Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion. As if you needed me to tell you that.
Author's Notes: Okay here's chapter two. Hopefully an improvement on the previous chapters. Rating updated to M to be safe.
2. New Threats
(Misato's Apartment)
Misato had gathered everyone into the apartment's living room. The five pilots were there along with Kensuke and Hikari. Ritsuko was also present.
Before coming to the apartment Misato had taken Shinji, Rei and Nara to their apartment where they had quickly changed. Rei was now wearing a white dress, it was plain but compared to what she usually wore it was a considerable step up. Nara was wearing black cargo pants and a grey t-shirt and Shinji was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt.
The other two pilots, Touji and Asuka had each invited a friend. Kensuke and Hikari respectively. Touji was wearing his usual track suit and Kensuke had on his army fatigues. Asuka was wearing her yellow dress and Hikari was simply wearing her school uniform.
Misato dressed in her uniform and Ritsuko dressed in her lab coat were standing in front of the teens.
Misato glanced at Ritsuko before she began. "Now we're all here to have a good time, so I'll get the work out of the way first."
She looked at each of the pilots in turn. "You five are to report to Nerv tomorrow morning at 7am for a full day of testing." Groans from Touji and Asuka were her only response. "Hey you have a responsibility and now that all five Evas are ready it's time to start training."
Ritsuko chose that moment to speak. "I have a new training program I need to test and you have to test it."
Touji looked slightly confused. "What do you mean…'training program'."
Ritsuko smiled slightly. "You'll find out."
"Okay." Misato clapped her hands together. "I'll go start dinner."
Everyone groaned and Shinji jumped to his feet. "Don't worry Misato I'll do it." He ran into the kitchen. Rei followed him. Nara seemed to consider following but decided not to.
Misato looked slightly hurt. "My cooking's not that bad."
Asuka and Ritsuko exchanged a knowing look but said nothing.
It wasn't long until they were all sitting around the kitchen table and eating the food Shinji and Rei had prepared.
Asuka took the opportunity to declare herself the greatest pilot. "I can now hold a 100 sync ratio."
Shinji didn't look impressed. "So can I."
"But you don't have my skills so your syncing is irrelevant."
Kensuke jumped at the chance to learn more about the Eva's. "What about the others."
"Suzuhara can't even get past 78, so he's no competition. As for those two," she pointed at Rei and Nara. "I've always been better than Wondergirl and I'm sure the rookie isn't any better."
Nara laughed softly. "I may surprise you Asuka and I think Rei might too."
Asuka laughed loudly. "Yeah right, Wondergirl and Wonderboy you don't stand a chance."
"Don't call them that Asuka." Shinji's voice sounded angry.
"Why not? They both obviously think their better that the rest of us. I bet he's as much of a doll as she is."
Before Shinji could say anything in response Rei practically screamed at Asuka. "Stop calling me that, I am not a doll!!!" She slammed her hands down on the table.
Asuka was clearly shocked by Rei's response, as was everyone else in the room.
For a few minutes Rei and Asuka just stared at each other. Rei looked angry, Asuka looked confused. Everyone else just watched.
Eventually Rei returned to eating and everyone else except for Asuka followed suit.
Asuka continued to stare at Rei for almost a minute before finally starting to eat again.
The rest of the party was uneventful. The teens just hung around the living room and talked or played on the game system Kensuke had brought.
At the start Kensuke had declared himself unbeatable and beaten Touji, Asuka and Hikari. He challenged Nara and Rei to a two on one match and was devastated when he lost. Nara and Rei hit the buttons at exactly the same time allowing them to pull of some impressive double attacks. When they started to play through the games cooperative mode Shinji joined them and while Kensuke's character ran ahead Shinji, Rei and Nara performed three way manoeuvres Kensuke thought were impossible.
As Kensuke looked closer he noticed that the three teens were sitting in the same positions on the floor and were mimicking each others actions. Not only were they breathing at the same time they were also blinking at the same time.
Eventually though the party ended and the guests went home. The pilots had to get some sleep before tomorrow's tests.
(Next Day, Nerv)
The five pilots dressed in their plug suits stood with Ritsuko in a reasonable small room. Along one wall were five entry plugs with the numbers 01, 14, 15, 16 and 17 respectively printed on their front. The other wall was composed completely of a giant screen.
Ritsuko looked around proudly. "This is the Eva virtual simulation room. Basically you get in the pods and it'll be just like piloting your Evas. You'll be fighting in a virtual Tokyo-3 against some virtual Angel opponents."
"So…we'll be piloting virtual Evas." Touji's confusion was evident in his voice.
"Yes and no, the Evas in the virtual Tokyo-3 will be virtual but your plugs are connected to your actual Evas. The reason for this is that the MAGI can not accurately predict synchronisation with an Eva so you'll be syncing with the real Evas and the MAGI will then incorporate those sync-ratios into the virtual world." She motioned at the entry plugs, "This was a lot easier than building virtual suits for the Evas."
Misato walked in the door. "So let's get started, the commander and sub-commander will be here soon." She turned to the pilots. "Well…get in the plugs."
The pilots got into the entry plugs and Ritsuko initiated the simulation. While this was happening Gendo and Fuyutsuki entered the room.
Inside the pods the pilots observed the usual flashes of light and colour. They then found themselves standing on the streets of Tokyo-3 piloting their Evas.
Shinji's Unit-01 looked the same as it always had, on the outside at least. The giant purple mecha looked around at its new team mates. Asuka's Unit-14 was built from the half-eaten remains of Unit-02 and was highly similar in construction. It had the same four eyed head, the same sleek body and it was still painted red with yellow parts. Unit-14 however was slightly more advanced. On its back was what looked like a red backpack which on Asuka's mental command could deploy the Eva's large red wings. The most important feature though was the Eva's S2 organ, allowing it to operate without external power and to regenerate from damage. Touji's Unit-15 was similarly built from the remains of Unit-03 and closely resembled it, with the same head and elongated body. Like Unit-14, Unit-15 had wings (blue ones) and an S2 organ. However unlike Unit-14 Unit-15 was not painted the same colours as the original Unit-03, instead it was a dark blue with grey parts.
Unit-16 and Unit-17 were a completely different matter. They resembled no previous Eva, though they were almost identical to each other. Their bodies were basically like the other Evas with the same sort of chest piece as Unit-01 but their heads were a different matter. The most defining feature of their heads was the fact they had three eyes, the third one positioned between the usual two pushing them slightly to the side. Apart from that their heads resembled Unit-01's though lacking the horn. Both sported wing packs and contained an S2 organ. The only difference between them was their colour. Rei's Unit-16 was white with light blue parts and Nara's Unit-17 was black with dark red parts. Their wings where the same colours as their bodies, white for Unit-16 and black for Unit-17.
A large armament building rose from the ground next to the Evas containing a vast range of Eva weapons. Asuka took a progressive axe, Touji took a palette gun, Rei and Nara each took a Longinus spear but Shinji just deployed his progressive knife.
Ritsuko's voice came over the Evas' intercoms. "We'll start the battle now. You'll be up against four Angel opponents." Four large shapes appeared looming above the buildings on the other side of the city. "You'll be fighting Sachiel, Shamshiel, Israfel and Bardiel." The intercom cut off.
"Shit we have to take on four Angels." Touji sounded anything but confidant.
"Calm down Suzuhara there's five of us," Asuka responded.
"Yeah until Israfel splits."
"Oh…right."
Rei activated her intercom. "Do not worry, we will take care of Israfel." Unit-16 started running towards the distant figure, followed closely by Unit-17.
"Heh wait up." Unit-14 took off towards the Angels as did Unit-15 and Unit-01.
