Chapter 49
Ten minutes earlier, inside of the cabin of Unit One, Hope heard over her communications relay..
"Hope, the strike teams are on their way. Are you at a safe distance?" Sawyer said.
"In one minute, Commander. Make them pay, Sawyer!" Hope said as she turned the EVA around and started to walk away from the Angel.
"Hope, where are you going?"
"The fighters are going to take care of Angel 20, Dad. I'm returning to base. They are going to hit it with an AT shell. I've done my part. They'll stop it. Don't worry."
"No, it won't be enough, Hope."
"What do you mean, Dad?" Hope asked.
"It has to be collapsed from within, Hope. The AT field needs to be discharged from inside of Angel 20 not outside of it. EVA needs to merge with Angel 20."
"Dad…. are you suggesting that…I take the EVA into Angel 20?"
"Yes."
"Dad, isn't that a bit crazy?" Hope asked. "If EVA merges with the Angel, it'll cause Fourth Impact. Dad, why are you telling me to do this?"
"It's the only way. The fighter jets are not going to weaken Angel 20. Angel 20 is the way that SEELE wants to start Fourth Impact! If Angel 20 merges with the EVA yes, that can happen…. fourth impact would occur. Instrumentality would set the course of the human race once more by the way who initiated the merge but if EVA merges with Angel 20 and we keep control. ."
"Dad…you're scaring me. You want me to start Instrumentality? ARE YOU REALLY MY FATHER? IS THIS A TRICK? I WON'T DO IT! I'LL DESTROY THAT THING MYSELF!"
"Yes, Hope, it is me. I am your father and I'm not telling you to use Instrumentality to destroy the Earth and mankind. I don't want to do that."
"Then what? Tell me what you want. Why is it so important to merge with Angel 20, Dad?"
"We can determine the fate of Instrumentality. We can decide whether or not mankind lives or dies. We can decide that fate, Hope. We can control that power. That is why we must do this!"
"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" Hope growled. "THIS IS A TRICK! THIS IS SEELE'S DOING! I'LL DESTROY YOU! MY FATHER WOULDN'T SAY THAT! YOU CAN'T BE MY FATHER! IF YOU'RE MY FATHER….PROVE IT!"
"Haven't I all ready? I made you better, didn't I?"
"That could have been to gain my trust." Hope said. "SEELE knew that I'd believe you after that but what you're saying now….my father wouldn't say that."
"HOPE, DO AS I SAY! WE'RE LOSING TIME! WE HAVE TO ACT NOW! I'M YOUR FATHER! YOU WILL OBEY ME!"
"I'm not a kid anymore! I won't be ordered around! Besides, my father never spoke to me like that!" Hope said firmly.
"Hope…. I'll make you believe it." He told her gently. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. Hope, listen to me…"
"THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY I'D EVER BELIEVE YOU, YOU SEELE BASTARD!"Hope growled as she charged up her particle rifle
"Hope, do you remember when you very little and I told you something a long time ago. I kept telling you over and over again and I told you when you were older to write it down somewhere in a safe place and commit to memory. Do you remember what I told you? Do you remember what you were told to never forget all of your life?"
"Yes." Hope said. "You tell me though! If you're my father, YOU TELL ME!"
There was silence.
"Well, what's the matter?" Hope asked sarcastically. "Are we lost for words?"
More time passed and no answer came.
"Kiss your ass good-bye, Angel-20." Hope said as she aimed her particle rifle at the target.
Then she heard. "…. What mankind has thrown out of balance…will be balanced…. by…"
Hope breathed in as she heard it and then shut her eyes as she said softly. "…. By the destiny of one." She drew back her particle rifle as she said. "Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to doubt you. Its just there have been so many lies and so many things…Dad, I'm sorry."
"Its okay." The voice said gently. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."
"Dad, how do you know about this?" Hope asked. "How is it you know that in order to destroy Angel 20 I have to merge with it? Dad, won't I be killed?"
"I've been spying on SEELE, Hope." He responded. "I know all about their twisted little game and I'm going to put a stop to it by turning their creation against them. That's why we need Angel 20. I need it for my purpose."
