Koros45 doesn't own Getter Robo Armageddon, Mazinkaiser, or Neon Genesis Evangelion
Stage 16: [The Sorrow of Losing the Object of One's Dependence]
"Unit 02 is holding steady. Kaworu, can you take point?" Ritsuko asked. Unit 02 and Unit 01 stood along the outskirts of Tokyo – 3 as they'd been ordered to.
"Of course Dr. Akagi." Kaworu said, marching the red Evangelion forwards. They were investigating something peculiar – seismic activity. It was not the norm in the area, a rocky expanse on the edge of Tokyo – 3 leading to some mountains. Even if it was not correlated to any Angel activity, NERV still investigated it. The Angel Sandalphon had been a fluke – an Angel in infancy that NERV just happened to detect in the magma. Yet here they were on a similar assignment. And right after coming back from the Photon Labs, no less.
Shinji, Asuka, and Kaworu had returned from their school day, Shinji and Kaworu suiting up to investigate something classified in the Evangelions under Commander Ikari's supervision. This left her with Asuka watching on the command deck.
Misato had had better days. The capsule she'd opened had a bunch of secrets from Kaji and the man was nowhere to be found. It was eerie. She wanted to kick herself for not checking her phone to see if he'd called, and doing so revealed that he was likely dead and regretted breaking up with her.
This said, sleep had been hard to come by and Misato had been glad for morning coffee, a hot meal from Kouji, and silence from Rei on the drive back to NERV HQ. This operation however, she could do without. Misato exhaled in frustration as Asuka voiced a complaint from the bridge to the current pilot of Unit 02.
"Hmm. Not flattering when you move her like that, Nagisa! I swear, you have no style in my Unit 02!" Asuka said and sulked from the main deck as she stood by Misato and observed.
"Forgive me, Second Child. I'm not as accustomed to Unit 02 as you've been." Kaworu smoothly responded.
Misato was glad Kaworu ended the conversation there. She didn't want to hear Asuka screaming for petty reasons. Still, Asuka was not painting an accurate picture of Kaworu's movements with the EVA. It was unreal how easily he got the machine to move and especially since it hadn't been adjusted much from Asuka's user settings. He was keeping pace with Shinji who had been operating an EVA for far longer than he had.
"Target reached. Orders?" Shinji asked as Unit 01 stood at the edge of the seismic activity.
"Unit 02 will investigate further. Unit 01, standby and provide covering fire." Commander Ikari ordered.
"Roger." Shinji said and knelt Unit 01 down, raising his pallet rifle as Kaworu took steps towards the trembling Earth.
/
It seemed Yui Ikari was more talkative today as Shinji heard his mother's voice in his head the moment he sat in the EVA. The talk had been pretty casual though he got compliments for co-piloting Getter Dragon. Then once the operation went underway, Yui Ikari became both protective of her son and focused on the mission at hand.
"I can't believe this. It's the same tactic as before." Yui thought and Shinji agreed in the Entry Plug. In the meantime, Kaworu set the N2 mines and backed off as the detonations from the mines shook the pilot seat Shinji reclined in.
"Because Kaworu and Unit 02 are expendable to him, I think." Shinji added.
"But Gendo would really risk another pilot for something as trivial as this?" Yui asked.
"He's close. To whatever he thinks he'll get if this Instrumentality thing happens." Shinji responded as more detonations occurred.
Kaworu kept advancing in Unit 02 but nothing happened to the surrounding area.
"Stop Unit 02 and plant some more N2 mines. We'll break apart the Earth and find out what the source of that is for ourselves." Commander Ikari said.
"Kaworu, if you could use the remaining N2 mines and retreat to a safe distance? Our sensors detect the object as unidentified." Ritsuko said.
"Talk later. There's something out there." Shinji thought and heard Unit 01 growl as Yui disengaged the conversation. Then Shinji took full control of the Evangelion.
