Mind Screw
ReI Ayanami lied still on a hospital bed.
She barely breathed into the mask attached to her. Shinji Ikari already felt guilt over how Rei got caught in the fight between him and- no, not Kotei. The monster wasn't him, despite what he had said. Tsuyoshi Kotei had disappeared long ago. Instead his fellow pilot was on the other side of the glass.
Rei was his sister…
A creeping shiver settled in. He hadn't thought much of his relation to Rei, nor the implications of her existence in his life. She was a clone of his mother and Lilith, created by his father for piloting the Evas. In a weird way they were effectively brother and sister. If Gendo had raised them both… well, Shinji had seen how Rei turned out. Things probably would have turned for the worse.
Reminiscing didn't fix Shinji's mood. It did not do much to counter the simple fact that Spider-Man put yet another one of his loved ones in danger. What was supposed to be a fun private evening between Rei and Asuka was ruined by the Scorpion. It was his fault that monster targeted Rei in the middle of their fight. He beat him, but that didn't help Rei. She was still here, close to dying.
Because of him.
"I need to get in there…" A desperate plea came from Shinji's lips. "I have to."
He tried to enter the room, but the door was blocked by a security guard. The guard scoffed at the boy.
"Please let me in." Shinj pleaded. "I want to speak to her as a fellow pilot."
The guard gave Shinji a blank stare. "Can't do that kid. You're not allowed entry."
"What?" Shinji glared at the guard. "Why not? I'm the Third Child."
"The Commander has forbidden you access." The guard explained calmly. "Section-2 were informed you had become an unstable element."
Unstable element? Maybe if he stormed up to the Commander right now to give him a piece of his mind, that would be considered unstable enough for him. Shinji was this close to wrestling the guard but he thought better of it. He was already in trouble right now. There wasn't a need to get into more trouble. Shinji decided to ask instead.
"Was there a reason the Commander gave this order?"
"You had assaulted the Commander yesterday. He informed Section-2 that your status is under investigation."
An investigation that wouldn't bear much fruit, given the pilots were needed, but enough to make an annoying weekend for Shinji.
"Wow. Didn't realize he was that petty."
"Whatever you say." The guard said. "Beat it kid. You're not getting through."
Shaking his head, Shinji stomped away in anger. He was frustrated, less at the guard but more himself for losing control the day before. As if to taunt him Gendo's sneering words came back.
"She chose you… She always chose you… over me. Because of that, you will never know her. I'll deny you even her memory because you don't deserve to know. All you are to me is The Third Child, a pilot for Unit 01. Nothing more."
"Bastard." Shinji spat. "Who does he think he is?"
Oh right. The Commander of NERV. Which meant Gendo could get away with almost anything he wished while the pilots are stuck following orders. One would think the people driving the monsters saving mankind would give them some leeway, but that was vastly overestimating how much NERV places importance on the pilots. Ritsuko was right the first time when she said all he had to do was sit, at least as far as how Shinji thought most of NERV considered the relationship.
"Wow, a rare sight! The mighty Shinji worked up about something!"
Even distracted Asuka's red mane was hard to miss. Shinji didn't realize he had a subtle glare until he faced his… friend? Acquaintance? He wasn't sure.
"Not now Asuka, I'm… I don't feel so good right now.
He turned to walk, but Shinji felt his arm forcibly grabbed. He was made to face his fellow pilot.
"You don't think I'm worried about her too?" Asuka said. "The freaks won't let me see her either but you don't see me crying about it Shinji! We have to wait!"
Shinji raised an eyebrow at that. "You too? I thought it was just me?"
"Why would it just be you? What are you, stupid?"
"No not that it's just that the guard said I wasn't let it in due to being an unstable element."
"Now that's stupid," Asuka placed her hands on her hips. "What could a bland boy like you possibly do to be considered unstable?"
"I… well," Shinji felt a blush coming from having to admit it. "I may have attacked my father yesterday."
Admittedly the minor embarrassment was worth seeing the utterly bewildered face Asuka made at that admission. She was completely caught off guard, her face a mixture of awe while aghast at the audacity.
"Heilige Scheiße. Just what the hell did he do to piss you off that much?"
Seeing no reason to lie, Shinji explained.
"While you and Rei were at the Carnival, we were visiting Mom's grave. It was her anniversary. On our own we had a talk… things were said… awful things." At Asuka's raised eyebrow Shinji reluctantly continued. "Father said I didn't deserve to know her. That he wanted her close to his chest, so he took away everything so I wouldn't know my own mother. I was-"
His fist clenched.
"I had him on the floor when he said those things, I was so angry that I couldn't take it. I just had to get out of there. Misato took me home and I waited while- well you know the rest."
Mother… Asuka felt a strange swirl of feelings upon that. Her hands twitched to a fist for a moment.
"As if the Commander couldn't be more of an asshole." Asuka sneered. "He's so creepy. It's like he wants to own your mom."
Like a doll. Like Rei.
Shinji bitterly chuckled. "You might be right about that… anything he can't have, he destroys. Father will never be happy."
Asuka didn't have a response to that. Neither wanting to be in awkward silence, the pair walked together out of the hospital wing.
"I just don't get it Asuka." Shinji continued. "I know I was sad when Mom passed away but it's like nothing else mattered to him anymore. It hurts…"
"For what it's worth Shinji, I kinda get it." Asuka said. "I don't get along with my parents that well."
"Really?"
"My dad's too busy making eyes at his wife. I don't get along with either of them, it's strained between us. The truth is that I'm glad I left Germany, at least here it's more… homely."
"Misato has a way of making it feel like home, even when you've never been there before." Shinji smiled for Asuka. "Want to get some ramen before we head home?"
"Nah." Asuka smirked. "I'd rather get the cook to make us something amazing tonight, if you don't mind."
Rolling his eyes without being annoyed, Shinji left Asuka, missing his father on the way out.
Rei couldn't see. Her eyelids refused to open, still too hurt to try.
But she could feel herself. She could sense the pain around her waist, pulsing from yesterday. Rei remembered trying to help Spider-Man, trying to help Shinji, against the hideous monster when her world fell dark. The last thought before then was Asuka, wondering if she was safe from the creature.
So many questions, but Rei had no answers, Not when she was stuck in her own body. The position reminded Rei of her time in Evangelion Unit 00, how her mind would wander into bizarre and solitary tangents inside of the plug. It felt like a window into a plane beyond the flesh, the soul free from it's constraints for planes unknown. It was a flight of fancy but one Rei found soothing compared to the noise of the world.
"Rei?"
The door had slid open without her knowing. Rei took in a small breath. She didn't need to see to know what his presence felt like.
"Are you awake?" Gendo said. "Can you give me a sign?"
She did not move. The Commander watched her, gazing upon her seemingly unconscious form, waiting to see if she had listened. He snorted.
"The doctor told me the damage is nonlethal. You will recover within the week, ready for piloting."
No answer. Rei sensed the Commander's hand on the handle of her bed.