"Dad, how…were you able to spy on SEELE? How are you going to turn it against them? You're dead, Dad!"
"There are things in the afterlife that let you do certain things…. things you can't do when your alive…Hope, I wasn't meant to die the way I did. SEELE caused it to happen. Yes, Hope, I know. I know that I was murdered by them and now, I can set things right. In the afterlife, you're given a chance by free will to set things right before you go somewhere else. I know exactly what they are up to…. and I know who's behind it all."
"You do?" Hope asked. "Dad, do you mean to say you've been haunting SEELE? Dad, we need to tell Sawyer! We need to tell Mom! Who is it, Dad? What did this? What is their name? Is this person responsible for your cancer and Isao? Dad, is this the same person who tried to have Mom killed? Who is it, Dad? You have to tell me! We need to tell them! Dad, tell me!"
"No, Hope. I won't tell you. We can't have the focus of Sawyer or your mother off right now. If they knew who it was, they would charge into the base without thinking and a lot of people would get hurt. No. I'm keeping that knowledge to myself for when the time is right. That's why I need you, Hope. You're going to help me. You and me are going to bring down SEELE. We're going to stop them from ever doing this again. I need you to stop Angel 20 and I need Angel 20 in order to do what I need to do."
"Dad, how? You're dead, Dad. You're a spirit. How can you?"
"I can and I will. I'm not just a spirit, Hope."
"You're not, Dad. What are you then?" Hope asked.
"I'm an angel." He responded.
"Dad? What are you talking about? What do you mean….what are you saying Dad? Are you…. something other then a spirit now?"
"Not right now but I will be. That is why I need you. That is why we must do this, Hope."
"Dad, I'm scared but I believe you." Hope said as she smiled.
"Let's do it, Hope. You and me. Let's end it."
"Yes, Dad." Hope stopped and then turned the EVA to face Angel 20, she said into her headset. "Commander?"
"Yes." Sawyer answered.
"The fighter jets won't be able to destroy Angel 20. The only thing that can do it is an AT field from within."
"Hope, how do you know that?" Sawyer asked.
"My father told me that."
Sawyer was silent for a moment and then asked. "Hope? Is someone there with you?"
"Yes." Hope with a smile as she looked to her side.
"Who's there?" Sawyer asked.
"My Dad. My Dad is sitting right beside me and he's smiling at me. He saved me, Sawyer."
Then she heard Sawyer say. "Hope, return to base."
"But, Sawyer, Angel 20…."
"Angel 20 is not a consideration! We've got what we need! The fighter jets will take care of Angel 20."
"No…. they won't. It won't be enough. It needs to be destroyed from within, Sawyer! The fighter jets won't be successful with a direct attack."
"Hope! Hope! What are you saying? Hope, no! DO NOT MERGE WITH ANGEL 20! YOU'LL CAUSE FOURTH IMPACT!"
Making the EVA run as fast as it could, Hope charged at Angel 20.
. "Oh no!" She heard and saw Sawyer on the monitor. "Hope, abort! Abort, Hope! HOPE, THE FIGHTER JETS ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN THIRTY SECONDS…. ABORT!."
Looking back at the image, she reached up and placed her hand against it and whispered gently. "Sawyer, believe in me. With all my strength, Sawyer, this is for the hope of the world. I love you."
"HOPE!" Sawyer called out
"Unit 1, disengage communications relay." Hope commanded as she looked forward at Angel 20 and found her breathing quickening and her eyes getting wider
"Okay, Dad. I believe. I am putting my trust in you. With all of our strength, Dad, we'll do this together.. Okay?"
"Okay." Then the voice asked. "You do, don't you? You love him, Hope. I can see it. Do you love him?"
"With all of my heart, Dad. You were right when you called it." Hope said softly with a smile. "Hey, Dad. I don't know if you know this but…..he asked me to marry him and I said yes. That is if I survive this."
"You will, Hope. I am happy for you."
"Thanks, Dad. I only wish you could be there…to walk me down the aisle."
The voice answered. "Souke or Touji will take my place but I'll be with you that day, Hope. I promise you. I will be there. I'll stand right beside you and I'll be very proud of you."
