Disclaimer: See previous chapters

AN: Sorry for being out of it for so long. My home is going through a bit of remodeling and my computer had to be disassembled for a while. But now I'm back, more or less. Also, I meant for this epilogue to be a shorter, one-final chapter thing, but I guess I got too into it, so now it's a two-part epilogue. Oh, well. More reading for you guys.

Epilogue (I)

3 years has passed now. Tokyo-3 and Nerv had finally been restored since the attack on it and the resulting battles. But with the angels now no more, Nerv's purpose seem to be over as well, aside from housing the Evangelions. The populace had returned about four months after the battle and it seemed that they would no longer have to worry about invading angels or fear of death. The three Children resumed both school and their Jedi training and Qui Gon had marveled at the strength of the Children together.

The Force was strong with them…

When graduation came, so did a new purpose for the Jedi Master. Qui Gon had long debated over whether or not to create a new Jedi Order on this world. After all, there where many Force-strong people in the world and Qui Gon felt it necessary to teach them in the Jedi arts. But in doing so, he could quite possibly bring forth a new force of the Sith, whose presence had already made itself known to them.

One master, one apprentice…

He knew the apprentice was slain. That left a Sith Lord out there somewhere, waiting to strike and destroy the few possible Jedi or even worse, turn them to the Dark Side. Asuka, Shinji and Rei still had their points and it only took a clever Sith to exploit them. But Qui Gon trusted that as long as they stayed together, no force could turn them.

Separate however…

As Qui Gon wrestled with the decision, the others had gotten of fairly well. Rei had become a more open person, although still a quiet one. This was largely due to Asuka's influence, who had also changed a bit in that she not as volatile as she used to be (although she still has a kick for hurling objects with the Force). As for Shinji, both the battles and his visit with his father changed him more. He wasn't the shy child who was afraid of everything that hurt him anymore. Basic nature aside, Shinji had finally learned to take in pain with happiness; that one was necessary for the other at times and if he tried his best, then that would enough. He had a family now and for the time, he was happy.

And then, the Sith struck back…

A week after graduation…

Shinji and Asuka were walking home from the DMV. Asuka was smiling broadly, showing her new drivers license before her face.

"Finally, freedom. Now I don't have to deal with Misato insane driving anymore."

Shinji gave a half smile, knowing that given Asuka's temperament, she might be just as bad, if not, worse than Misato. They both knew that the Force had given her a great aptitude with cars and possibly other vehicles. Her near flawless score on the test was proof of that. She only had one problem. Her speed.

"So we'll have to deal with your insane driving?"

Asuka blinked and that gave way to a slow frown. "Was that a smart remark, Third? Because if it was…"

Asuka suddenly stopped talking and Shinji seemed to tense. The area seemed darker to them right now and they both sensed something amiss. A disturbance…

"Get down!"

Shinji tackled Asuka just as a round of gunfire shot out from the side, just missing either Child. Asuka was stunned, but only briefly and as she hit the ground, she pushed Shinji to the side, causing him to roll and avoid the next round. The two quickly scrambled upright and ran, with gunfire at their heels. They continued down the street, but a glint from in front of them caused Asuka to push Shinji aside and dodge herself. Just then, more gunfire emerged from in front of them and they split up for a second. Asuka finally had enough as she rolled back into the street, reached into her back and ignited her red-orange lightsaber. Shinji must have had the same thing in mind because he rolled back, his sapphire saber igniting and he stationing himself back to back with Asuka. The shooters must have been surprised by this new stand because the shooting stopped for a moment. But the gunfire returned, raining death on the two. But the bullets never hit their mark as Shinji and Asuka waved their sabers around, deflecting every bullet that came at them. But it was only a stalling measure and if they didn't go fast, they would get killed.

SHHHHHHCCCCCCCCRRRREEEEEEEEEE

Sudden, a blue car drove right up from the street behind them and the doors flung open. On the back end, Kaji popped out and fired his gun and one of the shooters while Misato shouted from the driver's seat.

"Get in now!"

