Hey everyone, How is it going?
Nice to meet you, my name is Corbak and I'm a simple writer trying to make my way into the universe. Incidentally, I'm a huge fan of Rebuild of Evangelion, especially the third movie which is easily standing in my personal top 3. It's so odd-looking, so mysterious, so fucked up... I love it!
And also, I hate loving it because its universe has the same amount of background as a wallpaper in a college computer. It's completely empty of explanations, open to interpretations and it frustrates me because I want to picture my favourite characters evolving in this universe. I wanted to imagine what happened.
So, naturally, I did what everybody would do: I looked for fan content. And... Folks, we are at loss. There is way too little stuff writed on the Rebuild universe. Like: Nobody seems to like these movies enough to write some content on it.
That's why I did what everybody would (eventually) do: I decided to write my own fic. I started about 8 months ago and ended up putting it on standby because the last movie was about to be released, and I didn't wanted to see my story ruined by some fresh canon. Then, as you all know, we got Covid and the movie got delayed, I found the file in my computer and decided to release it anyway after a bit of reworking, as a distraction until 3.0+1.0 finally comes out. So here I am, and here you are too.
(thank you for reading my work)
Red Angel is a fanfic set between Evangelion 2.22 and Evangelion 3.33. It begins after the third-impact and may end before the mission is space (Evas in space, how awesome is that, seriously?). The events I'm narrating are based partially on my own interpretation of the characters of the show, but also largely inspired by a large panel of theories and analysis made by other fans and compiled in some high-quality wikis like this one: Guides:Evangelion_3.33_FAQ which is worth taking a look at if you didn't understand a thing out of these movies.
Before you start, I have to warn you that English is not my first language, so this fanfic may contain a lot of spelling mistakes. Feel free to report them, it will help me improve my knowledge of the english language. Additionally, this fanfic will essentially revolve around the character of Asuka Shikinami Langley, because she is best girl and I love writing stuff from her perspective. Asushin team here, sorry haters. :p
and finally here is the expected DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rebuild of Evangelion or any of the characters, no profit is made over this work, this is just fan content made for my own fun and the happiness of other fans.
Have a nice read!
Corbak (en chaussette ou en basquette)
(July 13th 2018, 14h47; USS Over-the-Rainbow. (temporal NERV headquarters) 2 months after third impact. Somewhere on the Pacific Ocean)
The USS Over-The-Rainbow was a true wonder of technology, everybody in the military would agree without hesitation. 315 meters long, 287 meters wide, a transport capacity estimated at 45 000 tons and a large battery of various naval weapons including 20 millimeters heavy cannons, long-range missiles, torpedoes, anti-submarine grenades and, cherry on top, 5 tactical nukes mounted on intercontinental cruise missiles. Enough firepower to destroy half of a continent, all packed in a fortress of steel specially designed to be the last monstruosity floating at the end of our times, that's probably how it was introduced to the UN the day he was serviced. Ironically this sentence turned almost prophetic many years later when it was assigned to the remnants of NERV, as a new base of operations, after the old one was made unusable following the event of the aborted 3rd Impact.
Since then, the ship had been modernized to fit NERV's requirements. A gigantic power generator had been installed installed on the bridge, as well as a large range of over sized handguns and melee weapons, all designed and patiently assembled to equip Evas, the ultimate weapons of Mankind against their greater foes, the Angels. The insides of the ship weren't forgotten. The command center was modernized with the latest technology, and the crew capacity raised by adding new settlements. Deep down inside the ship, behind several recently installed decontamination layers, a tiny piece had been implanted. A piece lighted with red and lulled by the sound of the ship's engines and the rhythm of deep inspirations generated by an artificial breathing system. In the center of that room, surrounded by four pillars covered in mysterious glyphes, was lying a massive coffin made of steel with a small and foggy glass panel on the top. The piece was integrally shut, no visible doors, no openings. Only a large bay of observation made of a triple thickness of bulletproof glass. And behind this wall of glass were two familiar women...
Misato Katsuragi, 30 years old and purple-haired woman, former Captain and now Commander of NERV, was looking inside the sealed room with intensity. All her attention was focused on the coffin, more precisely on what was inside of it. Burning with a harsh determination, her glare seemed intense enough to pierce through the multiple layers of reinforced glass, like the barrier between her and the coffin was as thin as a layer of paper.
"We did everything we could. An active seal has been installed, as well as a strict containment measure. Transferring her here was a high risk, but we successfully avoided all potential breaches while keeping her in an optimal state. She is now stabilized, and healthy."
