Longest chapter to date...and boy is it a doozy. God that sounded lame. But really it is...
Asuka gripped the handle on the passenger side door as Misato came swinging around the corner at fifty-five miles an hour while the sign seconds before had clearly said thirty. Now though, this being the fourth time they had hit a corner this fast, Asuka's heart rate didn't skyrocket like it had done the first time. Even so though, this speed was a little much.
"Uhhh...Misato," said Asuka after making sure that no more turns were coming for a while. "I know that your driving sucks, but isn't this...a little too fast..."
Misato continued staring out of the windshield while gripping the steering wheel tightly. Asuka frowned slightly at the expression on Misato's face. Simply put, she couldn't ever remember seeing her this worried.
Finally opening her mouth, Misato said, "Sorry. I know that I'm driving faster than normal, but..."
"But what?" asked Asuka.
"I'm worried about Shinji," Misato said simply. "And I'm worried about...what happens after this."
"Why?"
"This is the final angel...but what happens to us after all the angels are defeated."
"Go back to our normal lives I suppose," said Asuka with a shrug.
Misato held her tongue. Did Asuka honestly expect a normal life after all this? Even with the angels defeated, experiments would still be conducted, tests with the Evangelions would still continue. Most likely, Asuka would go back to Germany and continue living there, while Unit 02 would go with her. Shinji though... Misato wasn't sure what would happen to him. Then there was Seele, and she couldn't help but feel that they had a large part to play in the end of all this, since they were the ones that sent them the final angel apparently.
"How come you're worried about that idiot?"
"Who? Shinji?"
Asuka bit her lip, but nodded anyway, resigning to the fact that Misato had addressed him by his name.
Misato paused for a second before saying, "I can't help but feel, that whatever happens after the final angel is defeat, Shinji is going to change. But I don't...think it will be a good change."
"...You always sound like you know him well."
Misato glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Asuka watching her keenly while slumped against the side of the passenger door.
"I suppose that I do know him well," mumbled Misato.
'In fact, I probably know him best...besides yourself,' Misato said in her mind as an afterthought.
No matter what Shinji said or denied that it was impossible to replicate what him and Asuka once had, Misato held onto the hope that they would one day be able to rekindle the feelings they had for each other.
"You're gonna pass the turn if you don't slow down," said Asuka after a few minutes pause as she rested her head against the cool glass of the passenger side window.
Misato's response, was to swing the car in a half circle, making Asuka briefly wish that she hadn't come along as she gripped the door handle so hard that it was in danger of snapping off.
It seemed that he had been expected, since Unit 01's entry plug was ready to be inserted into the Eva. Shinji could only assume that he had been seen on cameras earlier as he had ran through the hallways of the science department searching for an elevator. He was grateful though that everything had been prepared for him.
Noticing the plug suit that hung on the railing in front of Unit 01, he quickly dawned it without any worry of someone watching him, and looked up into the face of Unit 01. He didn't know when it had happened, but he supposed that Unit 01 was something of his partner in combat. Though he himself had a certain power like that of an angels, he felt that he could always rely on Unit 01 if he got into a pinch. Part of that was probably the knowledge that every time he stepped into the entry plug, he knew that his mother was right next to him.
Climbing up the long the ladder, he lowered himself into the entry plug and instantly synchronized with Unit 01. Quite frankly, he hadn't felt this calm in a while. His worry about Asuka, Rei, what Kaoru had told him, and everything about his own mysterious powers were thrown out the window as he inhaled the LCL fluid.
Opening up a communication channel for the command center, he was surprised to see vice commander Fuyutsuki on the line.
"Fuyutsuki? ...What are you-"
"Major Misato is on her way," he replied curtly. "Until then, I will be in charge of this operation. The angel has started its descent into Terminal Dogma along with Unit 02. It is passing the eleventh gate right now-"
"Unit 02?" stammered Shinji in surprise at Fuyutsuki's statement. But he bit his lip in worry over Misato coming. In truth, he really didn't want her here when he-
"Unit 02 has been classified as an enemy with the control that the angel has over it. Thus you have been ordered to destroy it"
"But...another Evangelion...and its Asuka's," mumbled Shinji.
Fuyutsuki was silent for a minute until he said, "Be that as it may, the commander has said to treat Unit 02 as an enemy. And we can't know whether or not the angel has joined with Unit 02, contaminating it completely."
"Then have Ritsuko do a full diagnostic on its sys-"
"Dr. Akagi has..." Fuyutsuki hesitated here for a second, as though determining whether Shinji should know about this or not.
Only one thing passed through Shinji's mind though at what Fuyutsuki has said.
'Did they found out about Ritsuko showing me the truth of Ayanami and the dummy plug system?'
"Well...it doesn't really matter," finished Fuyutsuki with a frown.
'No, it really didn't matter,' thought Shinji. As long as he did what he was supposed to do, nothing else mattered.
As Shinji turned to sever the link between the two, Fuyutsuki halted him.
"Hang on Shinji..."
"What? I should be-"
"I know...just, don't push yourself. We all care about you...Gendo included."
"He doesn't give a da-"
"No he does...or at least...a part of him does."
"Whats that supposed to mean?"
Shaking his head, Fuyutsuki said, "Never mind, I shouldn't have said anything." After a few moments of staring at each other over the screen, Fuyutsuki sighed and said, "I don't think I ever told you, but your mother used to be a student of mine."
Shinji blinked several times at this sudden surprise and opened his mouth wide before saying, "My mom...what? Student?"
"I used to be a teacher at the university she attended; I taught Gendo also. Your mother was an extraordinarily bright and gifted student, so it pained me when I learned that she had died in the contact experiment with Unit 01. But as her son, I see that you inherited her kindness."
Shinji turned his head away from Fuyutsuki feeling oddly embarrassed by this compliment.
"Have Misato contact me when she arrives," said Shinji as he manually removed the safety locks binding Unit 01 in place.
"Will do, and Shinji..."
"Huh?"
"Trust in your own judgement."
Shinji's face was passive for a few minutes before he smiled slightly and said, "Thanks," before the connection was gone.
However, his smile fell moments after Fuyutsuki's face disappeared. A heavy sigh escaped his half closed lips then as he readied himself for what he was about to do.
Making Unit 01 walk forward, he proceeded to the only elevator that would take him into Terminal Dogma.
Tires screeched against asphalt as Misato's car skidded into a parking spot in one of the many parking garages of Nerv that littered the entirety of Tokyo-3. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Misato yanked the key out of the ignition and threw her car door open.
Asuka, who's nails had been in threat of being torn off at this last harebrained turn, let go of the passenger sides door handle and seemed to twitch slightly. A bead of sweat dripped down the side of her face as she let out a sigh of relief.
'Dear God...I thought I was going to die,' she thought as she opened the passenger side door and stepped out of the car.
Standing to her full height, she looked around at Misato who had already started walking over to an elevator that would start there trip to Nerv. Asuka had never been to Nerv this way before, as it wasn't something Evangelion pilots usually took. It for more...well, less important people in her opinion. So she was rather surprised that Misato would take such a way.
Trotting over to Misato, who had already swiped her Nerv security card through the slot next to the elevator and was now waiting impatiently for the door to open, Asuka asked her the question she had just bee pondering.
"Hey Misato...how come we're taking this way to Nerv? Couldn't we have just taken one of the gates like we normally do?"
Misato seemed not to hear her though, as she was biting her nails absentmindedly and tapping her foot in impatience.
Asuka felt a trace of irritation at this, and if it had been any one else, she probably would have kicked them in the back of the leg. Certainly if it had been that idio-
'No, don't think about that,' thought Asuka as she shook her head frantically. But at this gesture, Misato seemed to realize Asuka was standing behind and turned asking-
"Huh? Sorry, did you say something Asuka?"
"Why are we taking the lowly employee route to Nerv?"
"Oh...good question actually," said Misato as she scratched her head in a confused gesture.
"You serious? You don't know why you went this way?"
"No...well, I was thinking about other things while driv-Oh...the elevators here."
Ending the conversation, Misato hurriedly stepped into the elevator while Asuka, with a frown on her face, did likewise. Punching in the very bottom number on the keypad next to the elevator door, the elevator took them under the streets of Tokyo-3. Even though Asuka had never seen this part of Nerv, she still understood that there was a tram of some-sorts that ran underneath Tokyo-3 that was strictly for Nerv's use.
As the elevator doors opened, it seemed that what Asuka had heard was true.
