Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Mark of The Beast ❯ Chapter 4
"Gendo I see you don't sleep." Ryo said in a tone of voice that sounded very contemptuous towards the commander of Nerv. "Cut the small talk Ryo, you know more than what you're telling us!" Gendo harshly addressed Dr. Hazuki paying little attention to the Nerv members working away at their terminals. "Gendo, everything I've done for you and your organization is proof that I am not holding anything from you what would I have to gain? Should your pathetic accusations continue…?" Gendo gave him a stern look "there is nothing that you can do while you're under my jurisdiction if your denial is evident to the matter I can have you shot." Ryo folded his arms such a level of discontent quickly arose from the day the two met a few days before the expedition.
"So you came here to give me a death threat, fine Gendo but I'm not the one who's going to have to deal with deaths of numerous people that caused the second impact in the artic ten years ago." Ryo said standing his ground taking very little of the Nerv commanders attempts to exercise his authority over him Gendo for once in his life met a man who wasn't afraid nor willing to back down in a sense despite their animosity he had a certain degree of respect for him. Gendo turned his back saying nothing to Ryo as caught a glimpse of a young teenage girl with short cut light blue hair awaiting him outside the door.
"Ryo it's only a matter of time until your temper takes over and you do something out of anger." Kenji said trying to calm down his friend "remember you're his turf so try to keep the confrontations down after all Aika wouldn't like to see you acting like this." Ryo thought back to his wife her warm smile that always had a soothing affect when he was irate. "I guess we should get back to our work." The two continued to work diligently as they translated more the texts from the arch that detailed the account from the archangel Michael.
"Falleth from paradise thy brother Lucifer and all kin were sent to the abyss of darkness, thy holy father expresses sorrow to see the Morningstar cast in darkness for thy perfidy. In thy hour of torment, thy kin Lucifer hath returned anew. Anger, sorrow, rage, anguish and despondency are in his heart. As thy kin no longer brought light to thy sight but disgrace to our holy father. From the hour of retribution thy holy father's voice rang out in vengeance such a tremble in heaven as thy kin falleth to our knees. Once more our fallen kin were cast out of Heaven to earth and hell, ye's fallen words uttered from ye's lips were a curse upon Adam and the coming messiah." Ryo and Kenji continued to read as on from the aftermath in the war in heaven "do you know this very text hasn't been read since the aftermath of the flood, should we keep this from Gendo and Seele?" Kenji asked as he felt a heavy burden placed upon him, looking to his friend for an answer Ryo stayed silent "Everything they know about the Angels is wrong, they weren't sent to destroy mankind they were sent to save them from the oncoming war of Armageddon. The Eva's are a vain attempt to stop this divine power, like the tower of Babel they will fail."
"Really now, Dr. Hazuki do you have such little faith in our attempts to stop the Angels?" Ritsuko inquired as she walked in holding a clipboard ready to take notes of their findings "As you know, the angels that have attacked don't follow any orders from a higher power, they're acting on their own accord." Ryo sighed as he hesitated to present his recent findings "Dr. Akagi, this recent finding is the transcription of the Account Noah took when the Arch-Angel Michael spoke with him after the flood. Before you read it, I implore you to ask any questions if something needs clarification." Ryo replied in his usual tone of voice the young woman seemed to be well versed and had proven herself to have relative understanding of the subject that pertained to texts. She pulled up a chair and started reading, much like the usual nights she spent off official hours in front of a monitor.
"Sorrow and anger were evident amongst all brothers and sisters as they fought and banished our kith and kin out of heaven when thy brother Lucifer blood washed down the futile lands of earth. Those banished sought comfort in flames and darkness as they made it their home…" Ritsuko paused as she scratched her head in confusion "I understand that Lucifer was cast out but here in sections 2 through 25 it's in a language I've never even seen before." Ryo nodded his head, as the translation was still hazy "while we have been working at this piece for hours we vaguely have an idea that it could read like this.