Standing by her side was a blonde woman in her thirties dressed in a white lab coat and military pants. Deep dark circles under her eyes, barely standing on her feet, Ritsuko Akagi was visibly exhausted. Two weeks of intense labor had turned her into a living dead. So much to do in so little time... She completed her sentence without a smile, she didn't had enough force left. Hopefully, or sadly, Misato didn't cared either to smile.
In fact, Misato didn't even react. Hadn't she heard a thing? Was the noise of the engine too overwhelming for her to understand what her best friend said? Ritsuko internally rejected this thought. Judging by her stoic look, Misato was listening everything, but wasn't acting in any way to acknowledge her friend. All her attention was focused on the coffin.
All this work to put her back on feet. I hope you were right, Katsuragi, or we will pay a heavy price for your confidence.
"I wonder what she is thinking right now" said Ritsuko with a pushing tone, in hope of getting something out of her friend. "She looks so peaceful... Happy memories perhaps? Who knows..."
No answer came. The silence returned, paced by the sound of the breathing machine.
Ritsuko was worried.
Misato wasn't going well. These days she was cold and harsh like a razor blade, stoic like a soldier. The cheering mother-figure she used to show during the past few years had now completely vanished to give full place to the ruthless and calculative figure of a Captain leading her troops to battle. Taking command had done her bad, Ritsuko knew. As of the mother she tried to incarnate, well... Let's just say the two last children under her care didn't met a happy fate, which didn't helped her keeping her composure.
" Maybe she feels guilty about what happened." Thought Ritsuko. Although she didn't dare to question her about it.
"How is she ?" Misato finally spoke.
Ritsuko quickly excited her thought to get her focus back on the room.
"You mean… physically or mentally ?"
"It doesn't matter, give me a full report." Ordered Misato.
Ritsuko sighed. "All right then" and took a notepad out of her white coat. "According to the last report, which was made this morning, she seems to be doing okay. The regeneration of her body has been fully completed yesterday and all remains of the contamination has been chased out. "
"Great. Go on." Ordered Misato.
"Yes, er… so the last analysis shows a correct activity of the brain. Her wave patterns are stable and regular. She must be in some kind of dreaming-state now. The awakening procedure has been launched three hours ago and we are hoping to see her awake until tomorrow evening, if not sooner."
"It's perfect. She will be back in time, then. You did a great job, you and your team."
Ritsuko nodded and put her notepad back into her coat. A good job, indeed. A difficult one with a lot of process involved and, sadly, not completely done.
"She got really lucky you know. Arms, legs, even torsos. These are parts of the human body we learned to regenerate with a certain ease by now, thanks to our work in the growing-process of Evas. But if you want to mess with parts like brains, or eyes…"
Misato stayed quiet, waiting for what was to come.
"Speaking of which, I regret to inform you that we didn't succeeded to replace her destroyed right eye. We were able to create a substitute, but the technology of theses new implants is too unstable to be used without a risk of reject. Besides, this part was already partially regenerated by the contamination. So we sticked to our minimal and decided to seal it away with a simple pattern of an Akkadian glyph. It should remain stable as long as she keeps it that way."
So that was the deal thought Misato. Even the best scientists in the world were finding their selves limited against the work of Angels. Despite all efforts, the girl would live with scars, which means potential weaknesses. That was a thing to fear.
"Will it affect her capacity to see in combat ?"
"I don't think it will. If I refer to the tests we did, she seems to have kept a form of perception of depths and lights. It might also gives her an advantage as she will theoretically be able to see see a wider field of electromagnetic pulses, even if it's too soon to make real statements. However, it will remain unstable and, consequently, painful."
"Good."
"Misato ?!" Ritsuko raised her eyebrows, surprised once again by the coldness of her partner. How could this be good? It was a potential disaster, not some light problem you can fix with adhesive tape! She was about to pursue in disagreement, but once again the Commander cut her in her words.
"Unit-02 has been retrieved last week and is still under maintenance." Said Misato in answer to the puzzled look of the scientist. "It will be ready soon. We invested too much resources on its restoration to afford the case of salvaging due to an incapacitated pilot. It doesn't matter how damaged she might be, as long as she is in condition for piloting." then concluding the topic abruptly: "That eye won't be a problem."
Silence felt awkwardly between the cold commander and the now livid scientist.
"And what if she doesn't want to?" hesitated Ritsuko.
"What do you mean ?"
"What do you think I mean?" Claimed the blonde woman. "She has been in this comatose state for months, she doesn't know a thing of what happened. The world around her has changed to a point where she could just reject reality and escape us. Besides, the last time she got into an eva wasn't a pleasant experience. We still don't know how she will be once awake. She could be brain damaged, she could be amnesic. I wouldn't even be surprised to see her awakening, then turning completely insane on us!"
