Chapter 29: Is This True Falsehood?

"You are certain that now is the time Ikari?"

Once again surrounded by the gathering of SEELE monoliths, Gendo Ikari was tasked with providing an argument for his leadership of NERV. It was well over a month ago that he discovered the Book of Shemaiah heralding the arrival of Angels after their projected demise and tasked with making sure they would be defeated for the advancement of their plans. The one arriving soon however required another approach entirely.

Gendo remained prepared for further questioning as he answered, "Our estimates have been able to confirm its arrival soon. It is imperative that we take measures to respond immediately."

The 12 Monolith spoke, "We have only trusted your judgment up to now because of how far we have advanced Ikari. We are still suspicious of how long it took for you to reveal the contents of the text."

The 04 Monolith added, "You have been upfront with us up until now and for that we have reason to believe you are not revealing everything. Even for this potential obstacle to our final goal."

Such an observation was clear enough to make Gendo's lack of transparency seem dubious but remained unmoved as he explained, "It was my intention to make sure that we had all of the information we required. The Dead Sea Scrolls had to be approached with as much care as we took when they were discovered, we needed to determine the authenticity of these."

The 07 Monolith countered, "We expected faster results this time after familiarity with the texts discovered prior. Being forced to resort to one of our inside agents should not have been necessary."

The 03 Monolith added, "Even if your excuse was valid, your unwillingness to update regularly was reason to make us suspect you were not cooperating as you once were."

Gendo remained unmoved by the accusations before reminding, "We can sit here and debate the validity of my actions or we can take action when it is threatening us. I remain convinced you know what the best choice will be."

The 06 Monolith was quick to determine, "We will be prepared for your scenario Ikari. We will require action first. A reminder that you will require us to begin with."

The 01 Monolith took control of the conversation as it reminded, "I will set the conditions. You will send in your most capable unit first Ikari. If it is destroyed in combat, that is the only scenario we will send in support."

The 03 Monolith added, "Do not assume you can get away with sending a weaker unit in first either. We were capable of discovering your more hidden secrets, do not assume we cannot discover which unit we have determined to see sent first."

Gendo accepted, "I acknowledge there is much expected of me. I do not intend to take advantage of what small window I might have in this upcoming scenario."

The 15 Monolith agreed, "We know you have your own desires in mind Ikari. Simply remember what has brought you so far. Testing our patience has placed you in such danger already. Do not do anything to jeopardize what you have accomplished now."

Gendo was not able to add anything else as the holograms of the monoliths faded and left him in darkness. Having achieved everything he was hoping for, he was in no hurry to correct anything SEELE assigned to him now. The arrival of the next Angel was eminent and he would be able to make sure NERV would fulfill its purpose.

As Gendo excited the room where the Monolith projections were kept, Gendo prepared himself for the arrival of the Angel that day by leaving parting words for SEELE they would not be able to hear. Words that were enough to awaken a side of him that he only allowed a few glimpses of in moments where he knew he would remain unquestioned. His observations accumulated into a small smirk in complete defiance to the assumed control his superiors had over him.

"How arrogant to think you are all still in control."

The arrival of the next Angel was not the same sort of spectacle many had become familiar with. Many even questioned if there was even an arrival due to the lack of apparent activity. As soon as it approached the edge of Japan however, an immediate paradox captured the attention of everyone as soon as the Angel approached.

The Angel in question was a wide white circle that stretched across the ground but moved without any impedance to its progress. It widened briefly before shrinking back into itself as it crawled forward. As it made its progress, the ground beneath it remained but the roads, structures, and trees that stood in its way vanished into the white void of its body. It progressed slowly across the grounds towards Tokyo-2 but found no challenge in progressing forward.

Fuyutsuki watched the Angel on screen as he observed, "It is as we were warned. It does not leave destruction in its wake but has all the effects of the devastation prophesied."

Gendo agreed, "It is what we were warning. Our only option now is to fulfill the request of the old men."

While he recognized he did not have any other option, Fuyutsuki reminded, "We may be able to take the opportunity to send Unit-04 out there if Unit-02 does face our expected outcome. It will be the only way to make sure we can discreetly eliminate both threats."

Gendo remained fixated in the screen above him reminding, "We will act as necessary."

