Reports of violent activity have continued to rise…

Some claimed they were monsters, others claimed they were humans with god-like powers…

The enemy was once called, angel… now, it bears a new name…

Nephilim…

II: The New War

Hikari sighed as she closed the door. She truly hoped Rei would be able to get some sleep after her ordeal but after everything she'd been through so far, she had little hope. As she turned she saw the boy was still waiting for her.

"How is she?" the white-haired lad asked.

"I really don't know," Hikari replied. "She's holding up okay on the surface, but there is no telling what's happening in her mind right now." Hikari paused as she thought of something. "Kaworu… did you know this was going to happen?"

Kaworu sighed. "I did," he explained. "It was only a matter of time before she awakened. I should have kept closer tabs on her."

"What did she mean by being the 'key to controlling Third Impact'? I get that NERV was just as much involved as the Instrumentality Committee and SEELE but… what role did she play?"

"That's complicated to try to explain," he admitted. "I guess the short version would be that she was the result of one man's ambition and overwhelming desire to be reunited with someone lost."

"That was a bit cryptic," Hikari pointed out.

"I know. I'll explain it greater detail another time. In the meantime, you need to get home. Rei was identified by the JSSDF alright, and thankfully you were successful in keeping your own involvement secret."

Hikari looked down at that moment as she remembered what she had to do to accomplish that.

"You did what had to be done, don't beat yourself up over it. Besides, you know the JSSDF would have gunned you down without a second thought."

"They tried," Hikari admitted.

"See? Humans can't be trusted anymore. Either way, the JSSDF will be looking into all of Rei's former contacts, which would include the entire class of 2-A from Tokyo-3 Junior High. Believe me; they won't let up their search for her."

"I got that impression."

Kaworu nodded. "Then you understand the situation. Get home so you don't raise suspicions. I trust you know how to answer their questions. "

"Of course," Hikari replied. "I'll see you tonight."

"Be careful," Kaworu cautioned. Watching as Hikari left, he came to realize just how dire their situation was becoming. The more the JSSDF look into Rei, the harder they will search for her. He knew if they found out she was the key to Third Impact, they would spare no expense in her capture because they would be absolutely convinced they could undo the damage the world suffered from Third Impact using her to do it.

Of course, they were wrong. But they would try, and they would likely kill her. Then He would come back, angered beyond reason. No one, not even Kaworu wanted that.

Jiangsu No-Man's Land, China: 24 Minutes Later

A large host of the People's Army of China gathered near the site they believed was the home of a huge nest of Nephilim. They were correct, as the outlying wilds that had become beyond the control of humanity were a safe haven for beings strong enough to survive it. Nephilim certainly fit that description. This expedition was meant to wipe them out. Though they lacked the Anti-Nephilim Ordinance and Ammunition used by the JSSDF specialists, they had mass numbers and a lot of firepower, potentially enough to break the AT-Fields of the Nephilim; though their intelligence told them that not many could even produce an AT-Field.

Only one Nephilim stood against them, a female clad in red armor that appeared to be a cross between plate and chain. Her full helmet was nearly featureless in the face but winged over both sides of her head, and she held a massive ornate Zweihänder. Two pairs of red wings extended behind her as she floated a few feet off the ground. Her appearance was as awe inspiring as it was a terrible sight for the men. They expected an army of lesser Nephilim to meet them, what they got was a singular elite.

"I give you only one warning," the figure spoke in perfect Mandarin. "Leave now… or be purged in righteous flames."

The response was an artillery salvo. The angelic figure never moved, allowing the missiles and shells to explode harmlessly off of her AT-Field. When the smoke cleared the Nephilim was revealed to be completely unharmed.

"Fools," the figure whispered before her wings lit on fire.

One wing beat and she was propelled into the air like a rocket. Anti-air fire followed her movements but couldn't keep up with her sheer speed. She suddenly dove down and appeared to slam into a tank in the middle of the forward formation. The explosion that happened revealed half of the tank flying off in one direction seeming to have been sliced in half before the explosion. Machineguns opened fire on the flaming wreckage as the Nephilim emerged from the flames. Bullets sparked off of her AT-Field as she propelled herself forward, slashing through men and machines with equal fervor.

