary, every secret every thought, he now knows. It's painful for Shinji, feeling he is the only one who still cares for her. Nearly every moment since he unlocked the journal Shinji's mind been thinking and study Asuka's diary. Even Hikari begins to suspect his newfound feelings for Asuka, yet even she cannot bear to handle them. She does not want to be hurt so she ignores those thoughts. She does her best to show Shinji that she cares for him, and loves him.
Far from Tokyo 3, in the desert wasteland of the United States, in the state of Nevada, the 4th ID sits just on the outskirts of Unit Two and her army of seven Mass Production Evangelions. In the air, A-10's from the 78th fighter squadron and F-22 from Langley Air Force base fly overhead. The troops on the ground are dug in and in a command and control outpost, Operation commander's discuses the situation.
"So far Satellites imagery from, NERV state that the Red Target, Unit Two has been casting an, Inverted AT Field for two hours now." I light colonel form the US Air Force announces.
Next to him, stands a general in Desert BDU over looking the reconnaissance photos. "Why sit over the remains of the 2nd branch, what can they do…"
"We are out matched, even if we had double our troops we would be slaughtered." Everyone turns to the only member of NERV in the tent. "The question is what if they bring back the 2nd branch…"
A Colonel chuckles at the thought. "Nearly two Thousand people died in that accident…"
"It didn't explode, nor did it imploded; it slipped out of Reality…"
The Air Force light Colonel nods his head. "Say your right, say they're trying to bring it back, that means there after Unit Four…"
"Not just Unit Four was at the second branch…" The NERV agent ponders on his thoughts.
One of the Generals barks at the agent. "Don't tell me there's more down there!"
"It was never finished…and no one in the UN or NERV knows about it." Since he is not pleasing the brass, the agent of NERV rolls his eyes. "Look, its hard to say what happened to Second branch, it could have been crushed so…
Entering the tent a Sergeant out of breath, he desperately yells out. "Sir something's happening…"
Everyone runs out of the tent and look over to the Eva's to see them engulfed in light. The light becomes so bright everyone is forced to hide their eyes. The ground begins to rumble forcing every on to the ground
In the skies, the squadron leader of the F-22 pulls his aircraft away from the light but turns back, once it dissipates. Once his vector thrust spins his jet around, he is first to bare witness to the impossible. Where once the Sea of Dirac swallowed the Second branch leaving the wasteland now stands once more. Everything is the way it was left, not a single thing touched, until the Evangelion Mass Production Models move in. They begin to tear apart a bunker until it reveals Evangelion Unit Four. Floating in front of all the Mass Production Eva's is Kaworu; he smiles at the sight of the Fourth Unit. With a simple raise of a hand, the silver Evangelion comes to life, exiting its bondage and opening its back to reveal the entry Plug. Kaworu flies in to the plug and activates the Eva.
"I don't believe it…" Commander Fuyutsuki, stands at the con of the NERV Command Center and looks down to the battle staff. "She brought back the second branch…"
"Yes sir…" Hyuga is in disbelief him self but pictures do not lie. "Unit Four was taken by the Angel… They then left and are making their way here…"
"As the bird flies…"
The bridge bunnies understand the Commanders analogy. "Yes sir, if they don't stop, they will be here in less then a day…"
"We aren't ready!"
Unaware of the crises The Evangelion Pilots are at their school in the middle of gym class, since the start of High school in the fall, gym has been nothing but Kempo and Kendo training for the pilots, the work out is hard, and the routine leaves little time to question why they must do it. However currently sparing with their Kendo sticks at the ready are Hikari and Rei.
Once the go signal is given, Rei is first to attack with a standard charge, Hikari parries the attack and goes to slash as a counter attack but Rei drops down and foot sweeps Hikari. The kick was unseen and Hikari strikes the ground hard forcing the kendo stick out of her hand. It flies across the gym, and lands near the exit. Hikari rubs her butt and looks up to Rei.
"Gee Rei, that wasn't nice…"
Looking down and away from Hikari, Rei sighs. "Sorry, I must have gotten worked up in the match…"
The teacher blows on her whistle. "All right, next up is Emi, and Ana… Miss Horaki, go get your sword…"
"Yes ma'am…" Hikari quickly scurries off do as she told; she stops by the boy side to watch Shinji face off against Touji. The girl's constant stare distracts Shinji and his struck on his shoulder for the final point and win for Touji. Feeling at fault Hikari backs away from the crowd and heads for her sword.
She reaches her weapon and bends down to pick it up, however a feeling of danger, comes over her mind, she hears no birds or wind, everything seemingly has gone quiet. She looks up to the sky when the faint sound of a jet engine heard. In the sky, directly above the school are five commercial airliners. However, Hikari also notices something else, all around these aircraft in a straight and awkward line are black dots, nearly one hundred in all and growing. They all seem to be coming closer; Hikari's eyes cannot break away from the sight. It is something she has never seen before, and is bewildered by it.
'Its pretty…' Hikari thinks as the hundred of dots in the sky become visible enough to define them as parachutes.
Hikari's gaze does not go unnoticed as other student's head out side and are transfixed on to the hundreds of parachutes in the sky. One student points up in amazement to see five more airlines fling in a straight-line release even more people into the sky. By this time the teachers of both the male and female side have taken notice and have made there way to the outside to watch as the first sticks of the parachute land in the soccer field, only fifty yards away. Once they land, there action and clothing define them as Military. One soldier pulls out a canister and tosses it allowing red smoke to bellow out.
"They are way off target…" One teacher says as he steps in front of his students somewhat displeased that they are disrupting class. "Half the school is looking at this…"
By this time Shinji, Touji Kensuke, and Rei have united with Hikari to watch what's going on. Kensuke is the first to spot trouble. "They're armed with AK-108… the only army that uses those are the… Peoples… Republic… of…. China!"
"What does that mean…"
Touji asks Kensuke as he looks down to him with a dazed look. Kensuke tries to focus on the men as they begin to organize themselves. "This isn't right we left the UN…"
Just as Kensuke realizes the danger one of the soldiers displeased with the crowd in front of him opens up his AK on them. The long burst from the soldier's AK is deadly, it strafes through the crowd of students instantly killing the two teachers and four male and one female students. Screams of terror echo through the crowd as the students panic, even the pilots run from the sight and back into the gym. The soldier does not give up as he continues with a second burst wounding many students.
"Where do we go?" Touji yells out as he holds Rei's hand. Shinji is speechless and can barely run himself. Hikari is the more shaken as she cries while she runs away. Rei and Kensuke seem to be the least bit in terror, or shock.
"Head for the locker room!" Kensuke yells out taking the lead and dashing past other students and into the locker room.
Just out side the school Rei Ikari, runs into the school grounds armed with nothing. Paratroops are landing all around her, but she takes no notice until one shoots at her. The 7.56 were no match for her AT Field as the round bounces off. With a simple flick of the wrist, an AT Field shock wave strikes the attacker, stealing his life for payment of his fruitless attack.
