Chapter 0:10
Remember Who You Are
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.
(Memories are just where you laid them)
The pale Evangelion S-01 opened its mouth, baring sharp fangs before it let out an evil roar. It spread its six wings and took to the air, traveling up the beam of light as fast as it could.
(Drag the waters 'till the depths give up their dead
What did you expect to find?)
"It … It can't be true …" Misato shook her head, angrily wiping away her tears.
"I don't know how, but Shinji and his Eva both appear to be a two-part Archangel," Ritsuko stammered, not believing her eyes either. She then glanced up at Misato, "Commander Katsuragi, you do know the mission of NERV is to exterminate the threat of both the Angels and Archangels."
Misato looked away from her crew, then back at the monitor showing the Evangelion flying toward the Angel. "Shinji …"
(Was there something you left behind?
Don't you remember anything I said when I said?)
S-01 passed into orbit toward the seemingly surprised Angel and before the bright winged object could react, the Evangelion sunk its claws into the invader.
(Don't fall away, and leave me to myself
Don't fall away and leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands again)
The Command Center switched to satellite cameras and the sight in space made Maya grab the nearest trashcan and shove her face into it.
Where the Angel once was there was only a large cloud of red.
(Leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands
Love lies bleeding)
"In-Incoming Archangel!" Shigeru stated, as the now coated in blood S-01 landed back where it took off. The demonic monster turned its glowing snake-like eyes on Rei's Unit 00, and with a voice not unlike his father's, Shinji softly spoke, "All Angels must be destroyed."
S-01 stomped toward the Evangelion, when Unit 05 came from nowhere and tackled Shinji into a building. "Shinji, this isn't you, don't let him manipulate you!" Kaworu shouted desperately, "Remember who you are!"
(Oh hold me now I feel contagious)
"Angels must all be destroyed," Shinji growled, making S-01 claw the smiling Unit 05's face.
"You are Shinji Ikari, Pilot of Unit 01 and S-01," Kaworu shouted, turning back to try to restrain the Super Evangelion. "You live with Misato Katsuragi and Asuka Langley Sohryu, you hate fighting, Remember who you are! Remember!"
(Am I the only place that you've left to go?)
S-01 let out a feral growl as it gripped Kaworu's Evangelion's shoulders painfully. "I know who I am," Shinji said with a dark smile, "I am Death." With that pale Evangelion tore Unit 01 down the middle as if it was a paper doll.
"Plug status green, Unit 05's Pilot's ok … thank God …" Shigeru sighed, as they watched the nightmare on the monitors, none noticing the alarm of an escape in the holding brig.
S-01 turned back to its original target, when two red armored arms grabbed under his arms and on across its shoulders in a shoulder lock.
(She cries her life is like
Some movie black and white)
S-01 grabbed an arm and flipped Unit 02 over its shoulder and slammed its back into a building. Before Asuka could react, Shinji had S-01's glowing claws rapped around Unit 02's neck, making the armor slowly bubble.
Asuka fought for breath as she looked down into the Super Evangelion's glowing eyes. What Shinji had told her before quickly came back to her mind. "If I lose it again, Asuka, I want you to stop me, stop me before I hurt anyone else."
(Dead actors faking lines)
"Shinji, stop it," Asuka coughed out, remember what Kaworu appeared to be doing, "You going to take the easy way out like this? Lazy Baka."
(Over and over and over again she cries
Don't fall away, and leave me to myself
Don't fall away, and leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands again
Leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands
Love lies bleeding)
"You're right, you're not Shinji," Asuka hissed, as the Super Evangelion's grip loosened slightly, "My Baka is a lot of things, but he's not a quitter, He's so stupid he can't even die right, no matter what he keeps coming back, if you are Death you probably have as much a headache from him as I always had!"
(And I wanted)
"My loser would fight futilely to best me, never would but he never stopped, and that kept me from stopping," Asuka said fiercely, not paying attention to the tears that were leaking from her eyes into the LCL as Unit 02 brought its hand up to cup the side of the raging S-01's face. The Super Evangelion's grip loosened some more and it appeared to be trembling.
(You turned away)
"This is pathetic," Asuka tried to growl but it came out more as a mumble. And went on to whisper sadly, "I want my Shinji back, who else is going to put up with me?"
