Disclaimer: See previous chapters

AN: This chapter is a little short, but I'm driving for a good conclusion later on

Chap. 35

The pale-white MP Evas seemed to back away at the arrival of the Evangelion 01. The purple machine stood over its fallen crimson counterpart, wings spread over and holding an energy saber in its hands. Inside, Shinji remained focused on the Evas, but opened a communication line with 02.

"Asuka? Asuka, are you okay? Please answer!"

A low moan could be barely heard before a quiet answer came back over the comm.

"Baka. What took you so long?"

Shinji smiled lightly, "Sorry."

Asuka shook her head, "Now what did I tell you about that? Stop wasting your apologies."

'She really is okay.' He had already sensed her through the Force, but hearing her speak was good all the same. Turning his attention back to the opposition, Shinji raised the lightsaber to the side in stance. Despite the imposing appearance of the purple Eva, the eight Evas seemed to have regained their 'nerve' and attacked. The lead attacker raised its blade arm and slashed down on Shinji. Shinji twirled the lightsaber and dashed upward. The blade reversed and Shinji brought it straight down the middle of the white Eva

Sssskkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!

The Eva fell into two halves, which fell to two separate sides. But the other Evas ignored it and all came in. Sensing their movements, 01 leaped into the air. It wings shimmer as Shinji soared high, spun around and brought the lightsaber down, this time slicing off one of the Eva's arms. Touching the ground, Shinji targeted the next Eva, slicing forward with his sabe4r. But the white Eva was quicker and managed to evade the lightsaber slash before it rendered it in half. Shinji didn't let that stop him, however as 01 twirled in the midst of the group and slashed across, catching another Eva and decapitating it before it could attack him. Shinji soon found himself right where he started, standing before 02 in stance.

'Huh?'

The question was prompted by the regeneration of the Eva whose arm he sliced off. As he looked, he also saw that the one with the missing head was still moving as well. However, the first one he sliced through remained still. 'They're like the Angels' he realized. 'I have to hit them at the core.' Yet, even with this realization, Shinji began to wonder if he could beat them all. Despite his Jedi powers and the energy from the core of his Evangelion, he was still outnumbered seven to one. And time he felt wasn't something to be wasted right now.

Keep your focus on the here and now…

'Qui-Gon…' He really hoped his master was okay. But for now, his words were enough. He just had to deal with this problem first and worry later. Seeing the approaching Evas, he raised his lightsaber higher and it glowed brightly.

Let's go…

Adam steadily approached the now fallen Rei, who was still staggering from the AT field blast. Rei pushed herself to her feet, but her entire body felt fried. So much so that she was surprised that she was able to move at all. But she knew better. Adam didn't want her dead. He still needed her after all to initiate Third Impact. When she managed to get to her feet, a strong hand swiftly gripped onto her throat and held tight. Adam was holding her throat and lightly choking her. Rei struggled as Adam held fast.

"Now, complete your purpose, First Child." he demanded coldly. "Begin the final Impact of mankind."

Adam's AT field flashed once and Rei's eyes shot open. Pain began to surge into her body and she was in shock at what was happening. Adam was using his AT field to break hers down. The azure-haired girl felt her body beginning to separate from itself in a light blue glow.

'No. I…can't….'

In desperation, Rei looked around, seeking to find something to stop him. Her eyes fell upon a piece of discarded machinery on the ground. But that was useless. She couldn't get out of the angel's iron grip.

Stretch out with your feelings…

Remembering the verse Qui-Gon had taught her, she shut her eyes and focused on the machinery. The pain in her body began to grow as her AT field began to weaken, but she kept her focus on the object. The machinery twitched and shook and soon it flew through the air, smashing into the back of Adam's head.

"Guaahh!"

Adam forcefully released Rei, who fell limp to the floor, her body wracked with pain. Adam rubbed the back of his head before glaring at her.

"Why do you continue to resist? This must happen." His voice seemed to darken, "It is your destiny."

Rei struggled, but was unable to rise. Her concentration had taken a lot out of her and she was still pained from the still pained from Adam's attack on her AT field. Her body shook in her effort to get up, but nothing more. As Adam drew near, he suddenly stopped and looked upward.

"Those foolish lillim…still trying to control what is not theirs to command." Looking back at Rei, "But they will fail."

He bent down to reach for Rei when a click caught his attention. Casually, he ceased his advance and remained still as he realized that a gun was trained on him.

"Dr. Akagi."

Indeed, it was Ritsuko, holding a pistol in her hands…

Shracccckkkkkk!!!!!!!!

Shinji's lightsaber ran across another Eva, slicing the lower half from it body. As it fell, two more jumped up at him and managed to grab hold. Shinji struggled with them, but was unable to break free. Looking up, he then saw another one of the MP Evas lifting up a strange red and black spear. The MP Eva lifted it high and made ready to stab it into 01. Shinji struggled in the hold and finally managed to power out. With its wings, 01 heaved the Eva on the right arm toward the Eva with the lance, causing them to collide heavily. With the one on the left arm, Shinji repeated the action, tossing it into the two Evas that were charging at him. One Eva was left to itself to attack, but Shinji was already free and his lightsaber flared out. Shinji sliced the incoming opponent across, taking out it left arm and causing it to fall. Not wanting to take any chances, Shinji rotated around and stabbed down the center of the Eva, shattering whatever was left of its core.

"Shinji!"

Shinji blinked. 'Rei?' It was a disturbance in the Force. Rei was in major trouble, but he couldn't quite sense it. That only meant one thing. Whatever that was really going on, the elusive darkness that loomed over them, she was in the middle of it. He had to get to her fast. But…he couldn't just leave Asuka. He had to finish these Evas off, but he feared the time spent in doing that was time he didn't have. Shinji suddenly felt himself torn between helping Asuka and saving Rei. It was that moment of hesitation and doubt that allowed the Evas to catch him and tackle him to the ground next to 02. 01 struggled to rise, but the mass holding him down was too great. Shinji tried to power out as he did before, but one of the Eva's arms became a blade and it stabbed 01 right in the side.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

As Shinji clutched his side, the Eva with the Spear of Longinus moved over Shinji and twirled the weapon face down in stabbing position. Shinji forced the pain to leave his mind and tried to move again, but the spear soon made its descent, straight for his chest.

"No!!!"

The spear suddenly stopped; its point an inch or two away from 01. Shinji looked up to see what had happened and was surprised to see a crimson arm holding the lance and preventing it from getting any further.

The crimson arm…of Evangelion 02…