Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Mark of The Beast ❯ Chapter 11

Authors Notes: This is the final chapter of the story, I have had fun writing the Fiction. Who knows I might write an NGE fiction some time in the future. Although I’m not using the “traditional” view of Lucifer, if you’ve read “Dante’s inferno” then you’ll know they exact version I’m using along with some “traditional” elements.

Chapter 11

Inside the sterile sanatorium, Shinji opens his eyes the throbbing pain that once plagued his thin body had subsided; he looked over to his right to see Rei in her usual outfit sitting next to his bed. “Ayanami? Good mourning.” Shinji uttered still feeling a little light from the medication “you’re finally awake Ikari.” She softly said, for time Shinji knew her she never expressed any emotion openly and was always with his father, a soul he hardly knew aside from sharing a slight resemblance to him he felt as if he was the was a stranger.

His father walked into the room he looked at him almost resenting the fact his deceased wife bore him a son. “Father…” Shinji said not looking him in the eye “even a man, as busy as me had made an effort to see you.” Shinji looked at him “why?” curious yet feeling resentment towards the man that denied him any affection during his childhood. “it’s the least I can do; your mother wouldn’t like it to be this way.” Shinji looked into his cold eyes wondering why he’d even bring her up at a time like this, yet so many questions raced into his mind why was he gone for so long? Why did he resent him yet Shinji being weak minded couldn’t confront his father he could only express a false thanks before his father walked out with no parting words. “Bastard” Shinji thought as he closed his eyes wondering any more visitors would arrive.

Unknown to him Misato and Asuka were on their way Shinji tried to not think back to the last time he seen Asuka. Yet his thoughts would subside when he seen a familiar face walk in Misato was the first to walk in her presence always made him feel a little better even if her habits were something he didn’t approve of. Dressed in the black dress with a sliver cross-reminded him of the first time he met her, outside the room Asuka paused, she knew she’d have to see him eventually. She walked in Their eyes locked Asuka said nothing to Shinji as she stood next to Misato.

“Shinji how are you feeling?” Misato asked trying to ease the tension that the two expressed, Shinji scratched his head “I feel better but the medication did some strange things to me.” Asuka shoved Misato aside she pinned down Shinji “I’ll forgive you this time but if you ever pull that shit again I’ll kill you myself!” Shinji felt the sweat race down his forehead, he kept his eyes fixed on her blue eyes and while mustering up all his willpower to keep himself from wondering down to her cleavage that lay before him. Asuka rose up knowing the fear in his eyes she folded her arms “honestly just how did he ever become an Eva pilot!” Returning to her familiar traits that Shinji had become accustom to, Misato stayed and chatted with the three children.

Hearing the conversation Ritsuko outside Kaji warped his arms around the blonde-haired person “I’ve seen that look in your eyes, don’t worry they’ll be fine.” Ritsuko smiled “if you’re trying to make a move on me, this isn’t the time only one day left until Armageddon.” Kaji let her go “so you’ve heard of the mass vanishings, going on in north America and the middle east I don’t like this it’s reminding me of the second impact all over again.” Ritsuko folded her arms “only this time were ready the third child is fully recovered from the mental attack and the Eva’s are ready for deployment.” Kaji shook his head “don’t tempt the hand of god, only he knows the time and the place for the end of all mankind.” Ritsuko walked into the room were all four of them looked at her “you’ve been spared the court-martial but that doesn’t exclude you from suiting up and starting another Synch test and battle test.”

Shinji nodded as he got up and placed his feet on the cold floor, his clothes were in the closet the women left the room but before she exited Asuka turned around and looked at him, she slowly walked back “Shinji why?” Shinji found himself silent for a moment “I had no control, all I heard was the voice it brought out the darkest desires within me. Everything inside was dark my body was nothing more than a tool for the angel. When I see what looked like my mother everything was clear.” Asuka placed her hand in his chest “they say its only going to get worse, if that happens I will kill you Shinji…” She walked away leaving him in disarray as the door closed he changed out of the white gown and back into more comfortable clothes, if you could call the skin tight plug suit comfortable.