"Then again, accidents happen, even with advanced hospitals here at NERV." His tone took a sharper edge. "Malpractice? Simple failure? That could be arranged."
His hand slid from the handle, moving towards Rei's cheek. The touch felt cold to her, even separated by the glove. What was he thinking? What was he planning?
"If you had went with me to visit Yui, you would not be here. You should have listened, instead of indulging the Second Child. You disappoint me Rei."
Swiftly without warning, Rei gasped as two hands clutched her neck with fierce verocity. Her eyes did not open but the Commander's glare could be felt all the same.
"Of course you disobeyed." He continued, calmly. "I have to remind myself every day that you are not Yui. You never will be. You can't be as devoted to me as she was. But because of that, it means you can be replaced. Next time I will make sure the other Rei remains true to her goal."
The worst part was that this wasn't the first time Rei felt powerless. Whether gazing at Ikari's glasses at her home or presenting herself to him in the test plug, every day was a reminder that the Commander could control her any way he wanted.
Now she was trapped, unable to fight back against the man now trying to murder her. Her heartbeat raced, her breathing became erratic and the noise of the machines only got louder.
Her life would have ended right there, if the door hadn't opened again.
"Commander Ikari?"
Gendo removed his hands away. "Sub Commander. Report."
The old man didn't raise an objection. Fuyutski attempted to keep disgust out of his voice as he explained the situation.
"The Scorpion's body is under our custody. We are currently examining it. Both Doctor Akagis will be leading that investigation."
Commander Ikari nodded. It seemed to Fuyutski whatever anger had spurred him on left, since he resumed his cold demeanor, marching past him.
"Ikari." Fuyutski said. "What exactly were you doing with Rei?"
"Nothing of concern to you." Gendo turned to the Sub Commander. "We need her to be ready, in case of the next Angel."
"We have enough pilots for the job. She will recover in the mean time." Fuyutski shook his head. "For the record, I will be increasing the security here. Purely for emergencies of course."
"Duly noted."
That was it. Gendo left the room without further discussion. Fuyutski cursed himself afterwards. A brave man would have questioned his former student more, demanded answers. Then again, a brave man wouldn't be in this situation. They would simply be dead.
Father and son were caught between ghosts. What Yui wanted wasn't what Gendo wanted, and what Gendo wanted naturally conflicted with what his son wanted. The report from yesterday was rather amusing if utterly strange to read. He hadn't expected Shinji to fight his father, let alone toss a grown adult down to the ground with his bare hands.
Gendo insisted that it was a fluke, but it make Fuyutski wonder where Shinji had gotten that strength from. Perhaps Kokoro that changed him more than the matters of the heart…
In a blink, Fuyutski saw a single tear emerge from the First Child. It was the first sign of life from her beyond the breaths she took. A rueful smile on his lips, Fuyutski wiped the tear with a finger, before leaving Rei alone once more.
"Yui, I hope you're right about this…"
"I'll ask the obvious question: is this thing gonna come to life and kill us all?"
Misato watched the scientists examine the Scorpion's body. His DNA identified him as Tsuyoshi Kotei, one of the many missing from Kokoro. Ritsuko and Naoko were hard at work trying not to kill each other analyzing the less than pretty sight; the body suffered multiple wounds that punctured past the shell and into the flesh. The head was the worst part, with it's stingers bent and the bullet wound still visible on the boy's forehead.
"According to the data, no. Zero life signs reported since he arrived here." Ritsuko had to breath. She wasn't used to dealing with this sort of brutality. "He was obviously forced into this state."
"Forced? Does it have to do with how the different forms he's taken?"
"Probably." Ritsuko showed the computer results. "Kotei's body was altered through the genetic splicing of human and scorpion DNA. Whatever did this to him had access to high grade equipment due to the massive genetic structural rewriting this would entail."
The only machine capable of such a thing was the Genetic Recombinator. However, the machine had been lost during the destruction of Kokoro months ago, with no other HERZ facilities reporting to have the thing.
Misato nodded. She looked over the Scorpion, her eyes narrowing.
"Do we have Spider-Man's strength on record?" Misato said. "He devastated this guy."
"The man can pack a punch I assure you." Naoko said. "Scorpion over here must have truly enraged Spider-Man to deal out such a punishment. It might have been enough to kill him right there."
"Might have?"
"It's hard to tell. But we might have been able to save this boy's life if we acted quickly. Of if the bullet hadn't taken care of him."
"But Spider-Man still could have killed him."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Naoko shrugged. "There's no changing things now."
"It just confirms what we already know." Misato said. "Spider-Man is a threat to the entire city. Have the MAGI search Tokyo-3. Check for patrol patterns and increase Section-2 security presence. I want him alive."
"Right on Major." Naoko grinned. "You're someone I can almost respect now."
Ritsuko was silent. She bit her tongue on this matter due to her orders, but the guilt had been eating away at her for a while. What was she supposed to do? How could she tell Misato that Spider-Man had not only saved their lives, how Kaji, the man she loved, was a traitor who tried to kill her and Maya? There was no telling what Misato might do.
Especially not with that look in her eye. It may have been tempered for now, but even Ritsuko could see the hatred forming from a mile away. When Misato is in battle operations, the hate translated to finding new efficient ways of killing the Angels. She is willing to do whatever it takes to destroy the target, even if it comes at the cost of her own soul.
Ritsuko would not want to know how far she would go to destroy Spider-Man…
The next day came and went like any other.
After school was done, Shinji hurried into the computer club classroom. Kensuke said that he needed to see him for something.
"Hey Shinji!" Kensuke waved at him. "Just in time for another Spider-Clan meeting!"
Shinji grimaced at the mention of the name. "We're not actually calling it that are we?"
"Why not? It's got a nice ring to it." Touji grinned. "Kensuke found something you'll like."
Rolling his eyes, Shinji took a seat next to the others. He had told the duo his encounter with the Scorpion, conveniently leaving out his identity or who he worked for. Shinji wasn't sure he should tell them the truth yet. For their own good they can't be more caught up in the Spider-Man business. Kensuke pulled up his laptop to show Shinji what's on the computer screen.
"I was going over the patterns of the Scorpion and his mysterious boss. I managed to suss out a few places where they could have been hiding."
Kensuke typed words into the computer bringing up a map of the city. Four large hotspots popped up.
"There's the south side, the power plant off of the distance… we just need to find out where."
Touji felt sad watching the way Shinji and Kensuke worked. He hadn't been much help since the Mysterio incident, and while he was glad his friends appreciated him, he just didn't feel useful. It made it worse to ask Shinji for a favor, but Sakura kept insisting on it every time he visited…
"Excuse me is this the right room?"
The Three Stooges saw Kaworu Nagisa at the doorwar. He tilted his head in confusion as the trio stared at him awkwardly.
"Oh, was I interrupting a Spider-Man meeting?" He asked, shrugging a bit. "I could come back later."
Touji laughed nervously. "Uh, dunno what you mean? We were just looking at.. hentai! Yeah, hentai, it's hard to find uncensored videos these days, they're all in mosaics you know!"
