Kein Susser Tod
"No Sweet Death"
By: Hentasma-chan
Revelations 1: Preparations for Destruction Births the Courage in the Young Man's Heart
Following the death of Tabris, the 17th angel, NERV HQ has been bustling with activity despite having completed their end game objective. Voices around HQ began questioning Commander Ikari, and why he was increasing HQ's and Terminal Dogma's counter military presence and numbers over the past 3 days. Major Katsuragi could be found with a disgruntled expression plastered upon her face, her arms crossed over her chest as she found herself lost in thought in the main command center.
NERV HQ, Command Center
"Why would the Commander be preparing for a military assault on HQ...we completed our objective in destroying the angels...I know the information Kaji gave me lead me down a rabbit hole, but this...this is different..." Her thoughts were loud in the confines of her own mind, shutting out the world around her. She jumped as she felt a soft, hesitant touch from Shinji, her eyes shooting open before softening as she turned to look at him.
"What is it Shinji?" Misato's voice was a little lost, a concerned expression washing over Shinji's face.
"I...wanted to see how you were doing Misato...you always look lost in thought now and...it bothers me. What's going on?" Misato was surprised to hear such consideration from Shinji, considering how severe his depression has been in the wake of Tabris's demise by his hands.
"That's...it's..." Misato paused and sighed, trying to figure out the best way to reply.
"There's a lot going on with your father's acceleration schedule. Everyone is on edge and most of us are lost and confused by his instructions because he refuses to disclose a reason. If I had to guess Shinji...you...may have to pilot Unit 01 again. I don't know what against, but my woman's intuition is screaming for me to tell you to be ready, alright Shinji?" Misato closed her eyes, a shrug spreading across her lips as Shinji's eyes widened, his small frame lightly shaking at the thought of returning to the cockpit of Unit 01.
"Do...you really think that's going to happen Misato?" Shinji seemed confirmation from his guardian, Misato giving him a soft nod.
"I do...and...I hope you can find the strength when the time comes...because our lives may be in your hands..." Misato replied, Shinji's breathing becoming shakey.
"I-I see...I'm going to check on Asuka now...um...thank you for talking to me Misato and...being honest," Shinji's voice was tinged with fear and appreciation, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"Only honesty from now on Shinji, I'm not bottling things up or hiding things anymore. I...hope you can find that courage Shinji. Make sure you don't take to long, you could be going on standby at any moment," Misato sighed, a smile curling on Shinji's lips for the first time in a while before leaving her to her thoughts once again.
NERV HQ, Medical Center Room 404
Shinji sighed as he stood over the mentally comatose Asuka, sighing softly as he brushed the hair from her face behind her ear.
"I...was originally going to come here to beg you for your help...the help to get over this fear, this fear of rejection from everything...but now, I just wanted to say I...hope you'll recover and be OK...I've missed you at home Asuka, I know...you despise me right now, but...I really hope you recover soon. Misato told me some horrible things may be happening soon and...I may have to pilot the Eva again. I'm terrified Asuka...and...I wish I had your strength, but I'm going to try hard though, for you and everyone else," Shinji's face was flushed, his heart racing as he leaned forward, boldly planting a small kiss on Asuka's cheek, giving her hand a soft, affectionate squeeze before leaving her in peace. As the door shut quietly behind him, a small semblance of a smile tugged at the corner of Asuka's lips, a bright sign towards recovery.
Back in the Command Center, Misato's eyes were shocked to see Ritsuko walk in, computing unit in hand and her glasses on as she walked towards the MAGI. Her eyes were downtrodden and miserable, her expression apprehensive and spiteful as she approached her mother's creation.
"What is Ritsuko doing here?!" Misato thought, her eyes intense before turning to Commander Ikari, sitting in his signature position as if expecting something to happen with calculated precision.
"It's about to begin, isn't it Ikari?" Fuyutski stated as he faced forward, his eyes shifting towards Gendo, Gendo's eyes meeting his in a silent agreement. The command center erupted into an explosion of alarms and red flashing warning boxes, neither Gendo, Fuyutski nor Ritsuko showing any form of surprise.
"We're under attack?!" Misato called out, running to Hyuga's terminal to check the status.
"They're trying to hack the MAGI!" Maya called out loudly, everyone beginning to counter hack as Ritsuko rolled her eyes, bringing the MAGI's interior to the surface to tap into it directly.
"What the...why is the Commander so calm...it's like he knew this was about to happen..." Misato thought to herself, an intense suspicion searing itself on her face. A display on the overhead showed that MAGI units all over the world we're working against them, increasing the room's intensity and easily identifying the threat.
"MAGI units from Germany, China, and the USA units are leading the other three in hacking the MAGI! We can't slow it down!" Hyuga shouted, nearly everyone in a frantic panic, however...before the enemy could even begin hacking into Caspar, a 666 Firewall was shown to be put into place on the monitors, locking out all hacking attempts for the next 8 hours. Ritsuko sighed softly as she ran her cold, pale hand over the brain casing in Caspar, gazing at it in familial manner.
"Well mother...you're safe for now...but...I will be seeing you soon..." Ritsuko softly spoke, crawling out of the MAGI unit and hitting the button to make it descend back into the floor.
"You it did so fast! You're is so amazing Ritsuko!" Maya called out, wiping her brow as Ritsuko smiled at her softly.
"It's nothing that you can't do Maya...I'm not special..." Her reply was cold and empty, the energy draining from Maya's face as she looked in Ritsuko's melancholic eyes.
"Ma'am, what's wrong, you look so...out of it," Maya inquired, genuinely concern running down her face. In a moment of weakness Ritsuko approached her, hugging her arms around her tightly. Maya's eyes widened in surprise as Ritsuko began trembling, silently sobbing as she clenched onto to Maya, unable to speak as she was suddenly overwhelmed with grief and regret. Maya stayed quiet, her cheeks blushing lightly as she held her just as tightly in an emotional moment of weakness.
"I'm going to miss you Maya...so much..." Ritsuko quietly sighed as she pulled herself together, immediately leaving her side as she was slowly escorted back to her holding cell, leaving Maya with a fond memory of their friendship.
"Next comes the military, are you going to stay and fight Ikari or...go see Yui," Fuyutski inquired, Gendo sighing softly.
"Professor Fuyutski...take care of things here for me," Gendo replied, raising to his feet.
"Yes Commander, give me regards to Yui won't you?" Fuyutski replied as Gendo swiftly retreated from his post, living Fuyutski to take charge.
"All hands to first stage alert! This was not a random attack on the MAGI! SEELE will try to attack us by force!" Fuyutski called out loudly, an order that no one questioned as the Command Center became a living thing, outside surveillance showing a massive military presence forming around NERV's over-all perimeter.
"Are they seriously going to launch a military strike on us?!" Misato shouted, gritting her teeth as the thought of protecting the Eva pilots suddenly swelled in her heart.
"Find the Eva pilots immediately! If this is a genuine assault they will not hesitate to kill them! What's Asuka's status?" She barked at Hyuga, his fingers clacking on the keyboard desperately, brining up a visual of her sitting up in her bed.
"Oh my God...she's awake?! Get her suited up and into Unit 02 immediately! it will be much safer for her there than the hospital than the medical bay. What's the status on Shinji and Rei?"
"It appears he's returning to the Command Center, but he's a long ways away. And as for Rei...unknown! She's missing!" Misato clenched her teeth anxiously as Hyuga replied, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Recall all deployed infantry and personnel to the Command Center immediately! We're about to have a fight on our hands and need every available operative working together!" Fuyutski shouted aloud like a battle cry, everyone working overtime to bring things together.