Well...uhh..yeah...this chapter is kinda...well you know. And I stayed up all night working on this, so pardon if the grammar is a little bad.
"You...you-" mumbled Shinji as realization seemed to dawn on him. "You...every time and it was...you?"
"What amazes me is that you never realized it," smiled the Lilith Asuka. "I even hinted at it many times. Hell, you wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me."
"But...even at the beginning-"
"Every time," smiled Lilith. "From the beginning, I was moving you like a piece on a chess board, shaping you into something I could use. And you have proved useful, what with that DNA and all, not to mention dispatching those annoying angels."
"You used me!" shouted Shinji.
"True, but I only ever pointed you in the direction best suited for my goals, with a few minor errors. All in all, it was still your own decisions that shaped everything to this point. And I must say, your interaction with that little girl was loads better than what I had expected. If you had actually tried to repair her memory, well...things may have been a little different."
Shinji clenched Unit 01's fist and swung it at Lilith, but was met with such a strong AT-field, that the hand instantly snapped at the wrist when it hit the AT-field. Shinji screamed in pain as the wound was transferred to himself, breaking his wrist instantly.
"I wouldn't do that," laughed Lilith as she looked down at Shinji. "My AT-field can't be penetrated by you, even if you do possess Adam's DNA."
"How are you able to maintain a complete form. Before...it was just your body."
"Idiot...my body was only half of it. My soul of course resided in Ayanami Rei, though I was able to freely move, which is why I appeared before you when I deemed it necessary. The Geofront and Tokyo-3 were built upon the Black Egg, and everything within its sphere I can influence. I am able to move freely, so long as it is within the boundaries of Tokyo-3."
Shinji snarled back at Lilith, but was suddenly hit from the side by one of the Eva Units, knocking the wind out of him. Quickly turning around, he just managed to dodge as another Lance of Longinus soared towards him. Sidestepping it, he swung around the Eva Units right side and brought the undamaged fist of Unit 01 up, attempting to crash it against the Eva Units jaw. His fist collided against an AT-field though, and judging by the instant shattering of the hand, Lilith had defended the Eva Unit.
Pain seared into Shinji's left hand now as that wrist broke also. Both hands now had bones poking out at strange angles, the skin stretching over the bone.
"Damn it," Shinji swore.
"Now that I have your full attention, lets get things underway...but first, we should get a few things out of the way that I'm sure you're dying to know."
Lilith grinned widely and raised her arms up into the air. One by one, the twelve Eva Units rose into the air and made a circle like a crown above Lilith head and continued spinning around until they each came to a rest all at once.
"The Eva Units," said Lilith, "I should be thankful that the old men did something to further my plans, though unknowingly. By having the DNA of Tabris, they each were able to grow a functioning S2 engine, and generate an AT-field. Instrumentality shall be achieved, but by my own designs, and the Tree of Life shall be thrown down and replaced by something befitting of my elegance. But I'm getting ahead of myself."
Looking down at Shinji, Lilith raised her arms and said, "Everything of course began with myself and Adam, and everything will likely end with us. But humans and angels were thrown into the cycle of hatred between ourselves; you of course heard the gist of this from Tabris, who knew too much for his own good. But never did any of us think that Adam would bring life into this world by another means...meaning you of course."
Lilith smiled widely as Shinji had nothing to do but look up at his impending doom and listen to this.
Continuing, Lilith said, "After the humans were created, Adam did hide the White Moon. Scientists didn't find the White Moon in Antarctica as many speculate though, but of course they did find Adam. Second Impact...ahh how I remember it well. The contact experiment with Adam that was supposed to help birth new life, namely the Evangelions. That of course all went to shit quickly," laughed Lilith. "Adam went on a rampage, destroying much of this worlds ice caps, raising the sea levels so that almost every coastal city is now underwater. But this isn't anything new to you I'm sure...except for this one tiny new bit. The reason why Adam was at Antarctica in the first place, he was looking for your mother."
Shinji blinked, unable to believe what he heard. Second Impact happened because Adam was searching for his mother? It just didn't make sense.
"But of course, this is still long ahead of were I should have started. Lets see...it would have been right before the turn of the century that your mom and Adam met. Now you have to understand, that there are large parts that I still don't know, and only Adam himself, or that hideous shape of your mother," Lilith gestured towards Unit 01, "would know anything about this." What I do know is, is that after a predetermined amount of time, Adam cloaked himself in the shape of a human, and walked among them for many years, watching as the century's came and went. Why he did this after expressing his loathing for your kind, I don't know. Maybe it was to come to an understanding about the beings he had helped create, or maybe he was just bitter, who knows. But eventually, Adam met your mother at a convention. At this point, the name he was using was Robert Klaus, a German scientist who had excellent credentials. Of course, him and your mother hit things off right away, much to the displeasure of Gendo, who was always overshadowed by not only your moms work, but now also by this new guy.
They quickly started seeing each other from what I heard and saw, but there was never any word about marriage between them. Then of course something rather unexpected happened, and Yui, your mother found out that she was pregnant. I would have loved to see Adam's face when he heard the news...oh sorry...Robert.
They kept the news quiet for a few months though until Yui started to show, then they had to come out and announce it, though to a very small amount of people. Dr. Akagi, Dr. Soryu, and of course Gendo knew about it. Whether Fuyutsuki found out about it, I was never sure. Gendo or your mother may have told him.
Now this is where things got complicated, because I've never known whether Adam had planned this or not, or if it just happened and he accepted it for what it was. But I believe that after experiencing thousands of years with humans, he was finally ready to settle down...maybe. The problem of course was the unborn child...you. You would have a portion of Adam himself in you, his DNA. I'm sure the thought of killing your unborn self crossed Adam's mind quite a few times, but he was truly in love with your mother. So he eventually tried to accept the role of a father, was even rather looking forward to it I suspect. But as the production of the Evangelions was reaching a turning point, and word of the backing organization known as Seele was starting to spread, he started voicing his opinions on the project.