He couldn't keep his friends from face palming, but it was better than nothing right?
"No it's fine guys." Shinji sighed, throwing Touji's deflection down the drain. "Yes we're doing a Spider-Man meeting. You can come in if you want."
Kensuke and Touji stared blankly at Shinji while Kaworu shrugged, walking inside. The duo pulled Shinji to the side for a talk.
"Dude what the hell?"
"Why does he get to know?"
"He could sabotage our whole operation!"
"We need to pull the lamp on him!"
"We're not putting the lamp on him!" Shinji said. "We can trust Kaworu, he won't tell on us."
"Depending on the circumstances." Kaworu said. "If I believe this Spider-Man business will impede your piloting, I will inform the Commander. Anyway you forgot your lunch today."
Kaworu handed over a small bento box to Shinji, who sat on a chair to take a bite. Kensuke gave Kaworu the stink eye to see if he would crumble. Already not being intimidated by the nerd, Kaworu ignored him.
"Mmmm, so good Kaworu." Shinji felt refreshed. "Did you make it yourself? You gotta tell me the recipe!"
"Let's just say I learned from the best," Kaworu nodded. He turned to Touji and Kensuke "Would you two like these? I'm pretty full from today so I don't mind sharing."
Shrugging it off, Kensuke and Touji joined in. Free food was free food in their minds. After eating the bentos Kensuke brought Kaworu over to the computer.
"I guess welcome to the Spider-Clan, Nagisa! We're basically looking at potential hotspots where our master villain could be hiding out. You want to give it a look?"
"Sure. Maybe there is something I could do."
Kensuke gave Kaworu the laptop. Kaworu didn't say anything for a bit, staring at the screen in thought. The trio were worried seeing Kaworu's unblinking gaze before he turned back to them.
"Aida, I believe I have an answer to your question."
Shocked but pleased, Kensuke nodded. "Really?! Well out with it, this could be potentially life saving!"
Kaworu nodded mostly to himself. "This Scorpion, as you call him, would have needed a convenient means of travel that would steal people quickly without being spotted. I suggest that this hotspot might be the location."
He pointed at the abandoned sewer system nearly outside of the city. Kensuke and Touji nodded furiously.
"Great!" Kensuke yelled. "We can get Shinji to go over there, save everyone and beat the bad guy!"
"Or," Kaworu said. "We call the police or Section-2. They are much more equipped to handle the situation."
"No way!" Touji said. "The cops are just gonna cause problems."
"Yeah what if they shoot the civilians?"
Kaworu raised an eyebrow. "I do not see a practical reason why they would do that."
"It ain't about practicality, it'd be about going in guns blazin' and hurtin' people!"
The argument continued between those three as Shinji contemplated the new information. Of course Inumaru would be hiding out in that area. Both times he fought the Lizard, they were in isolated locations, away from the people. The real question was why he was kidnapping people in the first place. When he took Mayu- Yamagishi, he was getting revenge on his employer. What does he need with people?
The answers will be disturbing no doubt, so Shinji decided to act quickly.
"I'll check on it later." He said, stepping out. "Stay right here and don't call me."
"Whoah, hold up?" Touji asked. "You can't just go in without a plan, we got in this together!"
His friends would object, naturally, but Shinji wasn't going to let them in any further.
"Thank you guys but," Shinji said. "I know he's dangerous. He has to be if he created the Scorpion. I'm not risking you any more."
"You know so?" Kaworu narrowed his eyes. "You're acting cagey. It's almost like you know this villain."
Kensuke crossed his arms. "That true Ikari?"
Shinji found himself corned by his friends and Kaworu. He didn't like the way Kaworu stared at him. His red eyes were piercing, neither condoning nor condemning. They were patient, waiting for an answer that will satisfactory. Shinji bit the bullet.
"I do." He finally said. "It's a complicated story."
"Oh?" Kaworu said. "Then by all means explain, Ikari, because if we none of us know it will be potentially life threatening. You wouldn't want to risk our deaths for your secrets are you?"
That was a low blow, which even Kaworu knew. Shinji's emotions flared up at that comment. A battle was brewing.
"Why do you care Kaworu?"
"I am doing my best to protect you."
"Yeah because you did so well before!"
"Not following my advice nearly got you killed. I am simply suggesting."
"Well I don't want you to say anything! I can do this on my own!"
"It's clear that you can't be trusted to act rationally."
"I have to stop him! I'm the only one who can!"
"Are you? Or is that what your ego is telling you?" Kaworu shook his head, disagreeing with his own idea. "Or is it more like guilt? Will defeating him actually solve your inner turmoil, or will it consume you? Think about your answer carefully."
The Angel Alarm sounded throughout the school. The conflict had dissipated, though Shinji and Kaworu knew it would need to be continued later. Before the two pilots left, Touji decided to say a thing. He wasn't going to leave things hanging loose. Not this time.
"You get going, but we want answers Ikari. You'll give it to us before heading out."
Shinji reluctantly nodded, before running with Kaworu towards the direction of NERV HQ. On the way he turned to Kaworu to ask a question.
"What are we dealing with Kaworu?
Kaworu grimaced. "Leliel. She is a… curious one."
Leliel was floating slowly across the city, observing.
The Twelfth Angel was unusual even among it's own brethren, a black ball with white stripes that flowed and bent across it's shape. Due to the Commander being absent once again, Misato had to take the lead on the operation.
"Approach it carefully and observe it's reaction," Misato said, "If possible, try to lure it out of the city. I want you all to back up each other."
Evangelion Units 01, 02 and 00 were on the move. Due to Rei still being hospitalized, Kaworu had to take her place for the job. He reassured the technicians there wouldn't be an incident, saying the Evangelion would not rebel under his watch. Nagisa may have been relaxed, but Shinji and Asuka remained cautious.
"I think I should take point Asuka," Shinji told her. "We're not sure what the Angel will do, and I have experience with the rifle."
"No complaint from me," Asuka nodded. "I'll back you up in case the invincible Shinji screws it up."
"Ha."
They gave each other a knowing smirk, before Shinji went into position. He adjusted the rifle as he heard another comm link established.
"I do not believe we should underestimate this Angel, Ikari." Kaworu said. "It is certainly one of strangest I've seen. It could pick us apart in mind as well as body."
Asuka's face appeared on the comm link. "Nice to see even Perfect Kaworu gets scared piloting an Eva!"
"It is a frightening beast we're dealing with. One should be cautious in these matters."
To anyone who didn't know, what Kaworu was saying would be chalked up to nervous jitters during a mission against a dangerous enemy. But Shinji, who knew the truth behind his so called friend, recognized it for what it was.
A warning.
'So… what? The Angel is going to attack my mind?' Shinji thought. 'On second thought I wouldn't put it past them. Wasn't one of them a computer virus? Or was it a fish?'
He observed the Angel carefully, It hadn't moved since the Evangelion arrived. He glanced at his hand that clenched and unclenched by itself.
'Kaworu told me the Evangelions are an affront to them,' He thought. 'It was probably waiting for this moment to attack. Without any information we're just sitting ducks!'