It looked more like a subway than anything really. Two trams sat on a metal rail, and Asuka guessed that one went towards Nerv for when people were going to work, and the other was for when people went home. Though she figured that these weren't the only two.
The open area they were in wasn't all that large, compared to what most of Japan's subway systems looked like. A low hung ceiling rested above there heads, while between the elevator they had just stepped out of, and the tram several steps away from them, there really wasn't much room in between. But then again, this wasn't the only parking garage that was used for Nerv, so rush hour shouldn't be too much of a problem. At least nobody else seemed to be heading towards Nerv like they were, though Asuka was sure this had something to do with it being the end of the work day.
The tram that they were hurrying towards was overly white with bright red trim along the very top of it. It was relatively small, looking as though somebody had cut a bus in half and called it good. Three windows were placed inches apart along the left and right sides of the tram, while a large window in the front and back could also be looked out of. The one thing that Asuka missed was the driver, but thinking about it, everything was automated now days.
"Oi Asuka! Hurry it up," came Misato's voice, who was standing in the doorway of the tram and waiting for her.
"Wha? Oh sorry."
Hurrying along, her bright red hair swinging behind her, she entered the tram just as the doors closed. She supposed that after somebody entered it, it gave a few seconds to see if anybody else entered before the doors closed.
Sitting down on one of the seats, she leaned her head back and asked, "Are we under the Geofront."
"Right now no. We're still a few levels above it, but it does start to slope down and go under the Geofront directly to Central Dogma."
"Hmmm...I see," mumbled Asuka, though she was honestly thinking that if she had to do this every single day, she'd die of boredom.
Several minutes later, Asuka could definitely feel the downward angle that the tram was going at, and then the tunnel they were in disappeared along side them.
Asuka knew that the Geofront was large, and that there were people who specifically maintained the environment of it, but she had never guessed that it was so vast underneath.
It couldn't be called a room, more like an area.
The tram now rolled along the metal tracks several hundred feet in the air, and Asuka looked out one of the side windows to peer down. Admittedly, there wasn't much to see. Just darkness really. She guessed now they were directly underneath the Geofront, and looking up out of the window, she saw the metal ceiling above them. Frowning slightly, she saw many tubes crisscrossing under each other, and wondered if this didn't have something to do with the man made lake.
"We're almost there," said Misato suddenly, pulling Asuka away from her thoughts.
"Okay."
Turning away from the window, she rested her elbows on her knees and placed her chin in the palms of her hands as she waited for the tram to stop.
Shinji didn't think this was an elevator. No certainly not!
In reality, it was just a giant metal shaft that descended into the lower reaches of Nerv and more importantly, Terminal Dogma. Shinji guessed that it had been built especially for the use of the Evangelions.
As he gripped the controls of Unit 01, he thought about what he was going to do.
Kill Kaoru.
He didn't see any other options than that simple fact. Yes he believed what Kaoru had said, yes he understood that humans were stubborn, selfish, and possibly evil at times. But exterminating the whole race just so that the Tree of Life, or whatever bullshit it was could stay alive? Fuck that! He wouldn't, and couldn't allow it. Maybe he was just like all the other humans: selfish. But he didn't want to lose anybody else dear to him.
And then there was the angel part of him screaming to not kill Kaoru. It told him to sympathize with the angels, and to listen earnestly to what they had to say. Shinji was afraid of this small voice in the back of his head, because as he was now, he might just listen to it.
His eyes had not changed back yet, and he was worried that his angel self might completely control him soon. And even if he killed Kaoru...then what? Seele surely wouldn't back down with the death of there agent. It seemed that Kaoru was going against what they desired right now, so Shinji supposed he would be killed by them anyway. But he didn't like it. He found himself wishing that him and Kaoru could have been friends, but because of who Kaoru was, and who Shinji was, it just never seemed possible.
"Is it completely pointless then?" asked Shinji to nobody in particular. "I've already lost Asuka, then I lost Ayanami. Who is next? Misato? Ritsuko seems to have been confined somewhere."
Shinji felt like all his hope was being swept away by some powerful force, but it was simply his own feelings of helplessness that were doing this. No matter what kind of power he had acquired, he was still Shinji Ikari, a fifteen year old boy that had been trust forward into a position he didn't want.
'I hate it all,' he thought. 'Everybody that pushed me into this. Father, Fuyutsuki, Ritsuko, Misato, Ayanami, Asuka...Asuka...'
He mumbled her name last, her of which he had connected, and then lost. What existed was now gone, and for fear of what might happen, he would never pursue that again.
But most of all, he supposed he hated himself. Who he was, with this disgusting feeling of being neither human or angel.
"Its there fault," he muttered, "I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for them. I hate them..."
Though that wasn't true. Only Shinji Ikari could decide what Shinji Ikari wanted to do. What decisions led him to this point was something only Shinji Ikari had decided upon. Could he still be influenced by the people around him? Certainly! But ultimately, it was still his decision on what to do.
He blamed them anyway though, because it was easier than accepting the fact that this reality was something he brought about. Did he loath it? Maybe, but he didn't know what the other possibilities were. Were there just a billions different realities with a Shinji Ikari making decisions and changing everything based on these decisions? Maybe, but this was the reality of this Shinji Ikari, and not another. He had to except what it was. Even if everybody else threw him away, even if everybody else ignored him, even if everybody else shunned and kicked him, he would still-
"So it doesn't matter," said Shinji uncaringly as he regained control of himself, throwing away these thoughts. "I'm myself, myself as Shinji Ikari. Whatever people think about me...doesn't matter, because I know who I am. Even if everybody forgets me, I won't forget myself...so it doesn't matter."
Smiling slightly at this thought, he shook his head trying to rid himself of his weakness. But human weakness doesn't disappear, rather, people learn to cope with it. Since that is something unique to humans.
"The possibility to adapt, change, and understand themselves and others around them," said Shinji.
He had to reassure himself, for if he didn't, he would surely lose his humanity. Even with this angel half of him, he would stay human. He would learnt to cope with it, even if he has seclude himself off from the rest of the world for ten or twenty years, he would control it.
"So I'll believe that everybody can change, just as I believe that I myself can change."
Shaking off these worries, he plunged forward into the depths of Terminal Dogma.
Kaoru looked up almost as though he could hear these words spoken by Shinji.
Smiling, he turned towards Unit 02 and nodded slightly. Unit 02 suddenly stopped descending in and seemed to hover there, as though waiting for something.
Kaoru meanwhile, turned his back on Unit 02 who he had ordered to wait for Unit 01 and continued into Terminal Dogma. He could feel it now, before it had been brief, but certainly now-
"Looks like Lilith is getting impatient."
Asuka and Misato stepped out of the tram and hurried across the platform to the other side where Misato pounded the button on the elevator to take them to the upper floors.
'Jeez,' thought Asuka as she looked at her reflection of the elevator door, 'I really look terrible.'
Since Misato had told her to just throw something on before they had left her apartment, she didn't have time to do anything with her hair. Simply put, it looked like a mop after somebody was done cleaning up spilled juice that was bright red.
The door opened then though, so Asuka didn't get any more time to examine her reflection.
They both hurried into the elevator, and Misato hammered on one the button that would take them to the upper floors. Asuka didn't really pay attention to what button she had pressed, as she was leaning against the back wall of the elevator and looking up at the brightly lit ceiling.
'Why did I come along again?' she wondered.
Letting out a low sigh, she tried flattening her hair so that it wouldn't stick up as bad, but without a mirror in front of her, she had no idea how her efforts had faired.
As the door opened, Asuka expected to step out into the command center, but was surprised to see that she was standing in a long hallway with many doors along both walls. The flooring was tiled which made her realize.
"Why are we on this floor? Isn't this part of the Medical District?"
"It is, but I have something to take care of here first," said Misato while shifting her eyes slightly. Asuka however, didn't notice this.
"C'mon, its this way," said Misato encouragingly.
Asuka, not knowing what else to do, shrugged her shoulders and followed Misato without complaint.
After several minutes of walking along the right side of the hallway, Misato paused in front of a door that was slightly open. Asuka looked at the side of the door where names of the patients usually were, but didn't see one.
"Misato...whats this about?"
"Don't worry, this will only take a second," said Misato as she grabbed Asuka's wrist in a vice like grip.
"Misato what are you!"
Misato dragged Asuka into the room quickly and spun her around, making her fall on the bed against the far right wall of the room.
