CH 18 For They Will Be Called Children Of God
Shinji was on that boardwalk again, it was sunny today. He was hastening towards a bench. It was empty when he got there. When he turned around, all of his friends were there. Including Sakura, who sat quietly observing him next to her brother.
Shinji spoke first."Can you believe this heat? It's almost Christmas in a week. This is ridiculous."
Rei was helpful enough to answer him, her tone sounding more strained than her usual voice. "It's an Indian summer, typically they happen in North America, but weirder things have happened."
"Hah, don't I know it?" There was complete silence after his attempt at a joke. He looked over at Toji. He'd not moved an inch, more like a statue than a man. One of the brightly colored energy drink cans he'd seen the boy drink almost daily was being slowly crushed inside the boy's hand.
"So they here yet?"
"Not yet." A stranger answered him. He did look strangely familiar. A silver-haired boy who sat amongst the crowd, whose red eyes seemed to penetrate his very soul.
"Shinji, I gotta say it. I'm sorry." He gave Asuka a curt nod. After she said it, all of them did, apologizing to him all together all at once, their voices blurring into one loud apology. Except for Toji, the only one who remained silent.
"When did they make the diagnosis?" Hikari's brown eyes met his as she asked the question. Instead of care, he could only see disdain, and pity.
"About a month ago."
"Does your father know about it, or Misato?" His hand found the brunette's shoulder as he tried to comfort her.
"No, I haven't told them yet. They're busy. I didn't wanna put more on their plate."
"And there's really nothing they can do for you?" Shinji grimly shook his head at the pig-tailed girl, unsure of how to answer.
Rei answered for him. "The various protocols to date have been ineffective."
"What can I say? You have my sympathy, Shinji."
"The best doctor's money can buy says he's only got a month left alive." Rei explained his condition with a cold, detached expression. Her words held none of the warmth she usually reserved for him.
"But instead of waiting till then, he's gonna light himself on fire!" His bespectacled blonde friend smiled enthusiastically at him. While Shinji pulled out the can of gasoline he'd brought with him.
"Now, is that a real masculine man? Or what?" He smiled at Asuka as he walked, creating a little distance for his incoming fire show.
"Very considerate." Rei added, now smiling at him widely.
"How many guys are gonna do that for you? Save you all the stupid trips to the hospital, the tedious waiting. That's what I call a proper friend." Kensuke walked over and gave him a pat on the shoulder before heading back to his seat on the bench.
"Hey Toji, before I go, I just wanted to say you were right about me and Asuka. I really like her. I know she's not the nicest, but I hope you two can get along. You're the two most important people in my life. I don't wanna lose either of you."
"I don't think he can hear you." Sakura's eyes were filled with hatred. The little girl who'd previously worshipped the ground he walked on now looked ready to murder him.
"Right…you know, I really am sorry I had to do that. I tried my best." The young girl didn't answer, only shrugging her shoulders.
The boy still hadn't moved once since he'd gotten here. After waiting around for a little longer, his patience finally wore out. "Fuck this, they're never coming."
Shinji started pouring the gasoline over the top of his head. It burned his entire body as droplets got into his orifices. He could feel everyone's eyes burning holes in him with the intensity of their gaze. It was tough for him to see details with the gas fumes coming off his body. He did notice someone was missing.
"Where's Toji?" Rei gave him a look that quickly reminded him.
No one else answered him. Wordlessly, Asuka moved to the front of the crowd, offering him her lighter. She stopped right before igniting him, her head cocked to the side and eyes filled with curiosity.
"Hey Shinji, what if those doctors are wrong?"
When the words slipped from her lips, the lighter went from her hands at the same time. Starting at his feet, it was only seconds before he was consumed in flames.
Kaji took a long drink from his thermos, using his other hand to wipe the sweat dripping off his brow. The Nevada sun really was no joke. If he wasn't careful about exposure, he could easily get heatstroke. He did like the sunglasses the Americans wore to protect from it. Definitely something he was bringing with him back to Japan, very stylish.
"Man, I should really start filling this thing up with water."
The man across from him chuckled, reaching into his jacket and handing him a pair of binoculars.
"Are you planning on telling me why the old man has us out here at some point soon?"
"Look for yourself." As it would turn out, Kaji didn't need the binoculars.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as he watched massive metal panels slide open. Revealing what looked to be a large strangle designed ship. With actual wings on either side that seemed to be folded at the moment. Even from this distance, he could hear the echoes of the machinery struggling to lift the monstrous craft into position.
"What the hell is that thing? NERV seriously has too much money for its own good."
"Its name is unimportant. What it is, is our ticket to stopping the third impact. Are your people ready?"
"You're kidding! We don't have enough people to storm that thing! What do we do when we capture it? Better have a damn good autopilot."
"The entire system can be run autonomously, but that's really only on a technical level. We'll have people stationed in the most critical areas and supplement as needed."
"I hope there's some sort of plan. Preferably, the kind that doesn't have me walking into certain death."
"Well, you're smarter than you look, I'll give you that. Trust me, when things are going down, all you'll need to do is open the door and walk in."
"Walk in? We're just going to be walking in and taking what I assume to be a multi-billion dollar weapon system? If you're lying, at least make it sound more convincing."
"You'll see. The briefing contains the details of your mission. Your cargo has already arrived at base camp. If a single hair on their heads enters harm's way, you will see me again. I promise you."
The man who'd refuse to tell him his name reentered his vehicle. His darkened shades prevented him from knowing whether he saw him flip him off or not. The engine roared to life and drove off. Leaving him to watch as the massive vessel in the distance prepared for its maiden voyage.
He let out a loud sigh, impotently smashing his fist into the hood of his own car. "Now, what have I gotten myself into this time?"
Misato stood outside the door to her own apartment like it was the lair of a dragon, knowing she was greatly unprepared for what lay inside. She'd been so busy dealing with cleanup the kids had been alone for even longer than she'd planned originally.
She was more glad than ever that Shinji and Asuka were as close as they were now. They'd been hiding it from her, rather poorly, she should add. But it warmed her heart to see the two lonely kids be a little less lonely together. They needed each other now.
Misato couldn't talk to Shinji, not yet. First, she had to think of some way to make up for her colossal screw up in keeping the pilot of Unit-03 a secret. She could still help him.
