Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ CHANGING DARKNESS ❯ Asuka gets struck! ( Chapter 8 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Steve VADER 
Asukas arrival, a little bit different.
And she isn't the only new arrival. Be prepared for another surprises.
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.05.2004 | Pages: 11 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 2.3K | Status: Completed
Asukas arrival, a little bit different.
And she isn't the only new arrival. Be prepared for another surprises.
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Sci-fi / Romance / Hentai / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 03.05.2004 | Pages: 11 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 2.3K | Status: Completed
CHANGING DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT
Book 1: Changing Darkness
Chapter 8: Asuka gets struck!
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On the following Monday, the world was generally at peace. Misato was happy that her personal cook
and housekeeper was back, and as Shinji showed up in class, even Rei Ayanami eased her hostile stare against
the sensei somewhat.
The lessons themselves were nothing special, so the school day went by without incidents.
After the final bell rung, the pupils left the class, leaving only Ayanami behind.
"You have not lied to me, in this case. I will take no actions against you, so far."
That being said, she left the classroom, leaving a smiling teacher behind, whose musings were cut short
by a familiar screeching from the parking lot. He had heard that sound often in the last week, and so it
could mean only one thing. Misato Katsuragi has arrived.
Since there were no alarm sirens wailing, it wasn't to retrieve the children, so he wasn't surprised
as the purple haired beauty entered the class room.
"Shinji is back."
"I know."
"You haven't lied to me. And I can assure you that you were indeed very successful."
"What do you mean?"
"Instead of an over sensitive child, I now live with a wannabe Casanova that started hitting on me."
He chuckled. "Well, you should be happy about that. Despite your older age, you are even able to let such
young boys fall for you. You should be flattered."
Her left eye started twitching. "Older age?"
"You are older than Shinji, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you are a older age than him."
Only a grunt answered him.
"Why are you here?"
She looked annoyed at him, before she decided to give him an answer.
"In a few days, the second child will arrive. Since she will be placed in your class, you should probably come
with me to meet her at the ship which brings her to Japan. Shinji will accompany us, as will some of his friends."
"Will the first child be there too?"
"Hm. I haven't thought of that. I will make sure that she accompanies us as well."
"Well, I think I will come too. The second child has a lot to learn. She should start soon."
"We'll meet Wednesday at 04.30. Don't be late. And this is not a date."
"I know. You are reserved for your young lover and roomy."
If looks could kill, the Sith would have died immediately, but since this was not possible, Misato stormed out
of the room in an angry state of being.
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Wednesday morning, they all met at Captain Katsuragi's apartment, with only one person being late.
Misato Katsuragi.
How she managed to achieve this impossibility will probably forever remain a mystery, although the Sith made
a gesture that showed drinking of a bottle as the answer to the questioning glances of Suzuhara and Aida, whom were
invited by Shinji.
A few minutes later, they entered 2 cars which were provided by NERV. The big bonus for the passengers were
that neither Misato, nor her pupil were driving, so they managed to reach he heliport without being sick or
killed. A large Sikorsky sky crane transport helicopter awaited them when they arrived.
They boarded, and soon they were on their way to a meeting with an aircraft carrier.
The flight was quiet, much to the surprise of all who knew Kensuke Aida. They couldn't grasp the fact that he was
this quiet. Only a certain blue haired girl suspected what was going on, but decided to say nothing.
She liked the silence.
As the UN fleet came into visual range, everyone looked out of the windows, with the Misato being the sole exception.
She was too busy mumbling something about large boats and waste of money.
For the rest of the flight, Aida was glued to the window, with his camera in his hand, but at least he didn't open
his mouth. He only disturbed the others when he was forced to crawl over one or all of them to get a better look at
the vast formation of warships.
Unseen by the others, the Sith frowned.
<There is a disturbance in the force. A sickenening echo in the force. Jedi.>
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As the chopper landed on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier with the ridiculous name 'Over the rainbow', the
Sith was in a really bad mood. And as he saw the already familiar girl-form of the second child awaiting them, he
nearly groaned in annoyance.
<The brat from Vienna. Just great.>
They had just managed to step on the flight deck, when a gust of wind blew the lower part of the redheads dress up
in the air, giving everyone a nice look on her white panties. Instead of apologizing or shrugging it off, the girl
took other measures.
*SLAP*SLAP*SLAP*SLAP*
All four males received a slap in the face.
"That's the viewing fee. Quite a bargain, nicht?" said the girl.
"Here's your change." announced a dark voice.
*WHAM!!!*
Asuka didn't even have a chance to know what hit her, before she landed face first on the steel of the flight deck,
after making a perfect 540 degree flip in the air. She thought that her head had exploded, but the pain she
registered made it painfully clear that she was still alive.
Everyone looked shocked at the Sensei, who had struck the girl with tremendous force, sending her to the floor with
bleeding lips and an equally bleeding nose.
He ignored the stares and waited for the response of the girl.
<Her attitude is snotty, arrogant, very fitting for a Sith. Her temper flares, the anger looks strong in her.
Now I will see if that is the real girl, or a facade.>
He used the force to feel the emotions of the girl, to know if she could be another apprentice like Ayanami.
<Shock. Fear. Not understanding what happened. No clue how to react. A little girl without guidance. Her hard shell
is an act, put up by a hurt, little child. Although the force is strong is her, I would rather be able to turn
Shinji into a Sith than her. Whatever her official reaction may be, the verdict has fallen.>
After nearly a minute, the girl struggled back to her feet with the help of Captain Katsuragi and the first
child, unable to contain a moan of pain. She spat a little blood onto the flight deck, before she screamed at
the Sith:
"Who the fuck are you? You nearly hit me ten times stronger than I you. You call that change? What's wrong with
you Idiot?"
"I will be your sensei in school. And yes, that was change. Take it as sign of my generosity."
With that said, he turned around and walked in direction of the bridge isle, as he felt the disturbance in the
force very strong. Strong enough to know who was the reason for that. This time, he couldn't suppress an annoyed
groan. He wasn't having a good day, that was for sure.
The others came also in this direction, and soon they were all together again. As the Sith could feel that the
main reason for his bad mood was coming out on the flight deck, he laid an arm around Misatos waist and whispered
in her ear:
"Play along, please."
A small door opened, and a girl with long red-golden hair stepped on the flight deck. Clad in a green leather dress,
which showed her long, well toned legs and a nice bust, she was really something to look at. Only the fact that
her left arm ended shortly over the elbow disturbed an otherwise perfect vision of beauty. As her grey eyes met
the green ones of the Sith, a scowl formed on her face as she went to the group.
She ignored the others and talked directly to the Sensei.
"What are you doing here. I had hoped that you were finally dead. Who do you think you are? My personal Nemesis?
Should I kick you off from the carrier now, or later?"
"You know what happened last time we had a clash. And the two times before that. Go and annoy someone else,
I have no time for an annoying woman with no brains and no skill. Fight with some flies, maybe then you will be able
to win. I have more important matters at hand, including my girlfriend here."
Misato stiffened as she heard that, but as another figure appeared on the flight deck, she clung onto him as if they
were really madly in love with each other. She even slurped with her tongue over his cheek, which was rewarded by a
shocked look from the newcomer.
"Misato?" asked the newcomer, obviously surprised by the fact that the female Captain was here with some strange
looking guy which she was very intimately involved with.
"Kaji, are you still alive?" Misato looked at the young woman. "Looks like you are not the only girl who wishes that
someone is dead. Seems we're both having a bad day."
"Maybe we are. By the way, my name is Tenel Ka. Pleased to meet you, although you have a bad taste with men."
"Well, Masahiko here is still a way better boyfriend and lover than that lazy and cheating bum over there."
The newcomer flinched as hear those words, especially the lover part sat wrong with him. He didn't exactly know what
was going on here, but to impress Misato at least a little bit, he had to show her that he had changed over the last
several years. So he tried to impress her with his manners, in the hope to score at least the fraction of a point for adult-like behavior.
"My Name is Kaji Ryouji. Pleased to meet you."
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Later, in one of the mess-halls they sat all together at a simple steel table. Asuka was still busy with tending
her hurt face and glaring rusty daggers into the sensei. Shinji sat there doing nothing and Rei did even less.