It wasn't long before Rei and Nara were confronted by the large form of the 7th Angel.
Rei spoke to Nara through the Eva's intercom system. "If we work together it will be easier to defeat Israfel."
"Agreed."
Israfel fired its eye-blast at them but the Evas simply jumped to the side and avoided the attack. Then they struck. Rei swung her spear sideways at the Angel's chest making it jump backwards and then Nara swung his spear in an overhead arc catching the Angel off guard and splitting it neatly in two. As the two half's shuddered and reformed into two separate Angels the two Evas retreated several steps.
The two new Angels fired simultaneous blasts at the Evas both of which expertly dodged. Before the Angels could attack again Rei and Nara threw their spears, which morphed into lance form and streaked towards the Angels. Caught off guard both Angels cores where punctured by the lances and immediately went critical.
The resulting explosion levelled a large part of Tokyo-3.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Shinji found himself in a similar position to what he'd been in when he really fought Sachiel. He'd broken one of its arms and knocked it to the ground, so that he was now kneeling on top of it.
The difference was this time he was holding a progressive knife. Raising the knife above the Eva's head Shinji brought it down with all of Unit-01's strength and drove it into Sachiel's core. The force behind the blow was so great that Sachiel's core literally shattered under the impact.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Asuka was engaged in a battle with Shamshiel. She'd already managed to sever one of its tentacles with her axe and was now trying to get close enough to hit its core while avoiding the second tentacle.
As Asuka made another lunge forward, Shamshiel wiped its tentacle around and drove it through Unit-14's chest. Asuka screamed in pain but didn't lose site of her goal, she was now close enough. She swung her axe around and brought it down on Shamshiel's core splitting it in two.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Touji was not enjoying this. Of all the Angels to run into it had to be Bardiel. It was basically a possessed Unit-03 with a few special extra abilities.
When he first saw it Touji had deployed Unit-15's wings. Only to have Bardiel extend its arms forward and grab onto them. Before Touji could even react it simply twisted and broke both wings. Screaming Touji had opened fire with his palette gun. Bardiel's arms had retracted and it had raised it's AT field but not before several shots got through.
Having run out of ammo Touji was now trying to keep his distance from the Angel. Bardiel's arms shot forward and attempted to grab onto Unit-15 but Touji just managed to dodge. Before Bardiel could retract its arms Touji deployed his progressive knife and charged.
Driving the knife into Bardiel's torso he pulled up with all the Eva's strength, leaving a long vertical slash up the Angel's chest. He finished by driving his knife to the hilt into Bardiel's jaw putting the blade straight through Bardiel's head.
The Angel however did not die. Its arms retracted and latched onto Unit-15's arms. Touji could feel Bardiel trying to fuse with his Eva. Before he lost the strength in his arms he plunged them into Bardiel's chest through the cut he had made. Grabbing as many internal organs as he could, he squeezed. Bardiel howled in pain and released Unit-15's arms. Touji continued to crush Bardiel's internal organs ignoring the blood that squirted over his Eva. Bardiel (howling uncontrollable) began to beat at Unit-15's shoulders and head before finally grabbing its neck and beginning to squeeze, but it was already too late. With one last pull Touji yanked out some of Bardiel's internal organs and the Angel finally collapsed.
(Nerv, Eva Simulation Room)
Ritsuko was looking over the results displayed on the screen. "That's amazing. All four Angels down in only 2 minutes 12 seconds."
Misato stood beside Ritsuko, also looking at the screen. "And look at their sync ratios, all except Touji hit 100."
"WHAT!!!??" Asuka ran over to look at the screen. "Those two hit 100, no way." She looked at Rei and Nara who appeared to be talking to Shinji. "It's bad enough the baka can get 100, now Wondergirl and Wonderboy can too."
Touji was reading his results on the screen. "2 minutes 12 seconds. Hey! I hit 78.5 on my sync ratio, that's a new personal best."
"Which still puts you 21.5 behind the rest of us."
"Shut up Asuka."
Ritsuko cleared her throat to get the pilots' attention. "Follow me, we have some more conventional tests to conduct." She started towards the exit, following Gendo and Fuyutsuki out the door. Misato and the pilots followed close behind.
The rest of the day was spent doing tests on synchronisation. The pilots were tested on how well they synched with their Evas and how well they synched with each other. They were also tested in the other Evas to see if they could sync with them.
The results were both good and bad. In terms of synching with their Evas all the pilots except for Touji could hold 100 and Touji managed to reach 79. In terms of synching with each other it was a little more mixed. Shinji and Rei could synchronise perfectly and Nara could synchronise to either or both to an extremely high extent, not perfectly but close enough. Touji was capable of synching reasonably well with Shinji, Rei and Nara though not to the same extent they could sync with each other. However Asuka was a problem. She could sync with Shinji and Touji but not very well and when it came to Rei and Nara she couldn't sync at all. Unit-01, Unit-16 and Unit-17 simply refused to sync with anyone but their pilot. Even Rei having synched with Unit-01 before was unable to open a link to the giant purple mecha. Attempts with Unit-14 and Unit-15 proved more successful though the sync ratios were too low to make their use by other pilots a valid plan.
As the testing finished Nara walked over to Ritsuko who was going over the results of the tests. "Doctor Akagi, I believe I can be of assistance to you."
"Oh…how?"
"You're training program, I can help you improve it. I know exactly how the 3rd to 15th Angels work."
Ritsuko smiled at him. "Of course, why didn't I think of that? With your help we can improve the current Angels and add more."
Nara smiled mischievously.
(3 hours later, The Apartment)
Nara walked through the door into the apartment.
"Where have you been?" Rei and Shinji were standing in front of him.
"Were you guys trying to say that at the same time or did it just happen that way."
Both of the implied narrowed their eyes dangerously.
"I was just helping Ritsuko with her training program, since she was trying to create virtual copies of the Angels I assimilated. Which reminds me Ritsuko wants to talk to you two tomorrow. She wants to create virtual copies of Adam and Lilith."
Shinji visible calmed down. "Oh, okay," he looked at his watch, "time for dinner."
(Next Day, Tokyo-3 High School)
Shinji and Rei were sitting together on the roof talking quietly. Nara was leaning against the rail nearby, half-asleep.
Touji and Kensuke walked over to Nara.
Touji looked at Nara's half-closed eyes. "What's wrong with you?"
Nara yawned. "Need…sleep."
Kensuke gave him a sympathetic look. "How much sleep did you get last night?"
"Like an hour."
"Why couldn't you sleep?"
"Rei and Shinji had a fight."
Touji spoke next. "They argued all night."
"No, they only argued for about half an hour."
"Then why couldn't you sleep."
Nara gave them both a wry smile. "It wasn't them breaking up that keep me awake, it was them making up."
Kensuke started blushing profusely. "You don't mean?"
Nara nodded. "They're really loud."
Touji and Kensuke were both blushing. Touji looked at his friend. "We shouldn't have asked."
Kensuke nodded. "I really didn't want to know that."
"Know what?" Shinji's voice caused both Touji and Kensuke to jump.
Touji turned to Shinji, who along with Rei had walked up behind them. "Err…nothing, nothing at all."
Rei looked sceptical. "Nara what did you tell them?"
"Nothing sis, just talking."
An idea suddenly dawned on Rei and her eyes narrowed in anger. "You told them, didn't you?"
"Told them what?" Nara new she wouldn't answer him.
Shinji looked closely at Nara. "You did, didn't you?"
Nara shrugged. "They asked why I was tired and I answered truthfully."
Shinji blushed scarlet and Rei followed suit, though her blush was tinged pink.