"I wish you could be there for real, Dad." Hope said with a smile as she looked ahead to Angel 20. "Okay, Dad, I'm getting a little worried here."
"Its all right. I'm right beside you."
"DAD!" She called out nervously.
"Wait…wait…NOW, HOPE! DO IT NOW!"
"NOW, DAD?"
"NOW!"
Letting out a loud scream, the EVA unit ran faster and jumped into the white entity. Hope breathed in as she concentrated seeing and feeling power go through her and instantly, energy crackled on the outside of the EVA unit.
She looked around; she was inside of the blinding white force that was Angel 20. She took a deep breath as she could feel her heart beating wildly inside of her and could feel sweat come down her forehead.
"You are the EVA." Shinji told her. "You can end it all now. Without Evangelion there is no SEELE. END EVANGELION, HOPE. I will take care of SEELE."
"Okay, Dad." Hope said as her breathing quickened.
"Now berserk the EVA and discharge your AT field. Feel your power. Believe in it. Imagine it is so large that it will take down Angel 20."
"Okay, Dad." Hope said with a nod.
"Go!"
"UNIT 1, DISCHARGE AT FIELD!" Hope said firmly as she began to envision an AT field so large and so powerful that it could easily overwhelm Angel 20.
From the outside, the EVA crackled with red and blue strobes of energy.
Then the EVA roared thunderously from within Angel 20
As loud as it could be heard the EVA unleashed an AT field of immense proportions with energy that crackled throughout all of Angel 20..
It was so large that from within the white entity, Angel 20 began to shake, causing the EVA unit to shake violently..
"DAD!" She screamed out nervously.
Hope screamed as she felt herself shaking. She braced herself in the console but then she felt strong arms around her, protecting her.
"I've got you. You're going to be okay. Hang on to me. I'll keep you safe. I promise!"
She felt like she was a little girl again and safe within the arms of her father. She always felt like nothing could ever hurt her whenever he protected her and she felt that way now.
The field became larger and caused Angel 20 to start collapsing within itself. The shockwave was so great that the EVA itself was caught in it.
Slowly the EVA merged with Angel 20. Little by little pieces of the EVA started to dissolve into that energy.
Hope felt within the bioplug everything shake and crumble. She looked at the displays reading. "WARNING: LIFE SUPPORT FAILURE"
She became nervous as she looked around and then in an instant, she felt everything around her collapse.
"DAD!" She screamed out.
She was in a dark place and felt herself sinking into an abyss until…. someone had caught her holding her by the wrist.
"I've got you and I'm not letting go."
She smiled as she looked up at him.
He was holding onto her wrist and he was smiling at her, hovering above her in a white void directly above her head and he pulled out of the darkness and held her against him, hugging her as they floated in the middle of a white void.
"Dad…you're…" Hope asked with astonishment as she looked at him. "Dad, you're alive again! I can see you, Dad! I can touch you! DAD!" She happily hugged him and kissed him on his cheek as she said to him. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too. Listen to me, it's going to be okay." He told her with a smile. "Hold onto me."
"Daddy, where are we?" Hope asked as she hung onto her father.
"Hope Ikari, you are safe. You are in a world between life and life beyond. You are safe in this state. We will guide you."
"Who is that, Dad? Do you know?" Hope asked.
"…What mankind has thrown out of balance will be balanced by the destiny of one…."
Hope turned and saw a girl standing off to the side. The girl smiled at her. The girl had red eyes and light hair that was almost blue. Her skin was pale, white almost, and she wore, what looked like, a school uniform.
"Dad, how does she know that?" Hope asked as she looked at Shinji. She turned and looked at the girl, studying hard and then said. "I know you…. don't I? You…I know you."
The girl smiled at her. "Yes, you do."
Hope said with her eyes wide. ""Aya…. nami. You're Ayanami!" Hope said as she breathed in. "You…you're my imaginary friend from when I was a kid…but you weren't real…" Hope said to her in amazement as the girl smiled at her.
"I was real once." The girl said. "Now I am much more."