"Amongst the creatures Lucifer and his angels walk the earth, in the form of a serpent he took in the tree of knowledge. Easily seducing the woman known as Eve, was his first accomplishment towards his vengeance towards, the father, thy fallen one he seeks to temp and curse the very son of the father…" Ryo said as he read from few different files titled "Dev, Trans version" the look of a much tiered man was evident on his face "Dr. Akagi you must understand me and my friend have been working very long hours, although the elation of these texts keeps us going. It's still going to be a very long time until it's fully translated and understood." Ritsuko knew where this is going "very well, then I'll file your request for some time off." Ryo and Kenji felt easy knowing the fruits of their labor were slowly starting to pay off. "Just a few days will suffice nothing more and we'll be back on the job. After all were not machines nor are we divine." Ritsuko laughed lighting the serious tone. "If only Nerv had a few workers like you. Then I might be out of a job." The two continued to converse before Kenji and Ryo left the department and the rest of the third shift Nerv workers.
Yet Ritsuko continued to ponder the very contradiction that Ryo and his partner presented her with. "If they are right then the Angles are probing the very will and defenses of mankind." She transferred the data into the Magi's data banks. Although she had taken a break, her next day off would not be until the end of the week. Ritsuko felt somewhat tired yet she continued on working away keeping notes for the when the two would return. "I honestly don't know what this text means but neither does Gendo nor Seele. I am sure their work went directly over everyone's heads during the conference.
***
Deep within the subconscious of Shinji's mind, an image of his mother takes its form at a young age no older than four he feels the warmth of her touch as she holds him in her arms. Yet the mind has many deceitful half-truths that roam as memories. To the young Shinji his mother's personality and voice are lost to him and the very transformation of his father to a heartless bastard is hidden deep within the recesses of his fragile mind. The alarm clock goes off at 8 am; his biological clock immediately kicks into gear, as the rest of his body gets up, his eyes still a bit blurry he looks at the ceiling. Stretching out his arms, he feels a familiar sensation in his lower groin, "if I was more confident and bold Misato and Asuka could solve this problem…" Shinji thought as he walked to the restroom to wash up and begin the day.
Nearly ten minutes passed when he turned on the TV aside from the local programming that consisted of the news, an instant bulletin interrupted the story. "We take you live to Saudi Arabia Mecca! Akria what I am seeing is something beyond belief; a being of fire has rampaged through the city towards the holiest of mosques. Many here in the streets are shouting Jinn! Jinn! Allah! Al-'Aziz! I've never seen so many people armed." Within the ensuing madness of the streets in Mecca, the signal is lost yet the faint sounds of screams and gunfire rage on. As the anchorman tried to restore contact the "Technical difficulties" sign came up. Just a few minutes following Misato could be heard in her room speaking very loudly which woke up Asuka. "What the fuck is going on!" She angrily yelled as it was a sin with serious repercussions to even wake up Asuka so early in the mourning.
Misato stormed out her room still in her negligee with quite a bit of cleavage, to Shinji's surprise he found himself unable to say anything while all the blood rushed to his groin. "Not now….I mustn't keep this from showing." To his dismay Misato ignored the aroused teenager and continued about her business "I just got a call from Nerv, we're expected to be there in twenty minutes. Something has gone down in the middle east, we may be looking to deploy the Eva's there as means to combat this new threat." Both Asuka and Shinji looked at their guardian with confusion "What if the Angels attack here? Who will combat them if our defense is down?" Asuka concernedly implored trying to understand the logic what she just heard. "They'll address that at Nerv, for now you two get ready we have business to attend." Misato knew Shinji would be ready, all she had to do was look at him and he'd immediately respond. So submissive always apologizing for something he didn't do. Always at the core of Asuka's teasing, within a few minutes the young man was ready in his dark jeans and white shirt.