Once inside everyone gathers the thoughts in what is going on, over whelm the young children. With the rumbling sounds of AK-108 bursts and the horrifying screams of children, no one can speak. However, Shinji is first to notice the locker room door fly open, to the sight of two soldiers weapons at the ready.
"We give up!" Shinji calls out as he raises his hands in a gesture of peace. His response returned in mandarin, unable to under stand the Chinese, Shinji remains silent. One soldier raises his rifle and opens fire, to all time slows down. Shinji him self can feel every round exit the barrel to its deadly conclusion.
"NOOOOO! The concrete and flooring around Shinji rise up as an octagon like pattern forms in front of him. The AT Field is clear to all that understand it. But for the two soldiers, the sight of a supernatural phenomenon has both open up with full melee burst killing themselves with their own rounds.
The shattering sound of the gunfire ends and returns to just background nose. Everyone stares at Shinji with fear, unsure on what just happened. Shinji him self is unable to fathom what he just saw. The trance that is set in mixed with fear and shock ends when a familiar voice calls out.
"Father!" Rei Ikari enters in to the locker room peering around the corner seeing the crater that Shinji stands in, and the two dead Paratroopers. "Are you okay…"
No one responds as Rei goes over and places her arm on Shinji's shoulder. "Father…"
Shinji finally turns to the girl in front of her still trying to catch his breath. "Did I kill… Did you kill…"
Hikari rushes to Shinji side rapping her arms around him in tears. Rei Ayanami tightens her grip on Touji's arm feeling unknown comfort in him being with her. Kensuke stands and goes to the two dead soldiers and begins to strip them of weapons and ammo. Everyone looks to him forcing him to explain his actions.
"We need the Evangelions… I my not be able to pilot one… I might not be able to do much, I will protect you till you reach your Eva's!" Kensuke reloads an AK and chargers the weapon. "I won't let the friends I love die!" First, to react to Kensuke's speech is Rei Ikari, as she blushes slightly to the boy's bravery.
In the Command and Control Center of NERV, Misato Katsuragi goes over the data of the surprise attack that sprung on them with respect. The rest of the battle staff gives off orders and data of the progress of the defense.
"Right out of the Russian text books…"
Misato speaks openly to everyone in the Command center. Fuyutsuki sits above her, with a small smile as Hyuga goes over a threat report. "Right know nearly a company of PRC Paratroopers have landed Also Units from the Nagaugi JSSDF have cut off all major roads. Its total mayhem…"
Next to him is Aoba with some hesitation in his voice as he hangs up a phone. "Report from section 2 they lost all field agents, pilots at out of their sight!"
"Shit…" Before Misato can finish, Asuka Langley Souyu steps up.
"Its okay, Rei… she's out there…"
Everyone looks to the main hub that shows the military Units heading their way. Nearly ten thousand troops from Seele loyal JSSDF forces and UN forces are on their way to attack. The only redeeming feature is that, the United States, Britain, Australia, and Russia have all pulled out of the UN since its downfall.
Back in theHigh school the PRC Paratroops are not predigest on whom they attack. Their primary goal is to kill the Eva pilots, so all students are targets. Just as four Soldiers ready to gun down six defenseless kid's automatic fire opens up and kills them. The students nearly pass out, as coming around the corner is Kensuke and Rei Ikari.
"Run!" Kensuke hisses to his fellow classmates just before firing a short burst at a fire team, ending two of the three lives, and wounding one.
Touji Suzahara turns the corner that Kensuke just came from with Rei Ayanami behind him. He is caught off guard as the dirt kicks up around their feet. Rei is hit with grazing fire. The two fall near the bodies of the five dead soldiers. Touji sees the girl he has come to love grasp her small shoulder wound in pain. Rage builds inside the boy as he grabs one of the rifles and open fires on to the soldier that shot at him. Lagging behind, and with a routed spirit Hikari comes with Shinji who is still in shock from what he thinks he did.
With a more controlled use of an AT Field then even a Evangelion, Rei Ikari begins to send AT Field shock waves across the ground smashing in to dozens of soldiers. She looks to the pilots breathing heavily. "What's the fastest way to the Geo Front?"
Hikari points to the school exit to where the Emergency Rail system is located. This is a one way train that was built for the pilots to make the type of escape they need. Her pointing nearly gets her killed as a burst goes by her. Kensuke is quick to respond by shooting a burst of gunfire.
With the only one with good military knowledge Kensuke points to Touji. "Touji, carry Rei!" Looking to see Shinji with no thought to the world he smacks his friend. "Damn it! Shinji you need to be awake here!" With his attention know given Kensuke continues on his plan. "Um… who are you?" The question is to Rei Ikari that current is kneeling next to him behind their cover. "Not important, can you shoot a rifle?"
Nodding Rei looks back to her past with her father from the future. "I've been hunting with my dad before."
"Good enough…" Kensuke takes Touji's rifle hands it to the girl and then looks back to the entrance of the school. "You have to run for about fifty meters…"
"But…"
Hikari is quickly hushed by Kensuke who shoots a burst of fire from his AK. "No Buts! When you start running I and she will give you covering fire." Everyone stares at him not sure on what to do. "I said Run!"
The boy's shout has everyone jump back, out of cover they are forced to run. With them out in the open Kensuke raises his rifle and looks for any soldier targeting his friends as he does he calls out to the second Rei he has met. "Don't fire until I'm out of ammo." As soon as he finishes he is forced to open fire onto a group of paratroops to keep them down. When his clip is empty Rei begins to fire, by the time she is empty Kensuke is back up shooting. Although they hit no one, there actions allow their friend to escape school grounds.
Trapped and low on ammo. Rounds bouncing around them Kensuke is unbelievably calmed by his current problem. Looking to the Rei that is in beside him he smiles. "I take it that you have a great story."
Pulling up an AT Field around her and Kensuke Rei Ikari looks to the kid who seems to be smiling. "I am an Angel from the future; I came a year ago to change the path of man from death to life."
Giving a sigh, Kensuke looks at the remaining ammo in his clip then back to his new friend. "Do you have a boy friend?"
Out of danger and in the tram that will take them all right too NERV Headquarters the pilots of the Evangelions all hyperventilate because of their run. Looking around the cramped tramcar Hikari notices the only one injured is Rei. Going to her she begins to treat her wounds with Touji helping her.
"Shinji I need the first aid kit." Hikari's request goes unanswered she turns to him to see that the combat around him has thrown him over the edge. Cruelled up in a ball Shinji is motionless.
"I… I… can't see…" Shinji voice is just that of a small whimper.
The sight is disappointing for Hikari, the Shinji that she was with him in space and all of their troubles seemed to have disappeared, all that is in font of her is a child. "Damn it!"
Hikari gets the first aid kit herself and begins to help Rei how is in to much pain to speak. Touji can only hold Rei's hands as blood seeps from her shoulder. "I'm here Rei…"
"She is coming…"
With the first aid kit in hand Hikari begins to apply presser to Rei's wound. "Who's coming?"
"Asuka!"
In the NERV Command Center Misato Katsuagi is able to breath a sigh of relief for, she has just been in formed that the Pilots are all alive and are heading to her. Unsure of their condition Maya leaves to meet the pilots just incase they are hurt.