"Then we'll have to brainwash her and use the dummy plug..."
"Are you speaking seriously ? Misato, we can't make a doll out of her for the sake of our war!"
This time Ritsuko had raised the tone, with a glimpse of panic in her voice. She knew these words, they weren't those of Captain Katsuragi, they were those of a certain mad man who gave her its seat as a commander after his disappearance. An obsessive, manipulative and cruel person. And Ritsuko couldn't believe she briefly recognized this man in her friend.
"Relax, Ritsu." Returned Misato with a more playful voice, as if to calm her, turning her head to the scientist for the first time."Things won't have to come this far. I know this girl since she was born." And then returned slowly her attention to the coffin, her voice turning sweet and confident. "I know exactly what makes her move, what makes her fight or even kill. I know everything about her..."
Misato letted out a slight grin while looking at the coffin. Ritsuko couldn't help but shiver.
"She will be back in no time, I promise."
Where
Where am I ?
It's pitch black, I can't see a thing.
What happened ?
It's hard to remember. Everything is cloudy. I can't feel my body.
I was inside of unit-03. I... was the pilot. I climbed inside the entry-plug.
And then…
I think I forgot. Did I vanished ?
No. Something happened. There was something inside. Red. It forced me deeper. I couldn't resist.
And then, we took control.
And then…
…
Shinji.
Why ?
Why did you killed me ?
Why did you…
K
I
L
L
M
E
?!
(SNAP!)
USS over-the-rainbow. (temporal NERV headquarters) 17 hours later.
The cart was rolling fast in the corridor of metal. Asuka's eye jerked open, reacting to the sound of a distant, and yet violent, alarm. Heavy restraints were dispatched around her inner and upper body. Two medical staffs were pushing the cart. On her side, a nurse with a worried expression was speaking on a cellphone, but her voice was too fast and too quiet to be properly understandable.
"Where am I ?"
Reacting to her words, the nurse rapidly left her cellphone to turn her sight to the redhead. And then retreated to the cellphone as quickly.
"Ma'am she just regained consciousness." Explained the nurse to her mysterious interlocutor. "She just talked, she seems to be doing fine."
"What is this place ? What happened ?" Asked Asuka with a puzzled look.
"She seems to have a continuity of memory as well." Added the nurse after another quick glance. "Yes... Understood, I'll complete the rest of the tests as quick as possible. She will be here in about five minutes." And with these last words, she hung up her cellphone and turned her attention to the girl. The sound of a pressed button emanated from the side of the cart, and the transparent panel above the girl suddenly went opaque to reflect the face of a young teenager with long and discolored red hairs. Her eyes were tired and swollen. No… Her eye was.
"Why do I wear an eye patch ?" Asked Asuka with a frown.
"She is capable of self-recognition." Pointed the nurse with relief. "Her mind doesn't seems too badly injured." She smiled and put her cellphone back in her pocket to finally address her patient.
"Can you give me your name ?" She asked with a slow and articulated tone.
"A… Asuka Shinikami Langley"
The cart kept on going in the hallyway and finally reached a lift. Instantly, the staff dragged it inside and launched the lift.
What is this place? thought Asuka. It doesn't looks like NERV. The corridors are small and the ground is swaying like I'm on a boat. Confused, she attempted to lift herself to get a better look at her surroundings. This attempt obviously failed, and she discovered the presence of the restraints. And why can't I move ? Did I do something wrong ? She tried to imagine for a second what could have led to her situation, but couldn't think of anything. Maybe it's just a mistake She theorized, and then reported her attention to the ceiling where she noticed another unusual thing.
Did someone screwed up the paint job? Questioned Asuka Internally. From her point of view, it was the only logical explanation to the phenomenon she was witnessing. The ceiling of the lift was in fact beyond weird. It was made of steel of course, but only half of it had the expected metallic grey color of the material she used to know. The other half, the left side, was a curious meltdown of discolored red taints, while flash of white highlighted the edges.
Is it some kind of modern art ? It looks terrible. Who the hell painted it that way ?
"We will be arriving very soon" Said the Nurse. "It was an honor taking care of you, Mrs Langley. Now we are all counting on you."
Asuka looked at the nurse once again with the most confused look. "For what ? What is happening ?" and then she added: "Where am I ? What is going on ? Where are the others pilot ?"
The nurse seemed triggered by the last mention, but didn't let enough time for Asuka to go any further. "It isn't my rule to explain any of this, Miss. We are only bringing you to the command center as quickly as possible. Commander Katsuragi will give you the answers in person."