Tenel Ka glared annoyed at the Sith, whose sat there with a broad grin on his face, his arm still around Misato.
Kaji broke the uncomfortable silence.
"So Shinji, you live with Misato now? Is she still wild in bed?"
"Don't know, I was unable to try her so far." came the dry response from the third child.
That answer lead to a major face fault from Kaji, while Touji and Kensuke were too shocked to do anything. And
again, silence threatened to unfold itself.
"You asked the wrong person, Ryouji, you should have asked the idiot over there." stated Tenel Ka.
Said idiot looked at her and responded: "A gentleman doesn't tell such things. Oh, I forgot, you don't know how
a gentleman behaves, you prefer the lowest scum, not even worthy of being called intelligent being."
Before Tenel Ka could reply, the redheaded girl interrupted: "Were you two lovers? You certainly act like it."
Two heads slowly changed their direction, until they looked at Asuka, who was surprisingly able to withstand the
combined glares of the Jedi and the Sith. Masahiko was the first to recover.
"I would rather marry you, then even touch that.....that........"
"Ha. I always knew it, you are a sick child molester." chimed Tenel Ka.
"Hey, I'm not a child." exclaimed Asuka, soon backed up by the Sith.
"She is old enough to put her life in the line of duty, saving the entire population of this planet. I don't care
if she would be old enough, which she is, but rather whether she is mature enough. Her action and her will to
fight for her people are indicating that she is. But those are only musings, I already have a nice lover."
With that, he gave Misato a peck on the cheek.
Misato used this opportunity to close her eyes and lay her head against Masahiko's shoulder.
Before new hostilities could ensure, Asuka asked if someone wanted to see her Unit 02. Masahiko gave a little
sign to Rei, whom was the only one to register it. So she answered to the redhead:
"Yes.". The two left the room, on their way to a chopper that would take them to the transport ship.
Meanwhile, Misato went to the bridge to get some papers from the admiral, while Shinji walked around with his two
friends. That left Tenel Ka and the Sith alone.
"What are you doing here?" asked the Jedi.
"Stopping third impact, saving the planet."
"Sith are never doing anything that could be considered good. What's the reason for this?"
"I have no intention to harm the inhabitants of this planet. I need something from them, which they could easily
give. But to give me something, they need to be alive."
"Why should I believe you?"
"We have often confronted each other, but always with honor. Give me at least that much credit."
She snorted. "Maybe. But you haven't answered my question."
"Why are you here?" countered the Sith.
"To make sure that those Angels are defeated, so that the humans on this planet could live in eternal peace.
A ceremony called 'Red Earth' will destroy all darkness on it, to bring peace and happiness to the entire
population. After this, my mission is fulfilled."
"You know what this ceremony means?"
"I just told you."
"You are wrong."
"Prove it."
"When we are in Tokyo3, I will. You were lied to, manipulated, made for a fool. I have the evidence and I will
show it to you."
She furrowed her brows. "If that would be true, why do you want to help me?"
"Currently, there is peace between the Empire and the New Republic. We work together to prepare for the next round
against the Vong. I see no reason to not work with you. I bare no hostilities towards you. I always found our
fights to be amusing."
She snorted, and left the room.
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Meanwhile, aboard the freighter.
"And this is my Unit02, the final production model. While your Unit00 and Unit01 are the Proto- and the Test type,
this one is the first designed solely with combat in mind."
"It is red." <The color I hate.>
"Yes, but that's just one of the improvements. It is much more stable and reliable, more heavily armored and has
additional weapons like spikes in the shoulder pylons plus some other nice gimmicks. And it is still as fast and
agile as the other units. It's simply the best, for the best pilot."
"Since it is the latest unit, it should be the most sophisticated one. But this will change with the completion
of Unit03 and later models."
Asuka shrugged. "But I'm the best pilot, so that doesn't really matter. Rookies need better machines, while
experienced and well trained pilots can function with older material as well."
Suddenly, the entire ship shuddered as if struck by a tremendous fist.
Asuka nearly fell from the head of her unit into the coolant, but regained her balance quickly. "What was that?"
Rei felt it. Only one thing felt this way. "Angel."
Hearing this, Asuka smirked, just to grimace at the pain in her swollen cheek. "My chance."
Rei looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"This is my chance. There's an Angel out there and it is my duty to defeat it."
"So you plan to use your unit to defeat the Angel?"
"Correct."
"May I assist you?"
Asuka grinned at the blue haired pilot. This was even better. Now she could impress the first child with her
abilities even at close range. She would show her that she was the best, after it, she would give her the chance to
be friends with her. After her show, there was no way that the girl would refuse to be at good terms with the best
pilot.
"Sure. Put on your plug suit."
"I have no plug suit here. I will go in nude."
Asuka stared at the blue haired girl. Did she really say that she would enter the plug nude?
"No need to. I have a spare that you can use."
As they entered the plug, Rei said: "I cannot speak German. You need to change the interface, or the noise will
interfere too much."
"No problem. Thanks for the warning."
Asuka sat down in her seat while Rei cowered behind her seat. As soon as she started the EVA, Asuka switched the
interface to Japanese. After this was done, the activation met no other problems. It was strange for her to feel a
connection to a second being in the plug, but it wasn't distracting. On the contrary, it was almost....comforting.
The first time in a battle, the first time her unit didn't feel so hollow as always, the first time where she didn't
feel lonely in the entry plug. Now she just had to add another first time: Her first Angel Kill.
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The Sith joined Tenel Ka at the bow of the carrier, where both witnessed the destruction of a second destroyer.
The ship jerked up, came nearly entire out of the water as it broke in two halves. Instead of trying evasive
maneuvers, the other escort ships moved in to attack the unknown aggressor.
"Those fools. The crewman of the ships have to pay for the foolish Admiral's pride. Thrawn would kill him for such
a disaster. Sadly, this asshole will survive it's incompetence." dead panned the Sith.
"I agree. It gives rise to disasters which should be avoided, and as such he should be severely punished."
"Just like at the fall of Coruscant. Where Republic officers disobeyed orders and didn't shoot down the hostage
ships which costed far more lives than killing the hostages and win the battle would have."
She gave him a sharp look. "No need to remind me. But we are not the only ones with this problem. May I remind you
of the disaster of Belirak, where an Imperial Admiral lost the planet and his entire fleet, without doing any damage to
the enemy? And then he fled home to Bastion, searching for a new command."
"You may. You know what happened to him?"
"No."
"Contrary to the incompetent republican officers, he paid the ultimate price for his failure."
"So he was executed? How original." came the sarcastic reply from the Jedi.
<Yes it was. I even invented a complete new way of deadly punishment. More painful, and much slower.>
"Contrary to the Republic, we don't reward incompetence and treachery."
As another ship broke into pieces, the Jedi asked: "Are those Angels always this destructive? And this powerful?"
<She doesn't know anything of the Angels? And still she trusts her allies? Stupid.>
"No. This is a rather weak one. Big and massive, but no real weapons. We both could defeat it easily."
"We could? That thing is huge and very powerful."
<Hehe. Time to remind her of the words of her own master.>
"Size does not matter. And we will have to help."
"Why?"
"The EVAs cannot fight in water." With this, he gestured to the red Unit02, which hopped from ship to ship, in order
to reach the carrier with its power supply.
Tenel Ka's eyes widened. "They can't?"
<She don't know this?>
"Exactly."
"But how will they defeat......"
"They cannot. After the unit is here, the Angel will destroy this ship. The unit will fall in the water, and the battle
will be over. With a clear victory for the Angel."
"How do you want to help them?"
"Do you feel the source of its power? It is directly behind his jaws."
"Yes, I do."
"If you open the jaws then I will do the rest."
"Sounds good to me."
They fell nearly in the water, as the red biobot landed on the carrier, nearly toppling it over.
Just seconds later, the Angel shifted it's aim to the carrier and sped up for the ramming of it's intended target.
It was not even 10 meters away as a enormous power grabbed it and forced it out of the water, while another one
forced his jaws open, leaving it as an easy target for the waiting Evangelion.
Asuka needed no second invitation, the second she saw the core, she jumped forward and stuck her Prog-knife into it,
shattering it into thousands of pieces.