Above Fuyutsuki stares at the maps that are displayed on the main hub. "Go to first Stage Alert."
In the cage first stage alert sounds and the men and women of NERV begin what just might be the last pre launch operations they will ever do. Each team with dozens of members arm and ready the saviors of man with incredible speed.
In an Elevator heading for the cage, Hikari and Rei begin to strip out of the clothing and into Plug Suits. For Rei she has Maya at her side tightly rapping a bandage around her arm. Rei refused to leave her friends and when she was given some morphine for her pain.
First to finish changing is Hikari who doesn't have to wait long before the Rei is finish. "What about Shinji?"
Maya looks over to Hikari and does her best to think of an answer. "Hysterical Blindness… don't worry he will launch as soon as we can get him ready!"
Taking a deep breath Hikari puts her sync clips in her hair. On the floor of the elevator she notices the crest of NERV. "God's in his heaven…"
Rei holds her should tightly, resisting the pain it brings. "All's right with the world…"
Hikari holds out her hand and grasps Rei's with a smile on her face. In tern Rei smiles back as the elevator door opens. The pilots break their hands as they begin to move out to the cage. In the cage, Misato and Fuyutsuki stand side by side as the main elevator opens to see the two pilots stand side by side in the same order their Eva's stand. Watching such young girls as they begin to walk down the bridge to the Evangelions has Misato begin clapping her hands. Soon one by one the Technicians stop what they are doing and begin to clap their hands and cheer as the pilots walk to their Eva's. Fuyutsuki joins in as the Cage is drowned in clapping.
"God's speed." Misato speaks in a tear filled smile.
Each Eva pilot gets in to their Entry Plug with the clapping still raging. The clapping finally ends as the call is made to load the entry plugs. The plugs load in to the Evangelions nearly simultaneously, as the crews around them race around like ants making the launch as smooth as possible. Then all the bridges and restrains are released and the Evangelions move to the catapults. The two catapults release with a massive discharge of electromagnetic energy, propelling each Evangelion to the surface. Every one in the cage watches as they go to the surface, each have a look of pride as the quickly loss sight of the Evangelions. On the surface alarms sound, through out the city trapdoors open and each Eva, reaches the surface with a split second stop. They wait for there final safety locks to disengage before taking their first steps to armament buildings. Near each Eva, an armament build sides unfold to display the awesome beauty of the Evangelion progressive long sword. From blade to hilt the Eva sword stands at the same height of their weirder, the Evangelions them selves. In addition, the blade has a Katana like tang giving it a slight curve. The hilt has a one sided guard that covers the two handed swords grip. Their scabbards rest next to each sword that is designated by each Eva's color. Placing the swords into their scabbards and attaching them to the back of the Eva's hard point they then grab two Evangelion Rifles
As the buildings begin to lower into their shelters, Units Zero and Three march to their school with their Rifles to the ready. A Rocket Propelled Grenade strikes the knee of Unit Zero with not even a scratch in the paint. In response Rei fires a single burst from her rifle massacring over twenty Chinese paratroopers. This has every Soldier on the ground begin a quick retreat from their position.
Still in NERV headquarters, Shinji Ikari lays on the floor of his locker room unable to move. Left their by Maya he has been in silence for nearly twenty minutes. The boy's mind has finally had too much he has reached a cross roads and until he can understand what is happening to him he will never move on. One would say that this was inedible, despite everything that has happened Shinji path in life lead to the same place, indecision. Entering into the room is a very mature and older Asuka Langley Souyu; before she goes to Shinji she places a large backpack onto her back to the ground. Once over Shinji all she can do is see a boy not yet able to be a man.
"I thought I could have forced you to change." Asuka words are soft to the ear. "I felt that if I gave you Hikari you wouldn't be like this."
"Why are you here…. Why did you even come…?"
"I came because of you…" Bowing her head Asuka holds back her tears. "Shinji… Because where I come from all you did is regret every second of your life. Even with our children you wished for things to be different… your were such a fool!"
With his eyes focused on nothing Shinji whispers. "I want my father…"
"Damn it!" Asuka reaches over and grabs Shinji's arm. Lifting him up just enough to drag him Asuka calls out. "I will not let you sit here and cry, you have to face your fears and become a fucking man! Because the Asuka from your time is coming she is coming to kill you and all that you love! Kaworu will use her to end all of man and you will not lay here and do nothing!"
Stripping Shinji of his cloths Asuka begins to dress him in to his Plug Suit, this proves difficult with his body at dead weight. However with a little determination Asuka is able to get it one with him now dressed she drags him by his arm out the door grabbing her backpack. Once at the main elevator Asuka stares at Shinji.
"Why did you love me…?"
Shinji's question goes unanswered at first, Asuka only stares at the elevator door waiting for its arrival. "I could tell you that but I don't think it would matter. The Asuka you know is not me. That question is something you're going to have to ask her yourself. All I can tell you is that if I was her, I would only want you to stop me."
The Elevator opens and Shinji is dragged inside, Asuka punches in the numbers to send it to the cage then exits. Just as the doors close she speaks one final word to Shinji. "Remember Hikari…."
With the elevator shut Asuka stares down to her feet closing her eyes she has to shake her head to open them again. Looking back to her backpack she stares a small opening at the top the reveals what she is carrying. Inside the symbol of radiation is seen in bright yellow. Picking up the bag Asuka begins to walk away and head to the nearest entrance that will take her to the surface.
On the surface Rei Ayanami and Hikari Horaki sit inside of their Evangelions. Unit's Zero and Three look around the entire city to see on the dozens of aircraft and on the ground hundreds of soldiers. Both girls look down to the city, their monsters stand in as if they were it's mother.
"First wave in twenty seconds…"
The voice is on Misato Katsuragi and it is strong in its delivery. Unit Zero is the first to move forward raising its Eva Rifle. Hikari looks around to see that the city knowing that it will not look the same for very long. Streaking across the sky and towards the Evangelions coming in all directions is hundreds of contrails, in the front of each are a five hundred to two thousand pound cruise missile.
"Ten Seconds…"
Rei begins to open five along side her is every available city defense missile system. The amount of firepower unleashed is breathtaking as the midday sound is given company by hundred of thousands of rounds from the city. Explosions light up the sky in balls of black smoke. Hikari finally opens fire however despite the two Evangelions and the city missiles begin to get through. They first Strike defense buildings, so the city's ability to shoot down the missiles decrease. One building explodes beside Hikari and by reflects she covers her eyes and moves her Eva away. The building it self falls over striking a smaller one leveling them both. Black and grey dust begins to bellow in place of the once standing buildings.
