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An Assassin's Memories

Twenty-Ninth Shot: Failure

"This is bad." Misato stared at the reports flooding into Central Dogma.

"The left arm has ceased functioning completely," Maya reported. Misato cursed and stared at the screen as Asuka ripped into another white Eva.

"One of the UN troops needs to talk to you," Makoto stated.

"Now is not the time," Misato snapped.

"It's urgent ma'am," Makoto replied. Misato scowled at him and snatched up the handset.

"What the fuck do you need?"

"We're under heavy attack here," the calm voice of the UN Major stated. "We were wondering if you had any troops you could send to reinforce us."

"If I had any troops left they would already be helping you!" Misato snapped.

"I see," Ryan replied. "Just thought I'd check. We'll hold this position." The line went dead and Misato slammed the handset down. How had everything gone this wrong?

(:ii:)

Michael cursed as his leg gave out from under him. He was doing permanent damage. That fact was plain and easy to see. Michael pushed off the wall. If he failed then he would have bigger problems then a bum leg.

'I love the pain,' Michael thought. It was an old mantra from way back in programming. His instructor on edged weapons would stalk up and down the training mats screaming it at the assassins in training. Michael leaned against the wall. He pushed off again and started forward.

He wouldn't fail. He had failed too many already, he would never fail the rest ever again.

(:ii:)

"It is time Rei." Gendo looked around the massive room triumphantly. His eyes fell upon Lilith, still crucified despite the lack of the Lance of Longinus.

"I understand," Rei replied quietly. Gendo smiled. Soon it would all be over. After so many years of struggling his quest would finally be complete. He would finally be able to reunite with his dear wife.

She would understand everything. She would understand the sacrifices he had made, had needed to make. Gendo turned back to Rei. For a moment his joy was lost as he stared at the pale shadow of his beloved wife. She was staring at the massive form of Lilith, her eyes unreadable, even to him.

She must have been thinking about him. Gendo felt rage flow through him. Yes, he was sure that she was thinking about him. "The Third Child is dead!" She turned, her eyes widening in surprise. "That disgusting little boy is gone!" Gendo seized Rei by her bare shoulders and shook her. Her eyes lowered again and she refused to meet his glare.

Gendo threw her aside in disgust. He needed to focus. His emotions were getting in the way. Gendo took a deep breath. He turned and saw the First Child's nude form sprawled across the floor. "It doesn't matter. Think of him all you like. Once this is over I will have no use for you."

"I will be glad then," Rei stated quietly. Gendo felt a blinding rage flow through him. He stalked over to the First Child and raised the hand containing the embryo Adam. He brought his hand down upon the slender girls chest with much more force then necessary.

Her flinch of pain only encouraged him, but his rage was contained as a white light filled the massive cavern. Before Gendo's very eyes his hand sank into Rei's chest. "It's working!"

"Well that's not good." Gendo whipped around even as a thunderous roar filled the cavern. Something impacted Gendo's wrist and he fell backwards, only feeling the immense pain as he stared at the stump of his right wrist. Gendo turned and stared at the intruder.

"You."

"Me," the man said.

"You're dead," Gendo growled. "Why can't you fucking die?"

"Too mean to die," Michael stated. He stumbled slightly and fell to the ground, keeping his pistol aimed at Gendo throughout.

"You have to understand!" Gendo screamed. "I'm doing this for us! We can be a family again."

"I have enough family," Michael stated. Gendo could see his finger tighten on the trigger. "One too many actually." Then the cavern was filled with another loud burst.

(:ii:)

Michael watched as Gendo Ikari slumped to the ground. "Fuck." Michael turned his attention to his leg. He didn't feel any pain, but it had finally given out. That was definitely a bad sign.

"Michael." Michael turned and saw Rei staring at him from near the former commander's body.

"Rei," Michael replied. "Surprised?" She turned away and stared at the white giant pinned to the wall.

"You are too late. It is inside me." She took a shaky step towards the angel. Michael tried to scramble to his feet, but his useless leg collapsed and sent him spilling to the ground.