Before the two men could speculate their options further, Makoto announced, "Target is approaching within range."

Recognizing his duty, Gendo ordered, "Launch Unit-02. Let it make the first strike."

Procedures for Asuka's unit began with that order while Misato was forced to wait for the Eva and Angel to face one another. Despite having seen many Angels before, the Angel identified as Maelstrom was an enemy that invoked memories of facing Leliel. The sight of it being uninterrupted became more than enough to incite fear within onlookers while leaving Misato to hope it would be similar to the Angel she was thinking of.

"This doesn't make sense Major, we have the mass produced Evas on standby, why can't they make the first move?"

Misato turned to see Shigeru made the observation before answering, "It's not my first choice either. But that is what the Commander needs us to do."

Makoto agreed, "He just saw these ones as test subjects. He's not afraid of seeing them destroyed now. I still think it would make more sense to send in Unit-01 since Shinji knows how to handle something like this."

Trying to keep herself calm, Misato asked, "You think it's like that one that absorbed it into itself?"

Makoto kept his attention on his monitor as he answered, "Yeah. I guess the Commanders favor for Unit-01 is still on display here."

Turning her attention to see Unit-02 pop up to the surface, Misato agreed with the odd details that still stood out to her, "Whatever he's thinking, it better be with all the trouble we're putting ourselves through."

As soon as Unit-02 rose to the ground, Asuka looked out across the field to see the mass-produced Eva units circle the sky above her. They remained waiting for her to move first while Maelstrom continued its advance. Despite the Angel's imminent arrival, Asuka saw it as a challenge waiting for her to finally be overcome.

Taking control of her unit, Asuka announced, "I'm ready to move out."

Misato kept watch over the field before ordering, "Keep your distance. We can't let you get drawn into that thing."

Asuka accepted the order, "I'll do my best. I hope everyone else stays safe."

Marching forward with a pallet gun in both hands, Unit-02 made its way across the streets of the city preparing to face Maelstrom. The white void identified as an Angel made its way across the ground swallowing everything in its path into its being even with the threats it was faced with. It did not take long for Unit-02 to come within range as it took aim with its gun and fired.

The fear of what sort of Angel NERV was faced with was confirmed as the shots absorbed into the body of Maelstrom with no apparent effect. Its progress remained the same as it made its advance while the mass produced Evas in the air continued circling its area. All of the attempts to keep Maelstrom contained were proving to be ineffective and forcing the participants of the battle to reconsider their approach.

Misato resisted the idea of sending Unit-02 any closer as she ordered, "Fire every missile we have into that area! Don't let it get any closer!"

Gendo overruled the order, "No. Send Unit-02 in."

Turning in disbelief to what Gendo ordered, Misato reminded, "Commander, that thing is already advancing dangerously close! We can't risk our Eva units as well!"

Gendo denied the rationale as he repeated, "Send Unit-02 in. The other ones will be prepared to provide assistance."

Realizing she would not be allowed to counter the order, Misato turned to see Unit-02 making its way across the city and firing at the body of Maelstrom. She thought about countering the order Gendo expected her to send but realized the sort of trouble she would be putting herself in if she defied the order. As she saw the other two Eva Units make their way to the surface, Misato realized she would not have any authority to command the situation.

Keeping herself composed, Misato ordered, "Move in Asuka, but try to keep your distance. Do not make contact with it."

As though she recognized what was happening behind her, Asuka accepted, "I'll defeat it for sure! Shinji, watch me!"

Shinji was indeed waiting in Unit-01 while seeing Asuka approach. The offensive advance was the closest thing he had seen to the old Asuka in a while but was uneasy with the circumstances that made it possible. The situation was even more dire from the sight of the mass-produced Eva units in the sky prepared to dive in for assistance.

Turning to the only person he felt he could trust in that moment, Shinji asked Kaworu, "How long is it before they help her?"

Kaworu looked on while answering, "They are carrying N2 mines Shinji. I believe they are our last resort."

Remembering the time he was captured inside Leliel, Shinji recalled hearing what the original plan was for getting him out. The idea turned out not to be necessary but now it was about to have a second chance to be acted upon. This time it would be Asuka who was having her life placed in danger.