This resulted in a huge explosion, as the remaining energy was released within a few nanoseconds. Normally, the
detonation would have destroyed the carrier, but the combined power of light and darkness were more than strong
enough to channel the blast around the ship.
As soon as the battle was over, Tenel Ka said: "Maybe we should work against them. We both want the destruction
of those so called 'Angels'."
<Sadly, I think that I have to. I just hope her idiocy isn't contagious. I will give her the information I posess.
Maybe then she will understand what is happening here, and will have to bow again before the superior power of
the dark side of the force.>
"Maybe we should, but only after you realize the foolishness of your allies here. Meet me tomorrow evening, and
wear dark clothes. It is time for you to know the truth of this situation here. Only then will you understand me,
and we really could work together. This time."
"Why should I trust you?"
<You trust some megalomaniacs, but not me? I have at least some style!>
"Why do you trust your allies?"
"Why not. All I have are your words, which are indicating that they betray me. Sith are well known for their lies
and half-truths. I have more reason to believe them, than you."
"Which is why I will show you undeniable evidence."
"I will come."
"I know."
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Rei was surprised at the control the second child possessed over her EVA. The hopping from one ship onto the
other without slipping or loosing balance was quite impressive although nobody could read it from her face.
Finally, they reached their destination, the aircraft carrier.
Asuka didn't waste time and plugged the power supply in. Now they were ready for battle. So, just one little
problem was left. The Angel was in the water and the EVAs were unable to swim. Fighting in the water would have
been impossible, the EVAs weren't designed for underwater-combat. This wasn't good.
While Asuka thought for some way to fight the Angel, Rei recognized two figures at the bow of the carrier.
The mysterious sensei and the girl who came as controller from SEELE. They were talking to each other.
She would have dismissed it for now, but as the sensei made a gesture, the Angel was lifted out of the water.
With a gesture from the young woman, the jaws opened wide, giving Asuka the perfect opportunity to finish it off.
The core, directly behind the jaws was exposed and Asuka stuck her knife as deep a possible in the red orb.
As it released it's energy, the detonation should have destroyed the carrier, but was instead guided around it.
<How did they do that. They lifted not only the Angel out of the water, but also opened it's jaws and channeled
the detonation around the carrier. This kind of power is superior to the Angels, as the result of this battle
shows. I will have to investigate this matter. If the sensei is this powerful, he wouldn't really need to deceive
me. This indicates that he told me the truth. I need more information.>
After Asuka was finished with her victory cheering, she looked at Rei which sat there without an expression
on her face. That startled her, but she was the great Soryu Asuka Langley.
"That's why I'm the number one pilot, first. The best trained and prepared for the fight against the Angels.
They won't stand a chance against me. But since we should act as teammates, we should be friends, right?"
With this, Asuka changed position in her seat to be able to shake hands with the first child.
She extended her hand and waited for a reaction.
<While her performance was good, it wasn't better than the performance of myself or the third. Still, she will
be a nice addition to our team. The sensei said that I should have more contact to others. And after we met the
second he said that I will have to work with her and try to be at good terms with her. I think I will follow
that advice.>
She took the hand of the second and answered "Very Well".
A few minutes later, they left the unit which now laid on the flight deck. They left the entry plug and headed
for the showers, to get rid of the sticky LCL.
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Rei Ayanami was not the only who witnessed the display of power from the two figures on the bow.
Kaji Ryouji saw it as well. While he didn't know how this was possible, it shed an interesting light on
the relationship of the man with his former love Misato.
Maybe all wasn't lost in that battle. He briefly thought over if he should inform Ikari or SEELE, but decided to
do nothing, for now. It would be interesting to see what will happen with those powerful new players in this
game. Very interesting, indeed.
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From the lowest observation point of the bridge isle, Shinji Ikari and his friends saw it as well.
While Shinji wasn't all that surprised, Touji and Kensuke were completely stunned.
With open mouths and a shocked expression on their faces, they were both out of commission.
Kensuke was even unable to be happy that he had the entire thing on tape, while Touji was surprisingly
the first to recover.
"Note to self: Never ever anger the sensei. Could be bad for one's health."
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A few decks above, Misato Katsuragi witnessed those events from the main bridge.
<NANI? Whoever those two are, they are very much alike. But what are they? They are not humans. Humans
cannot defeat Angels without EVA. They already knew each other. That can only mean that they came from the
same location. Looks like I have a lot to ask my new 'boyfriend'. And he better give me some answers or....
he'll freeze my gun again and spank me for being a curious little child. Maybe I should try a more
diplomatic approach. As long as I get my answers, it won't matter.>
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Still standing on the bow, Tenel Ka looked at her companion.
"There are a lot of witnesses. Do you want to erase their memories, or aren't those a little much?"
"I could do it, but for now, the revelations of today will fit nicely into my plans. It will set a lot of things
in motion. Your arrival does the same. The only thing that bugs me is the possibility that they will think of us
as being of the same kind."
She shuddered. "I will explain to them the differences as the opportunity arrives."
"Don't forget to mention that the Sith are the evil ones." he added with dry humor before he went away, in
direction of Unit02.
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After they were finished with the shower, Rei started immediately to search for the sensei. She had a lot
of questions, and she wanted the answers now. The strange girl could wait, she would have enough time to get
some answers from her too.
<I alredy knew that the sensei possessed some strange powers. That was obvious enough as he resisted my AT-field without
much of a struggle. Although I was weakened by my emotions at the time, I have no doubt that he would have done the same even if I would have been at peak efficiency. But lifting that Angel out of the water was another category of power.>
Her first spot to look for him was at the bow, then at the bridge. Finally, she found him on the hangar deck,
where he observed the Su-33 that sat there. She went to him, determined to get some answers.
"I have some questions."
"And I may have some answers."
"Do not play me for a fool."
"I have no intention to do so."
"Who are you?"
"A friend."
"What is the 'Empire', what is a 'Sith'?"
"And I thought you'd never ask. The galactic empire is a nation that covers a third of this galaxy. After some
hard times, it is on its rise to power. Soon, it will be the strongest military force again. Under the
leadership of our new Emperor, Thrawn, we will soon destroy the Vong and put the Republic into the place it
belongs. In history. The Sith is an old order of persons strong in the force. We believe in power, channeled
through emotions. We serve the Emperor."
"What is this 'force'?"
"The Force is everywhere. It binds all things together. You, me, the plane, the ocean, the air, everything.
People who are force-sensitive have the ability to control small parts of it, to bend it to their own will.
You are force-sensitive as well."
Rei wasn't surprised to hear that. On the contrary, she expected it. He would say anything to gain her trust.
"I am?"
"Yes, as are the second and the third child too. Also some of the other pupils in your class have this ability.
Since I'm here I wonder how it is possible that so much force-sensitive children are in one place. The only
explanation I have would mean that this ability is necessary to pilot an EVA. Which would mean that your
class-comrades are possibly pilot candidates as well, am I right?"
<Interesting, he has gained knowledge of this. But what didn't he know?>
"Yes, you are right."
"Other questions?"
"Who is this girl?"
"You mean Tenel Ka? She is a Jedi, an annoying brat who believes in the strength of good. A follower of the
Republic. Weak-minded and easy to manipulate."
"She doesn't like you, you said that you have fought. If you really won, why is she still alive?"
"Currently, the Empire and the Republic have a cease-fire, soon it will be a military treaty. Jedi killing stands
now on the 'Not to do' list, so I let her live. Which doesn't mean that the defeats weren't embarrassing for her."
He smiled as he thought of the result of their last encounter.
"She is allied with SEELE."
"Only because she doesn't know the truth. As much as I would like to say it, she isn't stupid. After she has seen
the truth behind this mess here, she will fight with me."
"Are you sure of that?"
"The code of the Jedi determines her actions. She has no other choice."
<If he is right, the scenario of the Commander has failed for sure. If it would be only him, I would have a
chance to fulfill his wishes and my purpose, but two watchful beings with this power are too much.
I need more information.>
"You said that you will show me evidence. Evidence that I was betrayed. When?"
"In two days. Meet me after school at the top of the hill in the south. We will be gone for over a day, so be
prepared for it."
