Nilo awoke to the void, a pitch-black void filled his senses. A mass expanse of a great nothing surrounded him on all sides. He tried closing his eyes, but felt he had no eyelids to close. His entire body felt weightless, his appendages felt free. He realized horror, that he inhabited no body, no mortal shell to hold him to the earth. Even in the nothing, Nilo felt confines. The expanse did not go on forever, yet he had no idea where his confides lay.
Is this it? Am I damned to perdition or is the abyss all that follows life? Nilo thought. His soul, his mind still functioning and existing as normal, as they did before. His memory remained clouded, the events leading up to this a blur. Any attempts he made to sort through them only worsened the haze. Yet as what he felt like minutes turned to what felt like hours, Nilo was no closer to the truth than when he'd awoken.
But there was a presence, something, was out there. It's nature eluded Nilo as he made attempts to circulate through the void. Nilo felt what he assumed to be the shape of his body flow through the void, as if ethereally bound to a form he could not see, yet still was imprisoned by.
"What have you done?" A shrill voice screeched into the void, filling Nilo's mind.
Nilo confusingly looked around, trying to find the source of whatever had called out to him. He assumed the voice matched whatever presence that he felt.
"You've ruined everything." The voice followed up, its tone demanding a response, to which Nilo ignored. His ignorance proved to only infuriate the voice further. "You have no idea what you've done, do you?" The voice asked, calming as it questioned him.
"No. I know nothing." Nilo responded, willing the words into existence.
"Lies." The voice responded. "You must know why you're here or at least where you are. You're just another one of their pawns, aren't you?"
"A pawn of whom?" Nilo questioned in return.
"Do not play coy with me, boy. This is SEELE's work, they sent you." The voice barked back.
"Boy? You dare insult me like that?" Nilo returned with a low growl. "SEELE is no one I share familiarity with. No one commands me."
"If that were true, then why are you here?" The voice said in response.
"If I knew that, I would have relayed that answer already." Nilo angrily retorted. "I have no idea where I am, how I became of this place, nor what SEELE is, or who you are."
After a while, the voice responded. "I suppose this is true, but you must know something. You could not have come here on an accidental whim."
"I do not bear any recognition of this place; it is but a dark void." Nilo said.
"Only because you have yet to open your eyes." The voice responded with a softer tone.
"My eyes are already opened, yet nothing changes in what I see." Nilo growled in return.
"They are not truly open, you must will them to be open here." The voice responded.
Nilo grunted, focusing on his eyes, putting his conscious to the thought of opening them. Slowly he felt his eyes open, as if waking from a long dream. The scenery around had changed drastically, no longer was an emaciating void filling his irises. Instead, Nilo found himself standing near a costal cliff, with soft waves clashing against the stone below. Nilo pushed his thoughts inward, feeling his body manifest before him. The cool breeze started to blow on his skin, as the feeling of grass touched the soles of his feet.
The cold steel of his grey armor manifested upon his skin, repealing the feelings of the world, and entombing Nilo once again in steel. He looked upward, scanning his surroundings for the voice's origin, only to find a woman before him, her face contorted in confusion as she beheld the man in front of her.
"Well?" Nilo said, motioning for the woman to continue.
"W-well… you're not…" She stammered.
"What you expected? Obviously, but moving past that, where are we?" Nilo said, finishing her sentence.
"Technically, we are in the core of Evangelion Unit 01, but this is a manifestation I have created for myself while I reside here. Someplace you should not be." The woman explained.
"Explain to me… this… Evangelion Unit 01 that we reside in firstly. We can discuss later why I am where I should not be." Nilo said.
"Evangelion Unit 01, or Unit 01, is the test type model of the Evangelions, the first non-prototype to be built to combat the angels. I was assimilated into the Eva unit over 13 years ago. Since then I've been awaiting the day its pilot would come and assume command." The woman responded.
"I could gather that you were assimilated, but what does this Unit 01 look like? And you said its designed to combat angels?" Nilo asked.
"Well, if you wish to see the Eva I could activate it's outward sensors for you to gain a grasp of its appearance." The woman stated.
