Shin Persona Evangelion

by Ultra Sonic 007

Shinji Ikari stared, bewildered by the bizarre-looking man, who gave an intrigued smile. "An interesting guest has arrived. My name is Igor. Welcome to the Velvet Room, young fool...we have important matters to discuss, you and I." (A fusion of the realms of Evangelion and Persona, where not all is as it seems.) (Cover art by Renu of the Sufficient Velocity forums.)

106. Sunday - September 6, 2015

Sokila watched intently as Lavenza shuffled the cards of the Arcana.

"So...my Guest only has two left...?"

Lavenza nodded, tapping at two particular cards. "Temperance. Lovers."

"...I wonder when he'll get them..."

"It is a curiosity as to who they will be," murmured the dainty Attendant.

Sokila frowned, crossing her arms. "Hmm..." Leaping to her feet, she pumped her fists. "Then until he finds them I gotta help him!"

"Do as you must," remarked Lavenza.

Smiling, Sokila thought deeply. "I wonder what we'll do the next time I go outside..."

"Given how events are unfolding, the times available to him may be few and far between..."

"Then I need to get tougher!" Sokila dropped onto her hands, and tried doing push-ups. "One...two...three...!"

The faint haze of blue began to brighten-

xxxx

/Sunday: September 6, 2015/

/Misato's Apartment, Tokyo-3/

Shinji Ikari was brought to wakefulness by the buzzing of his phone. With groggy eyes, he sat up — belatedly recalling that he had fallen asleep on the couch in Misato's living room; Toji and Kensuke were sleeping on futons in front of the television set — and whipped out his phone.

NERV: GHOST ACTIVITY HAS HAD AN UNEXPECTED SPIKE. MISSION ACCEPTANCE IS REQUIRED.

...I wonder if it has something to do with the yellow fog from yesterday, he wearily thought, scrolling through the various options, mostly located in Kanagawa Prefecture. I...honestly don't feel like going too far, he thought, selecting the options that would keep him around Tokyo-3.

His Other quietly stirred a pot of coffee.

"There is no rest for the wicked...so it is said."

Taking a sip, he loudly exhaled.

"A call for you to be more wicked? Or a challenge for the just to be even more diligent?"

Shinji settled for downing a can of green tea — mentally offering an apology to Misato, even though he knew she wouldn't have minded — before stepping outside. "Time to go," he sleepily murmured, summoning his Evangelion.

xxxx

/St. Paul Miki Parish, Southern Outskirts of Tokyo-3/

Sister Mary Makinami's eyes snapped open with alarm: the foreign sensation intruding upon her senses...it could only be Ghosts. Well, that's rude. Bet they're not here to chin wag, either.

Her first impulse — to immediately charge outside and lay a holy smackdown on the interlopers — was checked by the fact she was only in a modest nightgown. Calm yourself, Makinami. Being your hotheaded self has always been a recipe for disaster. Thus, the religious calmly and purposely went about changing her clothes, applying certain lotions in specific spots so as to reduce chafing. With a speedy precision born from practice, she changed into her habit in less than two minutes; as her body moved automatically, part of her mind focused on prayers, whilst another part began thinking about what tactics to deploy. (Though some would've chided her for praying with a split attention, she always liked to think that the Lord understood the necessity of the moment.) "Now..." Unceremoniously, she opened the door and stepped outside; sure enough, familiar blue specters were ascending the hill towards the parish building; far in the distance, she could make out similar phantoms moving about the edges of Lake Ashi. "...if you lot think you're going to cancel Sunday Mass, you've got another thing coming," she joked, her A.T. Field surging in a familiar pattern.

The closest Ghost hissed ethereally, obliging Sister Mary by ramming into her spiritual fists.

To the nun's surprise, the Ghost wasn't dispersed immediately. "Oh?" she remarked with a raised eyebrow. "You're a hardy bunch, aren't you?" The part of Mari Makinami that relished the feel of combat shivered with excitement. The part of Mari Makinami that bore the image and name of Sister Mary took that savage joy and forced it into something more productive. "O God, come to my assistance! O Lord, make haste to help me!" Thus did the young woman delve into the melee: her cries of alleluia complemented by the righteous fury in her arms.

xxxx

Shinji Ikari had, ever since the day he had manifested his Evangelion, become more accustomed to how it acted and moved in the physical world. So much so, that he had adapted to one of two 'modes' of transportation; one was by hanging off of Unit-01's shoulder, gripping the spectral monster's form with an ease that would have been impossible on anything else moving so fast; at several meters tall, the size difference was such that he appeared as a newborn babe by comparison. The second was when Unit-01 was somewhat larger, coming off as a giant more than a monster; at this size, Shinji could comfortably stand upon his Evangelion's shoulder, balancing a hand against Shogoki's head as though he were in some giant robot manga. (Kensuke and Mayumi's words, not his.) He had yet to become comfortable with using his Ascended State — his Overdrive — at will, so it was not yet his 'third mode' of travel. (Part of him hoped that he would never become comfortable with it.)

Still, as Shogoki traversed the rim of Lake Ashi, he was beginning to feel...surprisingly tired. Even as Shogoki's hand swatted another Ghost aside, he frowned as it didn't disperse from impact. They're even tougher than the last time I fought Ghosts. What was causing them to become more powerful? Something that NERV will probably figure out. Empowered by Hamlet, Shogoki wielded an orange blade forged from his A.T. Field; Ghosts were kept away, yet still took two or three hits to be defeated. I wonder...is it just against Evangelion-users? Or are they now that tough in general...? The thought spurred him onward with greater urgency, as his determination inspired him to go faster.

Eventually, as he neared the southern shoreline, his eyes fell upon a cluster of Ghosts ascending a hill; beyond it was a small building of some sort, with a cross on its steeple; flashes of orange enlightened him to the fact that someone was fighting! An A.T. Adept? Grimacing, he willed his Evangelion onward, its ghostly mouth loosing a hollow howl. Storming up the hill, Shogoki smashed its spiritual sword into the ground, blocking the Ghosts from their target.

Said target — a woman in a very modest robed dress, complete with a veil — blinked at the interruption. "Oh? If it isn't Mister Ikari!"

The unusual address elicited a blink from Shinji, forcing him to finally take a better look at the Adept he was reinforcing. Then an old memory flickered, as recognition finally hit him. "Wait...aren't you Sohryu-san's assistant?"

"That's Sister Mary Makinami to you!" She idly pointed behind him. "By the way, you might want to focus!"

Shinji blinked, looking back; the Ghosts were getting their second wind. Frowning, he hopped off of Shogoki, allowing his Evangelion to charge freely against the horde. Their impacts against Shogoki could be felt inwardly at the deepest level, even as he willed his Hamlet-empowered Evangelion to strike with Cleave and Giant Slice. "What are you doing here?"

"Straight to business? You certainly seem a lot more confident than the last time we met!" Grinning in spite of herself, Sister Mary wiped stray droplets of sweat from her forehead. "Let's save the friendly chatter until after this is dealt with...mind occupying them while I recuperate?" Without warning, she dropped to her knees, hands clasped together. With head bowed, she began to speak quietly. "Princeps gloriosissime caelestis militiae, sancte Michael Archangele..."

Shinji didn't recognize the language she spoke in; however, she seemed to move with focus and intent, so he was obliged to let her continue. Turning back towards Lake Ashi, he grimaced at the sight of how many Ghosts were beginning to converge on his location. Am I drawing them here...? The thought was agonizing; even as Unit-01 swung and roared with abandon, the sheer deluge was enough to make him sweat. Am I...going to have to use Overdrive to fight Ghosts...?

The Beast was salivating.

"And why dread this outcome?"

It whispered softly into his ear.

"You know that thou must."

Frowning, he silently prepared his mind-

The Beast went still.

His Other, on the other hand, perked up.

"Ah. A reminder that, for all you fret...you are not the only player in this world."

-only to blink at the growing presence behind him. Shinji glanced over his shoulder, only to double take. "Huh...?"

The A.T. Field around Sister Mary was folding in on itself, over and over, to the point where it was beginning to glow. How is she doing that? he wondered with surprise.

"...Offer nostras preces in conspectu Altissimi, ut cito anticipent nos misericordiae Domini..."

She seemed to be reaching a climax with her words, judging by how brightly her A.T. Field was shining.

"...et ligatum mittas in abyssum, ut non seducat amplius gentes." Sister Mary opened her eyes, which glistened with a severe edge.

Out of instinct, more than anything else, Shinji willed Unit-01 to leap away, all but crashing into the adjacent woods; this left the gathering of ghouls in Makinami's unobstructed line of sight.

Calmly, yet speaking as one with authority, she simply stated, "Amen."

FLASH!

BOOM.

It was not a physical bang that erupted with light and thunder; more a spiritual one, as a massive A.T. Field flattened dozens of Ghosts in an instant.

Then...it was over.

Shinji stared dumbly at the hillside, which was suddenly bereft of spectral entities. So confused was he that his Evangelion actually dissipated. "...what...what was that...?"

Mary didn't answer immediately; not at first. Slouching over, the religious breathed loudly and audibly, as one exhausted. "...hoo," she said, sounding as though she had just run a marathon. "That prayer's so long and requires such concentration...that I rarely get a chance to break it out..." Weakly, she gave him a thumbs up. "Thank you for the assist. Or perhaps, thank you for letting me assist." Unable to conceal her tiredness any longer, the nun fell over on her back, staring lazily at the morning sky. "...I need water."