Once he was fully dressed, he walked outside where Asuka and Rei were waiting for him in their plug suits after they hastily were led to suit up by a very persistent Misato. Like every synch test before they were both led to the hanger where they over looked the Eva units. Entering the cockpits of their respective Eva’s the LCL filled up and the instruments were started up, after several quick preparations the battle data from the previous angel attacks were uploaded, inside the main terminal overlooking the Pilots Misato stood monitoring the test. “Its seems Rei and Asuka have risen in their ratio’s while Shinji is staying the same.” As the test went on Rei’s ratio started to slowly while Asuka and Shinji’s leveled off. “They can never maintain a consistent score, its always varied by one to three points.” Misato continued to watch the test go on without any problems. “So have you heard the news Misato?” Ritsuko asked while she filled out the test information on her clip board. “I can’t explain the mass vanishings in the cities around the world, just a few days ago all of Washington D.C. was made a ghost town in a few hours.” Misato answered knowing the exact events were playing out the same as they did fifteen years ago.

The synch test concluded and the pilots were set free from the entry plugs that encased them, Once they’re decontaminated of the LCL fluid. All three children were ordered to enter into the conference room to brief them on the possible angel attacks within the next 48 hours. Inside they sat alone Shinji endured Asuka’s impatience, a short time passed before Misato and Gendo with several other high ranking officers entered. Gendo ordered the lights to be dimmed as the projection screen on while Several lap tops were set up and connected to each other.

“Normally we wouldn’t conduct such high level operations with the pilots but it has come to my attention that the events prior to the second impact are unfolding at an alarming rate.” Misato said as the figures detailing the slowly falling populations amongst the world’s largest cities. “right now the figures have peaked at 144,000 and haven’t since arisen in the last ten hours.” Misato sat down while the children looked at the figures in astonishment. “While the figures of missing people are alarming our primary concern is with the angels. Several of our satellites have confirmed our worse fear; just seven hours ago, Adam and Lillith were spotted near the mount Everest.” A high ranking Nerv officer spoke, Asuka liked the way he presented himself in a confident manner projecting himself to be a key figure in the room.

As he sat down Gendo arose and took the stand the images focused on Adam and Lillith, Misato cringed, as she instantly knew this to be the angel that killed everyone save her and Gendo in the Second impact. “Adam was soon sited near China…needless to save over 300 million have been killed by its power, the country is on the brink of collapse. While the activity has gone quiet we are already taking precautions right now its noon, at six pm all residents will be evacuated into the deep under ground shelters created for such an event. Our pilots will be on standby until then, your are dismissed.” Gendo ordered as the pilots were led out knowing they would fight the very angel that doomed mankind fifteen years ago.

Still inside the room Misato, Ritsuko stayed they were briefed on more that what Gendo would want the pilots to know. “At 0900, Dr. Hazuki’s translations of the text have shown us the exact location that the Angels would clash in their final war. Tokyo3 was pointed out in several references in the last tablets of the texts.” A possible image of Lucifer displayed, covered in blue with three heads and darkened wings were only the image available at the time. “Yet the other angel known as Michael has been pointed out to show in their final duel, we have no image of this angel at the time.” Misato cleared her throat “if all the signs are pointed then, our Eva’s will perish in the opening battle won’t they sir?” Gendo nor his officers would answer, “you can’t just throw your only son out to the very angels that nearly crippled mankind! If this is our only chance to combat them then why are we waiting?”

Ritsuko pulled her friend back down “will the lance of longinus? Be enough to even damage the uncharted AT field Adam has?” Gendo shook his head “at best the lance will only stun the field, alone its useless but with the right amount of concentrated fire we’ll open enough of the field to use it and possibly kill Adam on contact.” Misato looked at her watch “well it seems the evacuations are underway when will we strike?” Gendo paused before he spoke “at midnight Easter mourning, all the Eva’s will be placed near the base while our remaining satellites will scan for the Angels.”