She and Asuka hadn't gotten along well. It was her fault. At some point, she'd stopped trying to reach out. She said she was an adult and Misato took her at her word, thinking she'd reach out if she really needed it. Kaji would be pissed if he found out. She'd just been coasting on credit for getting the two of them together. The end of petty arguments and occasional exchanging of blows had nothing to do with her intervention. If anything, it might've been in spite of her ineptitude as a guardian.
She was trying now though, and she was gonna try until she collapsed or Asuka killed her, whatever happened first. Resolve renewed, she charged into the were two pairs of shoes at the door.
"Asuka? Can we talk?"
"You ask that, but my answer doesn't matter, does it?"
"It's about Shinji."
"Get to it. I don't have all day."
"I know what's been going on between you two." This got about the reaction she'd expected. Although she dodged in the wrong direction, taking a flying notebook to the chin.
"So what!? We're soldiers and almost adults. What we do in our free time is our business."
"Asuka, I'm not here for that talk. Although we do need to have it at some point. Have you told him how you feel? Like he did?"
"Well, no, I-"
"Asuka, you said you would. I've never known you to break your word, even if you hate doing something. Why can't you do it?"
"I can do anything I want! I never gave you my word. This is my life Misato, have you seen me telling you off about how you handle your relationships?"
"With Kaji? Yes, many times actually."
"Apples to Oranges. This is completely different. I can't just do it like that. The moment has to be right."
"If you wait for the perfect moment, it'll never come. Asuka, I'm speaking from experience here. I don't want you to repeat my mistakes."
"I'd never ruin my perfect hair with dye. You don't have to worry."
"Hey you take that back! This is natural!" She took a breath to calm herself before continuing, "I know you're right, it's your business. I just don't want to see any of you getting hurt. Especially if that starts getting in the way of your piloting."
"And what it always comes back to. That's what this is really about? Isn't it? You don't want some teenage melodrama messing with your child soldiers."
"Asuka, please don't start with that. Can you at least tell me why you don't wanna tell him? To sate my curiosity if nothing else. If you tell me I'll leave you alone, I promise."
"Fine, you know why!? I don't know! That's why! The more I think about it, the more confused I am! It's stupid! I hate it!"
"Asuka, you're the one being an idiot this time."
"I take offense to that."
"How would you feel if he were gone?"
"Well, I-"
"You know what? Forget it. It doesn't matter. Shinji needs us right now, more than ever. You don't have to figure it out now, just be there for him. Can you do that?"
"Thanks Misato! I'll do what I was already going to do. This time with more enthusiasm because of that fantastic pep-talk!"
"I know how scary it is, if you ever wanna really get into a girl-talk. I'll always be here for you, Asuka. Even if you don't want me to, in that case, especially. I know words can't make up for what I've done. I only hope you'll give me the chance to make it up to you."
The girl's expression was unreadable. Misato kept herself collected, waiting for the push-back.
"You get one chance. You better not screw it up."
"I can only promise I'll do my best not to."
"Now, what do you want to eat? If you say nothing, then I'm not making you anything."
"Wait, The Great Asuka Langley Soryu has taken up the culinary arts?"
"Only for a little while! Do you seriously expect me to ask him to cook? When's he's been like that for days now? Those puppy-dog eyes should be classified as a weapon. He should have to carry a permit."
"Good point. Whatever you make will be fine, I'm not picky. I know whatever it is, it'll be made with love."
"It'll be made with rat poison too, if you don't keep your mouth shut."
Shinji grabbed his suitcase and tossed it onto the bed. It was easy to fold up his clothes inside and even in his time at Misato's, he'd never gotten much stuff. He left the sign outside the door. He couldn't take that.
It wasn't an easy decision to make. NERV didn't need him and if he left, Unit-01 wouldn't activate. Good luck starting Third Impact without that father. His mom would understand. He had to leave, or he was going to lose everything he cared about. He'd already lost enough.
He couldn't go back. Not to that same school he hung out with his friends at, nor the same entry plug where he watched his closest friend get eaten, by him. He didn't wanna leave alone. There was one person that kept him here this long. She had to come with him, she'd understand.
Shinji had not been prepared, however, for Asuka to come barging into his room while he was packing his stuff up.
"Oh…Hey Asuka. What's up?"
"Really? What's up? That's what you have to say for yourself." A furious glare from the girl rooted him to the floor.
"I'm sorry, I was planning to tell you."
"Planning to tell me what? Are you seriously leaving Tokyo-3? Leaving me!?"
"No, No, Not that. I want you to come with me! NERV doesn't need both of us. There are dummy plugs and Rei and Mari. Let's get out of here. It can just be the two of us. I can't stay here anymore, it's too painful. We have money. We can even buy plane tickets."
"You're dreaming if you think that means NERV will let two of its most valuable assets just walk away. Where are you even planning this great escape?"
"Umm…. well… about that."
"You don't even have a plan!? Just gonna take the longest train to nowhere with our bags in tow? Why would I throw away my entire life spent piloting Eva for your idiotic attempt at running away?"
"Because… I really care about you, Asuka. I want you to come with me so we can be together."
"Shinji….. I can't go with you. Just stay here, screw NERV, screw the school. Stay, Stay with me."
"You don't understand. If I stay, I'm putting all of you in danger. I can't stay here, they'll make me come back. We have an opportunity for a fresh start, to be different people in a different place. You don't need Eva to be happy, Asuka."
"What about my Eva, huh? I can't leave her here, especially with them. I haven't even gotten to talk to her yet."
"I'm sorry Asuka." He moved to grab his suitcase up from the bed. When he moved for the door, she moved to block him with her body. Forcing him to meet her gaze again. Instead of the furious glare of the girl he'd lived with, instead were the watering pair of blue eyes giving him a look full of sadness and hurt.
She wouldn't leave her mother behind, of course she wouldn't. Taking a walking weapon of mass destruction with them would be anything but a quick and quiet escape. He was such an idiot; they were better off without him. His father failed. If he wasn't here, Unit-01 wouldn't work unless he was in it. Rei could take care of things in his absence. She seemed to know what she was doing. A significant improvement from his own efforts.