"...I can go get one...?" Shinji hesitantly offered.

"Glasses are in the cupboard by the sink," she said, pointing at the tiny dwelling adjacent to the church. "Please and thank you."

Shinji hurried along, even as his mind wondered at how the nun had unleashed such devastating power...if 'power' had indeed been the point at all.

xx

As the sun slowly began its rise, Shinji Ikari quickly found himself reintroduced to the 'combat nun'. "Wait...you've been here since the 31st?!"

Taking another sip of water, Mari remarked, "Today marks the sixth day since Miss Sohryu and I arrived in Japan." She arched an eyebrow with surprise. "Have you really not heard?"

"I mean...I knew that Sohryu-san had been ordered to relocate to Japan, but I guess it slipped my mind when she would be arriving...I hadn't heard from anyone else that she was here."

The young nun hummed thoughtfully, an intrigued expression crossing her eyes. "I see..." She apparently had thoughts about that, but she kept them to herself. "...regardless, I appreciate your assistance. The Ghosts were more hardy than I expected."

"...how did you do that?" he sincerely asked. "With your...A.T. Field?"

"Curious, hmm?" Her amusement was obvious. "It's unusual for me to be on assignment whenever Miss Sohryu isn't around, and Ghost numbers are usually manageable enough that simpler techniques suffice. Some of the more intense prayers have a longer setup time, you see...and in the midst of battle, time is usually a luxury."

"...it sure seemed pretty powerful. That prayer, I mean."

"It's normally used in exorcisms, by bishops and duly authorized priests. Fortunately, my order has also been given permission to use those prayers, thanks to their efficacy." Smiling genuinely, she added, "Now, when you have multiple members of my order on the field at once, engaging the enemy...the stuff that can be pulled off is spectacular. If you'll pardon my enthusiasm."

Shinji slightly tilted his head out of confusion. "Is enthusiasm bad?"

"Well..." Adjusting her glasses with one hand, Mari remarked, "Having joy in one's work is important, but excess can all too easily lead to imprudence and fearlessness."

He could easily see imprudence being a problem...but fearlessness? Isn't it a good thing to be fearless?

When he said the same, Mari shook her head. "Fearlessness isn't the same thing as courage. After all, there are things in life worth being fearful for, aren't there? Acting in spite of those fears is what inspires courage...but to have no fear whatsoever, even when it would be a healthy fear? That could lead to one's own destruction...after all, consider what would happen if you acted without fear of Ghosts, or Acolytes, or Angels: you might act in a foolish or dangerous way. Or what about your own power as an Evangelion-user?" With a measured eye, she added, "Do you fear your own power?"

More than you could possibly know, his mind immediately said. His mouth sheepishly muttered, "...yes."

"It's no surprise," assuaged Mari. "I've worked alongside Miss Sohryu long enough to realize that there's something altogether different about the power of Evangelion; I can understand why NERV is so cagey regarding its capabilities. After all, we've already seen just how the world responded to Strega publicly designating Evangelion-users as their primary enemy...not that that's stopped them from wreaking havoc elsewhere." Smiling to herself, she observed, "You could say that the world's response to Strega's threat suffered from an excess of fear, making them act inordinate to reason."

"...you seem pretty smart, Makinami-san. Er, Sister Mary. Right?" Did she have a preference?

The young woman tittered. "I'm fine with either. And as for smarts...well, it's easy to confuse proper demeanor with intelligence," she advised. "I'm far more cheeky with Miss Sohryu...and simply reciting knowledge I learned as part of my training is not the same as having 'smarts'. My...composure is a habit, you might say. Like the habit I wear, if you'll forgive the pun." Her tone was somewhat contrite, oddly enough. "Let's just say that, were it not for my upbringing...I would probably be a far more unpleasant individual to be around. Especially on the field of battle." Her smile was weary: the expression of someone who had struggled with something for a long time. "But you certainly have far more important things to do than listen to me complain about my own particular vice."

"...I'm not sure," Shinji admitted, feeling a bit of kinship with the older woman. "I think it's a good thing, to hear what other people struggle with. I mean...I'm far from perfect. And were it not for the people I know, I'd be far worse..."

Sister Mary's smile was a bit more genuine. "Then I certainly won't stop you. If any assistance I offer can be of help, then let it be so, Lord willing."

xxxx

And all the while, on a subconscious level, in words he had no way of knowing...a familiar voice spoke, within the depths of his being:

I am thou, thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new bond.

It shall lead thou to the truth
that parts the seas of depravity.

Take hold of the Temperance Arcana,
and let it guide you
to a new Promised Land...

xxxx

Shinji bowed his head briefly. "Thank you, Makinami-san." At that moment, his phone began to ring; the number was Misato's. "Oh. Um...I think I need to go."

"Then off you go, young man," said Sister Mary with a gentle wave. "And if you do run into Miss Sohryu...do try to be understanding of her quirks. She's naturally rather prickly."

From what he remembered of their last encounter in Atlanta, that was an understatement. "I will. Thank you." He calmly scurried down the hill, answering the phone so as to provide Misato a quick status update of where exactly he was. "Hello Misato-san, I'm still in Hakone...yes, I was out fighting Ghosts, I didn't think of leaving a note, sorry..."

xx

As the young man walked away, Mari Makinami couldn't help but feel a bit perturbed. That was...odd. For the briefest of moments, her soul had felt...something.

(The closest approximation was akin to a feather lightly setting down, yet refusing to blow away: something so very light and gentle, yet undeniably persistent.)

(Were it not for your training, you would have probably missed it.)

A facet of the Third Child's power, unique among the trio of Evangelion-users? She had no way of knowing. I suppose I'll find out later, if need be; every day has enough of its own evils to ponder. "...well, I supposed I should tell Father Ōkamiki to give the all-clear." If nothing else, she had assurance of her place going forward at this tiny little parish.

(The temptation to grill the boy with question after question regarding recent events would have to wait another day...especially in regards to that yellow fog which had appeared over part of the city yesterday.)

(You'll have plenty of chances to inquire about Tohru Adachi later. For now, you have your Sunday obligation to attend to.)

Sighing, the tertiary retreated into her domicile to pray; partially to give thanks for surviving another battle, but mostly to get her adrenaline back under control...

xxxx

When Shinji returned to Misato's apartment, he arrived to see a somewhat vexed woman. "...um...was me going out to fight Ghosts really so bad...?"

"...not really," admitted Misato with a tired sigh. Slumping over her kitchen table, the woman tiredly murmured, "Got a lot on my mind. You had breakfast, yet?"

Shinji's stomach took that moment to growl. "...just some green tea," he admitted with a flushed face.

"Let's fix that. Take a seat."

Shinji obediently did so, watching as Misato grabbed some leftover rice from the fridge and mixed it with a container of broth and sauce (mercifully, not to the degree she was accustomed to...). With some seawood and pickled ginger added on top, he had a rather decent bowl of rice soup to eat. "Thank you, Misato-san." Looking around, he asked, "Did everyone leave...?"

"Given that school's starting back tomorrow, I think Sakamoto wanted to give the kids a chance to unwind. I agreed...after all, with me taking over for Akechi-kun after the next new moon, I'm not gonna be around as often. Mayumi-chan especially should get into the swing of things..." Misato waited until he took several bites before asking, "Sakamoto-san told me that Kaji messaged you about Sumaru's Shadow. Wanna talk about it?"

Shinji, grateful for the opportunity to actually bring this up, simply took his phone and opened up his chat log with Kaji's Shadow. "This is what he said, Misato-san..."

Misato stonily took the phone, looking at the text log starting on September the 4th. The fact it came from an invalid number made her curse under her breath; however, the more she read, the more morose she became. Right as Shinji finished his rice soup, Misato murmured, "Not just with Mr. P...but what's all this talk about Ayanami? 'Given our natures, I suppose it is I who is similar to her,'" she recited to herself. "What does he mean by that?"

"I don't know," admitted Shinji. "He...he comes across as someone who knows a lot...but is sad about what he knows."

"...I've never forgotten Ayanami's apparent connection to Mister P. Even if he's an ally...I can't get over how damn shady he is. And now Kaji's Shadow is talking about being similar to her?" Grimacing, she remarked, "I can't even wonder about why he doesn't want my help carrying whatever's weighing on him, because you were bright enough to ask him. And his answer is more cryptic bullshit about the truth hurting? At this point, what the hell could it even be?!"

Whatever it is, it's enough for Kaji-san to keep himself away, even though he clearly still cares about you...the same for Mister P, whoever he truly is. Glancing over at the living room, he idly noted Pen-Pen sleeping upside down on the easy chair. And if he has a connection to Pen-Pen...what is it? And how did it come to be? Misato's troubled exhale stirred Shinji from his thoughts. "Misato-san?"

"...I guess I'm just tired, Shinji-kun," she admitted with a tired smile, pushing his phone back to him. "Gotta start looking through that footage I yoinked from Himmel...but I just wonder if it's actually going to give me answers that are worth a damn, or if I'm just gonna have my chain jerked around again. Like I'm nothing but a damned yo-yo." A sigh tore itself from her lungs, her whole frame seeming to curl in upon itself by mere centimeters; it was still enough to make her seem reduced, lesser. "I sometimes wonder whether or not they hate me, you know? Because this is a really shitty way to treat someone who just wants a straight answer."