"Way to go Shin-man." Kensuke clapped his friend on the shoulder.
Shinji didn't respond he just turned and walked away, too embarrassed to say anything. Rei shot an angry glare at Nara then followed Shinji.
Touji glanced uncertainly at the retreating teens and then at Nara. "Umm…have they, you know…done it before?"
Nara seemed to consider his answer. "Yes, they've had sex two other times before now…that I know of at least."
Touji blushed more at Nara's statement, it was the first time anyone had actually used that word. Though Touji had already been pretty sure of what Nara was talking about, confirmation stilled shocked him a little. "You don't err…watch them do you?"
It was Nara's turn to look shocked. "Hell no, why would I do that. What sort of perverted freak are you."
Kensuke smirked slightly. "It's a legitimate question."
Nara looked at them like they'd lost their minds. "Why the hell would I want to watch my sister having sex with Shinji?"
Kensuke looked completely embarrassed. "Oh right...I forgot about that."
Nara just shook his head and walked towards the stairs.
Touji caught up to him at the top of the stairs. "Heh, aren't you annoyed at Shinji."
"No, why would I be?"
"Because he did your sister. If someone did my sister I'd show them whose boss." He made a fist.
Nara thought about it. After a few seconds he smiled. "I like my sister having a relationship with Shinji. She is happy with him and he with her. And seeing them happy makes me happy."
Touji smiled. "Well in that case I'm happy for them too."
"Yeah me too." Kensuke walked up behind Touji.
Any further conversation was cut of as the school bell rang and the three teens ran to class.
(After School, Nerv, Eva Simulation Room)
Ritsuko stood in front of the five pilots as she addressed them. "Okay, I've increased the difficulty of the training program. The number of Angels has increased from four to nine."
Touji gulped audible, "Ni…nine?"
"What's the matter Suzuhara, scared?" Asuka gave Touji a superior look.
Before Touji could respond Ritsuko interrupted. "On the up side you'll receive tactical backup from Major Katsuragi and Tokyo-3's automated defences will be utilised against the Angels."
Misato stepped forward. "This time I decide what weapons you use and where you're deployed on the battlefield, I'll also designate your targets. Now get in the plugs."
The pilots entered the plugs and were greeted with the usual flashes of light and colour before it cleared to show part of Nerv. More specifically they were now in their Evas and attached to the catapults that would take them to the surface.
Misato's voice came over the intercom. "Okay, Touji you're being armed with the new high impact shield and the new Eva heavy machine gun." The said items appeared in Unit-15's hands, a large shield similar to that used by Unit-00 against Ramiel and a large machine gun with an ammo stream leading to a pack attached just above Unit-15's wing pack.
Misato moved onto the next two pilots. "Rei, Nara, you're both being armed with Longinus spears." The weapons appeared in Unit-16's and Unit-17's hands.
Misato turned her attention to the second last pilot. "Asuka you're being armed with dual progressive axes." A progressive axe appeared in each of Unit-14's hands.
"All right, this will be fun." Asuka gave the axes an experimental spin.
Misato ignored her and moved onto the final pilot. "Shinji you'll be using the Lancea Longini." The giant weapon materialised in Unit-01's hands.
Shinji didn't comment on the choice but Asuka did. "Heh, why does he get that? The best weapon should go to the best pilot."
Misato just smiled. "Stop complaining Asuka and get ready for battle. Are you guys ready?"
"Ready," came the reply from all five pilots.
"Okay then, Evas launch."
There was the sound of machinery powering up and then the Evas were sent hurtling towards the surface, each following a specifically set route.
(Virtual Tokyo-3)
Unit-14 emerged from the building it had been placed in by the catapult that had brought it to the surface. It was in one of Tokyo-3's residential zones, surrounded by low lying buildings. What drew Asuka's attention however was the giant form of Israfel looming over the buildings.
A small screen opened in front of Asuka, showing her Misato's face. "Asuka, your first target is Israfel, take it down and take it down quickly."
"Can do." Unit-14 took of towards Israfel.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
No sooner had Unit-15 reached the surface than it was fired upon by Ramiel. Touji just managed to raise the shield in time to block the blast. "Misato what do I do?"
Misato's calm voice came over the intercom. "Neutralise its AT field and take it out with your machine gun."
"But I'm too far away."
"Then get closer."
Touji tried to protest but Misato cut the connection.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Rei found herself deployed on the city outskirts. Unit-16 rose to its full height and looked around itself.
Rei's attention was drawn to the intercom as Misato's voice came over it. "Rei, advance down the street and intercept Sachiel. Destroy it."
"Understood." Unit-16 took of at a run down the street towards the now visible form of Sachiel.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Unit-17 was deployed on a large hill in the industrial zone. Nara immediately noticed the spider-like Matariel approaching him. There was no need for confirmation from Misato. This was his target and there was only one thought in his mind. 'Too easy.'
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Unit-01 was already engaged with Shamshiel. The Angel had been waiting when Unit-01 reached the surface. Shinji had only just had enough time to dodge Shamshiel's first tentacle strike. Now Shinji was deflecting Shamshiel's tentacles with the Lancea Longini.
Shamshiel's left tentacle slashed forward, neatly cutting a nearby building in two before hurtling towards Unit-01. Shinji side-stepped and brought up the Lancea Longini. However instead of striking at the tentacle in front of him he swung the Lancea backwards, neatly severing Shamsiel's right tentacle which had been driving towards Unit-01's back.
Shamshiel recoiled as its tentacle fell to the ground. Unit-01 leaped forward raising its massive weapon above its head.
Shamshiel raised its one remaining tentacle to protect itself but it was no use. The Lancea cleaved straight through the tentacle and Shamshiel's body. Splitting the Angel (along with its core) in two.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Asuka was busy fighting off the attacks of the two Angels attacking her. Israfel had split shortly into the battle. Ever since then Asuka had been trying to get into a position where she could hit both their cores at the same time.
Unit-14 leaped backwards to avoid an eye-blast fired by one of the Angels and swiftly ducked to avoid the follow-up slash from the other Angel.
Asuka saw her chance and stepped around the second Angel positioning her Eva between it and the first. Raising her progressive axes she threw them both to the sides.
The second Angel turned just in time to have one of the axes embed itself in its core at the exact same time that the other axe embedded itself in the first Angel's core.
Asuka smiled victoriously. "Piece of cake."
Misato's face once again appeared on her view screen. "Then how do you explain all the structural damage your Eva's taken."
Asuka frowned at her. "Big deal it's only minor damage, my S2 organ can repair it in seconds." Even as she spoke her Eva's wounds were closing and the amour was repairing itself.
"Ok Asuka, move into the central city and await further orders."
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Rei's battle with Sachiel had been short and to the point. As soon as Unit-16 had been in sight, Sachiel had fired its arm-beam at it. Rei however had skilfully dodged the blast and followed up by driving her spear through Sachiel's core.
As soon as Sachiel had fallen Misato's face had appeared on Rei's view screen. "Rei, Zeruel is approaching your location, get ready for combat."
"Understood." The words had barely left Rei's lips when the building to her right exploded outwards, revealing the monstrous form of Zeruel, the Angel of might. Before Rei could even react Zeruel's right arm flashed out and neatly severed Unit-16's left arm.
Unfortunately for Rei the virtual program had pain simulators so she felt all the pain of the arm being severed.
Bringing Unit-16's right arm around, Rei attempted to skewer Zeruel with her Longinus Spear.
However before the spear reached its target Zeruel fired an eye-blast directly into Unit-16's chest, blasting it into a nearby building.