This was the only way, hopefully, Asuka would forgive him. Misato too, when she inevitably finds out he's gone. He didn't know if he'd see any of them ever again.
Shinji could feel her eyes burning into the back of his head as he slowly approached the door. He couldn't turn around. He knew what was behind him, and seeing it again might be enough to break his resolve.
"I hope you'll find someone who makes you really happy. You deserve to be happy. With someone better than me."
"Damn it Shinji! I-I….lo-Loathe you! Leave! Don't let the door hit you on the way out! I don't even care. You're just an Idiot."
He started his walk to the train station. Taking Asuka's words literally and getting on the farthest train to nowhere. His suitcase dragging behind him. Inside it was his whole life. Maybe he should chuck it somewhere and just walk. That way, NERV would never find him and he couldn't hurt anyone else ever again.
It was for the best.
Rei was inside NERV's medical bay once again. She sat in a hospital room, the dull beep and soft breathing of the girl asleep next to her creating a familiar and soothing ambience. She was reading her book, waiting for the girl to awaken.
She set the book down when the brunette began to rustle in her sleep. It was an intriguing and curiously beautiful sight. Watching as consciousness slowly dripped into the girl's body, ending in a pair of greenish-blue eyes looking up at her curiously.
"What are you doing here, blue?"
"I was waiting for you to awaken to see if you were feeling alright."
"Well, if you can't tell from the casts on my arms, I've felt better."
"I am sorry to hear that. Would you like me to assist you with anything while I'm here? I can help you eat if you don't want to have them feed you."
"Oh crap! You mean I can't even eat on my own!? I'm on too many painkillers to tell. Did the Angel break my arms or not?"
"I asked Dr. Akagi. She said it's mostly sympathetic nerve and muscle damage in your shoulders. The cast is to prevent you from using your arms and wounding yourself further."
"Well, how long am I gonna be stuck here, like this!?"
"I do not know exactly, but my best guess would be a few days, a week at most, to ensure you heal properly and can return to combat."
"I'm sorry, blue, I shouldn't yell at you. It's not your fault. It's mine for getting my ass handed to me like that."
"Do not concern yourself with such things. You fought courageously without fear and lost against a superior foe. There is no shame in that. Only joy to be found in the victory we still achieved."
"You're really smart Rei, I like that. Now, since you offered. Give me some of that pudding, just hold the cup up to my mouth. I'll do the rest."
"No, Here." She offered a spoonful of the chocolate cream to the girl, leading to a stare-down that ended in the girl reluctantly nipping off the spoon. She was quick to offer another before the girl could ask.
She developed a simple rhythm, allowing them to be finished with the container in only a couple of minutes. It was gratifying to be working like this. The positive results of her actions were obvious. Food seemed to be what the girl needed to regain her sunny disposition. Giving her a smile that made her warm, she responded in kind.
"Who do you really work for, Mari?"
"I-what?" The girl seemed so shocked by the question she didn't hear it. Her expression immediately turned to one of dread when she repeated herself.
"So you found me out, huh? I should've expected this was gonna happen, eventually."
"There is no cause for alarm. I harbor no ill intent. We may even be working towards similar goals. We cannot speak on this any further here. Listening devices are everywhere. When you get better, we shall discuss this somewhere more appropriate."
"Okay…Yeah, sounds good. If you wanna leave, you can. I'm starting to get sleepy again."
"It was good seeing you Mari, I mean that."
The girl smiled at her as she left. She believed she'd make a useful ally. It had not taken her long to discover her alternate employer. Whoever they were, she didn't trust, but she'd fought together with Mari. That was a bond that instilled absolute trust.
Hikari walked hurriedly through the pouring rain, a large contained underneath her arm and a hood overtop her head. She'd not put on any make-up. Her hair hadn't been brushed but had gotten wet enough to stop sticking up, mostly. She'd not been out long, but it was enough to soak through her jacket and pants.
She didn't really care, she'd made it here, anyway. Maybe the cold and the wet would distract her when she went in there. It wasn't going to be easy.
She tentatively stepped up to the door, knocking a few times and waiting. After a minute, she was greeted by the sad smile of the girl she came to see.
"Hey Hikari, come in."
"Hi Sakura, I brought some food. I made way too much, so I figured you'd like some." The girl took the box with a small bow, running over to the kitchen. She was distracted at the entrance by a photo. As painful as it was, she couldn't resist picking it up.
It was the photos from last year of the basketball team. He was smiling so widely, with that big silly grin she missed so much. Her hand moved unconsciously to reach out and touch him, tracing a line around the boy's outline.
Hikari looked up to see Sakura observing her in silence. The younger girl's teeth were gritted and her expression looked incredibly pained. She moved to wrap the girl in an embrace.
"There's something I have to show you."
She released the girl and cocked her head. "What is it?"
"It's in his room. Follow me."
She followed behind the girl as they went up a pair of stairs leading into a room with its door already open. It was messy, clothes strewn about the floor, random items thrown into the closet and on the bed. The girl with her grabbed a small notebook and handed it to her.
"What's this?"
"You're not gonna believe it. But apparently Toji was secretly writing poetry for years. Some of them are pretty good though. I think some of them are just ones he's heard."
"He wanted to be a poet? He never even told me."
"I guess there was more to him than anyone thought. You can keep that if you want it."
Hikari's hand went to her neck as she remembered what Asuka had given her, which she'd apparently gotten from Shinji.
"Before I do that, I want you to have this. Shinji gave it to me. He wanted you to have it."
The girl said nothing. Her eyes watered, and Hikari was ready to move and comfort the girl if she cried. Instead, she put on the necklace and gestured towards the notebook. She picked a random page and started reading.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
The shorter girl was on her tippy-toes behind her, trying to peek at what she was seeing. "Oh yeah, he totally stole that, or maybe he was using it for inspiration. I don't know."
Hikari continued reading, and he really was good. There were many that seemed to be about her. She knew she was his first and only girlfriend, so there weren't many other girls he was talking about.
Warm lips like pillows
Pigtails frame a pretty face
Brown hair that billows
"He really did care about you."
"I know he did, and don't forget he loved you, too."
A tear fell off her face onto the paper. She put a hand up to her face and felt moisture dripping all the way down to her chin. She wiped it off and continued reading. Her spirits were lifted as she flipped to one of the pieces. Funny enough that it still managed to make her laugh through the tears.