In the face of such honest pain, Shinji wondered about...telling her. About bringing her into the fold, at least to the same degree of his peers in Team Statherós.

(The last time he had done that, the Usurper had taken a proverbial pound of flesh with the sharpened tool known as Minako Arisato.)

(Iori and Amada died when facing Minako. Dare you involve another? Do you believe you're strong enough to make a difference in a second round? Or perhaps you'll end up holding another funeral...?)

...why can't this stuff be more straightforward? Even as his thoughts turned in on themselves, he remarked, "We are here for you...you know that, right, Misato-san?" After a moment, he added, "Especially Mana-san and Yamagishi-san."

"...I know. But it's hard for the brain to get the heart to shut up and stop moping," she joked. "...well, I'm sure you've got better things to do than listen to me whinge. Go ahead and make the most of your last day of summer vacation."

"Are...are you sure?"

"Go on. Your chances to feel like a kid are few and far between as is," she said, all but shooing him away. "I've got other things to look into than my own little research anyhow. The more I work, the less time I have to sit around and mope."

"...if you say so," slowly said Shinji, rising from the table and once more thanking her for breakfast. After washing his bowl and spoon, he — feeling a bit of empathy — said, "But...I think taking a chance to mope every now and then won't hurt. It might help provide perspective."

Misato lightly snorted. "Offering free therapy?"

Shinji shook his head. "Just...speaking from experience."

"...do you realize how sad that sounds?"

"Yes," he freely admitted, surprised at how he said so with little in the way of shame. "See you later, Misato-san."

(It wouldn't occur to him until later that he had forgotten to bring up his meeting with Sister Mary Makinami, and his discovery regarding the Second Child's presence in Japan...)

xx

Misato's forced grin fell into a weary frown the moment Shinji Ikari left. "...moping, huh...?" she muttered aloud, burying her face into her hands.

She remained like that for a few minutes; that was all she allowed herself.

(She didn't cry...but it was a close thing.)

xxxx

The Sunday proceeded onward, and so did the world.

xxxx

A newsfeed relayed news and breaking headlines from around Japan and the world. "In response to the Ghost incidents this morning and their reported severity, the Governors of Kanagawa, Saitama, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka Prefectures have issued a joint statement regarding increased mobilization and drafting of those with potential as A.T. Adepts..."

xxxx

At NERV Headquarters, a pair of Aidas — father and son — ate lunch together at the cafeteria.

Seigo, despite being a rather stoic sort, was merely a Human Resources Manager.

Kensuke, despite being a Persona-user who had fought against Angels and terrorists, was a mere intern.

Both of them had been called into work that Sunday, ironically because of the Ghost attacks that morning (the former to take care of the HR tracking for all the employees who had come into work that day; the latter because Dr. Akagi had said so).

"Are you prepared for the beginning of the term tomorrow?" asked Seigo, idly alternating between reading forms from a manila folder and eating yakisoba.

Kensuke nodded, slurping a particularly long noodle. "Yeah. Mostly. The endless struggle that is getting out of the 'summer vacation' mindset."

"One of the few luxuries of childhood...even if your 'vacation' had more harrowing events than most."

"Please don't remind me..."

As they ate their yakisoba, Seigo finally asked, "I would ask that you come over at least once on the weekends during the upcoming school term, your duties notwithstanding."

So much went unsaid in that request. Yet, Kensuke had come to understand enough about his father to know what he was truly asking. "Yes sir."

Thus did father and son finish their lunch before returning to work.

xxxx

"-authorities are still unable to provide any comment regarding the presence of Tohru Adachi, and why exactly he visited Tokyo-3 yesterday..."

xxxx

At Kobayakawa Memorial Hospital, Toji Suzuhara quietly spoke to his comatose sister. "Anyhow, school starts back up tomorrow...so I'm gonna be busy with all that junk, and stuff." Nerves around the building had been awfully tense, given yesterday's impromptu bout of fog; fortunately, his sister's condition was unchanged by the experience. (What a sad thing to be grateful for.) "...but I'll still make sure to come and visit, and tell you about how my life is going." Sighing, he gently clasped her tiny palm in his hands, pressing it against his forehead. "...no matter what happens, you'll always have me," he whispered, renewing his personal vow.

Shortly thereafter, he walked out of his sister's room; Ryuji Sakamoto had given him some privacy. "Ready to get back to work?"

"Got nothing better to do, sensei," murmured Toji.

"Then let's get to the CPC. The girls have gotten a head start on the Pacification backlog."

Toji nodded, huffing loudly as a means of psyching himself up. "Yosh!"

xxxx

"In other news, the Anti-Terror Task Force of Japan has announced that Acting Commissioner Munehisa Iwai has been formally promoted to the position on a permanent basis. With Superintendent Isako Toriumi having been reassigned to cover the Chūbu region after the fall of Tokyo-2, it has not yet been determined who will take over her old position as Kansai's Superintendent, or Iwai's as Kantō's..."

xxxx

Within the Metaverse, inside the bowels of Tokyo-3's Cognitive Protection Center, Mana Kirishima quietly sipped from the hand of an Aquan Archetype. "That makes five Shadows pacified, so far?"

Mayumi Yamagishi stared.

"Feels kind of weird, working alongside Agents outside our team...but at least Daisuke Nagase and his crew seem professional enough."

"..."

Mana arched an eyebrow. "What's with the stare?"

"...you're drinking from an Archetype," she flatly said.

Mana shrugged. "They literally told us that this Aquan was cognitively engineered to be made of curative sugar water. It's refreshing."

"It's...a little strange." Mayumi glanced at the watery humanoid; the elemental was altogether silent, staring at her with lifeless eyes. "It also feels rather empty compared to a natural Archetype."

"Suit yourself," remarked Mana. "...so, school tomorrow, huh?"

Mayumi nodded. "Will you be okay?"

"I'll be sticking with Katsuragi or Sakamoto. There's literally too much work to go around." Giving her adoptive sister — was that a proper way of thinking of Mayumii, now that Misato had practically taken them both in? — a stern look, Mana added, "Just don't slack off."

Mayumi shook her head. "I wouldn't dream of it...though, it'll be pretty odd, going back to the Literature Club after so long..."

"Doesn't that seem kind of...pointless, though?"

"...no," she forcefully said. "If it weren't for the Literature Club, I wouldn't have become friends with Shinji Ikari...and I wouldn't have gotten close enough to become friends with you and the others. Even small things are important."

Mana hummed noncommittally. Can't forget the big picture...my brothers are still out there. I have to be ready for the next time we face each other...

xxxx

"Meanwhile, in breaking news, we've received word that a joint operation between the cognitive forces of Iran and Turkmenistan to strike at Strega has failed..."

xxxx

Elsewhere in the Metaverse, amidst a blasted wasteland dotted by ancient Persian ruins, Takaya Sakaki watched the bloody handiwork of his comrades with a smile. As Jin Shirato observed the flows of thought that formed and affected their environment, the head of Strega gazed at the three youngest. Musashi Strasberg and Keita Asari have become strikingly determined in their slaughter...and Minazuki has amplified his mania as if to match them. An amusing, if altogether predictable turn of events. With each blow we make, the more we provoke the world to respond...will humanity muster the necessary vigor? Or will they simply lay down and die at last...?

He knew that, in the end, this would all culminate in the ultimate victory of the Angels...but, in the meantime, experiencing each moment as it came gave the whole enterprise an air of excitement...

xxxx

"-in other news, given Strega's recent attacks on MAGI facilities in central Asia, the demand for new MAGI is on the increase..."

xxxx

Ritsuko Akagi absentmindedly critiqued Kensuke Aida's analysis of the most recent debugging of the Tokyo-3 MAGI, even as the greater part of her mind focused on something which had been lingering as an...old point of contention.

(July the 30th: As she spoke to Shinji Ikari about PILATE's data logs — kept beyond her reach by some unknown whim of the MAGI; perhaps a bit of subconscious spite baked into the computers' biological components — she couldn't keep her lingering bitterness from leaking out. But given that the Third Child was about to go on a bloody summer vacation, she didn't find it in herself to care too much.)

Even now, the MAGI are keeping me from finding out what PILATE's been talking with Ikari about. In spite of recent opportunities she'd had to manually inspect his phone, there was some kind of dynamic algorithm that immediately locked down his chat logs the moment she had it in her hands. Remotely viewing files on his phone had also been rendered an impossibility, which was something she was utterly mystified by. What's so important about your discussions with Ikari?

(Why didn't the MAGI exhibit similar initiative with regards to her?)

(Why would you be surprised? You know that you never impressed her...not as a daughter, not as a scientist, nor as a woman...)

Ritsuko quietly took a drag from her cigarette, crunching the stub into her ashtray.

xxxx

"-reports from the United Nations indicate that renewed negotiations for access to the Evangelions have been rebuffed by President Shido, whose focus is on the upcoming nationwide referendum occurring at the end of the month..."

xxxx

In Kyoto, Masayoshi Shido — President for the time being, pending the final authorization and approval of Japan's new constitution establishing it as a confederacy of prefectures — was enjoying a brief moment between meetings to look at his personal calendar. The 14th of September: the day after the upcoming new moon. On that day, his son's tenure as Warden of Tokyo-3's Cognitive Protection Center would come to an end.