Minutes passed before Asuka was ready in her usual yellow spring dress the two of them headed out when Misato got a call on her mobile phone. "Hello Lieutenant Katsuragi speaking." As they walked down to the parking garage Misato wait silently hearing the news from the situation in the middle east. "You can't serious already a million people have died…by fire no less." The two teenagers looked at each other "one million people fired to a crisp, nothing like that has ever happened in recent times." Shinji tried to keep the image of countless people screaming in agony as the flames consumed them out his mind. "Yes sir, I am on my way. We will be down there shortly." Misato ended her conversation and put her mobile phone in her pocket. "Its getting worse as we speak our Branch in Mecca is under heavy fire, the Americans have deployed their own versions of the Eva's and are keeping the Angel at bay but the damage is far beyond repair." Shinji opened his door and got in the back seat, Asuka already gave him a look that he'd never sit in front as usual he obediently allowed her to sit in front every time.
Misato started her car "I didn't know the Americans even had an Eva program." Asuka said still unsure that this Angel attack could be stopped "I found out about it when I was promoted, they've been working at it for years ever since the second impact. As usual they ignored the U.N. and went about the research on their own I'd say their units and pilots are some of the best. But their systems are drastically different and not compatible with our own Eva's, as much as I'd hate to say it they have a better chance at taking this Angel down than you, Shinji, and Rei do since their pilots are rigoursly trained fighter pilots." Asuka was stunned at Misato's announcement "If anything I'd fit right in with them, in case you haven't noticed when I'm not backing up the crybaby or the doll it's always me that's doing the bulk of the fighting." Misato had provoked the young girl to defend her pride, yet she continued to rile her up as Shinji stayed quiet in the backseat.
"I don't get it Misato; you sound like you are proud that the Americans are fighting the Angel just how do you expect to explain the current death toll of 1 million?" Misato sighed as she knew she was about to tell her something that was known only to her and those of her rank. "As pilots you have a right to know what this Angel is, its covered in fire and can easily manipulate it, by taking control of intense flames the Angel can set ablaze cites as far as 2000 miles away. The Major cities of Saudi Arabia have been incinerated; the news footage seen earlier is proof of its power." Shinji's eyes lit up "they were calling the Angel, Jinn…is that its name?" Misato nodded her head "from the notes Dr. Takeda and Hazuki left, which is the Angels' name." As they neared, their destination Asuka's mobile phone rang in the tone of the latest pop song. Shinji groaned, "I hate that song, every girl in class loves it but sounds like crap." Asuka put her phone down and gave him a stern look, as usual, he backed down. "I know, Hikari were supposed to go to the mall and go shopping but right now I have to show up and Nerv. Don't worry we'll got out once I'm done." For a few more minutes, she spoke with her friend until Misato gave her a look to hang up. Asuka folded her slender arms as they entered the main parking entrance.
Parking her car in stall 01A, they got out, and walked to the elevator where Asuka spotted the man of her dreams, walking down the stairs. "Kaji! Over here!" Asuka yelled, as the well-built man walked towards them Misato kept walking away. "Common now, is that any way to treat an old friend." He said as he walked with them "unlike you we have real work to get to." Misato coldly said to her ex "fine but I see one person is glad to see me." Kaji retorted as Asuka held his arm obviously showing a great interesting in Kaji as they walked to the elevator. "I'll see you when you're not in such a bad mood." Kaji said as he walked to his car Asuka looking a bit sad followed Misato in the lift. "Honestly how could you leave such a good man? If only he'd notice me as a real woman." Asuka said still on cloud nine. "I was smart, he is such an inconsiderate bastard when were together. Sure you love his charm and good looks but beneath it all he's just another jerk." Misato coldly said "that's pretty harsh Misato, Kaji is a good guy." Shinji chimed in oblivious to the situation that just passed a few minutes earlier. As the Elevator door opened Gendo and Rei met them, "it's about time you've shown up Lieutenant." Shinji clenched his fist as he looked at his father "hello…" was all he could muster as usual Gendo said nothing to his son. Gendo led them to the auditorium where the vast majority of Nerv was waiting. Once they took their seats. Gendo walked to the Main podium "These are direct reports from the Saudi Arabia, as Nerv personally the footage you are about to see incredibly graphic." Gendo said he relayed the satellite and camera footage taken from American sources. The auditorium darkened as the main screens started their display of the situation.