"Misato!"
"Sorry Asuka," said Misato glumly. "But I can't have you in the command center this time...so I need you to stay here until-"
"No! Absolutely not! Why the hell do you think I even came here-"
'No...wait...why did I-'
"I'm sorry Asuka. While I did allow you to come here contrary to what I said before, I can't allow you to be in the command center this time."
"And why is that!" Asuka yelled back at her.
Misato bit her lip in frustration as she stood in the door way, blocking Asuka. In truth, it was because she was unsure how Shinji would react if he saw Asuka at a time like this. She didn't want anything to happen to him because he was shaken about seeing her. Maybe after...he was all done, but not now.
"I just can't!" yelled Misato back at Asuka, startling her so much that she started moving a few seconds to late, during which Misato had already ran out of the room and closed the door, locking it from the outside.
Misato leaned against the door catching her breath as she felt Asuka smiting the door with her fist, screaming at Misato to let her out.
'I did the right thing...right?' thought Misato.
Even now, she wasn't sure, but she couldn't change her mind now.
Pushing herself off the door, she ran back down the hallway where the elevator was, preparing herself for whatever Shinji was dealing with.
Asuka meanwhile, had given up trying to break down the door and her string of cuss words aimed at Misato had long abated. Kneeling in front of the door, her fists were still pressed against the cold surface of the door, but she gave no sign of hitting it again.
"Why...why does everyone keep lying to me?" mumbled Asuka.
Pearly white tears starting falling from her eyes, and fell off her long eyelashes as she closed her eyes in depression.
"Everyone...everyone keeps lying to me...not letting me know whats going on and..."
She slowly unclenched her fists and let her hands slide down the smooth surface of the door. Sliding backwards, she pressed her back against the metal bars of the bed holding the mattress in place, and drew her knees up to her face. Folding her arms across her knees, she buried her face in them and quietly wept.
Shinji continued descending into Terminal Dogma with Unit 01.
In front of him was Unit 02.
'Damn it,' he thought. 'I don't want to damage Asuka's unit...but I don't think I have a choice.'
Making Unit 01 reach behind itself towards the shoulders holsters in its back, he withdrew the prog knife.
In front of him, Unit 02 mimicked his movements precisely.
'Tch, didn't think this would be very easy.'
Continuing to draw closer to Unit 02 as he continued soaring downward into Central Dogma, he made Unit 01 draw its right arm close to its body with the prog knife in its hand, ready to lash out in a moments notice.
Again mimicking his movements exactly, Unit 02 drew its prog knife close to its body with its right arm.
'Why is it mimicking everything I do?' thought Shinji. 'And where is Kaoru? Shouldn't he be here?'
Before he had any more time to think about this though, Unit 01 and 02 clashed.
The right arm of Unit 02 shot outward from the side of its chest suddenly and darted towards Unit 01, the prog knifes point aimed at Unit 01's chest cavity. Reacting instinctively, Shinji made Unit 01 turn its prog knife on its side, and brought it up in a defensive position in front of its chest. The two prog knifes collided amidst a shower of sparks. Unit 02's prog knife stabbed into Unit 01 prog knife, and Shinji could almost feel the sparks skipping off Unit 01's hand. Gripping the prog knife with the left hand of Unit 01 now, he threw both arms up into the air, sending Unit 02's prog knife spinning out of its grasp, and created an opening in Unit 02's defensives. Letting go of the prog knife in its right hand he continued holding onto it in his left hand and quickly drew Unit 01's fist backwards, and thrust it towards Unit 02's chest. Millimeters away from it though, Unit 02 generated an AT-field.
"AT-field?" mumbled Shinji, "but I didn't think the Eva's were able to create an AT-field without a pilot. Unless it doesn't need to because of Kaoru being an angel..."
Now letting go of the prog knife in Unit 01's left hand, he tossed it away to the side and let it fall at its own pace into Terminal Dogma. Generating Unit 01's AT-field, he slammed it against Unit 02's, destroying it instantly.
'I suppose its to be expected that Unit 02 wont have as strong an AT-field as Unit 01,' thought Shinji before he made Unit 01 pull back its left fist and swung it forward.
Unit 01's fist struck against the left side of Unit 02's jaw, snapping the cheekbone and spraying blood and gore out of Unit 02's mouth. Shinji felt a slight searing in his own hand in response to the force used by Unit 01 to strike Unit 02.
Still in a free fall, Unit 01 grabbed the shoulder holsters of Unit 02 and pushed it downwards, using it as something as a cushion for when the impact with the ground happened. Still seeming to function though, Unit 02 brought both its arms up rather shakily, and gripped Unit 01's throat with the remaining strength left in its body. Feeling the his own throat being constricted because of his synchronization with Unit 01, he oxygen to his brain started being cut off. Knowing he only had a few seconds before he lost consciousness, he briefly thought, 'Sorry about this Asuka...'
With Unit 01's hands still holding the shoulder holsters of Unit 02, like paper being torn down the middle, Unit 02's flesh was rent. The left hand of Unit 01 pulled the left shoulder holster outward as though trying to bend it, while the right hand did likewise on the other holster. Both holsters were pulled outward until the arms weren't able to contain the strain anymore. From the joint connecting the arm to the main body, a small tear opened in which blood gushed forth. Seconds later, both the right and left arm of Unit 02 popped off like a dolls. Blood and gore leaked out of the open wound while large chunks of flesh fell off the discarded arm as they were thrown to the side. Bone stuck out of both sides Unit 02 where the arms had been as small bits of yellow marrow leaked forth. Shinji had to look away at this sight, horrified at what he had done with his own hands. Unit 02's grip on Unit 01 throat slackened as it seemed to fall backwards, relinquishing its grip on Unit 01's throat, enabling the oxygen to flow to Shinji's brain again.
Watching the eyes of Unit 02 lose their green hue was oddly foreboding, as it made him think of how Asuka would react to this. Certainly it would take a while to have Unit 02 repaired.
'No, I shouldn't worry about that. Besides, its better that she never pilots again.'
Ignoring Unit 02 who continued falling beside him, he was just thinking about how he should confront Kaoru when he felt something beside him.
"What the hel-" was all he got out of his mouth before Unit 02's AT-field crashed into Unit 01.
Shinji coughed up blood as he felt as though a cinderblock had just been thrown at his chest. At most he hoped nothing had ruptured inside of him, but it felt as though a few of his ribs had been broken.
Looking at the reactivated Unit 02 who's eyes were radiating a bright green again, Shinji couldn't help but feel slightly afraid. Unit 02 was...different, it simply felt different then a few minutes ago. But it didn't feel like it had anything to do with Kaoru.
Blood continued gushing out of the sides of Unit 02, but it didn't seem to care as its AT-field continued pressing against Unit 01.
'Damn it,' thought Shinji, 'why is Unit 02 acting like this? Its like...it suddenly went berserk.'
Coughing up another fresh pint of blood, Shinji hastily wiped a trickle of it that slowly started cascading down his face. Grabbing the controls of Unit 01, he quickly generated an AT-field, and slowly managed to push Unit 02's AT-field.
'How is it that the AT-field is stronger than before?' wondered Shinji.
He didn't want to damage Unit 02 anymore, but he didn't see any other way of stopping it. Now raising Unit 01's right hand, he clasped it into a fist, and swung it at the gaping hole in Unit 02's right side. Like a cannon being fired, the air from the force of Unit 01's fist forced itself out the other side of Unit 02, spraying blood and tissue everywhere.
Even that didn't seem to stop the rampaging Unit 02.
Its head swiveled left and right without its muscles seeming to work properly, making it wobble from side to side. It seemed that most of its tendons and nerve endings had been severed.
"Stop it already!" shouted Shinji surprising even himself at this sudden outburst of emotions. "You can't even function properly...and I don't want to-"
Unit 02's AT-field shot outward again, but this time it was so weak that Shinji was able to brush it aside with nothing but a quick wave of Unit 01's right hand.
"I don't even know what you're trying to do! Kaoru's not controlling you anymore, and Asuka may not even be able to pilot again! So why are you going to such lengths to try and stop me!"
The only answer he got was Unit 02 feebly trying to create another AT-field.
Shaking his head, Shinji said, "Fine then..."
Raising Unit 01's right arm, he turned his gaze away as he brought it down moments later, intending to slice Unit 02's head clean off, making sure that it ceased functioning. The AT-field generated, and soared towards Unit 02, intending to lop of its head at the neck. But-
"Don't!"
