Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything belonging to Marvel Comics or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.

Superwomen of Eva: Emerald Fury

Chapter 11: She-Hulk SMASH!

Red. Everywhere Gendo looked, he saw red. An ocean that was the red of blood, and a sky that was the color of death. And everything he saw, filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Ignoring the wind as it blew through the empty ocean, nothing more than a pale shadow of the Arctic cold that had once been, Gendo surveyed the fleet that was under his command. Another sign of the position of power that was his won by years of hard work and scheming. An admission of the knowledge he possessed by going where those who currently deemed to hand him orders wouldn't dare. And thus making him the only man capable of quickly and efficiently securing their prize, which lay on the deck of the ship he was on, covered by a large tarp.

Soon, Gendo thought, picturing the prize that was to be his. Very soon, my Yui…

As these lovely visions of his future danced tantalizingly before him, a piece of Gendo's past and present made his presence known. "Hard to believe that this was once the living continent of Antartica," muttered Fuyutsuki, his voice heavy with harsh disdain. "Transformed by human arrogance into an ocean of death."

"Nonetheless, mankind has returned to this wasteland," Gendo returned instantly. "In the midst of death, we still survive live."

"Only because we're under the protection of our own science," Fuyutsuki countered.

"Science is what makes humanity powerful," Gendo retorted.

"That's the kind of sanctimonious overconfidence that transformed this place into hell fifteen years ago," Fuyutsuki intoned, sounding as if he were back in his lecture hall from college. "And this is the punishment we've served upon ourselves. The true Dead Sea. And it is a punishment that was meted out to those who least deserved it."

"Wrong, sensei. The world we live in is one built upon sin," Gendo countered, actually taking a moment of pleasure in this minor debate. It was so much like the ones they had had back in the day, before he taken the name of Ikari, along with Yui's hand in marriage. "At least in this place, that sin has been purged."

"Hmph. It's better to live in a world with people, no matter how stained with sin," Fuyutsuki snorted disdainfully.

Perhaps it is, for you, sensei, Gendo thought idly, opening and closing his right hand slowly. Noting the stiffness that he still felt in it. But one way or another, this entire world will be purified. Forever.

As Gendo envisioned the perfect world that was being shaped, a voice was heard over the ship's PA system. "This is the bridge. We've just received a telex from NERV Headquarters," came the voice Gendo recognized as belonging to the ship's captain. "They've detected an Angel in orbit above the Indian Ocean."

"So, the latest Messenger had arrived," Gendo commented, pleased by this notification. Everything was unfolding according to schedule. "Excellent."

"I wouldn't be so pleased, Ikari," Fuyutsuki muttered gruffly, glaring at Gendo in distaste. "A great deal rides upon the upcoming battle. You and I both know that."

Gendo knew, just as he knew that his former teacher was implying a great deal more than he could not safely say out where any ear could hear him. They both had seen the information derived from the Dead Sea Scrolls, had a rough idea as to the capabilities of each of Adam's children. It had been for this reason that Gendo and SEELE had chosen this particular time frame to launch their expedition, to ensure that he would once again escape disaster. And he also knew that there was a danger that Tokyo-3 and everything he had worked for would be destroyed.

But that's the risk, isn't it. I've been taking risks all this time, just to claim this one chance at paradise, Gendo thought, again flexing his right hand. This is just another risk. Another part of the game. All I can do is adapt, and keep playing it…until I've finally won.


I hate my life, was the thought that rang through Maya's mind as she stood on the bridge at NERV, wishing she could crawl under a rock and hide.

It wasn't so long ago that Maya would not have been thinking such things. When she had been just another techie, working with the equipment at NERV, helping to keep the planet safe through the work she did there, it had been a dream come true for her. The less-than-stellar pay didn't matter so much to her because she had been doing what she loved. Everything about it challenged her mind, and she enjoyed working with the people there, especially Dr. Akagi.

But that had been when she had had the job she had signed on for before the position of Director of Operations had been forced upon her. As glamorous as it might have sounded, Maya had quickly learned that it was quite possibly the most boring position ever invented. Day in and day out, she had been forced to deal with more paperwork than she had ever seen in her previous position. And even that wasn't as bad as dealing with the various department heads, making sure that Tokyo-3 was ready to fight at any given time. More often than not she felt like she was trying to wrangle petulant children, all of whom were determined to fight for their share of NERV's limited resources, regardless of whether or not it actually benefited anyone other than themselves. It was such a miserable, boring job, that by the end of each day, Maya was on the verge of weeping from sheer tedium alone.

But Maya had fought against that urge and even borne up under her new burdens as best as she could, even finding ways of doing some of the things she loved, such as helping during the evaluation of She-Hulk's capabilities. Because as bad as her new position was, Maya knew that it could and would get worse. It had only been a matter of time before the true horror of her new responsibilities would make themselves known to her.

Only a matter of time before the 10th Angel arrived.

That time had finally arrived, leaving Maya standing on the bridge, looking at her old position, as well as the young, up-and-coming lieutenant she had personally chosen to take her place. "Uh…Lieutenant Mifune? Where's the Angel, and, uh…what's its status?"

"The 10th Angel appeared just a few minutes ago, Captain," Chihiro Mifune replied. She was a long-haired brunette with an odd accent that Maya couldn't really place and acted in her off-hours more like she belonged on the party circuit, rather than at NERV. "It came out of the Indian Ocean and quickly gained altitude." Turning about in her seat, revealing the front of her uniform jacket to partly unzipped and revealing a rather sizeable bust, she added, "It's currently outside our atmosphere and has settled into orbit."

Barely suppressing the urge to sigh, Maya quickly considered the situation. While it was true that all the Angels to date had been different, attacking in different ways, this was so completely unforeseen that she wasn't sure what to make of it. Making a face, she turned to the sole source of true support she felt she still had in her new life. At which point Ritsuko, seeing her lost and uncertain as to what to do, asked, "Can we get a look at it?"

Blinking a few times, Maya then got the cue given her. "Uh, right. Of course," she sputtered out, not even sounding close to being in command of anything, let alone the most important defensive organization in the world. "Eh, Shigeru? Can you get one of the Recon Satellites into the same orbit as the Angel?"

"On it," Shigeru responded, his fingers already dancing across his keyboard. "Recon Satellite 6 will achieve contact in T-minus two minutes."

Two minutes. Two whole minutes. Time in which Maya could have been doing any number of things. She could have been working to plot the satellite intercept, or trying to get a better fix on the Angel's AT-Field, or working to plot its orbital trajectory. Instead, all she could do was stand there, waiting and wondering just how horrible a monster they would soon be facing, and worrying about what would happen when it inevitably came down to a battle between it, and them.

No. Not us, Maya winced as another bit of the ugliness of her new position came up and bit her. The Children. They're the ones who have to go out and fight these things. They're the ones that I have to order to…to…

"The target has been sighted," Makoto reported, jerking Maya out of the pit of horrors her imagination was conjuring up. Fighting both her confusion and the onslaught of her worried mind, she forced herself to watch as the image of the newest monster to menace the Earth appeared on the main screen. It was orange, and the central body had what looked like a large eye in the center, and four antennae. Two larger stalks branched out from either side of the Angel, ending in what could almost be bizarre hands, with three of the fingers being huge in proportion to the Angel. "Aw, man! Would you get a load of that thing! It's enormous!"

"I know," Maya agreed gravely. Certain that it was also very dangerous.

"Satellite coming into range," Aoba informed them all.

"Good. Let's…let's see what we can find out about…" Maya began, doing her best to sound like Major Katsuragi, or at least someone who actually belonged where she was standing. Which lasted about as it took for a warning klaxon to be heard. "Wh-what the -?!" she tried again, only to cut herself when the image being displayed on the holographic display crackled, and was then replaced with static. "What happened?! Where's that satellite feed?!"

"Recon 6 has been destroyed, Captain!" Chihiro reported easily, as if this were just another day at the office for her. "I don't know what the Angel did, but it somehow crushed the satellite like it was made of tinfoil!"

"A new use of an AT-Field," Ritsuko noted unhappily, sounding perfectly at ease with the situation. But then, she was where she belonged on the bridge. She was doing what she was supposed to do, analyzing and comprehending the nature of their enemy. It was only Maya that was out of her element, without any idea of what she should do next.

It was only Maya who was already scared out of her mind.

While she looked at her mentor, wondering what she could possibly have done to warrant being trapped in such an awful position, Ritsuko met her gaze. And just as she had easily comprehended what the Angel had done, the doctor effortlessly read her former understudy's face. A moment later, the doctor approached Maya and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I think we should go to the Situation Room, and get a better idea of what we're dealing with," she told the frightened woman. "We can go from there, see what we can do about this thing."

Smiling wanly, Maya placed her own hand upon Ritsuko's. "Thanks, sempai," she replied though her fears didn't go away.

Some time later, they were ten times worse.


As Misato lay on the sofa of her secure quarters, she looked up at the ceiling, thinking about the results of the tests that her monstrous other had been subjected to. In the days since the She-Hulk had last escaped from the confines of her slender body, the Major had been able to think of nothing but the things Ritsuko had learned about the savage she-beast, her mind awhirl with myriad possibilities. Virtually unlimited strength…almost indestructible…tireless…enough power to make an Eva look like a ninety-pound weakling… she thought as she ran down the list of discoveries made about the thing. Then the purple-haired woman frowned grumpily. And all of it completely useless because I can't control it! It all belongs to that pea-brained Neanderthal!

As the Major once again considered the cosmic unfairness of such a situation, she was startled by the sound of the door to her apartment opening. "Shinji?" Misato wondered, only to be proven wrong as she watched Ritsuko and Maya enter. "Oh, hi, Rits. Let me guess, it's time to vampire some more blood for your evil experiments. Am I…?"

Misato's words fell dead in her mouth as she got a good look at her visitors. Ritsuko looked concerned, the kind of concerned the people in the movies felt when Godzilla was slowly approaching Japan. As for Maya, to say that she looked like death warmed over would be to put it kindly. "What is it?" she wondered, looking between the two women in confusion. "What's going on? Did something happen?"

Maya frowned, then looked at Ritsuko in a questioning manner. The faux-blonde nodded, at which the Captain returned her attention to Misato, her eyes bloodshot. "Major…we're in big trouble…"


In almost no time at all, Ritsuko and Maya brought Misato up to speed on what had just happened. "So that's the new Angel, huh?" Misato spoke as the two women used the computer interface in her coffee table to show her video images of this latest personification of death. "Talk about the evil eye…"

"That's one way of putting it," Ritsuko replied, her voice tired and drained as she advanced to a new video file. "The Angel has been dropping parts of its own mass onto the Earth for the last two hours. Fortunately, the first few shots hit the ocean. Still, the tidal waves caused by such impacts have been enormous."

"So, it's using a combination of the AT-Field impact and simple gravity," Misato mused as she watched the Angel rain destruction down upon the Earth. "This thing's like a huge bomber!"

"It gets worse," Maya admitted tiredly. "The Angel has been steadily correcting its error ratio. It's learning to aim itself."