(His son had been dutiful, polite, and well-behaved: a talented scion, born to greatness. Then, on June 5th of 2008, Shimaru Shido had inexplicably run away. That boy's gifts had been enough to somehow evade detection; imagine his shock, years later, to discover that his son had become an A.T. Agent under the identity of Goro Akechi.)

From what I've heard, his capability is exceptional...what trials did he endure to become so powerful? Or is it a matter of his natural talent manifesting itself? Either way, he would do whatever it took to ensure that the boy was within reach...so that he could get some answers as to his petulant disobedience. After all, the position for Kansai's Superintendent is now vacant...and I have the funniest feeling that he would be more than capable.

(No matter what, he would get to the truth as to why his son had run away.)

(Then, things will finally be in their proper order...)

xxxx

"In related news, field tests of NERV's Project Prometheus have been approved by the Security Council after military observations of their activity in America were deemed 'promising'..."

xxxx

At NERV's First Branch in the ruins of Old Boston, both of the Marukis were pulling an all-nighter...no thanks to Director Ikutsuki from the Second Branch. "So...are we going to be reimbursed for all the extra coffee we've had to make, just to analyze your Prometheans' data?" asked Takuto Maruki.

Shuji Ikutsuki's image on the monitor shrugged. "It cannot be helped if there is a lot of 'product' to sell."

Takuto smiled warily. "I'm...not exactly comfortable referring to the Prometheans as 'products'..."

"It is the reality of how the world views them. More importantly, other nations are willing to pay in order to supplement the Anti-Terror Task Force and their own cognitive forces...especially since Strega has proven to be surprisingly troublesome."

On another monitor, the severe face of Mitsuru Kirijo — looking far perkier than either of the others, given that it was morning in Germany — accompanied an equally stern voice. "Whoever those poor souls are, any assistance they can provide in fighting back against the monsters of the world will be reward enough for the people they used to be."

Honestly, Futaba is convinced the Prometheans don't HAVE souls, thought Maruki, his eyes tiredly shifting towards his wife; she was still hunched over in front of her station, typing away at her keyboard and analyzing all of the data coming from the Prometheans which had been deployed on America's East Coast. Even if they're manifesting A.T. Fields to an extent...something seems off. "I suppose I'm just tired..."

"I've already given word that the Third Branch will have an analytics package available for our clients by this afternoon," said Director Kirijo. "Do you have an ETA?"

Futaba garbled something incoherent. Takuto expertly translated that as, "We'll be done by sunrise."

Mitsuru nodded, whilst Ikutsuki grinned wanly. "Here's to the widescale adoption of Project Prometheus...and, hopefully, a lighter burden for our dogged Evangelion-users." With those words, Ikutsuki logged off.

As Kirijo logged off as well, Takuto finally yawned. "I hope this'll be the last all-nighter in a while..."

xx

Futaba Maruki had idly half-listened to Taco-kun talking shop with his fellow Directors; her eyes (and the majority of her mind) were focused on something about the Prometheans' data that was bugging her.

After excluding the variables and outlying parameters, she had finally discovered a commonality...one that was the exact opposite of whatever she had observed with Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley-Sohryu. Those two have that weird little wavelength...and your average Joe has cognitive and metaphysical readings, but without that weird little signal that the Second and Third Children share...but these Prometheans...?

Their mental and spiritual data, for lack of a better word, lacked depth; like they were merely pretending at being people. Sure, they may be suffering from psycho-spiritual maladies...but something just seems wrong with them in a way I can't quite put my finger on...

(At least Ikutsuki had done his due diligence with this whole project. That was enough to assuage her, for the time being...)

xxxx

"-informal population surveys conducted since the fall of Tokyo-2 indicate that the largest population outflows from Nagano Prefecture have been to Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo-3..."

xxxx

At Kanamin Kitchen's Tokyo-3 location, a rather large party of educational professionals celebrated their last night of relative 'freedom'; tomorrow, classes would resume.

Keel Lorenz listened, for the most part; it was an exercise of charity (though some would say largesse) on his account, to pay for the entire party, consisting of the faculty for both the High School and Junior High School branches for Hakone Academy. Even so, he put in his two cents as appropriate. "We seem to have a surprising number of last-minute transfers," he remarked, sipping from a glass of red wine.

"Please don't remind me," grumbled Sadayo Kawakami.

Sumire Yoshizawa gently rubbed the shoulders of her fellow teacher. "There there, Kawakami-sensei..."

Kasumi Yoshizawa finished chewing a rather large chunk of roast lamb before adding, "A challenge is simply that: a challenge. We'll make sure those newcomers are brought up to speed immediately!"

"Your workload is kind of ludicrous," murmured Ichiko Ohya, the 'newbie' amongst the High School faculty. "If it weren't for the higher-than-average pay, I'd be tempted to just hitch a ride out of this city..."

"Excellence is its own reward, but I also believe in paying well for it," observed the Principal of Hakone Academy. "There is no expense too great to ensure a brighter future."

"I'll drink to that," agreed Kawakami.

Keel Lorenz made his rounds, eventually hovering closer towards a table containing a number of teachers for the Junior High branch's second year. "I trust you're all enjoying yourselves," he stated without asking.

Maya Ibuki, Makoto Hyuga, and Shigeru Aoba each raised their own glasses of beer. Kōzō Fuyutsuki slightly raised a small cup of warm saké. "Enjoying your generosity, kōchō-sensei"

"You'd best. You and the others in your year have the unique privilege of teaching all three Evangelion-users."

Aoba all but slumped in his chair. "Don't remind us..."

"It'll be fine. Definitely fine. No need to panic," muttered Ibuki, the mousey woman repeating the words like a mantra.

Hyuga robotically ate from his gourmet rice, opting for the better path known as 'silence'.

Fuyutsuki couldn't help but chuckle. "At least Ayanami-kun and Ikari-kun aren't troublemakers...I can't speak for the third one, however. Sohryu-kun, was it?"

"The Second Child is a bit of a spitfire, and definitely more in line with gaijin stereotypes," remarked the Principal, even as he quietly enjoyed the music of the live band. "But I'm sure everything will go swimmingly, so long as we do our best."

xxxx

"-when broached about recent rumors regarding a rebuffed attempt to reorganize NERV into a government-owned corporation, the Governor of Kanagawa had no comment..."

xxxx

For once, Gendo Ikari was not in his office, languishing in the dark.

Rather, he stood upon the rooftop of NERV Headquarters. With the waning crescent moon yet to rise above the horizon for a few more hours yet, the sky seemed somewhat oppressive; though empty of clouds, the ambient light pollution of the city choked out the starlight, leaving only the perception of darkness.

How fitting, in the grand scheme of things.

"So many people act according to their own whims, their own plans, their own desires," he mused, hands stuffed into his pockets. Despite the blowing wind, he seemed paradoxically untouched by it. "Yet, once they get what they want...rare is the man who is finally satisfied." After having experienced so much, he doubted such an individual existed; the world they lived in had no patience, nor any desire, for saints. "Such is our lot." His eyes, hidden by orange shades, quietly gazed into the abyss above; even now, he wondered if she could see him. "I wonder...if you're the exception...I wonder if you're satisfied...Yui."

He remained there for some time, content with the loneliness of his position.

(It was a balm for the rancid spite that otherwise motivated him.)

xxxx

"-since it's a new week, it's time for the weekly 'Cooler than Cognition' popularity survey! Recently, the First Child has been observed operating all over Japan as of late. Given the relative newness and scandals surrounding the Third Child, one wonders if the stoic girl's stability and reliability will earn her more fans, in spite of Evangelion's negative reputation of late..."

xxxx

Within the Izanami Dorms, Rei Ayanami looked around her room in silence. It was not unexpected for Hikari Horaki and Mayumi Yamagishi to be absent...but the lack of Asuka Langley-Sohryu was admittedly a bit surprising. Though, I suppose she is enjoying her last vestige of 'freedom' before being forced to live here. The fiery redhead had always had colorful opinions regarding such...trivialities.

Without another word, the First Child quietly took a shower, relishing the silence of the empty room.

Such quiet peace would become all too valuable a commodity in the days to come...

xxxx

"However, viewers have also spoken of sightings of the Second Child, who was officially supposed to arrive in Japan by the beginning of September. Given how many missions she's been on per available statistics, the fiery foreigner has wasted no time ingratiating herself with her new hosts..."

xxxx

Sister Mary Makinami sensed Asuka's approach before she knocked on the door. With a knowing smile, she opened the door to her private residence. "Shouldn't you be turning in at your dorm, Miss Sohryu?"

Asuka gave a tired roll of the eyes. "Ha ha."

"Have you already eaten?"

Asuka shook her head. "I've been in Hokkaido for most of the day. Last had a snack several hours ago."

Sister Mary shook her head at her habitual stubbornness. "Honestly, you're going to be the death of yourself one of these days, if not me!"

The Second Child snorted, pulling up a chair at the small kitchen table. "Like you wouldn't jump for joy to finally be rid of me," she snarked, opting for gallows humor as a way to get under her skin.