Unit 01 instantly stopped when it heard that voice, because it was Shinji that had stopped it. He froze, and felt a cold sweat emanate throughout his whole body at the sound of that voice. Adrenaline surged through his body...but no, how could he hear that voice of all times.
"Asu...ka?" he whispered towards Unit 02, for he was sure that was where the voice came from.
Unit 02 had stopped moving however, and even though its eyes still seared with that green light, its entire body seemed to be frozen.
"Asuka?" Shinji repeated, a little more force in his voice this time.
Silence still greeted his words, but he thought he realized something then.
"Ahh...I get it...you hate me, don't you?" asked Shinji.
Shinji thought he understood a little. The Evangelions after all had human souls in them, and Unit 02 was no different. Somebody important to Asuka had to be residing inside Unit 02, at least he assumed. If that was true, he could understand how the remaining feelings of this person may hate him.
"For everything I did to her...I'm sorry, and I know that I can't take anything back...but-"
"Don't apologize..."
Shinji's eyes open so wide that they looked as though they might pop out. The voice again, which was almost exactly like Asuka's. But it wasn't...and this time he thought he saw something else. Maybe it was because of him being part angel, or having something to do with his strong synchronization with Unit 01. Or maybe it simply had to do with the relationship him and Asuka had had. But he saw somebody inside Unit 02...no, that wasn't quite right. It was more like he could feel it, even if it was just a brief glimpse.
It was a woman, in her late twenties by the look it. She had short red hair that reached just above her shoulders, while her eyes were a deep blue.
She looked like Asuka in certain aspects and sounded almost exactly alike, but Shinji could also see how they were unlike. But they were still related, because this woman was-
'You're...Asuka's mother...' mouthed Shinji, his voice apparently gone from his surprise.
He didn't get an answer of yes or no though, but it seemed that Unit 02 wasn't able to remain hovering any longer. Its eyes finally lost their green glow, and slowly, Unit 02 started falling backwards, gathering speed as it continued falling.
'Shit,' thought Shinji. 'I can't...'
Wincing slightly as pain coursed through him because of his broken ribs, he forced Unit 01 down towards the falling Unit 02. Throwing Unit 01's right arm forward, he tried grabbing onto on of the legs of Unit 02.
'After what I did,' he thought, 'and after knowing how important this is to Asuka...I can't just let this happen.'
Stretching Unit 01's arm further then it was intended to be stretched, Shinji could feel the strain it put on his own arm as his joints were screaming in pain. With one final lunge, Shinji managed to grab Unit 02's left leg with the right hand of Unit 01. Pulling the bloody and dismembered body towards Unit 01, he wrapped both of Unit 01's arms around its midsection.
Letting out a deep breath, Shinji relaxed his body as Unit 01 continued holding onto Unit 02.
'Why is it...that it almost feels like I'm embracing Asuka?'
He didn't know what it was, but he felt something. Maybe it was a small piece of his lingering feelings towards her, almost completely eclipsed by his angel half. Maybe it was remorse over what he had just done. Maybe it was simply that he was feeling lonely, and in a way, Unit 02 was a piece of Asuka's heart.
"I don't even know anymore," he mumbled, as he continued descending into Terminal Dogma.
Kaoru all but ignored the slot where a pass card was supposed to be swiped, and tore the door of its hinges with his AT-field, tossing it to the side. Hovering inches off the ground, he made his way into Lilith's chamber.
Before him rested a giant figure nailed to a cross as the Son of God had been. It was purely white except for a purple mask that it wore with an upside down triangle on it. However, the mask had a large crack in it travel from the top all the way down, splitting the triangle in half. The track seemed to be a simple of defiance.
As Kaoru continued hovering forward, looking up at the giant angel that was Lilith a wide smile spread across his face.
"We finally meet Lilith."
Surprisingly, a voice answered him.
"Tabris...or should I call you Adam?"
The voice that was pleasant one-second, changed to hostile the next as it mentioned the hated name of Adam. The voice didn't come from any particular place, it simply existed.
"Call me Tabris," said Kaoru, "since I am not Adam, but simply house the soul of Adam."
"Well you sure are arrogant like he was," scoffed the soul of Lilith. "So? Are you going to follow those geezers, or do you have a mind of your own?"
Kaoru continued smiling, but for a second it seemed to wane slightly.
"I've decided what I want to do on my own, and besides they don't factor into what the angels wanted."
"Still stubbornly following your father I see," said Lilith.
"The same could be said of you."
"I do everything for the Lilim. It is my own decision. Now...why are you here?"
Kaoru raised an eyebrow in surprise at that.
"Shouldn't Shinji be told everything now?"
If Lilith had eyes that could be narrowed, she would have narrowed them.
"That is not up for you to decide Tabris. You're purpose is almost done, for good or bad, I do not know. If you kill Shinji, then I will kill you. He still has a purpose."
"Is that why you manipulated him in everything he did?"
"I simply gave him hints on what choices to make, or showed him things that may change his path."
"Involving yourself with humans was one of the things Adam expressly forbade you to do."
"So I was supposed to just watch them die out, and if I didn't watch Shinji, then who would have? Not Adam certainly."
What Kaoru had guessed seemed to be true. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked, "Who is Shinji? He has an angels powers, but has no connection with us."
Lilith was silent for a while before she mouth a few silent words that were only heard by Kaoru.
At her words, Kaoru lowered his head and whispered, "So it is as I thought."
"You were in turmoil over having to kill him were you not? It is because you house the soul of Adam."
"What of your container, were is she?"
"Ayanami Rei? She left a while ago."
"How is it that you are able to move freely without a body? The second container...I didn't feel anything from her, so I had assumed."
"The second was unique. It gained some self recognition to the point that I could not inhabit it for long."
"Is it because of the contact with Shinji?"
"It may be, but it seemed that the DNA it received during the cloning process had a strong sense of self awareness."
"Then this one is-"
"It is new, so the process may be slower. As for why I can move freely without a container, it is because my body is close. I cannot move out of the Tokyo-3 area though."
Kaoru was silent and wasn't smiling anymore. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he looked up at the body of Lilith and asked, "Will you wait for him?"
"No, our meeting wont happen till everything ends. I was waiting for you."
"Then what if I tell him everything. His connection with Adam, that you've been controlling him since his angel powers awoke."
"I won't hesitate to kill you right now. You may be the final angel, but don't forget that I am a being above you, and as I said I still can use Shinji. He is important till the end of everything."
"Then let me ask you this...do you really intend to destroy the Tree of Life and rebuild the earth as yourself at the heart of it."
Lilith was silent for a minute before she said with something akin to a laugh, "Would it change anything if I told you yes or no?"
Kaoru supposed that it didn't really matter, it wasn't after all something that he would get to decide upon.
"So then this is it?" he asked.
"Unless you kill Shinji and we meet again...but I don't think that will happen, and I think you know that yourself. You are an angel gifted with a strong foresight because of Adam's soul, so you should already know how this will end."
Kaoru was silent as Lilith said this, but he did already know how it would end up. He had known since he had been born into this world.
"Then we have nothing else to say to each other," said Kaoru, a trace of anger in his voice.
"No, we do not," replied Lilith.
Almost as though somebody had opened a window in Lilith's chamber, something like an evil spirit felt as though it just vanished. The power of Lilith couldn't be felt anymore; only the body remained.
Kaoru meanwhile continued looking up at the body of Lilith, prolonging the short time he had spent on this planet.
Suddenly, he felt the life go out of Unit 02 and the control he had over it disappear. Looking up towards Central Dogma, he could tell that Shinji was getting closer. Shaking his head, he looked back at the body of Lilith and mumbled, "I can see my own death...so is that a blessing, or a curse? Well...I suppose it could be both. I wonder what Shinji's death will look like, or will he even be able to see it?"
Smiling slightly, he shrugged his shoulders and thought, 'Not much to do now except wait.'
Planting his feet firmly on the ground Kaoru remarked on how weird it always felt using his legs, as he had never needed something so rudimentary to move around before, but that was just how the Lilim were created he supposed.
Sitting down in front of the body of Lilith, he placed his hands behind him and said, "I'm waiting for you Shinji, so hurry up."
'The Black Moon of Lilith...huh?' thought Shinji as he reached the very depths of Terminal Dogma.