Hope looked at her father as she asked. "Dad, do you remember when I was little and I used have a…an imaginary friend named…."
"Rei Ayanami." Shinji told her.
"Yes!" Hope said as she breathed in. "Dad, what does this all mean?"
"It is time, Ikari."
Shinji nodded his head as he looked at the girl and then turned his attention back to his daughter. "It means, Hope, that this will all come to an end. It means that life will be good from now on. I want you to embrace life and I want you to do all that you want to do and fly as high as you wish.. It means that the destiny of one was made possible from the hope of the world. It means that everyone will be safe from now on. I love you, Hope. Don't worry. This is the end of Evangelion. This is end of SEELE. Don't be afraid. I'm going to protect you. I'm going to make sure it ends today and that you never go through this again."
Hope watched as everything in that white void turned into a giant whirlwind, in the center of this whirlwind, a bright white light came down and engulfed all three of them. Inside of the white light, everything was calm and serene.
Outside of the light the void turned into a violent whirlwind, churning with energy that crackled.
Hope looked around and then looked back at father as raised his head towards the opening high above them.
He looked back at her and smiled as he said.
"You've got to go now. Don't be scared. I'm right beside you. I'll always be with you all of your life."
"Ikari."
Hope turned and then saw that same girl floating beside them. She looked at her strangely as her father smiled at the girl.
"Take care of her Rei." Shinji said gently.
"The hope of the world has been successful now it falls to the destiny of one to insure it never happens again."
Hope looked back at her father and nodded. "I guess that's why you named me Hope, huh?"
Shinji chuckled as he hugged her and kissed her forehead, and then he said gently. "For so many reasons." He held onto her for a while as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I love you with all of my heart." He whispered to her. "You've made me proud. Keep doing what you've been doing and know I'm always by your side, watching over you and protecting you. Good-bye, my little girl. Now you have to go." He gave her one last kiss good-bye on her forehead and took another breath as he looked at Rei and nodded.
Hope felt her wrist being grasped by the girl who stood with them. "DAD!" She called out as she felt the girl grab her with a strength she had never known.
As she looked back into her father's eyes, Hope could see a tear coming out from his eye and sliding down his cheek as he looked back at her. Then she felt nothing against her except the void.
"Daddy." Hope said as she looked back at him and reached up to touch him only to discover, he was transparent again. "Dad what?"
She watched as Shinji nodded to the girl and saw as Hope and the girl floated up towards the top of the vortex.
"Daddy!" She called out as he reached out to him while she traveled upward and saw him looking up at her, smiling at her. "Daddy!"
The white entity transformed into a long twisting formation like an upside down tornado.. The AT field swirled around the formation gathering strength and in the center of this, Shinji Ikari floated.
Shinji's eyes were shut, his body transparent as the energy around him formed into lightening and went through him strobe by strobe.
"DAD!" Hope screamed out with wide eyes as reached out to him drifting further and further away from him. "Let me go! Let me go! That's my father!"
"I know, Ikari." The girl said to her in mind. "It is all right. This is the destiny of one."
Shinji stretched out his arms as the strobes of energy continued to pass through his translucent body, his face tightened as he felt the energy go through him and around him. As it did, it gave him temporarily a form in the white and blue energy that went into his spirit and combined.
"Daddy!" Hope called out as she traveled upward looking back to him..
His eyes opened and they were still blue but with strobes of white energy crackling in them. Throughout his body energy crackled around him and inside of him, his hair blew in every which direction.
He slowly looked back towards his daughter with the most serious and angry face she had ever seen on him.
"It'll be all right, Hope." She heard in her mind. "It's my turn now. Its time to make the one responsible for so much death and destruction to pay."
"Daddy, no!" Hope called out as she traveled further away from him.
Shinji cast his eyes downward and then in an instant, the energy built up and swept through him. He glowed in a series of white and blue energy
Shinji Ikari disappeared into that same energy, as it hurled down to the ground below.
"DADDY!" Hope called out. "DADDY!"
"Hope of the world, you may return."
She turned and looked up at the girl. She shrieked, as she saw nothing. She only saw white.