Mari didn't take the bait. "Looking forward to death is fine and dandy if you think you're in a good spot...but most people want as much time as possible to make the most of their lives." With a knowing expression, she said, "Do you think you're gifted enough to be one of those lucky few, who are satisfied that they've done all they could?"

Asuka, wisely, also didn't take the bait.

A simple but filling meal of eggs with stir-fried noodles was accompanied by brief chatter. "I actually had a visit from Shinji Ikari today." When Asuka looked at her with bewildered eyes, Mari laughed. "Ghost attack. He was quite impressed by one of my longer prayers."

"I'm sure," she groused. "What, was he that useless that you had to hold his hand?"

"You've fought alongside him once before," she lightly chided. "You know better...which means you're being envious again. Or perhaps it's jealousy...?"

Asuka rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to take a shower. You still have spares of my things?"

"I always do," acknowledged the nun. Mari shook her head as the younger teenager headed to the bathroom. "So prickly~" The religious quietly cleaned the dishes, performed some brief stretches and prayers, and switched into her loose yet modest nightgown. Right as she finished preparing a futon on the floor, Asuka emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas. "You can take the bed, Miss Sohryu-"

"Nope." Asuka promptly rolled the blanket over, rolling into the futon. "'Night."

"...well, if you're going to be that stubborn about it," murmured Sister Mary as she accepted Asuka's act of generosity, hopping into her bed. "Sleep well."

(It would be no surprise to her, that, later that evening, Asuka would end up slipping into the bed.)

(Mari would make no mention of it; simply embracing the younger girl from behind, she would rest her chin in Asuka's hair.)

("You don't have to act tough all the time," she would whisper, as an elder sister would to her younger sibling. Asuka wouldn't answer, committed as she was to her own particular pride.)

(Come the next day, Asuka would say nothing about it, and Mari wouldn't poke fun at her. Some things didn't need to be said out loud.)

xxxx

"But as far as others go, a lot of viewers have come to appreciate the rugged looks of Munehisa Iwai-"

"This part of the news is always boring," said a childish voice.

Hikari Horaki couldn't help but agree. However, the pragmatic part of her replied, "Well Nozomi-chan, it can be helpful at times to think about how others are perceived."

"I guess," muttered the younger girl.

"Did you finish washing up?"

"Yes."

"Did you brush your teeth-?"

"Yes," grumbled the child, pouting and crossing her arms. "M'not little, sis."

"I know. But school starts back tomorrow, so you need to get back in the groove of things." Looking over towards the easy chair, Hikari asked, "Otousan..."

Bunzaemon Hikari slightly waved his hand. keeping his eyes on the newscast. "You have school as well...I'll be turning in before long."

(School. A place where she could actually accomplish something tangible.)

"...okay." Hikari quietly tiptoed over, squeezing his shoulder and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep well, father."

"I will," he promised.

(Hikari would wake up later that evening to see that her father had fallen asleep in the chair, the television still running mindlessly.)

(Out of habit, she placed a small pillow behind his head, covered him in a blanket, and kicked in the recliner so he could at least lean back.)

(If only you could do more...)

xxxx

Within the Vulcanus Dorms, a trio of Wild Cards prepared for their return to the daily school life.

"It all sort of loses its pizazz once you go through it often enough," murmured Minato.

"Speak for yourself," huffed Ren. "At least you don't have four Confidants in the faculty."

"...of the four, which ones would you rather date?" honestly asked Yu.

Ren flatly stared at his 'senpai'. Even if he knew such outlandish oddball questions were — to some degree — one of Narukami's coping mechanisms, he couldn't help but rise to the bait. "I'm not having a discussion about the dateability of my teachers."

Yu shrugged. "You'd be surprised at how normal that sort of question is for high schoolers."

"Normal or not, the answer is no."

"...we need more productive ways to reduce stress," grumbled Minato. "Dating and romance kind of lost its appeal," he said.

Neither Narukami nor Amamiya called him out on such a blatant lie. "Then maybe we should've picked a sports club of some kind," said Yu with a hum.

"It would feel too much like we're beating up small children," griped Ren. "And that's notwithstanding the fact that we haven't put any points into being athletic," he added, implicitly offering tribute to Futaba Sakura the Gamer Girl Extraordinaire.

Minato slowly looked in his direction. "What about that little 'mask' trick you told us about?" he asked, referring to Ren's brief summer escapades as Joker.

"We don't actually have proper ways to get into the Metaverse...and besides, it'd be too risky, wouldn't it?"

As one, the trio sighed.

(It was their way of getting back into the proper mindset: griping and moaning and complaining about the whole affair as though it were a job.)

(By tomorrow, they would once more be acting and living the role of second-year high school students: intelligent, aloof, cool, and impossibly charming...)

xxxx

Finally...the Izanagi Dorms.

"Tomorrow...we return to school," observed Kaworu Nagisa from atop his bunk.

Shinji Ikari, staring at the underside, sleepily replied, "Yeah..." His hands were absentmindedly fiddling with his old SDAT.

"A more wretched hive of scum and villainy the likes of which we've never seen," mused Kensuke Aida from atop his bunk.

Toji Suzuhara blinked, his face contorting to a mulish frown. "That sounds like a quote."

"...maybe," was Aida's sheepish reply.

"I mean, school's irritating, but it's not that bad. I kind of missed the normal grind of it all...I wonder if my track time will have improved...?"

Kensuke stared over the edge of his bunk. "After everything we've gone through the past month, that's what you're focusing on?!"

"Screw you, Ken! Don't pick on normies for being normal!"

"First of all, don't ever use the word 'normie': you sound lame. Second, normalcy is overrated. Third..."

Shinji quietly tuned out their bickering, knowing that it would last for a while. With a quiet sigh, he stuck the earbuds in, and pressed 'play' on the tape of velvet blue...

xxxx

...and when he opened his eyes, he was sitting in a metal folding chair, staring at Sokila. No one else was in the auditorium, not even Igor. "Sokila-chan...?" This sound...Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique? Why was the song different?

"I need to show you something," said the little girl. "It's something...well, I guess it's somethin' important? That's what Mister Igor and my fellow 'Tendants were sayin'..."

"...okay," he said, uncertain about what was happening. When she extended her hand, he took it in his own; the little girl quietly led him onto the auditorium stage, taking him beyond the curtains and into the backstage.

The overall scenery shifted and changed seamlessly, yet evoked no distinction of strangeness; he was simply traversing the backstage of an auditorium, traversing the halls that connected to changing rooms and costume departments. Yet each door they entered took them further to the edge of the quaint 'unreality' that the Velvet Room occupied; before long, they were before another door. "...does this lead outside of the Velvet Room...?"

Sokila shook her head. "Nope. Just to the edge of it...kinda? The others used a lot of big words about it..." Looking up with soulful yellow eyes, she added, "You're the one who has to open it."

"...if you say so," he said, trusting her. He quietly turned the brass knob, stepping beyond the threshold. To his shock, he now stood upon a floor of blue tiles and cobalt fencing, floating amidst a starry sky; impossibly, he could see perfectly fine, as though his person was cast in twilight. Beethoven's sonata was swiftly muffled, and he felt distinctly...lesser, somehow; less real, than before.

"It's like being in a dream, isn't it?"

Shinji balked at the sudden voice, marvelling at its familiarity; it came from a figure standing ahead of him, in the center of the arena. "Wait...Akechi-san?!"

The older teenager calmly turned around, clad in his A.T. Agent uniform, shackled as ever. "You sound surprised," he observed.

"I mean, but...why? How?!" he exclaimed, gesturing around them wildly. "How are you in the Velvet Room?!"

"Technically, though we lie between mind and matter, we have fallen further from reality and into the realm of dreams," Akechi corrected, taking his measure. "I suppose Joker is capable of operational security, at the very least..."

"What are you-?"

"The man you know as Ren Amamiya is a Wild Card. Just like Narukami and Arisato," he said without preamble. "In the grand order of things, my role was to be one as well, albeit a player on the opposite side of the board...even though we were both part of a game we had no choice in. A game that was itself but a failed attempt at ending a wretched stalemate." Akechi quietly began to pace, circling Shinji Ikari as he did so; somehow, Shinji had ended up in the center of the bizarre arena. "Yet the key to ending that stalemate was never my role, nor Joker's...it is yours. And if you are to be that key, no chances can be taken..."

Shinji's mind was reeling with disbelief — had Amamiya-senpai known all this time? Had Akechi known he was a Wild Card from the very beginning? What was going on?! — even as his eyes darted around; the other Attendants occupied the four corners of the arena. Sokila was now sitting atop the doorframe leading out of this arena, kicking her feet back and forth. "What's...?!"

"It is quite simple, Shinji Ikari: by the end of their respective journeys, Arisato, Narukami, and Kurusu — Joker — wielded power akin to gods. You will need to be at least on their level..." Without warning, he shattered his manacles; in a flash of blue fire and crimson light, his outfit was overshadowed by that of a dark hero's: a twisted reflection of a valiant Featherman, complete with a sharp and wicked helm of black, with red lenses over his eyes. "Behold: the great villain once known as the Black Mask." With a flick of the wrist, his left hand now held a sawtooth blade, jagged and foul, colored like fresh blood. "I will have your measure, Ikari! If you hold back, you might as well die and let someone more worthy take your place!" With a harsh cackle, a black-and-white humanoid with wicked horns and hoofed feet manifested, perched upon a crimson sword. "Behold: Loki!"