As Zeruel advanced on the fallen Unit-16, Rei attempted to regain her footing but just as she was about to lever herself up a powerful explosion shook the ground and Unit-16 collapsed once more.
The last thing Rei saw was one of Zeruel's arms hurtling towards her face before she was disconnected from the simulator.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Matariel hadn't even been able to land a single hit on Unit-17. Nara had simply jumped on top of it and drove his spear straight through its body and its core. Since Matariel's only attack was to discreet acid from its eyes, there was nothing it could do.
Nara's victory was sort lived however as Misato's voice screamed over the intercom and her distressed face appeared on his view screen. "Nara, look out!!"
Without even looking Nara jumped to the side and was rewarded as one end of Armisael flashed by, narrowly missing Unit-17. The end turned back and dove towards Unit-17 again. Nara quickly deployed his wings and flew over the top of the Angel.
Unit-17 was fast but unfortunately Armisael was faster. Just as Nara swooped around another strike, Armisael's other end struck Unit-17's back and stuck fast. Unit-17 came crashing down to the ground, now firmly attached to the offending Angel.
Nara struggled in vain to fight off the Angel but he knew it was hopeless. He knew exactly how Armisael worked and his only chance of survival was to receive some back-up. The others however were occupied and Nara new there was only one other way to kill this Angel.
Nara got out of his seat and reached around behind it. He wondered wether he'd be able to bring himself to do this in real life as Rei had. It didn't matter though; this was only virtual so the choice was simple. Nara pulled on the handle behind the seat and both Unit-17's S2 organ and core went critical.
A moment latter Unit-17 erupted in raw nuclear fury creating a huge crater and shaking the entire city. Nara was disconnected from the simulator.
(Nerv, Eva Simulation Room)
Misato swore as she looked at the screen. "Damn it, we've lost both Rei and Nara and Touji still hasn't defeated Ramiel."
Ritsuko was looking thoughtfully at a small video screen in the corner of the larger screen. It showed Zeruel being fired upon by several of Nerv's automated defences but apparently sustaining no damage. "Maya," she looked at her younger assistant standing on her right. "Divert all power to the advanced positron rifle."
Maya keyed in some commands and all the weapons in the virtual world shut down. At the same time a very long gun rose from a mountain top just outside the city. "The rifle is ready ma'am."
Ritsuko smiled slightly. "Lock onto Ramiel and prepare to fire."
Maya keyed in some more commands and the rifle began to power up.
Misato looked over at Ritsuko. "What is that? We don't have that weapon."
Ritsuko's smile broadened. "Actually we do, we just completed it. I thought I might as well test it in the virtual Tokyo-3."
Maya looked up from her console. "Weapon locked-on and fully charged."
Misato beat Ritsuko to the punch. "Fire!!"
The mountain visibly shook as the rifle fired. A thin beam of energy lanced towards Ramiel. Several buildings blocked its path but the beam sliced through them like they weren't even there.
When the beam reached Ramiel it encountered the Angel's AT field and tore threw it puncturing the Angel's core and destroying it.
The beam didn't stop their however. It continued on, slicing neatly through another mountain before finally dissipating.
Maya looked up at Ritsuko. "Angel silenced."
Misato looked at Maya. "What's the status of Unit-15?"
"Its shield has been almost completely destroyed and its sustained heavy structural damage."
Misato opened a channel to Unit-15. "Touji?"
"Yes, Major."
"Drop your shield, it's useless now. Then I want you to deploy your wings and go to Asuka's position."
"Yes, ma'am." The com link closed.
Misato looked at the screen and started thinking out loud. "So we've destroyed Shamshiel, Israfel, Sachiel, Matariel, Armisael and Ramiel. Unit-01 is closing in on Zeruel and both Unit-14 and Unit-15 are moving to catch Sahaqiel. Wait, that's only eight we're missing one. Oh shit, where's Bardiel!!"
Ritsuko chuckled softly. "The Bardiel in the original simulation wasn't really accurate, so I altered it a bit. Now it's in its true form."
Misato's eyes widened as she realised what that meant. "So there's something out there that can posses an Eva."
Ritsuko watched as a green dot on the city map at the top of the screen turned red. "Not anymore."
(Virtual Tokyo-3)
Touji had lost control of his Eva. He'd dived under a low lying cloud only to have it follow him down, engulfing his Eva when he tried to land. What Touji was only now realising was that the cloud must have been Bardiel but it was far too late.
Unit-15 was still approaching Unit-14's position but Touji was no longer in control. The Eva had thrown away its machine gun, tearing of the ammo pack in the process and damaging the wing backpack.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Asuka had reached her target position and was now involved in a conversation with Misato. "What do you mean, it's been possessed."
"Unit-15 has been possessed by Bardiel; Touji no longer has any control. Ritsuko has disconnected him from the simulator."
"So, I have to destroy Unit-15?"
"Don't worry it's badly damaged it shouldn't be too hard to beat."
Asuka signed. "So there's only two of us left." She prepared herself for combat.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Unit-01 was closing in on Zeruel's position. Shinji had received word of Rei & Nara's destruction and the possession of Unit-15. He knew he had to take this Angel down fast.
There it was. Shinji could see Zeruel at the end of the street. It appeared to be blasting a hole through the ground. Just as Unit-01 reached it, it jumped into the hole and after a moment of indecision Shinji followed.
Angel and Eva fell down towards the Geo-front. Zeruel supported by its AT field landed smoothly. Unit-01 landed with a thunderous crash, cracking the ground around it and going into a crouch position.
Unfortunately when it hit the ground Unit-01 dropped the Lancea Longini and before it could pick it up it was charged by Zeruel.
The two behemoths went crashing to the ground and Zeruel brought up its arms to strike.
Before the blows could fall however Shinji brought up Unit-01's legs and kicked Zeruel off of him. As Unit-01 regained its footing Zeruel landed and launched both arms forward. Shinji raised his Eva's arms to protect himself.
In a similar fashion to when it had wrapped up Unit-01's head in their real battle Zeruel encased both of Unit-01's hands and forearms with its arms.
Unit-01 was lifted into the air and slammed into the ground then lifted again. Before Zeruel could bring the Eva down again Shinji yanked both arms back with all his Eva's strength. The result was Zeruel flying over his head and crashing to the ground releasing Unit-01 in the process, causing the Eva to fall to the ground.
(Meanwhile, Another Part of the Battlefield)
Unit-14 was standing on one side of a square. Facing it on the other side was the possessed and badly damaged Unit-15.
Asuka knew she had the advantage. She had two progressive axes and her wings still worked but this was still going to be a tough fight.
Unit-15 lunged forward its arms snaking out towards Unit-14, extending beyond their usual length. Asuka dodged the left arm and brought one of her axes down on the right, severing the hand. Bardiel howled as blood spurted from the wound. Asuka pushed her advantage and rushed in towards the possessed Eva bringing both axes up in front of her.
As Asuka swung her axes Bardiel brought up its left hand and caught one of the axes, flinging it aside but the second axe dug deep into Bardiel's left shoulder.
As Bardiel once again lunged forward trying to tackle Unit-14 to the ground, Asuka deployed her Eva's wings and flew out of reach. Unit-14 landed next to its second axe and picked it up before once again taking to the skies. Bardiel launched its remaining hand towards the attacking Eva but missed as Unit-14 made a sudden turn.
Taking careful aim Asuka threw one of her axes. Her aim was good and the spinning axe decapitated the distracted Angel. Immediately following this Unit-14 landed in front of the headless Angel and drove its second axe into Bardiel chest and Unit-15's S2 organ.
The Angel crumbled to the ground taking the axe with it. Asuka smiled in victory.
Misato's voice came over the intercom. "Asuka, heads up!!"
