Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Mark of The Beast ❯ Chapter 10

Authors Notes: Still with me on little work of mine, well in any case, I hope you people love the work and continue to support me in future works, who knows what I will write next!

Chapter 10

Inside a cold sterile emergency room located within the east wing of the Geo-Front inside the complex known as Nerv, Shinji still in his plug suit is linked up to various machines that monitor his vitals. Still his blurry vision can only make out various figures but their faces are sightless as the sounds of the doctors are all but silenced as he feels himself out of his body. Being wheeled into the mental ward Shinji is still lost as his mind was shattered.

Misato continued to follow Ritsuko and her crew as Shinji violently convulsed around showing a severe reaction to the sedation drugs to be administered earlier, it took several Nerv guards to pin the thin teenager down while Ritsuko administered the next dose of a sedation serum. "For a small guy he's sure strong." One of the Nerv Guards said as Shinji's heart rate lowered and his movements calmed. Inside the white room with one single bright light that shone over him, Shinji looks as if he is nothing more than an empty shell of his former-self. "How's Asuka doing?" Misato asked as the psychologist entered. "Her Injuries weren't critical but she's under post traumatic stress and has been given anti-depressants she won't be able to pilot for a good week or so." Ritsuko answered as she gave the signal for the doctors to begin their diagnoses.

"Although what I can't understand why did Shinji and Angel stop their attack?" Misato asked not knowing if she'd get an answer. Ritsuko weighed in on the matter before telling her long time friend highly classified information. "Aside from Dr. Hazuki's files, the Angel stopped its attack when it stole the very soul of Yui for 01. All the Eva is now, an empty shell the fallen angel would have taken Shinji's soul but instead it took Yui's." Misato froze trying to comprehend what Ritsuko told her, the very soul of Shinji's mother and Gendo's wife resided inside the Eva unit. Misato took a deep breath everything seemed to be rushing towards the fact they were in over their heads. Lillith had already shown a violent reaction to the fallen angels had it not been for the Lance of Longious impaled inside its body the Angel would have fled far from the fallen angels. Its violent struggle to free itself from its cross deep inside the terminal dogma was proof enough.

A thought of the angel that killed her father and all those on the expedition so many years ago came to mind. Walking back into the mental health ward Misato watched Shinji laying in a state of peace his mind still under the effects of the drugs. She felt the doctors were wasting time trying to pry answers from the situation she looked into his dilated eyes, empty like his fathers showing no sorrow or emotion they blankly stared at the tinted one way window she stood behind. Rei entered into the room, once she entered the doctors agreed to give her some privacy with Shinji. Misato watched not really knowing why Rei had came to visit, Asuka swiftly left once she was administered her treatment. It was probable she wouldn't be seeing Shinji anytime soon nor would she be speaking with him after the incident.

Rei sat next to his bed saying nothing as she looked into his eyes "….you tried to kill her, bit its not your fault." Was all she could state. Yet Rei knew that Shinji had no control over the angel that easily possessed his weak mind. During the battle Shinji she knew her obligation was to kill the angel yet when Gendo with held the order to fire the shot, Rei followed the second order to restrain Shinji and his Eva at all costs since the cost to repair it would be impossible. Shinji could only make out her light blue hair and red eyes as he slightly moved his head up "R….e….I" was all he could mumble before he fell back into a deep sleep, she held his hand "Shinji…" A moment later she'd exited the room the as quickly as she entered. Misato looked at Ritsuko working away trying to determine weather Shinji would be able to stand the hearing by Seele. "You can't be serious the Eva and the pilot were overtaken by the Angel!" Ritsuko looked at her with her arms folded "if they can't see the angel then its not considered to be a valid reason to his actions for all we know his actions could've been triggered by post traumatic stress. We had the hardest time to convince them when the 13th angel attacked to prove it wasn't a system malfunction." Misato groaned at her friends reasoning, Seele like Gendo were oblivious to the fact they'd be facing the strongest Angels known yet they still contended that the Eva's were able to stop the first fallen angel which was nothing more than a copy of the weakest angels known.

"I have no faith that we'll be able to stop them, we have trouble stopping the weakest angels what makes us think we can prevent another impact that'll kill off what's left on this miserable planet." She thought as Ritsuko looked at her face, she knew that look it took many years to get her to open up after the impact and the loss of her father. For a great deal of time Misato wouldn't speak and she only had one desire…to destroy Adam. Now that her friend had fallen back into her old ways she knew the matter had escalated into something more than a simple matter of revenge.