It was of course something he had been brought into, because of the relationship him and your mother had, but he always knew that if worst came to worst, he would destroy the Evangelions before they got to the production phase. Thankfully that never happened, but he did try to sway them away from it. Your mother and the other scientists wouldn't hear it though, and were adamant that the Evangelions would spark the next stage in human evolution. He didn't have much of a choice then, and revealed who he truly was, though to your mother first.
She was, of course, immensely shocked and didn't believe him at first. But when he gave her a brief monologue of his long life, and in particular showed her his AT-field, which had only been a theory at the time, she had no choice but to believe him. She went to the others and spoke about it though, which he had wished at a time, but not so soon; Gendo and Dr. Akagi were very verbal about his presence at the facility. They treated him something of a spy, which he may have been. He was always spying on me, trying to learn what I was up to. He once caught a glimpse of my body at the lowest levels here at Nerv, but I never let that happen again.
After the reveal of who he truly was though, he knew that he wouldn't be able to stay with humans for much longer. So he had to make a choice about not only Yui, but their unborn child which they had yet to name. This was probably three months before Second Impact now. Well, after trying to persuade Yui away from the Evangelion project again, he gave up when she refused. He even tried telling her about me, which if she had believed, would have proven detrimental to my plans. The Evangelions were created with the help of the technology I let humans glimpse in the Black Moon, but Unit 01 in particular was born from part of my physical body.
Right before Adam left though, Yui came to him and told him she had an ideal name for their child. Adam of course had never given it serious thought in the first place, and was already starting to forget about Yui at this point when she told him about your name. 'Shinji,' she told him. 'It means believe.' When Adam heard this, I don't think he understood the meaning behind the words, or the significance it may have. There was always that thought it the back of his mind about what you may have become, for certainly, you would have discovered your powers sooner or later.
When Adam finally did leave though, your mother was distraught over the whole thing. She had an unborn child, no father for the child, and to top it off, her fellow researchers were starting to gossip about her. News had traveled fast about her child and people were speculating about who the father might be, and many people pointed to Robert Klaus, because of his sudden disappearance. But somebody surprisingly stepped forward and claimed himself as the father of the child, meaning Gendo of course.
He told Yui about a way to cover up the whole affair, by claiming that he was the father the entire time. At first, she did not want to listen to him, but eventually gave in. Maybe there was some lingering affection towards him from there college days, but I'm not so sure. I think she may have just been looking for a way out.
The only person that seemed very sympathetic towards her though was Dr. Soryu...who was of course expecting a daughter of her own very soon. She told Yui not to worry about the whole thing, and that at the success of the Evangelion project, everyone would forget about this little mishap. She was surprisingly right...
Now during the three months before Second Impact, I'm not so sure what happened to Adam. From what I had gathered, Robert Klaus's existence was wiped from the planet, and only those that knew him as Adam remembered him, so a very select few. I'm guessing though, that he reunited with his children, the angels, and told him that the approaching time was upon them.
Now this next part is just mere guess work, for I'm not sure what he was thinking a few days before Second Impact, but I believe that you were constantly on his mind. 'What would happen to him if he misused his powers? What if Seele got a hold of him? What if Lilith started manipulating him?' He was always wondering these things I believe during the last few days before Second Impact. I think that, the thought of still killing you may even have entered his mind, but I don't think it held sway there very long.
Now we come to the day of Second Impact, and how this event started a chain reaction leading to this moment in time. From what I was able to gather, Adam thought that your mother would be part of the team that was sent to investigate Antarctica, because they thought they found the White Moon of Adam, though what Adam had planned when he finally met your mother again, I don't know. I suspect that even he didn't know. But of course, your mother never was there, as she had gone into labor several hours before, and only Gendo was there briefly, until he heard the news about Yui. As to what actually happened on Antarctica...things are still sketchy.
The team of scientists found Adam encapsulated in ice, and there started to unthaw him. I have heard many different reports of how Second Impact was actually initiated, some of which included the fusing of mine and Adam's DNA, but they woke Adam up, and I believe his hatred for humans erupted then. He was always very in control of his thoughts and emotions, but I think the loss of Yui and you may have sent him over the edge. I wish I could have seen him in his agony," Lilith added bitterly.
"Adam awoke and destroyed everything he could, and his AT-field was said to split the oceans with one wave of his arm. The only person of course to survive his onslaught was Misato Katsuragi, thanks to her father of course. The aftermath of course you know of. Much of the worlds oceans turned red and the marine wildlife died. Odd that for someone who claimed he cared about the planet, Adam was very readily capable of damaging it."
Sighing lightly, Lilith looked up into the sky and mumbled, "Where Adam is right now though, I'm not sure. I expected him to show himself because of you, and everything that I've put you through. But he hasn't shown. Maybe he doesn't care what happens to you anymore."
As Shinji looked up at Lilith though, he noticed something about her features, something that he hadn't seen yet before. She seemed worried.
"But anyways," continued Lilith, "that ends the story of your mother and father I suppose, and how you came to be in this world. What comes after I'm sure you know of better than I would, since it is your childhood. Never seeing your mother, hardly seeing your father. I think that a part of your mother didn't want to see you, because it reminded her of Adam. But the plan that Gendo had devised worked out, and he became your supposed biological father.
Your mother of course volunteered to be the subject during the activation of Unit 01, and thus became its soul. Maybe she knew that you would eventually become the pilot of it. Sometimes I even suspected that Adam's words about me held more sway that I had initially thought, because your mother became increasingly curious about my body buried under the Geofront.