As the conference ended inside the lobby, the pilots were still in their plug suits knowing at any time they could be deployed. Shinji looked over to Rei with her eyes closed he walked over to her “Rei you seem nervous, is everything alright?” Asuka looked over at him from her seat overlooking the large glass plane window that overlooked a gorgeous view of the surrounding country side of the complex, dusk sky started to reveal itself. “Wasting your time with the doll again Ikari? Why bother she’ll never answer.” Shinji ignored her hoping she’d talk a little bit. “I’m fine, Ikari.” Rei answered giving no sign of giving into a conversation with her fellow pilot. Shinji often wondered if she’d even had a personality, never had he seen her angry nor sad always blank in a sense only blushing when ever he made a lighthearted comment about her. “Like I said wonder girl is like a scared little girl.” Asuka mocked Shinji’s efforts in trying to open up Rei, yet amidst her teasing Shinji learned to ignore her aggressive personality as he’d often taken a liking to her same persona. “Shinji, are you ready?” Rei asked looking into his brown eyes with her odd crimson colored eyes “…I…guess.” Answering as her question came to a shock to him, Rei was never one to talk unless spoken to. Yet she didn’t speak anymore after that, to Shinji it must have taken a lot of courage to speak to him. Like the angels, he didn’t understand the female mind, Shinji knew after living with Asuka her pride was a cover for her fear and trauma while Rei was the enigma.

Time slowly passed as the pilots were ordered to wait and stay on the complex as the outside world was deemed off-limits, for the most part the three slept to pass time. With the slow elevator music playing, the sleep they had was only more relaxing. Little did they know as they escaped into their minds the cities around Tokyo3 were bombarded by the wraith of Lillith. Her scored nature towards mankind only fueled her wraith as she laid waste to the ruins of the old cities. Adam only walked behind Lillith not attempting to destroy the entire country as he destroyed the entire artic circle fifteen years ago.

“Misato! Get here quick we’ve picked up Adam and Lillith!” Shigeru reported as Misato rushed to his terminal in the central dogma. “What the hell is going on! Its only a matter of time until they fully destroy the area, have the evacuations completed yet?” Maya nodded her head “only U.N. troops are the only ones out, nearly the entire country has fled to their shelters.” Misato felt her heart race her time for revenge against Adam was here with the plan set fourth by Gendo and Kouzou they would be able to combat the threat first hand.

“Alert the children we have a battle to fight.” Misato ordered as Makoto sent the order to the lobby were the pilots were sleeping. “Angel sighting report to your Eva’s immediately!” Hyuga’s voice awoke Shinji and Rei, soon after Asuka woke up. They ran with to the Hanger and took the elevator to the walkway where they’d enter their entry plugs. “Ready, for the fight!” Asuka yelled as she ran to her beloved Eva 02. As standard procedure they entered with the LCL filling up the entry plug, all the systems were optimized and ready to go. From the Central dogma inside the Geo-Front the Eva’s were deployed through the vast network of tunnels their weapons were fully loaded and their tactics instilled into their minds. They immediately took their positions ten miles outside Tokyo3, based on the calculations from the Magi the two Angels would arrive in less than fifteen minutes.

Darkness covered the sky as the early Easter morning took hold, to the west the star brightly shined, to the east the two angels responsible for the disaster that killed millions lay. Never before had their mission came to light Shinji always thought this day would never come, inside 02 Asuka held tight to the controls that would shape her destiny. Rei silent as ever awaited her orders knowing she’d be killed, her objections wouldn’t suffice because she had none towards her orders or Gendo.

“The AT field is off the charts! Is it Adam?” Maya asked as a strong signal came from the east “No! Its not…” Makoto answered as he continued to watch the signal rise, to their knowledge they nearly disregarded the texts, until the ground split open and the ruins of Tokyo fell into a sea of blazing hot fire. From the flames of suffering and sorrow, the first fallen angel arose his black wings and massive body claw arose from the fire. The body of the prince of darkness slowly took shape as its three heads with their blood red eyes looked to the western star roaring in fury. Holding a massive black trident in its left claw it walked slowly towards the very “angel” it tempted during the dawn of man. Inside the central dogma the Nerv crew was frantically trying to comprehend the events at hand, so many of them took the doctors work as a ill fated warning. When now in front of their very eyes their work was unfolding around them. Perched above the crew working away Gendo watches with a certain calm in this tense hour of the midnight hour. Unlike his subordinates, many are unsure they’ll survive the on coming battle.

The Eva’ pilots took cover as they’re scanners went on high alert so many of the fallen angels they’d once fought. “What the hell! We killed them how the hell can they return!” Asuka yelled with a strong tone of fear in her voice, it was apparent her front of pride was slowly starting to crack as she seen the very angel that solely inhabited the darkest level of hell “it can’t be possible! Shinji we must pull back!” Yet Shinji didn’t listen all that raced in his mind was the mantra that kept him going for so long. “I mustn’t run away…” Standing ready for battle Rei knew she was expendable in the hour of battle Taking cover near Shinji she awaited further orders.