So used to fighting in the Eva, Shinji had forgotten how absolutely frightening the Angels were at the end of the day. They came from nowhere, are largely invulnerable to weaponry, the only things capable of taking them out are beings made from them… They all come with powers that defy human description. The idea that one of them could enter his mind was alarming. His thoughts are the one place no one could enter; he did not want anything, or anyone from his memory to be used against him. Not by the Angels, not by his father nor Naoko…
Shinji glanced at the Angel again. It was gone.
"Wha- what the?!"
"The AT Field disappeared!" He heard a tech say, "Wait it's coming back, right under-"
Shinji could feel his feet sinking. He looked around trying to find the source, gazing at the ground to find it covered in shadow. He tried desperately to will his Eva into action, clawing to survive but to no avail.
The worst part is that as his body sunk the boy couldn't feel… anything. The more he sank into the shadow, the more he felt the loss of his senses. It is not even numb it just wasn't there. That made everything worse. What could be on the other side?
"Somebody help! The Angel is sinking me!"
"I'm coming Shinji! We're gonna get you out Idiot!"
"SHINJI!"
Was that Kaworu yelling out his name? Shinji couldn't register surprise at that, because his vision had already been lost to darkness…
Some time later, NERV had called in the U.N. forces.
They surrounded the area where Leliel was located, weighing their options on how to proceed. The recovery crew only managed to save the Umbilical Chord for Unit 01, but the Eva itself was lost, no doubt trapped in the Angel. Ritsuko estimated that if Shinji stood still and did nothing, he would survive for up to sixteen hours.
The adults remained at the Command Center discussing potential plans. Asuka and Kaworu, for their part, stayed at the outdoor hangars. They watched their Evangelions get retrofitted in case of an emergency.
"You are distressed." Kaworu stated the rather blindingly obvious fact. "Do not worry. He will come back."
Asuka turned sharply to him.
"How can you be sure of that? How can you be so calm about this whole shitty situation?!"
"Is that how I sound? No, I have faith. Shinji will survive this ordeal, just as he has had before. Just as Fate has decreed it in fact."
"Oh piss off with that, I saw you shouting for him too. You were just as worried a few hours ago!"
"Is it illogical to worry about your fellow pilot?"
"Then why are you telling me to be calm!"
"At the moment, I was panicking." Kaworu frowned. "However, now that we are here I realize we do not possess many options at the moment. He either survives or he does not. I choose to believe in Ikari's will triumph against the odds. If the situations were reversed he would be saying the same about you."
"… you really care about him don't you?"
Kaworu tilted his head in confusion. "I do not understand?"
Asuka muttered a small scheiss under her breath, before going quiet for a few moments. Kaworu wondered if he had said the wrong thing this time, but Asuka grew her usual smirk instead. She was hiding her pain.
"You know what? You're right, he has to be alive! The idiot still needs to cook us dinner!" Asuka said. "Misato will definitely get him into trouble when he gets back."
Kaworu had to laugh. That was so Asuka, no matter what happened.
"I suppose he will be."
"Yeah!" Asuka laughed as well. "He won't die because of a stupid Angel like that. Idiot Shinji's too stubborn not to give up."
"On that we can agree upon. He is like you in that respect."
"Not by much." Asuka grew more wistful. "He doesn't remember his mom, but I know mine. Too well."
"In the ways that matter, even if your ways of expressing it are opposite, the two of you share a core. I'm sure of that. Soryuu."
No more was said between the two. They stared at the Evangelions for a longer period of time, before another set of footsteps interrupted them.
"You do realize you can come inside right children?" Fuyutski said. "It seems strange to be out here."
"Sub Commander Fuyutski," Kaworu saluted the Sub Commander. Asuka pointedly did not do the same. "We had a lot on our minds."
"I can imagine, Nagisa." Fuyutski shook his head. "I would like to speak to Pilot Soryuu alone if you don't mind."
Nagisa nodded, walking off to a different part of the facility. The Sub Commander sighed as he took his place next to Asuka.
"We are all worried for Shinji, Asuka." He said reassuringly. "I'm sure the MAGI will come up with a plan to save him."
"It should have been me."
Fuyutski raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"I let him take point." Asuka said. "I should have pushed harder on it. I've trained for this my whole life, I could have saved myself from the shadow. Instead he's stuck inside of that Angel while I'm out here. It's not fair."
"No, it's not." Fuyutski said. "But it's useless to ponder What Ifs. It's easy with the benefit of hindsight to see where something could be changed or go wrong. We need to be there for our fellow pilots."
"Kaworu said that. I don't like sitting around and waiting."
"Fair enough. How about I give you a mission?"
At Asuka's confusion, Fuyutski decided to explain. He handed her a box.
"Hold onto this while we plan." He said. "If Shinji comes back alive, give this to him. Tell him there were a few spots that Commander Ikari forgot to check."
He turned around and walked off, leaving Asuka with mixed feelings regarding this gift.
He was wearing the costume. Somehow.
Spider-Man felt the gloves on his hands, the breeze on his bare arms and the mask on his face. He hadn't know what the Angel would do, what it was capable of. Whatever it was, it managed to warp reality.
Kaworu had said that the Angel would attack the mind right? It is the only explanation as to why the area surrounding Shinji was familiar. The warehouse, with the broken pillar on the floor and it's huge windows, were exactly as he remembered it. It was here where Shinji practiced his powers, where he would take the first steps to becoming Spider-Man.
"Hello Shinji Ikari."
It was also here where Spider-Man would encounter his mysterious opponent… himself? Or at least, a being that looked exactly like him. He had a vacant smile as if he was only passively engaged with his prey.
"Who are you?" Shinji asked the obvious question. "You have my face."
"I am you." His doppelgänger said. "This self incorporates the other self. the soul has often been composed of two selves. The self that is observed and the self that observes itself…"
Spider-Man was about to respond before he shook his head. No mind tricks here. He knew what he was getting into.
"No no, we're not doing this stuff. I know you're the Angel. Leliel right? Kaworu told me about you."
The other Shinji lost his luster, but didn't drop the smile. The condescension radiating from him was astounding.
"Yes, that is the name that I have taken."
"Good," Spider-Man said. "Now I would love to have a wonderful conversation about your reasons for attacking us and maybe getting you to back off, but I have a feeling that wouldn't work on you very much so how about we skip the small talk and send me back out will ya?"
Tilting his head, the other Shinji seemed amusingly confused about this one's attitude.
"I do not think I will be doing that."
"Well then," Spider-Man said. "We're at an impasse."
He threw a punch at the other Shinji, who dodged it before flipping Spider-Man over. Spidey then webbed Fake Shinj's face and kicked him across another pillar. He was unhurt though, so Spider-Man made a move to attack until he felt his body freeze.
"Are you quite finished?" Leliel was a bit amused. "Quite violent you are."
"I don't like my face at the best of times," Spider-Man said. "Just felt like practicing a bit of self hate."
Leliel actually laughed at that. At least this Ikari had a sense of humor.