The idea sent a chill down Shinji's spine as he realized, "She's not safe out there..."

As if he overheard that judgment, Kaworu told him, "As soon as we are told to advance, do everything you can to reach her before me."

Hearing that warning made Shinji ask, "Kaworu? What are you talking about?"

Kaworu kept himself focused on Unit-02's advance answering, "You will see. It will be your greatest challenge so far."

The two watched Unit-02's advance while the progression of Maelstrom came closer with every passing second. Unit-02's gun finally ran out of bullets and tossed it aside. It is reached for its progressive knife and prepared to make a mighty plunge into the first area of the Angel it could reach.

As though it could recognize this danger was imminent, Maelstrom extended its form and reached towards the area where Unit-02 stood. Asuka saw how close her opponent was and made her unit take hold of the grip of her knife before making the plunge. The attack proved ineffective as the blade burrowed into Maelstrom's form before expanding underneath the feet of Unit-02.

Asuka saw the expansion beneath her and announced, "Miss Misato! Shinji! Help me!"

Before anything else could be done, the white mass that was Maelstrom began to shrink and drag Unit-02 into the center of its area. Unit-02 continued to struggle against the drag but saw the other side of Maelstrom lift itself up and begin to fold in her direction. Not long after, Unit-02 was caught in between the two sides of the Angel and holding against the sides that were trying to envelope its target.

The display of the struggle commander Misato's attention as she gripped both sides of her post and turned to request, "Commander she's in trouble! We have to send in backup!"

Gendo remained fixed on the struggle as he told her, "Assistance is on the way. Do not interfere."

Maelstrom continued to press both of its halves onto Unit-02 before slowly dissolving it into its form. In an instant, there was no more trace of Unit-02 to be seen and Maelstrom lay in wait for the mass-produced Eva units. Everyone within NERV, with the exception of Gendo and Fuyutsuki, was left aghast when they saw their unit seemingly dissolve into nothing. Against the sudden display, Shinji was left in terror as he feared the worst had happened.

The mass produced Evas swept down to the ground and dropped their N2 bombs onto the mass that was Maelstrom before Shinji heard Misato warn, "Stand back! The bombs are about to explode!"

Even with that threat being clear, Shinji denied, "Are you serious?! Asuka is in there!"

Hearing the beginning of an argument, Gendo took the opportunity to order, "Detonate now."

At that demand, the N2 bombs inside Maelstrom erupted. There was reason for many to be hopeful at first as the white mass that formed its body erupted from the force of the explosions. At the height of Maelstrom's expansion, its form enveloped the mass production Evas into itself from every corner in the air. There was a mighty struggle among the units but eventually proved to be futile as they were pulled to the ground and dragged into the center of itself.

Seeing the newly commissioned mechs defeated so easily caused another air of fear to hang over the personnel of NERV. Such a united force stood against an Angel for the first time and having all of them meet their defeat this way made their recent developments seem to be for nothing. This Angel that took everything into itself was slowed only by the struggles of the Eva units that continued to struggle to keep it from moving.

Seeing the situation develop, Fuyutsuki made sure no one was listening to him as he pointed out, "It appears to be unfolding as we anticipated."

Gendo agreed, "It is only a matter of time before we see who is capable of its destruction."

After seeing such an expansion and all of the struggles the mass produced Eva units were going through, Shinji found his breaking point. Asuka was deep within Maelstrom and he knew she was in danger. Taking Kaworu's warning to heart, he prepared to make good on his dedication.

"I'm going!"

With no one to stop Unit-01, Shinji made his way across the field as he rushed towards Maelstrom. With progressive knife in hand and his target immediately apparent, he prepared to take every precaution necessary to save Asuka. Even if the multiple units that came for support continued to portray the date that awaited him.

This time, Gendo was the one to feel a sense of desperation as he saw Unit-01 make its advance. With such importance attached to this one unit, he was forced to tighten his fingers together at his son's defiance. He knew he could not show his fear of losing Unit-01 at this point but he knew he would risk losing what he had been hoping to achieve if he left Shinji to himself.

Realizing Misato would not do anything to stop Shinji, Gendo ordered, "Send Kaworu to pursue. Bring Unit-01 back here."