The two Jedi wasted no time in jumping in while Kaji gave them cover fire. Misato hit the pedal as Kaji jumped back inside and the car screeched down the street again, taking a few shots in the back.

"That was too close." Misato said as the car sped for what they assumed was back to Nerv HQ." Looking back for a moment. "Are you two okay?"

"We're fine." Asuka replied. "What's going on?"

"SEELE has decided to eliminate everyone in and related to Nerv." Kaji answered, reloading his gun just in case.

"But I thought SEELE was gone."

"All except one. Chairman Keel has decided to make a return."

Indeed he had. With his hope of Human Instrumentality down the drain, Keel had decided to eliminate all the key workers of Nerv. Asuka and Shinji weren't the first. Misato was almost taken down, but Kaji, who had discovered Keel's plans, had got to her first and saved her just in the nick of time. Ritsuko was targeted as well in the institute but Misato had called word to Nerv as she made her escape and a security force was sent to protect her. But no word had been heard since. Rei was already in Nerv by the time of the assassination, so everyone assumed she was safe.

They couldn't be more wrong…

The attacks were just ploys as a way to divert everyone attention from the secondary objective. A plan that would cripple and destroy them all.

The destruction of the Evangelions…

As everyone had scrambled under the safety of Nerv, a lone agent had managed to enter into Nerv undetected and set up detonation devices that almost equaled the power of an N2 mine. No one saw it coming, until it was too late.

KA-BOOOOOMMMMMM

The entire hanger sections were completely destroyed along with several adjuring section and killing hundreds of Nerv personnel. The explosion had ripped right across Nerv and out into the city about. Men, women, children, all gone in a single blast. Shinji was the first to sense the deaths, although that was moot due to the explosion in the sky as indication. When the arrived, Nerv was wasted. Forty percent of the pyramid was left barely standing and a massive hole was ripped up into the surface. The Evangelions were gone, completely annihilated and with them, the ones they carried inside. It was the darkest time for all of Nerv, more horrifying than the angel attacks and the invasion combined. Asuka had lost the chance to talk with her mother again, as did Shinji with his. Many had died from the blast alone. More died from whatever injuries they sustained from it and the few left alive were suffered horribly. One of those was Hyuga, who had been wounded and his arm amputated. But the nightmare for him would come to learn that both Maya and Aoba were dead. Maya was in the hanger area when it went of and Aoba died from the massive injuries across his body an hour afterward. Misato felt the nightmare of Second Impact come to her in full force and wept for many days afterward. The UN sent in relief troops to aid, but the damage had been done. It took a year and a half to rebuild the structure, but that was all. Nerv was no more. The Evangelions, the only reason for its existence was gone and thus there was no need to even rebuild it.

And Rei was missing…

It was assumed that she had been one of the casualties of the explosion, but Shinji insisted that she was still alive somewhere. Work crew searched the entire facility, but there was no sign of her. Misato would have dismissed it for denial, but Shinji seemed so sure that it was difficult to refuse. She was nowhere to be found.

As though she had dropped of the face of the Earth…

Two months after the destruction, Misato demanded payback. This act of force by Keel showed that he was a danger to everyone and had to be stopped. Appealing to the UN council directly, she requested help in finding Keel. At first, the members were skeptical, but they soon realized that Keel was indeed a threat, as many of them were potential targets to him. Thus, they allowed her whatever resources she needed, under their supervision of course. At first, her efforts were menial, without any sort of results. But then something unexpected happened. They got him from a very unlikely source.

Gendo Ikari. Former Commander of Nerv…

At first, Misato refused. If it was one thing that was worse than Keel is putting Gendo back in control of Nerv. But time was running thin and she was fresh out of ideas. Gendo was the only person alive who knew Keel first-hand. If there was any chance of stopping him, they would need his help. Though Gendo was released, it was clear that his only role was to provide information, all of it. He was not put back in control of Nerv and he would have an armed escort with him at all times. Surprising, Gendo didn't mind. He didn't care. He was surprised however by the fact that Asuka made herself one of the escorts to him. She never trusted him and wanted to keep her eye on him.