"Yes, obviously. Perchance may I inquire your name?" Nilo asked.
"My name is Yui Ikari, and yours?" Yui responded, motioning her hand for the Eva to activate its eyes. While the outside world would be blind to this, Nilo and Yui would see the outside world through the Unit.
"I am Nilo, Seraph of the Abyss." Nilo said, his back to Yui as he stared out the Eva's eyes to the world before him.
"Seraph of the Abyss…?" Yui asked, skepticism filled her voice as she spoke his title.
"Yes, that is my title, but is not necessary to refer to me as. If you're asking the connotations of it, then I suppose it's a much longer story. To summarize, I am not from here, that I would assume you've gathered. All you need to know is, I am a warrior from a time and place long forgotten. My past is but naught ash in the pyre of time, and ash it shall stay." Nilo sighed.
Yui stared at the warrior before her, eyes wide with confusion and fear. Could this be one of Adam's children? She thought in horror.
"Tell me this, Yui Ikari, what are these 'Angels' you speak of? Angels from the heavens or just a moniker humanity has entitled to some abomination?" Nilo asked.
"The latter is correct. Angels are the children of Adam, the first angel. Adam was discovered in Antarctica in early 2000, and on September 13th, a contact experiment with Adam would cause the Second Impact, an event which shaped our world entirely. The awakening of Adam brought forth the melting of the ice caps, and flooding around the globe. Over two billion people died, and the Earth's axis was shifted. Seventeen years later the Angels are supposed to return, to bring about the Third Impact and destruction of humanity. That is why Unit 01 was created, to protect mankind from the Angels." Yui explained, trying to study Nilo's body language as she spoke.
"So, you built an effigy of man to combat aliens?" Nilo asked, his near dead voice blanketed any emotion that may have been.
"I-In essence, yes I suppose." Yui stammered in response, unnerved by something in the man.
"Then have the Angels come yet?" Nilo asked.
"No, not yet. But they should arrive… soon." Yui said.
"Or else this waste was for naught." Nilo grunted. "Tell me, why are you inside the Unit then?"
"To help the pilot…" Yui explained, doing her best to hide her plans that were years in the making.
"And that pilot is…?" Nilo sarcastically asked, motioning his hand for her to continue.
"My son, Shinji Ikari." Yui said. "But your presence now complicates everything."
Nilo did not immediately respond, causing anxiety to build up in Yui at what the man was thinking. His body gave off no signs, and his eyes were hidden behind a veil of black that covered his face in his helmet, the veil connected to the helm from his armor, which was adorned with symbols Yui had never seen before in any language in history. Everything about the man worried her, but there was nothing she could do now.
"I suppose this does complicate things." Nilo said, turning to the woman. "But the problem will not persist for long."
"W-What?" Yui started to speak as Nilo stepped forward. From his side, she could see a small blade appear in his right hand as she felt his left on her shoulder. She tried to scream, but the blade pierced her side before she could. Yui fell back, falling to the ground as she started in horror at the man before her.
"H-How?" Yui asked, coughing on what she could only assume would be a manifestation of her blood.
Even though she could not see his face, Yui was sure Nilo was smirking as he looked down on her. "Simple, I willed this to happen. The scenario must not be achieved, at all costs. The cycle must be broken." Nilo responded.
The last thing Yui saw was the boot of Nilo slamming down on her face before she felt Nilo dig his boot in her face. She felt herself fading, being willed from existence by the man. The act of savagery by Nilo was merely a manifestation of his will to be rid of her, and Nilo succeeded. As Yui faded from existence, and her soul destroyed as it left the Eva's core, she could only worry for the future, not realizing it would be fixed by the man who had just destroyed her.
Shinji sighed as he looked at his watch, the phone in his hand buzzing as he tried to call the number he'd been given. His iPhone was dead, and the only nearby phone was the payphone before him. Shinji rolled his eyes as he looked down again at the picture of the woman he was supposed to meet, ignoring the lipstick and instead making sure he'd input the correct number for her contact. When he realized he had, for the third time called the correct number. Shinji cursed to himself, reaching into his pocket, and retrieved a pack of cigarettes and put one to his lips and lit it with his zippo lighter.
