02:22 – End of the Battle

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.

I managed no further sleep that night, remaining awake until dawn. Feeling that strange and unfamiliar sensation once again I arose from my futon, pausing momentarily to gather my clothing before returning to the food preparation area I had visited with the Second and Third Children yesterday in search of what I believe the lillum call 'breakfast'. As I walked I allowed my thoughts to wander, yet always in sufficient control to keep them from returning to my dream. As I walked inside the large room I was surprised to find many of the lillum already seated within, almost all eating. Perhaps they too had been robbed of their rest by their dreams, yet soon I realised how foolish that must sound, for them dreams were commonplace things, not something new and unsettling.

Shaking my head to clear away such foolish notions I walked over to where a large display case showed renditions of the dishes hat were available. Casting my eye across them I quickly disregarding those that contained meat, instead focusing on the ones that were referred to as being 'vegetarian'. After a few moments I decided upon a bowl of miso ramen and a portion of tofu. I approached the counter and placed my request with the female lillum standing behind the metal structure. She walked away for a moment, collecting my food before returning and handing it to me to place upon the 'tray', similar to the one that Ikari and Sohryu had suggested to me that I use yesterday.

Next I moved over to a large open metal structure, one whose interior was slightly cooled. Upon the horizontal segments assorted contains were placed, each containing various types of fluids. A number of these where coloured brightly and were decorated with strange designs. When I had asked Ikari about these he looked at me strangely for a moment, as if not understanding my question, before replying that they looked that way because the lillum who created them wished to attract attention to them, to convince other lillum to purchase them. That led of course to another question, regarding the lillum concept of money. I do not understand how they can exchange the altered flesh of a tree, or fragments of metal and make them equate to some form of meal.

However, there is no need for those things here, instead as I approach the place where the other female lillum stands, she takes my identity card from me, passing it along the side of the machine before her before handing it back to me. According to Ikari this is the same as using 'money', yet the value is taken automatically from our 'salary'. Sensing that questioning either of these things would simply arouse more confusion in him I kept silent, instead focusing on conversing. Now I am alone, there will be no conversing while I consume my meal. Before I came to this place that was the way it had always been, never before had it bothered me yet now I find myself missing their company. Instead I consoled myself with watching the other lilum eating, wondering what it was they were thinking.

Many of them sat in groups of two or more, talking openly about things I could not quite overhear, or more often topics I could not fully understand. Although we do not often see it the lillum are far more complex creatures than many of my brethren would believe, it is no wonder they have passed the tests so far. I still remember my brothers and sisters voicing their unrest at being sent to face such primitive beings, yet the creator had simply smiled at them, all knowing. In my time among them I have come to understand, that through their ability to act beyond the limits of their souls, by connecting with others of their kind, they are able to achieve things that even we Angels can only but dream.

I continued to eat in silence, observing and listening when an unexpected presence entered the room. A man I had met only once now stood in the doorway; he paused momentarily before striding forward confidently and acting as I had done moments before. He obtained his meal before moving to look for seating, to my surprise he came and sat at the table where I resided, opposite me. At first he said nothing, simply eating, before finally he put the now empty container down upon his tray and meeting my gaze.

"Pilot Nagisa…"

He hesitated and for a moment I saw behind the mask the man wore, saw beneath it the broken soul, the lost and tormented being who searched desperately for his lost soul mate, his wife. In those few moments I saw his weakness, his fear of his son, the pain that he felt when he was near him, so close to one who held an echo of her soul as well as his own. He serves not Seele, has no wish to fulfil their desire. He wishes only the return of his wife, the reformation of his family.

"I wish to speak with you, regarding pilot Ikari. I wish to know why you were accompanying him and Pilot Sohryu yesterday."

I paused for a moment, wondering how I could answer in a way he would understand. Before I could speak however he spoke once again.

"Is this an order from Seele?"

So, now I understand the motives behind this meeting. His is afraid of the old lillum, of the threat they pose to his dream.

"Commander Ikari, I take orders from none but one being, and he is not among the ranks of Seele. They have little interest in your son, my wish to spend time in his presence was my own."

"I see."

He remained a moment more before leaving, and I was alone once again. Despite what other may believe the light of his soul is not extinguished, instead it has simply lost his way.