After this, you slowly grew up to what you are today, closely watched by Gendo, and myself of course. Seele also started digging into the relationship between Gendo and Yui, and I believe that Dr. Akagi...that is Ritsuko, told them about her suspicions. I have no idea what she heard from her mother, but I'm sure it made her suspicious. Her mother was of course in love with Gendo as she is...or was? I'm not sure if she is still alive after all, but her mother also hated Yui because Gendo loved her so.
Lilith paused here for a second, wondering if Shinji had any questions, but his jaw was clenched tightly, unwilling to believe half of what he heard, though knowing deep in his heart that it was true.
"I can understand if much of what I said makes no sense to you whatsoever," said Lilith. "But I think its best you understand why you're here."
"...And you still haven't answered that," said Shinji suddenly speaking up. "Why did you choose me?"
"I'm surprised I even have to answer that," laughed Lilith. "Its of course your unique power that was gifted to you by Adam. Each angel of course was given a certain amount of power based on their government of the Tree of Life. Tabris, as being the strongest, was given the strongest power of sight, but it was only with relevance to his death, meaning that he could see everything until he died. Afterwards, he was none the wiser."
"Then what of my visions? You're the one that explained them in part to me, but before you said that I wasn't quite right in my assumption that I was able to govern time, and in particular, a persons time."
"I did, and I still say that, because that is only a part of your power. You hold Adam's DNA within you, something that only you as a human who was born because of him can control. Gendo tried this and discovered that he only received a very weak AT-field.
Adam is a unique being such as myself, and we both have unique powers, some of which we share, but Adam's was always...different. He was able to shape things, and even in his human form people. He had a certain knack for changing the lives of people, and in certain cases, shaping human history itself."
"So what does that mean to me?"
Lilith sighed, clearly annoyed that he was not getting it.
"Alright...you're visions show the possible futures within a person. What they are capable of, what they are not capable of, how they may die, and many other things. But based on what you yourself are doing at the time, the visions change. If you don't interact with someone, they may prosper simply by not knowing you, or, they may die. You can see this of course, and then can chose what you what to do based on that information.
This you already know, but its more so then that. Did you ever think of the other people involved with this person's life that you are affecting? Take for instance the president of some foreign country. Say he has a daughter...you fuck this daughter, and run away with her because she gets pregnant. The families entire reputation is ruined because of this action of you thrusting your dick inside of her. A coup d'état ensues and the entire country is thrust into civil war. Bordering countries are eventually brought into the countries war because of friendly fire and eventually we have started World War III. Now lets take it one step further...say that the larger countries get involved, and it sparks off a nuclear conflict. We have a nuclear holocaust, a never ending winter, and seventy percent of the human dies because of the fallout, all because you couldn't keeping your pants on."
Lilith finished this long monologue and was staring down at Shinji. She was no longer smiling.
"This may be just an example, but things like this can happen, take World War I. An Archduke is assassinated by someone from a foreign country. Tensions mount and eventually the world is thrust into war. You have to think of the whole picture when you make decisions.
Your power, is not so much the control of time, but the control of people. If you haven't noticed yet, you have a certain...air about you which people seem to latch onto. They want to know you, because they know that you're somebody who will help them. Its almost like a charismatic thing. If you ever rose to the power of a dictator, then the world would have to bow down before you. You would see everything, know everything, and people would be afraid of you.
Adam has the ability to see everyone all at once in the world, which is odd because he despised humans. The very thought of being able to see into the minds of the tens of billions of humans on this planet must have tormented him. You yourself have this, to a certain extent. You haven't gained it yet though, and this is in part because you hate people. Adam loved the angels and hated the humans, but they were still partly created by him, so he begrudgingly accepted that they were part of his creation.
That is the other side of the coin, and I'm sure you may have realized it yourself. Love is a strong governing factor in these visions, which is why you are more attuned to that girl. People you have met, care for, or hold strong affection for are always easier to see then people you see on the street. You have glimpsed brief flashes of things, but you never took much notice to it. But imagine standing on a side walk with twenty other people, and being assaulted by visions from everyone of them. It could be as simple as what they'll have for dinner, or an item they've been thinking of buying. But you also know that there are other things, such as murder, stealing, and rape. You may encounter this during one of these experiences, and you can decide whether to confront this person, kill him or not. But it will always affect a third party."
Lilith was silent now as she waited for Shinji's reaction to the whole thing.
"...So its...control?"
"Mainly," said Lilith. "People with a strong connection to you may influence you in return, but you normally stay who you are, while changing the people around you. In fact, that girl is probably the only person that could influence you to do anything, whether it benefits you or not."
Shinji was silent for a minute until he said, "You still haven't said what you needed me for."
"You still don't know?" mumbled Lilith. "Well...to put it bluntly, you will be the spark of my version of Instrumentality. As an imperfect being, born from that of a human and the unique being known as Adam, you will be a mold so that I can reshape the world as I see fit."
"So I'm just a tool?" said Shinji bitterly.
"If you want to look at it that way...sure. You're a to-"
Shinji suddenly lashed out upwards towards Lilith with Unit 01's AT-field, the wrists finally regenerating. Lilith blocked however while barely bating an eyelash. But as she looked back down at the place where Shinji had been, she saw that he was not there.
"So its a game of cat and mouse?" smiled Lilith.
Shinji meanwhile, was hiding behind a broken building and catching her breath. What he had done was extremely risky, but he had been waiting for the right moment. He didn't care what Lilith told him, as long as it kept her busy while he waited for his arm to repair itself, but it had taken longer than he had expected. But thats not to say he didn't gather any useful information from her. What she said about his mother and Adam...well, he didn't want to think about it, but a lot of what she said made sense. And his visions...well that was all a convoluted mess now. He didn't know what was true and what wasn't anymore.