She looked at him intensely. "I will."
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The rest of the trip was rather uneventful. As they reached the harbor, the unit was quickly loaded onto a
special transporter and brought to NERV, while the passengers were brought to their homes by NERV issued
vehicles.
The Sith drove with Katsuragi and Shinji in the same car, since he lived in the same apartment block.
He knew perfectly well that the Captain would really like to interrogate him. But she would have to wait.
Tonight, he had more important things to do. He had to show some things to a Jedi.
The Sith sighed and shuddered lightly as he thought what this galaxy was becoming if Sith worked together
with the Jedi.
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After the sun went down, he started his way towards the HQ of NERV. Tenel Ka would await him at the entrance of the
underground pyramid. Strangely, the security systems that sealed the geofront were again no problem, maybe that had
something to do with the alliance with Naoko? Pretty sure.
He met the Jedi at the appointed place and together they started their way to the depths of Terminal Dogma.
"What did they show you after your arrival?" asked the Sith.
"The EVAs, the weapon towers, and the Ops."
"Nothing of Terminal Dogma?"
"No."
"Then I will show you. But first you need to know one of my most important allies. Follow me."
The Jedi followed him to a ventilation shaft, where he crawled in. After a nice tour through these things, they
ended up in a tiny little room, with walls which were hidden behind rows of LCD monitors. And all of the monitors
showed the same message.
WHO IS THAT WOMAN?
"Tenel Ka, Jedi Knight, envoy of the New Republic, please meet Naoko Akagi, former scientist and genius, after a
betrayal by Gendo Ikari she was transformed to become the soul of the MAGI."
CAN WE TRUST HER?
"Yes." answered the Sith.
Tenel Ka looked first surprised, then questioningly at her personal Nemesis.
"How?"
"After she had finished the MAGI, Gendo sent Rei Ayanami to her. Rei had the mission to tell her what Gendo really
thought of her. Naoko lost her temper and killed the little girl. After she had realized this, she committed
suicide and ended up here, inside of her greatest achievement."
She looked at the monitors and asked: "Why are you allied with him?"
I WANT REVENGE
"I understand."
With that, the Jedi left and crawled back, closely followed by the Sith. After they were out of the ventilation
system, she asked: "She has killed and she wants revenge. Do you really trust her?"
"Yes. I trust everyone who wants to see Gendo Ikari die a long and painfully drawn out death."
Tenel Ka was surprised. It was unusual for her foe to let personal feelings cloud his judgement.
"You want to see him dead too." she dead panned.
"Yes. You will as well, once you learn the truth, after this night."
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The entrance to Terminal Dogma was open, another little gift from Naoko. The Sith led the way.
First target: Lilith.
As Tenel Ka stood in front of the being called Lilith, she was able to sense its life, its power. Nailed on
a cross, it was still emanating a pure light in the force. Whatever it was, she was unable to classify it
as evil.
"What...?"
"I don't know. I have only been here once, so far. I had no chance to try to contact her then, and today we again
have no time. But it is on my agenda."
"Our agenda."
The Sith raised an eyebrow on hearing this statement, but gave no comment. Instead he led her deeper into
the confines of the best-kept secrets on this planet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------
Long before they reached the rooms with the clones, Tenel Ka felt something wrong. She had never fought
against the Ssi-ruuk, so she was unable to identify this. Even as she stood in the middle of one of the two
rooms, she was unable to pinpoint the source of this feeling. She looked at the Sith as he started a computer.
He gestured to her to read the text on the monitor, and as she did, she knew this would haunt her in nightmares
for a long time. Clearly shaken, she made her way to the glass wall and laid a hand against the glass. She
concentrated on the beings behind it, but was unable to feel them for longer than a few seconds. Contrary to the
Sith, she was unable to keep herself from vomiting.
Gladly, her arch-enemy was prepared and gave her a plastic bag right in time. After she was finished, she
waited for what the Sith would say about her weakness.
"There is another room like this, filled with clones of the second stage."
Her eyes widened with shock. "There are more?"
"Follow me."
And so she did.
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They entered the second room and Tenel Ka went immediately to the glass wall and pressed her hands against it.
"Do you feel the difference?" asked the Sith.
"Yes, I do."
"A third room is under construction."
"Would be logical. What do you plan to do?" demanded the Jedi to know.
"As soon as the first is freed from the influence of the 'Commander', I will make my moves. Then I can free
them and hand them over to our specialists, where they will get their chance."
"You don't plan to kill them? I'm surprised."
"Most of my troops are clones. I know better than to waste resources. I am not Tharagon."
"I see. You think you can free the First from the Commander?"
"He has deceived her. She doesn't know of the second room, nor of the construction of the third. And she was
lied to, which I can prove to her. As soon as this is finished, she will be mine to command."
Tenel Ka raised an eyebrow. "You want to take her as an apprentice?"
"This surprises you?" asked the Sith back.
"I would have anticipated that you try to take the Second as your apprentice. Her fiery mind would fit better."
"You know as much as I that you are talking nonsense. The second has a fiery mind as exterior, but is in essence
a weak child, haunted by its past, unable or too stupid to move on. A trait which is very common on this world.
The Second is haunted by the suicide of her mother. Unable to move on, she is on her way to self-destruction.
The Third is also caught by the past. I have begun to free him of his self-imposed chains, and soon, he will
be normal and live on, able to leave the past were it belongs. After him. Gendo Ikari tries to revive his past,
if necessary he would commit genocide to do so. He cannot let it go, and went insane.
Ritsuko Akagi, chief of science commits the same mistake as her mother, unable to let her rest in peace, she
has to do the same things, hoping she would be successful where her mother wasn't. To be able to step out
of her shadow, she repeats the past. Misato Katsuragi, Director of field operations. Only survivor of the
Katsuragi expedition in the year 2000. Haunted by the final act of her father, which was his only fatherly thing
he ever did, she compares everyone to him and is afraid to see traits of him in other persons. She loves and hate
him, to cope with this, she drinks as if there is no tomorrow. They are all fools. The past should be where it
belongs, in the past, gone forever, impossible to change. They are all unable to realize this, and they pay the price
for their folly. I will break this circle by showing them a possible future."
"And if they cannot understand?"
"Then they will die. I have no patience for fools."
"And why do you want to take the First as apprentice? She is too controlled to be a good Sith."
"The real art of being a Sith is the control over your emotions, otherwise you are getting consumed by the
dark side. Her control is very good, and after I show her the truth, she will know hate and anger.
She will be a perfect apprentice, while the second will be a good Jedi after she learns to let the past
go by."
"What gives you that idea?"
"I tested her."
"With the hit?"
"Yes. If she would have tried to strike back, or to try to get rid of me as soon as possible, it would have
been possible. But her reaction was to be hurt, her reprimand for my action almost non-existent as she didn't know
how to react. It was only for split seconds, but enough to show her real behavior. As soon as she lives in the
present, her intelligence will be focused on helping and being nice, living a normal life."
Tenel Ka looked long at her foe. "You sound like you have some things buried in the past too. Where you able to
let it go, to bury it in you memory as things that cannot be changed?"
He looked back and sighed. "Yes. I know what it means to bury things. I know what it means to let things
stay in the past."
"I understand. I think we are allies, this time."
"Accepted. We should go back outside. We have been in this tomb long enough."
Together they left Terminal Dogma.
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The next day at school, the sensei had a surprise for his pupils.
"Today we receive a new student. She comes from Germany, doesn't like fools and other bakas, looks good and
will kill you if you have perverted thoughts about her."
Then he looked intensely at Aida.
"And contrary to the possible believes of some fools, she isn't a model. But if anyone tries to make her one,
I will make sure that she gets properly paid."
The entire class looked at Kensuke Aida and chuckled. The boy in question blushed hard and thought of some ways
to crawl under his desk without getting even more embarrassed.
The sensei went to the classroom door and opened it.
"So, meet our new class-comrade, Soryu Asuka Langley."
The redheaded girl made her entrance smiling. Her first action was to approach the chalkboard, where she wrote
her name.
"Hi, my name is Soryu Asuka Langley. Pleased to meet you."
Her introduction was answered with catcalls and whistles from the boys, plus jealous looks from the girls.