"Second wave twenty seconds…"
Just as the first weave ends the second one begins. With fewer defense buildings even more get through Hikari resumes shooting even as Rei's Evangelion is struck in the chest with nearly no damage. For both Eva pilots the ability to shoot down the missiles become ever more frustrating however it is not long until the second missile wave ends. Looking around the city dozens of towers of smoke raise up from destroyed buildings. Before anyone can breathe, Artillery comes down onto the city thousands of rounds strike this is impossible for the Evangelions to prevent. Hikari even watches as her old middle school is struck several times along side her new high school. One strike hits Unit's Zero's Umbilical cable Rei is quick to eject the useless end and get a new one, however with a new it becoming a threat again both Rei and Hikari take cover behind buildings. Soon the sound of the shells begins to send fear up Hikari's spine never has she ever dealt with such an awesome sight of power.
With in a dark secluded room sitting at a desk that is completely empty Lorez Keele sits staring at what his visor can allow him to faintly see on the entire wall. What he looks at raps around him in a glass case, the Dead Sea scrolls. In its entirety many of which are not known about to the public, they're almost fifty scrolls each methodically put together and with only one intention. The man's breathing is slow and what skin is shown is dry and pail. When a door opens the only exit directly behind him he does not move. When it closes and the sound of footsteps is heard he still does not move. Even when standing behind him is a man wearing black combat fatigues, web gear multiple silenced weapons and a balaclava.
"Have you come to kill me…?"
Stopping only a yard from old man the soldier pulls off his balaclava to reveal himself to be Ryouji Kaji. "I have come for the truth."
"The truth…" The old man gowns as he looks at his precious scrolls. "What is truth…"
"The truth to your madness, to why I stand before you with a gun in my hand, why in only hours innocent children do battle to decide man's fate."
Raising a finger Keele smiles not once glancing to the man behind him. "Fate… That is a truth we all seek. This lucid and ever tangible part of reality that we humans desperately try to grasp..."
"You were after Fate… you seek to control something no one could ever control."
"Yet I had control!" Making fists with his hands Keele has to take a moment to calm himself. "For two thousand years I ventured to take control… to grasp fate in my hand."
Shaking his head with a smile Kaji pulls out a Silenced USP forty caliber pistol. "Sounds like a personal problem."
"I held it twice…" Keele holds out his hands gazing at a vision in his mind. "I seek what no man can ever understand."
This just makes the smile on Kaji's face grows larger. Placing his hand on the arm of Keele's chair which back holds Seele seal he whispers into the master mind of the organization ear. "Trying to find Paradise…"
The shelling of Tokyo 3 lasts for nearly and hour, with devastating results. Not one building came out untouched almost all were hit more then once. For the Evangelions and their pilots the shock of all of the explosions has affected them. Rei looks calm but her nerves as slowly getting the best of her, for Hikari the shelling and buildings exploding above her head have brought sheer terror to her mind. Unit Zero and Three are parallel to each other's position looking to each other to wondering if the shelling has stopped.
"Rei… is it over?"
"I do not know?"
Hikari watches as Unit Zero peers down the street towards the direction of the invasion. Before even Rei can react and Hikari can warn her an Anti-Angel ten thousand pound cruise missile strikes Unit Zero in the head. The explosion has Hikari scream in horror; however Thanks to Rei's active AT Field no damage is done. Seeing that Rei is okay only shaken she turns her Eva with a rifle at the ready to see hundreds of VETOL Aircraft from the UN and JSSDF military. Rockets begin to strike around Unit Three, only then does Hikari open fire shooting down one of the aircraft. Unit Zero finally recovers from its attack to see that a battalion of mechanized infinity has entered the city being escorted by a company of Armor. A Beam of light comes from behind both Evangelions and strikes the lead Tank of the advancing troops blowing it nearly twenty feet into the air. Rei glances to the rear to see the Leviathan has know join in combat. With it not linked by a umbilical cable allows it to move in the open.
"Is that you Rei daughter of Ikari?"
Rei's question seemed odd, but for the pilot of the Leviathan she can understand the identity crises Rei is feeling around her. "It is Ayanami… Thanks to your and Kensuke's efforts I was able to get to my weapon."
From her position Unit Three shoots down its fifth target before she is struck by a Anti-Angel Cruise missile. Unit Zero goes to help her fallen comrade but becomes pined down by multiple tanks rounds. So it is up to the Leviathan to come to Unit Three's aid. Luckily no major damage was done to the Eva. Hikari rubs her own head looking out to the invasion around her.
"Their playing for keeps!"
Down in the Geo-Front were the final Evangelion rests in its cage Shinji Ikari stands in front of it, his eyes looking to his feet his Plug suit on and dry. He allows one of the technicians to take him by the hand and drag him into the Entry Plug. Once in side he simply stares upward as it is filled and when activation begins the entire system crashes.
"Evangelion Unit One went dead! Activation failed!"
Misato turns to Maya in shock, never has Shinji failed a activation. "Try again at a high plug depth!"
Shinji closes his eyes and rolls to one side once more the activation fails and Shinji finds him self surrounded by the cold steel of the Plug.
'Shinji…'
Ignoring the voice her ears, Shinji continues in his day dream.
'Shinji… my son…'
This forced Shinji to cover his ears and curl into a fetal position.
'How could you…'
"Damn it I'm not ready!" Shinji yells at the top of his young, he also must hold back tears as he lays in his own self pity.
'Not ready… or are you not willing…'
Shinji tries not to move as if he didn't here the comment.
'You are not a child anymore… everyone around you have chosen to grow up everyone has chosen their path, everyone but you!'
Opening his eyes Shinji stares eye to eye with darkness, he is no longer in the entry plug nor any world he has seen. There is simply nothing, not even his body eye he can see and look in all directions.
'Is this what you want a world of nothingness were you only watch as others grow? To become a being trapped in eternal pity, as your mind falls in to a Paradox of what ifs and possibilities.'
"But I can not ignore her; I can not ignore what she feels."
"What I feel!" Standing behind Shinji is the girl he speaks of, in her plug suit Asuka Langley Souyu stands with her arms on her hip and a glare coming from her stare. "You selfish Bastard, you had your chance!"
"Asuka I'm sorry… Only if you told me about you mother… I would have…"
The physical form Asuka hold begins to fade and slowly it disappears as she speaks. "You're always sorry; well it's not going to work… because I have chosen my path…"
"It's the Wrong path Asuka please come back to me!"
"She is done Shinji…" In Asuka's place stands Hikari Horaki in her own plug suit with her arms behind her back and a sad look on her face. "Why do you not want me, what have I done?"
"Nothing…"
Shinji's words get no response as Hikari begins to fade away.
"Why do I have to choose why can't I run away?"
Appearing in front of Shinji stands himself his body wears the plug suit of Unit One and he stares into his own eyes with envy. "Because you promised never to runaway you declared your love for one and she has declared her love of you! Even if Asuka did have feelings for you does it not become meaningless seeing that she is one of the Enemies?"
"No! Asuka can be turned back!"
"Can she… how will you even know if you are to sacred to even confront her. Shinji Ikari!"