"Asuka?" Shinji's tumbling voice sounded, and Unit S-01 began to revert to its original state before collapsing into Unit 02's arms.
"Welcome back, Idiot," Asuka smiled relaxing in the seat, feeling the feedback from the trembling Evangelion clutching to her Eva's chest.
Meanwhile, Rei watched with quiet discontent at the scene, when a pirate broadcast broke in on her communications channel. She gasped as her former Commander's face appeared before her. "Here is your chance to make him pay for Kensuke, Rei."
(You don't remember)
"What?" Rei blinked, the temptation growing. Shinji was helpless, and Asuka was pinned down by the larger Eva to do anything to save him.
"You will be a hero, he's a monster impersonating your old friend," Gendo explained, glancing over his shoulder every so often. "Do what you feel you should."
Rei watched the scene for a few more seconds, before a dark smile crossed her lips.
(But I do)
Asuka's eyes snapped open when she felt their Evas jerk. She looked up and saw Unit 00's hand ripping into the prone back of Unit S-01. "REI, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?" Asuka shouted.
"My job," she stated emotionlessly as she pulled back with S-01's Entry Plug in her hand.
(You never even tried)
"Rei, stop it!" Asuka yelled, trying to stand up, but between S-01 and 00's foot on its back, Asuka was pinned down. The flustered German turned to her communications terminal, "Misato, this is Shinji! Make her stop!"
"It was a trick, Asuka," Misato said with a trembling voice, "He's probably trying to trick you now. We were foolish to think he could come back from what happened." Asuka's lungs and heart felt as if they were standing still before Misato spoke again, "Our job, Captain Sohryu is to stop all Angels and Archangels from endangering human life and property. Pilot Ayanami, finish the Archangel."
(Don't fall away and leave me to myself
Don't fall away and leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands again)
Asuka's eyes widened in terror as the blue fist slowly increased pressure on the Entry Plug it was grasping. "No, not again, please not again …" Asuka prayed, unable close or take her eyes off the plug that was now starting to leak LCL through the Evangelion's fingers.
(Leave love bleeding
In my hands, in my hands)
Rei tried to finish it, but for some reason couldn't bring herself to completely crush the already crumpled Plug, "I'm sorry, Kensuke …" She said before dropping the Plug to the ground with a loud thud of metal hitting asphalt.
(Leave love bleeding …)
---
Asuka climbed out of her plug after it was finally ejected from Unit 02 and immediately shot toward where Rei was reporting to Misato. The blue-haired girl barely had time to glance Asuka's way before her jaw met Asuka's gloved fist. "ASUKA!" Misato gasped in scolding voice.
"Shut it, Bitch, you're next!" Asuka growled, glancing up at Misato, before punching at Rei again.
Asuka gasped as Rei caught her fist in her hand, then whipped her to the ground. And whatever look Rei expected to see on Asuka's face, her expression was far from it. Tears were threatening her eyes, her skin was pale, and her overall features shown nothing angst and anger. "Happy now?" Asuka snapped, taking the Rei by surprise. "You have your revenge! Shinji took your Kensuke, so now you took my Shinji, do you feel better? Do you think Kensuke is cheering about you doing this from wherever he is now?"
"I … I …" Rei stammered, not sure what to say.
"You … you … what? Answer the question you heartless doll!" Asuka growled climbing back to her feet.
"Asuka, the Archangel wasn't killed, badly injured but its alive," Misato stated, looking directly at the angered German.
"Misato! HE'S Shinji, not an Archangel! I know its really him, YOU know its really him, we've lived together since he came back, and you still say you don't believe that he's really our Shinji?" Asuka asked, gripping Misato's collar.
"I believed it was really Shinji too, but all scans …" Misato started, but the punch to the gut silenced her.
"Screw the scans, look into his eyes and tell me that's not him!" Asuka growled, as Misato signaled the security to back off. "You listened to him play his cello with me, as only Shinji could. You ate the food he cooked for us with me, and only Shinji could cook that good. They can't copy that much, no one can, it has to be him!"
"The Archangel has been moved to an undisclosed area of Central Dogma for observation, study and questioning," Misato said in a commanding voice. "Only authorized personnel are allowed access to him. That excludes the both of you. Excellent work in the battle." With that Misato started off.