Shinji didn't know how, but as he reached the end of the long shaft where he had fought Unit 02, a large black hole opened up and seemed to have transported him. He had know idea if this was because he was inside an Evangelion, but he guessed that he was in the heart of the Black Moon. All around him was LCL fluid that seemed the stretched on for an eternity.
'I must be close now,' he thought.
He was still holding firmly onto Unit 02, as though his and its life was connected somehow, but now, he had to bid farewell to it, and Asuka's mother. He hoped that it would be recovered in due time...but as for now.
Gently laying it down in the LCL fluid, Shinji watched the red fluid wash around Unit 02's opens wounds for a minute until he turned and looked off in the distance. He could feel Kaoru's AT-field luring him onward...but the AT-field he had felt from earlier seemed to have disappeared. Well, whatever it was, it didn't seem like he'd have to deal with it right now.
Taking a few steps forward then, he suddenly heard static over the intercom and a very grabbled version of Misato's voice starting talking to him.
"Shinji...can...you...hear...me."
"Misato? Yeah I can, but there's a lot of static."
"It seems...that the angels...AT-field...is interfering...somehow. But what is...happening down there?"
"Kaoru seemed to be controlling Unit 02 somehow."
"Are you...still pursuing him?"
"Yeah...I am," replied Shinji rather glumly.
Misato, seeming to pick up the reluctance in his voice said, "Don't think about it...and just do what you think is right."
"I know...but..." mumbled Shinji.
"What happened...to Unit 02?" asked Misato.
"Its..." said Shinji as he turned to see it laying in the LCL fluid. Sighing slightly he said, "Its not in the best shape."
"Well...we can pick it up...later. And Shinji?"
"Huh?"
"Do you know...why the angel is...in Terminal Dogma, because I heard...what happened to Ritsuko."
"Was she confined?" asked Shinji.
"Yes she was, so I assume...that it has something to do you. What exactly is...in Terminal Dogma that an angel...is searching for."
"I'm sorry Misato, but I can't answer that right now. Ritsuko may tell you if you ask but-"
"It would be impossible...right now. They have her locked up in a...holding cell for the time being. Thats why I needed to ask...you."
Shaking his head, Shinji said, "As I said Misato, I can't answer that right now. Maybe later, but in truth, I don't know what may happen to me after this. So I can't make any promises."
Silence over the voice intercom for a minute before Misato said, "Okay...I understand. Please be...careful."
"Thank you Misato..."
With that, Shinji cut the communication channel between them and continued walking forward towards Kaoru.
Misato meanwhile slammed both palms of her hands onto one of the keyboards that littered the command center of Central Dogma. Beside her, Fuyutsuki watched in anticipation of what she may do next. Gendo had given him order that if Major Katsuragi were to start an investigation, then she was to be detained immediately, and while Fuyutsuki did not like the order, he did not have any choice but to follow it if need be.
"We should just let Shinji see this through Major," said Fuyutsuki in a calm voice.
Misato threw him a dirty look before turning back to the monitor screen. She had no idea that Terminal Dogma reached that far under the Geofront. According to the computers, Shinji was well below the final levels, so where was he exactly. She knew Ritsuko had showed him something, something that apparently the commander was not too pleased with, but what was it?
"Yes...I suppose there isn't anything else for us to do but wait," said Misato standing up straight.
Shinji broke through the wall that he knew Kaoru was behind and waiting for him. LCL fluid poured out of the large gap from Lilith's chamber as Unit 01 walked in.
Though it was only Shinji's second time seeing the body of Lilith, he showed the least amount of interest towards this strange being, and instead, directed his full attention towards the person sitting in front of it.
"I see you made it Shinji-kun," said Kaoru with a wide smile across his face. Shinji however, chose to remain silent.
Standing up, Kaoru spread his arms outward as though he was preparing to hug somebody and said, "Don't be silent like that Shinji-kun."
"I don't think I have anything else to say to you," said Shinji.
"Then will you kill me?"
"I," Shinji hesitated, "I don't know."
Kaoru watched before a minute until he sighed and said, "The Lilim really are indecisive."
"Then is it so easy to kill someone for you!" yelled Shinji.
"Of course," replied Kaoru, "it is as simple as moving my right arm."
"That is not me."
"Then you will not kill me?"
"I don't know damn it!"
"Would it make any difference if I told you I wanted to die?"
"Wha...Kaoru!"
"Would it make you feel better if you knew you were fulfilling my wish."
"But its still killing."
"But its not indiscriminate. It is something that I want you to do."
"You're not serious."
"And if I am?"
"Then I feel sorry for you," said Shinji.
"Haha! Well said Shinji-kun. It seems that no matter what, your angel half will ultimately be kept in check by your purer human self."
"...What do you mean?"
"I mean precisely this. Even if your angel half completely takes you over, at heart, you will still remain a human. Given the circumstances, it is rather surprising that you are able to remain so after everything that has happened to you. You have a strong recognition of who you are. I don't think I have to worry about you anymore."
"Meaning?" asked Shinji.
"Both Adam and Lilith want to use you, each of them have there own reasons of course. Myself...hmmm, you could almost say that I am following neither now. I simply want to see what choices you make."
"Why do you seem so interested in me?"
"Why? Maybe its because of the human body that I've become accustomed to. Maybe its because I lived with humans and got to know them better. Maybe its simply because of you. I don't really know to tell you the truth."
"I kinda understand why Lilith wants to use me...but why Adam? I mean...I'm human after all and-"
"Only part human," interrupted Kaoru. "Don't forget that you have angel DNA in you, and that is why he wants you, because you are at the same time angel and human."
"But why, and how did I even become this way?"
Kaoru was silent, debating whether he should tell Shinji about his connection with Adam.
"I still don't know the answer to that," lied Kaoru.
"Then why did you come here," asked Shinji.
"To see Lilith of course," said Kaoru as he pointed behind himself
Shinji looked at the giant body of Lilith that Kaoru was pointing at and frowned.
"So what...you were just talking to it...and was it talking back?"
"In a manner of speaking...yes," replied Kaoru with a slight smile.
Silence engulfed the chamber of Lilith for a minute before Shinji asked-
"What will Seele do about this?"
Shrugging, Kaoru said, "Kill me first most likely, then attack this place. They still wants to become the gods of this world."
"And what of my father?"
"Gendo Ikari? Well, he wants to be reunited with his loved one."
"My mother?"
"I did not say that, but essentially...yes."
Shinji hesitated for a second before he asked, "So then..."
"I will die soon, either by your hand or not."
"But you still want to live."
"Everything being wants to live and is afraid of death, it is no different for me. Shinji-kun, I am an angel, something which is the enemy of all humanity; your enemy."
"Then...you were serious before?"
"If given the choice, I would prefer to die by your hand."
"I won't kill you Kaoru!"
Kaoru smiled then, but it wained as though he was in pain. Sighing, he said, "Then I'll just have to kill you instead Shinji-kun."
Half a second later, Kaoru AT-field erupted, slicing into Unit 01's chest cavity.
At the same time, a large slash appeared on Shinji's own chest, spilling blood into the entry plug and mixing with the LCL fluid.
Lowering his right hand which he had raised upwards as he generated his own AT-field, Kaoru said, "Fighting you while your inside that Evangelion Unit is rather unfair though, so I think its better if we did this while facing each other. And besides, its time the Lilim learned how to live without the Evangelions."
At his very words, Unit 01 shuddered violently, and next second, the entry plug shot out behind Unit 01's head at the base of the neck. Teetering in place for a minute, Unit 01 fell backwards as it didn't have a pilot controlling it anymore, and with a loud splash, fell into the gallons of LCL fluid that floated around Lilith's chamber. The entry plug landed in the LCL fluid likewise, and within moments, washed upon the island thanks to the waves created by Unit 01's fall. Kaoru smiled widely as he walked towards the entry plug, but stopped as he felt Shinji's own AT-field ripping through the metal of the entry plug.
A square chunk of metal popped off the entry plug, sending it flying across the small island and out stepped Shinji. From chest high, almost all the way to his feet, a large patch of red seemed to have been painted onto his plug suit. Of course this was his own blood, but it didn't seem that it was flowing anymore. Wincing slightly as he took a few steps away from Unit 01's entry plug, he looked up at Kaoru who stood before him.
Smiling slightly, Kaoru said, "It seems that you regenerated rather quickly, quicker than I had expected actually."
Shinji winced slightly at Kaoru's words. It seemed that flesh wounds healed quickly, but his broken ribs that he had suffered earlier were still paining him.