/
"Then it is done! We planted the Getter Reactor from Rei's Dragon in the last place they fell-! That's where they'll investigate! And with that, the war will begin again!" Dr. Hell explained as Saotome nodded on his wall-screen.
"Excellent. I always had a hunch they were never finished off. Using them as we are now is quite ironic. We need not worry about these distractions for much longer. Shin Dragon is almost ready." Saotome said.
"And once Baron Ashura and Count Brocken complete their task, I will be ready as well." Doctor Hell said to Saotome.
"Then we will strike in the next few days. I'm curious to see how this ensuing bloodbath will go." Saotome wondered and chuckled. "I'd never dream I'd be releasing them."
Cohen spoke up. "All for our goal, Doctor Saotome." The bulky Invader said and Stinger opted to just laugh in response.
"My knowledge as the former First Child leads me to believe NERV will not see this coming. Even Gendo Ikari will not be sure how to act in this scenario." Rei Ayanami's Invader counterpart said.
"Then let us watch the festivities as we prepare for the final act." Saotome proposed and Stinger and Cohen chuckled.
"My Mechanical Beasts are watching the battle. We will see it through their eyes." Dr. Hell said, bringing up footage of the red and purple EVAs moving. The group all watched silently as they waited for the spectacle to begin.
/
The ground broke open and a pod rose out of it, organic looking with a lumpy pink sack of flesh as an outer skin, covering a sleek and rounded sphere. It was larger than the Evangelions. Heat accompanied it, steam leaking from its' exterior as it began to cool in the air. The broken up ground was splashed by drips of magma from the object.
"It's leaking magma? That doesn't make any sense! Something that far underground would have to be -!" Ritsuko began bringing up how it was impossible when a large thumping noise was heard.
The ball expanded and pulsed a few times, like a heart would. Than it came apart, the blast radius of the explosion tearing through the surrounding earth, as twin AT fields from the Evangelions protected Unit 01 and Unit 02 from the blast.
"Damage zero! AT Fields holding steady!" Mikoto cried out.
"Something's emerging from the cocoon's remains!" Maya warned.
The creature's form was obscured in smoke as it began to move. It was large, the same size as an Evangelion. A thunderous roar was heard as its' footsteps shook the ground. As it neared the EVAs, its form became visible.
It stared at the two with the head of a tyrannosaurus. The body was mechanical, with bipedal legs and a tail based on the template Tyrannosaurus. Its arms, however, were long and bulky, metallic fingers thick and made for combat. The whole thing was dark blue in color with gunmetal plating and inner workings.
"A dinosaur . . . robot?!" Ritsuko blinked from behind her glasses as the creature moved. It let out a metallic screech, pectoral plates on the chest springing up to reveal a circular device on the monster's chest.
"A Mechasaurus-!?" Misato yelled out in surprise.
Then the bridge froze as they heard a guttural voice in distorted and broken Japanese project from the creature.
"What is this?! These machines are not Getter Robo! Humans, what are these machines?" The enemy asked, the machine pointing to the EVAs with a clawed finger.
"A pilot? How can this be?" Maya asked.
"This is the Evangelion Unit 02's pilot Kaworu Nagisa speaking. Unknown pilot, why are you here?" Kaworu asked.
Shinji said nothing as the spectacle of a giant robot modeled off of a dinosaur was frankly absurd. Yet seeing it move and shake the earth with its steps made it certainly real.
The voice spoke again, sounding enraged this time.
"Why – am I here?! You know-! You humans have the ignorance, the sheer insolence to forget the terror of the Dinosaur Empire!? Yet you taunt us with the accursed Getter Rays once again! We will pound you weak humans into the ground!"
Kaworu responded despite the pilot's anger. "Our facility does not use Getter Rays. If you would like to discuss this, I think we can reach an agree-" Kaworu began but was cut off as the Mechasaurus attacked.