"You are far too comfortable speaking to me, knowing that I could end your life at any time."
"Either I joke about it or get really mopey facing the void by myself. I know a lot about who I am and what I do, there isn't much psychobabble you can use to mess with me."
"Is that a fact?" Leliel grinned. "Tabris may have fondness for you, but I do not. You're not the first Shinji Ikari I came across, nor the last. Be very careful with your words."
The Twelfth Angel couldn't grin harder as Spider-Man failed to respond. He was beginning to be confused himself, exactly what Leliel wanted.
"Wait, what do you mean by other Shinji Ikaris? Pretty sure I'm the only one I know."
"You forget that you are human while I am an Angel. We transcend time and space. There is the you that exists in Misato's mind, just as she exists in yours. There is the Spider-Man that is in many's minds, but in the end there is only Shinji."
"Okay so… how would you know something like that?"
Leliel had a smirk. Hook, line and sinker.
"There are many sights to show you. Be prepared."
"So that shadow is the Angel's body?"
Misato listened to every word Ritsuko had said but still found it bizarre than an Angel like this could exist. She made sure to pay attention, anything Ritsuko said could be used as a way to bring Shinji back. She won't let that thing take him, not if she had the power to do something.
"Correct." Ritsuko continued. "It is 680 meters in diameter with a thickness of three nanometers, sustained with a ultra thin space and an inverted AT field. Inside that field is a region of space that may only be defined by an abstract mathematics. A sea of draught, it be another universe."
"What about the sphere?"
"It disappears when the imaginary circuit of the body closes. This implies that the object in the sky some kind of shadow."
"There's no way we can fight it then?" Misato said. "Nothing?
"Not according to the U.N." Naoko stormed into the scene, her tentacles in unusually high spirits. That is not a good sign. "They seem to have their own ideas."
"The U.N.?" An alarmed Ritsuko repeated, "But we haven't even given them the final word!"
"Don't matter to them." Naoko handed her daughter some documents. "They will be dropping all the existing 992 N2 mines into the Angel's center. I'd explain the science but frankly I feeling you morons would get a headache."
Outrage wouldn't begin to describe how Misato felt. Furious? Wrathful? Filled with absolute contempt for the doctor? Wait no, those were already how she thought of the elder Akagi. They would need to be multiplied by a billion and even that might not be enough to convey the level of hatred Misato had as she grabbed Naoko by the helm of her shirt.
"You can't be serious!" Misato yelled at Naoko. "Shinji will die if we go through with this plan, it won't work!"
Ritsuko could see the situation was escalating fast. She got in between her friend and her mother to try to diffuse it.
"Misato," Ritsuko spoke up. "I want him back too, he is needed but in situations like these-"
"The pilot's life is irrelevant." Naoko rolled her eyes. "Just say it Ritsuko. As far as NERV is concerned, the Commander's precious Unit 01 is all that matters. Everything else is secondary."
A slap wasn't enough for Misato. She raised a fist and punched Naoko right in the face, strong enough draw blood from Naoko. Ritsuko was too shocked to do anything as Naoko grinned at the woman who struck her.
"That actually hurt…" Naoko said. "I'm sure that's one bruise I won't forget, Misato. At least someone here isn't disappointing."
"Shut it Naoko. If you're not gonna say anything useful, piss off."
Naoko just shrugged. "Hitting me like that won't bring back your ward Misato. If you don't mind I'll be heading back to do the real work."
As Naoko left to do just that, Ritsuko let out a breath she didn't know she had. Misato patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Misato, I'm so sorry," Ritsuko said. "I don't know any way we can save Ikari. The Angel is a complete unknown and we don't have any other factors to work with! It's impossible-"
"Ritsuko stop that." Misato said. "None of this is your fault. At least you didn't act like a smug asshole about the death of my ward."
"But I'm not that different from her, not really…"
"How can someone so smart be so wrong?" Misato patted Ritsuko's shoulder. "You're so much better than your mom is. Even if you try bury it deep down you care about people. Maya wouldn't want you if that wasn't true."
Maya… how could Ritsuko forget?
"Don't feel carry it alone." Misato continued. "You don't have to take responsibility for your mom's mistakes any more than she does yours. You are better than you think you are. Trust me."
A little while Misato had to leave to take care of a job. But Ritsuko thought about what she said. She thought long and hard, looking back on her history.
All this time she had been chasing the image of her mother. Ritsuko had been attracted to Gendo yes, but even that was in service of that goal. Everything Naoko had, the respect, the power, the untouchability, those were things Ritsuko had wanted as well. But Naoko being alive, as she was now, had shown that led to a bitter end.
She needed to stop chasing after her mother's shadow. In her daze she forgot the people who loved her… like Misato, or Maya. Kaji was one of them, but he was already angry with her. As he should be.
Ritsuko had a lot to think about. She needed a drink.
Spider-Man floated in the void.
He wondered about his actual body. Was he lying still? Was he taking too much oxygen on the way out? Was this a ploy by the Angel to kill him? Shinji could only hope as Leliel floated alongside him.
"So um, where are you taking me?" Spider-Man asked. "Hopefully it's somewhere we can have a nice quiet date."
"Even if we did, you would be resistant to opening yourself fully to me."
He had him there, Shinji admitted. "So what are we gonna do? See a movie?"
"In a matter of speaking. A demonstration of my point will no doubt prove fruitful."
"Your point?"
A white flash blinded Shinji. It was too bright to see.
"One has many choices in their lifetime, but whether they act upon it or not depends on their character. We shall observe an outcome."
That was how Spider-Man found himself in a random graveyard. No, not random. Shinji was the one where Yamashiro was buried. He noticed how much older the graveyard looked, with graves rusted by time and a cathedral utterly demolished. If one went outside the Graveyard, they would see a futuristic city had replaced the ruins of Kokoro. The city looked even more advanced than Tokyo-3. How far was this world in it's technology?
None of that was the real shock for Shinji. That was reserved for the sight of another Spider-Man standing over Yamashiro's grave.
He was taller, broader; he had a red and black leather jacket with a small black spider-logo on the front and a large red spider-logo on the back. The hands were covered by a pair of black and red leather gloves. The lower portion of the suit consisted of black jeans and black shoes. The older Spider-Man was surrounded by police officers and other men in suits. Shinji's eyes widened when he saw a frighteningly familiar woman with purpled hair and an eyepatch, approach the scene.
"Hello Shinji."
She stared the older Spider-Man down with the same hatred she reserved for the Angels. He slowly turned around, never taking his mask off.
"Misato." An older voice came from Spider-Man. It reminded Shinji of his father, gruffer. "You haven't aged a day."
"This is your last chance Shinji." Misato said. "We both lost a lot thanks to our pointless war. You're not going to get out of this alive, so I'll order you for the last time. Give yourself up. It's over."
The older Spider-Man seemed to contemplate this. He let his shoulders slag, tired from the life that he had taken up in this world. That said, he knew what he had to say to that.