"Kaoru...you..." wheezed Shinji.
"Yes Shinji-kun?" asked Kaoru as he smiled back, simultaneously raising his right arm.
Shinji blinked several times, not believing what he was seeing. Opening his mouth in another attempt to persuade Kaoru to stop what he was doing, Shinji was cut off as Kaoru's arm came crashing down through the air. Shinji dove to his left just in time as Kaoru's AT-field ripped apart the stone flooring, spewing it up and into the air so that rubble rained down around Shinji. Effortlessly generating his own AT-field, Shinji split the larger pieces of debris, while blocking the small pieces.
"Not bad Shinji-kun," said Kaoru as he continued smiling at him.
"Kaoru...why are you doing this!"
"I think the time for discussion is over with Shinji-kun, and besides, you said it yourself. 'I don't think I have anything else to say to you.'"
Dashing forward, Kaoru swung his right arm in front of him, generating his AT-field and formed it into a large square. Still utterly confused at what was happening when a few moments ago it seemed as everything would be glossed over, Shinji continued sitting on the floor, watching the raw mass of energy soaring towards him.
'Did I really think that everything would turn out okay though?' he wondered. 'Was it ever possible for me and Kaoru to be anything other then enemies? I don't know...but I feel that at another place, and another time...we probably could have been frien-'
Shinji's right fist ground against the stone flooring, splintering the knuckles and making blood flow out of the split skin.
"God Damn it Kaoru!"
Standing up promptly, he ignored his aching ribs and the new throb in his right hand, and quickly generated his own AT-field and formed it into the same square like shape as Kaoru's. Throwing it at Kaoru's AT-field, the two collided against each other with a sound like a cannon being fired directly into someones ear.
The air pressure exploded as the two AT-fields met, creating such a powerful gust of wind that Shinji thought that he was going to be blown backwards. The ripples that had finally subsided because of Unit 01's fall lit up again, as the LCL fluid crashed against the concrete walls of Lilith's chamber. Seismic waves shook the very foundations of Terminal Dogma, traveling up as far as the Geofront as well as parts of Tokyo-3. Inside the command center of Nerv, glasses, plant vases, and other assortment of breakable objects were in threat of falling over. Misato herself had to clutch onto a chair for support.
"What the hell is going on down there!" she shouted.
For an answer, you would have had to have been there to believe it, for no telling of a story could have left quite the impact as watching these two people clash.
Kaoru's AT-field was the stronger, and Shinji knew that, but he didn't care anymore. He simply wanted to punched Kaoru with everything he had, not caring about what the state of his own body looked at the end of it all.
Orange sparks surged around the center of where the two AT-fields had met, as though two steel beams were being ground together. Shinji gritted his teeth so hard that he wore out the enamel on them as he tried pushing Kaoru's AT-field back at him...but to no avail.
Moments later however, Kaoru's AT-field completely disappeared. Shinji, caught of balance unknowingly dissipated his own AT-field, leaving him to look across the strange battlefield at Kaoru who was standing there with his hands in his pockets.
"Kaoru...lets just stop this! Why does one of us have to kill each other!" yelled Shinji.
Kaoru wasn't smiling anymore, and if anything, he seemed to be radiating a killing intent that Shinji had never felt before.
"I thought I told you Shinji-kun using your own words, that I have no intention of talking anymore."
A cone like AT-field appeared in front of Kaoru similar to that of a drill. Pointing it directly at Shinji it charged at him as though Kaoru had thrown it like a javelin.
Shinji, seeing this clear act of hostility, and coupled with the killing intent he had felt from Kaoru moments before, lost all hope of ever stopping this battle.
'I guess he never intended it to be any other way,' thought Shinji as he generated an exact replica of Kaoru's AT-field.
Waiting a brief moment in hopes that Kaoru would stay his attack, Shinji shook his head then in resignation to what it was. Throwing his own AT-field at Kaoru's AT-field, he waited for the half second it would take for them to reach each other, and the ensuing explosion and attempt to block Kaoru's AT-field. In truth, he felt like the entire thing was hopeless. He could tell how much more powerful Kaoru was compared to him, but he had always known that.
Nothing of the sort happened.
Shinji blinked once, just as he saw Kaoru's cone like AT-field completely shattering as his own AT-field collided against. Standing motionless at what had just happened, he missed the brief instance were he could have corrected his AT-field.
Half a second later, Shinji blinked again, as his AT-field pierced Kaoru's chest cavity, exploding his innards out the back of his body in a red haze.
Two blinks from Shinji's eyes, and all this happened. Still standing motionless, he watched as Kaoru's body started falling backwards as bloody liquid fell out of the gaping hole that was almost five inches wide in diameter.
Taking one step forward, then two, then three and four, he was soon sprinting towards Kaoru's falling body.
"KAORU!" Shinji screamed with everything he had as Kaoru's body hit the stone cold floor.
Skidding to a halt next to the battered body of Nagisa Kaoru, Shinji kneeled next to him in a pool of blood.
"Kaoru...why did you...what the hell did you!" shouted Shinji.
Coughing up blood, Kaoru's normal smile couldn't help but resurface as he looked back at Shinji, "I knew that I couldn't physically kill you because of who I am...because of the soul of Adam that I house, so I had to make you think I was serious about killing you."
"But why die anyway!"
"Because it is better to die like this. Better to die by your hand then Seele's, or Lilith's."
Shinji had no idea where Lilith fit in, but he didn't care at the moment.
"Can't you just regenerate?" asked Shinji, "I'm able to...so shouldn't you be also."
"You actually hit my core Shinji-kun," said Kaoru as he pointed towards a spot on his body. Shinji looked down at the gaping hole in Kaoru's chest and saw that he was pointed at where his heart was supposed to be. What lay there now looked like a pummeled piece of meet you would see at a grocery store. Shinji couldn't help but feel sick at this thought, as bile threatened to surge up his throat.
"My core is my heart," said Kaoru. "Rather ironic that no matter how powerful humans get, they can still die so easily."
"Isn't there anything I can-"
"I don't want you to even try. Its better this way as I said."
"But why? Why did you dissipate your AT-field at the last second!"
"Shinji...you are gifted with visions are you not."
Shinji didn't see what this had to do with his question, but he nodded anyway.
"Like you, I also can see things...my own death for instance I saw. This...is something that have known for a long time, that I would die like this."
"And you didn't try to change it!"
"I saw no reason that I should try."
"You say that you don't follow Lilith and Adam, but in truth, you can't escape from them can you!" yelled Shinji.
"No, I suppose it is the truth," replied Kaoru. "I am an angel, born from Adam, and no matter what, I have to follow his will, but because I house the soul of Adam, I have more freedom then the other angels. I am more free to think, but in the end I am still an angel. The reason I was able to see my own death is because of the soul of Adam...I was also able to see the deaths of my many sisters and brothers, but was not allowed to interfere with any of them."
"I don't understand you..."
"You are human...so you would not. Humans are grossly different from angels. They follow no one, not even Lilith, there creator. They shape their own futures with their hands, something the angels are incapable of doing. In a way, I think I felt envious of that. But such is the destiny of Adam and Lilith's children.
Kaoru paused here as he coughed up more blood.
"Shinji-kun...I have said it before many times, but you and I are alike. Even back when I first met you as your subconscious I felt that we were alike, but I found out that it is only a feeling that the soul of Adam gives me. In truth, you and I are nothing alike. More so, I should say that you and Adam are alike."
Shinji blinked several times at the his strange statement.
"Me and Adam alike? How? Isn't he a being that far surpasses us mere humans," said Shinji.
"Yes but-"
Kaoru suddenly winced in pain as his right arm seemed to disintegrate on the spot. Shinji's eyes widened as he saw this, but Kaoru brushed it off as nothing saying, "This body is starting to decompose. Nobody called Nagisa Kaoru ever existed in the first place, so its only fitting that I should die in this way."
Looking up at the body of Lilith towering over him, he frowned briefly as he thought, 'Can you see me now Lilith? Are you pleased with the way things turned out? The last of the angels is dying, so Seele only needs to be dealt with and then-'
Kaoru's left arm suddenly disappeared, as the particles of LCL fluid that created his body evaporated into the air.
"Ahhh...this really sucks," he said, "dying does suck after all."
Blinking several times, he half expected tears to start to well up at the corners of his eyes, but of course no such thing happened.
"Kaoru...I," started Shinji.