A chest ray fired from the dinosaur's chest, a blue beam not unlike Getter Dragon's Getter Beam attack. Unit 02's AT Field blocked the attack as Shinji began firing back with the pallet rifle.
"Speaking to it won't solve anything. It's just another enemy that threatens our existence. Destroy it." Commander Ikari said.
"So much for negotiating." Kaworu said as he stepped back and got Unit 02 ready to pounce.
"Incredible. The Dinosaur Empire has really returned. Then this is just the beginning." Misato thought from the bridge as Kaworu deployed Unit 02's prog knife and went into battle.
Suddenly thoughts of Kaji dispersed as Hayato and Professor Yumi's conversation returned to her even as Unit 02 was knocked back from a swing of the dinosaur's tail.
/
It was so irritating, Asuka thought. Now she wasn't even able to set foot in Unit 02 as this white haired boy effortlessly marched off with her EVA to fight against this new creature.
Unit 02 struck the mechanical dinosaur's jaws with two swift cross punches before stabbing it in the throat with the prog-knife. Asuka had to admit Nagisa was nothing if not efficient at the helm of her EVA. He didn't waste any movements in the machine.
"I do not believe that was a fatal area. Dr. Akagi, do you recommend anything?" Kaworu asked over the speaker.
"Dinosaurs. . . . since it's a machine, it might have a cockpit of its own. Or some kind of control center like a secondary brain. Maybe in the chest or the center of the head." Ritsuko proposed.
"Very well. Adjusting tactics as advised." Kaworu said as he lept back in the crimson EVA and avoided the dinosaur's chomping jaws.
"I'm covering fire. Stay back, Kaworu!" Shinji warned as he began firing at the beast. Unit 02 was clear, taking the opportunity to back off and stand beside Unit 01.
The dinosaur robot didn't seem fazed by the bullets and instead roared and charged, ramming into Unit 02's AT field and staggering back in surprise as the barrier held from its repeated strikes.
"What? What trick is this, humans?!" The creature piloting the dinosaur robot asked.
"The AT field. Your attacks will be quite moot, you'll find." Kaworu said before he addressed Shinji.
"Shinji, it seems we should finish this with close quarters combat. That will keep it occupied and the city safe." Kaworu proposed.
The Fifth Child delivered an axe kick from Unit 02's left leg into the monster's skull, causing it to scream as the plating was dented from the attack.
/
Asuka sighed. Of course Shinji was fighting seamlessly together with Kaworu, the two of them working as a pair to hit the Mechasaurus with a condensed coolant attack. Once Unit 02 was clear, Unit 01 landed behind the robotic dinosaur and restrained it's arms. Then Kaworu advanced, keeping the Tyrannosaurus' jaws shut with Unit 02's hands.
"Fools! You really think that will be enough!? We endured the terror of the Getter Rays! This battle is nothing! Face me in my Mechasaurus, Ryoma Nagare! Face me, Getter Robo!" The pilot yelled as twin eye-beams struck out at Unit 02's face, blocked by the close quarters AT field.
"That man is not here now. Nor is the Getter. In their place, NERV and the EVA series will have to suffice." Kaworu said calmly despite the situation at hand.
"It's still advancing! Any other ideas?!" Shinji yelled as the creature's tail struck Unit 01. The blow was far too close for the AT field to protect him.
"Why don't you try killing it, Third?" Asuka suggested, letting her hostility out now.
This wasn't the other day with them all piloting Getter Dragon, her being victorious once again. This was pure humiliation, going against everything she'd been trained on as a soldier of NERV and the definitive pilot of EVA Unit 02.
"Asuka, calm down." Misato warned as Asuka gave her a glare.
Commander Ikari was next to speak. "The Second Child's presence here is a distraction. Remove her."
Asuka's eyes widened at the man's words as he kept staring straight at the monitor, completely ignoring her even as he ordered her leave. Asuka grimaced as two guards made their way towards her.
Under any other circumstances she would fight like hell. But here, at NERV HQ, and with everyone watching. . . following Commander Ikari's orders would make her save the most face and keep her under Misato's care.
