Disclaimer : I do not own Evangelion, although like many others I wish I did. I own none of the characters. This is a normal Eva fic, not sure about Eva battles because I am trying to focus on Shinji's torment and hopeful revenge, hehe. Read and Review, I need criticism and I need to know people are reading this garbage. Anyhoo, on with the show!
Right then
'Thought'
"Speech"
"(Actions in speech)"
-
"Ikari!"
The mushroom cloud quickly appeared, spreading upwards slightly skewed by the wind and the force of the various N2 explosions in the sky, although, that being said, the missile barrage was beginning to thin out and less missiles decended from the sky. But then, it was too late, one missile had made it through all the defences, Rei shouldn't have been too bothered, she was safe, the Commander was safe. Unfortunately, there was someone that meant much more to her than either herself or her Commander, that was her friend, her ally, Shinji Ikari. She had watched his head lift in the final seconds, the glow began to engulf him and his head simply rose, taking in the view of the object heading towards him. There wasn't any look of fear, no look of desperate thought, no vain attempts to find shelter, just a simple glance upwards towards his doom. As it quickly approached Shinji he couldn't help but think about the simple elegance of the device, long cylindrical, with large sections of the outer shell torn away by the speeds at which it travelled, not to mention the rip-roaring heat and wind caused by Rei's missed shots. Many times he had seen such objects fly through the air, almost innumerate times in fact, yet as the missile approached he could only remember once where the missile was as scary as it was at that moment. All but one other time the sight of the device failed to even make the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, although he knew that was because every other time he had hundreds of plates of armour and an AT-field between him and the offending weapon. Also, this was the first time the missile was pointing directly at him. Still the missile was now mere metres from his position, he couldn't help but remember the last time he stood in the street and a missile flew over head, he also noticed that he was standing in almost the exact same spot. He looked down at his feet, at the same sneakers and the same black trousers, then back up.
-
"I'll be there to pick you up, Misato… she works for my father?"
Shinji's eyes finally became level with the phone booth he had been stood at for the better part of half an hour, he had heard the sirens and seen the people scatter, but he didn't really know what he could do in such a situation. He certainly didn't want to inconvenience his father's well endowed subordinate by wandering off from his appointed pick-up spot. He looked around the street, up and down, noting the fact that he felt like he had stumbled into a sort of ghost-town, he glanced back at the picture then up at the sky. He stared for a couple of moments, as if staring up there would answer some of the questions that plagued his mind. Although, like many boys his age, he wished that his thoughts lay with the attractive woman coming to pick him up, they were instead of his father, the man who abandoned him. The man who never showed emotion. His mind was unfortunately dragged away from such thoughts by the eerie sound of thunder quickly approaching him. For a second or two he tried to scan the sky for the source of the sound, when he finally found it, it was already in the sky less than twenty metres above his head. It shot past him and along the street, he brought his hands down from his ears and scanned the road once more, this time however, he was not alone. He glanced down the street and saw a figure watching him, a strange solitary figure of a school girl, with short blue hair and pale skin. But he was once again forced to cower as the missile impacted a nearby object, when he finally opened his eyes again, the girl was gone and he heard more terrible thunder. So almost calmly he turned around to address the source of the rhythmic thunder that beat down on the ground less than a mile away. This was the sound of Sachiel, the third angel.
"What the…"
'This isn't my day.'
He then watched as another missile was fired at the behemoth before him, it flew towards it and bounced harmlessly off the creature's surface. The slight glow coming from it's skin before the explosion even erupted was barely noticed the first time, but this second time seeing the moment, Shinji saw the glow of the angel's soul, it's AT-field.
'An AT-field…'
-
"Ikari… Shinji…?"
Evangelion unit 00 had positioned itself at the edge of the crater that once called itself area D-4, looking down the monster got a full view of the city below, far far below. Looking up at the thick layer of ground between her position and the complex below, she noted the fact that exploding angels merely dented the armour, going only a few dozen metres down. Yet this single explosion, this single non-nuclear blast managed to cut straight through the armour, straight down into the Geofront itself, leaving the scarring fires to deal with the already dying vegetation. The ground gave way a little, forcing the giant creature to take a step back, but it still managed to watch the debris fall the hundreds of metres to the land below. It seemed to take forever to land, the rocks, they split and collided as they fell before they finally echoed a crash on the ground below, sending shockwaves as far as Central Dogma. From within the entry-plug the silent soldier, Rei Ayanami watched. Waited, waiting for a sign of life from her comrade, her friend Shinji Ikari. But that was not to be, she knew it was a fool's hope yet still she remained, her closed emotions beginning to seep through her barriers until she was on the brink of crying.
-
"Where… where is Shinji?"