Miles away from the position of the Eva’s, Adam roams the earth with Lillith yet they are only a target for the fallen angels. For they are closing in on them the being known as Adam looks back to the east to see the very beings it fears…or so speak. Lucifer continued to give chase to the fleeing beings, their undocumented power sent the tools of the second impact into a frenzy using his massive wings to fly Lucifer swiftly caught up with Adam, using his trident to impale Lillith he landed on the ground looking at Adam, as he was nothing to the scope of his beleaguered power.

“Adam has stopped! Lillith is dying and the fallen angel the Magi classifies as Lucifer has been his appearance known!” Maya said with an intense fear in her otherwise humble voice, to a certain degree Misato felt elated that Adam was going to slain by the fallen angel’s wraith, but elation soon turned to trepidation with the fact that the first fallen angel could easily annihilate all of Nerv and the world. Lillith gave a loud scream of misery as its cry was filled with the sound of repentance; the trident lodged between her chest ceased to budge throughout her frantic struggle, with its flames burning into her body Adam did nothing almost standing in fear of the very fallen angel that fought God and was damned to an eternal imprisonment of fire and darkness.

As Lillith’s body burned in an inferno of damned screams the Trident stood awaiting Lucifer’s hand with a quick hand, Lucifer grabbed his weapon standing tall he Adam was dwarfed by the sheer size of Lucifer, darkness rained upon the world from that point lost in time. Nerv continued to watch with fear and amazement as many of the satellites were destroyed save for a few, by show of his arrogant traits for humanity to view him, the beast in his all his power and ill fated glory. During an intense operation in the central dogma they’d read the angels statistics and Eva’s status but all was silent as the odds for survival were beyond an real number when finally calculated. The Magi’s judgment was to flee for a computer system with the essence of a human soul could only comprehend the outcome….disaster.

Adam made the first attempt to strike rushing towards the fallen angel, Lucifer seen it as a vain attempt to combat, with speed unseen like any other “angel” the trident was quickly lodged into Adam’s throat as he was pinned down to the ground with Lucifer’s foot atop its chest standing arrogantly over his prey. Inside the inner bridge of Nerv, many were astounded was if its AT field was non existent such a weapon had been crafted in the bowels of hell by the damned hands that tempted all that fell into his empty promises. Adam looked into the center head of the descended archangel the eyes of madness and torment started back at him with no remorse for his actions. Adam powerless to attack, suffered while burning in agony Lucifer made no attempt to kill him outright. The very hour of its creation, Adam highly praised by the father, seen as the superior creation sent the mourning star into a rage. A distention into madness soon followed as he rallied the very children of the father to fight and overtake the throne, for such a grave offense he along with his fallen brothers and sisters were damned to darkness. To see the favored creation in such a struggle for its very existence brought a great deal of power to Him toying with him by ripping off his arms the two vulgar heads with ease, they drank the blood like wine.

Maya nearly puked when she seen it unfold on her monitor; such a vulgar spectacle of arrogance on the fallen Angel caused Misato to have some sympathy for Adam despite her personal vendetta. “Send the Eva’s out!” Gendo ordered immediately seeing this as the only opportunity to strike. Misato didn’t reason the order she relayed it to the pilots. Like clock work the Eva’s detached their power cables and headed for battle, the countdown on their power packs started to run down. As Asuka reached the loading zone a tall tower came out, the lance of Longinus was at her disposal seeing as their standard weapons would only be a waste the progressive knives were all they had to combat such unknown power.

Lucifer watched Adam regenerate his arms with the trident still lodged inside its throat, his strength proved futile to budge the trident, upon contact his very hands scalded down to the bones. Nearly a few miles away Asuka zoomed in on her cockpits camera to the massive being known as Lucifer, on the lower left screen the camera displayed the left head of Lucifer, snake like with several scarlet eyes looked back at her, feeling a deep strike of fear Asuka gathered herself and shut off the camera. She cut off the link to Rei and Shinji, never before had she felt the very gaze of the fallen one peer so deeply into her soul. “Asuka! Respond!” Shinji yelled yearning to know what happened to his fellow pilot but to no avail was he granted the response needed.