"I see," Misato replied, nodding her comprehension. "And has there been any action against the Angel?"

"We were able to detonate an aerial N2 mine on the Angel. That was the first thing we did," Maya answered helplessly even as Ritsuko showed the result of this attack. "But…it had no effect. We couldn't get through the AT-Field."

"The Angel has been hiding ever since," Ritsuko continued, advancing the images. "It's been using ECM jamming to keep us from accurately locating it, despite its size."

Leaning back in her seat, Misato gave a weak smile. "It's coming here. Isn't it?"

"I'd say it's a safe bet," Ritsuko somberly agreed. "And if that thing falls on us, this entire area will become part of the Pacific Ocean."

Frowning as she examined the situation from every available angle, Misato looked at Maya. "Have you contacted the Commander?"

"Yes. We were able to alert him that we'd detected the Angel, but then we lost contact him," Maya explained. "The Angel's jamming field is making radio contact impossible."

"And the MAGI? What did they say?" Misato wondered.

"All three were unanimous in recommending evacuation," Maya informed her. Letting out a ghost of a sigh, she let her eyes fall to the floor. "I've…already issued a D-17 special declaration. All civilians and D-class personnel within fifty kilometers are already being evacuated, and Matsushiro base has already backed up the MAGI."

"Good, good," Misato replied, nodding thoughtfully as she considered her successor's actions. Then, with a confident smile, she added, "Well, Maya, so far, your decisions are right on. You're…you're doing exactly what I'd do in this situation."

"Uh…thanks, Major," Maya answered, not meeting Misato's eyes.

"So…do you two have any plans for the next step?" Misato asked, looking at the two of them expectantly. However, the smile adorning her face quickly faded when neither of them replied. "What is it?"

"Major…there is no next step," Maya replied, sending Misato's jaw straight to the floor.

"What?!" Misato gaped, drilling Maya with a glare that made her flinch. "What do you mean, there's no next step?!"

"Major…you have to believe me, we've already been over this several times," Maya spoke imploringly, as if begging the purple-haired woman to understand. "We've examined every possibility, we've…done everything we could think of, and…there's nothing more we can do."

"What are you saying?" Misato wondered, almost fearful as she looked from one face to the other. Then, her eyes widening with realization, she gasped, "Omigod…you're going to abandon Tokyo-3. Aren't you."

Her lips tightening, Maya's expression became a picture of desperation. "Major, please understand…it's not that we want to do this, but the fact is…there's nothing we can do. We just don't have anything that can beat this Angel."

"So you're just going to let that thing wipe out this city and everything in it?!" Misato demanded incredulously.

"We don't have any other choice!" Maya immediately protested. "Now, once the preliminary evacuation has been completed, we'll take the Evas and whatever equipment we can save and send them to Matsushiro as well, along with the remaining personnel." The young Captain paused before adding, "Now, I'm afraid you'll have to be sedated before we can get you out of here. But I've already made preliminary arrangements for a new containment facility, and…"

"Stop! Stop right there! Don't you say another word!" Misato snarled, sending the woman she had praised just minutes ago recoiling. "You're crazy. We can't just run away from this thing!" Pausing as the hatred she felt for the Angels rose up, she sucked down a raspy breath along with her own emotions and was only marginally successful at both. "Dammit! We have to stay and fight! Why can't you see that?!"

"Misato, please! I know how you feel about the Angels, but this isn't the time for revenge," Ritsuko scolded her. "All we can do now is save as many lives as we can."

"This has nothing to do with revenge!" Misato declared vehemently.

"Are you sure about that?" Ritsuko asked, a thousand implications loaded into that tiny sentence. Implications that had Misato frowning, a tiny spark of green showing in her eyes. "Misato…I can't blame you for hating the Angels. Not after all that you've been through, especially with this…thing inside of you. But…there's nothing we can do. The MAGI -"

"The MAGI are just computers," Misato countered aggressively. "All they really know is facts and figures. Ratios and results. Black and white. And while a computer can beat a human at chess, I've yet to meet one that can outdo me at the card table."

"Misato…" Ritsuko started, but the fire in the Major's eyes would not let her finish.

"You want me to say that I hate the Angels?!" Misato asked bitterly. "Fine! I hate them! I hate every last goddamned one of them! I'd love to be able to rip them all apart with my bare hands!" Feeling a dread tremble run through her body, her inner beast roaring with savage delight at such an image, she again forced herself to keep her anger in check, under control. To keep the beast within. "But that doesn't mean I intend to screw everyone over, just for my own satisfaction!" Looking from Ritsuko to Maya and back again, she paused to take several deep breaths as she struggled to retain herself, to not let her come forth. "You want to talk about the odds of winning? Fine! Let's talk about the odds of winning this war if we let Tokyo-3 get destroyed by this Angel! Because we can't just think about this one battle! We have to remember all the other Angels that we'll have to deal with afterward. And how we'd do without this city to back us up!" Not bothering to keep the snarl from her face, she glowered at the new Operations Director. "What, didn't the MAGI have anything to say about that?!"

Her eyes falling to the floor, Maya took several seconds to reply. "They did," she finally admitted. "And the odds are terrible, I know that but…we've still got a better chance of surviving without this city than we have with this Angel. We just…were never set up to fight something so high in the sky..."

"So what?! Who cares if the Evas never had wings installed! Who gives a damn about the odds! All I know is that we have a job to do!" Misato declared, glowering at the small woman who had been forced to fill her shoes. "And that includes you, Maya. Especially you."

"But I never even wanted this job!" the Captain protested, her voice taking an edge of desperation. "This is…I can't do this, Major! There's just nothing we can do to beat this Angel!"

"Oh? And would you say that if there was a virus in the MAGI? Or a problem with the Evas that looked like it couldn't be fixed?" Misato asked pointedly. "Would you just call it quits, and say that there's nothing you can do about that, too?"

Frowning, Maya shook her head slightly before answering. "That's…a completely different thing, Major…"

"No, it's not," Misato countered, drawing two sets of gazes at her. "The circumstances are different, I'll grant you, but you still have a problem that has to be solved, and it's not going to get better with you ignoring it. And just giving up is never the solution." As these words struck home, Maya winced, only to look up again when Misato stood to look her in the eye. "Maya…I'm sorry. I know you don't want this position, any more than I want this…thing inside of me." Placing a comforting hand on the younger woman's shoulder, she went on to tell you, "But like it or not, we're stuck with both of them. And right now…all we can do is our best."

As for Maya, she frowned unhappily, caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On the one hand, she didn't want to abandon this city, her home, or force its inhabitants to abandon everything they had and allow the Angel to take it from them without even trying to save it. But at the same time, she simply couldn't think of any other possibilities. And as she considered these things, she also thought of Misato's words. Would I just give up because a computer virus looked unbeatable? she asked herself, only to realize that the answer was no. She could never just ignore such a thing, no matter how tough it might be.

As the brunette pondered the situation, she looked at Ritsuko. Much to the Maya's surprise, the faux-blonde was smiling slightly. "So…do I take this to mean that you have an idea?"

"A couple, actually," Misato responded with a gentle shrug. "Both are kind of iffy, but…they're better than the alternative."

"Really?" Maya asked, grasping at the glimmer of hope like it was a life preserver. "W-what do you have in mind?"

"Well, the first possibility depends on a few things," Misato admitted, returning her attention to the picture of the Angel when the N2 was detonated. "Maya…here, it looks like the Angel is in the atmosphere. Is that right?"

Maya quickly nodded to this. "Yes. We can't pinpoint its exact position, but…the Angel is currently in Earth's atmosphere. As near as we can tell, it's slowly descending."

"Is the air breathable at that altitude?" Misato wondered, pacing about as the wheels of her mind began to spin at greater speeds.

Again, Maya nodded. "Barely. There's not a lot of oxygen, but…yes, it is breathable."

"So…we can get to it with a sub-orbital interceptor?" Misato asked. Once more, the Captain nodded. "Alright, Maya. This is the most important question; how large is the smallest N2 we have?"

"The N2s?" Maya repeated, her face thrown into confusion. Her eyes narrowed with concentration, the Captain considered the matter. "Well…the standard size would fit into Eva's hand, but…"

The Captain was cut off when Misato shook her head. "No, Maya. I need something smaller than that," she explained tersely. "Ideally, I'd like something that could be carried on someone's back, but it can't be larger than a small car."

"A small car?" Maya repeated blankly. As she considered this new specification, she frowned slightly. "Well…if we strip away the outer housing, rewire the various charges, and install a new detonator…"

"Wait a minute. A sub-orbital interceptor? A small N2?" Ritsuko, a suspicious gleam appearing her eyes. "Misato…what are you planning on, anyway?"

The two women looked at the Major, who smiled in a deep, devious manner that the doctor knew all too well. "Rits…" Misato started, crossing her arms and wearing an expression of deep satisfaction. "I think it's time I got a little…fresh air."


"Whaaat?! You're gonna SKYDIVE down to the Angel?! With an N2 MINE on your back?!" Asuka shrieked in pure disbelief.

"That's right," Misato replied casually as she looked at the three pilots. Maya was at her side in the Situation Room as the Major explained her plan to the Children, while three Section 2 agents were on standby, armed with tranquilizer guns. "Ritsuko has all available technical crews working right now, modifying one of the N2 mines, making it smaller and rigging it with carrying straps so that I can carry it on my back."

There was silence while the display on the floor shifted to show the Angel that was even now setting in motion humanity's doom. "The Angel is currently approaching Tokyo-3 on a steady descent. As soon as the N2 is ready, we'll use a sub-orbital interceptor to reach it before it gets within range of the city." Pausing as the tactical display mapped out the course of action she had plotted, Misato continued, "Staying outside of the radius of the Angel's AT-Field, I will then jump from the interceptor, and land on the Angel."

Misato paused, looking at the three children NERV forced to fight on the behalf of humanity. Asuka was staring at Misato like the older woman had completely lost her mind, Rei's expression was all but neutral, the albino's emotions carefully hidden and almost impossible for the Major to decipher. And Shinji, his face was the one that drove deepest into her heart. The boy who had found his way into her home and heart stood there, looking at her like his was made of glass, and was on the verge of shattering. "But…Misato…why do you have to do this?"

"Yeah!" Asuka added, frowning derisively. "If NERV is just gonna bomb the damn the thing, then why do you have to go along for the ride?!"

"We've already attempted to destroy the Angel with an N2 mine, but it was ineffective. The blast wasn't powerful enough to penetrate the Angel's AT-Field," Misato explained easily. "However, as we already know, She-Hulk is capable of breaking through an AT-Field. So if she's carrying the mine, then we'll be able to bypass the AT-Field and attack the Angel directly."

"You mean to deliberately transform, then?" Rei asked, her voice even quieter than usual.

"That's right," Misato answered, her own voice becoming subdued. The very thought of doing what she planned still intimidating for her. Of surrendering herself to that beast…

Squashing down her fears before they could truly take over, Misato focused on the woman beside her. "Maya's already rigged up something to help me out with that."