Unlocked from her look of terror at what was unfolding, Misato tried to comprehend what was unfolding I'm front of her as she saw Shinji making his desperate dash to save Asuka from her fate. What wonder she had about his sincerity to really solidify himself to a relationship with Asuka was answered in his preparation to an act that normally struck fear into him. Misato could not decide if she should have felt shake or disgust at herself for picking now of all times to confirm what choice Shinji made.

Misato kept herself firm as she ordered, "Kaworu, move in and provide Shinji the support he needs!"

Kaworu accepted the command, "I'm moving in!"

While Unit-04 made its way across the field, Gendo reminded, "Give the remainder of the order to bring back Unit-01 immediately."

Gritting her teeth at the addendum, Misato added with less enthusiasm, "Bring back Unit-01 from the area as well. Let the support units help out."

Overhearing her lack of commitment to the order, Gendo warned, "Do everything you can to bring Unit-01 back here Major or it will be the last mistake you make."

Turning back to counter Gendo's demand, Misato reminded, "I'm sending in everything I can. Whether or not Shinji comes back here is up to him or Kaworu."

Gendo remained unmoved from his focus of the battle as he warned, "And I do not intend for you to not meet the consequences of your negligence Major."

Much was unfolding among the bridge crew of NERV but the few mentions Shinji had of his orders were the smallest concerns he had. The girl he was prepared to commit to was caught in the mass of Maelstrom and needed his help. He convinced himself he would leave behind what mistakes he had made in the months before and prepare to stand with the decision he was making today.

The only challenge to his commitment he was facing was when he heard Kaworu warn, "Shinji. I have been ordered to keep you away."

Groaning from what he heard, Shinji dismissed, "I'm heading in and you can't stop me!"

Smiling at the denial, Kaworu encouraged, "Go to the one you love. I will build the opening."

Before Shinji could ask what Kaworu was referring to, he saw Unit-04 thrust its hands into the mass of Maelstrom and force it apart. Taking its first step into the Angel, Unit-04 stood in between the two folds and held one high above its head. The mass produced Evas continued to struggle to reach their way towards him but Unit-01 took the opportunity to thrust itself into the mass where they made their struggle.

Looking back, Shinji thanked, "Thank you Kaworu."

Shinji had no idea what the reaction was at NERV right now but was also indifferent to hearing any protests about what he was doing. He continued his dive into the mass where he felt himself enveloped in Maelstrom. It was a contrast to the feeling of being absorbed by Leliel from the pure white that was surrounding him and felt as though he was being passed through a small cavern instead of a void.

What protest he heard came from the static of his radio as Misato demanded, "Shinji! Get out of there! Stop! Don't go any further in!"

While the mass production Evas could be seen being dragged against the cavern of Maelstrom, Asuka's unit was the only thing he wanted to find at this point. He was determined to make sure his new reality would be possible. He could thank Kaworu for trying to make it possible and at best he would consider Misato as the one to make him realize his mistake.

The only concern for Asuka in being dragged through the caverns of Maelstrom was when her descent would finally end. There were few times she imagined what passing through an esophagus would be like and this was the closest thing she could think of. Such a comparison made her fear there might have been a stomach at the end of it.

She did not allow herself to be resigned to her fate as she made Unit-02 struggle against the hold the walls had in her and demanded, "Let me out! Someone! Shinji! Help me!"

Her pleas for being saved went unanswered as Asuka saw the mass production Eva units further down the cavern she was engulfed in. She realized her fears were about to be realized as she felt her unit lodged into an area where its waist was ensnared. The sudden action made Asuka yelp in fear at what was happening but found herself afraid the moment she saw an appendage reach its way in front of her vision.

Left unaware of what was happening to the other units and struggling to determine what could save her, Asuka shouted, "Stop! Let me go!"

Instead of listening to her request the appendage adjusted itself and took aim at the chest of Unit-02 before thrusting itself forward. Taken aback by what the appendage had done, Asuka immediately let out a shout of pain as she felt her unit penetrated. Her situation became worse as she realized the pain escalated the longer the appendage remained lodged into her unit and not long after felt a completely foreign sensation.