Shinji boggled. That's not Robin Hood...he has multiple Personas too...?!

His Other calmly held up an old skull.

"And this is a concern?"

The Beast smiled, teeth spattered with blood.

"He believes himself to be a villain...how precious."

As one, they spoke.

"Go forth, and fight."

...there's a purpose to this, thought Shinji, determinedly calming himself down. Sokila-chan wouldn't bring me here to die...and if Akechi-san is speaking like this...he must be intent on training me in his own way. Why couldn't he just phrase it that way, then? "...all right." Moving as if in a dream, his Metaverse outfit manifested, spade and all. Behind him, Hamlet flashed into being. "I'm ready."

With defiant — and impossibly gleeful — roars, Akechi and his Persona charged.

Loki started things off with Riot Gun. Energetic bolts roared into the sky, multiplying and falling back down as a fiery rain.

Shinji had already switched Personas, shifting from Hamlet to Sobek; the anthropomorphic crocodile resisted the Gun Skill, snarling as he bit down upon Loki's sword. The reptilian Persona grappled with the horned humanoid, claws scratching at monochrome skin as Loki retaliated with harsh kicks. Shinji barely had enough time to focus his intentions — strike at Loki, keep him close, don't let him get the sword out! — before he was forced to raise his Monk's Spade; sparks flew as the jagged edge of Akechi's Saw Saber ground against the staff, the older teen's greater height and strength already working to his advantage.

Akechi — nay, Black Mask — chuckled in Shinji's face. "An inspired choice," he hissed, eyes wide with a strangely manic glee. "A Persona that reflects Dark Skills? You must be trying to piss me off!"

Shinji grimaced as Akechi forced him back; it was only barely that he was managing to block Akechi's brutally wild yet precisely clinical strikes. "Not really-!"

"If this is the extent of your skill, then you might as well die!" He kicked Shinji in the sternum, sending him backwards; without hesitation, his right hand unholstered a black pistol with a long silencer. Akechi took aim at the center of mass...

(Center the target. Pull the trigger. Those words seemed familiar.)

(Yet very rarely did they lead to the death of your target...)

...and pulled the trigger.

The silenced bullet smashed into the shoulder of a second Persona, newly summoned to take the shot instead of Shinji.

"An Isis?" observed Akechi with a stern growl.

The Egyptian goddess, clad in blue and white with golden wings shrouding her arms, cast Diarama. Shinji quickly recentered himself, focusing on Akechi's form. (It was strange, how his trial by fire against Zeruel's avatar had made the work of summoning two Personas at once easier...to an extent. His mind still ached from the dichotomy, yet there were aspects of the two Personas on an archetypal level that were complementary enough to ease the strain. "Makouga."

Akechi dashed to the side, avoiding the Bless Skill's blast radius. "Intuition? Or perhaps insight? It doesn't matter; you need to go for the kill!" As he spoke, Sobek's form suddenly crashed in their midst, thrown by Loki. "Weaklings deserve to die, after all!" screamed Akechi.

"Debilitate," hissed Loki.

Shinji and his two Personas grimaced, feeling their strength and fortitude slipping away-

"Megidolaon," snarled Loki, summoning a swell of Almighty power.

-and then there was no time to think, only for action. Impulses screamed-

"Dormina/Hamaon," intoned Shinji's Personas before they immediately turned around to protect him with their bodies.

-a slight drowsiness afflicted Loki ("Lucky break," snarled Akechi), and though he endured the subsequent burst of holy energy, the impact was still enough to throw off his aim-

BOOM.

An orb of Almighty energy erupted in the midst of space, briefly shining like a star. Destruction, alas, had been evaded. Shinji exhaled with relief. "That-"

"Too slow!" Akechi blasted through the gap between Sobek and Isis, smashing his fist into Shinji's chest.

Shinji gasped from the sharpness of the blow, the force driving him backwards in an uncontrolled tumble. Panic and instinct briefly clashed, as his free hand impulsively went for his waist pack (had it been there before? Had he conjured it forth from nothing, in this dreamy realm...?) and reached for his Bowie knife. Shinji barely got his feet underneath him before his opponent was upon him. Right as Akechi struck once more, his weapons had shifted from spade and knife to garden fork and trowel; the Saw Saber got stuck between the prongs of the fork, whilst the silenced pistol was barely kept away by the small yet sturdy shaft of the trowel.

Akechi sneered — the brief glimpse of his expression showing something wrathful, barely visible beneath the gaps of his mask — as he tried to push down on Shinji with his greater weight. "Garden instruments. Fit for a domesticated child; not for a warrior, nor for a fighter. What business do you have trying to accomplish anything?!"

(There was something deeper that motivated Akechi's wrath; there was no other reason he could see to justify this change of behavior...unless the Akechi he had known all this time was that talented at lying.) "It shouldn't be any business of mine," he honestly admitted, arms shuddering from the strain. "But...it is anyway...so I have to fight..." In the corner of his eye, he saw Loki approaching, blade held high. "...with what I have!"

Sobek and Isis dispersed in that instant; right as Loki was about to skewer him, another Persona manifested: the loud roar of Hell Biker echoed through the arena as his vehicle crashed into Loki's side, driving the monochrome Persona off-balance. "Eat this, punk! GIANT SLICE!" boasted the vulgar skeleton, his arm lashing out like a blade made of pure physical force.

Loki took the blow well (Akechi merely grimaced, still unyielding in his attempts to overpower Shinji), immediately retaliating with his own blade. "Laevateinn!" He swung his sword downward in a vertical arc, unleashing a violet surge of energy with colossal force that made the arena quake and shiver. Hell Biker careened wildly from the blow, even as Shinji felt the air rush from his lungs by proxy.

"I'm not even the worst of what you'll face," snarled Akechi, voice tinged with sincere venom. "You need to do better than this, you little SHIT!" Growling loudly, he grabbed Shinji by the collar and tossed him away.

Shinji winced with each impact, his body literally bouncing off the ground before he skidded to a stop. Shaking his head, he slowly raised his head to witness Akechi's approach. Ow, he thought with a grimace, trying to rise. That hurt...

(Why wasn't he panicking? Akechi had demonstrated his intent to kill. So why didn't he feel that same sense of fear?)

(When fighting Zeruel's avatar, or Minako Arisato, or even Sho Minazuki...there had been an instinctive dread, confronted with the reality of his own mortality. So why? What was the difference?)

(Was it because of the Velvet Room? Was it Sokila's presence? Or was it because...he just didn't believe Akechi's professed intentions?)

...but I can do something to make the pain stop...can't I...? Gritting his teeth, Shinji felt a familiar sensation settle over him...

The Beast grinned.

"Yes...you know very well how much power I granted you before, don't you?"

The sense of smug satisfaction marinated its form with malice.

"You do not fear him...because you know he's not a threat..."

...but as he stood up — the aura and silhouette of Shogoki slowly gaining definition — a hand fell upon his shoulder.

The Beast hissed at the interloper.

"You have no place!"

His Other arched an eyebrow.

"Is it not obvious? This place lies within a dream..."

With a confident gaze, he stared down the Beast without fear.

"...which should tell you that the boy, deep down, dreams of mastering himself...and his anger."

Shinji looked back with yellow eyes, staring into the equally yellow eyes of Hamlet. There was an immediate sense of understanding, for he was Hamlet, and Hamlet was he. Even as mind and body and soul overlapped each other...was it not possible, for the mind to consider alternative perspectives at the same time in different senses? If a Persona was but a mask that allowed him to face that which he would prefer to leave in the Shadows...then why could it not be more literal, when Evangelion itself was what he dreaded?

Thus did Shinji — bearing the image of Unit-01 over his form, hazy yet solid — and Hamlet turn to face Akechi and Loki.

Akechi snorted. "Show me that you're not the weakling you keep pretending to be!"

The struggle that followed was titanic, yet personal; as Shinji grappled with Akechi, his weapon had lost its transformative qualities, overwhelmed by the fullness of Evangelion: thus did the Third Child strike with a simple Bowie knife, slashing at Akechi with furious abandon, even as the older teen retaliated with angry slashes. In their immediate vicinity, Loki and Hamlet engaged in a brutal duel, blades clashing with showers of sparks; between each blow, they fired off a Skill of a particular element: Hamlet with spiraling showers of multi-colored Psy energy, Loki with fierce bursts of accursed Dark power. Amidst the starry void, their struggle shined like stars.

Shinji's teeth were grit tightly, tension visible in each and every movement. His lunging stab was barely avoided by Akechi, which was immediately punished by a downward slash on his shoulder; the empowered armor — nay, the spiritual flesh — of Unit-01 sparked from the blow, evoking the sensation of pain. Spinning on his feet, Shinji smashed his elbow into Akechi's ribcage, gaining a pained hiss from his opponent. Akechi shoved his knee into Shinji's gut, pushing him back just enough for him to bring his silenced pistol up; his reward was Shinji's free hand gripping the barrel, crushing it to uselessness. With an irritated growl, Akechi threw the ruined handgun into Shinji's face, following up with a downward smash into the temple; Shinji drunkenly shoved his shoulder into Akechi's stomach, wrenching the taller teen off of the floor before smashing him into the floor with a messy spinebuster. Akechi — teeth bared from the pain — viciously pressed his hand against Shinji's lower jaw and pushed hard, getting just enough space to raise his leg and kick the boy away. Yelling defiantly, Akechi swung his Saw Saber downward-

CLANG!