As the Children shifted their gazes to Maya, the Captain shifted uneasily before holding up a small, metal device that looked like a flashlight without the light. "When you push this button," Maya started, tapping at the control with her thumb, "this provoker will deliver an electric charge to whoever's holding it. One that's large enough to trigger a massive adrenal surge, causing the Major to transform."

Nodding, Misato returned her attention to the children. "As soon as She-Hulk lands on the Angel, the people on the interceptor will cause the mine's carrying straps to release. Once the mine's loose, it will deploy a ramset to anchor it to the Angel."

"B-but…what about you, Misato?!" Shinji asked, fear mounting in his blue eyes.

"Don't worry," Misato smiled reassuringly. "The mine's being set up so that we can remote detonate it at any time we want. She-Hulk will have plenty of time to get out of there before it blows, and she'll be fitted with a parachute. Once she's in freefall, it will automatically deploy, enabling her to fall safely."

"That's assuming the brain-dead monster is smart enough to get out of there in time!" Asuka sneered with her hands at her hips. "Dammit, Misato! This is crazy! Even for you!"

"I know there's a risk, but we don't have much choice," Misato answered evenly, even as her own concerns were reflected in her eyes. It was hard enough for her to think of trusting this beast not to hurt the people she loved so dearly. Trusting her to carry out a plan such as this bordered on the impossible. "The crew of the interceptor will in constant contact with She-Hulk. They should be able to encourage her to get out of their before we blow the mine."

"But what if she doesn't?" Shinji asked worriedly. He had acquired a little military experience since coming to NERV, just enough to see the sheer number of problems with this plan. Most of them revolved around She-Hulk's primitive, savage nature. "Misato…"

"I understand what you're saying, Shinji, but this really is our best chance," Misato told him, keeping her smile in place. Desperate to keep his own fears at bay, along with her own. "If we don't stop this Angel, Tokyo-3 and NERV will be annihilated, along with our best chance of stopping the Angels. We have to do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

While Shinji's gaze fell to the floor, Asuka glared at Misato. "And what are we supposed to do if Greenie blows it? Don't tell me you're actually dumb enough to put all of your faith in that thing!"

"Asuka…" Shinji began, looking reproachfully at the German.

"No, that's okay, Shinji," Misato says, nodding before returning her attention to Asuka. "You're right Asuka. There's too much at stake for us to blow it. That's why we've prepared a contingency plan, in case she…I fail."

"And what kind of insane scheme would that be, hmm?" Asuka wondered, her eyes closed as she placed her hands to her hips. "Rig up some kind of giant butterfly net to catch the Angel in?!"

"Not exactly," Misato stated, her voice completely serious. Letting the silence speak for a time, she eyed the children very carefully, fully aware of what she was going to ask of them. "If She-Hulk fails to destroy the Angel, then we'll have no other choice but to have the Evas attempt to intercept the Angel before it hits the ground."

"Intercept it?!" Asuka got out, her eyes bugging out at the Major. "You mean…you want us to try and catch the Angel?! With our hands?!"

"Yes, that's right," Misato informed them, wincing inwardly as her insides twisted about. "While the interceptor is en route to the Angel, the Evas will be deployed in the estimated drop zone. If we can't get to the Angel in time, or if I can't get the N2 onto it, then that will be our only chance. By maintaining your AT-Fields, you'll have to catch it before it hits the ground."

Letting this sink in, Misato found herself studying the Children, seeing their respective reactions in their eyes. Asuka clearly was stunned by her strategies, something the Major couldn't blame her for. There was an unholy host of things that could go horribly wrong with both of her plans. Rei stood still, showing no reaction that Misato could discern. And as for the lone boy present…

"Misato…do you really have to do this?" Shinji asked, fear shadowing his face.

"Like I said, an aerial intercept is our best chance. The MAGI give me a 63.8% chance of successfully contacting with the Angel," Misato explained, trying to feel as confident as she sounded. "Given the capabilities of this Angel, those are the best numbers we're going to get."

"Yeah, right. If you can pull this off, it'll be a miracle," Asuka grumbled, lowering her gaze in disgust.

"Miracles aren't something that just happen, you know," Misato stated firmly, her eyes boring into the Children. "You have to make them happen. Besides, I prefer acts of man to acts of God, anyway."

"You're really willing to sacrifice yourself and us?!" Asuka demanded, leaning towards her superior.

"You don't have to go, Asuka. None of you do," Misato stated, taking the German by surprise. "I'm not going to make this an order. You will all have to decide this for yourselves." Frowning as she once again that agonizing part of her life, of making children fight her war, children no older than she had been when she had lost everything in her life, the Major sighed and tried to ignore the wrathful growling in the back of her mind. "If you don't think that operation is worth the risk, then you will be evacuated along with your respective Evangelions. Nothing will be said."

Looking at the children, Misato searched their faces for any sign, any hint of protest. She waited for one of them to say that she was insane, that this plan could never be worth it. That there was no point in risking their lives for a plan that could never conceivably work. And almost hoping that they did.

Her expectations were met with silence.

"I see. So you're all okay with this?" Misato asked, her spirits lifting somewhat.

"Um, Major?" Maya spoke, looking at the former Operations Director. The Captain nervously handed Misato a brown packet.

"Oh, right. Almost forgot," Misato smiled grimly, taking the brown packet in her hand before returning her attention to the children. "The regulations state that we're supposed to write out a will, just in case. Have you done that yet?"

Snorting derisively, Asuka met the older woman's gaze. Misato knew the German well enough to know that she was bristling at the thought that someone thought she couldn't be expected to triumph against all odds. Especially when someone who wasn't even an Eva pilot was doing something even potentially crazier than she would be. "Gimme a break! I'm not going to die just yet! I don't need to write some dumb will!"

"Nor do I. There'd be no point to it," Rei seconded.

"Same here," Shinji nodded just before he looked at, and managed a smile. "Besides…I know you're gonna succeed, so why do I need to write a will?"

Her lips parting somewhat at the 3rd Child's words, Misato then tipped her head to the side and smiled. "Thanks, Shinji-kun," she said, a million forms of gratitude in those two words. "Well, I suggest we get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day."


"So how's the N2 coming?" Misato asked as she sat in her quarters. Both Ritsuko and Maya were with her, reviewing every detail of the mission. Going over every last detail, while they still had time.

"The tech divisions report that it's almost ready," Ritsuko told her. "They still need a little time to test out the various connections and the new relays, but it should all be good for tomorrow."

"Good," Misato replied, nodding. "Just make sure that everything works. We're only to get one chance to do this right, and we can't afford to blow it."

While Maya's eyes lowered, Ritsuko angled her head at her best friend. "Misato, please, I wish you would reconsider this!"

"No way, Ritsuko," Misato retorted, her features resolute. "We've already been over this a dozen times, and we've agreed that this is our best chance to stop the Angel. There's nothing more to discuss."

"There's a lot more to discuss!" Ritsuko insisted. "Even if She-Hulk succeeds in getting to the Angel, and everything does go right with this plan - and those are pretty big 'ifs' - we still don't know what will happen when the N2 goes off! It could destroy your parachute before it's deployed, and even it doesn't, there's no way of telling how the blast would affect you!"

"What are you talking about?" Misato wondered. "You said it yourself, Rits; even an N2 wouldn't be enough to kill that thing!"

"Maybe, but I'm not so sure about an N2 and a fall from a couple thousand feet in the air!" Ritsuko retorted, her face one big frown. "And even if it doesn't kill you, we still don't know enough about your mutated physiology to be able to predict what kind of effect it might have on you! It might make things worse, it might…!"

"I'm not interested in theories or vague possibilities here. The only things I care about right now are facts. Like the fact that that Angel will destroy this city if we don't do something, and the fact that this is our best chance to stop it," Misato stated. When Ritsuko was not dissuaded, the Major shot her a bold smile. "Besides, if I don't come back from this…well, at least the Commander will have one less mutant to worry about, won't he?"

"That's not funny, Misato!" Ritsuko roared, her heart pounding in such a way that showed that if she had been one with the gamma mutation, she'd be green and roaring within seconds.

Sobering up, Misato nodded to her friend. "You're right, it's not," she agreed, frowning slightly. "But I have to give this my all, Rits. My conscience won't let me do anything less."

With these words, Ritsuko's ire slowly faded, her features hardening and softening alternately. Neither of the other two women there could figure out what was passing through her mind. There was only silence as the two friends looked at each other until the doctor turned about. "In that case, I better get down and make sure that N2 will be ready," Ritsuko said, moving towards the exit. "I don't want your conscience getting you killed."

"Thanks," Misato said, but her only answer was the door to her current dwelling closing loudly.

Looking at the door her sensei had left through, Maya then turned her attention to Misato. "Major…there's something I need to know."

"What is it?" Misato asked easily. Like she wasn't going to risking her life and the lives of everyone she knew tomorrow. Like it was nothing to her.

For a few moments, Maya studied the Major's continence for any sign or fear or regret, any hint that she doubted what she was planning. When she found none, she could no longer hold herself back. "How do you do it, Major?"

"Do what?" Misato wondered.

"How can you…do what you do?" Maya asked. "How can you just…order the Children to their deaths? If you fail…!"

"It's not as bad as all that, Maya," Misato assured the Captain, raising a comforting hand. "Remember, no matter how badly damaged the Evas might get, their AT-Fields will protect them. When you think about it, the safest place to be is inside of the Evas." With a confident smile, Misato looked into the worried continence of her friend. "I can't really explain it, but…I believe in the Evas. And I trust the Children."

"I know all that, but…" Maya started, only to fumble beneath the many fears and doubts that held her tight. "But…you're still placing them in a dangerous situation."

Looking at Maya, her own smile fading, Misato nodded. "I know that."

"So how can you do it?" Maya asked, her need clear. "How can you keep doing that, knowing what might happen to them?!"

Frowning somewhat, Misato tried to come up with the right words to help the younger woman. "It's not easy," she admitted in what she knew to be a gross understatement. "But Maya, you have to remember that if we don't stop the Angels, none of us will have any future, and that includes the kids."

"I…I know that, but…" Maya began, only to become lost in her own confusion.

"I know you do," Misato assured her with a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I guess my advantage is that I spend more time with Shinji and Asuka, so I know that they won't back down. And…well, you know what happened to me when Second Impact occurred. So…I guess I know better than anybody what'll happen…if we fail." With that, she felt herself drifting back to that horrendous day, fifteen years ago. When a pillar of fire erupted from the Earth, sprouting four wings of fiery destruction. "The Angels won't be handing out trophies for second place, after all. They won't demand a surrender, or declare a ceasefire. They aren't out to conquer us. They're doing everything they can to destroy us, as well as everything else on the planet."

"But still…how do you do it?" Maya persisted, not getting the answer she needed. "How do you live with what we're doing, knowing what could happen to them?"

What makes you think I can live with it? Misato answered within her mind, thinking of the many anguished hours she had spent considering such thoughts. "I get drunk. A lot," was what she actually said, smiling sadly. "I really wouldn't recommend it, though."