"But I still need to find a way to stop her," mumbled Shinji as he looked down at his feet. Trouble was, he didn't know how he was supposed to do that. Could he let himself be captured and then trick Lilith when she tried to institute Instrumentality? Shinji didn't think that would work...Lilith wasn't stupid.
"What the fuck am I suppose to do," mumbled Shinji.
But before he had a chance to think, he dove forwards as a Lance of Longinus pierced through the building he had been crouching behind. Looking around the corner of the building, was of course one of the Eva Units.
'Not these again,' thought Shinji.
Diving backwards, Shinji dodged the Eva Unit as it thrust the lance towards him. Slicing Unit 01's arm upwards, Shinji cut into the soft tissue of the Eva Units chest cavity. It immediately broke open, spilling blood and organs on the ground.
Pausing briefly, Shinji then felt a strong AT-field to his right, and jumped backwards just as Lilith's arm came crash down at the spot he had been seconds before. The ground split where her arm had been, but next second, Shinji saw her other arm came swinging down and knew what was coming. An AT-field erupted forth from Lilith, splitting the ground and making it look as though a knife had cut it.
Skidding backwards, Shinji felt movement behind him and turned around to see three Eva Units waiting for him, each holding a Lance of Longinus. Forcing Unit 01 to jump high into the air, Shinji soared over the Eva Units and landed directly behind them. Swinging Unit 01's legs out, he caught them off guard and kick there feet out from under them. Take control of this situation, Unit 01 brought both its arms up, and brought its fists crashing down into the skulls of two of the Eva Units. The skulls yielded almost instantly, creating a crater in the middle of the head. Turning towards the other Unit, which had just started getting up, Unit 01 brought its arm down horizontally, creating a diagonal slash across its chest. As the Eva Unit toppled backwards though, Shinji saw Lilith rushing towards him, and with a quick flash of orange new that she had sent her AT-field after him.
Diving out of the way, Unit 01 rolled as Lilith went rushing past him. For such a large body, she was quite quick. Standing up, Shinji looked over at Lilith, and saw that she was walking towards him. Her face still adorned with Asuka's features.
"There isn't any use running away Shinji," whispered Lilith. "It'll only be a matter of time before I catch you...and don't even try thinking of a plan, because it wont work."
Shinji snarled back at her, and projecting Unit 01's AT-field towards her, which she calmly brushed aside with a wave of her hand.
"When are you going to learn that the Evangelions can possibly hope to match us. They were created because of me after."
Throwing her own AT-field at him, Shinji skillfully dodged, but was suddenly met with sharp pain in his right leg. Looking down at it, he saw a large gash in that was steadily pouring out blood. Looking at Unit 01's own leg, he saw what happened. The Eva Unit that he had slashed earlier with his AT-field had grabbed a nearby lance and plunged it into Unit 01's leg. Though it seemed rather shallow, it still wouldn't heal..
Now with a permanently wounded arm, and leg, Shinji was starting to become weary from the battle, and Lilith was keen to capitalize on this.
"Why are you being so stubborn about this Shinji? You of all people should realize how wonderful Instrumentality will be. Nobody to shun you, nobody to hurt you, everything will be remade, and you have the power to decide how that will happen, with a few pointers from me," grinned Lilith.
Shinji grimaced back at her, unable to speak of the pain that was searing through his right leg.
"Still being stubborn I suppose, guess that redhead rubbed off on you a little. Well we can fix that."
Next second, several Eva Units appeared from the sides of Unit 01 and rushed at him. As Shinji saw this, he tried standing up, but the pain in his leg was hurting him too much. All at once, the Eva Units jump on top of him, bitting into the neck of Unit 01. Blood instantly poured forth from several spots in Shinji's own neck. It appeared that his carotid artery had been bitten. Inside Unit 01, the LCL fluid turned such a dark red that painted looked as though it had been spilled in there. Shinji was floating in a sea of his own blood. His vision was beginning to grow hazy now, but he could still hear Lilith's voice.
"I think that was a bit much maybe, don't want you to die after all. Well, I got time I guess. Maybe I'll go play with that redhead a bit."
At Lilith's words, the pressure in Unit 01 changed. The density of the LCL fluid increased, mixing with Shinji's blood that held trace amounts of Adam's DNA. Though the blood continued pouring forth from Shinji's next, the LCL fluid kept him awake and alive.
The bindings on Unit 01 suddenly broke off and fell to the ground, revealing the grey tissue underneath. Unit 01 then let out a roar, that almost drove the Eva Units to there knees. Even Lilith was rather surprised at this sudden chance.
'Did his angel side finally take over? Or is it simply because of that girl?'
Unit 01 then kicked off against the ground, cracking it in place. Rushing towards Lilith, Unit 01 brought its fist back and thrust it against Lilith. Smirking slightly Lilith project her AT-field by throwing her palm outwards, but next second, she her grin faltered. The sheer hate and loathing radiating from Shinji was stifling that Lilith momentarily forgot that Shinji was merely a human. She hadn't felt hate this strong since she had last met Adam.
"Bastard," swore Lilith as she pushed Unit 01 backwards. But as Shinji went reeling backwards, he charged at Lilith again, all sign of intelligence gone. He was nothing more than an animal now.
"Does that girl really mean so much to you that you would bring yourself down to this level?" shouted Lilith as she fended off Unit 01.
Shinji couldn't hear anything though, only the pounding of blood in his ear drums as he repeatedly repeated to Unit 01...kill. A rage seemed to have overcome himself, such that he had never felt before. Not even when he was pounding that rapist into a bloody pulp had he felt so much anger. Lilith was the enemy of all things living, and she deserved to be destroyed. Her soul ripped from the Black Moon which it resided in. Her body torn asunder by Unit 01's teeth and left to rot out in the scorching sun.