The discoloration on her cheek did almost nothing to dampen her beauty.
"Take your seat." said the sensei.
She looked around and took a seat beside Ayanami. Pilots should stick together, at least in her opinion.
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Preread by Ezstarius and Kuracao
Domo Arigato
Book 1: Changing Darkness
Chapter 8: Asuka gets struck!
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On the following Monday, the world was generally at peace. Misato was happy that her personal cook
and housekeeper was back, and as Shinji showed up in class, even Rei Ayanami eased her hostile stare against
the sensei somewhat.
The lessons themselves were nothing special, so the school day went by without incidents.
After the final bell rung, the pupils left the class, leaving only Ayanami behind.
"You have not lied to me, in this case. I will take no actions against you, so far."
That being said, she left the classroom, leaving a smiling teacher behind, whose musings were cut short
by a familiar screeching from the parking lot. He had heard that sound often in the last week, and so it
could mean only one thing. Misato Katsuragi has arrived.
Since there were no alarm sirens wailing, it wasn't to retrieve the children, so he wasn't surprised
as the purple haired beauty entered the class room.
"Shinji is back."
"I know."
"You haven't lied to me. And I can assure you that you were indeed very successful."
"What do you mean?"
"Instead of an over sensitive child, I now live with a wannabe Casanova that started hitting on me."
He chuckled. "Well, you should be happy about that. Despite your older age, you are even able to let such
young boys fall for you. You should be flattered."
Her left eye started twitching. "Older age?"
"You are older than Shinji, right?"
"Yes."
"Then you are a older age than him."
Only a grunt answered him.
"Why are you here?"
She looked annoyed at him, before she decided to give him an answer.
"In a few days, the second child will arrive. Since she will be placed in your class, you should probably come
with me to meet her at the ship which brings her to Japan. Shinji will accompany us, as will some of his friends."
"Will the first child be there too?"
"Hm. I haven't thought of that. I will make sure that she accompanies us as well."
"Well, I think I will come too. The second child has a lot to learn. She should start soon."
"We'll meet Wednesday at 04.30. Don't be late. And this is not a date."
"I know. You are reserved for your young lover and roomy."
If looks could kill, the Sith would have died immediately, but since this was not possible, Misato stormed out
of the room in an angry state of being.
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Wednesday morning, they all met at Captain Katsuragi's apartment, with only one person being late.
Misato Katsuragi.
How she managed to achieve this impossibility will probably forever remain a mystery, although the Sith made
a gesture that showed drinking of a bottle as the answer to the questioning glances of Suzuhara and Aida, whom were
invited by Shinji.
A few minutes later, they entered 2 cars which were provided by NERV. The big bonus for the passengers were
that neither Misato, nor her pupil were driving, so they managed to reach he heliport without being sick or
killed. A large Sikorsky sky crane transport helicopter awaited them when they arrived.
They boarded, and soon they were on their way to a meeting with an aircraft carrier.
The flight was quiet, much to the surprise of all who knew Kensuke Aida. They couldn't grasp the fact that he was
this quiet. Only a certain blue haired girl suspected what was going on, but decided to say nothing.
She liked the silence.
As the UN fleet came into visual range, everyone looked out of the windows, with the Misato being the sole exception.
She was too busy mumbling something about large boats and waste of money.
For the rest of the flight, Aida was glued to the window, with his camera in his hand, but at least he didn't open
his mouth. He only disturbed the others when he was forced to crawl over one or all of them to get a better look at
the vast formation of warships.
Unseen by the others, the Sith frowned.
<There is a disturbance in the force. A sickenening echo in the force. Jedi.>
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As the chopper landed on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier with the ridiculous name 'Over the rainbow', the
Sith was in a really bad mood. And as he saw the already familiar girl-form of the second child awaiting them, he
nearly groaned in annoyance.
<The brat from Vienna. Just great.>
They had just managed to step on the flight deck, when a gust of wind blew the lower part of the redheads dress up
in the air, giving everyone a nice look on her white panties. Instead of apologizing or shrugging it off, the girl
took other measures.
*SLAP*SLAP*SLAP*SLAP*
All four males received a slap in the face.
"That's the viewing fee. Quite a bargain, nicht?" said the girl.
"Here's your change." announced a dark voice.
*WHAM!!!*
Asuka didn't even have a chance to know what hit her, before she landed face first on the steel of the flight deck,
after making a perfect 540 degree flip in the air. She thought that her head had exploded, but the pain she
registered made it painfully clear that she was still alive.
Everyone looked shocked at the Sensei, who had struck the girl with tremendous force, sending her to the floor with
bleeding lips and an equally bleeding nose.
He ignored the stares and waited for the response of the girl.
<Her attitude is snotty, arrogant, very fitting for a Sith. Her temper flares, the anger looks strong in her.
Now I will see if that is the real girl, or a facade.>
He used the force to feel the emotions of the girl, to know if she could be another apprentice like Ayanami.
<Shock. Fear. Not understanding what happened. No clue how to react. A little girl without guidance. Her hard shell
is an act, put up by a hurt, little child. Although the force is strong is her, I would rather be able to turn
Shinji into a Sith than her. Whatever her official reaction may be, the verdict has fallen.>
After nearly a minute, the girl struggled back to her feet with the help of Captain Katsuragi and the first
child, unable to contain a moan of pain. She spat a little blood onto the flight deck, before she screamed at
the Sith:
"Who the fuck are you? You nearly hit me ten times stronger than I you. You call that change? What's wrong with
you Idiot?"
"I will be your sensei in school. And yes, that was change. Take it as sign of my generosity."
With that said, he turned around and walked in direction of the bridge isle, as he felt the disturbance in the
force very strong. Strong enough to know who was the reason for that. This time, he couldn't suppress an annoyed
groan. He wasn't having a good day, that was for sure.
The others came also in this direction, and soon they were all together again. As the Sith could feel that the
main reason for his bad mood was coming out on the flight deck, he laid an arm around Misatos waist and whispered
in her ear:
"Play along, please."
A small door opened, and a girl with long red-golden hair stepped on the flight deck. Clad in a green leather dress,
which showed her long, well toned legs and a nice bust, she was really something to look at. Only the fact that
her left arm ended shortly over the elbow disturbed an otherwise perfect vision of beauty. As her grey eyes met
the green ones of the Sith, a scowl formed on her face as she went to the group.
She ignored the others and talked directly to the Sensei.
"What are you doing here. I had hoped that you were finally dead. Who do you think you are? My personal Nemesis?
Should I kick you off from the carrier now, or later?"
"You know what happened last time we had a clash. And the two times before that. Go and annoy someone else,
I have no time for an annoying woman with no brains and no skill. Fight with some flies, maybe then you will be able
to win. I have more important matters at hand, including my girlfriend here."
Misato stiffened as she heard that, but as another figure appeared on the flight deck, she clung onto him as if they
were really madly in love with each other. She even slurped with her tongue over his cheek, which was rewarded by a
shocked look from the newcomer.
"Misato?" asked the newcomer, obviously surprised by the fact that the female Captain was here with some strange
looking guy which she was very intimately involved with.
"Kaji, are you still alive?" Misato looked at the young woman. "Looks like you are not the only girl who wishes that
someone is dead. Seems we're both having a bad day."
"Maybe we are. By the way, my name is Tenel Ka. Pleased to meet you, although you have a bad taste with men."
"Well, Masahiko here is still a way better boyfriend and lover than that lazy and cheating bum over there."
The newcomer flinched as hear those words, especially the lover part sat wrong with him. He didn't exactly know what
was going on here, but to impress Misato at least a little bit, he had to show her that he had changed over the last
several years. So he tried to impress her with his manners, in the hope to score at least the fraction of a point for adult-like behavior.
"My Name is Kaji Ryouji. Pleased to meet you."
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Later, in one of the mess-halls they sat all together at a simple steel table. Asuka was still busy with tending
her hurt face and glaring rusty daggers into the sensei. Shinji sat there doing nothing and Rei did even less.
Tenel Ka glared annoyed at the Sith, whose sat there with a broad grin on his face, his arm still around Misato.
Kaji broke the uncomfortable silence.
"So Shinji, you live with Misato now? Is she still wild in bed?"