Frowning, Maya lowered her gaze to the floor. "I see," she finally said, her disappointment clear. Disappointment that the Major didn't have some magic answer that would make all of her fears go away.

Misato could have told her a lot of things. She could have told Maya that what she felt now would never go away. That it would subside at times, allowing her to maybe pretend that she was without any problems, but then her fears would come back. Would ambush her in the middle of the night, appearing in the form of nightmares that hounded her when she woke up. And that was what it meant, having the title she now had.

But she couldn't. Misato couldn't do that to the younger woman, who seemed too gentle, too delicate for a place like NERV. Instead, she asked, "Maya, could you do me a favor?"

"Huh?" Maya started, taking a few seconds to refocus her attention on Misato. "Oh, sure! Anything!"

"Could you ask Shinji to come here?" Misato requested. "There's some stuff I'd like to talk to him about. You know…before…"

As Misato trailed off, Maya looked at her, and for the first time since the Angel had been detected, she saw the fear in her eyes. Not for herself, but for the children. The ones she might be leaving behind. Forever.

Unable to imagine what Misato could be going through, what kind of hell it must be, sharing her body with a near-mindless monstrosity and preparing to do what she was planning tomorrow, Maya could only look at Misato. Then, after a time, she smiled comfortingly and nodded.

"Of course," Maya answered, and was soon gone.


Shinji enjoyed cooking.

Like many other skills, it had taken him a good amount of effort to learn, even more to master to the extent he had, but it had been a necessary thing for him. Being left alone much of the time had ensured that. And over the years, he had found it to be one of the few things that distracted him from his own woes and fears.

But even as Shinji prepared dinner for Misato that night, he found that nothing he did could drive away the dread he now felt. For as he looked from the food he was taking out of the oven to the woman who had given him so much, suffered so much, he found that he could not completely banish his fears. The biding horror that this might be the last night he was able to spend with her.

"Here you go, Misato," Shinji said as he finished setting up the servings meant for Misato and himself. "Curried chicken, and I made some dumplings to go with it!"

"Oh, Shinji-kun, you're the best!" Misato grinned as he placed the plateful of mouthwatering delicacies before her, along with a can of beer. Holding out her arms, the Major gave Shinji one of her patented bear hugs.

Smiling at the affection Misato showed, an affection that Shinji was still unused to, and yet was beginning to wonder how he lived without for so long, the 3rd Child went back to the kitchen. Soon, he was seated next to Misato with his own serving. For a time, the two of them ate, exchanged pleasant conversation, and did little but enjoy each other's company. They did not talk about the coming battle. They did their best to not even think of it, fully aware that it would be coming far too soon.

"This was great, Shinji-kun," Misato smiled as she concluded dinner. "Honestly, you could open a restaurant right now, the way you cook."

"Oh, thanks, Misato," Shinji replied quietly, blushing as he averted his gaze. "Anyway, I made some chocolate cake for desert. Would you like some?"

"You mean you actually have to ask? Of course, I would!" Misato grinned, beaming at the boy so brightly that the sun was pale in comparison. Nodding, Shinji got up and returned to the kitchen. As he opened the refrigerator and brought forth the cake, Misato's voice caught his attention. "Hey, Shinji, remember when you first came here? To Tokyo-3?"

"Huh?" Shinji started, surprised by the question. He gave the purple-haired woman a curious look. "Uh, yeah. Sure I do."

"Remember the place I took you to? You know, so I could show you the city?" Misato asked. When Shinji nodded, the Major let out a low sigh. "It's too bad, you know. I really would have liked to have gone there again. You know, before the operation."

"Oh, that's okay. We can go there again," Shinji assured her. Smiling as he cut Misato a piece of cake, and gave himself one as well. "As soon as you're cured, we'll go there. Maybe…have a picnic there or something."

Smiling almost sadly, Misato looked at her ward as he served dessert. "I'd like that," she finally said, even as the boy seated himself next to her. Once again, the two of them ate. Exchanged meaningless conversation that meant everything to the two of them. And when the food was done, they moved to the living area and relaxed on the sofa.

"Shinji," Misato started again, only to pause.

"What is it?" Shinji asked, looking at Misato's face. Saw the concern that was all-too-visible for him.

Looking about at her surroundings, Misato spoke, her words slow from the burden of emotion they carried. "Ritsuko…I know she told you about what happened to me. I mean…with Second Impact."

Blinking, Shinji just looked at Misato. "Uh, yeah, she did," he replied, unsure how else to respond to such a statement.

"You know, I almost wasn't there. With the expedition, I mean," Misato commented, causing Shinji to look at her.

"Huh?" Shinji asked, trying to meet Misato's eyes. He wasn't able to, however. Misato's gaze wasn't in the present, but staring back over the gulf of fifteen years. "Why were you there, then?"

"Well…to tell you the truth…it was because my father forced me to come," Misato explained, causing Shinji's brow to knot with confusion. "He lived for his work, and he…never really had time for anything else. Including me." Shaking her head, Misato's lips tightened before she returned to the present just long enough to look at Shinji. "I don't…I don't even remember him ever saying that he loved me. Not even once."

"R-really?" Shinji started, even as memories of his own pain began spilling forth in the back of his mind.

"I never forgave him for that. The truth is, there were times when I even hated him," Misato admitted, even as the past returned to claim her. "He was never there for me…or my mother. I can't even think of the number of times when I heard her crying herself to sleep, just because he was never there for us. So when she finally decided to divorce him, I was actually pretty happy about it. I was so tired of him avoiding us, just because it was easier than dealing with the real world." Pausing as this bit of her past returned to her, the resulting silence quickly expanded, filling the entire room. "He was so upset about it when he found out, but…I couldn't help but laugh. I just kept thinking that…he deserved it. That he didn't want to deal with us, so he wouldn't have us anymore. And that would be that."

"I…I see," Shinji spoke. "But…if that's the case, then why…?"

"Why was I there with him?" Misato concluded. When Shinji nodded, the Major sighed. "I'm not sure. Just before the divorce became final, he arranged to have me brought along on the expedition." Giving a slight shrug, she shook her head and went on. "Maybe he figured if he could win me over, I could convince Mom not to go ahead with it. That he could just go back to the way things were, and he wouldn't have to deal with the divorce."

There was another heavy pause as Misato struggled to get out her next words. "But then…when Second Impact occurred…he saved me. I never even wanted to be there, but…my father sacrificed himself to save my life. He got me to an emergency capsule, put his pendant around my neck…and then sealed it up, just before the worst of the blast." At these words, Shinji's eyes went to the cross that she always wore about her neck. Noticing his interest, Misato fingered the object, wearing a slight smile as she did. "That's right. I was wearing this when the rescue crews found me. But…that wasn't the end of it."

"It wasn't?" Shinji asked, almost dreading what Misato would say next. "You mean…your mother…?"

"She died. In the aftermath of Second Impact," Misato explained. "She…was on the freeway when it happened, and…the section she was on just collapsed. And as for me…"

"Yes?" Shinji murmured, eyes widening.

Misato didn't say anything at first. She just sat there, battling memories that were too painful to be born. "I spent the next three years of my life in the hospital. I couldn't speak, could hardly do anything on my own. All I could really do was just…sit in this little room."

"Really?" Shinji got out. He just sat there, trying to picture a younger Misato, speechless, almost catatonic, but he found that he couldn't. She had always been so full of life, of spirit. The image she painted was anathema to him, to his knowledge of her character.

"Really. I spent that time with psychologists, trying to put my own mind and soul back together again. And when I finally managed to do all that…they told me that I was all alone. That my family was all gone," Misato confessed. Then she smiled, a smile that was twisted by all the pain and misery she had felt. "You know, maybe that's where She-Hulk came from."

"Huh?" Shinji wondered.

"That thing, the monster that comes out when I…change?" Misato explained. When Shinji nodded his understanding, her smile became more genuine. "Maybe that's what happened. Maybe she's a piece of me that got…broken off because of Second Impact. A piece that never got put back just right."

Shinji had nothing to say to this. Nothing he really could say. He could only listen as Misato continued. "Anyway…when I realized that it had been my father that saved me, I…really didn't know what to think. I didn't know whether I hated him, or loved him, or much of anything. All I really knew was that…I wanted to destroy the Angels. I wanted revenge on them all, and…that's why I joined NERV."

"Oh," Shinji spoke, his face creasing with sorrow. "Misato…"

"Shhh," Misato went, placing a finger over Shinji's lips, stopping the apology before it could escape. "Don't be sorry, Shinji. I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the one using you and the others to get at the Angels."

"But…it's not your fault! The Evas won't work for adults! Only…" Shinji started.

"I know," Misato agreed sadly, thinking of the many times she had cursed this reality. "But that doesn't make it any less wrong."

"Misato…" Shinji murmured, only to have Misato place her finger over his lips again.

"Please, don't say anything," Misato pleaded, wrapping her arms around him. "Just…let me hold you. Just for a little while."

Enveloped in Misato's warmth, Shinji found himself unable to say anything. All he could do was return Misato's embrace, and give her the comfort she so dearly needed.


The next day came too soon, and at the same time, not soon enough. No one involved could tolerate the waiting, the mounting tension. Of silently asking if their preparations would be enough. Of waiting for the ordeal to end, one way…or the other.

For Misato, as she was loaded onto the sub-orbital interceptor, she found herself filled with something that resembled eagerness. Her entire focus was on the fact that she was going to be fighting an Angel. Her, not the Children. That for the very first time, the young pilots stood a chance of being out of harm's way, while the one who hated the Angels the most, the one whose job description included sending those children out to face almost certain death, would be taking the risks. Making the Angels pay with her own hands.

It almost made her forget the pleased expression on Captain Chiron's face as he and some of his trusted Section 2 creeps escorted her through NERV, making no effort to conceal how happy he was that Misato was possibly going to her death. It almost made her able to deal with seeing the fearful expressions on the face of Shinji and some of the others when they said goodbye, as well as Kaji's pleasant words mixed with his sleazy innuendo.

However, the N2 she was now strapped to was a lot harder to ignore.

"I don't suppose it was possible to make this thing just a little smaller?" Misato commented, securely bound to a massive hunk of metal that looked like a truck that had been blown up, only to have the various pieces welded back together any which way. It was only a bit bigger than a small car, and while She-Hulk would have no trouble moving it, it was very uncomfortable to someone who was normal-human-sized.

"I'm sorry, Major, but we just didn't have a lot of time," Maya apologized. She and the rest of the bridge crew were riding in the interceptor. They were all monitoring the Angel's position, as well as making sure Misato didn't pop her cork too soon and sink the mission before it could start. "Besides, this is about as small we could get it without removing the safeguards and shields!"

"Yeah, I know. Sorry," Misato smiled ruefully, trying to get more comfortable when her feet barely touched the floor.

"I wish I could unlock the straps, but…" Maya said, wringing her hands.