The all-but distraught Commander of Operations asked her staff quietly, it was already obvious that only one man knew of Shinji's whereabouts, the one man you never asked a question without some fear or dread. But staring up at his throne, suddenly he didn't appear so invincible anymore, he wasn't all-knowing or all-powerful, he was alone. He was slouching in his chair, although she couldn't be sure, the distraught major was sure that he was shaking. This thought was compounded by the look on the sub-commander's face, he was terrified by the actions of the commander, whatever was happening, Commander Ikari was truly upset. Misato quickly turned around and looked at the techs.
"I want to know the location of the third child, NOW!"
"Ma'am!"
The techs quickly began their buzzing and flying around the control centre, contacting intelligence and anyone else who might be able to find the third child.
-
'So… warm…'
'Very warm…'
"HOT! HOT!"
Shinji opened his eyes and saw that around him was clouds and blue sky, that and several lines of smoke coming from his smouldering clothes. He quickly removed his jacket and threw it away, looking around and checking that he wasn't on fire from anywhere else. Once totally satisfied with the situation of his combustion, he turned his attention to his surroundings. Clouds. Sky. Dust. Smoke. Tokyo-3.
'Hmmm, never seen Tokyo 3 from this angle before.'
"ARGH!"
Shinji quickly flipped in mid-air, suddenly feeling the air around him pushing him upwards, or at least, it felt like it was pushing him upwards. It didn't take him long to realise that he was falling, falling quickly.
'Okay Ikari, what have you gotten yourself into this time.'
Feeling a strange calm, Shinji flipped himself and began falling back first. He arranged himself into a seated position with his legs crossed. He figured at the height he was at, he would have at least a minute or so before things got interesting.
'So why am I this high?'
"I was blown up."
'What was I blown up by?'
"An N2 mine."
'How did I survive?'
"Better question, how did I not get shot?"
'Erm… I don't know… Luck?'
"I'm not that lucky, it must have been something else…"
'AT-field?'
"Nah… angel's have AT fields, not humans! I couldn't create an AT field even if I wanted to…"
'Debris!'
"What? AH!"
Shinji spotted a large piece of debris heading towards him, obviously launched higher than him but more streamlined so it was falling much faster. He tried to move but lost his balance, in the final seconds he held out his hand and waited. He waited for that moment when his body would shatter, waiting. Waiting. He was getting pretty bored of waiting when he opened his eyes, but was confused when the debris was floating before him several inches away, on the other side of an octagonal field.
"Hmmmm…"
-
Rei
"…"
Rei are you receiving?
"…Ikari…"
Rei, answer me!
"Shinji…"
REI!
Rei jumped in her seat, all around her the city defences began to shut down, the N2 mines had stopped falling from the sky but she still couldn't feel at ease. Because she had seen it, she had seen Shinji go up in a spectacular glow of light and now, all that remained was the crater. She watched the tears float through the LCL, but not mixing with it, she continued to ignore the orders flying through the radio. She felt so many emotions that she couldn't understand how to react to them, but there was one. A single flame of passion in the back of her mind, the type that made her want to hit out and destroy those that had taken away her friend, her Shinji. Before she knew what was happening she saw a small cloud of red out of the corner of her right eye. When she turned she saw her own arm outstretched against the side of the plug and small streams of red were pouring through the tears in the glove section. It took her a moment to understand the relief this gave her and in her mind she remembered the times people had slammed tables, punched walls, destroyed rocks and attacked military commanders because of this emotion. With out warning her eyes went forward and a flurry of particle cannon blasts cut through the air over the unfamiliar sounds of Rei screaming in her entry plug. By the time she finished Unit 00 was on the floor, head against the ground and the particle cannon was an arm's length (20 or so metres) away. Several small buildings crumbled as Unit 00 beat against the ground.
-
"Get me readings on Unit 00's mental status…"
"Don't bother, it's just Rei…"
Ritsuko was stood, her order was only half uttered, as if just a precaution but Misato's sombre counter stopped Maya in her tracks. No one blamed the young girl, they were surprised by the outburst but they understood it, but really when the Commander was reduced to a huddled mess, was the First Child's sorrow really so surprising? Misato slowly moved over to Maya and Ritsuko slowly followed, while they grouped together there were several small whispers heard by the male techs.
"What is Unit 01's status?"
"It went crazy a few moments ago then very calm, we're detecting a steadily increasing synchronization. I can't confirm the source."
"Does that mean…?"
"It could do Major, but I don't understand how he could have survived."
-
"Okay 'Invincible Shinji', let's prove everyone right…"
'At the speed I'm going I'll be at the surface in 10 seconds, then another 10 until I hit the bottom of the Geofront.'