Once more, unbidden, my thoughts turned to the images of my dream, the brief contact between my consciousness and the one that lay both awake and asleep, dreaming within the shell the lillum call Evangelion Unit-01. It is a vile parody of our kind, a twisted reflection of our forms, its soul; a hungry void, one that seeks to fill itself with the soul of Ikari. The first has become its avatar in this world, a world in which it has no place, trapped as it is within its living prison. She herself is half empty, animated by fragments of his mother's soul, she is of his own blood, if only in part, her desire for him goes against God's will…as I have foreseen, it can only end badly. She must be stopped, yet I lack the tools with which to do so…perhaps I must seek another's council, act out the deeds as foretold by my dream.

When I entered the 'cages', prisons they foolishly believe would contain the Eva's wrath should they be fully awakened, I found that there were few lillum present. Save for the few 'technicians' there were no others, meaning that I should be able to commune with her in peace. I slowly advanced across the large metal construct that bridged the front of the cages, until I stood before the silent red giant that was Evangelion Unit-02. Taking one last glance around me, to ensure that no lillum would witness what was about to take place, I slowly began to reach out with my mind, brushing my consciousness against that of the sleeping Eva, trying to reach down and wake the awareness inside.

Who are you? Where is my Asuka?

"She is not here, but still she is safe. The chosen stands by her side and he will let no harm come to her."

Chosen? What is this chosen you speak of?

"He is the one whose choice shall remake the world, the one chosen by god to pass final judgement upon humanity."

Then what does he want with my Asuka?

"He has fallen in love with her, offered to her his very soul and she in return has offered him her own. They are bound by fate now, two destinies become one, he will walk the path and she will follow."

Why?

"Because she loves him as well."

Then tell me, who is this boy that has stolen my Asuka's heart.

"The child of Gendo Rokubungi and Yui Ikari."

Shinji?

I found myself unable to speak; surprised that she knew his name.

"How…?"

I was his godmother, at Yui's behest, even as she was godmother for my Asuka. He was a beautiful child, he had his mother's eyes, kind eyes, I am happy my Asuka has found such a boy to love her.

"Then…will you help me? There are those who seek to cause them harm, who seek to place Shinji in a terrible dark place, devoid of light or life, to word deny the destiny God has spoken. They will rip him away from Asuka, yet never severing the bond, drawing her down into the darkness with him…"

Enough. I will do what must be done, already I have failed my Asuka once, I will not fail her again.

"Thank you. Soon the time shall arrive and we will have to face both monsters from without and within…but for now I must bid you goodbye."

I turned to leave, starting to pull my consciousness away when she spoke once again.

Wait. Tell me Angel child, why do you seek to aid two humans whose fates are nothing of your concern?

"But they are of concern to me, for I love them as well."

With those words she seemed satisfied and in the passing of a moment, her awareness slipped away. The conversation had taken but a moment the inner world yet in reality much time had passed and thus I found myself with no clear route of escape. Yet, even as I turned to seek out a way by which I might leave this place without drawing the attention of the lillum who moved about the Eva as Ants on an Elephant, I felt another presence force its way into my mind.

On your knees insolent child! How dare you stand against the will of your mother!

My hands coming up to clap my head I fell to my knees, head moving this way and that, desperately seeking the source of the voice that echoed inside my head. There! At the corner of my vision I saw glowing eyes, turning I found myself looking upon the solemn visage of Evangelion Unit-01. In a flash of insight I finally understood why the presence of the girl who was like me yet not, had made my blood run cold.

"You…you are the one who is behind this, the one that wishes to defy God's will."

I am his daughter! Is it not fitting that the child should decide her own path rather than blindly obeying the whims of her father!

"Yet to do so would destroy the world, end the lives of the lillum, who in turn are your children."

They are nothing! Bastard spawn forced upon me by his will! I have no want for Adam! The boy is mine! He belongs to me!

"No. He does not belong to one to whom he would not freely give. He has already chosen and you are not the one he wishes to bond his soul with."

That retched girl is of no consequence. The bond she holds with him can be severed easily enough…these humans break so very easily…

"I will not allow it!"

