Review responses:
Ikari Zero: If I get far enough, yes there will be heaps of Gendo bashing. This chapter will show him fighting an Angel.
Sun S. Li: Just because Asuka likes him doesn't meant that Superman's gonna return the feelings. And Kaji just wanted to get into the woman with the cat's pants as well. The whole Superman thing was just a ploy to get into Misato's pants as well.
Reikson: If she's hot, why does she need Gendo?
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"What are you making Ritsuko?" Shinji asked with his Superman suit on.
The doctor finished drawing up the last equation on the diagram. "It's a special kind of generator, designed to replicate the environment of the Sea of Dirac. It's obvious that the Sea of Dirac gave you those powers, so if we can replicate those conditions, for humans it could be like a next stage of evolution!" And the Old Men's Third Impact will become obsolete as well.
Shinji frowned. "I see what point you have, but there are some issues involved."
Ritsuko raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Power like that wasn't meant to be given freely. Power isn't for all people to get, either. It's for the unique people, the people who will use it correctly and for a good cause."
"And you consider yourself unique?"
Shinji's frown deepened as he made no further comment.
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Superman stood on the highest point of a tower, watching over the city.
Power was a fascination to greedy people – people like his father.
His brow creased in a short burst of anger. He was not his father. 'Father' was merely a lost title that Gendo clung to for his manipulation, for his use in combating the Angels.
Shinji closed his eyes, relaxing. No. There was a reason why Gendo was chosen for this task.
For now, he would fight the Angels and call Gendo his father.
There was a reason for everything, wasn't there?
Superman gently floated off before powering across at super speed, orbiting the Earth several times.
He found that it cleared his head, helping him to reflect on last night with Asuka…
Sister.
His mind came to this conclusion as he thought of her and his feelings towards her.
She is my sister. My family. Not by blood, but my family.
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"Shinji!"
The young pilot turned to see Toji walk and sit beside him while he was having lunch.
Noticing his concerned look, Shinji was worried. "Is something wrong, Toji?"
The jock sighed. "NERV…came. They said that…I had been chosen as the Fourth Child."
Shinji's eyes went wide. This was certainly unexpected. "Don't worry, Toji. It'll be okay, I promise."
"Yeah, I know it'll be like that. But it was the way in which they told me. Originally I refused, but after saying that my sister would be taken to better NERV hospitals…"
"WHAT?!"
"Huh?" Toji was confused – Shinji never made outbursts like this.
The Third Child was on his feet now. "How could they use your sister's medical condition like this?!" He roared in anger. "That isn't…right!" His fist clenched and he was visibly shaking before he relaxed and calmed down.
Toji stood up. "It sounds wrong, but at least I know she'll be in good hands."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Shinji said with a sigh. "But as I said, don't worry…nothing will happen to you, I promise."
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Regardless of what he said, Shinji was disturbed by this new development.
For a moment he considered asking Ritsuko about this, but decided that even if she knew, it was too late for him to cancel.
Shinji slipped his hands into his pockets, feeling the cool material of the suit inside his clothes.
All the Eva does is cause more pain than it does good. No one should be allowed to get into that machine.
As Shinji, he couldn't do anything about it. But as Superman…
No. Superman was created for others, not for me. The Eva is the only other weapon we have against the Angels…and besides, even Superman's no god.
He looked at his watch. Asuka missed her six o'clock dinner bell. Is something wrong?
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Asuka smiled as she reflected over the short time she had with Superman…
He's so kind and so caring…he's attentive and listens…unlike baka Shinji or Misato or even Kaji…
And he's so warm…
But there was a strange feeling that the redhead couldn't put down. It was bothering her, it didn't feel right…
It felt like…family.
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"Rei?"
"You asked for me, doctor?" The albino asked as she came in.
"Yes," Ritsuko replied. "Two weeks from now, I want you to come in here exactly the same time. It is very important that you don't tell anyone, not even the commander."
"What for?"
"I just need to try out a new device I've been working on…"
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Several days later – Activation Test of Unit-03
"NO!" Shinji screamed as he walked out in his Evangelion, looking at the pitch black shape of Unit-03 – or now, the 13th Angel. I promised him that I'd protect him…but how can I fulfill it?!
The Angel sprinted towards him quickly, using its strange, rubbery arms to grab Unit-01's neck, slamming into it and forcing it into a wall.
Although normally this would be extremely painful, Shinji's steel skin meant that it wouldn't harm him at all.