Gendo's quarters (secured)

"I was expecting the Third."

"Well, you've got me." Asuka retorted. "Get used to it."

"Not much choice." Gendo turned to the wall and quietly asked. "How…is he?"

"Why do you care?"

"He is…my son." The words felt strange coming out of his lips. As commander, that had meant little to nothing to him. But Shinji's visits over the past few years had changed something within him. But those words were even stranger to Asuka, who whirled on him.

"That didn't stop you from hurting him before, almost getting all of us killed for you plans." Her voice was controlled and even (a Jedi trait), but her disapproval was quite evident.

"That is true." he replied. "But you should understand that."

"What?"

"What it's like to lose someone you loved so much and have the chance to bring them back. I may have been…what's the word?" A flicker of a smile crossed his face. "A bastard. But I would have done anything to bring Yui back to me." His eyes lowered. "But now she is gone. And I can't change that."

"And you want revenge." Asuka said, attempting to voice his thoughts.

Gendo looked straight ahead. "Revenge is an emotional response. I've lost that long ago. This isn't revenge." The final words were graven. "This is simply punishment."

With Gendo's aid, the search began to progress. Taskforces were sent in on his key facilities around the world. Joining these forces were the three Jedi; Shinji, Asuka and Qui-Gon. With them at the forefront, they were able to track down Keel's forces and ultimately, they found his stronghold. Misato had misgivings though, feeling that the hunt had been too easy for someone like Keel. Gendo too agreed with her, but it was an opportunity they couldn't pass up, especially when Shinji attested that Rei was close. Qui-Gon sensed his urgency to find his sister, but warned him not to let his desire blind him to the danger. If Keel was truly the Sith Lord, then they had to be cautious.

Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side…

With this in mind, the Jedi along with Gendo, entered the stronghold while the remaining forces waited outside to move in. The process was relatively easy and the guards were quickly dispatched. That was until the trap was opened up and the forces outside were attacked by what appeared to be machines in the shape of Evangelions, but human sized and mass produced. These weapons rained down fire upon the army forces and a battle quickly erupted. Those inside found that they were trapped, but saw no other option other than to forge ahead. But as they did, they encountered a new figure. Another that was from Qui-Gon's past.

His first Padawan apprentice…

"We meet again, Master."

"Xanatos." Qui-Gon replied, his tone leveled, but pained as well.

"Aw, you're not happy to see me? I'm kind of hurt by that. But then again, we never did part on the best of terms, did we?"

Qui Gon saw that he was the same person as before. Young, with jet-black hair and a billowing black cape. He even bore the half-circle scar on his cheek, showing that he remembered what happened when Qui-Gon was forced to kill his father.

"Why are you here?"

Xanatos smiled. "The same as before. To make you suffer the way you made me suffer before."

Xanatos reached into his cape and held up his lightsaber. But before igniting it, he looked over at Shinji.

"Ah, the famous Third Child. I've been looking forward to meeting you." Returning his attention to Qui-Gon. "As much as I would like to show you my new powers, my master is waiting for you. However, I will be more than happy to show them to your apprentices."

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes and began to reach for his lightsaber when Shinji stopped him.

"Master, you must go. If you stay, Keel will get away."

Asuka nodded. "We'll handle him, no sweat."

Xanatos laughed aloud

"You think you two could topple me?" Xanatos finally ignited his lightsaber, letting the crimson blade hum in the air. "Let's see if you are a powerful as you boast, little lady."

Both Shinji and Asuka ignited the sabers in unison while Qui-Gon and Gendo made their way past them. Qui-Gon didn't like the idea of leaving his students against Xanatos one bit. He knew that Xanatos was very clever and deceptive, not to mention powerful. But he had no choice. Someone had to stop Keel. Xanatos was just a distraction for the moment, one he couldn't afford to deal with. He had to trust the Children and move on. When the two men disappeared, Xanatos smirked.

"Well, let's go."

"We'll have to take it in slow." Shinji voiced quietly.