There once was a girl from berlin
Who was really a devil in human skin
She came in with a smile
Flashed her goods for awhile
And now my friend's living in sin
She forcefully closed the book, shoving it inside her jacket to ensure it was safe. Sakura was sitting on the bed, absently rubbing the necklace around her neck as she stared at a spot on the floor. She sat down and gently wrapped her arm around her.
Sakura and Hikari cried together. They could have that. In the bed that still smelled of him, which only made more tears come out. She lost track of time as the two of them held each other, weeping. Weeping for what they'd had and for what they'd lost, for what was and what could've been.
They cried for Toji Suzuhara, so that he might always live on in their hearts.
Misato made it home pretty early today. She was proud of how much work she'd managed to foist off onto the more naïve members of NERV. She'd done a lot herself, but the amount expected of her was simply absurd.
When she got off the elevator, she could already hear something strange. A faint rumbling was coming from the direction of her apartment. Rushing to the door, the sound became more clear. At first, she thought there was an intruder, but that wasn't possible. She'd be notified beforehand if a suspicious person got within a dozen blocks of her place.
A loud THUD! Followed by the sound of porcelain shattering alarmed her even further. She ran to Asuka's room. Throwing open the door to find the girl curled up into a ball on her bed. It looked like a tornado had gone through the room. Magazines were ripped open and pieces of a shattered lamp sat on the floor of her closet.
"Asuka!? What happened?"
"He's gone Misato."
"What do you mean? Who's gone?"
"Shinji! That idiot! He ran away! Like the pathetic coward he always was!"
She tentatively reached out her arm and began rubbing circles on the girl's back. "What happened?"
"He said staying was putting us in danger, that the only way he could be sure we were safe is if he wasn't here. He tried to get me to come with him. I should've….Nevermind."
"Why didn't you leave with him?"
"Because he's an idiot! He had zero plan and I can't just ditch something I've dedicated my life to. Especially for a stupid boy."
"Asuka…."
"I hate him! I hope he never comes back!"
"Asuka, you don't mean that."
"Like hell I don't! If he wants to leave, then let him. Maybe now I can finally catch up to his stupid Angel kills."
"How long ago did he leave?"
"A few hours ago, I think."
"I'm going out to go look for him. You don't have to come along, but I'm gonna do my best to find him and bring him back home."
"Whatever, he's probably already gone, good luck."
Misato closed the door behind her. Running to grab her keys and sprinting out the door, she had to find Shinji. It was her fault he'd run. She'd thought having Asuka would be enough to keep him together. Misato should've been there for him. She had no excuse. If anyone was to blame for this mess, it was her. Now her only goal was to fix it.
Before, it was too late.
Gendo Ikari strode into his office with disorderly frantic steps. His mood had been disturbed as of late. His investigation into their mysterious opponents had been less than successful. They were able to infiltrate his facilities simply to mess with his head on a whim. One of their agents had been caught but committed suicide before they could be captured.
Not entirely a victory, but not entirely a loss. Section-2 had already gathered a few suspects, whom he kept out of the way and passively observed. Waiting for them to call home so he can find out where that is.
A Section-2 document was waiting for him on his desk. He immediately began reading it as he sat down.
"It would appear the Third Child has left Katsuragi's apartment and is now moving to leave the city entirely."
"He's leaving the city? Are we just gonna let him?"
"If he has no interest in being here, then he can leave. I see no issue with that. All he's doing now is running away. Old habits die hard, I presume."
"Repairs aren't completed for Units 0 or 4. Are you really sure you want to leave us with only one fully operational Eva?"
"The dummy plug will suffice for activating Unit-01. He overplayed his hand, and it is obvious now why he attempted to sabotage the installment of the dummy system in the first place."
"Sounds like a gamble, we've no idea what this next Angel could be like. I felt better when we had almost too many Evangelions."
"Don't worry, even if he was correct and the dummy plug won't work without him present. He will be back. I know he will."
"Know something I don't?"
"The second is still here. He won't leave her, not for long. The scenario remains unchanged. All is going according to our plans."
"Hmm, a rough around the edges boy with a temper and an unhealthy attachment to the first girl who showed him kindness. Any of that sound familiar to you?"
"I recommend you choose your next words very carefully, Professor."
Shinji continued his lone march towards his permanent exile. He couldn't leave the city, he had to flee the country. Only then would he be truly keeping the world safe from his incompetent attempts to save it.
He'd made it off his first train. Now he walked aimlessly towards the sea. Maybe he'd just walk into the water and no one would see him again. Then they could be safe and, just maybe, be happy.
Blood red water lapped at his feet. He didn't feel like stripping to get into the water. He threw his bag behind him at the shore. It actually felt nice. Becoming somewhat harder to walk with the water weighing down his clothing. It wasn't long before he reached his neck. He began struggling to keep his head above the water.
He closed his eyes, and fell forward, letting his head dip into the water, it tasted gross. He didn't really care.
Without warning, a loud rumbling built in the distance. Before he realized it, an enormous wave was heading right for him. It was bigger than he was. The force of the water slung him back onto the shore like a stone.
Shinji violently coughed the red liquid out of his lungs, laying on the ground as his chest heaved to force more air into his weakened body. After a couple of minutes, he managed to force himself up, looking around to find the source of the thundering noise.
It was definitely an Angel, nothing else would look like that.
Definitely the biggest Angel he'd seen yet, not including the one that they'd had to catch. He already knew where it was headed. It looked terrifying. Shinji could tell this thing wasn't anything to mess around with, even from this distance.
"Crap!" He began sprinting back towards the train station. Never taking his eyes off the massive creature as it lumbered uncaring through the surrounding landscape. Crushing anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its path.
The Angel's massive arms were massive. It walked with its entire body hunched over. Each of its individual fists was the size of a building. Every meter of the creature rippled with muscle. It looked strong enough to rip the world in half. It was covered in blood-red fur that tousled gently in the wind as it moved. The sight filled him with unease. The creature's face was covered by a creepily smiling white-mask that seemed to be covering its caved in features.