Asuka looked up to see the giant form of Sahagiel falling directly towards her. Just in time she raised her Eva's hands, extending its AT field and stopping the Angel before it hit. Unfortunately from this position she couldn't hit the Angel's core and until Shinji defeated Zeruel, she had no back-up.
(Nerv, Eva Simulation Room)
The defeated pilots had been released from their pods and were observing the ongoing battles on the screen. Nara and Rei were standing perfectly still, without a hint of expression on their faces. Touji was watching them curiously. After a while he decided to speak. "So…looks like the Ayanamis came last."
Neither Nara nor Rei responded but a faint hint of annoyance showed briefly on both their faces. Misato chuckled slightly.
Rei finally spoke. "It would appear that Shinji has the advantage."
Touji looked at the part of screen monitoring Unit-01's battle with Zeruel. Shinji had somehow gotten on top of the Angel and was beating the holy hell out of it.
That's when it happened. Asuka's Eva had been losing strength slowly as the weight of the Angel was crushing it. Even reinforced constantly by its S2 organ, it couldn't last forever. With one last push Sahaqiel broke through Unit-14's AT field and struck the ground.
The resulting explosion spread throughout the entire virtual Tokyo-3. Unit-01 and Zeruel were engulfed in white light. Asuka was disconnected from the simulator.
(Virtual Tokyo-3)
The white light cleared to reveal a giant crater. Its edges could not be seen as the full crater would have been much larger than the virtual Tokyo-3.
Standing near the middle of the crater were Unit-01 and Zeruel. The two just stood facing each other in the middle of that total destruction. Then Unit-01 reached down and picked up something from the blasted terrain. The Lancea Longini.
Zeruel jumped at Unit-01 extending its arms out but it was too late. Shinji brought Unit-01's arm back and threw the Lancea at the approaching Angel. The Lancea became a streak of light and passed effortlessly through Zeruel's AT field and body, completely destroying its core. The Angel's arms never reached their target. Shinji was disconnected from the simulator.
(Nerv, Eva Simulation Room)
Shinji emerged from his pod in time to hear Ritsuko's lecture to the pilots. "Well congratulations thanks to your efforts Shinji is the only inhabitant of Tokyo-3 left alive."
Asuka looked annoyed. "It's not fair, how could I possible defeat Sahagiel by myself?"
Misato coughed slightly. "Aren't you being a little harsh on them Ritsuko."
Ritsuko sniffed. "No," she turned to the pilots. "Testing is finished you may go home."
(Tokyo-3)
The five pilots were walking along the same road, away from Nerv headquarters.
Asuka was busy insulting Touji. "Well Suzuhara, not only did you fail to kill any Angels but you managed to get your Eva possessed."
Touji was getting more annoyed by the second. "Asuka, just shut up."
Asuka laughed. "Oh, did I hurt your feelings."
"It's okay Touji she can't keep it up for ever." Shinji clapped his friend on the shoulder as he started down a side street towards his apartment.
Nara and Rei followed him both saying something to Touji as they passed.
Nara smiled at him. "Just ignore her."
Rei smiled as well. "You didn't do that badly."
"Thanks." Touji waved at the departing teens. Asuka just sniffed.
(That Night, Outside The Apartment)
Several shadowy figures were talking.
"Okay everyone you know your assignments."
"Yeah we know lets get on with it."
"You two better get going now."
"Alright make sure you're at the meeting site at the right time."
(The Apartment, Rei's Room)
Rei was lying face down on her bed. Her eyes were closed but she wasn't asleep. There were other things that she'd rather be doing right now but it'd been a long day and she needed her sleep, as did Shinji.
A faint footstep drew her attention. Someone was in her room and approaching her bed. If it was Shinji or Nara they would have said something but this person said nothing. Who could it be?
Rei's thoughts were interrupted as something cold and hard was pressed against the back of her head.
Rei's reaction was to activate her AT field and slip it between her head and the object. Next she reached out with her mind and touched the thoughts of the room's other occupant.
She struggled to keep from gasping out loud when she discovered the object pressed against her head was a gun and the man holding it intended to kill her.
Her search through the man's thoughts was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot somewhere else in the apartment followed closely by another.
Although Rei couldn't see it the man smiled. "Looks like the other two are done and now it's my turn." He pulled the trigger.
The man was very surprised when the bullet came out the back of the gun instead of the front. His surprise however was cut short as the bullet went into his forehead. His dead body fell to the floor.
Rei calmly got up and looked at the man's body. She heard another gunshot resinate through the apartment and walked out of the room towards its source.
(The Apartment, Shinji's Room)
Shinji stared emotionlessly at the man at the other end of the gun barrel. Carefully he probed the man's mind noting his fear. Shinji looked at the gun in his hand, currently pointing at the man's forehead.
Whoever this man was he had tried to sneak up on Shinji but had failed miserable. Shinji had known he was there as soon as the man entered the room. When the man had come close enough Shinji had lashed out with his AT field knocking the man off balance and spinning around he had grabbed the gun from the man's hand, using his AT field to pry the fingers open. At that time he had heard two distinctive gunshots in a row from elsewhere in the apartment.
As Shinji withdrew from the man's mind he heard a third gunshot go off.
The man gulped and appeared to finally find his voice. "Please don't ki…"
Shinji pulled the trigger. The man collapsed. Dead.
Shinji was examining the body as Rei entered the room.
They looked at each other and smiled. Then the same thought crossed both their minds. "Nara!" They left the room at a run.
(The Apartment, Nara's Room)
Nara's would be assassin hadn't tried to sneak up on the boy. When he entered the room Nara was standing facing the door, looking straight at him.
Instead of wasting time the man had immediately took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet however changed course in mid-air, reflecting off Nara's AT field and driving into the man's left knee. Crying out in pain the man had pulled the trigger again by reflex.
The second bullet faired no better than the first driving into the man's right knee. Holding in screams the man collapsed, dropping his gun in the process.
Nara stepped over to him and picked up his gun, squatting in front of the man and casually aiming the gun at the man's head. "Why are you here?"
The man said nothing.
Nara used his AT field on the bullets in the man's knees pushing them in deeper.
Tears of pain rolled down the man's face and he whimpered slightly.
Nara grabbed his face and turned it so that he was looking directly into the man's eyes.
"Why are you here?"
The man whimpered out his response. "To kill you."
"Why?"
"Me and the others were hired to kill the Eva children."
The sound of a gunshot resinated through the apartment. Nara listened for a few moments and heard the sound of a second gunshot. He turned back to the man. "How many?"
"Five. One for each pilot."
"I see." Nara rose so he was standing over the man. "Goodbye." He fired a shot into the man's head.
Rei and Shinji entered the room and looked at the body.
Nara looked at them. "Asuka and Touji are in trouble."
Shinji pulled his cell-phone out of his pocket. "I'll call my father."
(Nerv, Commander's Office)
Gendo was distracted from his thoughts as his secure cell-phone started to ring. He picked it up and looked at the caller ID. 'Why was his son calling him?'
He answered the call and raised the phone to his ear. "Yes?"
"Commander, we have a problem."
"What sort of problem?"
"Three assassins just tried to kill us."
"WHAT!! What happened?"
"We killed them but there's two more. They're going after Asuka and Touji."
We some difficulty Gendo managed to compose himself. "Okay, I'll take care of this. An eraser team will be arriving at your apartment to…clean up."
"Understood." Shinji cut the connection.
Gendo immediately dialled a new number. He had to act quickly.