"I can't do that Misato." Spider-Man. "Never compromise, even in the face of Armageddon. You sold yourself to Alchemax for revenge. Rot in hell."
Misato seemed to accept that. She nodded, giving the man one more smile, before turning around.
"Men, fire at will."
Shinji didn't see the rest of this scenario play out. He could already guessed what happened next. Instead he found himself horrified at the Angel.
"Why did you show me that? What happened?"
"Your guardian found your identity at the worst time." Leliel said. "Nothing was resolved in that world, with everything getting worse. But there is another world you must see."
Another white flash and Shinji found himself in an apartment.
It wasn't anything like Misato's. The place felt lived in, for a longer period than Misato told him. The walls a light shade of orange, a bit faded from time; there were children's toys lying in the carpet almost broken up. The child using it must still be too little to comprehend the damage.
There were pictures on the walls. Shinji recognized his friends in some of them, Touji, Kensuke, Hikari, Asuka and… wait no, neither Kaworu nor Rei were in any of these. Asuka was with a woman who looked like Rei, but with brown hair and green eyes.
"What happened to Rei? Or Kaworu?"
Even stranger was that in these pictures a girl with red hair. She seemed to close to him in this world, since they show up together in the pictures.
Shinji's attention was broken when he peered into the kitchen. Someone was there, reading a newspaper.
"Hmhm, oh Asuka is unveiling a new project for Horizons Labs. Interesting…"
Shinji froze when he saw… Father? No, it wasn't him. His features were less sharp and more relaxed. He was in the kitchen with someone hugging him from behind. A bright woman with red hair.
"I got the part Shinji, can you believe it?" She said. "I'll be starting practice Wednesday but maybe we can meet with our friends before then."
"You make it sound like a surprise Mana." The adult Shinji said. "You're always incredible."
"Flatterer." Mana kissed him on the cheek. "Did you drop off Musashi and Kaworu?"
"Sure did. That means we have the apartment to ourselves for a few hours…"
The older Ikari moved over to kiss Mana fully on the lips. They held each other tight as they proceeded to the sofa for a make out session.
The real Shinji was surprised at the intimacy his older self displayed with this woman. To be able to trust someone like that, to share a tender moment like this, that was something Shinji hadn't thought about much. He spent so much of his life alone, he never thought he could have this future.
However, Mana interrupted it when she frowned.
"Are we going to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"You know what Shinji."
The elder Shinji sighed. "I don't want her doing it."
"Me neither, but we know we can't stop her." Mana chided Shinji. "The moment she figured out how to climb walls it was inevitable. Misato's already seen Spider-Girl."
"She didn't approve of me being Spider-Man either."
"But she still let you do it anyway." Mana sighed, "You and Musashi don't get along and you want to fix that. I get it. But by limiting her options you're building walls around each other. If you keep this up you'll make her run away."
Elder Shinji seemed to grapple with this dilemma. He sighed.
"I'll talk to her. Later."
"Of course later. We haven't gotten to the good part yet~"
"I have children?" Shinji was floored by this revelation. He named one of them Kaworu as well… "I didn't even know this future was possible."
"It is," Leliel nodded. "But it is not guaranteed. It, along with the one we last saw, was the result of choices made by Shinji Ikari. They speak to a greater truth."
Shinji was dreading this. "What greater truth?"
"No matter where you are, no matter what your choices, your flaws prevent you from finding happiness. You will always hurt the people you care about even if you didn't intend it. You push your family out because you refuse to let them in, thinking of your own wants. You think yourself more enlightened? No… I will show you one more path. The only outcome of your destiny!"
Yet another blinding white light and Shinji found himself on a beach.
The world was a nightmare he found alarmingly familiar. The sea was red, as if stained by the blood of the dead; giant crosses where misshapen monsters hung from them, sacrificed to the altar of God; the terrain was virtually unlivable, the apocalypse having destroyed a chance of life renewing, at least not here.
A giant white head of Rei lied on the ground, her smiling continued after death, and Shinji had to take everything he had not to scream.
"Wha… what the fuck?"
He muttered it to himself over and over, trying to keep himself sane in this insanity. Those feelings intensified when he was a very familiar set of teenagers on the ground.
It was Asuka and himself. This other Shinji was choking Asuka.
"What… what's causing this? Why is this happening?"
"You caused this," Leliel's voice echoed in Shinji's mind. "In your attempt to avoid pain you robbed the world of it's ability to connect to one another. The devastation allowed the true villain to flee the planet while you and this girl suffer on this broken world."
The other Shinji stopped choking Asuka when she moved a hand to caress him. Then he started crying over her.
"How disgusting."
That was what Asuka said, before she seemed to realize her surroundings. She violently shook Shinji away and started running, covering her bandaged eye.
"A-Asuka!" This Shinji shouted to her. "Don't leave me alone!"
"You masturbated over my body!" Asuka yelled at him. "I was in a coma and you just used me for your sick fantasies!"
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, just please-"
"I HATE YOU!"
Drowning.
The real Shinji was drowning in an ocean of red. He struggled repeatedly to get up, to get some air. But some invisible force is dragging him down, further and further…
Gasping for any semblance of oxygen, he felt his energy fading.
In spite of being underwater, he heard words all around him. Painful words.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Mayumi shouted at him, "YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A LIAR!"
"HOW PATHETIC." Rei was displeased with him. "You are the Commander's son in every way."
"I HATE YOU!" Asuka yelled again, "YOU'RE SO FUCKED UP!"
Shinji's eyes were wide as he witnessed dark shapes with cruel eyes, disgusted at his very being. The final gasps of air left him-
As he awoke from his dream with a tiny gasp.
"A dream?" Shinji blinked. "No, that was real. I'm sure of it."
He checked the time again. He had thirty minutes left before he died. The boy felt the full weight of his situation just then. Shinji started crying.
"Someone please save me…" He started yelling. "MISATO! KAWORU! REI! ASUKA! TOUJI! KENSUKE! SOMEBODY! I CAN'T DO IT ALONE!"
Spider-Man came close to dying many times. But it was here, in this Eva, sucking his last air, that Shinji felt so vulnerable as he died. He didn't even save a life, only bring an end to his own.
"Mayumi… Yamashiro… Mother…"
He felt so tired. The oxygen won't last for much longer. As the LCL pulsed around him, Shinji closed his eyes.
Shinji dreamed of a warm hug surrounding his being, and he never felt so safe.
Kaworu had been worried for a while now.
He knew what fate had set in motion. In a few minutes, the JSSDF would prepare to fire the N2 mines on Leliel, only for Unit 01 to emerge, violently clawing out of it like a demon emerging from it's possessed human host. It should only be a matter of time.
But Kaworu could not help but worry. What if Shinji panicked so hard he ran out of oxygen? Or if Leliel had shown him a universe he decided to stay in? Or if Shinji's mind snapped from the revelation or had switched placed with the spirit lying inside of-?
Many possibilities rang through his head while he sat in Unit 00. Kaworu had seen destiny play out numerous times, but he had also seen many deviations to the set pattern as well. In truth, he wanted to believe Shinji was better than that, but there was a gnawing dread at a potential fall.