Shinji was now falling feet first, with his arms up using the remains of his shirt to slow him down as he descended. His brown hair bellowed in the air and his yellow eyes focused solely on the goal. He continued to descend and caught a single image out of the corner of his eye, he had already seen Rei convulsing on the ground and managed to avoid the barrage of particle blasts, this was something different. On the horizon three figures stood, shrouded in capes the Evangelion sized creatures were undoubtedly enemies. But he lost sight of them as he passed the armour layers.
-
"M…m…m…Major?"
"What is it Hyuuga?"
"Ma'am, detecting three angel sized objects moving into Tokyo-3 from the West, they're approach was masked by the N2 barrage."
"Angels?"
With a few very quick clicks from Maya, the cutest tech turned to the Major with fear.
"Magi give a 99.9 chance that the three are in fact Evas…"
"Evas?"
"Yes Ma'am, we aren't receiving serial telemetry but we are certainly reading human type blood."
"Tell Rei to…"
Before Misato could finish her order there was a loud bang, everyone turned to see the Commander's chair several feet behind, his hands slammed on the table and his face the most serious they had ever seen.
"REI! You are to destroy those three targets by any means necessary!"
Yes… Commander.
The members of the Commander staff were not sure which was scarier, the Commander's over animated hatred of the targets, or Rei's cool, collected response to the order. While they were used to simple unquestioning loyalty, this Rei was more like a cold-blooded killer out for her next meal. The rest of the staff turned to the screen as Fuyutsuki placed his hand on Gendo's shoulder.
"Is that wise… the committee…"
The sub-commander was cut off entirely when Gendo's head tilted and a single red eye appeared from behind the tinted sunglasses.
"Ikari…?"
-
"OW! GODDAMMIT!"
Shinji lay on his back, a few bruises and cuts had accumulated on his body as he rolled down the side of the crater within the Geofront, his speed as he hit the ground, although greatly reduced due to his AT field, was still not enough to let him land perfectly. He quickly noted that he should be a lot more hurt after such a fall, but he chalked that up to his subconscious AT field kicking in. He couldn't lie there for long, he sensed the approaching enemy and he couldn't let Rei do it alone.
"I may not be a knight in shining armour… but I am a warrior… I protect."
With that he was gone, half limping up the crater towards the pyramid that was Central Dogma, his steps were like a series of long jumps as he launched himself towards his sword, his eva.
-
Unit 00 reacquired the particle rifle from the ground, it was fully charged. She pointed it at the centre of the three figures. With a merciless click the rifle fired a beam directly at the first Eva. Unfortunately with a single flash the blast deflected off three combined AT fields, and away into the distance. The cloak was blown off the first Eva, revealing the deep brown armour underneath. It steps forwards with no long range weapons but does seem to wield a large progressive sword. The other two Evas stand well back, they stand perfectly still, unflinching they too have no visible long range weapons. Normally the anxiety of the situation would have Rei breathing heavily and focussing on the enemy ahead with the correct proportions of bravery and fear, as to not damage the Eva. But in this case she was focused purely on the enemy ahead, her heart and breathing synchronised with the pulsating of LCL around the Eva. The enemy was ready to attack, Rei was ready to counter.
-
"Rei's just broken all of her synchronisation records."
"Holy…"
"Rei, destroy the enemy! Stop at nothing until they are totally destroyed!"
Yes… Sir…
Unit 00 was off with a start, dropping the rifle and leaping into the air with an extra boost from its AT field, the evangelion cleared the crater and landed in a sprint. Shinji had glanced up to see the colossus jumping the hole, as he saw it he increased his pace towards terminal dogma. Rei continued running towards the enemy, tower blocks crumbled as she ran, her approach to the first eva provoked little response. She saw a single hand gesture to the remaining, still shrouded units, and they stopped in place. With the progressive sword held in position the first eva made its advance on Unit 00, the sword held down to resemble 5 o'clock from Rei's perspective. Assuming the Eva would bring the blade over it's left shoulder and perform a downward slice, Rei brought Unit 00's progressive knife out and held it out before her. As she got within range of the Eva the sword came down, Rei dived into a roll to the left, avoiding the blade that then buried itself into the floor. Coming out of the roll, Rei launched the knife at the enemy, taking off a large chunk of the Eva's left arm armour and some flesh. Rei watched as the panel reading 'Unit 06' hit the floor, her adversary removed its sword from the ground and took a similar stance to before, facing Unit 00. Rei brought up her second progressive knife holding it out before her she watched as the head of Unit 06 moved towards the other two Evas and in the command centre the command staff saw a small flashing.
"They're using laser communications!"
They're coming.
-
Shinji's jumping had quickly given way to hobbling, before he could move around the walls of central dogma and get to an entrance he had collapsed. He lay on the floor, he sat for a several seconds with his back to the wall before he brought his fist up. With an almighty yell he brought his fist back into the wall, punching a small hole in it. He rolled over onto his knees, hands either side of the hole and he felt the pain surge from his right knee to his hip. But his red eyes quickly shifted back into yellow as he stared into the building. He knew he could sense Unit 01, he knew his mother was down there, waiting for him.