The pilot was trying to go through all options in his mind, but all fell in favour of Superman. But if Father finds out…
"PILOT!" His father came online. "ATTACK NOW!"
"I CAN'T!" He screamed. "NOT WHILE TOJI'S IN THERE!"
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Incompetent boy… "Damn it," Gendo growled. "Activate the Dummy Plug system!"
"But sir!" Maya yelled. "Dr. Akagi hasn't authorized its usage yet!"
"It's better than what we have now!"
"Alright. Activating the Dummy Plug system!"
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Shinji looked in surprise as the entry plug got dark. A loud whirring was heard behind him.
Then suddenly, Unit-01 came alive again! It roared, launching itself at the possessed Unit in furious anger.
No…No…NO! "STOP THIS FATHER!" Shinji screamed. "PLEASE STOP!"
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Ritsuko had seen enough. She got onto a private channel with the pilot.
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"Shinji?"
"Dr. Akagi?"
"Fourth button on your right control. It's the only one that works."
Shinji pressed it. In surprise, a hidden drawer next to him slid open, revealing a spare Superman costume.
"I took the liberty of putting it in. Never knew you would use it so soon. Happy hunting."
Shinji slipped off his A-10 connectors and depressurized his plug suit, grabbing his 'work clothes'.
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Misato only looked in horror at the severe beating that Unit-01 was giving the Angel.
The bridge bunnies were the same. Maya was even vomiting in disgust.
Then…BANG!
A huge explosion sounded as the back of Unit-01's plates shattered into pieces.
"What was that?!" Misato snappily asked.
"I'm not sure!" Maya was furiously typing analyzing a new energy in the field. "But there seems to be another high-energy wave pattern!"
"Another Angel?" Misato asked in horror.
"No! It's similar but different!"
"Zoom in on the energy source."
As the camera zoomed in, Misato gasped but also didn't seem to be surprised. I was wondering when you would show up…
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"THIS STOPS NOW!" Superman yelled, grabbing Unit-01 and pulling him up into the air.
But the 13th Angel wouldn't let them get away that easily, using its rubber arms to wrap hold of Unit-01's leg.
"I'll deal with you later!" Superman said as he kept pulling, but since the Angel had no intention of letting them go he settled to using his heat vision instead, which was more than adequate to persuade it to let them go.
Unit-01 roared in surprised, kicking and lashing out at this new enemy.
"You may save the world, but don't act like a crybaby!" Superman growled as he threw Unit-01 into a lake. "It's my turn now."
Knowing the water wouldn't hold the Evangelion for long, Superman drew in a deep intake of air, blowing it out as icy-cold breath.
The cold blast of air was more than enough to freeze the lake, temporarily trapping the Evangelion.
Superman turned back, using his super speed and reflexes to avoid the Angel's tricky arms as he got around to its back, blasting the entry plug open with his heat vision and tearing it out.
Grabbing the entry plug, Superman focused his heat vision on specific points that Ritsuko had mentioned would trip off the entry plug's eject.
Sure enough, the thrusters blazed off, and Superman added to that a little of his strength to make sure Toji was way out of the battlefield.
"Now…time to finish this," Superman stated bluntly as he flew into the sky before diving down, focusing all of his strength.
The Angel roared, activating its AT field.
Superman hit the AT field, not even letting up. Eventually his own energy field broke through the AT field, and he slammed down into the Unit, splitting it in half.
Several explosions sounded to signal the end of the Angel's life.
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An hour later.
Shinji, Ritsuko and Misato were all inside Gendo's office.
"Explain the cause of the explosion on Unit-01's back, doctor," Gendo said.
"The most likely explanation is that the Dummy Plug system overexerted some of Unit-01's systems, resulting in a massive overheat that eventually caused them to explode." That was the best lie you had on all year, Ritsuko…The doctor congratulated herself.
Gendo nodded. "Pilot Ikari…"
"SHUT UP!" Shinji screamed.
Misato stiffened slightly at his venomous tone, Ritsuko didn't show any change, knowing it was a long-time coming.
"Don't speak to me in a tone, pilot, or I will…"
"You'll do what, Gendo?" Shinji challenged mockingly. "Kill me? I'm your only pilot and as well as that, your son. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO CALL ME BY NAME! MOTHER WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOU!"
Ouch. Ritsuko smiled as Gendo's eye started twitching.
"BECAUSE OF THIS, I AM HEREBY RESIGNING!" Shinji yelled before calming down with a cruel smile as he exited.