Asuka nodded. "Just like synching."

Shinji moved first, slashing upward at Xanatos. Xanatos deflected the attack and swiftly twirled to catch Asuka's blow, which stabbed in to the mid-section. Asuka brought her arm back and struck down and Xanatos again caught the attack. He then leveled his blade in order to catch another one of Shinji's high strikes. Pushing back, Xanatos whirled his saber and parried Shinji's next blow downward. Asuka rushed in as Shinji was forced back and swung out to the side, but the Dark Jedi was too fast as he ducked under her swing and spun around in wait.

"How predictable. Qui-Gon hasn't changed a bit. In his teaching or his choice of successors."

Asuka and Shinji returned side-by-side, holding still as they looked for a way to disable him. However, Xanatos didn't give them that time as he charged at them with a wild cry.

"Yaahhhhh!"

Meanwhile, Qui-Gon and Gendo approached a closed chamber which opened on their arrival. Both were cautious now, knowing that he was waiting on the opposite side. Sensing the chill of the Dark Side, Qui-Gon ignited his saber as they both entered into the darkness. Gendo recognized the room immediately. It was the chamber where he would often be summoned to by the council of SEELE. And as usual, the room was only lit by beams of light that barely illuminated the darkness. As they strode in, Qui-Gon could make out a silhouetted figure in the center of the darkness. The figure strode out into the central light, cloaked in black robes and hood.

"Keel."

The robed figure responded by swiftly lifting his arm and using the Force to propel Gendo across the room and into the wall. Gendo was slammed hard and slumped on the shadowed floor.

"You should have died long ago, Ikari." He said in a graven voice. "Fortunately, that can be easily rectified."

With his hand still raised, Keel let loose a bolt of dark Force lightning at the downed Gendo. But in a flash, Qui-Gon stationed himself between Gendo and the lightning and raised his lightsaber to intercept the energy.

"You will harm no one else, Keel."

A smile could be seen under the cloak. "Malice. I am Darth Malice." He lowered his arm briefly in order to grab hold of his lightsaber. "And I can promise you that the suffering will continue. With you, Jedi!"

In a flash, Darth Malice flew at Qui-Gon, the red lightsaber cracking alive and coming down on Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon met the blow with one of his own and retaliated with a double strike. Malice deflected both blows and swung in with a stab. Qui-Gon swung low to parry and Malice came again with two quick strikes. Qui-Gon avoided the first and blocked the second, locking up the lightsabers. Malice grinned again and pushed upward, almost knocking Qui-Gon off his feet. But the Jedi regained his balance and rolled aside as the Sith Lord swung at him. Whirled his emerald lightsaber, Qui-Gon came at him furiously, putting Malice on the defensive for a while. Malice suddenly parried one of Qui-Gon's blows and as the Jedi slipped past, Malice swung with a deadly rising slash. But Qui-Gon was quick enough to pull his lightsaber in to stop in, push it down and rotate into a high arc slash, which Malice caught and locked with one of his own.

"Most impressive, Jedi. But your powers are feeble in comparison to mine!"

Meanwhile, Asuka and Shinji continued their fight against Xanatos, who seemed to harass and taunt them at every turn, frustrating their efforts to subdue him by dancing away.

"Boring. Is this really all you've got?" he taunted as he deflected one of Shinji's strikes. Asuka came in from behind, but Xanatos duck under her swing and rotated to clash with her lightsaber briefly. Taking a step back, he gave a wicked grin.

"I'm sure Rei would have done better."

This caught their attention, particularly Shinji's who asked. "Rei? Where is she?"

Xanatos waved his lightsaber lightly. "She's quite the lovely one, I'll say. It's fortunate that I found her at Nerv before the explosives went of."

Asuka gasped and Shinji's fist tightened around the lightsaber. "You set those explosives up? Do you know how many people you've hurt? How many you've killed?"

Xanatos gave a thoughtful look. "I'm not sure. I lost count at two thousand and fifty one."