(Misato's Apartment)
Misato had just got off the phone. The commander had informed her of the approaching assassin. It hadn't been hard to convince Asuka to stay up watching TV. Misato had acted like she was letting Asuka do what she wanted and Asuka had jumped at the chance. Misato was now wheeling the TV into Asuka's room under Asuka's 'direction'.
Misato was happy with the arrangement. Asuka's room only had one entrance so Misato simply positioned herself in a closet across the hall with the door slightly ajar so she could watch Asuka's door.
She waited for several minutes before she heard the faint sounds of the front door being forced open. Still hiding in the closet she heard the sounds of the assassin's footsteps almost drowned out by the sounds of the TV.
The man reached the door and reached to open it. Before his hand even reached the door he froze feeling something pressed up against his back. He knew what it was.
Misato whispered quietly in his ear. "Don't say a word, you're coming with me."
The man allowed himself to be more or less pushed out of the apartment and handed over his gun. Misato took him to the street where a car with the Nerv logo pulled up to the curb, several Nerv agents getting out. They grabbed the man and forced him into the car driving off into the night.
Misato headed back to the apartment and the phone inside. She had to know if the others were alright.
(Outside Touji's House)
The assassin assigned to the 4th Child stalked through the shadows towards his targets house. What he didn't know is that he was being followed by another assassin, this one working for Gendo Ikari.
Just as the assassin was about to make his final dash to the house, the man known only as Shadow struck. Seeming to form out of the shadows themselves he drove his wickedly bladed knife into the man's heart removing it in the same swift movement.
Grabbing the body before it even hit the ground, the assassin disappeared into the shadows.
(Next Day, Tokyo-3 High School)
The five children, Kensuke and Hikari were talking on the roof. Currently Asuka was explaining yesterday's simulation to Hikari. "Of course Wondergirl and Wonderboy died pretty quickly and then that idiot Suzuhara got his Eva possessed."
The other pilots and Kensuke were ignoring her. Shinji was sitting with his back to a tree and Rei was lying down, leaning against him with her head resting on his chest. Nara was standing next to them with his back against the tree and Touji and Kensuke were sitting on a nearby bench, directly opposite to the bench Asuka and Hikari were sitting on.
Nara was looking directly at Touji. "You do anything last night?"
Touji looked surprised by the question. "No…why would you ask that?"
"No, reason I'm just bored. Wanted to talk about something." Nara pointed at Shinji and Rei, "These two aren't really paying attention right now."
Kensuke laughed. "Yeah they're in their own little world."
Mentally Nara signed in relief. He felt Rei and Shinji do the same thing. From Asuka's conversation choice and Touji's response it would seem neither had encountered the assassins. The commander must have got to them first.
The rest of the day passed without incident. That is until school finished.
Shinji and Rei were about to walk out the gate when some big, burly boys grabbed them from behind. Shinji found himself slammed against a wall by one bully, while the other two (one of them holding Rei) stood back and watched.
The bully smiled menacingly. "Okay little man, give us your money or you and the girl will regret it."
Shinji's face betrayed no emotion. "Let her go."
The bullies just laughed.
With amazing speed Shinji's arm shot up and grabbed onto the bully's throat. He lifted the bully off the ground.
Shinji moved his face forward so it was just in front of the bully's. He smiled menacingly, "Wrong answer."
Bringing his arm back, Shinji threw the bully a full ten meters across the school yard.
At the same time Rei flipped around in the grip off the bully holding her and kicked him in the face knocking him back a few metres before he collapsed on the ground. She landed neatly on her feet.
The third bully moved his arm back to strike. He took one step forward before he stopped looking back to see what had caught his arm. It was Nara.
As the bully turned to confront him Nara let go of his arm and punched his stomach, once but with enough strength to stop the bully cold. Falling to his knees and clutching his stomach the bully fell over sideways, lying on the ground moaning in pain.
Nara stepped over the bully to join his friends. All three smiled and left the school yard. They didn't notice everyone staring at them as they left or the incredulous looks on their faces.
(That Night, The Apartment)
Shinji was lying in his bed staring at the ceiling. He was thinking about all that happened to him lately. He was no longer fully human, he'd changed, even his personality. He'd killed someone yesterday and today he was deliberately violent. He didn't know wether he liked these changes. One change he knew he liked though was that he now had Rei in his life, as more than just a friend.
As he thought about Rei, the girl entered his room and looked at him lying there. "Shin-chan?"
Shinji looked over at her and smiled slightly. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
"I'm cold."
Shinji didn't say anything, he just shifted over. Rei walked over to the bed and lay down next to him moving into a position she found comfortable. When she had finished, her legs were hooked over Shinji's and her arms were around his waist. Her head rested on his chest using it as a pillow.
Shinji brought his arms up around her slender body, cradling her against him. Neither of them was cold anymore as new warmth rushed through them.
Rei signed in contentment. "Shin-chan, who do you think those assassins worked for."
"I don't know Rei-chan, but whoever it was they want us dead."
Rei held Shinji a little tighter. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Shinji kissed the top of her head. "And I won't let anything happen to you."
Rei pulled her head up and the two kissed each others lips. The kiss lasted for several seconds before they finally broke off.
Rei returned her head to Shinji's chest. "I love you, Shin-chan."
"I love you more, Rei-chan." Shinji pulled the sheets over both of them.
The two fell asleep in each other's arms.
(Nerv, Control Room)
Gendo walked onto his observation platform and sat behind his desk. He looked at the bridge crew working below, scurrying around as alarms went off everywhere. "Report."
Lieutenant Aoba stopped and looked up at him. "The MAGI have detected an Angel sir. Approaching the city from the north."
"Put everyone on immediate stand-by and contact the Eva pilots. Get them here."
(10 Minutes Later, Commander's Office)
Shinji, Rei and Nara stood in front of the commander's desk. The commander looked very annoyed. "You told me there would be no more Angels."
Shinji remained expressionless as he answered. "There should not have been, it shouldn't be possible. There are no more Angels."
"Well the MAGI say differently and they have visual confirmation."
A visual image of the approaching Angel appeared behind the commander. It looked surprisingly like an Eva, but without any armour. It had black skin and its head had only one red eye and no mouth or nose. It was incredible tall and thin, almost twice the height of the Evas. Its arms stretched down to the ground and ended in five clawed talons.
Nara calmly observed the image as it walked forward. "That Angel should not exist, I do not recognize it."
Rei spoke as well. "Neither do I."
Shinji nodded in agreement.
The commander looked at the screen as several alarms went off around Central Dogma. "It has entered the safety perimeter. Get to your Evas immediately."
The three pilots turned to leave but before they exited, Gendo called out again. "Shinji, I need you to take your Eva down to Terminal Dogma and retrieve the Lancea Longini."
Shinji didn't turn around and uttered only one word. "Understood."
(Tokyo-3, Battlefield)
The four Evas rose majestically to the surface. Unit-14, Unit-15, Unit-16 and Unit-17. Facing the imposing form of the attacking Angel. Armed with the same weapons they had used in the simulator.
Unperturbed, the Angel continued to approach at the same steady pace.
As soon as the Angel came within range Touji opened fire with his machine gun. The Angel was soon totally obscured by dark smoke. Nothing could be seen for several seconds then the Angel emerged from the smoke. It was still walking at the same steady pace and showed absolutely no sigh of damage.
Asuka yelled at Touji over the intercom. "Baka, don't you know you have neutralise the AT field first."
"I was trying, it's just too strong."
"Well try harder." Unti-14 took off towards the Angel.
Misato spoke over the intercom. "Asuka, stay back."
"Oh, come on I can take it." Unit-14 leapt towards the Angel, raising both axes above its head. But before it reached the Angel it was stopped by a giant glowing hexagon. The Angel's AT field. The impact knocked Unit-14 off balance and before it could right itself the Angel hit it with both fists sending it flying into a nearby building.