-only for the blow of sword against knife to end in a mutual loss, as the impact sent both weapons scattering. Animated and empowered by nothing more than willpower at this juncture, the duo threw wild haymakers the smashed sloppily against each other's faces. Reeling from the blow, they could barely focus enough for their Personas to strike simultaneously; with Hamlet behind Shinji and Loki behind Akechi, they still had enough reach to stab each other with their own swords, driving deep into the torso of their opponent. Even though they were in agony — feeling the sympathetic pain of an enemy's sword in their chest — Shinji and Akechi still did not fall.

Tellingly, neither Persona had skewered the heart of the other, avoiding a killing blow.

"...you know," gasped Shinji, his dogged vigor beginning to flag. "When you spar someone...it's usually not...to the death..."

Akechi — face visible in its fullness, his helm having been ripped off at some point during their melee — snorted. "And you think I wasn't trying to kill you?"

"...not really," honestly admitted Shinji.

"Even in the face of my anger?" he demanded.

"...well...it's not me you're angry at...is it?" he answered, with some hesitation.

At this, the older teen could only grin bitterly. "Out of the mouths of babes, indeed..."

As if a signal had been given, both combatants fell to their knees, completely and utterly spent: the spar had finally concluded.

Mere seconds passed before Sokila skidded to Shinji's side, hauling her Compendium with her. "Um...how's it go...ah! Peh-sona!" she chanted, summoning a Kodama from within the book. "Heal him up!"

The humanoid paper talisman chirped illegibly, casting Dia upon Shinji. Noticeably, she ignored healing Akechi. "...Sokila-chan," dryly stated Shinji.

"He was being a meanie," she pouted.

("A meanie, she says," muttered Akechi under his breath.)

"Sokila-chan, please heal Akechi-san."

"...do I have to?"

"Please."

"...okay, Mister Ikari," grumbled the little girl, as she petulantly willed Kodama to heal Akechi as well. "...well?" she asked, staring intently at the young man in black.

"'Well'...what?" he replied.

"...you're supposed to say the thing!"

Akechi said nothing, merely replying with a raised eyebrow.

Sokila's cheeks puffed out from frustration. "You have bad manners!" With a childish harrumph, she stomped away.

"...I think she wanted you to say 'thank you'," observed Shinji.

Akechi snorted. "I'm not that daft," he said, quietly flexing his fingers. "...you've increased in power, since the last time we fought together."

"...that was when we faced that judicial clerk...Oohashi?" That had been all the way back near the end of July.

Akechi nodded, his expression somewhat hard to observe now that the ambient light of the arena had dimmed, somewhat. "...good. You can't afford to be weak."

Frowning, Shinji tried to get his thoughts in order. Priorities demanded that he focus on one thing at a time. "You...mentioned the names of the other Wild Cards...and their journeys. You're close to the Velvet Room," he said, gesturing to the other Attendants that were even now observing from the corners of the arena. Thus far, they had not spoken. "...you're aware of the other timelines...and of what's really at stake...aren't you?"

At this, Akechi's face curdled into something ugly. "It was quite upsetting, to learn that everything I had endured in my 'last life' was a proverbial figment of mankind's collective imagination. To know that my attempts at gaining freedom were all for naught...and then to discover that the key to our salvation," he said, adding air quotes to the word, "was a runt like you."

"But I'm younger than you..."

"Semantics. Besides...I'm over it by now." Shinji wasn't quite sure that was true. "I've seen enough from you to realize that you would run away from this harrowing situation in an instant if it were within your power to do so. Am I wrong?" Akechi said, with a challenging tone.

Shinji grimaced, feeling an instinctive impulse to rebel at that suggestion. "I mustn't run away," he whispered to himself, before speaking aloud. "If you're aware...then why didn't you say anything to me before?"

"Different roles for different goals. Joker and his fellows are working along one axis; Ayanami another; I am the same." Running a hand through sweaty hair, Akechi added, "The less you know, the better. Secrecy is still one of our greatest assets, at this juncture...even if my upcoming 'reassignment' is going to make things more difficult," he all but spat.

And just like that, their conversation came back to more familiar territory. "Your father...Masayoshi Shido." With insight born from this new realization of Akechi's circumstances, Shinji asked, "The reason you dislike your father...it has to do with something that happened in a prior life, isn't it?"

(August the 5th: after a Ghost-hunting mission wherein he and Mana encountered Governor Shido of Kyoto, he had ended up speaking with Akechi over the phone. The revelation of the older boy's family life rang numerous parallels, especially when the conversation had turned towards the fate of Akechi's mother. "A tragic occurrence, I'm afraid; she seems to have passed away from pneumonia after experiencing a bad flu when I was much younger. My father, by most accounts, treated me well after that...and yet it begs the question of whether or not that's enough to mask personal disgust at who the man was. In my case...it wasn't..." His confusion over Akechi's phrasing led the boy to elaborate. "...let's put it this way: even if someone doesn't do anything negative to you personally, you can still despise them for who what they do to others; for how they behave; for who they are. I'm fairly certain you have at least one person in your life that that applies to." When he asked about the possibility of reconciliation, Akechi could only sigh. "It's a matter of non-negotiables, alas...and that's something I've come to accept, even if that man hasn't. Despite throwing away the 'comforts' of my old existence, I've made the best of what I had. That was the idea, at any rate. Besides, that is one particular relationship I have no interest in salvaging; you may find it harsh, but that's the truth.")

"...you have a surprisingly good memory," stoically observed Akechi, his eyes narrowed into thin slits.

"Sorry..."

"Don't apologize." Sighing deeply, Akechi appeared to weigh his options. "...I'll spare you the details. To put it as bluntly as possible: in my most 'recent' life, I was Shido's bastard child, the literal son of a whore, born by complete accident. Bereft of support from the man she loved, she ended up committing suicide out of shame. I drifted from one foster family and one societal institution to another, until I was one day 'gifted' the power to use a Persona, and to enter the Metaverse. From that point onward, I concocted a convoluted plan whereby I would get revenge on my father by elevating him to the height of power, only to rip it all away from him. Little did I know, but he knew from the start about my identity, successfully stringing me along to the point where he was too powerful for me to dispose of on my own...among other things."

Shinji stared, agog at the explanation. "That's...sparing the details...?"

"It was worse. I was a villain; a murderer; a traitor. The mere fact that I, of all people, have a role to play in the potential liberation of mankind is the height of hilarity." Sighing with theatrical aplomb, he bitterly remarked, "Such is the way the wheel of fortune turns, is it not?"

"...well..." He honestly didn't know what to make of Akechi's story. (Perhaps the boisterous wrath he had displayed during battle had an honest origin after all?) Thus, he opted for a different topic. "...is your father the same, this time around?"

"Still ambitious, still lusting for whatever power he can get his hands on," Akechi said with a snarl. "And yet the mere fact I am his son legitimately? That's all it took for him to recognize me, to support me, to treat me with affection."

"...but..." The thought of Gendo Ikari treating him with even half as much love as that was...enticing, on a visceral level. "...didn't it feel good, for him to love you, instead of hate you...?"

Akechi sneered at the very idea. "When I 'awoke' into this time, the mere thought of that man treating me so warmly was nauseating. Even worse were my memories, where I looked upon him and felt...happiness." Glaring at him from the side, he added, "To witness someone you hate...and realize that a part of you wishes you didn't...it's revolting."

"...does it have to be?" When Akechi shot him an outright murderous glance, Shinji gulped. "I mean...I'm not asking you to try and...be nice, or anything." He had too many lingering issues involving his own father to dare lecture Akechi about anything. "But...why not view it as a second chance? Those don't come around a lot..."

"We live in a world that resets at the whim of a capricious entity that's usurped the Throne of 'God'. Every life is technically a 'second chance'."

Shinji was determined enough to bull his way past Akechi's snark. "But you remember. It's not a blank slate...so why not try to make something of it? To take an opportunity you never had before?"

"Even if the cost is something I'm unwilling to pay?"

"...I don't know," Shinji honestly admitted. "I...I honestly don't know what I'd do, if my father would honestly treat me half as well as yours apparently does, in this time..."

"And that's the saddest thing I've heard in a long time," grumbled Akechi, looking at him with something akin to pity.

"But I don't know what it would take for my father to treat me that way. I wish I knew...but I don't. So I have to keep living until that day comes..." If it ever does. "You...you at least have a chance that's right in front of you. Don't you owe it to yourself to at least try?"

Akechi didn't answer immediately; to his credit, he took the time to think about the proposition, instead of immediately retorting with the wrath he seemed to carry like a crutch. At last, he reluctantly answered, "Returning to Kyoto is the hand I've been dealt regardless...so I might as well make something of it."

Shinji nodded, sensing that Akechi was unwilling to talk further about his father. Still, he couldn't just leave it like that. "...even if I don't know what exactly you've been through, Akechi-san...I'm glad you exist."