Shinji seemed ready to explode when Asuka soon came and touched his shoulder. Though brief, Shinji knew what she meant by it. Xanatos was trying to get them to lose their temper and fall prey to the Dark Side. Shinji was a bit surprised that it was Asuka who reminded him, but then again, she had experienced anger more than any of the others and she knew better how it seeped into a person.

Calmness…

With this in mind, Shinji's grip on the saber loosened and his rage was replaced with a set determination. Asuka moved past him in the meantime, keeping her saber forward as she approached slowly. Xanatos cocked his head to the side humorously.

"You haven't had enough?"

Asuka gave a smile of her own. "I'm the great Asuka Langley Sohryu. I haven't even gotten started."

Asuka suddenly rushed in with a wide arch slash, to which Xanatos blocked. But the blow came more powerfully than he thought and he was pushed back a bit. At that moment, Asuka flipped backward suddenly and Shinji swept in low underneath her. This act surprised Xanatos and he jumped back and leveled his lightsaber down in an awkward defense. Shinji continued on a pressed in with an upward slash, knocking Xanatos's lightsaber up in the air. Asuka then jumped in over Shinji's head and with another wide swinging arc, she knocked the lightsaber from his grasp. Asuka rushed in to knock him down, but a sudden blur of blue caused her to raise her lightsaber in defense. Asuka had clashed with a blue lightsaber that Xanatos had pulled out with his left hand. Both Jedi blinked in surprise at the sight.

It was Rei's lightsaber…

Using the distraction, Xanatos used the Force to push Asuka backward. Asuka flipped through the air and just barely landed on her feet. Shinji moved to cover her, but Xanatos slashed heavily against the Jedi, causing him to slide backward. Fueled by his rage, Xanatos turned his attention back to Asuka, who had just regained her bearings and lunged at her in a mad dash, bringing the lightsaber in for a deadly strike. Without even thinking, Asuka ducked under the angry attack and with one upward swipe, severed Xanatos's arm. Xanatos let out a howl of pain and staggered back as his arm sizzled on the floor, still clutching the lightsaber. Rage lit up in Xanatos's now fiery eyes as he realized he was defeated and in it, he dashed away into one of the corridors. Asuka, still after her last attack, deactivated her lightsaber and moved over to Shinji.

"Come on baka. On your feet."

Shinji struggled himself upright. "I knew Rei was alive."

"Hey, I'm not the one you need to convince." Asuka shrugged. "Let's just find her."

Shinji nodded and began to move off, but stopped when he saw Xanatos's severed arm. Opening his palm, Shinji pull the lightsaber out of its grasp and into his hand. Hooking it to his belt, he soon accompanied Asuka down the corridor. The two Jedi soon went down the same path that Qui-Gon and Gendo had gone, only to be held up by the security force inside. Meanwhile, the battle went badly for Nerv as their forces were getting crushed in by the MP Eva forces. In the thick of it, Misato fought with her people to stop them, but they seemed to possess the same regenerative abilities that a full sized Evangelion would have. If they had AT fields, the battle would have been long over. But as it stood, at least they had a fighting chance, which was unfortunately diminishing. Inside the citadel, Qui-Gon continued to battle with Malice and for a moment, it seemed that victory would be his. But the Sith Lord managed to score a critical blow on the Jedi Master and ended it a strike of dark Force lightning. Qui-Gon would have been finished if not for the timely appearance of Asuka. Despite the odds against her, Asuka made a determined stand against the Sith Lord. But Malice had other plans and indicated to a silhouette in the corner that had been watching the whole thing until now. Asuka was in shock as to the new figure, also wearing a black cloak and hood, but who discarded it to reveal their identity.
"Rei!"

Rei's only response was an attack with a lightsaber. A red lightsaber… Asuka barely managed a defense as Rei came at her, her savage attacks masked by a face lacking emotion. Asuka managed to fight back, but was hesitant to fight back. As Malice watched, the fight between the two went back and forth until finally…

Asuka stopped fighting…

"Your thoughts give you away, Ayanami. You don't want to fight me any more than I want to fight you. I can feel the conflict within you."