"Don't apologize," sighed Kaoru, as both his legs started to disappear
Silence engulfed the two of them as time passed, though all the while, Kaoru continued disappearing.
"Hey Shinji," said Kaoru after a few minutes had passed. All that was left was his neck and head now.
"Hmmm?"
"Be careful about Lilith."
"...Why?"
"She is dangerous, and even I cannot fully understand what she means to accomplish."
"Is this Adam...or Kaoru?"
"A little of both I suppose. I can understand some of it, but the soul of Adam shuts other parts out. Bit annoying really."
"You know...you're starting to sound like a human."
"I am? ...Well, I guess thats what death will do to you."
Slowly his neck started to disappear.
"Kaoru...you never finished what you said before about me and Adam being alike."
"I didn't? No, I suppose I didn't," replied Kaoru. "It was something that I shouldn't have said in the first place.
His neck disappeared.
"So...are you going to finish what you were saying earlier?"
"I suppose. You and Adam...huh? Even I still have a hard time believing it to be honest."
"...What?"
His chin started to disappear.
"That you and Adam are connected in a way that seems almost impossible. A kind of connection that only a husband and wife could fully understand."
"Husband...and wife?"
"Your mother-"
His bottom lip started to disappear, making it increasingly difficult for him talk. Soon his entire mouth would be gone and he wouldn't be able to speak.
"My mother what!" shouted Shinji. "What about my mom!"
The speed at which Kaoru was disappearing at suddenly seemed to increase, either due to it being the last part of his body that remained, or because of what he was telling Shinji. But Kaoru felt a slight shift in Adam's soul then, almost as though it didn't want Kaoru to speak those words.
"In truth...Adam is your-"
Kaoru mumbled those incomprehensible words to Shinji, lost only to the ears of Shinji.
Moments later, the fourth child, known as Nagisa Kaoru vanished from the world. But not before he whispered, "Cya Shinji-kun," to a boy long ago lost in his own thought.
Shinji remained motionless long after the last angel disappeared, but eventually he did move...and when he did-
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Shinji's AT-field erupted around him.
Misato stood in front of the door she had locked Asuka in those many hours ago, which in truth felt like years ago.
She was hesitant on how she should proceed. She felt ashamed for what she had done to Asuka, and had even been tempted to have somebody else let her out, but knew that it had to be her. She had betrayed Asuka's trust, and she was probably the only person that Asuka would trust right now. Asuka didn't like other people to know what she was thinking, didn't want other people penetrating her armor, because underneath it all she was simply a confused and scared fifteen year old girl. Misato understood all this, so she had to correct what she had done, and right now, if Asuka were to ask her anything, she was afraid she might just tell.
Unlocking the door with a 'click' she grasped the door knob and turned it, throwing open the door and revealing the person inside the room.
Asuka was laying on the hospital bed with her back propped against the wall and a pillow behind her back. Both her legs were drawn up to her chest, while her arms were wrapped around her legs. As she titled her head upwards away from her arms which her head had previously been buried in, Misato couldn't help but notice the lines on her face which suggested she had recently been crying. Misato felt even more ashamed for what she had done.
Walking over to the bed, she sat down on the far corner of it and said, "Asuka...I'm sorry for what I did...and-"
"I don't care," said Asuka bluntly and without emotion.
"You don't?"
"You obviously had something that you had to attend to and I couldn't be there for some reason."
Misato blinked a few times, surprised at how easy going Asuka was about the whole thing.
"Asuka...are you sure-"
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine," repeated Asuka now getting off the bed and throwing her arms above her head, stretching her stiff body. Turning around towards Misato, she said, "So are we done now?"
Misato hesitated for a second, but didn't see any reason she should keep this from Asuka.
"Not quite yet. I sent an evac team down into Terminal Dogma to retrieve Shinji, but it seems that the commander wanted a team supervised by himself sent down. I'm just waiting to find out...how Shinji is."
"What happened?" asked Asuka. "Earlier there was like...an earthquake or something."
"I don't know for certain, but most likely what we felt was the clash of two very strong AT-fields."
"So...he's okay then?" asked Asuka after a few seconds pause.
Misato guessed that she meant Shinji and nodded her head saying, "I don't know if he is perfectly fine, but I would like to hope so."
"...I see," mumbled Asuka as she turned her head away from Misato and looked out the door that Misato hadn't bothered to close.
After a moments pause, Misato asked, "Would you like to see him...if possible, I mean?"
Misato had expected Asuka to fly off the handle and start shouting obscenities, but Asuka's reaction was not something she had expected.
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Asuka titled her head from side the side as she thought about the prospect of seeing that idiot.
"I don't...know," she finally said. "Maybe...why? Are you going to talk to him?"
"I plan on it, yeah," replied Misato. "If you want to come..." Misato trailed off then. Was what she was proposing really a smart idea?
"Okay...I'll see the idiot..." mumbled Asuka as she looked down at her feet. My the hell was her heart beating as though she had just ran a mile?
"Great, we should get going then. The team should be returning with him shortly so we can just-"
Misato's cell phone rang.
Looking at it rather apprehensively she pulled it off its clip where it hung on her pants. Looking at the number briefly, she flipped it open and said, "This is Major Katsuragi."
Asuka watched Misato listen to the person on the other line tell her several things, while all the while, Misato's face slowly became paler until it was the color of paper.
"What was that about," asked Asuka the second Misato had closed her cell phone.
Misato turned towards her, biting down on her lower lip in the process.
"That was the vice-commander," she eventually said after a moments pause.
Asuka waited for Misato to tell her what the phone call was about, but when she didn't, Asuka took matters into her own hands.
"So what was the call about? Is something wrong?"
Misato hesitated for a second before she said, "I don't know...but the team that was sent to retrieve Shinji hasn't been heard from and we can't contact them. The vice commander thinks that the angel might have killed them."
"The angel? But that would mean that-"
"That Shinji may have lost...but I don't think so...I think Shinji may have...done something to them."
"Like what?" asked Asuka.
Misato simply continued staring at Asuka, but Asuka took that to mean-
"He wouldn't...have killed them, would he?"
Shaking her head, Misato said, "I don't know. If he did...its because he learned something while in Terminal Dogma that drove him to killing. I don't believe that he could truly kill a human though."
"He told me he had before," mumbled Asuka.
Misato didn't know about the brief conversation Asuka and Shinji when they had first talked again after Asuka had lost her memories, so she was rather surprised that Asuka had known about that time.
"...He told you about that?"
"It was more like he briefly mentioned it, but I didn't press him about it," said Asuka.
"Its something that he deeply regrets," muttered Misato.
"So now what?" asked Asuka.
"I'm going back to the command center and you're coming with me. From there, we have the best chance of finding Shinji on any one of the security cameras in Nerv."
"Okay," said Asuka as she nodded and followed Misato out the door.
However, in truth, what Asuka had said earlier about being fine was a lie. She did care, and was still hurt by what Misato had said and done. Everybody continued lying to her, and even now, she wasn't sure if what Misato had said was entirely truthful. From what she had gleaned at Misato's surprised expression when she had told Misato about Shinji briefly mentioning he had killed someone, she could tell that Misato knew what circumstances had led up to him killing whoever it was. But Asuka didn't tell Misato about any of this, because she didn't want to be lied to again, so she kept these bottled up feelings inside of her. And yet-
'Why is it, that whenever he lies to me, it hurts worst of all?' thought Asuka.
She didn't know...but she intended to find out.
A door opened and Shinji stepped in.
The door in question led into the commanders office...Gendo Ikari's.
Gendo stood behind his desk and looked out of the window directly behind his desk. The entirety of the Geofront was revealed before him.
As Shinji started walking forward, his footsteps echoed off the walls. It seemed that they were the only two people in the office.
"Is that you Shinji?" asked Gendo when Shinji's foot steps came to a halt.
"Yeah, it is," whispered Shinji.
Gendo turned around to see Shinji standing in front of his desk with his hands at his side.
"Why have you come here?"
"You should already know that...father..." mumbled Shinji.
Gendo gazed at him for a moment before he asked, "What did the angel tell you?"
"Enough to know that you've been lying to me all this time!" yelled Shinji, slamming his fist on the wooden desk, denting it. His eyes still glowed blood red.
Gendo who hadn't even flinched looked Shinji in the eye and asked, "What does it really change?"
"It changes everything damn it!" shouted Shinji. "And you knew about it the entire fucking time!"