Shinji made it back to the train station. To his frustration, the trains had already been shut down because of the Angel alarm. Looking around, he saw that the streets had already cleared. Everyone was going to be in their underground shelter. He was completely alone.
Except he was never truly alone. Literally. He knew there had to be someone out there watching him, someone who could potentially have a car that could take him to NERV.
"I know you're out there! Make yourselves useful for once and get me to the Geofront! NOW!"
He heard the faint rumbling of an engine behind him, turning around to see a black SUV parking next to him, with the door swinging open shortly.
Shinji wasted no time in quickly hopping into the backseat. Their car sped off, tearing through the streets of Tokyo-3 with reckless abandon. He held onto the car's door handle as they weaved and bobbed their way through the now empty roads.
It was still going to take time to get there. He watched as a cluster of planes zoomed overhead. The results were instantaneous. The creature's entire frame was consumed in a massive fireball that almost blinded him. When he looked again, it seemed unphased, continuing its relentless march with wisps of smoke coming off its now hairless body.
The size of the Angel's steps meant they were barely keeping ahead of it. They were on the outskirts of the city now. NERV would be deploying the Eva's soon.
He was right. Emerging from the outskirts of the city came a red Evangelion, in one arm a proton glaive twirled gracefully in the Eva's nimble fingers. On its arm was a large metal shield with some unfamiliar looking technology sticking off its sides. He craned his neck around to look for any other Eva's but couldn't see any.
"She's fighting it alone!?" Asuka seemed undaunted by her lack of allies. Now she seemed to be taunting the Angel. Rhythmically banging the hilt of her weapon and shield together while stomping her foot to a foreign sounding beat he didn't recognize.
When the Angel got a little closer, she charged.
Shield held in front, glaive outstretched, ready to strike. It was a majestic sight, like watching a gladiator running into the heat of battle. Their car had to swerve to avoid a piece of stray rubble that had fallen into the street. When his line of sight was broken, he heard a deafening boom, and he feared the worst.
When the dust cleared the red Eva's shield was now a color to match the armor. Somehow, the piece of metal managed to maintain its form under the intense heat and pressure of the Angel's attack. It wasn't going to last a second time, however, that was obvious, and the Angel wasted no time in attacking again.
Two beams of energy flew out and connected with Eva's shield. Shinji cheered when he saw Asuka's next move. Instead of trying to tank the hit directly, she sacrificed her shield to give her an opening. It was only a short distance before she was in striking range.
Except now she was completely exposed to the Angel's next devastating attack. He involuntarily brought his hands up to cover his face as the Eva closed the distance.
Shinji had been so engrossed in the red Eva's duel with the Angel he'd not noticed the third combatant rushing into the fray. An oversized missile tucked over her arm was the unmistakable sprinting form of Unit-00. It had only one arm, cradling the N2 missile like a football as it charged.
A fourth Eva appeared beyond, clearly struggling to keep up as the only limbs it possessed were its legs. That did little to dull its fighting spirit. If anything, the white Eva looked more dangerous. Its mouth was split into a sickly grin filled to the brim with razor-sharp teeth.
All 3 Eva's were stopped dead in their tracks by an octagonal wall of light. Without a need to communicate, they began working together. Asuka and Mari were both ripping through layer after layer of the creature's impossibly thick AT field. While Rei tried to help while pushing the explosive on her arm with all her might.
All Shinji could do now was watch, and hope they succeeded, or at least survived until he could get there.
Kaji felt about as close to invincible as a human could in the modern age, wearing combat armor with an assault rifle slung around his chest. Riding inside of one armoured car in a line that ploughed through the open empty desert.
"So what you're telling me, in essence is, that the original plan went to shit. So we're just going for Plan B, run in guns blazing and escape in the Wunder. Also known as my plan A."
"It's neither of our plans. Key staff members had flipped to our side with the promise to bring their subordinates. Apparently, NERV has more loyalists in its ranks than we expected. Even with the evidence we showed for NERV's ulterior motives, a little less than half the staff remained loyal."
"So we're marching into an active war zone, fantastic. How has NERV not found out about this mess yet?"
"They have their hands full. Add onto that a communications blackout set up by our people on the inside and it'll be way too late before they figure out what's going on."
"Do I finally get to know what exactly I'll be doing once I commandeer this vessel? After I see if it can do a barrel roll, of course."
"Very funny. No, he'll tell you once you're in position."
"He will? Is he coming in person, or do I get another lousy phone call?"
"You'll get whatever he decides is fitting. I only hope you can run this operation as well as you do your mouth."
"You're damn right I can. It's why I'm the best at what I do."
He heard a satisfying crash of metal as the first van crashed through the flimsy gate protecting the above ground entrance. His hearing was temporality deafened as the LMGs mounted on their vehicles opened fire. Spraying anyone unlucky enough to be standing outside when they came through.
He flicked a switch near his ear. "GO! GO! GO! We're short on time, so move as fast as you can, standard breach and clear until we reach the target. I want everyone to be at their best!"
Kaji led the assault. He'd the least actual military experience of any of the commanders. But these were his people, handpicked by him to be both trustworthy and the best at what they do. A lifetime of forming contacts enabled him to recruit so many talented individuals, now he had to make sure he didn't get them all killed.
This was Asuka Langley Soryu at her peak, a warrior in the heat of combat, fighting with her hands with her Eva, as it was always meant to be. She knew her mother was with her and without her couldn't ever lose. She could defeat this Angel with one arm behind her back if she wanted. Finally, it was her time to shine.
All this time she'd thought she'd been fighting alone, one Soryu was dangerous but two was a death sentence. Her Eva responded to her, the warm pressure of the LCL wrapping her like a motherly hug. Salty tears broke out of her eyelids to escape into the surrounding liquid. She'd always thought tears of joy was only an expression until now. This was what real power felt like, she'd never felt more connected to the Eva and her Sync score reflected it when she'd left. She wasn't even far from stupid Shinji now.
She was fighting with everything she had, there was no time to waste on stupid thoughts about a idiotic coward.
Asuka was ready to rumble, this Angel wasn't going to know what hit it.
"One! More! Layer!" Mari was intense when she was like this. Asuka loved it. If she was like this all the time, then maybe they could actually be friends. She'd gone directly against orders and practically stolen her own Eva to join the battle. Same with Rei, neither of them were supposed to leave the Geofront, yet here they were.
