Chapter 0:9
Rise of the Archangel of Death
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
- Book of Revelations Chapter 6 Verse 8
Shinji walked into Misato's office and silently moved to sit across from her at her desk. "How's our girl?" Misato asked, turning to her roommate.
"She's still a bit shook up, but she's seems like she'll be ok," Shinji said absentmindedly rubbing his knuckle, "We got there in time to stop him from doing anything … permanent."
"Ok, Shinji, out with it, you've been hiding something since you returned, who is 'we'?" Misato asked in her commanding tone, "You know more then you letting on, so spit it out, Shinji. If I can help it, it won't leave this room, so please, talk to me."
"S-01," Shinji nodded unsurely, "I can't explain it. She doesn't remember what happened or why we are connected either."
"She?"
"My Evangelion is a female, quite flirty too." Shinji blushed slightly, before shaking it off, "That's how I knew Asuka was being attacked. She had an open view to the Commander's office."
"So … your Eva warned you," Misato nodded, eyeing Shinji strangely.
"I know it sounds insane, but can you come up with a better explanation?" Shinji sighed, sitting back against the cushioned chair, "I should be as freaked as you look, Misato, but I trust her."
"I guess I should be surprised," Misato blinked before giving a small smile, "but I'm kind of not. I would have been surprised if I hadn't seen Unit 01 move on its own and save you from falling debris."
"So you don't think I'm insane?" Shinji asked hopefully.
"Insane?" Misato grinned, "Sweetie, there isn't a sane soul working in this damn place!"
A beep came from Misato desk drawing both their attention, "Katsuragi here."
"Misato, just finished checking over Asuka," Ritsuko's voice stated.
"Is she ok?" Shinji asked nervously.
"She seems like she's ok, and anxious to go home," Ritsuko replied, "She's even asking for you, Shinji. You can come and walk her home, but keep a close watch on her. And Misato, Vice-Commander Fuyutski wants to speak to you ASAP."
"Right, Shinji's on his way to pick up Asuka, and tell the Vice-Commander I'm on my way." Misato said before cutting off the comlink. The dark-haired woman then glanced at Shinji suggestively, "Well, what are you waiting for, Mr. Knight in Shining Living Armor, go get your damsel in distress."
Shinji shook his head, "You never change, Misato," He said before exiting the office.
----
Shinji walked with Ritsuko toward a private room in the medical wing of NERV Headquarters, "Now she may be a bit withdrawn and depressed for a while, that usually comes with her situation, but I know you and Misato both will be there for her and she should be back to normal in no time."
"Thanks, Ritsuko, I'll be sure to be there for her when she needs me," he said then blushed crimson, "I mean as a friend and all and …"
"I understand, Shinji," Ritsuko chuckled, "Now here we are, you can go on in, she's already dressed and waiting."
Shinji nodded and entered the room, a moment later felt intense pain flood his body and he dropped to the ground gripping his crotch. "Oh shit …"
"Oh shit is right, Baka, you … you BAKA!" The redheaded German screamed, kicking him again, "I didn't need the Invincible, Unkillable Shinji to come to my rescue, I had the bastard right where I wanted him and was about to kick his own ass when you and that stupid shit-can of yours busted in! I didn't and I don't need you, if you ever try to save me again, so help me I'll tear your balls off and shove them down you goddamn throat!"
Shinji was in too much pain to form a coherent response and just rolled on the ground, curled in a ball, and moaning in pain, "Oh get over yourself, Baka, its not like its big enough to really be hurt. Now get your sorry butt up and so we can get out of here."
Asuka pulled him off the ground and drug him out of the hospital wing.
---
Gendo awoke in a holding cell in the heart of Nerve Headquarters.
"It took you long enough," a voice from the shadow said, as the injured man sat up slowly.
"Do forgive me, I'm not as perfect as an Archangel," Gendo said as a man stepped out of the shadows. He was wearing a red and black three-piece suit and tie, and dark sunglasses, and his jet-black hair was slicked back and he had a dark trimmed goatee.
"It doesn't matter, everything is still on schedule," the man smirked.
"Are the Angels finally back on schedule?" Gendo asked.
"Indeed," the man replied, "Arael should begin his attack in three days." The man's smirk faded, "We did our part, do you believe the Thirteenth Archangel will be controllable now?"
"When the girl falls, his rage will be easily released and I'm sure you know how to control rage, Lucifer," Gendo stated.
"I put my faith in you humans one time before, and you failed me then," the dark lord stated with narrowed eyes, "The power of death must be mine."
"You're both fools," Kaworu said, approaching the cell.
"Tabris! It has been a long time, old friend," Lucifer smiled, "I see you left the choir too."
"You won't win, you can't win," Kaworu said, his red eyes glaring at the two.
"I will win!" Lucifer barked, "We've already done enough to break the boy down, and your friend will finish the process."
"You've only sealed your own tomb," Kaworu smirked, "You underestimate the power of the human spirit."
"Have I?" Lucifer questioned, "Look at you, striking down at these mud-balls, and knowing what your brother Arael is going to do, and you say I underestimate their power? I don't underestimate it. I plan to use it!"