"I know, Maya," Misato replied, having insisted on the current precautions herself. Looking over her shoulder at the ejection system that would serve in the stead of a bomb bay, launching her and the N2 away from the interceptor. This way, if something went wrong either with her or the bomb, they would be able to get rid of both before it was too late.

Frowning at these dire thoughts, Misato turned her attention elsewhere. "Hyuga? Any sign of the Angel yet?!" she asked, employing the open line to the cockpit.

"Negative. It's ECM jamming is still in effect," Makoto reported from his position. "We have a general idea of where it is, but nothing more."

Annoyed but unsurprised, Misato's lips tightened. "How much longer until the Angel impacts?"

"Twenty-seven minutes, sir," Shigeru spoke up.

"Dammit!" Misato growled, doing her best to keep her temper in check. Resisting the urge to beat her hand against something.

Frowning, Maya looked about, examining the weapon of mass destruction that Misato was attached to. "Major…are you sure about all of this?" the Captain asked, looking more squeamish by the moment.

"Huh…a bit late for second thoughts, don't you think?" Misato asked, a smile twisting about the corner of her lip. "Besides, the MAGI…"

"I know about the odds, but…Major…we all know how unpredictable She-Hulk is. How hard to control," Maya spoke. "So what if we find the Angel, but not fast enough?"

"As soon as we find the Angel, we'll proceed with the operation," Misato sternly insisted.

"But, Major, if we don't find it soon, there won't be enough time to escape!" Maya protested, spreading her arms in emphasis. "Even if She-Hulk cooperates with us, there might not be enough time for her to get to a safe distance before the mine explodes! And if that happens -!"

"If that happens, then you blow the mine!" Misato ordered, her eyes fierce and determined. "I don't care if I'm still attached to it! If we can get the mine past the Angel's AT-Field, then we have no choice but to proceed!

"What?!" Maya gawked, her jaw dropping in horror. "But…you could be killed!"

"Maybe, maybe not. That's not important right now! What matters is that we have to stop that Angel! Period! Those are your…!" Misato growled, only to cut herself off. The irritation that shone on her face suddenly faded and was replaced by confusion…and a bit of fear.

"Major?" Maya started, confusion ruling as Misato's eyes widened.

This…this feeling, Misato thought, shuddering as she looked about the interceptor's interior. For a brief, terrifying moment, it was replaced with the ocean of death from her dreams. The vision was brief, fading a moment later, but the hideous sensation it inspired in her remained. A feeling of danger, similar to the one that had haunted her since before she had even set foot on the Over the Rainbow, the feeling she had felt just before losing consciousness in Gendo's office before her nightmare began.

"Major, what is it?" Maya tried again, stepping closer to Misato. The purple-haired just kept looking about as that sensation tugged at her consciousness. As she did so, she finally looked as far right as she could, her features hardening as she felt the sensation even more strongly.

"Makoto, change course right now!" Misato ordered fiercely. "We have to turn to the right!"

"Huh?" Maya got out, frowning as she tipped her head.

"Major, are you sure about that?" Makoto asked, his dubiousness clinging to his voice, even through the intercom.

"Positive! Just keep turning until I tell you to stop!" Misato insisted, the sensation already growing stronger.

There was an ugly pause, one that only served to fuel Misato's irritation. Finally, after a long time, Makoto was heard saying, "I guess it can't hurt, right?"

"I guess not," Shigeru replied. Misato could almost see the two of them shrugging. Humoring their somewhat crazed superior.

"Alright!" Makoto finally responded, speaking louder. "We're changing course right now."

"I know," Misato answered, closing her eyes in concentration. She could already feel the source of the sensation shifting in relationship to her. "Wait! Stop! That's it!"

"Huh?" Makoto replied.

"Just hold our present course!" Misato ordered, the sensation growing stronger with each passing second.

"If you say so, Major," Makoto answered, unable to quite hide his dubiousness.

Looking from the panel with intercom to where Misato hung before her, Maya frowned her own befuddlement. "Major…why the course change?"

"Because now we're heading towards the Angel," Misato told her, looking in the direction in which she was certain her enemy lay.

"But how do you know that?" Maya asked, spreading her hands. Then she smiled, a bit of humor sparking in her. "Is it women's intuition?"

"No. It's not anything like that," Misato responded, frowning as she rapidly analyzed what she was feeling. "Ever since the mess with Jet Alone, I've been having these feelings like something's…watching me. Something dangerous. And…I don't how, but…I'm sensing something like it. Right now."

"What?" Maya asked, fear mixing with awe. "You mean…you can sense the Angel?!"

"Yeah. I think so," Misato admitted, her certainty growing. "I don't how or why this is happening, but…I can find the damn thing. Just keep going in this direction." When Maya just kept looking at the Major, she then managed a wan smile. "I mean, it's not like we have any better ideas." A moment passed, and then the Captain nodded, even smiling herself.

Misato was glad for this. It was easier, making jokes. Keeping her mind focused her feelings in check. For the sensation she sensed stirred something in her. All of the anger and hatred that had been spawned by Second Impact was now rising up to the surface, and she couldn't let that happen. Not just yet.

As she worked to reign in her emotions, Misato was distracted when Makoto was heard over the intercom. "Major! We've sighted the Angel!" he announced excitedly. "It's ahead of us, and descending! Looks like it's getting ready to drop in on Tokyo-3!"

"Good…work, Makoto," Misato got out, smiling tersely. "Can you…bring it up on the screen down here?"

"Sure thing!" Makoto answered, and soon Misato's request was a reality. The nearby monitor flickered to life, revealing the latest creature of destruction. Just one of the beasts the Major now lived to destroy. And as she studied the monster, she couldn't but tense at the straps that attached her to the mine. She found her anticipation growing, already aching to launch into her mission. To sate her growing lust for its destruction…


Letting out a breath of wariness, Maya couldn't disguise her concerns. In a strange way, she couldn't help but wish that they had failed to find the Angel. For although she was loathe to place the burden of their survival on the children, they were still better suited to accomplishing it than they were. Than she was.

But they had succeeded so far. They had found the Angel. And that meant that everything that happened next was her responsibility. The moment Misato transformed, that was the moment Maya was officially in charge of every element of the mission. With success or failure, along with the lives of everyone around her, falling squarely upon her shoulders.

We don't even have a real plan! Maya protested inwardly, as every single thing that could possibly go wrong running through her mind, as well as a few impossibilities her own subconscious tossed in, just for the sake of making her sweat that much more. The N2 might not work…its pretty jury-rigged as it is…or if the Major misses…or her parachute…or the Angel might attack…or…

"Makoto…take us…into position," Misato ordered gutturally.

"Yes, sir!" Makoto returned. "Major, we only have twenty-one minutes before the Angel impacts!"

"Then don't…waste any more time!" Misato growled. "Get us into position! And ready the remote detonation system! We're only gonna get…one chance!"

"Understood," Makoto answered.

Maya could feel the interceptor gaining altitude, saw the Angel change position on the screen before her. And she knew then that they really were going to do it. And despite the fact that Angel before them was the most potentially destructive she had ever seen…it was the operation that lay before them that truly scared her. She couldn't help but stare at the monster, her every thought on what was coming.

Just as Maya was getting truly getting wrapped up in her fears, a groan from Misato broke her from her thoughts. "Uh…Maya…?"

She sounds scared, was Maya's first thought, actually smiling. Then again, who wouldn't be? Hoping that fear and common sense were sinking into Misato's mind, she turned towards the older woman, whose face was lowered to the floor.

"Look, Major, it's not too late," Maya began, her voice on of pure sympathy. "I understand how you must feel, and…I'm sure you must be worried, and…"

"That's…not it," Misato got out, struggling with her words. Maya frowned…only to have her eyes bug clear out of their sockets when the Major met her gaze with eyes that were pulsating with deadly green light. Green that was already trying to force its way through veins as she smiled ruefully and confessed, "I don't think I'm gonna need that provoker…after all."

Her jaw falling to the floor as one of her many fears was realized, Maya cried out, "Oh, shit! Major! You can't transform now! We're not in position!"

"I know…Maya," Misato growled, her body already bulging beneath the loose NERV jumpsuit she now wore. "But…trying telling that…to her!"

"Major, if you transform now, we'll have to jettison you and the bomb!" Maya reminded her, horrified as wisps of green ran through her blood, touching her muscles. The monster within her already clawing its way to the surface.

"I know that, but…she doesn't care! She wants out! She wants…to get out…and kill that thing!" Misato spat out, a savage grin splitting her face. "For that matter…so do I!"

Looking this way and that for a way out of this nightmare, Maya could only look at the open intercom. "Makoto! How much longer until we're position?!"

"Just a few more seconds!" the bespectacled Lieutenant replied. "I just need to verify our position with the MAGI before we can deploy!"

Finding those few seconds too long a time for her liking, Maya turned to look at the Major. Tears were already appearing in her jumpsuit, her skin darkening as wild instinct twisted her face. "Maya…get to the bridge!" Misato ordered, her voice almost a roar. "You…you're in charge now! Complete the mission…no matter what!"

Frozen for a moment's time, Maya could only watch as a hate-filled growl tore its way free of Misato's throat. This was all the incentive she needed to run away, to head to the cockpit. Thinking to herself, As if I didn't hate flying enough as it is!


Misato could feel it rising up within her. The beast, the savage destroyer that had been spawned by both the power of Adam and human science, was making its way to the surface. Her mind, her very humanity was slowly being wiped away, being replaced by feral impulses, by instinct and rage.

Not…just yet! Misato cried out within her own mind, trying to reason with that which could not be reasoned with. Just…a little longer…!

Smash the Angel…smash it, kill it, crush it, smash it… another voice rang within her. Something ancient and terrible, that had been a part of humans since their evolution. That had enabled them to survive against creatures bigger and stronger than them before they had the power of civilization to shield them.

No! Not yet! Misato fought back, trying to hold onto her own mind, just for a little while longer. If I change now…then they'll jettison me! Jettison us! And then…we'll never get to the Angel! And then…it will be the children facing that damned thing!

This bought her a moment of blessed silence, a brief respite. The…children…?

Yes! Think about them! Think…about Shinji! she fought back. Holding the image of the boy who had already suffered so much, partly because of Misato and her need for revenge. We…just have once chance. Have to do this right…because if you screw this up…that Angel will be falling on his head! Got that?!

Though the creature's rage and her own hatred of the Angels continued to rise within her, Misato could sense the monster's hesitation. It gave her barely enough leeway to halt the transformation, hold it down.

The strain was murderous. Beyond anything Misato could have imagined. Sweat rolled down her face, her heart pounded incessantly, every cell of her body screamed in pain as they hovered on the verge between one form and another. But she held on, screwed her eyes shut in concentration. Focused her thoughts on the people in her life, the people who lived in Tokyo-3, who would lose their homes, their hope for the future if the Angel wasn't stopped. She saw the children, who bore the burden that she had forced on them. She saw her Shinji, trapped in a life that only served to make him unhappy…

"Now!" Makoto's cut in, even as Misato heard the door pop open.