"I'm moving out, Misato," Asuka stated coldly, feeling a faint sense of satisfaction when Misato stopped moving for a moment.
"As you wish, Asuka," Misato said softly, then started walking quickly back to the base.
---
"…Yet another unfamiliar ceiling …" Shinji groaned as he opened his eyes to a brightly lit ceiling.
He flexed his arms but they wouldn't budge, he looked down to find his waist, wrists and ankles strapped to the table with steel bands. "Um … this is new …"
"Thought you had me, didn't you, son?"
Shinji glanced to his left to see his father in civilian clothing stepping toward him, "Hello, Father."
"A great movie character once said, if you strike me down I will only become stronger," Gendo said with a smile, "As you can see … that is a fact."
"I wanted to thank you," Gendo said standing beside his tied down son, "I wanted to thank you for making my work that much easier. I no longer have to worry with NERV officials learning of my … extra activities. Now I am … well for lack of a better word … free. And it's all thanks to you."
"You wanted me to get angry enough to beat you up," Shinji said his eyes lighting up in realization, "You wanted me to catch you attacking Asuka, it was all planned out!"
"You've your mother's intelligence, impressive," Gendo lightly slapped the teen's cheek, "You were just as predictable as your creator said you would be."
Shinji looked away, "Oh I see, you finally remember what you are huh?" Gendo laughed, "Like the new Archangel body, son?"
"I'm not an Archangel … I'm not!" Shinji shook his head.
"You're right," Gendo turned his back, "You're just a cheap copy of an Archangel and a human, nothing more, nothing less."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I've work to do away from NERV headquarters," Gendo walked toward the door, "Enjoy your stay."
A moment later the door and security cameras beeped back on and his father had vanished.
Shinji sighed and looked back at the ceiling, "… At least it's a nice ceiling …"
---
"Thanks for helping on such short notice, Hikari, I hope I'm not intruding," Asuka said as the girls continued carrying boxes into Hikari's second floor guest room.
"You're always welcome here, Asuka," Hikari replied, sitting a box down, "you sure you won't tell me why you suddenly don't want to even hear the 'M' word?"
"You don't have to keep from saying the bitch's name, I know who you're talking about anyway," Asuka glared, "but I don't think I'm even allowed to tell you what happened."
"If you say so, Asuka-chan," Hikari shook her head, "Listen, here's the number where I'll be at, if you need me call me. If my parents call I'm in the shower or already asleep ok? They shouldn't be back till Monday so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Hey, isn't this the Stooge's number?" Asuka grinned at her best friend who turned a bright shade of red.
"Yeah, so? He is my boyfriend, and his best friend was killed in an accident not too long ago," Hikari replied hastily, "There won't be any sexual activity whatsoever, I'm just going to go be with him."
"Ahuh, sure, make sure to use protection," Asuka winked, before Hikari grabbed a random shirt from one of Asuka's boxes and threw it in her face.
"Whatever, I'm off, night Asuka!" Hikari said, exiting quickly.
Asuka chuckled pulling the shirt off her face, but her color faded when she noticed which shirt it was. Asuka held the button up shirt in both her trembling hands. "It's just not fair …"
Thump-thump-thumpShe had him back, he had came back to her. And now they took him away again. This time there was little or no chance to get him back.
Thump-thump-thump"What the hell is that?" Asuka asked glancing up and rubbing the tears from her eyes. It was coming from the balcony door, which was covered with a blind.
Thump-thump-thumpAsuka walked foreword and slowly opened the blind and jumped back when she saw what was making the noise.
"Shinji! You escaped!" She chimed, as she threw opened the door and ran out to the crouching Unit S-01.
She then watched as it leaned further forward and the Entry Plug rose from the seemingly repaired damaged back. But when the plug opened, an eerie feeling washed over Asuka, and she stood frozen on the spot. The Entry Plug was completely empty.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Asuka stuttered, backing away from the towering behemoth.
The Eva was silent for a moment and then …
"Help … Shinji …" The Eva growled, causing Asuka's eyes to widen as far as they could go.
To Be Continued …
Next Chapter: The Rescue
The Song in the first scene is Hemorrhage (In My Hands) by Fuel