"Misato…Shinji will be fine, but don't take the words of Doctor Hazuki and Takeda seriously, Adam is the only Angel strong enough to have caused the second impact." Ritsuko said trying to confirm her own fear that everything would go according to the tablets and texts found a little over a month ago. "You can't honestly tell me that your believe that! The very discovery of the ark and the tablets have disproved everything we know about the Angels!" Misato yelled trying to keep her temper from rising. "Yet it made little to no mention of how the Angels will strike and when, I'll have you know that we have the power to stop them!" Misato shook her head and walked out of the room "when the Fallen angel comes, don't be so sure to rush to the Eva's they'll be the first to fall!"

***

"Gendo, you know there is no escape according to the texts, people have started to disappear while others have fled the cities around the world. As we speak many are seeking answers in churches and other places of worship with the sudden rise of Angel sightings all over the world were in over our heads." Fuyutsuki said as he finished his cigarette "how many in Nerv and Seele are holding the texts so dear as a warning. Have they forgotten that the Eva's are the only defense we have to combat this." Gendo lashed out trying to defend his own credibility and his plans, knowing full well that everything he'd ever known about the nature of the angels was nothing more than a half truth and a well constructed lie. "The soul in Eva unit 01 is gone, my wife sacrificed herself for him." Kouzou was taken by surprise "has Rei shown any real signs of the sacrifice?" Gendo shook his head "nothing yet although Lillith is struggling to escape, I haven't seen anything like this since the second impact."

As the walked down the elevator that would take them down the lowest levels of Nerv's complex…terminal dogma. "I read a few days before the angel attack, strange sightings of bright stars around the mountain Megiddo have surfaced; I've contacted several astronomers and they are perplexed as to the bright star that shines in daylight to the west. Gendo I have to say I fell as if my days are numbered."

Floor by floor the ride down the terminal dogma seemed to last longer than ever by the time they reached the bottom level. Everything seemed like routine entering their pass codes Gendo Ikari and Kouzou Fuyutsuki walked into the holding area only to find something they'd never dreamed to occur. Inside the dark holding area an empty cross with the fallen lance lay no longer did Lillith lay barred down by the nails in its arms. "How the hell did Lillith escape?" Gendo thought as he sent for a chopper to the location to Seele an emergency meeting had to be called. "This can't be leaked to anyone other than us, if this gets out it'll throw Nerv into a panic." Taking out his phone he dialed several of the top members of Seele.

Walking back to the elevator they exited the terminal dogma, the texts never listed anything like this, slowly Gendo found himself at a loss for comprehension never before could this have happened. Every sensor would have picked up something and immediately alerted him where he would've taken action. As they made their way to the surface a U.N. chopper was awaiting them as they entered the chopper lifted off and they were off to meet with the rest of Seele.

***

Asuka looked at the dusk sky overlooking a lake her arm had recovered yet she felt powerless. "My synch ratio is dropping 02 is starting to reject me, Shinji tried to kill me. Mother where are you!" The tears started to run down her cheek, always using pride and arrogance to hide the weakness that resided in her always made her ready for anything that came her way. Yet after living with Shinji and growing accustom to the Eva that she piloted with pride she felt invincible towards the angels.

She wiped off the tears that fell from her sky blues eyes, trying to calm down she tried to restrain the poignant recollections of Shinji in his Eva striking away nearly breaking the armor ready to kill her without any remorse. "Shinji…." Everything happened so fast Rei, stopping Him from killing her the Angel marking its exit, everything happened so fast Asuka couldn't understand why Shinji would want to kill her. Yet dwelling on the past never sat well the with outgoing girl she pulled herself together and turned her back on the tranquil lake that laid before her in its timeless still water. Making the hard resolution, she could only forgive Shinji knowing that he was possessed by the angel. Yet the resentment still lingered within her heart, she walked to the car that drove her to the very lake a few miles outside Nerv's complex.

Sitting alone in the car Asuka ignored the passing scenery knowing that the inevitable conflict would arise "back home Easter was seen as a time of rebirth, I still remember the priests giving their sermons on how Christ arose from the dead, I wonder if the Japanese even celebrate the holiday." It would be an hour before Asuka would make it back to the complex, she knew Shinji would be placed in the Mental ward of the infirmary. "Its already good Friday, times like this I miss being back home in Germany." Reminiscing provided her little comfort in the wake of the events that folded around her.