Asuka lowered her lightsaber and shut it off while Rei stood with hers still set.

"I'm not going to fight you Rei. So if you need to kill me to snap out of it…" Asuka shut her eyes. "Then do what you've got to do."

Despite her emotionless appearance, Rei seemed hesitant to attack. Was this a trick? But Asuka wasn't doing anything of the sort. Rei had given her life once to help her when she was tormented. It seemed only fair to that Asuka do the same. 'Never say that Asuka Sohryu didn't repay her debts' she thought as she sensed Rei's slow approach to her. The conflict was still there, but Asuka knew she would strike. The lightsaber hum grew louder and soon…

Hissed against another one…

Asuka's eyes snapped open as she saw a violet lightsaber just over her head and blocking off Rei's crimson saber. She didn't have to look to know who it was.

"What kept you?"

Shinji didn't respond though; his attention was now on his sister as to why she was fighting Asuka in the first place, not to mention why she was wielding a red lightsaber. 'There is no why…' echoed into his mind, forcing him to see to obvious truth. Rei had succumbed to the Dark Side. But how? Before he could reflect, she suddenly lunged at him, causing him to step back and defend. Again she came and again he blocked. As they exchanged blows, Shinji realized that he had to do something and fast. Despite being a more experienced Jedi, his sister was part angel, thus giving her a sizable advantage. And with the Dark Side fueling her piece by piece, it would only be a matter of time before his defense was broken. 'But what can I do? Why is she like this at all?' Again, no, why. How? How did she turn to the Dark Side? Why would any turn to the Dark Side?

Fear, anger, aggression…

Aggression… Rei never exhibited any aggression. Even when she briefly battle against Adam, there was no aggression. Anger… Once, when Asuka called her Wondergirl, there was anger there. But they had made peace with each other, didn't they? No, there had to be more. And looking at her eyes, it all came down to one.

Fear…

Unlike the other two, Rei had her own fears. Hell, everyone single one of the Children had their own dreaded fears. And the greatest fear was one they all shared… Of course! He soon realized. The disaster at Nerv and their separation must have shaken Rei somewhat. And the Sith was there to turn her. But not completely. She wasn't a Sith now; she had completely gone into the darkness. She simply needed help and reassurance.

"Rei, listen to me. This isn't who you are."

Shinji backed away and settled his weapon to his side. "Remember back….those times when you saved our lives. Saved my life."

"Pain…" she whispered back before coming at Shinji with a whirling slash and followed up with a low slice and a high chop. Shinji deflected the first two and then locked up with the last. The saber blazed in between the two and Shinji continued.

"You're stronger than this. I know it. And I'm here for you. We all are."

"No…"

Rei stabbed upward and Shinji deflected the blow. But that attack wasn't the intended one as Rei used the deflection to swing low at Shinji's legs. Shinji hopped over and Rei brought it back again to his head, with Shinji almost getting beheaded if not for his quick reflexes in bringing the lightsaber up again in another clash.

"Rei…"

"No, Shinji." Rei said quietly. "It's too late for me."

Rei began to back away so she could have room to go in for another attack, but Shinji held the lock and followed, preventing her from doing so. He felt the conflict within her grow more turbulent. He just had to break through.

"It's not. I won't leave you." Shinji suddenly snapped his weapon downward, causing Rei'' to follow and allowing him to rush at her. She was caught by surprise as Shinji suddenly grabbed around her back with his right arm and held her close. "No matter what happens, we will always be together."

Rei shook in his embrace, weakly trying to escape it. Shinji knew there was a risk here. If she had truly gone over to the Dark Side, she could kill him right now. But he had to try this. It was the only thing he could think to do after all that she had done for them. Rei soon stopped struggling and then began to tremble in his embrace.

"I don't…want to be alone…I don't…"

"You're not alone, sister." Shinji assured her.

"So be it." Malice spoke as he reemerged from the shadows. "As I promised, you will not be alone…in death!"

In that instant, the Sith raised his fingers and shot a deadly stream of dark Force lightning…