"Don't know, I was unable to try her so far." came the dry response from the third child.
That answer lead to a major face fault from Kaji, while Touji and Kensuke were too shocked to do anything. And
again, silence threatened to unfold itself.
"You asked the wrong person, Ryouji, you should have asked the idiot over there." stated Tenel Ka.
Said idiot looked at her and responded: "A gentleman doesn't tell such things. Oh, I forgot, you don't know how
a gentleman behaves, you prefer the lowest scum, not even worthy of being called intelligent being."
Before Tenel Ka could reply, the redheaded girl interrupted: "Were you two lovers? You certainly act like it."
Two heads slowly changed their direction, until they looked at Asuka, who was surprisingly able to withstand the
combined glares of the Jedi and the Sith. Masahiko was the first to recover.
"I would rather marry you, then even touch that.....that........"
"Ha. I always knew it, you are a sick child molester." chimed Tenel Ka.
"Hey, I'm not a child." exclaimed Asuka, soon backed up by the Sith.
"She is old enough to put her life in the line of duty, saving the entire population of this planet. I don't care
if she would be old enough, which she is, but rather whether she is mature enough. Her action and her will to
fight for her people are indicating that she is. But those are only musings, I already have a nice lover."
With that, he gave Misato a peck on the cheek.
Misato used this opportunity to close her eyes and lay her head against Masahiko's shoulder.
Before new hostilities could ensure, Asuka asked if someone wanted to see her Unit 02. Masahiko gave a little
sign to Rei, whom was the only one to register it. So she answered to the redhead:
"Yes.". The two left the room, on their way to a chopper that would take them to the transport ship.
Meanwhile, Misato went to the bridge to get some papers from the admiral, while Shinji walked around with his two
friends. That left Tenel Ka and the Sith alone.
"What are you doing here?" asked the Jedi.
"Stopping third impact, saving the planet."
"Sith are never doing anything that could be considered good. What's the reason for this?"
"I have no intention to harm the inhabitants of this planet. I need something from them, which they could easily
give. But to give me something, they need to be alive."
"Why should I believe you?"
"We have often confronted each other, but always with honor. Give me at least that much credit."
She snorted. "Maybe. But you haven't answered my question."
"Why are you here?" countered the Sith.
"To make sure that those Angels are defeated, so that the humans on this planet could live in eternal peace.
A ceremony called 'Red Earth' will destroy all darkness on it, to bring peace and happiness to the entire
population. After this, my mission is fulfilled."
"You know what this ceremony means?"
"I just told you."
"You are wrong."
"Prove it."
"When we are in Tokyo3, I will. You were lied to, manipulated, made for a fool. I have the evidence and I will
show it to you."
She furrowed her brows. "If that would be true, why do you want to help me?"
"Currently, there is peace between the Empire and the New Republic. We work together to prepare for the next round
against the Vong. I see no reason to not work with you. I bare no hostilities towards you. I always found our
fights to be amusing."
She snorted, and left the room.
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Meanwhile, aboard the freighter.
"And this is my Unit02, the final production model. While your Unit00 and Unit01 are the Proto- and the Test type,
this one is the first designed solely with combat in mind."
"It is red." <The color I hate.>
"Yes, but that's just one of the improvements. It is much more stable and reliable, more heavily armored and has
additional weapons like spikes in the shoulder pylons plus some other nice gimmicks. And it is still as fast and
agile as the other units. It's simply the best, for the best pilot."
"Since it is the latest unit, it should be the most sophisticated one. But this will change with the completion
of Unit03 and later models."
Asuka shrugged. "But I'm the best pilot, so that doesn't really matter. Rookies need better machines, while
experienced and well trained pilots can function with older material as well."
Suddenly, the entire ship shuddered as if struck by a tremendous fist.
Asuka nearly fell from the head of her unit into the coolant, but regained her balance quickly. "What was that?"
Rei felt it. Only one thing felt this way. "Angel."
Hearing this, Asuka smirked, just to grimace at the pain in her swollen cheek. "My chance."
Rei looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"This is my chance. There's an Angel out there and it is my duty to defeat it."
"So you plan to use your unit to defeat the Angel?"
"Correct."
"May I assist you?"
Asuka grinned at the blue haired pilot. This was even better. Now she could impress the first child with her
abilities even at close range. She would show her that she was the best, after it, she would give her the chance to
be friends with her. After her show, there was no way that the girl would refuse to be at good terms with the best
pilot.
"Sure. Put on your plug suit."
"I have no plug suit here. I will go in nude."
Asuka stared at the blue haired girl. Did she really say that she would enter the plug nude?
"No need to. I have a spare that you can use."
As they entered the plug, Rei said: "I cannot speak German. You need to change the interface, or the noise will
interfere too much."
"No problem. Thanks for the warning."
Asuka sat down in her seat while Rei cowered behind her seat. As soon as she started the EVA, Asuka switched the
interface to Japanese. After this was done, the activation met no other problems. It was strange for her to feel a
connection to a second being in the plug, but it wasn't distracting. On the contrary, it was almost....comforting.
The first time in a battle, the first time her unit didn't feel so hollow as always, the first time where she didn't
feel lonely in the entry plug. Now she just had to add another first time: Her first Angel Kill.
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The Sith joined Tenel Ka at the bow of the carrier, where both witnessed the destruction of a second destroyer.
The ship jerked up, came nearly entire out of the water as it broke in two halves. Instead of trying evasive
maneuvers, the other escort ships moved in to attack the unknown aggressor.
"Those fools. The crewman of the ships have to pay for the foolish Admiral's pride. Thrawn would kill him for such
a disaster. Sadly, this asshole will survive it's incompetence." dead panned the Sith.
"I agree. It gives rise to disasters which should be avoided, and as such he should be severely punished."
"Just like at the fall of Coruscant. Where Republic officers disobeyed orders and didn't shoot down the hostage
ships which costed far more lives than killing the hostages and win the battle would have."
She gave him a sharp look. "No need to remind me. But we are not the only ones with this problem. May I remind you
of the disaster of Belirak, where an Imperial Admiral lost the planet and his entire fleet, without doing any damage to
the enemy? And then he fled home to Bastion, searching for a new command."
"You may. You know what happened to him?"
"No."
"Contrary to the incompetent republican officers, he paid the ultimate price for his failure."
"So he was executed? How original." came the sarcastic reply from the Jedi.
<Yes it was. I even invented a complete new way of deadly punishment. More painful, and much slower.>
"Contrary to the Republic, we don't reward incompetence and treachery."
As another ship broke into pieces, the Jedi asked: "Are those Angels always this destructive? And this powerful?"
<She doesn't know anything of the Angels? And still she trusts her allies? Stupid.>
"No. This is a rather weak one. Big and massive, but no real weapons. We both could defeat it easily."
"We could? That thing is huge and very powerful."
<Hehe. Time to remind her of the words of her own master.>
"Size does not matter. And we will have to help."
"Why?"
"The EVAs cannot fight in water." With this, he gestured to the red Unit02, which hopped from ship to ship, in order
to reach the carrier with its power supply.
Tenel Ka's eyes widened. "They can't?"
<She don't know this?>
"Exactly."
"But how will they defeat......"
"They cannot. After the unit is here, the Angel will destroy this ship. The unit will fall in the water, and the battle
will be over. With a clear victory for the Angel."
"How do you want to help them?"
"Do you feel the source of its power? It is directly behind his jaws."
"Yes, I do."
"If you open the jaws then I will do the rest."
"Sounds good to me."
They fell nearly in the water, as the red biobot landed on the carrier, nearly toppling it over.
Just seconds later, the Angel shifted it's aim to the carrier and sped up for the ramming of it's intended target.
It was not even 10 meters away as a enormous power grabbed it and forced it out of the water, while another one
forced his jaws open, leaving it as an easy target for the waiting Evangelion.
Asuka needed no second invitation, the second she saw the core, she jumped forward and stuck her Prog-knife into it,
shattering it into thousands of pieces.
This resulted in a huge explosion, as the remaining energy was released within a few nanoseconds. Normally, the
detonation would have destroyed the carrier, but the combined power of light and darkness were more than strong
enough to channel the blast around the ship.