" . . . All right. I'll go. Just let me know what happens." She said quietly to Misato as she followed the guards out of the room and held back any tears that dared try and break her composure.
/
"What the hell?!" Kouji yelled as he saw the live footage. "Why the hell has the Dinosaur Empire reared it's ugly head?!" He asked.
Hayato frowned. "And with Shin Getter Robo gone and two of our back-up pilots out of commission, we're not in a state to fight back with a Getter immediately."
"We have Dragon ready to launch but it's at half power." Benkei reminded him. "But as it stands, we need to act now if they're really back."
"Dammit! As if things couldn't get worse with Shin Dragon lying in wait-!" Kouji yelled, standing up and turning to Doctor Yumi.
"And right after I lose Mazinger – Z too!? That's it! I'm going on out in Mazinkaiser! If a Getter can't face it right now, I'll handle it in your stead!" Kouji stated.
"Wait Kouji. NERV's handling the operation this time." Yumi said.
"You're sure we can leave it to them?" Kouji asked.
Professor Yumi sighed. "I think we can. Given their track record against the Angels. But I agree we should at least put Mazinkaiser on alert status with Diana A, and Boss Borot."
"Roger!" Kouji yelled and ran to the hanger, followed by Sayaka and Boss.
Yumi frowned and looked to the television displaying footage from the battle at hand. "This was the worst possible time for them to return."
/
Unit 01 had stood up and grabbed the creature's tail, pulling it backwards as Unit 02 wailed on it with more punches and stabs from the prog knife. The flurry of attacks did little to affect the Mechasaurus as it was only getting angrier and angrier.
The dinosaur headbutted Unit 02 and knocked it backwards.
Then another explosion occurred as a second sack had appeared from the ground and detonated. From within a black Pterodactyl emerged with missiles strapped to its' mechanical wings.
"This - could be difficult." Shinji said as he backed away, firing at the new monster with abandon, the airborne opponent harder to hit as it began dropping it's missiles to strike the area around Unit 01.
"And with two opponents, we're suddenly on the defensive." Shinji grunted as the smoke cleared and the Pterosaur dove, ramming into the EVA's AT field and causing Shinji to yell as the impact was still felt despite the barrier.
"Shinji! Get it further from the city. Once it's out of Tokyo – 3's range, it's mine!" A voice yelled over the comm.
"Kouji!" Shinji managed to yell back in surprise. EVA 01 wasted no time pushing the winged creature backwards.
"Dinosaur Empire, Getter Robo may not be here right now, but this Mazinger is here to deliver your punishment!" Kouji Kabuto's voice rang out as Mazinkaiser marched onto the battlefield.
"Mazinger Z! No?! Not Great Mazinger either-!? A new Mazinger?!" The pilot of the flying Mechasaurus yelled in surprise.
"That's right, its name is Mazinkaiser! And this is gonna hurt a lot more than the standard Rocket Punch!" Kouji yelled as the robot's fists began to spin.
"TURBO SMASHER PUNCH!" Kouji screamed as his robot's fists spun rapidly before firing off.
The attack had the desired effect knocking the flying monster backwards and damaging it's body. One of the punches tore a leg clean off while the other one hit the monster dead in the mouth and caused several cracks to spread through the imitation beak. The twirling fists returned to Mazinkaiser and Kouji grinned in the Kaiser Pilder.
"You NERV kids sit tight! Let Kaiser be the hero here!" Kouji yelled as the flying monster turned to dive towards its next target.
"Pah! You now have the advantage in numbers! Then we will gladly send you all to your deaths in the magma below!" One of the saurian pilots yelled.
/
Asuka was livid. Beyond that, she was torn apart. Now she wasn't a pilot. And now she wasn't even able to watch her own EVA in the field. She was slowly losing everything she'd worked so hard for.