You! You dare think to deny me! I should crush you now for your insolence! But still; I have a far better fate in mind. You will stand helpless as I devour him, as I spit in the face of your master and unmake the world in his name. There is nothing you can do my little Kaworu, nothing but watch and wait…

With those final words she was gone from my mind, leaving me lying prone across the ground, head still screaming from the intensity of her words. Stumbling to my feet I made my wavering way from the cages, near collapsing all the way as I made it once more to my bed. There I collapsed once more and was claimed by dreamless sleep until at last the sound of sirens woke me, the signal; that my sister had at last arrived.

Knowing there was no time to waist, I made my way quickly to the men's locker room, stripping off my clothes without regard for the fasteners, this is the last time I will ever wear them…I placed them in the locker even as I retrieved my plug suit. I cannot help but wonder what it is that makes the lillum believe that this rubberised creation will affect ones synch ratio, synchronisation is dependent on the ability of the mind and soul to open themselves to the mind and soul of another, the one trapped inside the core of the Eva. If your mind and soul are closed then you cannot form a bond, physical factor such as what clothes you wear are of little consequence. Just as I was pressing my fingers against the button that would make it shrink to fit my form a second person entered the locker room.

"Pilot Ikari."

"What is it Nagisa?"

"You must not fight this Angel."

"What? What the hell are you talking about!"

I paused for a moment, wonder how would be best to phrase this. I cannot tell him the entire truth yet I do not know if what truths I can tell will be enough.

"There are those who wish to do you harm, if you go to battle this Angel you will not return."

His eyes grew hard and his voice was cold when he spoke.

"I made a promise Nagisa, I have to fight, to protect her, I won't allow her to be hurt again."

I knew in that moment that nothing I could say would be enough to convince him, that I would have to take action and hope it is enough.

"I am sorry Ikari, but there is no other way."

I turned to leave, waiting for the door to close before tearing out the controls, ensuring that it would no longer open. It may not hold him for long, given what he has become, yet it is all I can do to delay him, I must defeat the Angel before he can escape. My thoughts were distant as I made my way to the cages, as I entered the entry plug and opened my mind to the woman trapped within Unit-02. We were set on our goal… the death of the Angel… the prevention of Ikari coming to harm. With this in mind we broke the surface and moved to attack the Angel…until it suddenly shifted its attack from us to Unit-00. As it buried its way beneath the armour I realise my sister had become an encroachment type…at perhaps the worst of times.

Her calls of distress brushed across my mind even as the stronger will of the mother consumed her. In no more than a moment she was nothing more than a mindless puppet, awaiting only the coming of the final piece onto the board. Knowing I had little time left I did what I could to force them back but to no avail, the weapons were ineffective and too late I realised that Unit-01 was already there, could only watch as the possessed Evangelion turned away, advancing rapidly on Unit-01. My sister reached out to him, burying into his Eva's flesh and grasping his mind. Even if I could not hear it I felt his scream, the distress radiating from his mind and soul, his fear of the darkness that was even now trying to consume him.

There was no other choice now, this must end before she could devour him entirely, and the only way would be to destroy Unit-00, as I had feared. For a moment I turned my thoughts inward, telling her what I planned to do, what must be done. She gave her acceptance without hesitation, neither one of us would allow them to be hurt any more, even at the cost of our own physical existence. Getting to our feet we charged the blue Evangelion, forcing it away from Unit-01, breaking the connection. The mother cried out in rage, unable to accept her defeat, unable to bear losing him when he had been so close. Her wrath fell upon us as she began to beat at our armour, trying to get through to our core. This was what we wanted, to keep them close. I moved from my chair, arming the mechanism, the end comes now.

Sensing my intent she moved too late, our arms encircling her in a twisted parody of the lillum embrace. She cried out, her voice a cacophony of fear and rage, desperately trying to break my hold, to escape the prison the light of our souls made. Yet, her fragment of a soul was insufficient, it's light too impure to defeat our combined will. In that final moment I opened a communication channel, too long among the lillum has rubbed off on me…

"Goodbye Shinji and Asuka, live well."

With those parting words I closed the channel and pulled the lever, the last thing I ever saw was the brightest of lights as the mechanism went into full effect, releasing the true light of my soul.

AN: And so the 17th angel departs this world and the battle is over…for now.

Next chapter due out is for In a Perfect World, chapter 6 specifically. Due…whenever I have enough time.

Till next time, thanks for reading and hopefully reviewing,

Hououza

Chapter preread by That Other Guy