As soon as the battle was over, Tenel Ka said: "Maybe we should work against them. We both want the destruction
of those so called 'Angels'."
<Sadly, I think that I have to. I just hope her idiocy isn't contagious. I will give her the information I posess.
Maybe then she will understand what is happening here, and will have to bow again before the superior power of
the dark side of the force.>
"Maybe we should, but only after you realize the foolishness of your allies here. Meet me tomorrow evening, and
wear dark clothes. It is time for you to know the truth of this situation here. Only then will you understand me,
and we really could work together. This time."
"Why should I trust you?"
<You trust some megalomaniacs, but not me? I have at least some style!>
"Why do you trust your allies?"
"Why not. All I have are your words, which are indicating that they betray me. Sith are well known for their lies
and half-truths. I have more reason to believe them, than you."
"Which is why I will show you undeniable evidence."
"I will come."
"I know."
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Rei was surprised at the control the second child possessed over her EVA. The hopping from one ship onto the
other without slipping or loosing balance was quite impressive although nobody could read it from her face.
Finally, they reached their destination, the aircraft carrier.
Asuka didn't waste time and plugged the power supply in. Now they were ready for battle. So, just one little
problem was left. The Angel was in the water and the EVAs were unable to swim. Fighting in the water would have
been impossible, the EVAs weren't designed for underwater-combat. This wasn't good.
While Asuka thought for some way to fight the Angel, Rei recognized two figures at the bow of the carrier.
The mysterious sensei and the girl who came as controller from SEELE. They were talking to each other.
She would have dismissed it for now, but as the sensei made a gesture, the Angel was lifted out of the water.
With a gesture from the young woman, the jaws opened wide, giving Asuka the perfect opportunity to finish it off.
The core, directly behind the jaws was exposed and Asuka stuck her knife as deep a possible in the red orb.
As it released it's energy, the detonation should have destroyed the carrier, but was instead guided around it.
<How did they do that. They lifted not only the Angel out of the water, but also opened it's jaws and channeled
the detonation around the carrier. This kind of power is superior to the Angels, as the result of this battle
shows. I will have to investigate this matter. If the sensei is this powerful, he wouldn't really need to deceive
me. This indicates that he told me the truth. I need more information.>
After Asuka was finished with her victory cheering, she looked at Rei which sat there without an expression
on her face. That startled her, but she was the great Soryu Asuka Langley.
"That's why I'm the number one pilot, first. The best trained and prepared for the fight against the Angels.
They won't stand a chance against me. But since we should act as teammates, we should be friends, right?"
With this, Asuka changed position in her seat to be able to shake hands with the first child.
She extended her hand and waited for a reaction.
<While her performance was good, it wasn't better than the performance of myself or the third. Still, she will
be a nice addition to our team. The sensei said that I should have more contact to others. And after we met the
second he said that I will have to work with her and try to be at good terms with her. I think I will follow
that advice.>
She took the hand of the second and answered "Very Well".
A few minutes later, they left the unit which now laid on the flight deck. They left the entry plug and headed
for the showers, to get rid of the sticky LCL.
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Rei Ayanami was not the only who witnessed the display of power from the two figures on the bow.
Kaji Ryouji saw it as well. While he didn't know how this was possible, it shed an interesting light on
the relationship of the man with his former love Misato.
Maybe all wasn't lost in that battle. He briefly thought over if he should inform Ikari or SEELE, but decided to
do nothing, for now. It would be interesting to see what will happen with those powerful new players in this
game. Very interesting, indeed.
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From the lowest observation point of the bridge isle, Shinji Ikari and his friends saw it as well.
While Shinji wasn't all that surprised, Touji and Kensuke were completely stunned.
With open mouths and a shocked expression on their faces, they were both out of commission.
Kensuke was even unable to be happy that he had the entire thing on tape, while Touji was surprisingly
the first to recover.
"Note to self: Never ever anger the sensei. Could be bad for one's health."
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A few decks above, Misato Katsuragi witnessed those events from the main bridge.
<NANI? Whoever those two are, they are very much alike. But what are they? They are not humans. Humans
cannot defeat Angels without EVA. They already knew each other. That can only mean that they came from the
same location. Looks like I have a lot to ask my new 'boyfriend'. And he better give me some answers or....
he'll freeze my gun again and spank me for being a curious little child. Maybe I should try a more
diplomatic approach. As long as I get my answers, it won't matter.>
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Still standing on the bow, Tenel Ka looked at her companion.
"There are a lot of witnesses. Do you want to erase their memories, or aren't those a little much?"
"I could do it, but for now, the revelations of today will fit nicely into my plans. It will set a lot of things
in motion. Your arrival does the same. The only thing that bugs me is the possibility that they will think of us
as being of the same kind."
She shuddered. "I will explain to them the differences as the opportunity arrives."
"Don't forget to mention that the Sith are the evil ones." he added with dry humor before he went away, in
direction of Unit02.
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After they were finished with the shower, Rei started immediately to search for the sensei. She had a lot
of questions, and she wanted the answers now. The strange girl could wait, she would have enough time to get
some answers from her too.
<I alredy knew that the sensei possessed some strange powers. That was obvious enough as he resisted my AT-field without
much of a struggle. Although I was weakened by my emotions at the time, I have no doubt that he would have done the same even if I would have been at peak efficiency. But lifting that Angel out of the water was another category of power.>
Her first spot to look for him was at the bow, then at the bridge. Finally, she found him on the hangar deck,
where he observed the Su-33 that sat there. She went to him, determined to get some answers.
"I have some questions."
"And I may have some answers."
"Do not play me for a fool."
"I have no intention to do so."
"Who are you?"
"A friend."
"What is the 'Empire', what is a 'Sith'?"
"And I thought you'd never ask. The galactic empire is a nation that covers a third of this galaxy. After some
hard times, it is on its rise to power. Soon, it will be the strongest military force again. Under the
leadership of our new Emperor, Thrawn, we will soon destroy the Vong and put the Republic into the place it
belongs. In history. The Sith is an old order of persons strong in the force. We believe in power, channeled
through emotions. We serve the Emperor."
"What is this 'force'?"
"The Force is everywhere. It binds all things together. You, me, the plane, the ocean, the air, everything.
People who are force-sensitive have the ability to control small parts of it, to bend it to their own will.
You are force-sensitive as well."
Rei wasn't surprised to hear that. On the contrary, she expected it. He would say anything to gain her trust.
"I am?"
"Yes, as are the second and the third child too. Also some of the other pupils in your class have this ability.
Since I'm here I wonder how it is possible that so much force-sensitive children are in one place. The only
explanation I have would mean that this ability is necessary to pilot an EVA. Which would mean that your
class-comrades are possibly pilot candidates as well, am I right?"
<Interesting, he has gained knowledge of this. But what didn't he know?>
"Yes, you are right."
"Other questions?"
"Who is this girl?"
"You mean Tenel Ka? She is a Jedi, an annoying brat who believes in the strength of good. A follower of the
Republic. Weak-minded and easy to manipulate."
"She doesn't like you, you said that you have fought. If you really won, why is she still alive?"
"Currently, the Empire and the Republic have a cease-fire, soon it will be a military treaty. Jedi killing stands
now on the 'Not to do' list, so I let her live. Which doesn't mean that the defeats weren't embarrassing for her."
He smiled as he thought of the result of their last encounter.
"She is allied with SEELE."
"Only because she doesn't know the truth. As much as I would like to say it, she isn't stupid. After she has seen
the truth behind this mess here, she will fight with me."
"Are you sure of that?"
"The code of the Jedi determines her actions. She has no other choice."
<If he is right, the scenario of the Commander has failed for sure. If it would be only him, I would have a
chance to fulfill his wishes and my purpose, but two watchful beings with this power are too much.
I need more information.>
"You said that you will show me evidence. Evidence that I was betrayed. When?"
"In two days. Meet me after school at the top of the hill in the south. We will be gone for over a day, so be
prepared for it."
She looked at him intensely. "I will."
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The rest of the trip was rather uneventful. As they reached the harbor, the unit was quickly loaded onto a
special transporter and brought to NERV, while the passengers were brought to their homes by NERV issued
vehicles.