"If you want to blame somebody, blame your mother."
"Don't you dare drag her name into this you bastard! She was...she was..."
Shinji just didn't know anymore. Why did his mother do such a thing?
"Are you going to cooperate with me? Or do I have to confine you for the time being?"
"As if you could confine me if you tried. I already dealt with the people you sent to capture me. I assume that you expected something like this ahead of time so you had people ready when-"
Shinji sensed movement behind him and turned as two armed guards with submachine guns stepped into the office with there guns pointed towards him. Without even so much as a passing glance at them, he swung his right arm down, slicing the barrels off both guns. Simultaneously the guards pulled the trigger, but the bullets exploded as they reached the sliced of gun barrel, shattering the guns instantly. The guards stood there in surprise at the boy across the room from them who's blood red eyes seemed to pierce through them.
As Shinji looked back at Gendo though, it seemed that he was legitimately surprised at the current situation.
"So your angel self has fully awakened it seems, but you still retain your human mind."
"I think I can thank Kaoru for that," said Shinji.
"I see," said Gendo as he placed his hands together.
Shinji watched as he slowly removed the glove on his right hand. As Shinji saw the disfigured hand that was underneath the glove, his face showed nothing but disgust.
As Gendo flexed his right hand, Shinji asked, "Is that the effect of having my DNA transplanted into you?"
Gendo smiled slightly as he replied, "Dr. Akagi didn't leave anything out did she. So am I assuming she also told you about Rei and the dummy plugs."
Shinji's scowl was all the answer he needed.
"Then that saves me the trouble of questioning her at least."
"What I don't understand is why though...why my DNA?" asked Shinji.
"I'm surprised you haven't been able to figure that one out yourself...after all, how else was I supposed to get Adam's DNA...your true father."
At these words, Shinji lost control of himself and the willpower it was taking him to not strike the man in front of him. Charging forward, he brought back his right hand intending to hit Gendo, but instead, his fist collided against something that felt like a solid wall.
'What the hell?' he thought.
A flicker of orange.
"I was rather surprised when I could do this also," said Gendo as he brandished his right arm, as though showing off his newly created AT-field.
"You can...create a visible AT-field?"
"Yes, but it isn't on par with yours. My body is constantly rejected that DNA of yours that I injected myself with. Eventually, this body will be destroyed because of the strain that is being put on it, but by then, it wont really matter."
"You bastar-"
Gendo's AT-field smashed against the top of Shinji's head knocking him out immediately.
"Put him in a holding cell," said Gendo gesturing towards the two guards as he turned away from the unconscious Shinji laying on the floor. "And give it maximum security. I don't want him breaking out."
The guard hesitated for a second, knowing that what he had witnessed here today was not something to be spoken openly...and yet...
"Understood sir," the guard said as he hoisted Shinji onto his shoulders. He couldn't understand half of what had been said, but he knew that this kid was in deep shit.
As the guards passed out of the room, Gendo put the white glove back on his hand as cold sweat passed down his face. He wouldn't be able to use his AT-field many more times, since it eroded his body all the more quickly. But even so...
'Only Seele has the power to stop me, and even now it is becoming to late. I hold all the cards,' thought Gendo.
Not once did he take into account what Lilith had planned.
"What did you say!" shouted Misato into the receiver of her phone.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to report it," said the guard who had taken Shinji away from Gendo's office hours ago.
"What do you mean he broke into the commanders office!" shouted Misato again. Beside her, Asuka was stock-still with her eyes wide, not believing what she was hearing.
"Just what I said. The commander gave us orders to wait outside his office and if we saw the third child enter, then we were to wait five minutes before entering it ourselves."
"I don't care about that part. What they talked about! Repeat what they talked about damn it!"
"Well, I didn't understand a lot of it. There was talk about the AT-field thing, which I sorta understood, but then the commander seemed to create one, and everything just became confusing afterwar-"
"Tell me again! What did the commander say about Adam!"
The guard paused here for a minute before he replied, "Something about Adam being the third child's father, which didn't make much sense to me but-"
Misato ended the call here, gaining the knowledge that she had needed. Biting on her finger nails, she ran over what she had just heard. 'The commander has an AT-field? Shinji is Adam's son? It doesn't make any God damn sense!'
"Umm...Misato, is anything wrong?" asked Asuka hesitantly.
Misato had momentarily forgotten about Asuka. Turning towards her, she realized how much danger she was suddenly in. If the commander somehow found out that she knew this information a cell with her name on it would be prepared. And then there was the matter of Asuka. Should she tell Asuka about it? It didn't seem like a good idea but what choice did she have. Both Shinji and Ritsuko were confined and she couldn't trust Fuyutsuki because of his connection with the commander. But if she was in trouble, then Asuka would certainly be also. The commander couldn't have failed to notice the bond that Shinji and Asuka had shared, and even though Asuka couldn't remember those times, and Shinji didn't feel anything for her anymore, he could still use Asuka as leverage.
Biting down on her lips, she grabbed Asuka's hand and dragged her towards the elevators so they could get away from the exquisite ears of the other personnel in the command center.
"Misato...what are you?" asked Asuka.
"Keep quiet...I'll tell you in a minute once the others can't here us."
Dragging Asuka into the elevator with her, she punched the button that would take them to the tram station so they could make there way back to where the car was parked. Misato wasn't taking any chances about being held up here. She had failed Shinji and Asuka too many times before, but she wasn't about to let that continue.
As the elevator doors closed, Asuka shook off Misato's grip and backed away from her.
"Misato whats going damn it! That phone call earlier and-"
"Hang on Asuka," replied Misato.
Sweeping the elevator with her eyes, she didn't see any cameras, but could only hope that there weren't any listening devices.
"Okay...Asuka, what I'm about to tell you can not leave this elevator, nor can we talk about it ever again.
"Misato, I've never seen you like this before. What happ-"
"Asuka, your word!"
Asuka opened her mouth in anger, but closed it when she saw the serious look on Misato's face. Seriously...what could make Misato change this much in such a short time...unless it had something to do with that idio-
"Fine, I won't say a word."
"Thank you," said Misato.
Not even two minutes later, Asuka felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the elevator, as Misato told Asuka what she had heard from the guard.
Shinji opened his eyes groggily in his cell, and for a moment forgot where he was. But as the confrontation with somebody who he had for fifteen years thought was his father came crashing back to him, he sighed and rolled over onto his side.
The room he was in was completely black and didn't seem to even have a toilet in it. His hands were cuffed behind his back, but did they really think that would stop him. Breaking the cuffs easily with his AT-field, he stood up and walked over to what he guessed was a door.
Now that he was fully awakened as an angel, he could feel everybody's AT-field no matter how small.
"Seems as though they posted guards outside my door," whispered Shinji as he sensed two people with automatic weapons stationed just on either side of the door. He could easily break out and escape, but what would be the point really. And right now, he knew that it wasn't just himself, but also Asuka and Misato that were in trouble, so right now, he elected to do nothing.
'That bastard still needs me, otherwise he wouldn't have kept me alive,' thought Shinji. He from now on would refer to Gendo as 'that bastard.'
Sitting back down on the cold floor, he rolled over onto his side and thought briefly how he had felt when Kaoru had told him that his father was not Gendo Ikari, but rather Adam. He was shocked of course, so that was probably why he wasn't able to control himself very well. The team sent to retrieve him didn't seem to have any life threatening injuries at least, but Shinji still hated himself for what he had done.
He wasn't sure how he felt, and even felt more confused about his mother. Had she known about Adam? Almost certainly, she was involved with the original contact experiment after all. But for some reason, deep down, he had almost expected something like this. It certainly explained everything about him. And he thought how he would have reacted earlier, if he had known about this. He would have reacted differently, and probably been consumed by hatred, leading him down a different path with different choices.
'I am the child of a human and a...well, whatever Adam is I suppose. What does that make me? I'm neither human...nor really an angel.'
'Does it matter?' asked a voice in his head that sounded oddly like Asuka. 'You are who are...Shinji Ikari, nobody else.'
"You're right," voiced Shinji openly into the empty room.
Placing his hands behind his head, he closed his eyes and thought, 'I may as well try to sleep for a while. God knows that they'll be running more tests on me then normal now.'
Rolling over onto his other side, Shinji quickly fell into a deep sleep that he had not felt since he had left Misato's apartment.
SOOOOOO...DID ANYBODY SEE THAT COMING?