"What ? But Misato isn't a Commander, she is a Major…"
And then the lift opened.
When Asuka arrived inside the command center, she knew something terrible was happening outside. Peoples were shrieking at each other, the atmosphere was hot and saturated with sweat and adrenaline and in the monitors everything was going crazy. This was, in any doubt, an alert state.
"Aoba, release all available naval N2-mines in a semi circular pattern at point blue. We might have a chance to slow it a little and gain some time ."
"But commander, we already blew up six of them about three minutes ago ! We are running out of stocks to make an efficient line of defenses."
"Then use the last three escort-class to cover the missing portions. We cannot let it reach the Rainbow!"
"Understood. I'm also launching an evacuation order to the remaining crew."
"Negative, we need theses ships at full potential. Tell them to slow it down by all costs, even if it means blowing their selves up!"
"Un… Understood, commander. N2-mines and ships on their ways to point blue, estimated time: 34 seconds for the mines, 7 minutes 27 seconds for the ships. Engaging the special detonation protocol."
"Captain ! We just lost the Negotiator ! It looks like the target is focusing on the biggest ships as you predicted!"
"It was to be expected of this reckless monster. Maya, Send rescue ships to the sinking point, look for survivors. We can't afford to lose more crew."
"Yes Ma'am. Rescue ships on their ways."
"Captain, the second child just arrived."
At these words everything felt briefly silent at the command center. A mix of relief and anticipation fell on the crew. In the center of the room, a familiar purple-haired woman turned her attention to the girl still attached to her cart.
"Release the restraints. You are all dismissed."
Instantly Asuka felt the heavy pieces of metal sealing her body lift with a small hiss. Awkwardly, she started to massage her wrists and legs.
"Misato ? Is that you ? I just awoke and everything seems to be going to hell already!" she spoke with a tone of light complain, half joking.
The purple woman came closer. It was her, of course. Same haircut, same red jacket and same generous profile of a mature woman. But something was lacking, she knew instantly when the former major spoke.
"I'm happy to see you Asuka. Glad you are awake. " Said the purple-haired woman. And then, stating like a fact, she declared : "Everything is indeed going to hell."
"What do you mean, Misato ?! What is happening, dammit! Tell me already instead of looking at me like a weird-ass!"
Everybody in the command center quickly returned to their monitors, feeling suddenly very occupied.
"Keep your calm Asuka." Imposed the commander with an authoritative tone, and then quickly spoke before she had any time to retort: "You are currently on board of the Over the Rainbow, once the main aircraft carrier of the Pacific fleet and now modified to serve as a temporal headquarter for NERV, or whatever we are called nowadays. You may start to remember by now, you were kept under strict containment procedures for two months after a failed attempt to activate the now-regretted unit-03. And now, an Angel is attacking and we need you."
Asuka looked at the woman in pure disbelief. What the hell was she talking about? Was it some kind of joke? She just emerged from comatose, for God's sake!
"I know it's a bit harsh to put you into this mess so soon after your awakening..." Consented Misato with a tone of fake concern. "... but you are the only pilot we have right now and, therefore, the only person in this bridge able to fight and win this battle."
"Only pilot we have ?" Repeated Asuka with incomprehension. "Are you kidding, Misato ? Where is the idiot and his friend, Miss perfect-doll ? Why aren't they deployed yet ?"
Misato felt silent. For the first time.
"Don't tell me they already got their asses beat! They can't suck that much !"She added with a half-mocking tone.
But Misato didn't smiled. Her face only grew more sinister.
"You are the only pilot we have for now. Your plugsuit awaits you in the bridge, as well as your beloved Evangelion Unit-02. Go and get inside, we wasted enough time chatting and there's a battle to win."
"Only pilot...?"
After hearing these words, Asuka knew she was supposed to feel thrilled. It was too much of a silly dream to be real. She was the last hope? She had to pilot Unit-02? Her Eva?! The gigantic behemoth she had spent years of training for, the ultimate beast of battles she had learnt to master from teeth to toes, the one she had asked to be paint in red as a symbol of her possessiveness towards the Eva, this Evangelion... Her evangelion?! The last time she saw it, it was being put into storage upon some stupid decision and Asuka had remained hardly consolable knowing her beloved Eva was being taken away from her, only comforting herself to the idea of mastering the recently arrived Unit-03. This was a dream out of her over sized pride, and in a normal situation she would have felt indeed euphoric, but right now, something was wrong.
Asuka stopped moving, stopped breathing. And as everybody inside the command center was glaring at her with shifty glances, as her former guardian and now direct superior was staring at her with a strong and, yet, pleading look, she realized she felt considerably uncomfortable with the idea of getting inside her unit.