'Everything is her fault,' thought Shinji hatefully.
Suddenly stopping his continued onslaught, Shinji dove backwards and stood in front of Lilith for a minute before he extended Unit 01's left arm palm outwards.
"How many times do I have to tell you, that an Evangelions AT-field will not work on me."
"Then how about an AT-field akin to your own," said Shinji in voice completely different from his own.
Lilith blinked at these words, thinking that she had misheard, but she had not. Shinji's own AT-field erupted suddenly, splitting the earth just as Lilith's had done. Moving faster than the speed of sound, Lilith quickly protected herself by creating a sphere around herself by using her AT-field. Shinji's crashed into hers, destroying much of the ground around Lilith. Dust and debris flew in all direction, as the explosion happened, shaking the earth as it happened. Earthquakes and tsunamis exploded across all of the earth as the two clashed against each other.
"Adam...you bastard," swore Lilith. "Even at the end of everything, you still try to interfere."
Shinji was panting heavily however, and even with the help from Adam's DNA, he was still barely able to hold his own against Lilith.
"What? Is that all you really got?" Came a voice inside Unit 01.
Shinji thought that he was going insane, but then remembered the voice.
"Are you going to help me or not?" asked Shinji, "though I'm sure what you could actually do to help."
The voice was silent for a minute until it muttered, "Lilith..." But from the sound of the voice, it knew about Lilith, and Shinji picked up on this.
"You know about Lilith?"
"We've met," murmured the voice.
"So then do you have any ideas on how we're supposed to beat her?"
"We? Didn't know it had come to that, though I don't know what I can do admittedly. My influence doesn't help you nearly as much as it used to."
"Why?"
"Because the awakening of your angel self gave you everything that I was already capable of giving you."
Shinji was silent as he heard this statement, unwilling to believe what this possibly meant.
"You'll do fine I'm sure, and if not...well, that girl...Asuka was her name? I'm sure she'll help you out."
Shinji opened his mouth to say something but realized it didn't matter either way...and he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer anyway.
"So I'm on my own then?"
"You're never truly on your own Shinji...you have someone that cares for you, and that you care for in return. That is something Lilith doesn't have, nor will ever have."
"I guess a thanks is in order," said Shinji. "You helped me when I didn't know what to do..."
"Don't be stupid, it was always possible to begin with. It just took time was all."
"Then I guess I wont be talking to you again..."
"Nope, not very likely."
"Can you answer one thing though?"
"...I'll try..."
"Are you real? Or has this all been in my mind...your voice?"
"No clue. It may be your mind, this Eva Unit, or even your mothers soul that is speaking to you. Does it really matter?"
"No, not really..."
"Good...well I'm leaving. And Lilith..." but the voice trailed off, unsure what its supposed to say about that particular matter.
"Bye," mumbled Shinji, into the empty entry plug of Unit 01. Almost instantly, his mind went back to normal, no longer the hatred he had for Lilith moments before lingered. But something else was there, and he yearned for it.
"Asuka...where are you?" he mumbled.
He knew he had told her to run away, but he still had a nagging suspicion in the back of his head that she hadn't quite listened to him. Most likely, she was far enough away to not get caught in the battle, but still able to see him.
As he brought up the intercom though, he didn't see a signal be broadcasted from Unit 02. Everything was blank.
'Then there's always,' thought Shinji. If what he had done earlier to get her attention had worked before, then what about trying it on a much larger scale.
'Its worth a try,' he thought. But he had other things to worry about at the moment, as Lilith came rushing towards him. Backing off, Shinji winced as pain seared through his right leg. No longer under the stimulating effects of Adam's DNA, the pain was back, and the weariness. If he didn't find Asuka soon, he'd be in trouble.
'Odd how I end up relying on her in the end,' smiled Shinji.
Regaining his balance, he rushed in the opposite direction of Lilith where there were plenty of buildings to take cover behind. If he could just buy a minutes time, then he would be able to find Asuka.
Zigzagging through residential districts, Shinji suddenly remembered an Nerv emergency access point used when the Eva Units needed be moved. He just hoped that it hadn't been destroyed.
Finding it quicker than he had expected, it was still intact with a few minor pieces of rubble covering. Moving it easily with Unit 01, Shinji quickly slashed the hatch open with Unit 01's AT-field, and dove down into it, gripping onto the metal side so that he wouldn't slide down the long elevator shaft.
Gathering his thoughts, he thought of Asuka and only Asuka, projecting his feelings towards her in his thoughts and sent his AT-field out in the open sky. Lilith instantly picked him up though, and knowing what he was trying to do, smiled slightly and thought-
'This should prove interesting.'
For the moment, she would wait.
As Shinji had predicted Asuka hadn't listened to him, but done exactly what he figured. She was on a bluff overlooking Tokyo-3 and was able to see the entirety of the battle. When Shinji had been stabbed by the second Lance of Longinus, she had been particularly fearful, and almost rushed down to the battlefield to help him. But she knew that she would only be interfering. Something had happened to him afterwards. For a while, it seemed that he was on par with Lilith, and she had wondered if his angel self had finally taken over, as horrible as that sounded to her. Now though, Shinji was nowhere to be seen. He had dashed into the destroyed city of Tokyo-3 and she hadn't been able to see him. She was even starting to contemplate of moving positions...or even going down there to search for him.
"Shinji...where did you go?" she mumbled into the empty entry plug of Unit 02. It was lonely by herself, even though she knew her mom was right beside her. But she still wished that he was there also.
Though just as she was thinking of moving from her spot, she felt something very strong rush past her, almost as though it was a gust of wind. But it didn't come from outside, it had happened to herself, it was like a feeling. But then it returned, and it wasn't a gust of wind this time...it was warm.
"Asuka!"