Without Unit 02 or the status as an EVA pilot, she was worse than nothing. Shinji was already paying her less attention since he'd met Kaworu and even piloting Getter Dragon didn't seem to matter. She would be alone and without a place to belong. And no one would care.
Will you run away?
Shinji's question tore at her again and Asuka wanted to scream. But she couldn't. As of right now, she was to be observed by the two guards until Commander Ikari deemed it otherwise.
Will you run away?
She thought of the previous night she fell asleep next to Shinji, his quiet breathing a relaxing refrain from her frantic thoughts. If she was to run away, it wouldn't be from him. Rather, it would be from this fine mess she'd got herself tangled in.
Then there was Misato. The woman was trying her best but still falling apart at the seams. Alcohol only did so much to calm her down when it was her biggest vice. And if Kaji was really gone than she'd be dead-set on figuring out the hows and whys and then the ways she could get her revenge, if that was even possible.
No. I will not run away. Asuka decided.
But I will not just stay here and blindly follow orders as a soldier anymore. Not if doing so means I can't be with Unit 02.
She frowned and vowed that she'd talk to Shinji about it, even if it was difficult. If she could tell him about her mother than they could speak about practically anything. Then she decided that she could stand to wait for him to return, the Invincible Shinji no doubt emerging from the fight with no trouble at all.
/
A third pod rose from the ground, an orange and translucent bubble, red veins expanding as the object beat like a heart.
"I don't detect any life signs in there. It may be a weapon of some kind." Kaworu said as Mazinkaiser fired a Photon Beam after the flying Pterosaur, the beams of yellow missing the fast moving target as it flew above Mazinkaiser and knocked the Super Robot down with a sonic boom.
"Dammit!" Kouji yelled as Shinji picked up the slack, shooting at where he thought the Pterodactyl robot would be. The Mechasaurus shrieked and tried the same trick as it dove towards the purple EVA. With a crash, it slammed into the AT field and was stunned, losing momentum as it fell backwards.
"Gotcha now, you winged pest!" Kouji yelled as Mazinkaiser grabbed the second Mechasaurus from the back and grappled with it.
"Now! Fear the power of the Dinosaur Empire, humans! Detonate the bomb!" The pilot of the monster yelled.
The pod shone and the ground tore open, the Mechasaurus and Mazinkaiser both staggering as the detonation tore through the earth. The breach in the ground widened as Mazinkaiser struggled to hold its footing amidst the widening chasm.
Kaworu didn't have a chance to relax as the tyrannosaurus cyborg kept up its attacks, the Fifth Child having to keep up his AT Field to stave off the laser beam.
Then the T-Rex charged.
"Long live the Dinosaur Empire!" The pilot roared as it lept onto it's target.
Unit 02 buckled under the weight of it's foe, falling down through the crust as it fell down the widening chasm.
It was met with a pair of extendable yellow arms, grabbing the EVA's ankle and pulling up as hard as it could.
"I got ya, I got ya!" The voice of Boss boomed out. "Now let's end this, kids!" Boss yelled as Sayaka ran up to help pull Kaworu and Unit 02 out of the chasm with her Diana A once Boss' Borot had pulled up with as much strength as the scrappy machine had.
"Then we finish this sorry excuse for a Mechasaurus! Take this, scrap-heap! RUST TORNADO!" Kouji called out as bits of the flying Mechasaurus scattered from the funnel of wind.
The short battle ended, yet it raised far more questions than it answered. Each group quietly went their own way as the Mazinger Army and the two Evangelion units each returned to their respective bases, no doubt to discuss what had just happened.
/
Kaworu Nagisa didn't know what to think. On one hand, Shinji was clearly perplexed by the creatures' appearance. On the other hand, the threat was gone. Kaworu's own unique state of being prevented him from feeling much about it, but if Shinji was this surprised than Kaworu wanted to help him the best he could. The fact that the saurian pilots gave their lives so willingly was shocking to the boy.
"Return to HQ." Was all they were told. Major Katsuragi's voice was hard and far from the other day of levity.
Shinji followed slowly as they made their way back to the base.
Lilan were strange things. So distraught when the same of their kind passed on. Yet death was the ultimate freedom. Kaworu didn't understand why the loss of a life was so jarring to them. If Boss hadn't been there, he likely might've fallen himself. And that would have been fine to him.
But he didn't have to wonder any further as Professor Yumi's voice was heard screaming at an emotionless Commander Ikari.
"You dug up the Dinosaur Empire!? I can understand a misunderstanding, but considering how NERV covered up its' existence that's quite ironic! Tell me you have a plan for this!" Yumi roared, sounding distraught.
" . . . One of the creatures that emerged was destroyed. Yet this enemy is a threat to the future of NERV and humankind as a whole. They may be planning an invasion. We will commence an operation to scan and eliminate the remaining enemy. If the Photon Labs wishes to contribute funds and resources, perhaps we can reach an agreement." Gendo Ikari said as light shown into his glasses.
"That's not good enough! How many times have the forces of the Photon Labs saved YOUR team from Angels?! From Dr. Hell?! And now the newly reformed Dinosaur Empire as well!? Don't tell me after this NERV's still seriously trying to sweep them under the table like a bad dream!"
Yumi was red-faced, his mustache bristling as he took a breath.
"We believed that Second Impact had wiped them all out. However, it seems some survived." Commander Ikari responded.
"The enemy appeared on neutral ground. Therefore NERV does not have full jurisdiction of this project." Yumi said.
Commander Ikari responded calmly. "Correct. If the Photon Labs wishes to assist, and if your plans do not interfere with our own, than you may proceed." Gendo said. Then the transmission ended.
Kaworu looked around the base once Unit 02 was back in place. The staff was startled at the existence of this 'Dinosaur Empire' but still was dutiful nonetheless. Shinji was distant as he slowly got out of Unit 01 and stood up, looking to the bridge with concern.
"Father, let me go down in there. Like with the time Asuka went in the magma." Shinji proposed.
"No. We don't have time to equip Unit 01 with the recovery gear. And both it and the pilot are too important to risk over another organization's pilot. As of now you are ordered to stay on this base's premises until all of the Angels have been eliminated." Commander Ikari responded.
At his words, Shinji made a fist but did nothing to speak against his father. The Commander's word was law and he was still shaken from the LCL pressure knocking him out. Raising a voice or a fist would only get him in more trouble. After all, he wasn't the only person that Commander Ikari had shut down today.
/
Shinji had left the area to go after Asuka and Kaworu saw the opportunity present itself. He didn't want Shinji to see him volunteer for a dangerous situation the Third child just been rejected for after all. Especially when Kaworu knew how much Shinji loved him.
The fact that Ayanami left shortly afterwards made his window smaller but more precise as Kaworu spoke. "Sir, I would like to volunteer to use Unit 02 to explore this biome under the magma."
Gendo looked to him, expression unreadable behind his glasses.
"Permission granted." Gendo said from the command deck.
Then Kaworu froze up as he felt something was wrong. He could feel it call to him even as faint of a cry as it gave out. Gendo had a piece of himself - part of Adam in the center of his right palm.
Kaworu fell to the ground and clutched at his temple. The sheer intensity of Adam's embryo was maddening. Now that he'd felt it, the sensation of longing had spiked. No longer just resisting one particular call, Kaworu found fighting off two at once was maddening. He sunk his fingernails into his free hand and bit down on the inside of his mouth, both jolts of pain enough to get on his feet and stagger back as he looked up at Gendo Ikari.
Kaworu had no idea how much Gendo knew and let the pain ring as he tried to relax. Disconnect. Be rational. Be the boy he'd been when he first arrived in Tokyo – 3. He bit the inside of his lip and used the pain to keep Tabris' desire to unite with the part of Adam at bay. No. No. It was all wrong. It was not the right representation of Adam. The man was merely wearing it as a shortcut. And as a very deadly and tempting distraction.
"Stand up, Pilot." Commander Ikari ordered.
"Yes sir. I – apologize. I appear to be more – worn out from that battle – than I expected." Kaworu said as he stood up straight and let his arms hang at his sides.
Gendo spoke up and Kaworu could only listen to the man. "Regardless of the later events or circumstances, NERV's goal will be achieved. I have already deprived Shinji of his most current residence. Signing more paperwork to do the same for the Fifth Child in such a short timespan would be – most tiresome. However allowing you to take our unmanned Evangelion on such a mission like this will serve the same purpose."
Kaworu felt anger he didn't even know he had explode in his head. The man was taunting and threatening him at the same time. How much did Gendo Ikari know about SEELE? And about the nature of their goals? He likely didn't know about Kaworu's true nature or he would have immediately used Adam's influence to incapacitate him. But then again – what would be more fitting bait for an Angel made of the same material? At the current moment, Kaworu Nagisa was in no place to ask.
"You came here to speak on behalf of Shinji. Be at ease knowing that I am finally giving him a home. As his father, it is my right." Ikari said and Kaworu nodded.
"I see sir. In that case, do you have any objections with me staying at NERV HQ in Tokyo – 3?" Kaworu asked.
"No. Your function if you return is still to pilot EVA Unit 02 until such a time where it is no longer required." The Commander stated.
"May I - " Kaworu started and stopped himself. "Of course, Sir. I will continue to function as the pilot of Unit 02."
"You have another question, then?" Gendo asked.
"Just one. Will the Second Child be called back on piloting duty? If that happens, will I still be a pilot?" Kaworu asked.
"Even if she is capable of operating Unit 02 again, her erratic scores and temperament belay any actual talents the Second Child has. Unless circumstances change, she will remain on non-piloting status. Unit 00 was destroyed and Rei is recovering from her accident. And as for Unit 01, consider it a last resort to engage the enemy." The Commander explained.
"I see. Thank you Sir." Kaworu said, bowing and Commander Ikari said nothing in response as his glasses shone in the light.
/
Kaworu walked down the hall in a haze. Adam? Part of whom was inside Gendo Ikari? For a moment, the situation between Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa was moot as Tabris the Angel of Free Will pondered why Gendo Ikari would do such a thing.
"If Adam is here in that state . . . than the call I feel . . . could it be – Lilith instead?!" Kaworu thought and closed his eyes, c clutching his temple as he staggered. The strain had been . . . cumbersome.
"Of course. The Angels aren't seeking to be whole with Adam. Some are parts of Adam seeking out Lilith!" Kaworu realized. Tabris was just as shook at this revelation as Kaworu was with Gendo's knowledge.
Then SEELE's ploy would be useless in the end. They were sending him on a suicide mission. Why would they do that? What purpose would his death achieve?
Kaworu fell to his knees in the hallway and couldn't shake the tears that fell from his eyes. He would die soon. It was his fate to do so. Just as a tool foolishly following his masters' whims after they encouraged him to connect with a boy that he would likely end up using to get to Lilith. None of the realities he could see had prepared him for this. It was not a death he had any choice in – slave to a call of a beast he didn't understand yet still one that his soul sought out with fervor.
"Nagisa?" A voice called out. He opened his eyes to see Ritsuko Akagi looking down at him with a ghost of concern.
"D-Doctor Akagi. I apologize – I-" Kaworu began.
"No, don't apologize. Stand up and let me know what's wrong." The blonde scientist said.
"Right." Kaworu answered and stood up, making eye contact.
"Doctor – I – have been made aware of some rather – disturbing personal news. I apologize for being vague. I cannot speak much on the matter."
The boy managed to get that much out, laughing as he wanted to kick himself. He was supposed to be an Angel. And an EVA pilot. Not some sniveling child that broke down at something like he just saw.
And yet it had been wrongly personal. As though Commander Ikari knew exactly how to get under his skin, regardless of whether he was Kaworu Nagisa or Tabris. The Angel did not want to admit it was frightened. Or that it was the human side of Kaworu that had resisted in the first place.
"Is it family?" Ritsuko asked and Kaworu wanted to laugh. Yes! Yes, it certainly would fall in that category.
"It is related to my family, yes." He finished.
"And told to you from the Commander, no less. I really am surprised about that. He usually isn't very personable." Dr. Akagi said with a grin.
Kaworu blinked as the light from her body changed in Tabris' eyes. Sadness? Or regret? Or anger? No. All of them at once, twisted and warped into some kind of dark humor related to the Commander.
"Ah. Yes. In any case, I apologize for taking up your time. You have a meeting with Commander Ikari." Kaworu pointed out.
"Yes, but I'm also a doctor and you're a pilot who NERV wants in top shape. So don't feel bad if you need to ask for help." Ritsuko said and put a hand on top of Kaworu's hair.
"I'll be seeing you later for a routine check-up. That's an order. I might not be a medical doctor of the conventional sort, but I know that piloting an EVA takes a lot of strength. If you're practically collapsing here, that won't do."
"I understand. I deploy again in Unit 02 soon so it will have to be at a later time." Kaworu stated.
She gave him a smile and Kaworu returned it. Tabris could see this was unusual and awkward behavior for the Doctor but she was doing her best to stay optimistic in front of the child she saw. He could see death she was dealing with processing. And regret again.
". . . Thank you for your concerns, Doctor." Kaworu finished and walked away after giving her a wave.
/
"Asuka! Asuka, what's wrong?" Shinji asked once he'd been clear to exit his Evangelion and met her outside. She'd been finally allowed privacy as the two guards had left following the end of the battle.
"What do you think?! Wonder-boy is using my EVA! And I was told to leave the Command Deck just for speaking freely! I hate that! I hate that I'm such a good pilot but have to just watch! And now I can't even do that!" Asuka yelled.
"Well – if you want, I can see if he can use Unit 01 instead. Then you'd be free to use Unit 02." Shinji proposed.
"Hmph! Idiot Shinji! Then you'd be in the same boat as I am right now! You don't need to sacrifice anything! None of us should have to do that!" Then she took a breath and put a hand on Shinji's shoulder. It was rough but firm.
"I thought things would be different after we won with Getter Dragon. We were all a team. We all did our part. But now-" Asuka said and closed her eyes. She looked pained.
"Father made you leave the command deck. I'm sorry, Asuka." Shinji murmured. He grabbed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
". . . Don't you dare apologize for – him." She said.
Asuka hissed and let go of Shinji, breaking his hold on her with a swift move of her arm. She'd be damned if Commander Ikari knew his son had an emotional attachment to her stronger than before. After all, he might try and separate them due to it.
"A-anyway." Shinji began to speak. "Do you know anything about a 'Dinosaur Empire'?" He asked.
"Hmph! Well up until just now, it was up there with Saint Nicholas, Cthulhu, and Godzilla!" Asuka snorted, giving him a glare.
"I didn't mean to upset you-!" Shinji began but she cut him off.
"Yeah? Well maybe you didn't! I'm just already angry from everything else!" Asuka reiterated, turning to storm away from Shinji as she walked down the hall.
"Yeah you are. And we can talk about it if you want." Shinji responded with a slight irritated edge in his voice.
"Oh please! Like that will fix my mood right now!" Asuka said and huffed. "Look, I'll just go on a walk or something. I'll see you later, Ikari." She said.
"Fine! Then I'll just talk to you later!" He shot back as she walked away.
Shinji frowned and wanted to kick himself. He'd just made things worse. Even after they'd all made a Getter Team of sorts together, it seemed that those initial problems that each of them had still persisted.
"Whatever." Shinji muttered as her footsteps faded away.