"It certainly helped last time, didn't it LITTLE brother," Kaworu said turning his back, "Do what you will, but don't say I didn't warn you."
"You know you're going to die, don't you?" Lucifer asked knowingly.
"I will do what I am meant to do," Kaworu said looking back over his shoulder before leaving.
"So how much longer til Instrumentality and I will be with my Yui again?" Gendo asked glancing back where Lucifer stood, only to find himself alone again, "Damn Angels."
----
"Finally," Asuka said grumpily as they entered the apartment, "I'm going to bed, Baka, don't worry about my dinner, I'm not hungry. Night!" she snapped quickly and stomped toward her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"Night then …" Shinji said, his voice still a bit higher then usual.
Asuka entered her room, and as soon as the door slammed, she immediately pressed her back to it and let her shoulders and neck go limp as she slid down to the floor, releasing the tears she'd been holding back since the hospital wing. "Damn it …" She cursed as she clenched her fists.
"I'm home!" came Misato's cheerful voice from the other side of the thin walls.
"She seems happy," Asuka whispered as she listened. Silently praying the bastard that attacked her didn't get away like he did with trying to attack Rei a year earlier.
"Coming home drunk, that's a new one," Asuka heard Shinji tease, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"I am not drunk thank you, Pilot Ikari," Misato said in a mock commanding tone. "You should speak to the new Commander of NERV with more respect then that, Pilot!"
"WHAT?!?" Asuka and Shinji cried in unison, before Shinji continued, "Commander? What about Mr. Fuyutsuki? Isn't he next in line, and what about father, even after that, I mean … why?"
"What, Shinji?" Misato said in an almost hurt voice, "Don't believe I'd make a good commander?"
"N-No, it's not that …r-really! It's just … just …" Shinji shook his head, "What the hell's going on?"
"You're father isn't getting out of this one, Shinji, Ritsuko said your 'girlfriend' sent that video evidence straight to every monitor in every United Nations building in the world." Misato said, making Asuka pale at the 'girlfriend' comment, "He's up the river without a paddle, boat, or lifejacket, and Rei and me both are going to press charges too. He's done, and as for why Fuyutsuki's not taking the command position. He don't want it, and said I was his choice for Commander on a trial period."
"Congratulations, Commander Katsuragi," Shinji mocked saluted.
"And my first act as Commander, I shall prepare a celebration feast personally!" Misato chimed.
Shinji jumped up and Asuka swung open her door to glare at and they both screamed in unison: "NO!"
"Oh … O-ok …" Misato responded sheepishly while blushing more then a bit.
---
Three days passed, and Asuka seemed to recover quickly, though Misato and Shinji could both see in her eyes she still had a way to go even if she didn't admit to it.
Misato stood in the command center watching Maya nervously doing her old job. The Pilots were currently finishing a synch test. "How are they doing?" Misato asked the acting field commander.
"Rei and Kaworu are both tied at 79.83%." Maya informed looking at the monitors. "Shinji appears to be learning to fight the higher synch ratio and has dropped it down to 693.3%. He really is trying to learn to not over do it. As for Asuka … it took her fifteen minutes just to pass barrier and maxed out at 39.2%."
"Considering what happened to her, are you surprised?" Misato asked sadly.
"I'm surprised she passed barrier actually," Ritsuko spoke up. "She'd probably do better if she wasn't so stubborn and accepted help."
"Commander, we have an Angel!" Aoba barked from his station as the alarm sounded.
"An Angel?" Misato blinked, "Have they finally came back? Funny, after those Archangels, regular Angels don't seem so bad anymore."
"What's its status?" Maya and Misato asked in unison.
"Seems to be a flying type, it's appeared in orbit and hasn't moved since. Satellites picked it up," Aoba informed.
"05 will be under repairs for another thirty minutes, and S-01 is still locked down. Rei, Asuka, this one's up to you! Insert Shinji in S-01 just in case." Maya ordered, as the plugs were lowered into the Evangelions.
"Set the recorder for the 15th Angel Battle." Misato ordered and sat down in the command chair with a strange sense of dread growing inside her.
---
"Target still outside firing range," Asuka heard Shigeru say over the Com system.
"Oh hurry up, come here, you lazy Angel!" Asuka cursed as Unit 02 kept the long-range rifle on the distant speck of light in the sky. "Your laziness is getting on my nerves!"
Suddenly a bright light shot from the angel and shined around Asuka's Evangelion and the surrounding area. "What the … AH!" Asuka gasped as sharp pain shot between her temples.
"The enemy's directional weapon?" Misato asked approaching Maya's side.
"No, no thermal energy detected," Shigeru said scanning the light for energy.
"Abnormal patterns in Psychograph," Ritsuko said in her officially tone. "Mental contamination will start soon…"
Asuka gripped her head and began to scream as her Evangelion responded by firing the rifle randomly until it ran out of ammo.
"Asuka retreat!" Misato ordered, but got no response. "How is she?" she asked turning to the command crew.