Asuka was suddenly assaulted by strong feeling that was certainly not her own, because it pertained to herself, but she also recognized the feeling for what it was. And she also recognized the voice...but she couldn't believe it.
"Sh-Shinji?" she spoked out loud inside the entry plug. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination or not, be she was sure she had heard his voice.
"Yeah, its me Asuka," replied Shinji.
"Shinji," stammered Asuka, not caring how she was able to communicate only glad that she could hear his voice. "Where are you right now? Whats happening? Where did you go?"
"Then I'm right in assuming you've been watching the entire time?"
"...I-"
"Don't worry about it, it makes it easier. Asuka, I don't have much time, but I need your help...I think."
"You think?" asked Asuka accusingly.
"Asuka...I don't have time to say everything I would like to, but know this that I feel better with you by my side. So-"
"It took you this long to say that huh?" said Asuka with a sigh. "Idiot!"
Shinji smiled slightly, which was conveyed to Asuka, in whose turn smiled back also.
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Asuka.
"Just you being by my side is enough," said Shinji, feeling oddly serene. "Do you remember where the old access point is?"
"Yeah..."
"Meet me there, I'll try to shake of Lilith in the mean time. Avoid the Eva Units...I don't want you fighting them."
Asuka knew enough not retort back. Shinji was simply looking out for her, which she appreciated.
"Then I'll see you there," mumbled Asuka. "And Shinji...be careful."
"I know...you too...and I'll be waiting."
"Yeah," mumbled Asuka as the warmth suddenly left her, along with Shinji's voice. Making Unit 02 stand up from its kneeling position, she mumbled softly, "Lets go...Mama."
Unit 02's eyes lit up in response to Asuka's request, and started walking forward towards the battle below.
As Asuka's warmth also left Shinji, he looked up into the sky of Tokyo-3 from where he was hidden. He didn't know what Asuka's presence would bring, but he knew that just by her being near him, he would be better.
Swinging out into the open sunlight, he was met by a grizzly scene. Lilith was standing just outside of the shaft he was hiding in and waiting for him to appear.
"I see you," laughed Lilith as she swung her arm down, generating her AT-field and slicing into the metal shaft. Shinji dodged out of the way and projected both his AT-field and Unit 01's. Lilith easily parried both of them, now that Shinji's AT-field was no longer backed by Adam's power.
"Not a chance Shinji," laughed Lilith. "You don't have any hope of defeating me, so just accept it!"
Shinji grimaced at Lilith as he started running the opposite way, jumping over buildings and power lines as he went. But as Lilith followed she ripped apart the landscape of Tokyo-3.
After a time though, Shinji thought that he had ran far enough and turned around to face Lilith. Swinging down Unit 01's right arm, he projected its AT-field and threw it at Lilith who blocked it as though it was a fly. Next second though, Shinji's own AT-field came rushing at Lilith, being masked by the first.
"Tch," mumbled Lilith as she blocked Shinji's own AT-field. But next second, dust was scattered in every direction as Shinji had attacked the ground and kicked up mountains of dust, created a smoke screen. When the dust finally cleared though, Unit 01 and Shinji were nowhere to be seen.
"A diversion?" wondered Lilith, "and he even seems to hiding his AT-field. I have to give him props on that. So I guess that he's meeting up with that girl."
Smiling slightly, she changed her face back to that of Ayanami Rei, and started searching for Shinji and Asuka.
Meanwhile, Shinji was tearing through the city towards the point where he and Asuka had decided to meet at. He had to be careful that he wouldn't run into the Eva Units though, so it was a little slow going.
Eventually though, he reached the point where they had agreed upon, and waited. But as time started to pass, he was starting to get worried. Where exactly was Asuka? He thought about calling out to her again with his AT-field, but didn't want to risk it. If Lilith felt it...
"Asuka...where are you?" he mumbled.
"Right behind you," said Asuka as she jumped down into the abandoned access point, and it was abandoned for a reason. Many of the walls had rust on them and the elevator looked ready to fall off its hinges, but it was a good place to hide.
"You made it," sighed Shinji with relief.
"Sorry...I got held up because of the Eva Units."
"But you didn't fight them?"
"No, they were just looking around for us."
"Good," said Shinji.
For a moment they looked at each other, just taking each other in, when Asuka eventually broke the silence.
"Do you actually have any idea how you're supposed to destroy Lilith?"
"No, and I was hoping you would. You came up with the idea to destroyed the Eva Units after all."
"Which didn't work," she reminded him.
"It would have," said Shinji, "it should have. But Lilith..."
"...What about Rei?" asked Asuka, "Is she still trapped inside Lilith."
"Yeah...she is," mumbled Shinji, realizing just how hopeless the situation was.
"...Shinji...what about earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"You seemed to be able to fight Lilith earlier. What happened?"
Shinji was silent for a moment before he said, "I don't like it...the feeling I get when I decide to use my angel powers. I dislike Lilith greatly, for everything that she's done...but that feeling I felt before. That wasn't me."
"But if its able to defeat Lilith-"
"I can't control it though," hissed Shinji. "Why do you think I never wanted you to get near me? If I ever went out of control, and something happened to you-"
Shinji let his sentence drop, knowing that even now, it was a touchy subject within his mind. But Asuka continued.
"Shinji...you said that you want me near you...what if I'm able to pull you out of that state if worse comes to worse?"
Shinji thought of this for a second, and had to admit it had merit. After all, it was solely because of Asuka that he was able to maintain his sanity during his confinement at Nerv.
"Maybe," Shinji finally said. "But its too risky, and if something-"
"Nothing is going to happen to me!" replied Asuka roughly. "You wouldn't let that happen to me..."
Shinji didn't want to tell her he wasn't sure about that. If he really went out of control...
"I don't know if I can still do it though. Before...Lilith had said something about...you...and that sorta set it off. But during the fight, it was like I was being controlled by another person."
