Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chap. 31

'Awaken...awaken...awaken...it is time...'

Ayanami Rei's eyes opened into darkness. She slowly arose, slowly remembering where

she was. Shinji's room. Misato had let her stay the night there. Looking out the window,

she saw that it was still early in the morning, with the moon full on the horizon. Slowly,

she roused herself and dressed up. She felt it. The time had come...for her destined

purpose. But destiny...the future, was fluid. It wasn't set. And...she had promised. Still,

she had to heed the call she felt coming from her. Lillith. The mother of Humanity. She

also knew that Gendo would be awaiting her arrival. As she contemplated these things,

she exited the room and was about to leave when...

"First."

Rei stopped, knowing exactly who it was. Asuka...

"Be careful. I'd hate to have to deal with Shinji's blubber about losing his...sister."

Rei turned her head to the side and let a light smile show, surprising Asuka.

"You too."

==================

Hours later...

Nerv was in utter chaos. There was an invasion on the Magi supercomputer, but it was

stopped by the efforts of Ritsuko. However, that was far from the end of it. In a final

effort to claim the Evas, the JSSDF (under the indirect orders of SEELE) launches an

all-out assault on the base.

"Radar sites 8 to 17 have gone dead!"

The screens were full with various blinks, indicating the invading forces on the Nerv

geofront and other point. Unfortunately, they were everywhere on the map. Other

monitors showed the various points where the military forces had stormed in, killing any

Nerv member that was in their path.

"JSSDF tech battalion advancing through Goura defense perimeter!"  Shigeru

announced.

Makoto added, "Two battalions approaching from Gotemba! Three air squadrons

confirmed approaching from Mishima. Close down Futagoyama and Komagatake routes

at once! Invasion through Goura 2nd defense perimeter point A... Currently engaging

enemy.

Sitting up in the high seats, Fuyutsuki muttered, "It seems that man's ultimate enemy is

also man."

Beside him, Gendo, who had finally reappeared, ordered out, "General quarters. Go to

Level-1 Battle Stations."

The bridge crew blinked in shock at the order, but carried it out nonetheless.

"Battle Stations!?" Maya whispered. "But the enemy isn't an Angel... They're human

like us."

Makoto whispered back to her, "But they don't think that way."

Misato, who had been organizing efforts earlier, turned to Asuka, who was already clad

in her red jumpsuit. "Asuka, get to Eva 02."

"We're using the Evas?" Makato questioned.

Misato looked at the map, showing the invading army, "They're all we've got." Looking

around, she noticed the absence of the First Child.

"Where's Rei?"

"We can't locate her." Shigeru answered.

"Okay, then it's up to you Asuka."

Asuka nodded, "Hai."

"Wait, Captain." Makato warned. "E...enemy forces are swarming to that area."

"Okay. Get a security team there." The lavender haired officer then pulled out her

firearm and loaded a fresh clip in it. "Asuka, looks like I'm going to have to escort you

there."

"Okay. Just as long as I can get in my Eva."

With that said, Misato left the command room with Asuka closely behind her.

======================

Outside of Nerv, the troops continued to storm inside, leaving guards behind to make

sure no one entered or left. But it was one of these groups that is the focus now and as

they stood outside, two robed figures appeared in the distance and slowly closed in on

them. The soldiers saw their approach and raised their rifles.

"Turn around immediately!"

But the two continued to approach and soon, the soldiers all raised their rifles. The lead

officer repeated his earlier warning.

"Turn around or you will be shot!"

One of them waved their hands forward, "You will put that gun down."

The guard lowered the weapon and dropped it to the floor. The others, seeing this

leveled their rifles at him, but a motion from the taller one stopped them.

"You should follow his lead."

The soldiers lowered their weapons and dropped them to the ground as well. The lead

soldier remained before the smaller figure, who continued speaking.

"We have authorization to pass."

"You have authorization to pass."

The soldiers all moved aside, letting the two of them into the Nerv HQ. As they moved

through the war-torn corridor, they both removed their hoods.

"Now that the easy part is over, which way to the Evas?" Qui-Gon asked.

Shinji looked through the corridor, remembering which way to go. Misato hadn't been

too helpful in that part, so he took it upon himself to know how to get around the

geofront. Looking to the right, he sensed the faint surge in the Force, as did Qui-Gon.

Someone …Asuka.

"This way."

======================

The elevator door opened, but no one was in it. Or so it seemed until Misato stuck her

head out to check. Seeing the area clear, she moved out, with Asuka trailing behind her.

The security team she asked for had encountered the soldiers and taken down. Needless

to say, they were on their own. Misato was just glad that they hadn't reached this area

yet, but if they took out the security team that meant that they were close. Misato turned

around the corner, but pulled back after seeing a group of soldiers coming up from an

adjourning corridor. Looking out again, she saw them searching the area for more

targets. Already, many Nerv employees were dead at their feet.

"Damn." Misato swore as she pulling back. "I was hoping to get further down." She

raised the gun to her side and looked over. The soldiers were beginning to move toward

them with their rifles raised. She also saw another corridor off to the left. It was a long

shot, but if she was fast enough, she could outrun them long enough to serve as a

distraction for Asuka to make it to the hanger.

"Okay Asuka. I'm going to distract them. You run to the hanger as quickly as possible."

Asuka, who had been looking over the said as well, whispered back, "Wait. Give me a

moment."

Misato blinked and looked over to where Asuka was looking. Her gaze was in the

general direction to the second corridor.

"Asuka..?"

Asuka didn't respond as she slowly let her hand drift upward. A fallen beam in the

corridor began to vibrate slightly and then fall, clattering on the ground. The soldiers

heard the sound and rushed down the corridor, leaving the exit wide open. Misato looked

down at Asuka who just shrugged and smiled. Misato smiled back as they moved past

behind them.

"Well, that's a lot easier."

The two began to move when one of the soldiers turned back and spotted them. Gunfire

soon sounded as Asuka and Misato ran away, only to be confronted another troop. The

two women quickly dove into one of the rooms as the bullets flew through the air.

Misato looked around for a way out, but couldn't find any. Asuka saw it too, realizing

that they were trapped. Misato raised her gun once more and stood by ready to shoot

back, despite the bullets that were continuing down.

"Misato."

Asuka's call came just as the gunfire stopped. Misato figured they were reloading, but

there were also sounds of humming coming down from the area. Misato peeked over and

looked to see...

"Shinji!"

Shinji and Qui-Gon strode down the hall toward her, walking over the unconscious

bodies of the fallen soldiers. Asuka walked out, already knowing who it was.

"Hey baka, what took you so long?!" she snapped.

Shinji gave a light smile, "Nice to see you too, Asuka."

"We have to get to the Eva cages." Misato broke in. "They are the only chance we have."

Qui-Gon nodded, "We better hurry then. Reinforcements will come shortly."

No sooner than he said that, soldiers came in from the back end and fired. Qui-Gon and

Shinji activated their lightsabers and deflected the bullets, sizzling in the air. The display

stunned Misato, but only briefly and she jumped up and fired back. The soldiers were

forced to back away and the four managed to run away.

=========================

Terminal Dogma

Amid all the chaos above, Rei stood quietly in the processing chamber. Around and

before her were the destroyed bodies of her counterparts. Those who were supposed to

replace her should she had died. But now, that was no longer the case. Looking over the

dead bodies, she saw the true darkness of it all. But what she would do about it was still

in question.

"Rei... I thought you'd be here."

Rei didn't have to turn to know that Gendo had come up behind him. He had left the

command room shortly after Misato and Asuka had. He placed a gentle hand on her

shoulder.

"The promised time has come. Let's go."

The two walked away...

======================

Heading for the now battle-ravaged geofront, a single car drove full speed toward the

gate. The guards positioned their saw the speeding vehicle and opened fired, only to

jump out of the way as it barreled through. The car braked loudly and the door flung

open, revealing the driver as Kaji. Kaji quickly whipped out his gun and fired on the

fallen soldiers, causing them to drop again, this time for good.

'Guess I'm late for the party.'

Reaching inside, he grabbed another gun as well as a packet of clips and latched them

on.

'I just hope I'm not too late.'

=========================

The four managed to the reach the gate leading to the hanger on the other side. Misato

checked around briefly before pressing the panel to open the door. 'Strange.' she thought.

She assumed that they would have reach the Eva cages by now since they were the only

defense plus, that was what SEELE wanted. But the place was empty. With all the chaos

around and now nothing? It was far too easy. She looked over at the others and her

feeling was strengthened. Asuka seemed in shock about something and Shinji and Qui-

Gon had stiffened up. The door opened and she began to move in, but stopped short and

backed away.

'I knew it was too easy to be true.'

Standing in the doorway was a menacing, dark cloaked figure. His head was bowed

slightly with his hood, but his yellow eyes flashed out enough to invoke a certain

amount of fear. Slowly his head lifted, revealing his red and black marked face. Qui-Gon

and Shinji moved past the retreating Misato.

"We'll handle this."

Misato looked from Qui-Gon to Shinji and realized that this was beyond her. But she

still had to get at least one of them to the Eva and Asuka was the elected pilot. Grabbing

her are, Misato turned away.

"We'll have to take the long way then. Be careful, you two."

Misato and Asuka walked out of the hall, leaving the three Force-warriors alone. Maul

removed his hood and then his cloak while Qui-Gon and Shinji removed their robes.

Reaching back, the Sith twirled out with a grey metal rod and then activated it, revealing

it to be a two-sided lightsaber. The Jedi followed suit and pulled out their own

lightsabers, igniting them in stance. Shinji looked at the dark warrior before him, who

was glaring at them menacingly. He also saw a mark that was prevalent over the red and

black markings. Shinji distinguished it as a lightsaber mark. But most of all, he felt him.

Felt the dark aura that seemed to cloud over them all. Yet, Shinji felt no fear. He was

confident in the abilities that he had, the lesson he had been taught, and most

importantly, the Force. He will prevail. If not, then he will die. Either way, he was not

afraid. Not anymore.

He was a Jedi...