"Mother, mother I need you…"
-
"What's Rei's status?"
"She's doing well all things considering, but the three enemy evas have surrounded her! The one we recognise as Unit 06 is still engaging her while the other two watch, we have detected some movement in the second cloaked unit, but we are still unsure about its identity."
Maya looked back to Misato and Ritsuko, in turn they then looked up to the commander, he had both palms on the desk and seemed to be focussing on the screen with a fierce fervour. There was a large snapping sound, the crew saw several items leave the table and Fuyutsuki looking incredibly shocked. Gendo removed his red raw hands from the table and looked at the screen once more.
"Rei, engage all targets."
Sir…
Misato and Ritsuko then turned to Maya, leaning over her shoulder they then watch the screen before her.
"Maya, any more readings from Unit 01?"
"Ma'am, just a steady increase until not too long ago, then a small spike. I believe Shinji is still alive but…"
"Can I ask you ladies what is so interesting at Lt. Ibuki's station?"
The women all jumped and looked up at the Commander, he was glaring down at them with the corner of his eye, his face and body still facing the central view screen. After a few shocked seconds Misato began to stutter…
"It's just telemetry of…"
"Well?"
Before any of the women could answer there was a large beeping sound, a shocked Maya turned and looked at the screen with a squeal. Before she could gain her senses she began to relay the otherwise secret information to the entire room.
"Unit 01's synchronisation has just spiked! It's still increasing, past borderline into activation mode! In fact, it's still going! And we're detecting movement from the Eva itself!"
"What?"
Misato, Ritsuko, Fuyutsuki and Gendo all yelled at once.
-
Evangelion Unit 01 broke free of all its restraints, its arms pushed the umbilical bridge back and it tore through the other restraints. It began to wade through the liquid before climbing out of the liquid it was stored in, it then burst through a wall to ascend from the depths of Central dogma. Its mouth hung open slightly as it, almost carefully, climbed through the various tunnels and corridors it created.
-
While the Geofront marvelled, Rei was on her own. The enemy Eva had gained the upper hand, fighting with increased skill and precision than before, she had already lost her second progressive knife and had sustained some minor armour damage. It became immediately obvious that Rei, even with her increased focus, was no match for this adversary. In a momentary last ditch effort she ran at her enemy, only to be picked up and flipped onto her back. She lay on the floor for a moment before the progressive sword pinned her shoulder to the floor. She squealed in pain and watched as the enemy towered over her, for a few brief moments she seemed to just float in the LCL of the entry plug. She just lay there, the blood slowly pouring from her shoulder, she wanted to move, to fight but she just seemed to lose all feeling in her body.
'I must be dying… which is fine… I cannot live without Ikari…'
She watched the monstrosity lurch over her but in a final moment she watched Unit 06 turn to one of its colleagues and a single radio transmission was heard.
Leave her, she's mine.
-
Misato tried her hardest to focus, she had people shouting on all sides, not to mention Rei pinned and Unit 01 moving on its own. Unit 01 appeared to take a detour to the armoury and picked up an experimental Anti-AT Buster Sword, a sword much bigger than a typical progressive blade. It then made its way to the surface and tore through the outer edge of the pyramid. She pulled her eyes from the internal warnings to the battle above only to see something she wished she hadn't. Rei was down and Unit 06 moved away, the second Eva unit moved towards Rei, still shrouded and stood above her. It hovered for a few seconds above Unit 00, its movements indicating that it was taking in the eva's situation, enjoying the pain it felt. After a few moments, a bright red arm moved out and grabbed the hilt of the progressive sword, holding it up in the air, Unit 00 dangling from its wound. With a free arm the shroud was removed and the bright red monster known as Unit 02 stood facing the blue and white unit 00.
Now wondergirl, it's time for you to disappear…
"Pilot Soryu… wait… why…?"
Asuka!
Quiet Misato! I don't have time for you.
Wait Asuka, why are you doing this? What…
Rei was beginning to lose consciousness, the flesh in the Eva's shoulder was tearing each second she remained suspended. Things began going black and she knew she was going to die.
'Goodbye… Shinji…'
'Where are you going?'
"Shinji?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Author note : I am so crap, it has taken me god knows how long to keep this going! It started so well with a chapter every few days, then weeks, then months! As it stands its about 18 months from when I started, I now know for certain where the story is going and even have plans for sequels. I just need to finish this! I'm pretty sure it'll be done within another 2 chapters and as I'm in university exam period (for Physics… groan…) I'll be searching for anything to distract me! So watch this space!
Waya