Asuka didn't mind the help, but she didn't need it. The kill was going to be hers. No one was going to steal her rightful glory.
Once the Angel's At field broke, she moved at lighting speed. Reluctantly grabbing the Collapsed white Eva and forcing it up onto its feet as they both moved to clear the blast zone. She'd not kept an eye on Rei, however. Who had been intercepted by one of the Angel's massive arms, which was currently squeezing the life out of her with incredible force.
"If you want something done right, do it yourself!" Asuka took her weapon into both hands and leapt into the air, driving the point of her glaive right through the Angel's gigantic arm and twisting. LCL spurted out of the freshly created wound and the Angel growled in pain. Releasing its grip on the blue Eva and tossing it into the distance like a rag-doll into a nearby building, collapsing it into a pile of rubble.
Before the enemy could move its attention to her, she grabbed her progressive knife with one hand and used the other arm to aim her shoulder. When she lined up the shots, she fired and the spike launcher succeeded in blinding the Angel. Launching several jagged pieces of metal directly into the eyeholes of its ugly mask. That would give her the break she needed from its absurdly powerful eye-lasers.
There wasn't much time to lose. She used her knife to scale one of the creature's massive arms. Performing a graceful somersault that ended on a backflip landing directly onto the previously dropped N2 missile. She didn't have time to get out of the way, she'd have to tough it out. She scooped up the large cylinder with both her arms and charged at the Angel again.
Her target was the Angel's glowing core, right on its upper chest, directly in between its two trunklike arms. Once she got close enough, she threw the missile the rest of the way. Letting out an involuntary growl at her victory, she watched as the tip of the missile crashed into the red orb, before a thick membrane snapped shut overtop it. Snapping off the missile's tip as its payload finally exploded.
It was a powerful explosion, almost enough to take her down. It took everything she had to keep herself upright. Her charred Eva swayed in the wind like a tree in its final moments. All of her skin burned like it'd melted off entirely. Asuka clenched onto the control and swung her Eva's fist forward again.
A feminine voice was howling in a scream that sounded born of both pain and rage. Her punches were weak, only slow little taps against one of the creature's arms. She was left helpless when the Angel's mask fell off. A massive pair of jaws moved to close around her Eva.
She was surrounded by darkness. Her last sensation before losing consciousness was a sharp stabbing pain in her knees.
Shinji ran, he ran, and he ran and after that, he ran some more. He'd nearly run out of breath by the time he'd made it to his Eva. Looming in the observation room above, he could see the back of the man he needed to see.
"Father!"
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd run away."
"Well, I'm back. Now get that stupid dummy plug out of the way so I can get in! There's no time to waste!"
"Why would I do that? You've left NERV and your last sortie in an Eva didn't end well for me."
"I am the pilot for Unit-01, Shinji Ikari! Here to do my job!"
"I am aware. What of it?"
"Asuka is in danger, Father! I can't lose anyone else! Especially not her, anyone but her. She means everything to me."
For once, the expression his father gave him looked almost sympathetic, if even a little sad. "I see. I won't get in your way. Not like there's much choice, anyway."
There was a loud rumbling overhead that was getting closer. That meant the Angel had already breached headquarters. He needed to hurry.
Misato watched in rapt horror with the rest of the bridge crew as the Angel brutally dispatched of all their Eva's. Afterwards destroying every remaining weapons emplacement she'd used to try and buy them more time. There was nothing more for her to do to stall. The Angel had broken through all 13 layers of armor. The very centre of NERV was now opened up by a massive hole leading all the way to the sky.
Now it was coming for them. It raised on its massive fists that would be able to destroy most of the bridge with a single swipe. To her utter shock, the massive fist was caught before it could land. An unseen assailant broke its grip, then charged directly into the Angel's midsection.
When the two scuffling titans got into better view, she saw who'd come to their last-minute rescue.
"Shinji!?"
She flicked on her comms and that confirmed it. She could hear the labored breathing of the boy she'd thought had abandoned them in their hour of need. He was here now, fighting to save all their lives. In the same entry plug where he'd been forced to execute his best friend.
"I knew he'd come back! And just in the nick of time! I was about ready to piss myself." Even in the tense situation, she was glad she could still get a laugh out of her overworked subordinates.
"Misato!" She looked over and saw that the smaller Eva unit had managed to unbalance the larger creature, forcing it towards one of the Eva lifts. She immediately knew what she wanted him to do.
"Makoto! Get elevator 3 moving! NOW!"
"Yes Ma'am." Misato pumped her fist as the plan went without a hitch, successfully throwing the still grappling monsters back onto the surface.
"Finally, things are coming back around our way! Is there anything we can do to help him out there?"
"We have a few pallet rifles left, and a proton axe. Although something tells me he won't need it."
"What makes you say that?" Misato had heard about the incident between the two of them. She'd never seen Shinji hit anyone, so if he did, and it was Ritsuko. She could imagine why, and regardless of the exact reason, she still deserved it.
"Look at the feed on the entry plug. You'll see what I'm saying."
Her curiosity piqued, she checked the video feed. The boy looked scary, honestly. Teeth bared into a snarl, his whole body tensed up like a predator about to strike. The most noticeable thing was, of course, the eyes.
They were red.
Shinji's fingers flew across the console on his Eva. Quickly entering the other combination, he'd remembered and hoping that this one also hadn't been altered. The green confirmation when he'd hit enter answered his question.
It worked. He could feel strength coursing through his body, armor plates flying off his Eva as his muscles bulged and grew in size. His mouth snapped open row after row of monstrous teeth pushed themselves out, turning his mouth into a knife edged maw.
The Angel took advantage of his momentary stillness. One of its massive arms grabbed his own with enough strength to rip it off. The other raised to deliver a devastating blow he couldn't avoid.
The sensation was like that of a cinder block getting dropped on his head. His Eva flew at high speed and crashed into the Geofront pyramid with a thundering BOOM! Minus one arm that the Angel greedily devoured. Its black soulless eyes locked on him as he saw a light begin to form inside them.
His head hurt. He wanted to close his eyes and go to sleep. His limbs felt heavy and one of his shoulders throbbed terribly. Then a memory struck him.