The older boy arched an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of his comment. "How generous, to be so condescending," he said, somewhat acidly. "Even knowing that my polite mannerisms were but a facade? Even in the face of my anger?"

"...do the other parts of you whisper, sometimes? Do you hear them speak?" he asked, daring to speak of the Beast within. (Because of all the people he had established a bond with...he could not think of another who could understand what it felt like to carry a deep-seated anger that could destroy, if let loose to roar and rage. Not as well as Akechi, at any rate.) "Because I don't think you'd like to hear or see the ugliest side of me..."

"...an interesting admission of weakness," observed Akechi. "You should be careful who you say such things to."

Shinji nodded. "I know...but...I don't think I'll ever be able to deny how weak I am..." (Because if he ever did, would he even still be Shinji Ikari?)

"I'll take your word for it."

It was at this moment that Shinji Ikari and Goro Akechi's brief pseudo-commiseration was interrupted by Lavenza. "Well. That was certainly something," she calmly remarked, staring intently at Akechi before turning back to Shinji. "But I believe any further spars will have to occur at a later date."

Shinji blinked. "Did...I do something wrong?"

"Not as such. As far as spars go...this was an adequate demonstration, even though neither of you used the fullest extent of your power."

Shinji glanced at Akechi, who merely shrugged. Right...he has Robin Hood, but showed me Loki...does he have more Personas as well...? "But...is something else wrong?"

Lavenza slowly nodded, gazing out into the starry abyss. "Even though we lie fully within a dream...we are close enough to the Velvet Room so as to be visible to something else. An entity that operates within a similar plane as our master's domain."

"What...?" Shinji blinked, following the direction of Lavenza's eyes; between the gaps of the cobalt fence, he looked amidst the stars, and couldn't see anything...not truly. There was a vague shape — abominable, in an uncomfortable way — that lacked solidity. Yet there was a strange impression of red eyes: a pair on each end of whatever it was. Did it have two heads? "...what...?"

"Erebus," explained Elizabeth, sounding uncharacteristically solemn.

"An entity born from humanity's desire for death," clarified Theo. "A personification of that nihilistic and malicious wish for the end of everything. It tends to be at its strongest right before a timeline gets reset...or when humanity's shared experiences are of a particularly dire time."

"...how long has it been around...?" wondered Shinji.

"It exists because of the Sea of Souls," stated Margaret. "It is due to that medium that a conglomerate of emotion and will can even achieve a cohesive form to begin with...desires have no physicality, yet are not restricted to mere dreams. Though born of the mind, desires can change the world: it is being that touches on all aspects of dream and reality, mind and matter. Where the Velvet Room lies in the gaps between them all...Erebus, being born from humanity's current state, permeates them all."

His Other said nothing.

Neither did the Beast.

However...the latter smiled, with something akin to nostalgia.

"...is it going to be a problem?" he asked. Something like that...reminds me of Strega. How would Takaya Sakaki and Sho Minazuki react to the existence of a such a wicked beast?

"Nuh-uh!" cheerfully said Sokila, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. "Elizabeth-senpai used to tell stories about how she would stomp it to bits!"

"Indeed," said Elizabeth with a degree of haughty pride. Rather than dwell on it, she changed the subject. "I'm in the mood for sustenance...substance...substrate?" Scoffing audibly, she remarked, "This is no time for biology or chemistry! Come brother, I require you to brave the depths of the auditorium's kitchen!" Elizabeth declared, sauntering through the doorway to the Velvet Room.

Theodore balked. "Wait? What? But why me?" he asked, already following his sister back inside.

Lavenza shook her head at their shenanigans, quietly helping Shinji to his feet. Sokila kept a tight grip on Shinji's hand, pulling him forward.

Shinji gazed back at Akechi (a Social Link, true...but also an opponent...no, a sparring partner...?), noting that he was still sitting on the stone floor of the arena. "What about Akechi-san?"

"I came here through...a different method," he diplomatically said. "I will wake up in reality, as though what just happened was nothing but a dream...but I will remember what we spoke of." With a serious expression, he added, "Do be careful not to talk too openly with others. The secrets I shared with you are not for you to share."

"I...I understand," he said with a nod. He willingly let Sokila and Lavenza usher him through the door, beyond the dream's threshold; once he was within the Velvet Room, Margaret closed the door behind him.

(The soothing song of the piano, and the wailing woman, eased the strange unease that the sight of Erebus had instilled...)

xx

Goro Akechi finally loosed a tired sigh as the door to the Velvet Room closed; with a painful grimace, he began stretching to get the kinks out. "Damn brat. He hits pretty hard."

"Which is what you wanted to find out, yes?"

Akechi — feeling the presence in the back of his filter out, one that was similar yet different to the feeling of Robin Hood, Loki, and Hereward — turned towards the quiet stranger. "You were rather quiet."

"I didn't want to interrupt your fun."

"Fun, he says," Akechi snarked.

"Don't lie to yourself. Even if you restricted yourself to Loki, you enjoyed cutting loose...even if I think your anger felt a bit forced, at times."

Akechi brushed past his point entirely. "You were in my head. What's your opinion?"

"Shinji Ikari is developing...sufficiently. There's always the hope of him growing more quickly, but I believe forcing him along would backfire."

"...it's one thing to fight alongside him against other Shadows," he admitted, slowly rising to his feet. "But to face his Evangelion, even if in an incomplete form? I finally have some understanding of why his role is so important..."

"Even beyond being told the truth of why he's so important?" observed the quiet stranger. "It was very kind of you to not speak of such unpleasant circumstances."

"He clearly doesn't remember. Not yet. I think he would have felt...different, if that were the case." Akechi looked out in the abyss; the pair of red eyes were gone. "...Erebus didn't make a single appearance, even when I sparred the last two nights in this arena."

"Indeed."

"Elizabeth was also...somewhat subdued. She didn't look at Erebus as something she could easily defeat...if she even could." Looking intently at sea of stars, he remarked, "Why was Erebus drawn here?"

"I think you already know the answer to that," he sadly said.

Shinji Ikari...because of course it all came back to him. "If what I've been told is true...then I suppose it's only reasonable, if such a thing like Third Impact can even be called 'reasonable." Even so, he couldn't help but wonder: how could a mere child be such an icon of despair that it would draw forth the literal personification of mankind's desire for death? "It makes the fact that he's the key to our salvation...somewhat unsettling."

The quiet stranger shrugged. "

Well...everyone loves a good redemption story, so long as it's earned. Has he earned it? We can only wait and see...now, I believe you need to get back to sleep. You have to go to work, tomorrow."

Akechi rolled his eyes without disputing the point.

xxxx

/Meanwhile.../

As the seemingly endless duel between Minako Arisato and Phanuel continued...the One Who Sat Upon the Throne observed in contemplation.

"This is the twentieth day, since your struggle has ensued..."

What a marvelous display of endurance on the Angel's part.

"Were you imbued with a frankly improbable level of hope from ADAM? Or is it your connection to those interlopers in blue that gives you such strength?"

Even so...they knew it could not last forever.

"I wonder..."

The world beyond continued as ever; the ripples wrought by the Evangelion-users, the Angels, Strega, and countless Persona-users...they passed by, imparting information passively. Nothing that required their attention...nothing that warranted turning their attention away from Minako's battle, at least.

"...no. This opportunity is too great. I must focus..."

And so the One Who Sat Upon the Throne continued their cold and unyielding vigil...

xxxx

And so the world turned, to face a new day...

xxxx

END OF 9/6/2015

xxxx

Author's Note: Given that the next school term begins on September the 7th, this felt like a good day to recap on some things...even though new stuff happened as well!

- Shinji met Mari Makinami in person for the first time since July the 8th! Bit of trivia about her prayer: the Latin excerpts shown are from the 1902 prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, which is one of the optional prayers utilized from the Rite of Exorcism issued in 1999.

- More importantly, she's another Social Link! Temperance: "Synthesis, Harmony, Prudence. The Temperance is meant to teach the Fool how to balance two opposing aspects of their lives." Given how Mari could get in Rebuild, it probably would take something as outlandish as being a combat nun to get her to exhibit some form of temperance. :V

- Poor Misato just wants answers, which is reasonable. Shinji also doesn't want another repeat of August the 18th, which is also reasonable.

- And hey, a wild Isako Toriumi from P3 was spotted! Off-screen like a lot of them, but who knows if she'll make a cameo later...and yes, those four High School teachers (Kawakami, the Yoshizawa Twins, and Ohya) have actually been mentioned before; it's just been quite a while.

- Additional set up with regards to not only Strega and the Prometheans...but also Erebus, who last appeared during Minako's Sidestory.

- This look into Masayoshi Shido's subtle differences vis-a-vis his relative lack of power compared to canon (in the sense that Goro Akechi in P5 provided him a unique weapon that no one else could wield; here, on a more level playing field, his ambitions are more tempered, notwithstanding Akechi's actual legitimacy) has been interesting. Granted, when it comes to having father issues, Shinji Ikari is one of the few who could arguably be said to have worse ones than Goro Akechi.

- However...more importantly, we have confirmation that Akechi is at least aware of some of the details of "End of Evangelion" and is having difficulty trying to square Shinji Ikari's actions in that movie with the young man before him.

But next time...IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL.