Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Chap. 33
"Yaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"
The fiery-crimson evangelion charged with wild fury as it engaged the nine white MP Evas. 02 shoulder-rushed the first one in her way, knocking it down to the floor. As it rolled back onto its feet Asuka wasted no time in swinging her Eva to the side and smashing its clawed hand straight into the next opponent, tearing up the face. 02 then ripped its hand back, bringing the head with it along with a portion of its shoulder. Without even thinking, Asuka whirled to the next one to attack. But the third was too swift and sidestepped the blow while a fourth one grabbed hold on the Eva's arm. 02 struggled against the hold and saw the other quickly moving on her.
2:05
Realizing that if that all grabbed hold she would be finished, Asuka powered out and flung the MP that was holding her arm. Then with a roar, 02 launched both its arms out and grappled with the attacking Eva. The two struggled briefly until 02 hopped in the air and smashed its feet straight on its chest, resulting in the white Eva getting its arms torn right off. 02 rolled to it feet and faced the remaining six.
'Wait a minute. Six?'
Asuka soon gasped in pain as she realized that the seventh MP Eva had come up behind her and slashed her side. 02 staggered and the Eva continued its assault while the other closed in. Fighting hard to dismiss the pain she was feeling, Asuka backed her Eva away and unlocked her progressive knife. The small blade shimmered to life and Asuka held it forward, ready to fight.
1:43
A roar emitted from the Eva once again and 02 leapt high into the air. The prog knife facing downward, Asuka stabbed the weapon into the next Eva, crouched low to render it in half and the shot up to cut off the right arm of the nearest Eva. But this act gave two of the others enough time to grab hold of 02 by the arm and waist. As Asuka struggled once again, another one dove at her and tackled 02 to the ground. 'Not good, not good.' She was grounded, with three MP Evas holding her down. In near panic, she rolled the Eva side to side, shoving one of the two holding her down. But before she could attempt to rise, the MP Eva standing over her formed a blade of its own and stabbed down. Asuka rolled again, but the blade found its mark in the Eva's upper thigh.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!"
And it was then that all turned white.
Terminal Dogma
Lillith hung on the crimson cross before the lake of LCL. Yet despite its captured condition, the angel seemed to pulsate as two figures approached her from across the lake. Gendo and a naked Rei both stopped before the massive angel and stared up. For Gendo, this would be his chance. All of his work, all of his ambitions and sacrifices, they would all be realized at last. For Rei, it was another story. She felt the drawing of Lillith and the angel resonated with her. But she also felt…cold. A shill that shivered from within her. While she was in her trance, Gendo had reached to the side and pulled out a small bag-like package. Removing one of his gloves, he opened his palm as he opened the package with the other hand. A splash of liquid dripped out and a small meaty figure splattered on his palm. The thing pulsed slightly before sinking into a small slit in Gendo's hand. The slit then sealed close behind it.
"Adam and I are now as one...", Gendo said. "For this is the only way to be with Yui again. The forbidden joining of Adam and Lilith." He turned to Rei, who seemed to still be in trance, "Rei, take me to Yui's side."
Rei began to glow lightly as her AT field came to life. Gendo lifted his hand to her and moved in close when…
"I'm not your doll."
Gendo blinked as she whispered those words. Rei blinked once and the glow around her stopped before turning away from Lillith.
"This will not bring her back."
"Rei…?"
"She does not exist that way anymore."
Gendo was baffled by Rei's words, but shook them away and ordered, "Complete your destiny. Fulfill your purpose."
Rei shook her head and replied quietly, "Destiny…is fluid. Like the Force. It does not have to be this way."
Gendo's exposed hand tightened into a fist, "Do it! Now!"
Rei took a step back. She expected rage, but there was something else. Something she hadn't realized before until now. She had never tried to sense the commander or his life-force. But now that she had, she felt nothing. An emptiness that was slowly being filled by something else. As Rei looked on, she saw that his eyes began to shift from their normal color to crimson red. Just like her. Now she was no longer looking at Commander Ikari. She was now looking at the First Angel.
Adam...
Srrrraaahhhhhh!!!!! Krrrssshhhh!!!
The fight between the Sith Lord and the Jedi Knight took on an epic turn as both warriors exchanged viscous slashes. Maul, being the aggressor, was having a tough time getting through to the Jedi, who was deflecting every one of his blows. 'He is stronger than before. But that will change nothing.' If anything, the Sith was thrilled by the extent of the battle. In the years of service to his masters, he hasn't faced such an opponent who can match his skill and strength. He will remember this moment when he will finally and utterly crush the Jedi. He had failed before, but now he will not.
Qui-Gon continued to move around the Sith's attacks and countered with many of his own. But Maul was as fast as before, if not faster. Qui-Gon thanked himself for training his Jedi powers more readily than before. It allowed him to match the Sith blow for blow. But the Jedi master could feel himself being pushed back from Maul's relentless assaults. So much so that the fight had escalated outside onto the top of the Geofront. The battle between the Evas could be seen a distance away, but Qui-Gon had other concerns at the moment. His strength was starting to ebb and his attacks more strained. He had to stop him now, before history repeated itself.
'Huh?'A flash of light suddenly snapped into his vision. It was brief, but it was clear in his mind. A half-circle? The vision went as soon as it came and Qui-Gon was brought back to reality. And not a moment too soon, as Maul twirled around and brought his lightsaber toward Qui-Gon's head. Reacting on pure instinct, Qui-Gon swung his lightsaber upright, catching the red saber, but was pushed back by the force of the blow. Qui-Gon stumbled onto the floor and rolled back. Why would such a vision occur now, during a fight no less? Qui-Gon had never favored visions and dreams, but he had learned to pay attention to them. And this one was very familiar. But what did this have to do with what was happening now? Qui-Gon dismissed it as he refocused on the fight, whirling his lighsaber as he steadied himself for the next barrage of Darth Maul's deadly assaults.
The white light cover all over as Asuka's view was blinded. Asuka could feel the panic well up in her at the possibilities.
"Am I…dead?" she wondered shakily. "No. No. No, no, no! I don't want to die... I don't want to die... I don't want to die..."
'You're still alive'Asuka's voice rang throughout the void, drowning out the secondary voice "I don't want to die..."
'You mustn't die yet.'
"I don't want to die..."
'You must live.'
The last call echoed out enough for the German redhead to hear and she ceased in her own cries. It was distant, but she knew that voice. She turned around and saw a tall form standing behind her. Only it wasn't tall, but the fact that she was now a little girl. And the form that stood before her was a woman. Someone Asuka could never forget.
"Mama..."
The woman gave a light smile as nodded and bent down to her daughter. Asuka looked around and began to realize where they were. Using her senses, she felt the living energy all around her. Around them. Around and between them. Everywhere. Collective…and binding. 'So the baka was right after all.'
"So this is where you've been?"
Another nod was the answer, causing Asuka to smile. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to tell her. But the look in her mother's eyes was enough to know that she knew, so Asuka only managed to take hold of her hand. As soon as they touched, the light returned, blinding her once again.
'Huh?'Asuka was back in the cockpit of her Eva, with the MP Evas overhead. 'No. I not dying just yet!'
The eyes of the 02 shimmered and it swiftly shot its fist upward in a powerful punch. The approaching Eva was knocked back and the other two backed away in caution. Using this time, Asuka pulled out the blade that was stabbed into her side and held it. Retaking her fallen prog knife, she held both weapons crossed before her and charged furiously.
"Mama!!!!"
1:01
In the Eva docking bay, Shinji had just reached his Evangelion after changing into his plugsuit. As he approached the purple behemoth, he managed to feel the disturbances in the Force around him. Everything was chaotic, to the point where the young Padawan could barely discern it all. He felt the deadly battle with his master and the Sith nearby. He hated leaving Qui-Gon to fight alone with such a deadly adversary, but he knew that reaching the Eva was more important. That was mostly due to Asuka's battle, on which he was able to feel an increase in the Force, telling him that she was actively using it. But even with her being as powerful as she was, she would still need help. But even deeper still, he was barely able to feel Rei somewhere. But whether she was in any trouble or not was unclear. The darkness seemed to blind his senses greatly and it was a sheer miracle that he was able to sense anything at all. 'One problem at a time.' He entered the entry plug and the auto-systems went to work, inserting him within the Eva and flooding it with LCL. As Shinji took it in, he began to connect with it even more, letting the Force grow around him and make him a part of the Eva, just as he would with his lightsaber. As the main systems came on line, a warmth flooded his being.
Mother…Shinji allowed a smile to come over his face as he placed his hand on the butterfly controls. She would protect him, but the rest was up to him. Settling into position, Shinji signal the command room, hoping that everyone was still alive and well there. Especially Misato. The signal was received and the doors opened, exposing the whole of the Geofront and the battles taking place. 01 stepped out into the chaos and bent low.
You must trust yourself and the Force…'Kaoru's words', he recalled. 'I do.'
Giant wings sprouted out from the back of the Evangelion, confirming Shinji's resolve. Shinji focused on the battle in the distance between Asuka and the MP Evas.
'I'm coming, Asuka. I'm going to help you just as you helped me.'
Evangelion 01 stormed into the air and into battle.