He could almost smell strawberries and in his mind's eye, he saw the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen in his life. A half naked red-head sleeping on top of his chest like it was a comfortable pillow, smiling in her sleep.
It was replaced by another image of the two legs of a crimson Evangelion tumbling to the ground like pieces of meat. As the girl he was/wasn't in a relationship with got eaten alive by this monster.
"I want Asuka….Give her back!"
He felt powerful, more powerful than ever. He was going to get Asuka back. She was coming home! With him!
Unit-01's blocked the Angel's beam with ease. It tried to follow up with an attack, leaping and bringing down both its massive fists to crush him entirely.
It didn't dent the field. Looking to his left, he saw his missing arm returned. He used it to press his field outwards, tossing the gigantic Angel across the landscape like it weighed nothing.
The Angel's eyes lit up again. Shinji was angry that he had nothing to use at range and his Eva answered. His eyes burned as a violet energy arced out of his eyes and nullified the Angel's attack. It was more successful than he'd thought. The energy seared right through the Angel's thick flesh like it was nothing. Shearing off one of its arms as it roared in pain, tumbling to the ground helplessly.
Shinji wasn't done; he wasn't nearly done with this bastard. He leapt into the air and brought both his fists together onto the Angel's skull. Splattering LCL and viscera over the top of his Eva, he flipped the stunned creature over. Straddling the creature's stomach as he pressed both of his Eva's hands onto the red glowing core on its throat.
"Asuka! Where are you!? I'm here!"
"Idiot Shinji, you're too late. The Angel absorbed my Eva with me in it. I can't survive outside of here now. We're part of the Angel now."
"No! You're wrong! I can still save you! Just hold on!"
"No! You're the one who's lost it! You're better off without me! Leave me so you can be happy! Find someone who treats you better than I ever could. You'll move on, find someone better. I'm already lost."
"I don't want someone better! I don't wanna move on or leave you! What I want is you, Asuka! A world without you, and your smile isn't a world for me!"
Ritsuko took a cigarette out from her pocket, lighting it and taking a drag as she watched the opening events of the Third impact. She felt a small swell of pride at seeing one of her Eva's flawlessly achieving its ultimate purpose, even if it was her. Misato seemed resolute in standing by Shinji's decision. And Maya was still frantically typing away at her keyboard.
"They really are gods, given mortal form." Ritsuko almost wanted to chuckle at her friend's description. It wasn't far off, but calling one of those monsters mortal didn't sit right with her.
"Eva 1 already transcended the bonds of humanity. It's finally breaking free."
Maya finally looked up from her computer to speak. "His plug depth is already going past 190! His life is in danger!"
Ritsuko stooped and her eyes nearly fell out of her head when she saw the actual numbers. If they wanted any hope of stopping this there was only one person who could do it. She didn't expect him to but she felt an obligation to, even if she wasn't attached to humanity she was still apart of it. Whether she liked it or not.
"Shinji please stop! Your sync ratio is over 200 percent! You won't be able to go back after this! You won't be human anymore!"
"I don't care! I don't care what happens to me! I don't even care what happens to the world! I'm bringing Asuka back! If it's the last thing I do!"
"You can do it, Shinji!"
"Misato!" She grabbed her friend's shoulder to stop her, then relented. It wouldn't matter what any of them did, the apocalypse was here.
"Do it for yourself! Do it because it's what you want!"
"These readings are all over the place! I can't even tell what's happening anymore!"
"Look for yourself then." Ritsuko gestured at the ominous red rings in the sky overtop Unit-01, casting a red glow over everything around them.
"So this is the Eva's true form?"
"It is. It's casting away its physical form to become a divine being. Weaving together the fabric of space and reality itself to grant the wish of one boy. Becoming one with the whole of creation to transform itself into pure energy, all to save one girl. The Genesis of a truly divine lifeform, combining both the fruit of life and knowledge, the toll for its creation being all life that came before it."
"The giant of light, those wings. I've seen this before."
"Indeed, it's just as it was 15 years ago. The Third Impact is beginning. This is the end of the world." Her voice took on a grim monotone as the dazzling spectacle of light unfolding before her eyes entranced her.
"That meaning, we've failed." Misato's phone began to ring in her pocket. She couldn't imagine who'd be calling at a time like this. Ritsuko gave her friend a curious look as she immediately pressed speakerphone and showed her who was calling. She couldn't believe it either.
"Kaji!?"
"My dearest Misato, oh how I have missed the sound of your wonderful voice."
"What the hell! Where are you? How are you even calling me right now!?"
"Look up."
"ASUKA!"
For Shinji, the entry plug had long vanished. A tunnel of light surrounded him, urging him to go onward. He'd already flatted the Angel's core. Now he was climbing his way bit by bit until he made it all the way to the top.
The sensation was painful; it was incredibly straining. It felt like trying to climb up a waterfall. If his grip even slightly faltered, he'd tumble back and fall to his doom. Despite the pain and the exhaustion nearly overwhelming him, he continued.
Finally, after some time, he spotted a familiar mane of copper red hair, hanging like a curtain overtop the curled-up form of the girl. Shinji was so close, he climbed up towards some sort of barrier that, with some effort, he forced himself through.
The results were instant. The skin on his arm vanished in the blink of an eye. He gritted his teeth and pulled himself even further, stretching as far as he could to try and reach out to the girl. Shinji went deeper, forcing his entire upper body down as he closed the final bit of distance between him and the balled-up red-head. It was pure agony. Everywhere his body broke through the invisible barrier, it ate away at his skin like paper.
"Asuka! Come on! Take my hand!" She looked up at him and he could finally see those brilliant blue eyes he'd missed. There was fear in them, but also gratitude. Slowly, she reached her hand up to his. He snapped it in his grip and yanked her up with all his force.
The Angel's core shattered into pieces. With it went the rest of the Angel as it swirled around into LCL around them. They were finally free. At first, the Asuka in his arms looked like a red statue or replica of the girl. Soon her color returned, and he wrapped her in an even tighter embrace.
"Shinji?"
"It's okay Asuka, I got you."
"Why did you leave? Why come back?"
"Because….. I'm an idiot Asuka, you know that." She smiled wryly at that, then resting her head on his shoulder.