On the surface the combined effort of the UN Air Force and Army has kept Both Evangelions and the Leviathan from stopping their advance. To conserved over protecting their life giving power that the Evangelion can only hold their ground. Explosions and weapons fire is laying waste to the once beautiful City and the Evangelions are slowly running out of ammunition from their weapons. However thankfully to an ever alert headquarters the Eva's receive help by sending weapon up the Evangelion catapult system. With fresh weapons the Eva's begins to drive part of the invasion back, but when they stop receiving fire from the UN Forces the Evangelions stop firing. Standing up from her cover position Hikari stares off in the distance at what looms on the edge of the mountain top. It is then they begin to feel a vibration coming from the ground.
"Rei…"
For Rei Ayanami she is speechless at the sight that lies before them. Everyone on the ground stares off to the Far East Mountain to see the sight of seven large blades cresting over it. This is soon followed by what can carry such magnificent weapons. The Seven Remaining Evangelion Mass Production Models reach to the top with the audience of an entire city. In NERV Command Center Everyone that was sitting stands and stares as next to come over the mountain is Evangelions Two and Four.
Across the world in the temple of the Scrolls where Keele of Seele and Kaji watch from a halo viewing monitor the events taking place in Tokyo 3. For Kaji he is observing the man he holds at gun point who stares at the screen in disappointment.
"Something not to your liking."
"Yes…" Keele eyes narrow and focus onto Unit Two that stands on the right hand side of Unit Four. "A little girl stole the greatest power known to man from me in under a year."
"It's not going to be up to her…" Kaji smiles as he thinks about all the Evangelion Pilots. "It's up to the one we all least expect."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I trust him to do what is right, even when he has reached his darkest hours. It's time to end this… Kane…."
"If I die... So will you..."
Putting the gun to the man's head Kaji closes his eyes. Knowing full well that when his weapon goes off he will have a army of soldier coming in to kill him. "Just trying to find paradise."
BANG
With the UN Forces in full retreat out of the city, running from what will be the greatest battle ever seen. Evangelion's Zero and Three draw their swords and stand ready for Combat. For Rei Ikari in the Leviathan she stares only at Unit Four as she walks into the open of the city and faces her brother's new found weapon.
"I see you have collected the nine Artifacts needed to complete you destiny."
No response comes from Unit Four at first all that is heard is the wind pick up and the sky beginning to darken. With the weather depleting in condition it is then that Kaworu speaks to the one he once called sister.
"Angel of life, seed of Lilim… Archangel on high, carrier of the armor of truth Leviathan, tell me your name."
This form of Parley seems odd to everyone that can hear it but for Angel's this is all but formal. "I am Ikari Rei, daughter to the man of futures time Shinji Ikari."
A bellowing laugh comes from Kaworu as he sits in his servant of man. "Arch Angel Gabriel of the Course of Seraphim, do not mock me with mortal words."
Then come Tabris, of the choirs of Thrones, Angel of so called Free will." The Leviathan holds out its hand and waves its forward challenging the Angel. "I will avenge my sister and father!"
In side Unit Two Asuka gives a smirk she looks to her vid screen that shows Kaworu. In her arms lays a child no more then three weeks old. Rapped in a blanket the young girl breaths the LCL with no problems, she is sleeping comfortably in her mother's arms. Asuka begins to stroke the small strains of hair on the babies head as Unit Four marches down to do battle with the Leviathan. All of the Evangelion Mass Production Models begin to bark and hiss with the eve of battle in front of them.
For Hikari she can not let this girl stand alone and has Unit Three approach her only to have it be stopped by an AT Field. "Ms Ikari! Please don't do this we are better as a team!"
No… Ms Horaki…" Rei readies the Leviathan for combat. "This is not my world… however this is my battle. So please let me fight this alone."
'Shinji Ikari… do you see the sacrifices… do you hear their cry…'
Still in the void of darkness Shinji looks around unable to even close his eyes from the loneliness. "I don't want to do this please…"
'You're lying…'
"No!"
The darkness is lifted and Shinji Ikari stares at the emending battle that is about to take place in Tokyo 3. Only a hundred yards from each other Evangelion Unit Four and the monstrosity creation known as Leviathan stand each waiting for one to take the first move.
'Your loved ones are the only one's that stand in the way of the end of man. You lay here like a child not willing to even help them. The decision one makes in life right or wrong must be made for indecision creates nothing but disperse and hopelessness. There is no more running away Shinji, if you do it, it will mean your death.'
"If I act I can die to…"
'Dieing in the attempts to stop ones destruction or the destruction of other's is far more noble then dieing because you did nothing. Despite the benefits of Pacifism its will always be fundamentally flawed for the Pacifist will always be conquered by those who wish to prey on others. Do you want to die, if so stay and allow yourself to be destroyed?'
"I don't want to die…"
'Then stand up, and in that no matter what you decide.'
The wind is all that can be heard in the streets of Tokyo 3. Around the city the remaining units of the UN invasion watch at the site of twelve titans stand above the city and with in it. For the Red Evangelion Asuka Langley Souyu watches the impending conflict between the two Angels with confidence on whom the winner will be. The first attack does finally come for all who watch it is down by the Leviathan and it is a all out thrust forward crashing in to the smaller Evangelion pushing it back. However the attack did no damage as Unit Four's hands raise in front of it projecting a AT Field that strikes his opponent knocking it back as well. Rei Ikari fights fire with fire and uses an AT Field around its fist and strikes Unit Four in the face. Drawing first blood. Kaworu focus his AT Field into a point and drives into the shoulder of the Leviathan wounding it. As soon as he finishes his attack he kicks out the left knee and drops his enemy with a smile on his face.
"Is that the best you can do?"
The comment is answered with an AT Field assisted palm strike to the chin. It sends Unit Four almost a thousand meters into the air and throw a building. Crawling out of his Unit Four is given little rest, for the Leviathan as covered the distance and poised for an attack The Eva like beast that Leviathan is, weakness is shown as it is to slow in its attack. Unit Four parries it and spins the beast head first into a skyscraper leveling an entire side. Before the smoke even cleared Rei Ikari was attacking again this time grabbing her once loved bother by the face. With the other hand Rei punches the Evangelion's stomach. Before anyone can get their hopes up, his attack is stopped quickly by an force never seen in a AT Field before. It's power vaporizes the Leviathan's right hand that held its prey and shattered any remaining unbroken glass in the city.
Taking hold of her hand as if it was her own Rei Ikari winces in pain. Taking advantage of Kaworu pause, she has her Leviathan head butt Unit Four. This takes it to the ground with an opening that Rei easily exploits. With all of the strength and AT Field assistance she can get the Leviathan plants it's foot onto the chest of Unit Four. The only defense Kaworu could put up was his AT Field but physics for the ground has the Eva sink out of sight. With her enemy pinned Rei Ikari punches her opponent with her one good hand.
"Look out!"
Misato's cry over the communications is to late. A fake lance of Longinus in four blade form strikes the Leviathan in the chest. It tears through the creature's body with deadly effectiveness. In the Command Center Hyuga calls out. "The Leviathan has taken a direct hit by a spear thrown by Unit Two!"
Everyone watches as the Leviathan comes crashing down onto the ground. Maya looks over what little information they can get on the pilot. "It just deactivated core breach!"