The best way Asuka could describe what was happening to her was as though she was having something thrust into her over and over again. Like a liquid taking form around her but like LCL allowed her to be able to breath as she felt the thrusting. She could not tell how the penetration became so effective in her unit that she herself was feeling it but the feeling of being penetrated multiple times over was all that dominated her mind.

In spite of what she felt before, Asuka began to see a white light form around her that clouded her vision and left her with only the feeling of the appendages thrust. She could not make out anything she was seeing as she eventually felt herself numbed to the feeling and struggled to manage what will she had before to force herself out of her hold. The longer she stayed in the hold however, the more she began to regain her sense of sight she thought she lost.

What Asuka saw afterwards was what she imagined was a reward for enduring the pain she took before. The one she loved and was giving her entire being to be used was in front of her. Not in the form of an Eva unit, but in Shinji himself prying open her cockpit and throwing himself into her embrace.

Before she knew what was happening next she found herself shedding her plug suit and saw Shinji bring his face to hers. He did not kiss her but there was a rush through her body that made her feel the elation she had been looking for. Her body was in unison with his and the boy she loved was truly opening himself up to her physically.

Asuka could not comprehend what kept him from her for so long but none of it was her concern now. She had what she wanted and she could not have been happier. It was such a state of bliss as she felt herself being penetrated over and over again that she raised her hands up to him to tighten their embrace.

Try as she might, Asuka realized how far apart she really was from Shinji as she stretched her arms out. While she could reach behind his back, her embrace was not as tight as she thought it would have been. Her confusion truly began when she realized a feeling that was missing in her lower regions. The repeating penetration she had become used to was no longer there.

Asuka was confused by what had just happened and tried to pull Shinji closer to her but was denied the contact she wanted. She did not even feel him try to bring himself into her but continued his repeated penetrating motions. Completely baffled by what was happening to her, Asuka looked up trying to understand what was happening before realizing that she was not in Shinji's embrace at all. There was an obstacle that kept her from being able to reach out to Shinji like she wanted but could not comprehend what it was.

It was a short few seconds before Asuka widened her eyes and realized what was keeping her from Shinji's embrace. It was another body entirely, taller, still human, but most astonishing to her older. She could realize this because she found herself latching onto the back of Misato Katsuragi.

The scenery changed around Asuka as she saw a deep red sky around her and beneath her a mountain of dried corpses that she assumed were once human. A mountain that she found herself sitting upon with Shinji and Misato embracing one another in a union that left her speechless. The sight alone was enough to make Asuka feel as though she had plunged into the deepest pits of confusion and isolation but seeing the boy she loved give himself to Misato was a frightening reality she never imagined possible.

"You knew it was."

Asuka was not speaking to anyone else as that thought entered her mind. Indeed she did hear everything she thought was nothing more than a joke or a tease but the truth could not have been clearer. Everything she ever perceived Misato to be before had been realized.

Even worse, Shinji was part of it. Atop the mountain of death that lay in wake of Misato's desires to be bound to someone he was willingly giving himself to her. He was nothing like Asuka now. He did not have the right to claim he was a child like her and he would never understand how she truly felt. She had climbed so high to finally find him only to find he was less than what she called him before.

"A shell. Worse than a doll. Is that what you want to be?"

Asuka shook her head, "No... This is... What Shinji is?"

"You always knew."

Every time Shinji called out to her wanting the old Asuka back. It became even worse when she considered the cause of him reaching out to her. She was clearly told about how much he cared for her and yet here she was facing a reality she tried to deny.

"He never wanted you. He wanted you gone."

"He never wanted me. He already gave himself to her. He's just like her."

A shell. Hollow and empty. Meaning nothing to anyone. This was the conclusion she immediately came to as she determined what sort of life Shinji consigned to himself. What he wanted and was unwilling to tell her.

"I was lied to... Again..."

"Look at him. Look him in the eyes."

Asuka raised her face to see Shinji again but realized what she already knew. Hollow and empty, dried and dead, Shinji was nothing to her. Only one among the multitude of victims Misato had taken. She had taken everything he once was away from him and he was nothing now.

"I thought... He could have been stronger..."

"That was your mistake. Now it is your choice."

"No. I'm not a shell. I'm nothing like him."

"But you wanted him to be."

"And he isn't!"

"Who is like you?"

"No one."

"Who is like you?"

"No one."

"Who is like you?"

"No one!"

The mountain of corpses crumbled beneath Asuka before she found herself falling through the deep red sky. She was in danger of being impaled by the bones prepared for her but was caught in midair. She fell into the cockpit before turning around to see a sight she did not anticipate.

The familiar white appendage that brought her to this place was forcing its way towards her and made a mighty thrust. Asuka was indeed inside Unit-02 again but Maelstrom was far from finished with her. Instead of her unit, this time it was her who was taken by the mighty appendage.

While Asuka was imprisoned by Maelstrom's entry, the substance that formed the Angel latched itself into Unit-02 and sealed her inside. Spreading itself open, Maelstrom engulfed Unit-02 into its form before tightening against it. It was another few seconds before the white substance snapped and changed Unit-02's appearance.

Unit-02 did still stand but it was completely changed from the imposing red being it once was. It wore the substance of Maelstrom like a second set of armor while the red core usually associated with Angels adorned its chest. It stood tall atop the field of bones that stretched out towards towering mountains where imposing red crosses lay undisturbed.

The field of death Unit-02 was dropped into was finally disturbed as it saw one of the mass production Eva units fall to the ground with its wings removed and struggling to even stand. The pilot within had no idea what sort of place she had entered or what she was about to face, but it was immediately clear it was not a place she should have been. The heart of Maelstrom had become a place that no one should have considered standing in.

Asuka knew this but was not threatened by where she was residing. She was its master now. She was unopposed by the tainted grounds of husks of human beings she once resided among and it was time for her to establish that fact.

"I... Am... Not... Empty..."

Picking up a bone from the ground, the corrupted Unit-02 threw it towards the mass-produced Eva unit. Asuka yelled at the top of her lungs as she placed all of her strength into the throw and felt her body rapidly pump at the motion. She did not feel the penetration she enjoyed before but felt herself deriving her own satisfaction.

The bone threw itself up to the top of the mountain range carrying the damaged Eva unit with it before landing in the middle of one of the crosses overseeing the pit. It was not the last opportunity to do so as Asuka saw more of the Eva units fall from the sky and land in front of her. The sight of them caused her to pant not with exhaustion but anticipation.

To Asuka the white angelic Eva units were every bit as husks as the mountain she had fallen from. She was no longer bound by expectations in this pit she ruled, and she was more determined than ever to free herself from being told what to be or what she should want. She had a bloodlust and she wanted it to be satiated.

A/N: The Angel appearing in this chapter is indeed named Maelstrom. Neon Genesis Evangelion RPG:Angel Appears! is the sequel to Decisive Battle in Tokyo-3 although this time I can't say I've been able to find much info on the extra canonical Angels for this one, let alone images. What I have been able to find though was essentially the bare minimum what I was hoping to achieve with Asuka's journey through this story and what Shinji will have to face.

I fully accept being disappointed with the conception of what Malestrom ended up looking like. I just didn't have much of an idea how to portray it and I primarily wanted it to fulfill the function of Leliel. I think the sheer scope of what it's consuming out of the city should give an indication of this thing being a really out there Angel where it's especially taking one of the Eva units into itself.

If you want a visual idea of what this corrupted version of Unit-02 is like, I actually do have a concept of what it looks like. If you look online for an artist by the name of Peter Mohrbacher, there is an angel he depicted identified as Gadreel the Angel of War. It might have been the general hint of red in the picture or the fact it was holding a weapon that resembled the Lance of Longinus, but I just got a feeling of the angel being a version of Unit-02 if it faced the sort of fate I depicted here. The white background was also a rough idea of how I could essentially drop it into its own pocket dimension where it was reigning supreme, just with a more "Asuka" fitting background as you might have been able to tell here.

That said, I'm pretty sure this chapter was sufficiently dark enough to get into the echelons of the later episodes of the show at minimum which makes me transition to responding to Xavier Rivera 4003 and his hope for Asuka. Without giving too much away, I will say that things won't be pretty in the next chapter but hopefully seeing her have a brief moment of catharsis for what she went through is going to be worth the wait. All of that won't be happening unfolding the next chapter of course and I hope to see you and everyone else then.