Can he trust Spider-Man? No. He cannot trust a coping mechanism for a wound.
Can he trust Shinji? He might. Shinji had reached out to Asuka, had reached out to Misato, Kaworu had seen relationships between people that would not have happened without him.
A loud roar. Kaworu frowned, for he knew the time had come.
The shadow of Leliel cracked. From each crack a streak of red blasted from it. Leliel was about to be killed.
"It's bleeding?!"
"We need to call the emergency! The Angel is going down."
"Impossible we haven't done anything!"
Chatter from NERV was drowned out by Leliel's inhuman cry. It since had lost it's white stripes, the ball turned completely black; it was soon followed by a ginormous burst of red. Unit 01,, in it's demonic, terrifying glory, roared into the sky, marching out of the Angel's dead remains like it was nothing.
"Mein Gott… Is that what I'm piloting?"
Kaworu nodded at Asuka's query, though not really sure as to why. It was not as if she could see it. Perhaps he wanted to clarify it for himself. In a way, Unit 01's return was a relief. Shinji could be safe.
For several hours, Unit 01 stood still, bathed in the blood of it's enemy. The sun had emerged just as Misato and the recovery team managed to get to the Entry Plug. Ritsuko and Naoko came along, unable to do much but watch the Unit.
"God in Heaven," Ritsuko gasped the words out. "What kind of monster have we made this from?"
"Is it not glorious, Ritsuko?" Naoko said. "Man in it's infinite hubris managed to turn it's destruction into it's salvation. We'll be doomed to failure but our fall will be entertaining."
Ritsuko had never seen the Eva look as horrifying as it did today. Her mother praised it as a representation of man… it disgusted her, because used to her mirror her own thinking.
'Misato…' Ritsuko thought. 'I can't keep it a secret anymore. I will show you the truth behind the Angels, the Evas and NERV.'
In the moment however, that had to wait. Nothing mattered to Misato in that moment except for her boy. As soon as the entry plug opened, she stepped inside, seeing Shinji nearly asleep. He wouldn't fine, not after what happened, but he was alive. That was something that mattered.
"SHINJI!" Misato said. "Shinji are you alright?!"
Shinji couldn't look at her, drowsy. Misato wrapped her arms around him and didn't let go.
When Shinji woke up, he told himself he would destroy the blasted ceiling.
"Finally awake." Kaworu said. "You had us worried there Ikari."
Blinking, Shinji couldn't help but smile upon seeing Kaworu and Asuka. The horrible nightmare was gone. They were here and he felt safe.
"You two? Thanks. But… how did-?"
"You were in a precarious situation Ikari." Kaworu said. "There was a moment where I thought you perished but…"
"This idiot never lost faith. Now that you're back I'm gonna need you to do me a favor-"
Asuka punched Shinji's arm, making him cry out in pain. Weird, it should not have hurt as it did. Maybe the Angel messed with his head a little bit?
"Don't get into stupid crap next time you idiot!" Asuka told him. "If you die, I'll crawl into the afterlife just to bring you back to life and kill you myself."
Shinji chuckled. "I'll try my best…"
"I'll hold you to that." Asuka pulled something out of her bag. "The Sub Commander has something for you. He said that the Commander didn't get everything."
The boy held onto the box as Asuka left the room.
"I'm gonna go see Rei." Asuka said. "She should be leaving in a day."
"Well, are you going to open it Ikari?"
Shinji indeed opened the box. It was a picture frame, depicting a young woman holding a baby, along with a tape titled Yui Ikari Lecture Tape #18. At the name attached to the tape, Shinji realized who the woman was.
"Mother..."
It struck Shinji how much she looked like Rei... or how much Rei was made in her image.
"You don't know how lucky you are, surrounded by wonderful people." Kaworu said. "Even Asuka cares about you enough to bring it to you, even if she didn't have to."
"It seems she does." Shinji smiled fondly. "Wait…"
"What's wrong?"
"Asuka punched me… but my spider-sense didn't register an attack."
To test his little theory Shinji moved his hands to make a web but nothing came. He tried over and over to no avail.
"What happened Shinji?"
Kaworu's words were almost ignored, because it was then that Shinji realized…
"I lost my powers."
Author's Notes:
Mind Screw might possibly be one of my favorite chapters yet and I hope y'all enjoyed it too.
We're delving into the meat and potatoes of this arc now, the time to answer a question. If the Kokoro arc was about asking if Shinji could be Spider-Man, this storyline will revolve around what Spider-Man means to Shinji, and if it's a sustainable foundation for his future. Evangelion may have been imposed on him as a child but Spider-Man was something he cultivated in this world. Can he truly escape his fate or become something greater? That is the driving question.
Stuff that happened in life: I watched Thrice Upon a Time, which I had some mixed feelings about but was impressed the ending to the Rebuilds came out as well as it did. No Way Home looks great, Shang Chi was pretty good, been rewatching RWBY, gonna catch up with some other things I've been missing since I worked on this chapter and life got in the way.
Time to answer reviews:
Z-King: Yeah he's dead for real. He was just the appetizer to the real threat... the Lizard.
Messiah of authors: We all wanted to do that to Gendo at some point so don't worry XD
RealRemainder: The Kamui stuff is from Kill la Kill. It's a pretty cool anime and I thought replacing the symbiote with the Kamui was a cool idea, they're already kind of similar.
beamknight87: Thank you for leaving such a lovely review! I've had the plot basically planned out since it first started. Many specific parts were things that developed on the fly of course, but I know where the story is going and I'll see it through to the end. I hope you liked how I handled this part.
Since this chapter was mostly serious I asked my friend to make a more action packed omake to cheer us all up.
Next time: Spider-Man No More?
Omake:
"Asuka Langely Soryuu: The Invincible Iron Maiden" By Johnny Freeman
The NERV Labs were a sandy mess.
When Sunako had been sent to retrieve a sample of Angel blood, Rai offered to help as long as the operation went as stealthily as possible. But then she had the bright idea to just blast her way in. Anyone who tried to fight were hit with sand, The people in charge would be okay with reckless action this time.. but then, since when did Sunako care about what they wanted?
"Jeez, Sunako…" Her brother exclaimed as he walked past the sandy mess and unconscious security, "Did you REALLY had to go all sandstorm on everyone."
"In case you may have missed it: I am literately made of sand!" She said, gesturing her body for emphasize. "If I'm incapable of dying, I might as well take advantage of it."
"Yeah but I think we coulda done it without burying the warehouse and the guards in sand?"
Just as her older sister was about to speak, one of the Section 2 agents slowly started to get up from the ground.
"Oh crap, I missed one." Sunako replied nonchalantly
"I got him." Her brother replied as he shocked the guard unconscious.
"You go get the blood samples, I'll just keep a lookout" Her brother added before zapping himself into the camera circuits.
Sunako walked into the lab and grabbed the white briefcase with the biohazard logo. She walked out of the labs, heading into the entrance when-
"Sunako…" The earpiece whispered in her ear. She dreaded the voices of her superiors. "Are the samples secured?"