Shinji didn't mention his conversation with the voice.
"But you can still try," said Asuka. "And I'll be here with you. So-"
"Alright," said Shinji cutting her off. "But at any sign of me...acting differently than I normally would...stop me."
"And how do I go about doing that?" asked Asuka politely.
Wild half formed thoughts swarmed through Shinji's mind then, but he threw them away.
"You're voice," he said, "you're voice will do it. If I hear your voice...I should be fine."
"...Okay Shinji," mumbled Asuka as she stepped back. Inside the entry plug of Unit 02 however, she heard the voice of her mother speaking to her.
"Is this wise Asuka?"
"I trust Shinji," said Asuka simply. "And I know...he would never do anything to harm me."
Asuka's mom was silent, unsure of what she should say to her daughter.
"Asuka..."
"Hmmm?"
"Just be careful."
"I will Mama...please look after me for a while longer."
"I will," she replied as her voice faded back inside Unit 02.
Sighing slightly, Asuka asked, "Are you ready Shinji?"
"Yeah," he replied, feeling somewhat nervous.
Breathing deeply, Shinji jumped into the sunlight out of the access point and immediately projected his AT-field in a wide dome, telling Lilith where he was. Beside him, Unit 02 suddenly sprang through the opening and stood just behind him.
As Lilith saw the two, she instantly narrowed her eyes. This would be fun...
This was...difficult for Shinji, as he had never willingly tried to slip into his angel self. It had always been anger that had set him off, but with Asuka by his side, he hoped he wouldn't let his anger overcome himself. The anger that he bore was because of the angel half in him, Adam's DNA, but even stronger than that was the anger held for Lilith, and tapped that enormous power. But he also kept the image of Asuka in his mind. Her laying on the couch back when they were living together, eating potato chips and watching T.V. Eating breakfast together, walking to school together, little things like this he kept in his mind as protection against his anger.
Slowly, his eyes started to turn a darker red. The LCL fluid in Unit 01 intensified and came to a boil, and Unit 01 responded by roaring louder then ever. Eventually, blood finally started to seep from his eyes, and that same feeling of being controlled by someone else seemed to envelope him. But he was in control this time, and was able to differentiate between friend and foe.
"Shinji...do you feel okay?" asked Asuka.
Shinji let out a low sigh, and nodded, not wanting to say anything to her. When he was like this, he was more accustomed to feeling things through his AT-field. In particular, Asuka who he was so attuned to already, was thrown into clearer light. He felt her AT-field, ever shift of her body, every thought that crossed her mind, every memory that she had had. He even caught glimpses of the fragments, which had been there all along. If only he hadn't been so stupid, then things might have-
"Shinji!" shouted Asuka suddenly.
Shinji looked up and saw that Lilith was rushing towards them, her arm outstretched. Removing the dome that he had projected around them, Shinji charged at Lilith at the same breakneck speed. Letting out a loud roar, Unit 01 seemed to act without Shinji having to tell it to. Thrusting its arm forward, it projected its AT-field as a large wall to block Lilith from approaching. Lilith's own AT-field however crashed against Unit 01's, shattering it instantly. But as Lilith neared him, Shinji projected his own AT-field as a wall this time. Lilith saw this, and quickly generated her own AT-field, intending on crashing hers against his. As Shinji saw this however, he shouted within his mind at Asuka-
"Get behind me!"
Not needing to ask why, Unit 02 took shelter behind Unit 01 just as the two AT-field collided.
The impact was like that of an N2 bomb going off. From the center of the impact and upwards, explosions happened which threatened to rip apart the very fabric of the atmosphere. The earth shook violently as a seismic shockwave was sent out from the epicenter of the two beings. Earthquakes were felt as far away as England. The clouds that had been high in the sky were suddenly blown away as the air itself seemed to crackle with energy from the two AT-fields.
They were dead even, something that Lilith hadn't counted on, but as she smiled widely, Shinji saw why. Several Eva Units were rushing at him on either side, each with a Lance of Longinus in each hand. They planned on impaling him.
Thinking fast though, Shinji quickly generated Unit 01's AT-field and split it, sending it to either side of him where both of the Eva Units were cut off at their knees. Seeing this, Lilith frowned slightly, but continued on applying pressure to Shinji's AT-field. If she got it to break, it would be over. But Shinji next sent Unit 01's AT-field at Lilith, making her also split her AT-field and fend off the other side as Shinji continued sending Unit 01's AT-field at her. Now with Lilith on the defense, Shinji started applying more pressure to his own AT-field, trying to make Lilith's break.
"Stubborn human," snarled Lilith as she was starting to be pushed back. "Don't you know when to give up?"
"Thats something that's unique about us," laughed Shinji in return. "We always hold onto hope."
"Hope? Don't make me laugh," said Lilith. "Hope always fails!"
Just as soon as Shinji thought he was actually winning, he felt his AT-field start to crack. Lilith had steadily been applying pressure to one specific spot, whittling it down slowly. Knowing that he didn't have much time till it broke, Shinji shouted to Asuka-
"Get back, its gonna break soon!"
"Shinji I won't-"
"Get back!" shouted Shinji. Quickly moving Unit 01's AT-field, he threw it against Unit 02, pushing it backwards. But that was all Lilith needed to break through. Without Unit 01 preoccupying her, she put all her strength into that one spot in Shinji's AT-field, instantly shattering it and the whole thing along with it.
"Damn it!" thought Shinji as he dove backwards, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time. Holding up Unit 01's arms, he felt Lilith's AT-field sink directly into the bindings that covered Unit 01's hands slicing clear through the hands.