No, it wasn't it. She wasn't uncomfortable.
Her legs were shacking, her hands were moist. And when she tried to cover her face with her hand, she realized her eyes were twitching as well.
She was afraid.
"What's the matter, Asuka? Time is running short, you MUST get into your Eva now."
Asuka gave up on trying to hide her frightened look. She lowered her hand and tried to catch a glimpse of the woman that looked like Misato, her valid eye starting to cry. She couldn't contain herself from tears. Fear spread through her face and before she could even repress it, her voice turned into a begging.
I hate it she thought to herself. Oh God I hate it so much. I have to stop this someway.
"Misato, I… I don't think I can pilot right now. I…"
The sentence ended by itself as a brutal silence fell in the command center. Everyone was looking at her. She tried to endure their looks, but it was too much to bare. She hated being looked by others, especially when all they expressed were incomprehension and hartred. In a last attempt, she tried to catch Misato's face, hoping for a support. But the Commander's eyes were still and hard, without compassion. She was trapped.
"I see." Misato simply stated.
Asuka felt the shame and guilt spread all over her body. She felt like she was about to throw up.
"So you are just going to stay here and watch as all of us die a painful death, blasted to pieces, or maybe drowned in an ocean of red. Is that what you want ?"
She felt disgusting.
"Even… Even if I get inside the Eva, I don't think I will be able to make it move. You saw by yourself what happened the last time, didn't you ?! How can I make it move after that ?! What if the same thing happens and I end up in the same situation?! I don't want to live it again !"
"So you have chosen death to escape fear…"
Asuka lowered her head. Misato was right, she was undoubtedly right. She was terrorized in the idea to revive any kind of that experience she had barely started to remember. It was only logic, anybody in his right mind would end up thinking the same. And yet, it only made her feel more shameful and angry against herself.
"Go on then. You are free." Said Misato with a posed look. "You can sit in a corner or try to run for your life, for all I know. I don't care." And, as she felt everyone's attention in the command center, she raised her voice. " Everybody inside this ship, Asuka… No, on this very fleet, under MY command, has chosen to fight to death despite their fears." She kept up with pride in her voice: "They are the bravest soldiers Mankind has ever known, and the only ones I want in the front line. We are in a war against a merciless foe, I have no place for the weak."
At these last words, Asuka felt her heart sinking in her chest. She? She was... weak? Did these words really came from the mouth of Misato? Was it how she was seen by everyone, right now, in this very room? A poor little girl afraid of dying?
How shameful...
She felt the spark of anger being lit up in her chest. Never had she been addressed this way, NEVER had she accepted these words from ANYONE! How dared they looking at her with pity? She was the great Asuka Shikinami Langley! She had killed two Angels in the blink of an eye, she was the best pilot NERV had ever known. How dare they look at her like that?!
"You can try to escape your responsibility Asuka. But I doubt you really will." Pushed Misato, feeling the girl trapped. "I know you since long enough to know you're not some kind of spineless whimp who will escape the fight at the last moment. Bitch, how dare you compare me to the Third? "You are a soldier, deep down in your soul. No, you are not just a soldier. You are THE ULTIMATE SOLDIER! You were born for this moment!"
Maybe this was supposed to give her confidence, but it only made her angrier. Don't talk to me like that, old rotten woman. You know nothing about me, nothing about what I have been through!
The girl was now visibly angry, Misato felt it. All according to the plan, She smiled internally. And now one last little push...
"Don't be a disappointment."
The words of the purple-haired woman felt like a punishing whip. Harsh, painful, but at the same time deserved and pondered. It made Asuka cringe. She felt her wrist instinctively tighten and the remaining fear inside her instantly turned into burning rage.
So this is how it goes? She thought to herself. Can't even take a single break from all of this ? Freshly awakened and directly trowed into combat, this is what you want from me ? Her expression hardened. Alright, I got it...
"Did the angel took away your pride as w..."
"Are you done already? I got the message."
Misato stopped and lifted an eyebrow, staring at the young girl who was now standing up with a look of pure anger and crisped fists. Her face burning with rage and determination.
"I'm gonna go to the lift, put on MY plugsuit and take MY Eva on a ride to blow your STUPID Angel up. But I avert you… When I'm done with it, don't make me clean the mess because that's what YOU wanted."
Misato kept her bossy look for the conveniences of her act. But she couldn't repress the brief smile that showed in a corner of her lips. Like an open book... This was too easy.
"It's good to see you back in business, Asuka. Now go, we have an angel to destroy."