She should've been here by now. Shinji thought, unsure of where said thought came from.
A loud slam reverberated all around Shinji. Looking up, to his horror stood a monstrous being a few hundred meters from him. A large VTOL was swatted out of the air by the monstrous beast, causing Shinji to drop the payphone and started to run towards shelter. As Shinji ran, he ignored the blue haired girl he saw floating in his peripherals, a voice in the back of his head screamed out in recognition, but the fear for his life silenced it.
Shinji skidded to a halt as another VTOL fell from the sky, landing maybe one hundred feet from him. Before he could turn around, a blue alpine came roaring into view, drifting by Shinji. The driver opened the passenger dorm and inside sat the woman who was supposed to retrieve him.
"Thanks for waiting!" The woman flashed a smile. Shinji rolled his eyes, before clamoring into the car. Before he had his seatbelt on, the woman was already speeding off. Shinji held on for dear life as the car shook and rolled as the woman sped through corners and blew through stop signs, not that it mattered with the roads as empty as they were.
Christ, she's gonna kill me. Was all Shinji could think as the engine kept roaring. Outside the passenger window, Shinji watched as more aircraft and artillery pounded whatever was destroying the city, only to be interrupted from a gasp by who he assumed was Misato.
"They wouldn't…" Was all she managed to get out before an enormous explosion filled the skies, detonated on top of whatever was terrorizing the city. Shinji felt the shockwaves coming, and felt the car start to buckle as it tilted to its right side, before finally flipping over.
A litany of curses came from the purple-haired woman as she kicked the sunroof open and climbed out. Shinji followed, trying to orientate himself.
"An N2 Mine? What were they thinking!" Misato barked out to no one in particular. "Everyone knows conventional weapons won't work on an Angel…"
"Say, Shinji?" She turned to him, her eyes possessing a faux sense of pleading. "Can you help me get my car back on its wheels?"
Shinji just rolled his eyes, throwing his backpack down and getting behind the car and shoving it back over before Misato could help. Misato raised her eyebrow at this, clearly surprised at the feat, and admired the fact the boy was stronger than she'd been led to believe.
"You're Misato Katsuragi I guess?" Shinji asked the older woman, breaking the ice.
"Mhm, and I take it you're Shinji Ikari?" Misato responded, earning a nod from Shinji.
"Well, we need to get you to NERV, but first I need to call some people, is that ok?" Misato asked as she climbed back into her car. Shinji followed suit, giving a meager nod in return. Misato studied the boy, noticing the timid look in his eyes, and the fact he was leaner than the pictures she'd been given in his file.
Shinji blocked out whatever conversation Misato was having, instead staring out at the skies above, wondering just what exactly it was his father wanted from him. It certainly wasn't going to be giving him a hug, or a happy birthday, or a congratulations for almost being an adult, reaching 17 was somewhat of an accomplishment. But, no, if Shinji was lucky, he'd be useful to his father in some form.
ACatalystOfDestructionOfDeathOfSuffering
Shinji blinked, registering the thought that had just blitz through his mind. His face contorted in confusion, something his companion picked up on.
"Everything ok Shinji? You looked a little scared there." Misato asked the boy, catching him by surprise. Shinji readjusted himself in the seat, straightening his back.
"Yeah… yeah just got lost in space for a second, sorry." Shinji responded with a weak smile, brandishing his signature apology.
Shinji looked forward, seeing the entrance to the car train, and assumed they'd reached their destination. Misato handed him a file, and it came with an instruction booklet and an ID.
"Here's your ID, and a 'Welcome to NERV' brochure, not sure how useful it'll be to you." She joked. Shinji responded with an awkward and forced laugh, then turned his attention to mulling over the brochure. His eyes scanned the material, but he didn't really care to commit any of it to memory.
"The Geofront, isn't it beautiful?" Misato asked, pulling Shinji from his thoughts. Shinji eyed the area before them, taking in the manmade beauty before him.