Nearly an hour had passed when they reached the internal parking lot Asuka got out and made the choice to see Shinji. Going against her own judgment, she walked to the transport that would take her to the infirmary, quiet as ever Nerv was devoid of any life many of the workers were locked away in their own stations working on projects that had little meaning to the outside world. Asuka walked alone in the cold corridors trying to keep herself from lashing out at Shinji when she'd met him on that bed. Showing her I.D. card access was granted, walking in the mental ward Ritsuko met her outside the room. Her arms were folded as she stared at Asuka "I can't let you in." Asuka looked at her surprised that she'd deny her entrance "why not?" Asking for a reason in a voice that showed no anger or resentment towards Ritsuko. "The effects of the sedation drugs are keeping him under keep under control."

Looking in through the narrow window into the sterile room she seen the various machines linked up to his body. "What the hell are those machines for?" Asuka asking in more aggressive tone trying to get some answers "its none of your concern, Shinji will be undergoing several tests to determine weather or not he's sane and can stand a hearing." Asuka breathed heavily "the angel possessed him and the Eva, what more can be said! Let him recover in peace!" Ritsuko was having none her outburst "calm down Asuka! Shinji is recovering now please leave." Asuka turned around and walked away she'd rather not deal with any more madness from Nerv, she'd go back to the apartment to get away from the complex and enjoy a some peace and quiet.

***

Like witches at black masses the top members of Seele gathered in secrecy away from the prying eyes of the world. "Gendo, you have confirmed our worst suspicions with Lillith gone you know we won't tolerate this any longer!" A deep voice admonished him, much of the small talk was of the disappearance of Lillith, many in the room knew Adam like Lillith we insignificant to the events that lay ahead in the next 48 hours. "Have the pilots recovered from the last incident?" Another voice asked not fully interested what answer Gendo might give. "My son is in the mental ward while the other pilots have shown no signs of stress disorders since the incident." Many in the room didn't care much for the welfare of the pilots just he Eva's.

"What preparations are being done to prevent the next impact?" A raspy voice asked knowing Gendo wouldn't have a proper answer "nothing." He coldly replied "now then, on to the next item on the meeting. What is causing the mass disappearances of people all over the world." No one spoke knowing they hadn't had an elucidation for the matter at hand, Gendo folded his hands and leveled his eyes to the brightly colored screens in front of him. "The cause is unknown, the same thing happened fifteen years ago." Gendo heard enough he picked up this brief case and walked out without saying anything. Ignoring their empty threats he simply walked out, his own plans had nothing to do with the organization known as Seele. An act of defiance as they seen it, until now their figurative power was nothing more than a empty threat.

****

Asuka entered Misato's apartment, Misato sat on her couch sipping away her favorite beer. "Back already Asuka?" The young girl sat down next to Misato "yes, they wouldn't let me see Shinji." Misato looked at her surprised at why she would want to see him. "It wasn't entirely his fault the angel over took him. But why me, why was I targeted Misato?" Misato put down her beer and put her arm over her "listen no one understands the very nature of the angels." Asuka pushed her aside and ran to her room, Misato looked at her as she retreated into solitude "its worse than I thought, the strains of combat are taking their toll."
Inside her room Asuka lay on her cot looking out at the night sky not a single star save for the bright star in the west that brightly shined. Looking for answer in his subconscious Asuka's mind trailed from memory to memory with no real resolve. "Shinji have you ever kissed a girl…" Her mind trailed to as she enjoyed kissing a submissive Shinji, before the initial return to her empty room, darkness all around her she rolled over and looked at the ceiling once more her mind combated the silence by forcing her to reminisce to a time she longed to stop thinking about a time when she was most vulnerable.

August 7th 2005, the young Asuka no older than four years old running down a corridor thinking of her mother. Huddled around the entrance to the main hanger 02 was being kept several scientists and Kaji stood. She could not hear what they were saying but she immediately picked out her mothers name amidst. "Zeppelin Soryu" Kaji walked up to her and knelt down to look at her blue eyes. "Asuka…your mommy is in a better place." was all he could say as he hugged her

A tear went down her cheek as she the memory of her mothers death surfaced, no matter how she tried to deny it, she was so much like Shinji. The sliding door opened, Misato stood at the entrance "Asuka, they'll be able to let you see Shinji tomorrow…" Yet she wasn't listening as she closed her eyes and fell asleep trying to forget this painful day of sorrow. So many emotions all at once easily broke her spirit.