Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Chap. 36

Shinji was stunned by the sudden action of the Eva 02 as it slowly began lifting out of the water, stilling holding the lance held by the MP Eva. But it wasn't the rescue itself that caught his attention, but what he was sensing. The Force was coming strongly from the Evangelion, too strongly to be Asuka alone. There was only one time he felt this kind of power and his eyes widened further as he realized this.

"Karou…?"

As in response, a ghastly image shimmered on the Eva's shoulder and looked up at Shinji. A faint, but all-too familiar smile creased on the lips of the angel, but that disappeared as he turned to the struggle at hand.

"Go to your sister. I will help Asuka."

Shinji hesitated. Despite the despair he was sensing strongly from Rei at this moment, he still didn't just want to leave Asuka behind. But he had to go to her. Everything that he was told her that he had to go to her now…before it was too late. Kaoru noticed his hesitation and encouraged him.

"Trust me. Now go."

Shinji nodded and 01 lifted out of the water and moved away. Inside 02, Asuka was still trying to wonder how her Eva managed to arise as it did. She was even more puzzled when Shinji broke away, but not before she picked up his communication. 'Who is he talking to?' she wondered. But she was feeling another presence…somehow. And it wasn't her mother. And as if that thought was answered, the same specter walked into her view and soon into the entry plug.

"Hello Asuka."

Asuka looked at him with confusion and surprise. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"My name is Kaoru. I am a friend of Shinji."

A rumble took his attention away from her and he concentrated on holding the MP Eva back. Then in a change of tactics, he caused 02 to kick the MP Eva into the remaining ones, flooring them somewhat. He turned back to her.

"I'm here to help you. But I can only give it power for so long. You are its living soul. You must fight them quickly."

Asuka still didn't know what to make of this character. The blood-red eyes made him look somewhat like Ayanami. But she couldn't dwell on that now. She felt no deception from him as far as she could tell and she had to stop those guys from killing her. And if this guy is trying to help her, there was no point in arguing.

"Alright, fine. You pedal and I'll steer."

Adam arose from the ground up from Rei as he addressed the woman holding a gun on him now. Ritsuko looked worse for wear and given the situation, that was understandable. But her eyes were the worse. They showed clear signs of stress as well as what seemed to be an inner turmoil within her. Nevertheless, her grip on the weapon didn't loosen. She gave Rei, who was still on the floor, a brief glance.

"Leave now."

Adam smiled an eerie smile, "She can't leave. It is her destiny to be here in order to bring Third Impact."

"Don't talk to me about Third Impact, Ikari!" she snapped. "All of this, everything I had done for you and more, just so you could be with your lost wife. I gave you everything. My skills, my intelligence…my body," Her voice dropped on the last words and so did her eyes. But in a flash, they arose with renewed anguish and her grip on the gun tightened, "But even then, she always took first place. I won't have it anymore!"

Adam cocked his head slightly and suddenly laughed; an act that caused her to practically shiver with fear. Ceasing his laugher, he looked back at her.

"You lillim…so fragile, so lost, so weak."

Ritsuko blinked at his statement and it was then that she got a look at his eyes. A real good look. They weren't the deep brown eyes that were usually seen, but the blood red eyes that mirrored Rei's, except that there was amusement in them. Cold, malicious amusement. Her mouth became agape as she realized just who she was looking at.

"Adam…"

Adam continued to grin, "Now leave, insignificant one. I promise that once this is over, your pitiful pains will be no more."

Ritsuko took a step back, shaken by what was going on before her. It was so heavy that she began to consider the angel's words. She had suffered so much, many of it being her own doing. Perhaps…this was the best. Whether death came or Third Impact was initiated, it didn't matter to her. Nothing did now. She was so broken. She looked back at Rei once again, who was still rising from the floor, but now looking at her. But the flickers of emotion she saw in those eyes surprised Ritsuko. 'Concern…for me?' She didn't understand. She had always harbored an animosity for the First Child, even though it was uncalled for. Why should she feel concern? Or is it pity? Has she really sunk so low that a person like her would feel either for her now? An emotionless doll?! But the gaze of the First Child continued to reflect.

No…Not emotionless…

Ritsuko swallowed deeply and lifted her gun again, despite the fact that she was halfway on the floor.

"Let her go."

Adam's smirk deepened, "And what will you do if I refuse?"

Ritsuko strained her hand just to tighten her finger on the trigger, but she was still shaking enough to notice. But it wasn't out of fear. She was wondering if she could really do it. Adam saw this indecision and spread his arms open, letting her get an open shot. She had to do it. She had to now. Her hands shook more, causing the gun to rattle.

'I…I…I…I can't…'

New tears came down her eyes and cheeks and she finally dropped the gun, sobbing to herself and trembling. Rei watched this and couldn't help but feel sorrow and pity for the woman. Despite the threat he was, despite all that Commander Ikari had done to her, she still couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger. As sad and as pitiful as it was, she was in love with Commander Ikari. But she had continued to forget one thing.

This was not Commander Ikari.

"So weak." Adam muttered with disdain. He soon returned his attention to Rei, who had finally gotten to her feet only to face him again.

"Now where were we?"

Kaji and Misato continued their way through Geofront, continuously avoiding the soldier forces that were still on the premise. Fortunately, it seemed that their presence was less active and they were able to reach their destination. An entry tunnel they could use to climb into the vents just beside the command room. Misato opened it and began to climb in when she noticed Kaji didn't move after her.

"This is where we part ways, Katsuragi."

She blinked questioningly and partially stepped out of the tunnel to look at him, "What?"

"Trust me." he replied. "It's better if I keep a low profile for now."

She nodded understandingly. As far as people should know, he should be dead. And given the events of the day, if they managed to survive at all, he will need that to deal with whomever it was that orchestrated all of this.

"Guaahhhh!!!"

Kaji suddenly fell back against the wall on the opposite side clutching his shoulder. Misato ducked back into the tunnel as more shots rang from down the hall. A group of soldiers had spotted them and were now gunning them down from around the corner. She pulled out her gun (she had acquired one on the way there) and fired a few rounds out, causing the soldiers to back off momentarily. She then jumped out of the tunnel and over to the fallen spy.

"Get going." he grumbled to her. "I'll hold them off."

But Misato looked over at his wound, which was bleeding badly. "Like hell you will." More shots fired and Misato pulled Kaji and herself tight against the wall. They had to move, now. Placing his opposite arm around her neck, she began to lift him up.

"What are you doing? Get going."

Misato shook her head, "And you say I'm stubborn. Just shut up and let me get you out of here."

Kaji frowned, but even he knew he wouldn't last a second by himself. It was strange. He had came all that way to save her and help out, but now the roles had reversed. Misato hauled him down the hall, shooting back a few times to keep the soldiers at bay. But that wouldn't last. It couldn't. And those shots would have alerted other soldiers in the area.

'Back to square one…'
"Now…finish it."

Adam had Rei by the hair, back before the lake of LCL and Lillith. With Ritsuko broken nearby there was no one to stop him from completing…from fulfilling his destiny. His and hers. Meanwhile, Rei gritted her teeth in pain as Adam held her, repeating what he did before and slowly shattering her AT field. Through all the pain, she called for her sibling and could feel his rapid approach. But it would not be fast enough. Soon it would be over.

Shhhhhhhkkkkkkkkkk!!!!

The pain left her and she slumped to the ground again, but she was unable to lift herself this time. Weakly, she opened her eyes and saw Adam was now facing another figure. Her vision was a bit blurry, but she was able to make out a thin column of light from the opposing figure.

An emerald lightsaber…