"Yeah, prettier than the pictures made it out to be." Shinji responded.
"Sure is, soooo… do you know why your father brought you here?" Misato asked with a smirk.
"No, and honestly, it's going to be better that way, 'least till I see him. Disappointment's better in the moment than before." Shinji mused, smirking to the older woman.
"So serious and pessimistic." Misato joked, smirking back.
"I thought girls loved mysterious and serious?" Shinji joked back, causing Misato to feign shock.
"My my, a Casanova, are you?" Misato beamed.
"Something of the sort." Shinji joked, before looking back out at the view before them, entering back into the chasm that was his mind.
By the time the pair had finally found their way to their intended destination, they'd been walking for over a half an hour, and been lost for most of it. Shinji didn't know if he had any more 'Misato I think we're lost's left.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they found where they were going, with the help of Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, who was apparently NERV's head scientist. Shinji had been blocking out her and Misato's conversation as the elevator descended further, instead choosing to keep himself occupied with NERV's handbook once more.
A sudden churning of the elevator as it ground to a halt took Shinji out of his reading, and brought his attention to the dark room they were now entrapped in. Something in the room felt… wrong. While Shinji couldn't place it, something felt as if there was a presence calling out to him, something beyond the grave, but nothing was natural within these metallic walls.
Shinji saw Ritsuko flip on a light, before the entire room was filled with bright yellow light. Shinji stepped back as he saw what was before him. A giant, purple and green armored face stood before him. Its metallic features lifeless as the giant stared the boy down. The horn was easily as big as he was, and the entire being must've easily been 40m tall, if not larger. The thing that unnerved Shinji the most was just how uncanny the beast looked.
"Here is mankind's ultimate weapon against the angels, the Evangelion. This one-" Ritsuko began. "-Is Unit 01, the test type model." She explained.
Regaining his composure, Shinji looked towards the woman with a faded smile. "This is the work of my father, isn't it?" He asked.
"Yes." A voice entered the room from above. Shinji looked up, blocking the light with his hand, and saw his father standing above them. "It's been a long time." Gendo said to his son.
"Father." Shinji said, straightening his back as his eyes bore into his father. The man Shinji had waited years to see was before him, and yet the words wouldn't leave his throat, as if trapped by his own vocal cords.
Gendo looked to Ritsuko. "Activate Unit 01." He ordered. The blonde woman nodded before turning to do her job, but Misato interrupted.
"Activate it? But we don't have a pilot!" Misato questioned, looking desperately at Ritsuko.
"One was just delivered." Gendo informed the Major, his eyes hidden behind a glare on his glasses.
"But it took Rei 7 months to synchronize with her Eva!" Misato yelled back.
"The interception against the angel is top priority, even if there is a low synchronization rate." Ritsuko responded.
"Did you call me just to pilot this… thing?" Shinji beckoned to his father, motioning to the giant metallic mech.
"Yes." Was all Gendo had to say.
"Why me?" Shinji asked his father, a determined look plastered on his face.
Because you must.
"Because others can't." Gendo responded. Shinji was too preoccupied with the strange thought that had forced its way to his consciousness before his father had responded. Shinji was unnerved but pushed the thought aside.
"If only I can, then I'll pilot Unit 01." Shinji responded, standing gallantly in his father's unwelcoming gaze.
A low hum emanated from the Eva as Shinji made his declaration, but no one besides the boy seemed to notice. After all this, I need to stop drinking so much, I'm starting to lose it. Did... the Eva just look at me? Shinji thought, staring at the mechanical monster before him.
Technicians rushed out to help ready the Eva, and Shinji followed the orders of Dr. Akagi as he entered the entry plug of Unit 01. Shinji adjusted himself as he sat in the Eva's controls, taking in all the equipment before him.
"The entry plug will now fill with LCL, please don't hold your breath Shinji, you can breathe the LCL in." Dr. Akagi spoke through the communications network.
As soon as she finished her statement, a light orange liquid began to fill the plug, engulfing Shinji in its grasp as the air dissipated. Shinji held his breath for a second, before attempting to breathe as the Doctor had said, and sure enough the liquid was breathable.