Tanks fired, heavy machineguns rocked, and men threw themselves into combat in droves, but the Nephilim was unstoppable. With a wide swipe she cut an entire platoon in half. A massive wing buffet launched many into the air away from her. Before the bodies even hit the ground she flew forward in a flash, slamming her sword into the front section of a tank, killing the driver before unleashing massive gout of flame inside the vehicle, roasting the crew alive.

More men tried to get within range to shoot, only to suddenly find themselves face to face with burning wrath. Men screamed in horrific pain, demoralizing the already shocked infantry. The Nephilim slammed down her sword in an overhead chop, sending a line of flames in a straight line though another tank platoon. Every vehicle struck was split in half and exploded violently.

This was too much… The survivors lost the will to fight and fled before the burning wrath of the Nephilim. Finally, it was over, and the Nephiliim did not pursue the remaining forces. There would be no need to as only a few would likely make it back to tell the tale, but the rest would be taken by the other monsters that have arisen in these lands, a result of the power of Third Impact unleashed upon the world.

The Nephilim sighed a heavy sigh as she turned back and flew for the Nephilim settlement, arriving in a matter of moments. As she entered the ramshackle village, she was greeted by the rest of the Nephilim as a conquering heroine, though she didn't feel like one at all. Without really acknowledging the crowd, she proceeded to the home she was gifted in the middle of the settlement. She knew there were probably crowds out there hoping she would make an appearance or perhaps say something encouraging, but words were never her strong suit. With the doors closed, her wings retraced into her body and her aura calmed. The armor faded leaving her in light peasant clothing as her long red hair finally came loose. Her eyes shifted back from blood red to bright blue as she sighed, finally fully relaxing.

She sat down on a cushion on the floor before her table, staring at the water pitcher there as if it would soon move on its own. It didn't, but that was expected.

"I've saved the day again," she whispered to herself. "The town of Langxi is safe for another day." She listened to the sounds of children playing, the pounding of the hammers as they reinforced the wall around the village to keep the ascendant monsters at bay. It was still early in the afternoon, and the girl realized she needed to get some sleep before nightfall. None of the other Nephilim in the town have fully awakened yet, and few could control their AT –Fields to any extent, so aside from a few able bodies willing to risk their lives, she alone was the guardian here. She reflected on how she… Asuka Langley Sohryu, ended up becoming the Guardian of a backwater town, west of Shanghai.

She was a model, she remembered. There was a fashion show in Hong Kong, her big international break. Chinese fashion designers would love to see someone like her… half Japanese, half German, and a former Eva pilot to boot. It would be her path to stardom. Then she awakened in the dressing room. Everyone managed to escape the fire that resulted but Asuka felt guilty about again becoming a danger to people she cared about. The Chinese government had other ideas.

In China, they had a very simple method of dealing with Nephilim… summary execution. Asuka wasn't about to go down without a fight. Two dead platoons later, and her own countries of origin refused to extradite her. She was soon unwelcome everywhere; her life turned into a nightmare…

Then she found out Nephilim that haven't even awakened yet were being gathered in a location just outside of Hong Kong for extermination. She wasn't about to let that happen, and so she played the heroine. For her trouble she was shot several times with advanced Anti-Nephilim Rounds… rounds that stung like the all too familiar Lance of Longinus.

Asuka cringed as she remembered that day… not the day she was shot, the day she was killed… The vulture like MP EVA's tore her unit to pieces and then impaled her with every lance they had. But even that didn't kill her… she lay within the confines of her plug bleeding from many wounds, turning the orange LCL around her blood red and feeling the burning of the scared metal in her body. And there she stayed until she saw the white angel… Tabris.

It was he who came for her… he who brought her into the Impact, and he who allowed her soul to heal within Instrumentality. He held her bared body in the sea of LCL, quieted her pain, comforted her cries, and for the first time made her feel human. If it were not for that white haired, red eyed saint, she would still be insane with pain and probably less than human. It was the first time she had truly fallen in love with anyone, and she couldn't believe it was with an angel.

"I was trained to hate your kind," she whispered as she walked to her small window. "Trained to kill you… and look at me now. Shinji may have restored the world, but it was I who paid the blood-debt of human kind. And now, we Nephilim continue to suffer. Tabris… you told me there would be dire consequences… debts paid for crimes we never committed… I should hate you… so why am I in love with you?

"Was it the act of selfless kindness at the end of everything? Did my soul so need a savior that it would have chosen anyone at all and you just happened to answer? Or was this something that was meant to happen? How were you even alive at the end? Shinji killed you and yet… Are you out there still? I wonder…"

Asuka's face fell as tears began to escape her eyes. "Now I've become the very thing I was taught to hate… in love with the very thing I was trained to kill. Tell me Kaworu… Tabris… whoever you are… Is this my penance? Am I now meant to be a warrior praised by the other downtrodden and ostracized? Or is this just one step on a longer path? And if I do find you… will you chase away my nightmares?"

Letting the tears flow free, she pulled another veil over the windows. She needed to sleep before nightfall. She only prayed that her nightmares would let her rest for once…

… These people needed her…

Horaki Residence, Tokyo-3: Several Hours Later

The interview went as expected. Hikari sighed as she collapsed on her bed and allows herself to relax finally. It was grueling but they left just as empty handed as they arrived. They sent special agents from JSSDF Division-9, a division set up specifically to investigate possible Nephilim.

She looked towards her door seeing Kodama and Nozomi there looking in concerned. They knew her secret, and though Kodama was too old to manifest Nephilim Powers, she knew if she were tested, she would come up positive. Nozomi being so young was likely to develop her own unique talents. And seeing how her older sister was dealing with it made her fearful of the day she became awakened.

"Do you think they'll be back?" Kodama asked as she came in and sat on the edge of the bed. Nozomi circled the other side and got in bed with her sister, curling up into her side. Hikari held her younger sister, knowing how scared she was.

"Maybe," Hikari replied at length. "They won't stop until they find her."

"Kaworu tell you that?"

Hikari didn't answer, but Kodama already could guess.

"Are you gonna go again?" Nozomi asked.

"Yeah," Hikari replied.

"Don't!" Nozomi almost cried as she clung to Hikari.

"I have to," Hikari whispered as she held her sister. "Rei needs me, and so do the rest of our brothers and sisters."

"You're likely to be followed," Kodama pointed out.

"I have ways of disappearing where they can't find me," Hikari mentioned. "I know a few secret access points in buildings I would be hard pressed to be traced in without their people standing out too much." She frowned as she released her younger sister. "I wish Asuka were here. She's a real fighter… I'm so new at this."

"I'm sure she will come home when she can. She's probably laying low in China somewhere."

"I wish she never took that modeling job."

"It's what she wanted," Kodama countered. "You know it might have actually been worse for her if she awakened here in Tokyo-3."

"Maybe…"

"Chin up, it will be okay in the end."

"Okay, Nozomi," Hikari said to get her little sister's attention. "I need you and Kodama to guard the house. You know what to do if the JSSDF decide they want to bring you in."

Nozomi nodded. "Head for the city, find 13187 Takama Street and go to the basement. We can get into the old maintenance passages for NERV though a manhole cover there."

"Good," Hikari commented and gave her younger sister another hug. "Kodama… if it happens…"

"Don't worry… I'll take care of it," she replied.

"You sure you know what to do?"

"Of course."

"Then I leave it to you. I'll try to be back before 10. Any later, and it'll look suspicious."

Langxi, China: Sunset

Asuka walked out of her house as the sun began to disappear over the hills to the west of town. Her armor was already out as were her wings. Few in this town had ever seen her outside of her powered up state. The civilians, except the ones that were strong enough to help, returned to their homes at her appearance. Windows were covered and doors were latched shut. This was a practiced routine, though Asuka knew that if she and the volunteers failed and the monsters managed to get into the town, the latched doors would not save them.

Asuka leapt up onto a platform built into the wall and gazed out over the flat territory. The monsters always attacked form the east, so the rice and vegetable farms were west of town. As the cold night winds began to make themselves known, she wondered what kinds of creatures would show up tonight, and when.

Asuka looked around and saw the fear and anxiety on the faces of those chosen to help defend the town. She promised herself that no matter what came to kill them, it would never be enough.

"No one dies on my watch," she whispered.

If you want it come and take it from me
If you think you can, you still don't know me
Let me tell you, man, when I said it, I meant it
and I will always have the right to defend it

Fifty seconds, a hundred murders
The bill of rights is a bill of sale
What will you do when the war is over?
What will you do when your system fails!?