"I don't….loathe you."
Shinji chuckled and planted a small kiss on top of the girl's head, doing everything to memorize the sensation of the two of them, together like this. "Was there something….else you wanted to say instead."
"Maybe, I don't know."
"Are you gonna tell me?"
"Nope." Shinji felt intoxicated by life, the simple pleasures this brought him. He did have an advantage over the girl, one he'd saved carefully for moments such as this. A remnant from their week being forced to spend all their time together. He still knew all of Asuka's ticklish spots.
"No! No! Stop it! That's cheating!" The girl's uncontrolled laughter did little to make her protests sound convincing. "I am the Great Asuka Langley Soryu. You can't make me tell you anything!"
Deciding she really was determined to be stubborn, he went for the nuclear option. Using his fingers to draw circles around her midriff as the girl squeezed his arm like a stress ball and laughed her heart out. "Okay, Okay, I give up, if you stop, I'll tell you." He relented, and the girl got a devious grin in her eyes. "Counterattack!"
Luckily for him, the only ticklish spot on his body was his feet. Making it easy for him to stay on the offensive while he wrestled with the girl as they continued their play-fight. "Fine, you win! Uhh… what were we talking about?"
Shinji gave her a look that showed his obvious disbelief, deflating the girl as she mumbled out something incoherent.
"What? I'm sorry I didn't hear it."
"You're not gonna make me say that again."
"Asuka, I really didn't hear you the first time. Can I hear it once, please?"
"Fine! I l-love you Shinji. Even though you're a hopeless idiot! And you need to shave, your face is too prickly. And you've got the worst morning breath I've ever smelled."
"I love you too, Asuka." He held onto the girl in his arms with all his might, as if the second she slipped from his grasp, she'd disappear.
Then, he felt a sharp pain piercing him right in the gut, after that everything went dark.
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children."
The Mark-06, the true Evangelion flying on the wings of a truly divine being, descending from on high, to earth, to pass judgement on those below it. Inside of it was a true Evangelion pilot, not a man nor a god. Only his son.
"And you will know my name is the lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."
"God's plans cannot be rushed, Shinji Ikari. They occur precisely when providence dictates it so. I am the Angel of divine will, sent to ensure my duties as given to me by my father are carried out accordingly. Soon you will know who I am, I promise you."
After a long and graceful descent, the feet of the Mark-06 touched the ground. He exited from his entry plug. Manipulating his AT field and levitating his body. He strode on the air downwards. Heading towards a red-clad lillim with bright flame-red hair to match her plugsuit. She lay in a heap on the floor, eyes closed as tears streamed down her face.
With the gentlest touch he could manage, he brushed away the hair from her face. One of his digits caught one of the salty droplets. He brought it to his mouth while her eyes were closed. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
Her eyes snapped open, her posture immediately moved to defend against him. She let out a loud hiss as she tried to move. Painfully clutching her side. He offered his hand to let her up, she slapped it away. Making a few more pained noises as she got herself upright.
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"My name is Kaworu Nagisa. I am very pleased to meet you. You might know me better as the Sixth Child."
"Sixth Child? Nice try, there's no sixth child."
He gestured to the now-dormant Evangelion behind him. "I don't really have anything else as proof. I take that to mean NERV wasn't informed of my arrival."
"Definitely not. Why do you look so…. Weird?"
"Isn't beauty by definition subjective? For example, I find you to be one of the most beautiful examples of god's children, but on the other side of this globe someone could find you repulsive."
"Hah, nice pickup line jerk. Try cramming in less religious zealot crap and maybe it'll work on someone dumber."
"I'm not quite sure what a 'pick up line' is, but we are all the children of the gods. I am the son of god myself."
"Oh well, aren't you humble? That's taking it way too literally, just because we're all technically 'children of god' doesn't mean some divine being actually gave birth to us. Unless you're just a lunatic, in that case, welcome to the club. You'll fit in perfectly."
"Truly, the fruit of knowledge lives on in you. It is rare for me to enjoy a conversation this much. I didn't get to spend much time around others, and when I did, I'd prefer not to."
Now that the girl was fully aware, he could only distract her for so long. She quickly lost interest in conversing with him and sprinted over towards the wreckage of Unit-01. Both of them, however, were distracted by something that neither of them expected to see. Flying overhead.
"What the hell is that thing!?"
"I really don't know. That's new for me too."
Gendo Ikari stood with his second in command, watching the events unfolding in front of him. A rare smile on his normally stony features. Watching with smug satisfaction as his prediction played out in front of his very eyes. Adjusting the light levels on his visor to better see the center of the event.
"You were right, their bond was enough to awaken Unit-01."
"Of course I was. Now it won't be long before our plan is complete. We're almost finished."
"Ikari? Do you see that too?" The professor gestured behind him towards one of the last things he expected to see flying into Tokyo-3. The Autonomous Assault Ark. He'd heard nothing from the Nevada facility, so he could only be looking at stolen property.
Whoever was behind it must be the same group that assassinated the committee. The fact that someone had managed to pull off such a bold move directly under his nose was a definitive blow to his pride. This person was taunting him with his past, making a mockery of his years spent working on his scenario.
This could not be tolerated under any circumstances. He'd deploy every asset NERV had, on the book or otherwise, to deal with this threat. He would not be made a fool of again.
"It would seem we underestimated our opponents. It'll take a lot more than that to stop us, however."
"Still, it is definitely an impressive stunt. At least now you know it works." He gave his subordinate a look that showed his appreciation for the time of his humor.
"That still leaves the question. Who orchestrated it?"
AN: Yeah if you didn't figure it out before now because you've been reading the story with both eyes closed, it's actually the rebuild universe or closer to it than the regular end of Eva, yes the beast mode was completely useless for Unit-01 and was why he initially lost the fight, I just don't want people to say I don't follow through on my setup and Shinji sure did think it would help. Also fun fact about Kaworu, his character is going to be important going forward and his, unusual behavior was caused by SEELE only giving him a single book to read in space. Can you guess what book it was? What's WILLE doing? Is Shinji trapped inside the Eva? Will there be a time jump? Have I done a bad job at dropping hints to who the big bad is? Find out the answer to all or none of these questions in the next thrilling chapter of LFLS