"Dr. Akagi, the LCL smells like blood." Shinji said.
"That's perfectly normal. You're launching in T-minus 4 minutes." Dr Akagi coldly answered.
"Please be safe Shinji." Misato muttered to herself, before assuming her tactician train of thought. The fight was now, and they needed to all be ready.
Shinji sat in the Eva's entry plug, awaiting his launch to the fight above. What exactly he was to do when he reached the surface, Shinji wasn't so sure of. But for now, he had time to adjust to the plug even further.
The plug is spacious, is it not? A voice boomed into the plug.
"What." Was all that Shinji could mutter. The voice had come from within his head, yet he'd heard it through his ears. Yep, definitely losing it. Shinji thought to himself.
Your sanity is not in question, Shinji Ikari. The voice responded.
Shinji ignored the voice, pretending it wasn't there by quietly whistling to himself. If he was going mental, he'd prefer it to happen after he was retrieved from the giga-death-murder-machine.
Your ignorance will only lead to suffering in the coming moments, Ikari. I voice myself to you for a multitude of reasonings boy. The voice spoke again. This time Shinji was sure this… whatever… was actually speaking to him.
"And those are?" Shinji asked out loud.
Do not voice your questionings aloud boy. I do not need to hear them twice from your thoughts and voice. As well as not to alert the groveling morons below. The voice hissed,
"Shinji, are there any problems?" Dr. Akagi asked.
"N-No Mam, sorry." Shinji weakly responded.
"Good. You're set to launch in T-minus one minute." Dr. Akagi responded.
Oh fuck. Shinji thought, gripping the controls tightly.
Do not fear, anguish and horror will only bring harm in battle. Relinquish control and I shall lead you naught from victory. The voice ordered.
'Tell me who you are first, and then how to do that and I will.' Shinji answered in his mind.
You are the host, I the specter. If I knew the commands, I would have taken this deplorable effigy of God for a 'joyride' already. The voice mused. As for my moniker, I am but Nilo, Seraph of the Abyss. Now, give me command of this metallic tomb.
'Again, I'd do that if I knew how too. And while I'm going psychotic, why did no one tell me you were in here?' Shinji responded in his thoughts.
They know not of my existence, poor fools. Alas, I shall have to force command of this derelict tomb from you. If you experience pain boy, do not blame me. It shall be a lesser pain than any you would experience in the coming combat. Nilo responded.
'Uhh… fine by me? What do I tell Dr. Akagi and them?' Shinji asked. But before Nilo could respond, the Evangelion jerked forward slightly.
"Evangelion launching in 5…4…3…2…1" A robotic voice boomed into the room. Upon the end of the countdown, the Evangelion was shot upwards, flying through the launch tunnels as it barreled towards the city.
Upon the Eva's arrival, the Angel immediately turned to face the metallic mech. Its eyes seemingly brimming with hate as it stared the Eva down. Shinji felt his stomach drop as the Angel moved forward.
"Shinji! Move forward and engage!" Misato's voice echoed through the comms. Shinji grunted as he tried to get the Eva to move, noticing it only followed what he willed. The angel swiped down at the Eva when it came within arm's reach of the mech, and Shinji narrowly avoided the beast's claws.
"How do I take this thing out?" Shinji yelled.
"Take out its core!" Misato responded. With that knowledge, Shinji set his sights on defeating the Angel.
The Angel reached forwards, grabbing the Eva by the shoulders and slamming it against a nearby building. Shinji grunted as the Eva impacted the building, knocking it over as the mech fell with it. Shinji rolled the Eva before the Angel could stomp on its face.
Unit 01 stood, getting in a defensive stance as Shinji watched for the Angel's next move. The Angel stood, extending its arm, and launching an energy beam straight into Unit 01. Unit 01 was struck in the shoulder as the beam grazed through the armor. Shinji yelled in pain as the energy burned Unit 01's armor plating.
I have seen enough. Nilo's voice boomed into the plug.
Shinji felt himself disconnect from the Eva, but also was overtaken with a sense of unity as his body sunk into the seat of the entry plug. The Eva lurched with new life as Shinji was pushed further back from the controls, as if melting into the seat.