"Situation critical!" one of the officers said nervously, "Mental contamination has passed borderline!"
"WHAT THE HELL'S HAPPENING TO HER?" Shinji screamed, popping up on the screen.
"Shinji, calm down!" Misato snapped, before turning back to the officers.
Shinji tried to do as ordered but then Asuka began saying more then simple screams, "No! Stay out! Don't enter into me!"
"Asuka …" Shinji said through gritted teeth, and S-01's powered down fists clenched.
"Misato, after Father she can't handle this! Get her out!" Shinji yelled.
"I KNOW!" Misato screamed in response.
"It's … it's raping my mind!!" Asuka cried, and Shinji and the bridge crew could see her tear streaked face as she curled into a ball in the Entry Plug.
"Misato, if you're not going to help her, I will!" Shinji stated in a tone of voice that would make his own father stand and listen.
"You will not, you will remain where you are!" Misato replied. She then turned to Shigeru, "increase the restraints on S-01 and seal off the cage, lock down the Eva systems and increase pressure in the plug if you have too. If S-01 went berserk it would be worse then any Angel or Archangel!"
"Eva is locked down with 4000 ton weights, all entries and exits to the cage is locked down," Shigeru yelled over Asuka's screams. "Shit, the Antimatter claws are activated, HE'S CUTTING HIMSELF OUT!"
"Override his controls!" Misato barked.
"Sir," Shigeru nodded, but a moment later, sat back. "Oh that's nice."
"What?" Misato asked and saw the monitor, all readings were gone, and the screen only had the symbols 'iIii iiIi' filled the screens.
Rei fired her rifle futilely at the distant Angel, but it was far out of range, when suddenly the elevator hatch Unit 00 was standing was split open by a glowing claw that shot up right beside the blue bio-machine's foot. Rei watched in awe as Unit S-01 with a mighty roar tore itself from the incredibly thick reinforced covers as if it was a paper wall.
The Super Evangelion let out a feral growl before spreading all six wings and rocketing into the air toward the bright light.
Asuka cried out and her and her Evangelion both writhed around in pain as the Angel attacked her mind, She was so blinded from the pain she didn't feel the pair of hands grabbing under Unit 02's arms and lift it up off the ground, she had no idea what was going on until the Evangelion was thrown from the light and hit the unlit ground roughly.
Asuka laid in her seat breathing roughly, before finally opening her eyes, and what she saw was worse then what the Angel was making her remember, "Oh no …" Unit S-01 gripped its own head, leaning forward, and its wings flared out as if it was in intense pain. "SHINJI!" Asuka called, gripping Unit 02's controls, but the Evangelion refused to function. "Get up, you stupid piece of scheißen! GET UP!!"
Inside the Entry Plug Shinji whole body was flexed outward, as his eyes were clamped shut and he bit his bottom lip to the point blood now flowed into the LCL. Suddenly the pain stopped, and his entire body relaxed as memories flooded his mind and the sound of his own heartbeat filled his ears.
"I'm Asuka Langley Sohryu, charmed I'm sure."
Thump-thump
"This is Evangelion."
Thump-thump
"Don't leave me, Papa!"
Thump-thump
"It … looks like it's been … dismantled …"
Thump-Thump
"I thought only Evangelions could fight Angels, Misato?"
Thump-thump
"Just I feel like something bad is going to happen soon."
Thump-thump
"Thanks for everything, Misato,"
Thump-thump
"My name cannot be pronounced by your mortal tongue, Pilot Ikari, but I believe I am known on your world as Lucifer."
Thump-thump
"Join me, and I will make it so you will never suffer loneliness again, my young friend,"
Thump-thump
"NO YOU BASTARD!! Let him go! He's a weakling! Fight someone who can fight back! LEAVE MY BAKA ALONE!!!"
Thump-thump
"No, please God, not Shinji too, please God no …"
Thump-thump
"You … M-Misato … and Rei … take care of … each other … and … p-please don't forget me..."
Thump-thump
"Asuka, you're my best friend."
Shinji let out a loud scream as the memory of the intense pain returned to his mind. Then he remembered waking up, in a strange LCL filled tank. He remembered looking around, seeing two similar Evangelions, one heavily damaged and another being repaired. Then he saw a table, a boy strapped down. He was horribly mangled, but then … he saw his face.
"Oh God …" Shinji gripped his face to the point his fingernails cut into his face.
More memories returned.
"Who are you?"
"I am … Shinji Ikari …"
PAIN
"Wrong. Who are you?"
"I am … Shinji Ikari …"
PAIN
"Again, who are you? Answer right this time …"
Shinji's memories were interrupted by Misato's frantic voice, "Shinji! What's happening?"
Shinji glanced up with cold eyes, and all watching gasped as the Super Evangelion appeared to change shape. Its colors began to fade till it was entirely a pale white color, and its angelic wings shifted and changed till they were demonic bat-like wings.
"Shinji Ikari is dead." Shinji said in a cold voice as the Archangel alarm sounded in the Command Center.
To Be Continued …