Shinji screamed in agony as the pain was transferred to him. Looking down at this hands, he saw nothing there but a bloody stump. Bone stuck out of the arm as blood continued flowing out. As Shinji continued looking down at this hands though, he slowly felt the pain disappearing. The wound was already sealing itself up, and what looked like a new hand was already starting to grow.
"Damn it Adam!" swore Lilith as she threw her AT-field at Unit 01 again.
Dodging around it, Shinji generated his own AT-field and finally managed to cut into the tissue of Lilith, slicing into one of her arms. But instead of blood flowing out, LCL fluid trickled out of the wound.
"Fuck You!" shouted Lilith as she swiped at Unit 01 again. But Shinji continued his attack. Generating his AT-field in quick bursts, Shinji managed to damage Lilith in many different spots until the ground was starting to be pooled in LCL fluid.
Stepping backwards, as tough to examine his work, Shinji smiled at what he saw. Lilith was obviously weakening.
'I can do this,' he thought.
Running forward again, Shinji generated both his and Unit 01's AT-field. Lilith generated her own, but the damage that Shinji had already inflicted upon her was starting to show. The wounds continued opening as she continued moving her body. The face of Ayanami had even disappeared and been replaced by white nothingness.
"You won't defeat me," mumbled Lilith. "You're a puny human, while I am the creator of you."
"But you're forgetting Lilith," said Shinji, "Adam created me also."
Projecting his AT-field again, Shinji sliced into the soft tissue of Lilith's neck, creating a large wound which LCL fluid poured out of.
"You fucking bitch!" screamed Lilith as the wound opened wider and her head slid of the shoulders.
The body of Lilith collapsed to the ground with a loud thud, LCL fluid still pouring out of the many wounds on the body. Shinji stood triumphant above the body in Unit 01, looking down at the dead body of Lilith. He had done it, he had defeated Lilith.
But where was Ayanami? Shinji didn't feel her AT-field...
...Something was wrong...
From behind him, he heard movement and spun around, but it was only Asuka.
"You did it Shinji," gasped Asuka. "You actually defeated Lilith."
"Don't act so surprised," sighed Shinji as he started returning to his former self.
Asuka smiled at him, wishing that she could hug him. But two Evangelions hugging would look kinda awkward, and feel awkward for Shinji especially.
"What about Rei though?" asked Asuka, suddenly realizing that she didn't see Ayanami anywhere.
"I'm not sure," said Shinji as he looked back down at the body of Lilith. He couldn't of killed her...but he didn't feel anything from the dead body.
...Something was wrong...
"Hey Asuka?" said Shinji as he turned back towards Unit 02.
Red...
Blood Red
Shinji froze...unable to speak, his entire world crashing down upon him. Asuka...Asuka...
Behind Unit 02, stood one of the Eva Units, except that it had the face of Lilith. In its hand was a Lance of Longinus, and it was currently pierced through-
"ASUKA!" shouted Shinji as blood spewed out out of the open wound in Unit 02's chest cavity.
Wrenching the lance out of Unit 02, Lilith flicked it lightly to shake off some of the blood. The Eva Units body was slowly forming into Lilith's body. But Shinji only had eyes for Unit 02. Throwing his AT-field forward, he wrapped the entry plug in his AT-field and projected himself into it. He could see everything, feel everything, and smell everything associated with the inside of the entry plug.
Asuka was laying there, blood dribbling out of her mouth, her hands pressed over her stomach as blood continued pouring out. Shinji's presence filled the entry plug, taking in everything that he saw. No...it was impossible...improbable that something like this could. Not after they...
"Asuka! Asuka!" shouted Shinji.
Grabbing her hand, Shinji held it against his face.
There was warmth...slightly.
And slowly, Asuka opened her eyes.
"Ahh...Shin-" but before she could finish her words, she coughed and more bloody trickled out of her mouth.
"Don't say anything!" shouted Shinji. "Give me a minute and I'll-"
"Shin...ji...don't bother. You can't do anything...to help."
"Don't say that Asuka. DON'T SAY THAT!"
"You don't have to shout...idiot..."
Even now...she still...
Shinji started crying, crying softly as he held onto Asuka's hand. Everything, everything was ending. The world, the universe, everything was fucking ending, and Shinji didn't care. Asuka was...Asuka was the only...
You can't die...not yet. I haven't even said-
Shinji suddenly felt as though a hook had been yanked behind his navel and felt himself being pulled backwards out of the entry plug of Unit 02. The last thing he saw was Asuka's face before everything blackened.
He opened his eyes inside the entry plug of Unit 01 and knew instantly what had happened.
"So sorry I had to end that suddenly, but I can't stand tearful goodbyes," smiled Lilith as she yanked the Lance of Longinus out of the back of Unit 02's head.
Asuka had been killed instantly...
Shinji sat inside Unit 01...
Asuka was dead...Asuka was dead.
Its a joke...it has to be...right? Please tell me its a joke?
I saw her...
It wasn't real.
Asuka is dead...Asuka is dead
Don't say it!
Asuka died...Asuka died
asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka asuka
"ASUKAAAAAAAAAA!"
Wings of light exploded out the back of Unit 01, wings that were colored like a blood red setting sun. Inside the entry plug of Unit 01...
Ikari Shinji sat alone ad-mist the darkness that was enveloping the sky.
Unit 01 slowly started rising into the air, its eyes blood red. All the binders sealing its true power broke and fell off.
Below, Lilith smiled as Unit 01 continued rising into the sky. Around her, the Eva Units sprouted their wings and rose up into the sky to follow Unit 01, a Lance of Longinus clutched in each of their hands.
As they continued rising further into the air, Lilith raised her arms up into the air and split the sky apart, so that the final piece could return to its proper place.
Laughing slightly as she waited for the true Lance of Longinus, she said-
"So begins Third Impact..."
I can honestly say that I shed a few tears while writing this last part.