The Sith drove with Katsuragi and Shinji in the same car, since he lived in the same apartment block.
He knew perfectly well that the Captain would really like to interrogate him. But she would have to wait.
Tonight, he had more important things to do. He had to show some things to a Jedi.
The Sith sighed and shuddered lightly as he thought what this galaxy was becoming if Sith worked together
with the Jedi.
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After the sun went down, he started his way towards the HQ of NERV. Tenel Ka would await him at the entrance of the
underground pyramid. Strangely, the security systems that sealed the geofront were again no problem, maybe that had
something to do with the alliance with Naoko? Pretty sure.
He met the Jedi at the appointed place and together they started their way to the depths of Terminal Dogma.
"What did they show you after your arrival?" asked the Sith.
"The EVAs, the weapon towers, and the Ops."
"Nothing of Terminal Dogma?"
"No."
"Then I will show you. But first you need to know one of my most important allies. Follow me."
The Jedi followed him to a ventilation shaft, where he crawled in. After a nice tour through these things, they
ended up in a tiny little room, with walls which were hidden behind rows of LCD monitors. And all of the monitors
showed the same message.
WHO IS THAT WOMAN?
"Tenel Ka, Jedi Knight, envoy of the New Republic, please meet Naoko Akagi, former scientist and genius, after a
betrayal by Gendo Ikari she was transformed to become the soul of the MAGI."
CAN WE TRUST HER?
"Yes." answered the Sith.
Tenel Ka looked first surprised, then questioningly at her personal Nemesis.
"How?"
"After she had finished the MAGI, Gendo sent Rei Ayanami to her. Rei had the mission to tell her what Gendo really
thought of her. Naoko lost her temper and killed the little girl. After she had realized this, she committed
suicide and ended up here, inside of her greatest achievement."
She looked at the monitors and asked: "Why are you allied with him?"
I WANT REVENGE
"I understand."
With that, the Jedi left and crawled back, closely followed by the Sith. After they were out of the ventilation
system, she asked: "She has killed and she wants revenge. Do you really trust her?"
"Yes. I trust everyone who wants to see Gendo Ikari die a long and painfully drawn out death."
Tenel Ka was surprised. It was unusual for her foe to let personal feelings cloud his judgement.
"You want to see him dead too." she dead panned.
"Yes. You will as well, once you learn the truth, after this night."
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The entrance to Terminal Dogma was open, another little gift from Naoko. The Sith led the way.
First target: Lilith.
As Tenel Ka stood in front of the being called Lilith, she was able to sense its life, its power. Nailed on
a cross, it was still emanating a pure light in the force. Whatever it was, she was unable to classify it
as evil.
"What...?"
"I don't know. I have only been here once, so far. I had no chance to try to contact her then, and today we again
have no time. But it is on my agenda."
"Our agenda."
The Sith raised an eyebrow on hearing this statement, but gave no comment. Instead he led her deeper into
the confines of the best-kept secrets on this planet.
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Long before they reached the rooms with the clones, Tenel Ka felt something wrong. She had never fought
against the Ssi-ruuk, so she was unable to identify this. Even as she stood in the middle of one of the two
rooms, she was unable to pinpoint the source of this feeling. She looked at the Sith as he started a computer.
He gestured to her to read the text on the monitor, and as she did, she knew this would haunt her in nightmares
for a long time. Clearly shaken, she made her way to the glass wall and laid a hand against the glass. She
concentrated on the beings behind it, but was unable to feel them for longer than a few seconds. Contrary to the
Sith, she was unable to keep herself from vomiting.
Gladly, her arch-enemy was prepared and gave her a plastic bag right in time. After she was finished, she
waited for what the Sith would say about her weakness.
"There is another room like this, filled with clones of the second stage."
Her eyes widened with shock. "There are more?"
"Follow me."
And so she did.
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They entered the second room and Tenel Ka went immediately to the glass wall and pressed her hands against it.
"Do you feel the difference?" asked the Sith.
"Yes, I do."
"A third room is under construction."
"Would be logical. What do you plan to do?" demanded the Jedi to know.
"As soon as the first is freed from the influence of the 'Commander', I will make my moves. Then I can free
them and hand them over to our specialists, where they will get their chance."
"You don't plan to kill them? I'm surprised."
"Most of my troops are clones. I know better than to waste resources. I am not Tharagon."
"I see. You think you can free the First from the Commander?"
"He has deceived her. She doesn't know of the second room, nor of the construction of the third. And she was
lied to, which I can prove to her. As soon as this is finished, she will be mine to command."
Tenel Ka raised an eyebrow. "You want to take her as an apprentice?"
"This surprises you?" asked the Sith back.
"I would have anticipated that you try to take the Second as your apprentice. Her fiery mind would fit better."
"You know as much as I that you are talking nonsense. The second has a fiery mind as exterior, but is in essence
a weak child, haunted by its past, unable or too stupid to move on. A trait which is very common on this world.
The Second is haunted by the suicide of her mother. Unable to move on, she is on her way to self-destruction.
The Third is also caught by the past. I have begun to free him of his self-imposed chains, and soon, he will
be normal and live on, able to leave the past were it belongs. After him. Gendo Ikari tries to revive his past,
if necessary he would commit genocide to do so. He cannot let it go, and went insane.
Ritsuko Akagi, chief of science commits the same mistake as her mother, unable to let her rest in peace, she
has to do the same things, hoping she would be successful where her mother wasn't. To be able to step out
of her shadow, she repeats the past. Misato Katsuragi, Director of field operations. Only survivor of the
Katsuragi expedition in the year 2000. Haunted by the final act of her father, which was his only fatherly thing
he ever did, she compares everyone to him and is afraid to see traits of him in other persons. She loves and hate
him, to cope with this, she drinks as if there is no tomorrow. They are all fools. The past should be where it
belongs, in the past, gone forever, impossible to change. They are all unable to realize this, and they pay the price
for their folly. I will break this circle by showing them a possible future."
"And if they cannot understand?"
"Then they will die. I have no patience for fools."
"And why do you want to take the First as apprentice? She is too controlled to be a good Sith."
"The real art of being a Sith is the control over your emotions, otherwise you are getting consumed by the
dark side. Her control is very good, and after I show her the truth, she will know hate and anger.
She will be a perfect apprentice, while the second will be a good Jedi after she learns to let the past
go by."
"What gives you that idea?"
"I tested her."
"With the hit?"
"Yes. If she would have tried to strike back, or to try to get rid of me as soon as possible, it would have
been possible. But her reaction was to be hurt, her reprimand for my action almost non-existent as she didn't know
how to react. It was only for split seconds, but enough to show her real behavior. As soon as she lives in the
present, her intelligence will be focused on helping and being nice, living a normal life."
Tenel Ka looked long at her foe. "You sound like you have some things buried in the past too. Where you able to
let it go, to bury it in you memory as things that cannot be changed?"
He looked back and sighed. "Yes. I know what it means to bury things. I know what it means to let things
stay in the past."
"I understand. I think we are allies, this time."
"Accepted. We should go back outside. We have been in this tomb long enough."
Together they left Terminal Dogma.
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The next day at school, the sensei had a surprise for his pupils.
"Today we receive a new student. She comes from Germany, doesn't like fools and other bakas, looks good and
will kill you if you have perverted thoughts about her."
Then he looked intensely at Aida.
"And contrary to the possible believes of some fools, she isn't a model. But if anyone tries to make her one,
I will make sure that she gets properly paid."
The entire class looked at Kensuke Aida and chuckled. The boy in question blushed hard and thought of some ways
to crawl under his desk without getting even more embarrassed.
The sensei went to the classroom door and opened it.
"So, meet our new class-comrade, Soryu Asuka Langley."
The redheaded girl made her entrance smiling. Her first action was to approach the chalkboard, where she wrote
her name.
"Hi, my name is Soryu Asuka Langley. Pleased to meet you."
Her introduction was answered with catcalls and whistles from the boys, plus jealous looks from the girls.
The discoloration on her cheek did almost nothing to dampen her beauty.
"Take your seat." said the sensei.
She looked around and took a seat beside Ayanami. Pilots should stick together, at least in her opinion.
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Preread by Ezstarius and Kuracao
Domo Arigato