Misato looks over the Main hub in shock that Asuka would pull such a low attack. Her thoughts are thrown when a new alarm goes off. Shigeru is first to find out what it is and can even believe it himself. "Ma'am I have Level Four Radiation detection within the city!"
"Level Four…" Misato can barely remember what that means.
For the young spirited Maya she is quick to know what it the problem is. "That's a Nuclear weapon!"
"Where is it coming from?"
Misato question is answered by Shigeru. "Ma'am its only forty meters from Unit Four and closing!" The main hub brings up a street view of where the Radiation is coming from and all can't believe what they see. The elder Asuka Langley Souyu is running towards Unit four with a large pack on her back. "It's a Tactical Nuke... Only thirteen second until detonation!"
"Hikari Rei. spread your AT Fields to full and enclose Unit Four now!"
Within Unit Four Kaworu raises an eyebrow as the only to remaining threats to him maneuver to reach side and merely incase his Eva in an AT Field. The Cold blooded Angel gives as smirk as he looks to is enemies.
"You think you can hold me! A Eva created by God lays dead because of…"
A AT Field detection alarm goes off on his control panel and has him look back to the Leviathan to see that it's cockpit is open. After careful inspection the AT Field isn't coming from the Leviathan but from an object only one meter away. Suddenly his once mother flies into view her AT Field at its limit of projection however it did what needed to be done. From mountain top to mountain top all that can be seen is a bright white hot glow. The ground begins to quake sending shockwaves for miles. For Unit's Zero and Three their ability to hold their AT Field is put to the limit. Even Asuka and her army of Eva's must put up AT Fields. Asuka's child begins to cry at the sound of the explosion and her own mother's voice.
"No!"
The Command Center losses all communications from the surface and only Rei and Hikari are the first to see the aftermath of the explosion. Nearly ten city blocks are nothing but melted steel and rubble. Unit Four isn't even recognizable. All that remain is its lower torso, which collapses to the ground surrounded by the burnt remains of its upper section. Asuka scans the destruction and quickly smiles as she sees floating in the air an orange orb. In side that orb is the unharmed seventeenth angel. His grin is ear to ear as he begins to bellow with laughter. It can be heard by all and is all that NERV HQ hears when their systems come back on line.
Misato, who has befriended the older girl, bows her head in a prayer. A round her the Battle staff begins to report the obvious. The Angel is alive and unharmed. The affects of the explosions does not end as the ground on which it happened on give out and a near five hundred meter section of the surface comes crashing done onto the Geo-Front. Lighting begins to strike through out the city as the clouds darken. For Rei and Hikari they can only watch as a sound of thunder comes from the mountains, it is the thunder of monsters, as each Evangelion Mass Production Model begins to march to face them.
Each Eva quickly releases their swords from their scabbards and pulls them out. Up at the top of the mountain, Unit Two raises its hands then points to the two Evangelions standing below them. In this action, each of the Mass Production Models begins to release hellish screams and roars in to the air from their joker faced mouths. The roars seem to bellow out for over a minute before they stop. Soon after the lumbering giants, charge with their Lances rose at the Evangelions below.
Hikari readies Unit Three to charge but Unit Zero raises its hand in a blocking action. Then in a serious and unchallengeable tone Rei calls out. "Not yet!"
Rei stares at the oncoming onslaught with no fear as her mind flashes him images of, Touji, then Touji's sister, then of Touji Mari and her together. All that can be seen of his reaction is Unit Zero's grip become tighter. Then images of all of her friends and her classmates come to mind. Rei looks up and looks at Asuka Unit Two to see her standing with no fear. She looks behind her seeing Tokyo 3 in near ruins yet still she can still feel it's feeling of home; finally, she turns to the on coming Evangelions and yells out.
"Charge!"
Even Fuyutsuki holds his breath as the Evangelions charge into battle. Everyone in the battle staff watches as the two sides are about to clash. The two sides clash's at brake neck speeds, colliding like freight trains the sound echoes through out the valley.
Unit Zero jumps up into the air with her sword above its head. Rei screams out as she comes crashing down onto her first target nearly slicing it in half. Hikari, who is next to her takes a different approach as he holds her sword out like a spear driving it into a Evangelion impaling it. The force knocks the MPM into the one behind it taking them both to the ground. After Unit Zero lands from its attack a MPM tries to swing its lance at her. Rei reaches out with his Evangelion grabbing the MPM by the arm and physically dragging it in to her sword all the way down to the hilt. Over by Unit Three Hikari uses the rest of her momentum to stab right through the one MPM she has pinned to the ground in to the next that lies under it. Unit Three's left hard point opens up and she fires a tow cable straight through one of the targets. Although this does not do much harm to the Evangelion, Hikari drags it back and uses it as a shield against the strike from another MPM. Rei is struck once by the heavy blade and as she falls she sees her adversary jumping up to attack her. She engages her right hard point that shouts off projectile spikes striking the Evangelion knocking it off courses as it land harmlessly next to Unit Zero. Unit Zero turns to the target and steps to the side as it's "Fake" Lance smashes into the ground. The Eva then cuts off both arms of the MPM before kicking to the ground.
Thinking they have the upper hand Hikari tries to do a head count on targets left only to see that the ones that they have struck down are merely getting back up again. "They're Regenerating!"
With this information given and seeing to much time being taken on the Mass Production Models Hikari engages her Progressive Knife, and now armed with pared weapons she begins to attack two Eva's striking them all down even as she is grazed by one of their lances. The pain only drives Hikari, as Unit Three begins to swing her sword a blazing speed, piercing, slashing, stabbing, and kicking her way through the enemy.
Unknown to the Eva pilots NERV is not monitoring their battle, with a Angel now entering the heart of their base. Everyone is desperate to track the Angel as it makes it way past ever defensive measure put up. All is for nothing it seems as Kaworu breaches central Dogma and now makes his way done to terminal dogma. From the vantage point only god could give Shinji Ikari a silent witness to mans possible final hours he is unable to grip the reality around him. All seems to be meaningless as he focuses on the Final Angel as it makes it way to its goal.
"Will this be the end?"
Shinji's question goes unanswered by his shapeless captor. All he can do is watch as the Kaworu hum to Beethoven '9th' 4th Movement: Presto. It only takes a few more moments before he reaches Heaven's Gate. Floating in front of it the Angel finishes his tune. With it complete he only has to glance to the door to have it opened. As it opens he is greeted with the sight of Lilith the first wife of Adam. Its massive white body is crucified in a pool of LCL the legs start to be seen from above the knees. As soon as he enters the room a scream is shouted out from above. Flying towards him is Rei Ikari eyes glowing blood red. In her hands she wields a spear its design is that of the days of Christ. Kaworu quickly identifies the spear as the true form of the Lance of Longinus. Dodging the first blow, the silver haired Angel is hard pressed to keep away from the furry of attacks coming from his formal sister.
Back at the base of the mountain, Unit Three is the first to fall under the presser of the hellish Evangelions. Only on the defensive, Kyle blocks one swing after another as he holds the MPM at bay and protecting wounds. His adversary seeing that Unit Three is protecting wounds swings at the Eva's legs. Hikari extends her Eva to block but that opens her Eva to a knee to the face, which takes her to the ground.
Rei watches as Hikari falls in horror, she turns back to four MPM in front of her and holds out Unit Zero hands. The ground begins to shake as an AT Field forms in front of her. The Evangelion's Eye glow red as the AT Field goes up the hill demolition her enemies. She quickly turns and jumps up the hill. The Evangelion MPM goes to stab Unit Three into the pilot's compartment but is parried by Unit Zero as it shields Unit Three with its own body. The Blade goes through Unit Zero slicing off its right arm that holds its sword; this also forces Rei to yell out in pain. Hikari not willing to see Rei die pushes her Eva, and with all of her strength Rei prevents the MPM from delivering the final blow by grabbing the blade. Unit Eight begins to kick Unit Two till it lets go. To retreat both Unit's Zero and Three begin to roll down the mountain and into the city to regroup.
Also on the Defensive Kaworu finds himself flying everywhere but where he wants to go. Rei's furry is unparallel and for the first time Kaworu feels threatened by the girl. Diving to the surface of the pool of LCL the two angels that are locked in furious combat causes massive waves in the liquid. It is then that Kaworu discovers away to take the upper hand. With all of his power he diverts his AT Field around the small unmanned Destroyer that rests in the lake. With all of his might he projects it directly behind him striking Rei dead center. As the Large ship crashes into the call and falls back in the LCL Kaworu looks to see his adversary insight.
"Bring me to life…"
The Voice echo's through out the catacomb, Kaworu looks to see that coming out of the recharge is Rei Ikari bloody and bruised form the traumatic strike. With a laugh Kaworu goes to speak. "You sur…"
"Bring me to life." Rei floats higher into the air stops when level with Kaworu. The Angel of Freewill losses his grin and uses his AT Field to slam her up against the wall. "You wi…"
"Shinji… Bring us to life!"
For the Shinji Ikari who watches what he sees he can't help but see himself in Rei's place slowly he whispers to himself. "I want to be alive… I want life... I need all of life…"
As the vision fades for Shinji he is once more in his entry plug, his heart is racing and he can barely control his own thoughts as they bounce from every good memory he has had.
"We will live!"
A massive vibration shakes the Command Center forcing everyone to brace themselves. Maya looks over her sensors to see that it cam from the cage. Her most reasonable thought would be to tell everyone but one driving emotion comes over her body. A feeling of total life she has never felt before. "We will live…"
Everyone looks over to her as they do they are captured by the addictive emotion. Misato cracks a smile decent for the first time all day as she looks to her bridge staff. "We will live…"
Hyuga stops what he is doing and turns to his comrades before he can even think what is happening is wrong, he smiles. "We will live…"
Before long everyone even Fuyutsuki are filled with overwhelming joy of life. "We will live…"
This magical feeling begins to spread all over the Command center until everyone is saying. "We will live!"
For Kaworu the sounds of thousands begin to echo in his head like needles they drive sharp pains to his entire body. Knowing the causes of this the rouge Angel uses his AT Field to remove a strip of metal from the destroyed ship and spear Rei with. All this attack does is increasing the voices he hears. Grabbing his head in pain he looks to see that Rei is only smiling at him. Holding out her hand she exposes what was once Gendo Ikari's, Adam. The chanting prevents Kaworu from even moving as Rei lifts the fetus into the air before dropping it to its death.
"What's wrong? Angel of Freewill."
"NO!" Kaworu goes to stop it but he nearly falls from the sky himself when he goes to move.
The Chanting has not just engulfed NERV but in the Geo-Front thousands exit their bunks singing the same words. "We will live!"
In the city of Tokyo 3 Unit's Zero and Three are completely deactivated damaged beyond repair they stare up at their deaths by the hand of the Evangelion Mass Production Models that seem to never die. Hikari with tears in her eyes looks to Rei. "Good bye…"
"We will live…"
Despite the hopelessness around her Rei cant help but smile and respond to Hikari. "We will live!"
The very sound sends peace to Hikari's mind, as she faces death. She looks to her enemy with a smile. "We will live…"
High above, Unit Two and her pilot await the destruction of the Two Evangelions by the hand of the evil white Eva's. However Asuka is nearly in shock when the MPM's begin to step back from the two defenseless Evangelions.
"What the hell is wrong?"
It is then that Asuka begins to here a faint chant from the opposing mountain top. In horror the sound sends her in to near shock. She looks all around with her Eva to see it's coming from everywhere. Scared she calls back her fellow Eva to have them surround her Unit and protect not only her but her child. By the time the defense is organized, Asuka begins to hear what is being said.
"We will live!"
It is coming from the thousands of UN Forces that tried to invade Tokyo 3 that morning. From their retreat passions opposite of Asuka's Evangelions they scream out this chant. The pain Asuka begins to feel is unbearable as she yells out trying to relieve it.
At Ground zero of this unprecedented attack Kaworu hovers bleeding from the nose and ears. The words that call to him only bring pain for he resists their calling. He was the Angel of Freewill, before his corruption his bidding was that of Freewill, and freewill is calling out to him.
"You think this will stop me!"
"No…" Rei Ikari smiles. "Only slowly you…" Pushing forward Rei brings down the Lance of Longinus to her brother heart. With his unable to move he watches as it cracks through his breast plate and digs deep into his mortal body. With her own dieing breaths Rei whispers into her brother ear. "I forgive you…. My Brother…"
Kaworu's wound explodes in a beam of light. Tears begin to fill his eyes as he calls out to his only hope. "Avenge me! Avenge me my Asuka for the eighteenth Angel is man!"
Curling into a ball a tear strikes he Angels hand shattering the red orbs and turning them into normal red eyes. "Why am I crying?"
With a display of magnificent colors Kaworu explodes into in to light its energy fills the underground with a rich white glow. It dissipates to nothingness all that remains is Rei Ikari who looks to her self before falling from the sky and into the sea of LCL.
"No!"
Asuka cries in tears as she feels that her beloved Angel had been destroyed. Taking hold of her Evangelions control Handles she lets her child rest in her lap as she stares to the city that has taken everything from her.
Seeing that Asuka has rallied the MPM and she know marches back down the mountain with them, Rei and Hikari, through seer power on their own stand the Eva's that should be useless. With out warning the dark clouds begin to break and sun begins to send it's life giving rays once more. This halts the advancing army, before they can move again, Asuka spots a figure rising in the city. Seeing the formation stop has Rei look back, this only brings a even larger smile to her face. Hikari turns to see marching to them is the only last standing Evangelion.
"UNIT ONE!"
Asuka shouts as she has her Evangelion point to it. All that fills her mind is blinding rage for who pilots that servant of man. She quickly gives the order to charge and her small army makes their way to the city in force. In side Unit One Shinji stares at his foe with not fear from his back he disengages the Evangelion sword and charges heading straight to Asuka. Running past his comrades all they can do is stand there in their battered Evangelions and watch as Shinji takes his Evangelion... his mother in to combat one last time.
"I will live!"
Shinji screams out as he strikes the first MPM with an upper cut swing. The Eva goes airborne, he swings at another with so much force the arms and legs are ripped off the body when it is struck. Then he comes down with his third swing smashing a Evangelions head into its chest cavity. He begins to see the first MPM come back down, Shinji baseball swings hitting it into two other MPM. Unit One turns to smack the final Eva in to the air but this time Shinji puts his AT Field behind the swing.
"My god…" Maya yells out. "Unit One just knocked that target into orbit!"
Everyone stares, as the ferocity of Shinji's attack, with his next attack is to defend himself, he smashes the sword in to the back of one with it stuck on it's blade her tosses it over the mountain. Another MPM jumps on to Unit One's back forcing it to drop its sword. Lifting the Eva off of its back Unit Two rips it into allowing the blood to rain down on it. Seeing he's out of weapons, Unit One reaches for its sword which is stuck in the ground. Like magic Unit One sword releases from it home and lands in the Evangelion's hand. Shinji uses it to strike a single target repeatedly. The Final Evangelion Mass Production Model blindly charges Unit One only to be decimated by an AT Field so powerful that all that's left of the Evangelion is a cloud of blood.
Charging through that cloud of blood is Evangelion Unit Two wielding Unit Zero's sword that was left on the mountain after the first assault. The Eva then raises its stolen sword to kill Shinji, but is stopped when Evangelion Unit One leaps into the air and lands on Unit Two head tossing both to the ground. Together the Evangelions stand back up with the swords at the ready. With out thinking Unit One looks over to the Mountain to see that a MPM is charging with its wounds pouring a stream of blood in its wake. Unit One simply raises its hand sending an AT Field shockwave into the Evangelion nearly atomizing it. As Shinji turns back, Unit Two is charging to attack. Shinji parries his first attack and then a second. Both Eva's begin to duel trading parry for parry before they break.
"Asuka!"
The boy's words go unanswered as her next set of attacks push him down into the city. Being close to Unit Three, Shinji reaches out his Eva's open hand and Unit Three sword comes fling into Unit Ones hand. Asuka matches his action by calling a fake lance that struck down the Leviathan to cut Unit One in two. Shinji is forced to parry the attack not willing to engage Asuka. Shinji use his right hard point shooting out a dart striking the four eyed Eva in the head Shinji then charges Unit Two with all of his might to body tackle it to the ground. Unit Two tries to parry with the Fake Lance, this force Shinji to raise one of his swords, the impact shatters the blade in two sending the tip directly into the Chest of Evangelion Unit Two. Red blood begins to spray into the air, as Shinji remains motionless with his eyes closed. Both Evangelions fall to the ground Shinji stares at Unit two as it deactivates.
With it finally over, Shinji has Unit One remove part of the blade that stuck Unit two before tearing off the back. The Plug ejects and to Shinji's horror, there is a massive gash going down the center. Laying the Plug on the ground Shinji quickly exits out of his Evangelion and climbs to the surface racing to Asuka's plug. Going so fast Shinji can't even stop in time as he hits the Entry plug.
"Asuka!"
Grabbing the emergency release hatch Shinji quickly opens it nearly breaking a hand in the process. Once open the sound he first hears is breathtaking. The screams of a distraught baby. Scanning the Entry plug he finally looks to see Asuka Langley Souyu once more, her back facing him he stares at her beautiful locks of hair with tears in his eyes.
As he crawls in to the plug what joy he had turns upside down a Asuka rolls over to reveal that she was struck with fragmentation her chest has blood pouring out of it. In her arms she cradles her child who was uninjured in the combat.
"Shinji…"
Asuka begins to cough up blood. The sheer sound of her voice as Shinji raps his arms around her. Want to help Asuka he slowly takes her out of the Plug and lays her on the ground. Putting Pressure on the wound Shinji begins to panic. "Asuka hang in there help will come!"
"Shinji… I'm so sorry… I'm… so sorry!"
Grasping Asuka's hand Shinji cries out. "It's okay Asuka!"
"I was such a fool!" Asuka spits up more blood as she slowly bleeds out. "I love you…"
"So do I!" Shinji closes his eyes and looks away. "But…"
Trying to laugh Asuka takes hold of Shinji's cheek. "Don't be stupid… You have Hikari… and I want you to hold on to her…"
"I will Asuka… Don't go Asuka!"
Looking past Shinji, Asuka vision begins to get blurry however she could never miss the blue hair of Rei Ayanami. "Rei! Rei I'm so sorry Rei!"
Shinji doesn't even look to see Rei and Hikari stand only feet from him. "Asuka your going to be okay…. Please hold one…" Glancing to his fellow pilots he shouts. "Get a Doctor!"
Both Rei and Hikari look at Asuka's wounds knowing that there is no hope the amount of blood she is losing means she has cut open a major artery. For Asuka she already knows her fait and wishes to make the most of it. Drawing Shinji's eyes back to her, by taking hold of Shinji hands, Asuka smiles. "Shhh… It's okay… I'm feeling… better…"
"Asuka…" Shaking his head in grief Shinji lays his head against Asuka's shoulder. "Why… Why… did you go…"
"Shh… It doesn't matter anymore… I was wrong… Kyoko… where's Kyoko!"
Shinji looks to the baby that lays next to her mother, quickly he gathers the child into his arms and shows her beautiful baby girl with silver hair and gold eyes. "She's okay Asuka…"
"Good… Shinji take good care of her okay! Promise me you will take care of her!"
"I will."
Rubbing her eyes Asuka stares off to see her mother standing next to Shinji smiling at her. This has her smile once more and looks to Shinji. "I will always be inside of you Shinji…" Raising her hand she places it on Shinji's heart.
Taking her hand Shinji looks into Asuka's eyes with a smile. "I know you will…"
"Rei…" Asuka coughs as she spits out blood. "You better straighten up that stooge… And don't let… Don't let him turn you into a slob…"
"Yes… Asuka…"
"Hikari…" Glancing to her friend Asuka watches as the pigtail girl walks over to her. "You take care of Shinji… Make sure he does well in school… Love him with all your heart…"
"I will Asuka…"
With her breath shortening
Asuka grabs both of Shinji's hand and looks to him one last time. "Good Bye… Shinji Ikari…"Shinji prevents her from talking anymore as he lean in and kisses her on the lips. This force Hikari to look away slightly but when she looks back she see Shinji lean back once more as Asuka's hands fall from his arms and her chest rises for the last time.
Standing up with Asuka's baby in hand he turns to the only family he knows. Walking to Rei he hugs her and gives her a kiss on the forehead. When they part he goes to Hikari and hugs her giving her a kiss on the lips. They all turn to see hundreds of people running to them most of them are NERV personnel with joy exploding from them. Cheers and cries of victory are heard from them as they approach. Among them is Misato, Fuyutsuki and the entire bridge crew. Seeing them all so happy brings a smile to Shinji's face. Looking to Hikari he takes her hand and with the child in the other he looks to Rei who bows her head with a smile.
"Let's go home…"
The End……