Her green eyes shooting open, Misato let an inhuman howl as she and the N2 were launched from the interceptor. The wind rushing past her, the interceptor spinning about in her view, Misato tumbled uncontrollably through the air. Every fragile mental barricade she had erected against the beast was shattered. Gasping as raw, untamed power rushing through her body, causing muscles to swell and her bones to rebuild themselves for greater strength. Green spread across her skin, her slight frame giving away and exploding out of the jumpsuit, leaving nothing but rags about the newly freed She-Hulk.

It's up to you, now! Misato cried out, even as she fell into the darkness of her own subconscious. Don't screw this up, or…it'll be the children fighting this thing. So don't let them down. Don't let him down!

With this last thought echoing in her primitive mind, She-Hulk looked about, caught sight of the Angel…and snarled eagerly.


"Did she make it?!" Maya asked as she arrived in the cockpit, her face the very picture of desperation.

"Confirmed!" Makoto reported, his eyes glued to the image of the figure falling towards the Angel. "The Major is transformed, and she's on course for the Angel!"

Frowning as she watched, Maya looked on helplessly as She-Hulk fell, her deadly burden all too visible. Misato's orders ringing within her mind. "What about the Angel? Any sign that it's noticed her?"

"Not that I can see," Shigeru informed them. "It's still descending."

"Can the Major catch it?" Makoto wondered.

"Looks like it," Shigeru informed them. "The Angel is still approaching Tokyo-3, so it's not in freefall. Not yet."

The three of them just kept watching as She-Hulk continued to fall closer to the Angel, tension dripping from the longhaired Lieutenant as he reported, "Fifteen seconds until she comes in contact with the Angel's AT-Field!"

Unconsciously, the three of them kept leaning closer to the monitor, watching in silence as She-Hulk fell, the seconds passing by silently. Then, with blinding intensity, the gamma-powered Amazon slammed into the protective wall of light that all Angels possessed. Though they could hear nothing, the three bridge bunnies could easily imagine the screech of rage that She-Hulk was surely releasing.

The monitor set to maximum magnification, Maya and the others continued to watch as She-Hulk clawed at the AT-Field, her muscles bulging as she flexed her arms, and began pulling the wall of energy apart. As the crack in the barrier became larger, the savage she-beast wedged her feet into it and began exerting her legs as well. Even as the AT-Field tried to close in about her, the beast-woman fought back, worming her way through the barrier. Then, with a final savage roar, She-Hulk fell free of the AT-Field, she and the N2 mine continuing to fall towards her enemy.

Letting out a sigh after one hurdle was circumvented, Maya leaned back, running her forearm across her brow. "Say, Maya?" came Shigeru's voice.

"Yeah?" Maya replied, looking at the part-time guitarist. Who was looking several shades paler than usual.

"I was just wondering," Shigeru started, looking in grim humor as She-Hulk successfully landed on the edge of the Angel's main body. "Do you think we're allowed to feel sorry for an Angel?"


As She-Hulk's bare feet touched down on the orange flesh of the Angel, she looked about wildly, her eyes burning with animalistic hatred. Raising her arms in warning, she cut loose with a mighty roar that cracked the very air around her.

The strange sensations that Misato had sensed, She-Hulk felt with many times the intensity. Sensations that drove her rage to new heights, sending her out of her mind with fury. She looked around and saw the Angel. Saw one of the things that she hated above all. And it was everywhere. Everywhere!

"Detaching N2 mine!" came a voice She-Hulk recognized. Frowning in confusion, she looked about but did not see the source of the voice. Instead, she heard a slight detonation and growled as her balance shifted. Turning to look behind her, she saw the strange object she had been carrying fall to the Angel's flesh. With a mechanical hiss, a series of spikes spat up from the device's surface, burying themselves within the Angel's skin.

"That did it!" came another voice, one that Misato knew. Within the She-Hulk's mind, visions of people from her other life appeared. "The mine is in place! We can detonate at any time!"

"Major! This is Maya! Can you hear me?" came another voice.

The beast-woman didn't respond. She merely snorted as she looked about, and once again saw herself surrounded by the Angel. Felt the power it wielded, so similar to that which she hated above all.

"Listen to me! The mine is ready to detonate!" Maya continued. "You have to jump now! We can't destroy the Angel with you still there!"

Destroy the Angel…? the creature thought, and all of the sudden, she exploded with fury. Roaring hatefully, she focused her fury on the Angel, bringing her fists together, and driving them down upon the huge bomber. Her eyes spitting emerald fury, She-Hulk drew up her fists, only to slam them down again. And again, with each strike she made sending sparks of green fire into the air, orange flesh shuddering against the power of her green fists.

"Major, please! Stop it!" Maya's voice rang out again. "You have to jump now! We just have fifteen minutes left until the Angel crashes! Please!"

Snarling, She-Hulk swatted at her ear and felt something crunching. Bringing her hand away, she saw tiny shards of plastic in her hand. However, what was most important to her was that the voice was now silent.

Though she was incapable of articulating such thoughts, She-Hulk was glad for the silence. She didn't want anyone chattering at her to leave the Angel, she didn't want to hear about plans and how she should escape. Because she didn't want to escape. She didn't care about stupid machines or minutes or any of those other things. All that she knew, all that she really cared about, was that an Angel was right here, within her grasp. And she wasn't going to escape. She wasn't going to jump so that something else could kill it. Because she was the one who would smash the Angel. It was hers, her prey, her enemy. No one else could have it, no one would take this kill from her.

Already forgetting the voice and the stupid machine, She-Hulk knelt down upon the Angel and drove her fist into it. Her green knuckles tore into the Angel's body, digging deep into its flesh. Roaring at the sight of blood spilling forth from the wound, at the pain she was wreaking on her enemy, the green destroyer gritted her teeth, and brought her free hand to the wound while withdrawing her other fist. Placing her hands on both ends of the wound, She-Hulk began tearing at it, widening the opening. Causing more blood to spill forth.

She wanted more. She wanted to hear the Angel scream in pain, to squeal with every twist of its flesh. To cry out at her every blow. She wanted it to suffer. To suffer as she herself had.

Spreading her arms, She-Hulk forced the wound ever wider, until it was several feet wide. Grinning savagely at the ragged flesh she saw within. The blood that was still oozing forth, with pustules of orange appearing before her. Pustules that kept growing…until they detached from the wound and began to float away.

Grunting in suspicion, She-Hulk watched as the globes of Angelic tissue floated towards her. Something about this seemed familiar, sparking memories of something Misato had seen. Something that was somehow dangerous.

As She-Hulk examined the globules, her attention was torn between them and the gaping wound that she still held open. What caution she had inherited from Misato soon giving way to the seething hatred she had, the desire to rip open this hole even further. To tear this Angel apart.

Finally, with a roar of consummate rage, She-Hulk greeted the encroaching globes with her fist, intent on smashing them.

Much to her surprise, the globules smashed back.

At the slightest contact, the globes exploded with a blast of light and noise. Staggered by the unexpected assault, She-Hulk finally recovered, and looked back at where the unexpected enemies had appeared from. As the residual dust and debris cleared, not only could she see more of the globules appear, but before her emerald irises, the wound she had just torn open closed and mended itself. Disappearing into nothingness.

Furious at how she was being thwarted by this hateful abomination, She-Hulk sucked in breath after infuriated breath. Her first impulse was to smash the stupid little globes that were in her way. But she had already seen the result of such an act. So she took in another deep breath, her eyes lighting up, and released a massive roar. A massive green distortion rippled through the air, slamming into the globules, detonating them well away from the green beast stood.

Grinning in triumph, She-Hulk crouched and flexed her arms, displaying her muscles, her overwhelming power at the puny Angel that was trying to destroy her home. To take what little she had left from her.

The Angel's response was to have even more of the globules appear from its skin. Tiny orange bombs that floated towards She-Hulk.

Snarling her frustration, the Amazonian destroyer roared again, cutting a swathe through the bombs. They then detonated, taking many of their fellows with them. But this still left more to be smashed. So she roared again. And again. Smashing globe after globe, lighting up the Angel's skin with fire and destruction.

And still more appeared. More coming closer to her, from every side.

Her rage growing, She-Hulk's strength grew as well. With every breath she took, her mass increased. Muscles swelled even more, splitting her jumpsuit even further.

The globes were not impressed. They simply kept growing closer as She-Hulk roared, sending destruction at them again. Turning her head from one side to the next, the mighty beast-woman's Impact Roar cut apart her enemies, clearing away everything that stood before her. Even as the globes sprouted, they were destroyed before they could even fully appear, shredding the Angel's orange skin.

She-Hulk was delighted and took another breath, determined to roar, and keep roaring. To smash the Angel apart with its own stupid globules.

Until she was reminded that there were globules behind her as well.

Another flash of light and noise appearing from behind, She-Hulk was sent flying by the blast. More surprised than anything, the green beast quickly recovered, and looked back. Seeing more of the puny little globes that were trying to hurt her, to smash her, she snarled lividly, her fingers digging into the Angel's flesh. Acting on pure instinct, She-Hulk tore two chunks of the Angel's body away and flung them at the globes. Once again, they detonated…but this did nothing to clear away the sheer number of them. Did nothing to change the fact that they were swarming her.

Snorting and snarling as they continued to close in on her, She-Hulk instinctively began swatting at them. Waving her arms frantically at the stupid globes that were keeping her from smashing the Angel. The globes hovered about her, one coming out right before her. Almost as if it were mocking her, laughing at her impotence.

Completely out of her mind with rage, the jade giantess swung both hands, determined to smash the stupid globe so thoroughly, it wouldn't be able to smash her back. She-Hulk missed the globule, and with all her immense strength, her hands slammed together…and released a deafening roar of thunder.

To her astonishment, the tremendous force she unleashed sent all of the stupid little balls scurrying away from her, scattering in every direction. Looking about, She-Hulk saw that for a moment, she was free of her tormentors. Then she saw more of the balls trying to appear while the rest were changing course, once again trying to attack her.

Snarling, She-Hulk once again slammed her hands together, the concussive force of the strike scattering the balls again. Her heart pounding in her fury, her face twisted with savage delight at the new power that she had found. The stupid little balls could no longer stop her. All that was left to was to smash the puny Angel.

Bending down, she once again dug her hands into the Angel's body and began ripping into its body. Growling, She-Hulk kept peeling away more and more, moving forward as she kept tearing into the Angel until she had a lengthy section of the Angel's flesh in her hands. With a final, savage yank, she freed the piece of flesh from the Angel's body and raised it high above her head. Roaring in triumph, she looked at the bloody mess she had left, a wound that was already trying to close itself, even as it sprouted more of the stupid, exploding balls.

Not giving the balls a chance to lift away from the Angel, She-Hulk took the chunk of the Angel's own body and slammed it down upon the wound. The balls exploding from the impact, She-Hulk saw that all the Angel had succeeded in doing was helping her deepen the wound in its body. Looking into the wound, She-Hulk felt something tickling in the back of her brain. An awareness of some kind. As she stared at the wound, the savage Amazon knew something was down there. Something important.