"*Just what the fuck happened here? It's like these people were fried where the stood!*" A young man said as the Japanese subtitles appeared at the bottom of the screen. The images of people burnt to their skeletons with chard flesh still attached made some personnel uneasy. "*Drake I've found a few survivors get the medic here fast*!" The young man lifted the rubble that pinned down a mother and her child, as the camera displayed a woman with skin horribly burned as she screamed in Arabic. The medic immediately went to work before a fierce wind of flames swept through consuming everything in vision. Moments before the signal was lost the screams of remaining survivors could be heard moments before they silenced. "As you can see it gets worse, this Angel that the notes of Dr. Hazuki describes is Jinn, the angel that is consumed by fire. This footage was taken from the American's in their Eva's."
"*Alright this thing can roast the armor, switch to tactics 001 mid range fire, keep your distance and avoid those flames…Raven out*!" Asuka noted how different the cockpit was from her Eva's "those Americans are truly ready for war." The darkened sky from the vas burning oil fields gave the pilot an opportunity to zoom in at the Angel covered in flame that violently burst from its body. "*Jack take the mourning star it's the only fucking chance we have!" A deep voice yelled as the screen slowly started to static, the pilot continued to fire heavy bursts of energy from his gun as the screen went completely white "*It took a direct hit from the Mourning star, and its still standing the AT field is neutralized!" Misato watched in horror as the quad legged Eva unit was completely incinerated for a few minutes more the intense battle raged on. "It doesn't even feel real, it seems like a movie." Shinji thought as the signal was completely lost from the American pilots "As you can see from this footage and the Doctors notes. The Angel cannot take a direct hit but its long range attacks can incinerate an Eva on direct contact. At moment the preparations are under way for deployment to the middle east
Soon after Asuka and Shinji met up with Rei as they changed into their plug suits and prepared for deployment to a land they'd never seen before. "Its nothing but a vast desert devoid of life now." Shinji said as the suit attached to his body. "They never had a chance." Rei said as she adjusted her suit to her body "you don't say much do you." Asuka said trying open the quiet girl to be more adept to conversing with her fellow pilots. Still saying nothing she walked out of the locker rooms to the main hanger where they were to await further orders. "Don't be pulling any suicidal tactics like you did last time. Your not expendable Rei." Shinji said as he walked with the two girls down the corridor to the elevator that would lead them to the Hanger.
Just as they walked Shinji heard heavy footsteps behind him, as they sounded closer Shinji turned his head and took notice of Maya holding a manila folder. "I've been ordered to give you the notes that Doctor Hazuki left, it seems that this new angel is something else good luck." Maya said as she handed him the folder and walked off. "Well what does it say?" Asuka inquired as grabbed it from his hands "great more religious babble from the preachers, just get to the good stuff." Shinji started to read the notes on Jinn "well its says Jinn is named after the Islamic Devils that are covered in fire. The rest isn't even worth reading right now." Asuka and her pilots made their way into the hanger where the technicians where awaiting them. The process of fueling and maintaining an Eva was equal to running a third world country. Several men and women where scrambling to meet the deadline Gendo and Kouzou set for deployment. Shinji continued to watch as a young longhaired technician worked away listing to an Ipod. "You know I've never seen him without his music." Shinji said as he stood looking 01 in the face. "If I wasn't infatuated with Kaji, he'd be my next choice in line for men." Asuka thought as she watch Shigeru work away securing test results on 02, a few moments later the lights went from red to green knowing right now away that the time was to be deployed the pilots entered the cockpits which would be inserted into the Eva's.
The Transports placed them in massive airplanes fit for Eva unit transport "departure time 0900, ETA 0000 Saudi time." A voice rang out as the signal gave way for the transports to take off, a massive roar of jet fueled engines gave way, one by one the transports took off leaving only smoke and a strong smell of fuel in the air.
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