Touji had been running to back up Asuka but he stopped and turned when her Eva went flying. It was a big mistake; as soon as he was distracted the Angel stepped forward and grabbed his Eva's neck. It squeezed; the claws of its talon going right through Unit-15's neck and the Eva's head came off. Touji slumped in his chair, losing consciousness.
The Angel turned to face Units 16 & 17 and started to advance once more. It got to within a hundred metres and stopped moving. Facing off against the two, three eyed Evas.
Unlike the other pilots Rei and Nara stood there and waited. Shinji would be arriving soon and Unit-14 was starting to get up. They'd have a better chance with better numbers.
(Nerv, Terminal Dogma)
Unit-01 stepped into the LCL lake. Lilith was gone though the cross still stood in the lake's middle. Without a source of more LCL the lake was slowly drying up.
Shinji's target, the Lancea Longini stood leaning against the cross. Unit-01 crossed the intervening space and picked up the Lancea, heading back towards the lift that would take it to the surface.
(Tokyo-3, Surface)
Unit-14 was just beginning to rise when the Angel made its attack. Both of its arms snapped up and a beam of energy lanced out from each, straight towards Units 16 & 17.
Nara and Rei both threw up their AT fields at maximum power. The beams reached the AT fields. And shot through them like they weren't even there.
The sound of Rei and Nara's screams filled the intercom channel as their Evas chests exploded outwards splashing blood across the city.
Misato's voice could be heard yelling over the intercom. "Eject the entry plugs. Get them out of there now. And where the hell is Unit-01."
Everything happened at the same time. Unit-14 finally stood up and then froze still. Unit 16 and Unit 17 both ejected their entry plugs but a few moments too late. The Angel (now standing in front of the damaged Evas) raised it arms with unbelievable speed and snatched both entry plugs out of the air. Everyone stoped breathing. At that exact time Unit-01 reached the surface. Shinji took one look at the entry plugs in the Angel's hands and the numbers etched on their sides. His heart stopped beating.
The Angel and Unit-01 stood facing each other. The fallen bodies of Units 16 & 17 lying between them. For what seemed an eternity they just faced each other, and then Unit-01 took a step forward.
The Angel clenched its talons, its claws rending open the plugs turning them into crushed and twisted pieces of metal. Then it simply tossed them aside like pieces of garbage. The plugs arced through the air before crashing into each other and smashing through the wall of a building. Coming to a stop within the building.
Before anyone knew what was happening Unit-01 was running towards the Angel. It swung the Lancea, cutting through the Angel's AT field like tissue paper. Shinji finished the move by swinging the Lancea back around and severing both of the Angel's outstretched arms at the elbow.
Tackling the Angel to the ground Unit-01 threw the Lancea aside and began to beat at the Angel's chest. Shinji's voice was yelling over the intercom. "YOU BASTARD, I'LL KILL YOU, KILL YOU DEAD!!!" Unit-01 began to tear off pieces of the Angel's chest throwing them aside as Shinji enacted his bloody vengeance.
"YOU HURT REI, YOU HURT MY REI. I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER!!!" The Angel tried to push Unit-01 off of it, but without most of its arms it was hopeless. Unit-01 wasn't going anywhere.
(Nerv, Control Room)
Misato was fighting the urge to vomit as she watched the scene on the monitor before her. "Has it gone berserk?"
Though she didn't show it, Ritsuko was fighting a similar urge to Misato's. "No, Shinji is in full control."
Misato was fighting back tears as she spoke into the intercom. "Shinji, I'm so sorry but… please, you have to stop."
Shinji didn't respond.
Tears welled up in Misato's eyes. "Damn it they were only kids." She spoke back into the intercom, "Asuka?…Asuka?...Asuka!!?"
Asuka finally responded, it sounded like she'd been crying. "It's my fault, I should of stayed back…I should have got up faster."
"Asuka, I need you to stop Unit-01."
"But…I don't think…"
"Just try Asuka."
"…Okay…I'll do it."
(Tokyo-3, Entry Plug Crash Site)
The leader of the recovery team had seen a lot of bad accident sites in his time but this was the worst by far. Parts of the entry plugs were scattered all around, LCL was everywhere. But it was the bodies that held the team's attention. At first the team leader tried to focus on the faces, since the heads were fully intact. He didn't want to look at their bodies. Both had been completely crushed, their tortured bodies mangled and torn. One of the boy's arms had been completely severed and was lying near the team leader's foot. He tried not to look at it. The problem with looking at their faces was that it reminded him just how young they were, only 15. He found himself fighting the urge to cry. Something he'd never done in all his years in this line of business. "They're only kids. They were fighting to save our lives." Some silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
He looked out the hole in the wall. He could see the giant form of Unit-01, beating the Angel continuously. There was an audible crunch sound as the Eva punched in the Angel's head in an explosion of blood. The giant form of Unit-14 approached from behind and put its hand on Unit-01's shoulder. Unit-01 just pushed it away and continued to tear up the Angel's chest.
The recovery team leader physically jumped as he heard ragged breathing. He turned to the two pilots, lying virtually next to each other. He couldn't believe it, it shouldn't be possible but they were breathing. Their chests were crushed but they were still drawing in breaths, though the air appeared to simply escape again when they opened their mouths. Both coughed violently, spitting out blood in the process. Their eyes slowly opened and focused on the people around them. Both uttered a single word at exactly the same time. "Pain." They lost consciousness.
(Nerv, Control Room)
Ritsuko answered her phone. "Yes?"
"…"
"What!!?"
"…"
"You can't be serious?"
"…"
"Okay, hold on."
Ritsuko walked over to the commander's desk and had a short, whispered conversation with him. Backing off, Ritsuko nodded and raised the phone to her ear. "I will be arriving soon."
"…"
"This incident is classified." She turned and headed for the door.
Misato caught her arm before she exited. "What's happening?"
"Rei and Nara are still alive." Ritsuko pulled her arm free from Misato's grip and walked out the door.
Misato just stood their in shock.
Maya's voice broke her out of her trance. "Major the Angel is powering-up. It's going to self-destruct."
Misato turned to the screen. The Angel was starting to glow under Unit-01.
(Tokyo-3, Battlefield)
Shinji observed the Angel beginning to glow. He new what it was trying to do, it'd had enough punishment and now it wanted to take Unit-01 down with it. Shinji wasn't having any of it. "YOU'RE NOT GETTING OUT THAT EASILY."
As soon as the words left his lips, cross-flares erupted all around the Angel and Eva engulfing both in a haze of glowing destruction. All around them buildings were torn to pieces and the ground ripped up. Unit-14 was blasted backwards to land on its back with a thunderous crash.
The Angel was quite literally blown into a million pieces. As the light dissipated, parts of the Angel landed all around. Blood was everywhere especially around the epicentre of the destruction. In the very middle stood Unit-01, covered from top to bottom in the Angel's blood. Its mouth was open and it held a round, red object in its hand. The Angel's core.
Shinji looked at the core in his hand. He was thinking of what the Angel had done. He knew as long as the core remained intact it was still alive. He was going to destroy it but he wasn't sure how. At first he was just going to crush it but then another thought crossed his mind.
Unit-01 itself smiled and then bit into the core. Tearing off a chunk with its teeth, it chewed briefly then swallowed. Tearing off another part of the core with its hand, Unit-01 stuffed it in its mouth.
(Nerv, Control Room)
Misato stared in horror at the scene in front of her. "My god, he's eating the core."
Fuyutsuki looked down at the commander. "He's stronger than we thought."