She-Hulk didn't know how she knew; she didn't even have enough of a mind to wonder about such things. All that really mattered was that she knew. With a deep grin, She-Hulk leaped into the wound, determined to find whatever she was sensing and smash it.

Just as she jumped, the Angel tried to send even more of the stupid globes after her. She-Hulk's response was to roar even as she fell, blowing apart the balls before they could finish taking shape. The massive detonation resulted in further carnage, deepening the hole in the Angel's body before mindless savage had even landed. Her bare feet landed in a pool of blood, her nose filling with the sensation of the Angel's pain. This sensation drove her completely wild as she bent down and began digging. Tearing into the Angel, she dug out chunks of its body and sent them flying away. In response, the stupid Angel tried to send more of its tiny balls against her, but She-Hulk quickly obliterated them, her Impact Roar ripping many of the balls apart. Widening the hole and making the tickle in her mind even stronger. Until finally, as she hurled gobbets of the Angel's body away, she saw something.

Instead of blood or orange flesh, She-Hulk saw something crystalline before her. A deep red gem, whose glow filled her eyes.

The core, Misato's voice whispered into the She-Hulk's simple mind. Must smash…smash Angel.

At the same time, the light of the core sent She-Hulk's mind reeling with hatred and rage. Roaring her fury at the thing, she fell upon the core, pounding it with all her strength. Driving her fists into the core time after time, the beast-woman lashed out, lost in her fury. Snippets of her human life wafted before her eyes, images of people and places long gone, stolen from her by the Angels.

Rage and strength flooding her body, She-Hulk watched as each blow she struck cracked the core that much more, until finally, her rage at its peak, she punched the core, and her fist shattered the crystal, driving deeply into it.

A roar of purest victory tore free from her throat, even as the Angel's flesh swelled dangerously…and finally exploded.


For several minutes, Maya and the others watched from the relative safety of the interceptor. Watched as their former superior became lost within the confines of her own mutation. Fought the battle that none of them could.

This was a feeling that they were all used to. What they weren't used to was being cut off from their friend. Unable to warn her, advise of what was happening. Unable to help her escape when it looked like she was in danger.

Then, as Shigeru monitored the situation, relief shone in his face. "The Major did it!" he cried out. "She got to the core! The blue pattern's dissipating!"

At these words, a deep sigh of relief escaped from Maya. She wiped away the sweat that had been building up since She-Hulk had smashed the earpiece that connected her to them. It's over, was the weary thought that ran through her mind.

Just in time for the Angel to explode.

Reeling with horror as her mind was cleared of all thought, Maya watched with her friends as the Angel split apart, destroyed by its own power. This explosion was followed by a second one, a blast of blinding light that surpassed the force of the initial explosion. Just barely functioning, she automatically realized that what she had seen was the N2 mine Maya herself had helped ready for this mission.

"No! Major!" Maya cried out helplessly, bringing her hands to her eyes. Desperate to blind herself to her friend's death.

Staggered by the sheer force of what he had seen, Makoto the jumped in his seat. "Wait! I see something!" he cried out, jabbing a finger at the monitor.

Following Makoto's finger, Maya scrutinized the screen and saw that something was falling from the billowing cloud of the Angel's demise. "Debris from the blast?"

"I don't think so," Shigeru reported, his fingers pounding on his workstation. After several seconds, he let go a smile. "I'm picking up a red/blue pattern and gamma signature! It's the Major!"

"She's alive?!" Makoto cried out in delighted relief.

Maya suffered a moment of relief before she realized that the Major wasn't safe just yet. Even if She-Hulk was still alive, she had just endured two massive explosions. And with the sheer force of them, the safety gear she had been equipped with would certainly have been destroyed. Leaving her thousands of feet in the air, without a parachute. Punching one of the controls, the Captain opened a channel to their backup team. "Shinji, Asuka, Rei! Please, come in!"

"What is it, Maya?" Shinji asked, even as his image and those of the others appeared before her.

"Listen to me!" Maya cried out desperately. "The Major just destroyed the Angel, but she's lost her parachute!"

"What?!" Shinji gasped out, his expression becoming one of purest horror.

"Shigeru, monitor the Major! And send her course to the children!" Maya ordered, beyond all of her fears and acting on impulse. "If there's any chance of saving her, we have to take it!"

"On it!" Shigeru replied, his fingers dancing as sweat once again poured down his face.

"All Evas, move out!" Maya ordered, her own heart thundering at the fear, the knowledge, that she was already too late.


Misato! was the thought that ran through Shinji's mind as Unit 01's umbilical detached, the horned destroyer launching into a run. In his mind, he saw his guardian plunging to the Earth, but not as the green beast she had been cursed to become. Instead, he saw her wearing a radiation suit, the same one she had cracked before braving the inside of the Jet Alone robot.

He had failed to save her then. Shinji was determined that he would not fail her again.

"Listen, we only have a rough trajectory, based on what we can see from up here!" Maya told them, pure desperation wrapped around each word. "I don't know what you can do, but…please, just do something!"

Maya's words and the image of Misato spurring him on, Shinji was oblivious to the buildings as they blurred past him, to the trees and mountains. He ignored the timer that ticked down the minutes of power available to him. His eyes were on the sky, searching desperately for any sign of the monster that held the heart of a woman. A woman who meant so much to him.

Desperately following the information relayed to the Eva, Shinji spied…something. He wasn't sure if it was a cloud or what, but it was falling to his right. Adjusting course, he watched as the tiny speck in the sky grew more visible. He still wasn't sure what it was, but a corona of fire surrounded it.

Something pricking the back of his mind, Shinji forced Unit 01 to move that much faster. Time slowed to a crawl as he watched the fiery object fall closer. The hum of the Eva faded away, the taste of blood that was always with him disappeared. His entire world became that object. An object that the Eva leaped up towards…and caught in its hands.

"Misato!" Shinji cried out as the Eva landed, digging furrows in the Earth as he looked at what he had caught. His eyes took in the lines, the curves of the being that now lay in Unit 01's hands, and smiled. For despite the burning flames coloring her flesh, despite the fact that she was once again completely nude, he still saw her moving. And knew that his Misato was alive.

Then he realized that something was wrong.

Though Shinji couldn't see any signs of her being injured, She-Hulk was still writhing about in the Eva's hands, growling, clutching her own body like she was getting ready to explode. At first, he thought she was just in pain from the impact, until he realized something.

Though the flames that clung to her body had mostly died out, her skin was still a fiery red.

"Misato?!" Shinji cried out, his voice being carried by the Eva's external speakers. As he watched in confusion, She-Hulk twisted about, falling from Unit 01's grasp. Landing on the grassy earth, her red flesh set the fauna ablaze with the slightest touch.

Unable to sit by and watch and knowing that Unit 01's power would not last much longer, Shinji maneuvered the Eva so that it was lying down, and then extended the Entry Plug. Forcing open the hatch, Shinji dragged himself into the open air, falling to his knees and coughing up the LCL that filled his lungs. The sickening sensation of disgorging the foul fluid wreaking havoc on him, Shinji did his best to recover, and slowly staggered to his feet, and watch as She-Hulk rampaged.

"Misato!" he cried out, running fearlessly towards the creature, even as she roared. Her voice cut open the air, carrying both rage and pain as a wave of green poured from her mouth.

Shinji's face twisted with shock, for this Impact Roar was different than those of the past. The green wave was far more intense than all the previous ones, and every time it touched something, it practically melted. The trees and bushes incinerated, wrapped in green flames as they sagged into molten charcoal. The beast-woman roared again and again, bringing her fists down upon the earth and shattering everything she could lay her hands upon. Her entire body was shuddering, as if she couldn't stay still, even for a moment.

Shaking his head as he watched her continue, rampaging mindlessly and completely out-of-control, Shinji was brought to the verge of tears. "Misato!" he cried one more time.

With a start, the savage Amazon looked about, her eyes meeting Shinji's own. Steam rising up from her form, her breasts heaving with each breath, she looked at the boy. And before Shinji's eyes, Misato began to change. The twitches and spasms that wracked her body slowly eased and her blazing red skin slowly darkened, becoming a familiar shade of green.

Heaving a deep breath of relief, Shinji walked towards She-Hulk, his eyes focused on the face that remained relatively unchanged from that of his guardian. "Misato," he smiled, even as the creature stumbled towards him as well. Tilting this way, then that, the creature finally fell to one knee.

Quickening his pace, Shinji went up to her. For a moment, his old fear of contact tried to restrain him, but in the end, Shinji placed his hands about She-Hulk. With his touch, she looked at him, relief appearing in her feral eyes, and once again, she began to change. Green slowly faded to pink, her body became slender and smaller. Eventually, Misato Katsuragi collapsed onto Shinji, her arms wrapped about his tiny frame.

When the final spark of green abandoned her brown eyes, Misato looked groggily at Shinji's face, and was met with a tear-filled face…and the brightest, most genuine of smiles. "Shinji…" she got out. The boy said nothing; he simply knelt there, sniffing happily. "Did I…did I do it?" Misato asked, mustering all the strength she could to ask this question. Her desperate need for this answer shining through.

Nodding eagerly, Shinji answered, "You did it, Misato. The Angel's gone, all because of you."

Sighing, a blissful expression shaping her features, Misato tightened her grip on the boy, even as her eyes closed. Already asleep, she fell on top of Shinji, the two of them toppling to the ground. With Shinji turning red as he got a face full of Misato's cleavage. Just as the pounding feet of two other Evas were heard approaching.


"Auugh! That little pervert!" Asuka was heard screeching, her voice transmitted to the interceptor.

"Asuka?" Maya got out, her uniform soaked with sweat. Sweat born of being blind, of being helpless. "What is it? What's going on?!"

"Ikari-kun located Major Katsuragi," Rei reported, sounding as cool and collected as she usually did. "She is currently unconscious, but appears unharmed."

"Yeah, and the old whore is all over the baka!" Asuka sneered disdainfully. "Honestly, what is the matter with him, anyway?!"

Ignoring Asuka's diatribe about hormonal Stooges and drunken sluts, Maya sat back in her chair, the tension abandoning her as the news that everyone was alright slowly worked its way through her. Her entire body felt weak, and her breath came slowly.

"Hey, Maya!" Shigeru started. Looking about vaguely at her surroundings, the Captain eventually focused on the part-time guitarist. "The Major did it! Isn't this great?"

"Yeah!" Makoto agreed with somewhat sour attitude. "Great for Shinji, anyway!"

Nodding slowly, thoughtfully, Maya then shook her head. Yeah, everything worked out just fine…this time, she thought, knowing full well that this was what her life would like for now on. Until the Major was cured or Gendo could think of someone to replace her…she would go through this exact same scenario, time after time. Watching helplessly as the people under her command struggled against impossible odds, risking life and limb, while she sat back, perfectly safe, and perfectly helpless to do anything but watch as her orders put the people she cared for in harm's way.

"Say, Makoto? Shigeru?" Maya asked, remembering her earlier conversation with Misato.

"Yeah? What is it?" Makoto replied, looking at her in concern.

"Do you…know any good bars?" Maya asked tiredly. "I think I need a drink. Bad."


"Congratulations, Misato," Ritsuko grinned, standing once more the Major's current dwelling with a laughing curl to her lips. "Short of the Angel annihilating Tokyo-3, just about everything that could have gone wrong with this operation did go wrong." Taking a deep breath as she examined her friend, she looked at her and the other pilots, who were presently gathered there. "Still, the Angel was destroyed, and you're all still breathing, so I guess I can't complain too much."

"I guess not," Misato agreed from her place on the sofa. Still wearing the same smile of deep satisfaction that she had worn since she had woken up in NERV Medical.

"So, how does it feel?" Ritsuko asked, sitting down before her. "Finally getting back at one of the Angels?"

Her smile only deepening with a certain wry humor, Misato averted her eyes, seeming to consider the question. "It feels pretty damned good, actually. Though I'm sure it'd feel better if I could actually remember killing the damned thing!"

This statement got a laugh out of everyone present, save for Rei. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it," Asuka spoke, her hands at her hips. "Because the next Angel that shows up is going to be all mine!"

"Not if I get to it first!" Misato countered.

As even more laughter resulted of this exchange, Shinji looked at the doctor. "Uh, Akagi-san?" the boy asked. "Have you figured out what happened to Misato? I mean…why did she turn red back there?"

"I'm not sure," Ritsuko admitted, not liking the unanswered question. "There's still a great deal we don't know about this mutation. We'll have to conduct some more tests, but…" Leaving the sentence hanging, Ritsuko finally shrugged, holding up her hands helplessly.

These words hung in the air, dampening the air of celebration. The sudden gloom was dispelled when a communications link opened from the bridge. A holographic display appeared in the center of the living room, just above the table situated between Misato and the children seated there. "Hey, Major?" came Shigeru's voice as he appeared in the display.

"Hey, Shigeru," Misato smiled. "How're you and the others doing?"

"Oh, we're all okay," the guitarist replied easily. "Listen, our wireless communications have been restored. We're receiving a transmission from Commander Ikari. He wants to talk to you."

Her expression hardening, Misato nodded. "Connect him, please."

"Yes, ma'am," Shigeru answered. His image then disappeared from the hologram, and was replaced by the words, 'Sound Only'.

"Major Katsuragi. I just got the report regarding NERV's engagement against this most recent Angel," Gendo started without preamble. "However, there are several…gaps in it."

"I apologize, sir," Misato returned politely. "Due to the sensitive nature of the engagement, I felt it…unwise to send the full report to you directly."

"Should we take this to mean that a more…complete version will be waiting for us upon our return?" Fuyutsuki asked.

"Yes, sir," Misato replied.

"I see," Gendo said, his words telling them that he already had a rough idea as to how this battle was won. "In any case, excellent work, Major Katsuragi. I look forward to seeing you…and hearing the full story."

"Thank you, Commander," Misato nodded.

"That will be all for now," Gendo continued. "I'll leave the handling of the rest of this in your hands."

"Yes, sir," was all Misato could say to that.

The holographic display then returned to an image of Shigeru. "Transmission terminated, Major."

"Understood. Thanks again," Misato answered, and Shigeru himself disappeared. The purple-haired woman then leaned back, stretching like the proverbial cat who ate the canary. "So now that we've saved the world…what do we do now?"

"Well, all things considered, I think that a victory like this deserves a reward, don't you?" Ritsuko spoke, an impish smile forming on her serious face. "So…who's in the mood for five-star dinner, courtesy of one of the finest restaurants in Tokyo-3? Delivered here for all of you to enjoy?"

Misato's eyes expanded at this. "No way!" she got out, unable to believe what her best friend was saying. "A five-star dinner?! Are you kidding me?!"

"Well, all things considered, I think you deserve a victory celebration," Ritsuko stated, looking warmly at her friend. "So what do you say, Misato? My treat?"

"What do I say?" Misato replied, cocking her to one side. "I'd say that you must get paid a lot more than I do if you can afford something like!"

Ritsuko just laughed at that. "So, I guess I should take that as a yes?"

"Yeah. Definitely," Misato agreed. However, as she watched her friend depart, a dark cloud once again appeared on her face.

Noticing the change in expression, Shinji leaned towards her worriedly. "Misato? What is it?"

"Huh?" Misato started. Turning to face Shinji, she put a smile on her face for his benefit. "Oh, it's nothing, Shinji-kun! I was just…wondering what I should have for dinner, that's all!"

Seemingly satisfied by this, Shinji looked away. And so he didn't see Misato's worried expression return. For her thoughts weren't on dinner, or of food at all. She found herself thinking of how she had been able to locate the Angel, the strange feeling it had inspired in her. A feeling so similar to what she had experienced in Gendo's office.

I'm going to have some questions for the Commander when he gets back, Misato decided grimly. And he better have some really good answers for me…or else.


Author's Notes: Ouch. Never thought I'd feel sorry for an Angel! I hope this battle satisfied you smash-happy types out there! Please, read and review! And check out my other stories as well, please!

Now, as some of you know, I have a site on DeviantArt, and have posted some sketches of the Superwomen of Eva. I recently did a rough of the scene where Misato/She-Hulk hijacks the beer truck from Chapter 3. It's rated mature, and I hope you all like it.

I must admit, as much fun as this particular story has been for me, this certainly hasn't been the easiest of crossovers to do, simply because of its very nature. Considering Misato's personality, plus the very nature of Tokyo-3 and the Eva-verse, I couldn't see her transformation remaining secret for any real length of time. Especially with Section 2 running around, keeping an eye on her place. So I knew that the instant she started transforming, her secret would be out in the open. And once that happened, Misato would only have two paths available to her; becoming trapped within NERV headquarters, or going on the run, ala Bruce Banner. And being on the run, she wouldn't exactly be available to fight Angels, now would she?

Then there's the matter of the cause of her condition, namely Jet Alone. A situation that was perfectly contrived to give her a gamma-powered boost, if there ever was one. The only problem is, the next Angel that shows up after that was the 6th Angel. And She-Hulk isn't exactly suited for a water battle. Not to mention that when she spins out, she would have to do so through the people on the bridge of the Over the Rainbow. Not a great situation, to say the least.

So I started running through Angels, as well as possible solutions to my problem. Then it came very neatly to me; have Adam or something related to Adam be the final activator for her condition! Come up with a situation that brings Misato into close contact with the 1st Angel, and go from there! Which was why I did it the way I did: Gendo does not spend a lot of time with her to begin with, so her promotion seemed like the most probable opportunity. Plus, having a trigger like that gives me plenty of opportunities to have her hulk-out for a cameo appearance in just about any of the other stories.

Still, I have to admit, I've run into my share of problems. For example, I knew exactly from the start how I wanted her to destroy the 10th Angel, but I also knew that I had to show Misato that She-Hulk could break through AT-Fields, or she would never have committed to such a plan. Which is one of the reasons I involved Spirit in this fic. (Not that I don't have other reasons, mind you!)

Of course, I know I could have avoided all this by giving Misato complete control of her transformation and such right from the word go, but let's be honest here; where's the fun in that?

Not much else to say right now. On to the omakes!

Omake 1

"Misato!" Shinji cried out as the Eva landed, digging furrows in the Earth as he looked at what he had caught. His eyes took in the lines, the curves of the being that now lay in Unit 01's hands, and smiled. For despite the burning flames coloring her flesh, despite the fact that she was once again completely nude, he still saw her moving. And knew that his Misato was alive.

Then he realized that something was wrong.

"Hey, there, Shinji-kun," She-Hulk grinned, getting to her feet and standing to face the Eva, completely unconcerned over the fact that she was nude. "Thanks for the save! Not that I really needed it, but…"

"Huh? Misato?" Shinji asked, completely aghast at the situation. "Are you…is that you?"

"Hmmm…not exactly," She-Hulk admitted.

"And…why are you gray now?" Shinji wondered, perplexed by this development.

"Who knows?" She-Hulk answered, shrugging like she couldn't have cared less. With some poutiness to her, she looked at Unit 01. "Aw, don't tell me you don't like what you see, Shinji-kun?"

"Wha…?" Shinji started, completely thrown by this turn. Then he shook his head rapidly. "Oh, no! Of course not! You look great! Really! It just…surprised me. That's all."

"Good!" She-Hulk replied. "Now, could you be a good little boy, and get me back to Tokyo-3 already? I've got some…power-shopping to do!"

"Power-shopping?" Shinji repeated, completely at a loss.


"Misato!" Ritsuko cried out, her jaw falling to the floor as she took in the scene before her. "What are you doing?!"

"Taking over the place, what's it look like?" She-Hulk grinned, tipping her wide-brimmed hat as she surveyed the bridge.

"Whoa!" Makoto got out, eyes popping out as he took in She-Hulk's form. "You look great in that!"

"Thanks, Makoto!" She-Hulk replied, doing a little twirl to show off her new outfit. A purple business suit and dress that did absolutely nothing to conceal her legs and breasts. "Now, c'mon, children! Let's show them how it's done!"

"Right! Stick'em up!" Asuka grinned, wearing a red suit and carrying a Tommy gun as she marched up to the various NERV personnel present.

"Yes," Rei agreed, with a white business suit and another Tommy gun.

"Uh, right!" Shinji gulped, nervously holding his gun, shifting about uncomfortably in his blue business suit and hat. "Keep your hands where we can see them!"

"Good advice, Shinji-kun!" She-Hulk commended. "Let's get to work! I want to have everything ready for when that dirty rat bastard Gendo gets back! Misato Fixit is in charge now, and he'd better be ready for me…or else!"

Omake 2

"Well, there you go, Misato!" a fanfic writer comments, gesturing at the chapter he had just finished writing. "You finally managed to kill an Angel, all by yourself, you've got a pretty nice place inside of NERV, and a five-star dinner to celebrate!"

Misato growled, folding her big, green arms as she looked things over. "Yeah, that's a nice start, alright! But I'm still not in control of the transformation in your story, and I'm not even close to getting into bed with Shinji!"

"Now, wait a minute! Those things…they take time!" Orion protested, waving his arms desperately. "I mean, there are certain things I have to do for the integrity of the story. Now, I am working on it, and…!"

"Well, I suggest you work faster!" Misato snarls, dangling the writer up by the scruff of his shirt and twirling him about. "And make sure that there's more fanservice in the next chapter! I've got a reputation to maintain as the Queen of Fan Service, you know!"

"I know, believe me, I know!" Orion protests, just before being dropped back into his chair.

"And you! Yeah, you! You people out there, reading this story!" Misato growls, pointing as her eyes flashed a deeper green. "I better see more reviews over here, and quick! Or else I'm coming over to your places, and ripping up all your X-Men comics! And if you don't have any of those to tear up, I'll find something else to demolish!"

Meanwhile, Orion is sitting at the table, his head in his hands. And here I thought I'd be safe doing some of my work back on in real life, he thought glumly. Why did I have to forget that one of She-Hulk's powers is the ability to cross the fourth wall whenever she feels like it?