"We were doing that now sir." She replied, "We had a bit of a situation with Section 2"
"Good. Get your brother and meet us at the designated pick-up area."
They quickly hung up. Sunako mocked the orders as she picked up the briefcase. Sometimes she wished she could just ditch these operations and run away with Rai, but they had emphasized the importance of this mission, along with their survival. She had to comply.
The ceiling exploded as a new opponent landed. The latest contender happened to be a metal woman in the familiar Unit 02's paint scheme.
'Well this is new…' Sunako though to herself as the new opponent pointed her glowing gauntlets at Sunako.
"Drop the briefcase, Sandy!" The metal lady ordered.
"Oh Sandy, yeah that's really smart." Sunako snarked. "You thought that just now or did you take the flight to come up with it?"
"S-SHUT UP!"
Sandwoman chuckled. Just from the sound of her voice, Sunako could tell the metal woman was a bratty.
"So who are you supposed to be? Mini Unit 2?"
"You can call me the Iron Maiden!"
That sounded like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
"Well Iron Maiden, I'd love to chat but I have to-"
"I'm not gonna let you do anything."
"Really? Then by all means…" Sunako said as she stepped back, arms raised high. "Give me your best shot"
"Gladly!"
The gauntlets fired off propulsor beams, knocking away the Sandwoman before she had the chance to transform. Asuka tried to ascertain the particle movements but it was hard to focus on a single target.
"Shikinami, Give me Support!" Asuka shouted to her suit's A.I..
"Well for starters, you have a wonderful personality."
"NO! I mean, thank you but I meant TACTICAL support!"
"Oh apologies! I wouldn't recommend blasting the sand, but maybe if she reforms?"
"Okay, that's a start."
Asuka followed the sand, keeping her repulsor gauntlets at the target before the wind came for her. She instead blasted forward, avoiding the sand wave before turning to the reforming Sunako with a repulsor blast, stunning her long enough for Asuka to deliver a punch so hard it went through the sandy back. And it didn't seem to come off.
"Wait what the-"
Sunako reformed to the front, visibly annoyed about the metal fist in her stomach. Very annoying.
"You seem new to fighting villains are you? Let me show you how I get things done."
Sandwoman grabbed Asuka, and repeatedly began to slam her from side to side like a sandy She-Hulk.
"Shikinami, set the thrusters on high" Asuka ordered
"You got it!" Shinkinami gladly complied.
The blast of energy on Asuka's gauntlets built up, to a an enormous amount. It was enough to free her but the power was intense.
"Okay, Shikinami… Anymore Sug-"
She was cut off by a powerful volt of electricity. She dropped to the floor as her Heads-Up Display went wild, unable to get a good glimpse of the Sandwoman. When it was working, she managed to spot Electro forming next to his sister.
"Geez sis, you could've just called me to shock her out…"
"She's down for the count, Let's just go before-"
The suit of armor stirred, Asuka's groans of pain were muffled by the helmet as she slowly tried to get up.
"I suggest staying down Metal Woman. Next shock isn't gonna be a nice one!" Rais said, putting himself in a fighting position.
She was surrounded by two targets. She couldn't fight Rai head on without getting shocked and she couldn't just knock out Sunako since she was made of… sand…
'Wait, Sand and Water…' She thought
Asuka looked up the warehouse, noticing the emergency sprinklers on the ceiling. And just behind Sunako and Rais, the shiny red square with the handle.
"Shinkinami, switch me to grapple wire."
"I don't think that would be a good idea…"
"I'd listen to that voice in your suit, Iron Lady." Rais added
"Yeah well…" Asuka raised her wrist and fired a little hook, Rais and Sunako only stood by, unaffected.
"Wow, You missed." Rais spoke, preparing to charge up another electric attacl.
Sunako was the only one to look for the hook, her expression changing the moment she saw it land on the emergency fire alarm handle.
"Wasn't aiming for ya…" Asuka smirked.
As she pulled the switch down, the alarm ranged. Sprinklers began to rain down on Sandwoman and Electro, solidifying the latter. This was her chance. Asuka kicked down Sunako while preparing to hit Rai. He dodged a punch-
"Nice try, Metal-"
BOOMF!
He was blown back by a repulsor blast into the wall, knocking him out.
"Dankeschön"
"FREEZE!"
Asuka turned aroudn to spot Section 2 agents rushing into the entrance, Submachine guns at the ready.
"Hey, it's fine! I dealt with sand lady and mister electric!" Asuka insisted.
"OUT OF THE EXO-SUIT, NOW!"
"Uhh…"
The gauntlets prepared to lift off as Section 2 began to open fire, their bullets bouncing off the metal as Iron-Asuka flew out of the laboratory.
Asuka landed somewhere further into the woods. The suit managed to hold on all the way to the end as she sat down on the chopped tree. Taking off her helmet, Asuka proceeded to check on her armor. Aside from a few chips here and there, The Iron suit managed to hold on pretty well against Sandwoman and Electro.
"Shikinami, Status" Asuka asked.
"Internal damage is minimal. A few wires were singed but nothing too dangerous."
'Gutt.' she thought to herself, burnt wires were not a problem just as long as the helmet uplink with the suit was intact or else she'd be screwed.
"Without sugarcoating it, How did I do?"
"You did very good, Miss Sohryu. Granted, you're only mistake was attacking a mineral based entity using close proximity. There was also the issue of assaulting an electric entity while wearing the suit that could've led to more serious injuries-"
"Okay Okay… forget I asked…" Asuka cut the AI off, sighing in frustration.
"You did do well at the end. Good work, Miss Sohryu." Shikinami added in.
Asuka felt a small wave of joy brushing over her. It's something she needed to hear in a long while after coming to Tokyo-3. If luck had pre-ordained it, she would've been a way better hero than Spider-Man or Shinji.
'Oh what am I doing? Taking compliments from an AI' Asuka thought as she shook her head.
"Gott, I'm pathetic…"
snap
Asuka turned to the source, repulsor gauntlets at the ready. She wasn't expecting to see a familiar set of red eyes staring back at her. Rei Ayanami, wearing a brown wig, a bomber jacket, domino mask, and a big squirrel tail was the most surreal thing Asuka had ever seen. A squirrel with a pink bow holding on to the jacket completed the madness.
"…Wonder girl?"
"CHEEEP!" The squirrel panicked, chittering up a storm as it turned to Rei. It gestured and pointed to Asuka. Rei kept her eyes wide open at her Iron friend.
"Wait what's going on here-" Asuka asked. "Why do you have a tail? What's with the bomber jacket-"
"Tippy Toe, Execute Newton's Cashew"
The little squirrel nodded as trhew an acorn at Asuka.
"GAH! What in the hell, REI!"
"I said, Cashew"
Tippy toe produced the cashew before throwing it at Asuka, definitely knocking her out.
"Miss Langley! Miss Langley, wake up!" Shinkinami spoke, unable to fully wake up her user.
"Chut… Chit chit?