"Rei! Listen to me. It's me. . .Shinji."

"I am thankful that I was able to speak with you one last time," Rei stated. She was walking at a snail's pace, but at this distance there was no way for Michael to stop her.

"Stop moving Rei. Gendo Ikari is dead. You don't have to do this."

"I cannot stop now," Rei replied. "Please, Shinji. You have to stop me." Michael's fist clenched and he brought the Colt to bear on one of the few people in his life that he actually believed he might love.

"Stop there now," he commanded sharply.

"Please stop me," Rei repeated. "I do not wish for this world to end." Michael's mind race. A leg shot? The way she was moving he doubted that would do anything. Torso shot? Try to bring her down with the pain? Could he even consider doing that to Rei?

"This is your last warning Ayanami!" Michael snapped. "I order you to cease your actions."

"I cannot," Rei stated again. "Carry out your threat Shinji." Michael froze. It was easy. Aim, allow for possible variations, and pull the trigger. He clung to that logic. It didn't matter who she was. She was just another nameless victim to add to his tortured memory.

"I'm sorry Rei."

"You need not apologize," Rei replied. "You need only kill me."

"I can do that."

"I love you Shinji." Michael's finger squeezed the trigger. He didn't feel the recoil, he didn't hear the noise, he didn't even see the flash. All he saw was Rei drop, all he heard was her body hitting the ground, and all he felt was his chest bursting.

Shinji Ikari felt his strength flee and he fell on his back. He stared at the ceiling so far overhead. He had failed again. His fingers curled around his pistol and he raised it. He had strength enough for that.

There were only a few people left for him to fail. Shinji pressed the muzzle against the side of his skull. He would fail himself now.

Shinji's whole body seized up suddenly and he felt the weapon drop from his fingers. There were still those he needed to protect. Shinji pushed himself into a sitting position. This could wait. Those who needed him couldn't.

(:ii:)

Yuji looked up as a figure staggered towards him. "Hey Mike. You get him?"

"I got him," the man replied as he drew closer. Yuji glanced at his leg and frowned. He had strapped two pieces of metal to his leg on either side as a crude brace.

"We need to get you to medical Mike."

"Shinji."

"What?"

"My name is Shinji," the man repeated. "I do not require medical assistance. I do not believe that I will be living past this day anyway."

"You'll be fine," Ginji replied soothingly. "Medical isn't too far away. We already destroyed the turret with a grenade. Where's Ayanami?"

"She's dead," Shinji replied. "I killed her. Now help me. I cannot move well enough without assistance."

"Right," Yuji said. "I hope Doctor Akagi is there."

"We are not going to medical," Shinji stated. Yuji raised an eyebrow.

"Alright. Were are we going then?"

"To the Evangelion launch bay," Shinji replied. He was holding two white things in his hand. "Sohryu cannot last much longer by her self. We must hurry."

(:ii:)

Ryan took a deep breath and looked around his broken garrison. He was loosing men to the UN human wave attacks. "Never expected that from the French."

"What's was that sir?" Lucky asked.

"Nothing," Ryan replied. "How's your ammo?"

"Nothing left in the Barrett," Lucky replied. "I wasn't expecting to have to use it in an anti-personnel function."

"Wonderful," Ryan grumbled. In the next attack those high explosive rounds would be sorely missed.

"UN!" Ryan spun, bringing his rifle to his shoulder. The hallway before them was empty.

"Who said UN!" Ryan demanded angrily. This was no time for fucking games.

"No one sir," one of the soldiers replied.

"UN!" Ryan stared down the hallway.

"Section-9?"

"Roger!" the voice replied. "Don't shoot us!" The figures staggered out of a side hallway and began to move towards them.

"Ah shit," Lucky growled. "They're hurt bad. Doc!"

"Don't bother." Ryan recognized that voice as Mike's. "Get me into Unit Zero-One."

-End

(:ii:)

-Author's notes. Well. . .its short I guess. This is the second to last chapter. No bullshit.