Gendo keep his gaze on the screen. "Yes, this could prove useful for our plans."
Misato came to her senses as Unit-01 consumed the last part of the Angel's core. "Shinji, that's enough stop this right now."
When Shinji didn't respond, Gendo activated his own intercom and spoke into it. "Pilot Ikari?…Pilot Ikari?...Shinji!!!"
Shinji finally responded. "Yes?"
Gendo smirked. "The Angel has been annihilated and you have consumed its core. There is nothing left to destroy. Return to base."
There was a pause before Shinji's response. "Understood."
Unit-01 turned and started to walk back towards the elevator it had come to the surface on.
(Nerv, Terminal Dogma)
The three pilots were back in their tanks. Rei and Nara were slowly regenerating. Their S2 organs working to mend their broken bodies. Their splintered bones were forming back together. Their torn flesh was knitting back together. Their internal organs were reforming. Nara's arm had reattached itself to his body.
Shinji was physically fine but had slipped into a coma like the others as soon as he'd powered down his Eva, before his plug was ejected.
Gendo had no idea what was wrong with him but he'd had Ritsuko bring him here with the others, if for no other reason than to be able to keep an eye on all of them.
Ritsuko stood in front of the tanks, observing their occupants. She'd made a few interesting discoveries in her examination of the two injured pilots. It appeared that as long as their minds and S2 organs remained intact they could regenerate any damage. She wasn't even sure wether their minds were necessary or if their consciousness could simply survive within their S2 organs.
It had taken her a while to locate their S2 organs. She'd finally noticed a protrusion of bone on the bottom of their rib cages. However it wasn't normal bone, she didn't know what it was but it wasn't bone. Whatever it was it had survived the crushing of the bodies unscathed. She'd scanned the pilots once they were put in the pods. All three had the protrusion. It had a hollow area within it and within that area was a miniature S2 organ, apparently as strong as a full-size one, maybe stronger.
Gendo stepped through the door behind her. "Any new discoveries Doctor."
Ritsuko noticed Fuyutsuki enter after the commander. "Yes, sir. Although they were almost completely destroyed in the 'incident', Rei appears to have replaced her 'missing' organs and is regenerating them along with everything else."
Gendo looked slightly confused. "What do you mean by 'missing organs'?"
"I mean her uterus and ovaries. The organs she was engineered not to grow."
Fuyutsuki coughed lightly. "Why do you think she did that?"
Ritsuko glanced at him. "She probably wants a kid. Shinji's most likely."
Fuyutsuki looked a little shocked. "But aren't they 'related'."
Ritsuko looked back at the pods. "They were. But not anymore."
Fuyutsuki looked even more confused. "What do you mean?"
Ritsuko signed. It looked like she was going to have to explain it all. "When Shinji and Rei assimilated Adam and Lilith it altered they're genetic make-up. They were essentially reborn with a completely new set of DNA, though they retained their original features. Instead of having similar DNA as might've been expected their DNA is totally different. So genetically they aren't related at all. In fact Shinji is no longer genetically related to the commander."
Fuyutsuki looked at Gendo. "I see, interesting."
Gendo turned to look at Ritsuko. "How long will they be out?"
"Assuming Shinji will remain out as long as the other two; it should be about five days."
"Very well." Gendo turned and exited the room, followed by Fuyutsuki and eventually Ritsuko.
(Mental Plain)
Shinji, Rei and Nara were having a conversation. They are all undamaged and glowing faintly. They are essentially mental images simultaneously appearing in all three of the linked minds. The mental Rei was snuggled up to the mental Shinji, both lying on the ground. The mental Nara was lying next to them. They lay on a grassy hill with a clear blue sky over them.
Nara was clenching and unclenching his fist. "My arm is fully attached now."
Shinji glanced over at him. "That's good, but what about the rest of you?"
"I'm working on it. The bones are almost done but the organs and muscles are going to take a little longer."
Shinji looked down at Rei's head, resting on his chest. "What about you Rei-chan."
"I am healing at an acceptable pace but…it still hurts Shin-chan." Rei started to cry silently.
Shinji held her a little tighter. "I know it does Rei-chan, I can fell it too."
She looked up at him, wiping some of the tears from her eyes. "You don't have to. You can withdraw from the link."
Shinji pushed her hair back from her forehead. "I know I can but I want to share your pain. I don't want you to have to bare it all."
"I don't want to hurt you." Rei cried harder.
Shinji rubbed her back with his hand. "Shh…calm down Rei-chan, it's not your fault."
Nara turned his head to look at them. "He's right Rei. And it's his choice. I think it would hurt him more to see you in pain and be unable to help."
Rei lifted her head to look at Nara. "Perhaps…you are right. Why don't you share your pain Nara?"
"It is mine and I will bare it."
Shinji turned so he could see Nara but still keep Rei in his view. "Aren't those double standards?"
Nara smiled slightly. "Maybe, but I think it's valid in this case."
"Why?"
"Because you and Rei are closer to each other than you are to me. Not that I care but it means I have to have double standards."
Rei reached over and lightly patted Nara's arm. "We do care about you Nara."
Shinji reached over and clapped Nara on the shoulder. "That's right you're important to us."
Nara smiled at them. "I know…and thank you."
Rei and Shinji smiled at him then turned back to each other. When Nara turned to look at them again they were engaged in a deep kiss. He smiled and returned to staring at the sky.
As Nara was staring at the sky he began to hum unconsciously.
Shinji and Rei both turned to him as they realised what tune he was humming. It was 'Ode to Joy', the song Kaoru (Tabris) use to hum.
Rei spoke first. "You are accessing some of the Angels' memories Nara."
Nara abruptly stopped humming. "Only Tabris'. He may have been an Angel but he grew up among humans. His life is the closest thing to a human life I've had."
Shinji looked slightly saddened. "Hearing that song brings back memories, of what I did."
Nara smiled at him. "Do not worry Shinji; Tabris does not blame you for his death. In truth he wanted to die."
"I know, but I still wish it could have been different."
Rei snuggled closer to Shinji. "Don't think about. It's in the past."
Shinji and Rei kissed again and Nara returned to staring at the sky.
(Tokyo-3 High School)
Touji found Asuka sitting in the corner of the school courtyard. She hadn't talked to anyone all day and although they didn't get on very well he was still worried about her.
Touji approached until he was standing just in front of Asuka. "What's up Sohryu?"
Asuka's head remained downcast but she responded quietly. "It's my fault."
"What's your fault?"
"What happened to Rei and Nara."
Touji noticed that for once she was using their names. "It wasn't your fault. And besides Misato said they're still alive."
"Can you even comprehend what sort of condition they'd be in after that? They'll probable be in pain for the rest of their lives."
"You don't know that Asuka."
"Yes I do and it is my fault. If I hadn't run forward we might have been able to take it down together, without anyone being hurt."
"I ran forward as well."
"But you were following me."
Touji decided to change the topic. "Where do you think Shinji is?"
"Misato said he was with Rei and Nara."
"Figures. I wish I could have seen him fight the Angel, it must have been one hell of a battle."
For the first time, Asuka looked up at him. "It wasn't a battle, it was a blood bath. Shinji was tearing the Angel apart, then all those cross-flares erupted…" She shook her head, "My Eva was knocked over, I didn't see what happened next but whatever it was Misato seems too horrified to tell me."
Touji looked thoughtful for a moment. "Wonder what happened, Shinji must have done something."
Asuka didn't respond she just lowered her head again and brought her knees to her chest. "It's my fault."
End Notes: Reviews are welcome as always. What did you think of my Angel? I made a sketch of it but unfortunately I can't upload that. Constructive criticism welcome.