Down below, in the command center of NERV, all eyes were on Unit 01 as it stood still. Misato was screaming Shinji's name as his pulse slowed, but Dr. Akagi and her assistant Maya Ibuki were watching in fascinated horror as Shinji's synch rate soared.
"Misato, he's at 98.8 percent synchronization, this is the highest we've ever seen." Dr. Akagi informed the operations director.
"Can't he hear us?" Misato yelled at Ritsuko, a pleading look in her eyes. But Ritsuko just shook her head.
"It seems he's detached from the world, which shouldn't be happening. To be honest, I have no idea what even is going on." Ritsuko responded.
Up above the Commander was watching, his eyes unmoving as he studied the scene before him. Only muttering one word. "Yui…"
Unit 01 shuddered as Nilo took command of the giant machine, whatever will leftover from Yui Ikari buckling as Nilo brought it to a heel with his might. The Eva let out a gurgle of a roar inside it's mouth as it lurched forward, reengaging the Angel.
The Angel looked puzzled, before grabbing the Unit's head and slamming it into another nearby building and firing off another beam of light, burning one side of the Eva's face. Unit 01 let out a roar of utter rage as Nilo brought the Unit's right arm up and slammed it into the Angel's face, forcing the being to release the Eva.
The Angel stumbled backwards, reorienting itself as it looked towards the Eva with mild confusion. The Eva lurched forwards, its arms dangled from its body as the Unit charged forward. Unit 01 latched onto the Angel, tearing its hands through the Angel's AT field as the Unit descended upon the Angel like a rabid dog.
Pushing the Angel over, Nilo used Unit 01's hands to begin tearing into the Angel's flesh. The Angel let out a horrific scream as Unit 01 tore its right arm from its body. The Unit then began beating the Angel's chest with its own appendage, breaking the rib like structures that surrounded the Angel's core.
The Angel tried in vain to protect its now exposed core, but the relentless assault of the frenzied Eva was insurmountable. So, with a triumphant roar, Unit 01 slammed its fist down onto the Angel's core, shattering it and destroying the Angel as it exploded into a cross of light.
Shinji, are you alive? Nilo spoke into the plug. A groan resonated from the pilot as the boy faded in and out of consciousness. Nilo sighed to himself and looked down upon what little was left of the Angel's corpse with disgust.
While Nilo could hear the yells from the operations director and the clapping from NERV's command center, the Seraph could also feel the unease emitting from the Commander, and saw the shudder run through the man as he realized something was off. But that was a problem for another time, for now all that mattered is how he was going to help the boy explain what had happened.
Nilo took what he presumed was his hand, without having a body and being confined to an ethereal and invisible state, it was hard to hell, and pressed it against the side of Shinji's head and focused. Nilo focused on connecting his spirit with Shinji's, so he could be connected to the boy outside of the Evangelion. For as much as Nilo knew he needed to help the boy in combat, something told him the 17-year-old would need assistance beyond just piloting. But that was in the future, for now all he needed to do was make sure the kid didn't die.
As the time passed and as he sensed Shinji would live, Nilo made one final change before the NERV medics arrived. Going into Shinji's cellular makeup, Nilo used the LCL, and knowledge he'd stolen from Yui, to enhance Shinji's physical makeup. Nilo increased the amount and resilience in his skeletal muscle mass and decided to make the boy be a couple inches taller. The boy would thank him later, but for now the boy was to lost in his past out state to notice.
Nilo watched as the NERV paramedics rescued him, and saw the woman named Misato tenderly cusp her hands on the sides of Shinji's face as he was pulled from the entry plug. While he couldn't be certain, Nilo swore he saw a tear fall from Misato's face.
While he did not understand what made the boy special, a warm, small twang in Nilo's normally cold chest told him that he was, and Nilo knew he had to ensure nothing happened to this one, for he was greater than any he'd seen before, even if those memories now eclipsed him as Nilo felt himself slowly drift along with the boy, watching from the ethereal space Nilo inhabited.