“Lucifer knows were coming! He’s preparing for battle!” Makoto reported as Lucifer had piously pulled out the trident with ease leaving Adam to die from his wounds as the fire as razed the tissue that would normal heal in seconds. Feeling weak and powerless Adam was immobile and at the mercy of Lucifer. Shinji and Rei Entered the codes to activate the progressive knifes and set their main power to the maximum limit of 100% normally the power was set to half but in this rare case of survival the Eva’s were fitted with two power packs one external and one internal, the external pack would divert the necessary power to the knife while the internal power was their lifeline to fighting. “The knives are set ready to engage.” Rei calmly reported her motives were unknown to her fellow pilots, she already had the instilled knowledge that she was a clone of the commander’s long dead wife. Yet she felt as an individual and very close to Shinji, when she caught the first image of Lucifer she felt no hate nor sorrow. Long before the mission started, Gendo informed her this will be her last mission during the fight with Mephisto.

When the soul of Yui was taken from 01 her very life was to cease since the two were in conjunction and couldn’t exist would the other. Gendo knew his son might survive but it would cost him, feeling nothing but failure Gendo left Rei and returned to his office. As they neared their target Lucifer awaited them towering over them on the darkened mourning of Easter Sunday, it seemed as if the Eva’s were nothing more than toys to his might. The challenge would arise soon, for now he would keep himself busy by clashing with the Eva’s. Ready to engage He threw his trident at 02, using her razor sharp reflexes Asuka managed to use the lance to deflect the trident back to Lucifer. Easily caught by him he flared out his wings all three heads were locked on to the Eva’s as if they were trivial to him. Everyone back at the central dogma feared for the worst, standing in apprehension of the battles outcome. Misato recalled the undemanding will Shinji wrote as apart of Nerv’s regulations. “My only concern is that my father will not have accepted the fact that I am his only son and as his son I’ve lost all initiative to seek out his reasons. In closing, I leave my meager belongings to Misato and I seek nothing more than his reason to why I have been neglected all these years”

Misato felt it was all her burden yet as trivial as her own concerns were she focused on the battle at hand. Watching 01 take a heavy blow to its sternum while 02 was knocked back with ease didn’t ease the strain that engulfed her. Once more she forced herself to watch Shinji yell out in pain as Luicifer’s trident impaled Eva units 01’s forearm before the fallen archangel pulled out his tool of torment spilling the blood of the Eva throughout the ruins of the old city. Asuka inside her Eva more determined than ever regained her will to fight, her Eva was badly damaged and quickly losing power yet she diverted unnecessary power to her main system and prayed for the worst as she rushed to Lucifer with the Lance, quickly noticing the Eva the first head twisted itself around looking at the burgundy Eva. Its repugnant rams head with two large horns and two red eyes roared as Lucifer turned himself around to anticipate the Eva.

“What the fuck! Shinji, Rei keep this fucking thing distracted!” She angrily yelled as she readied the lance for the best course of action. Impalement was her only order in stopping the angel, if it was lost then the battle would be over, yet Asuka continually questioned the order from the start. With so much power diverted from the main systems to operating the lance she was running on sheer willpower in piloting the Eva. The weapons clashed in a glorious roar as the sparks rained down on the ground as Lucifer eluded the frontal attack by merely sidestepping using his tail to take hold of Eva units 02’s legs Asuka found her Eva on the ground looking down the trident with the three heads staring her down peeling away any sense of security. “Asuka!” Misato yelled trying to establish a connection to her Eva “the Eva’s are losing power if this continues they’ll be sitting ducks!” Shigeru yelled as the timer was dwindling down to the last two minutes. “Gendo the Eva’s were never designed for long term combat we must pull out.” Kouzou advised knowing that he’d foolishly try to fight such a power that instantly brought Adam to the brink of death. “Another Angel sighting to the west has been confirmed!” Maya cried as the situation had gotten so much worse in the last few minutes. With heavy damages to the Eva’s and their battery packs on the brink of depletion. Misato kept the vain hope alive that her children would make it out alive, a vain hope it was as the seconds wore on.

***

Deep inside shelter 001 section 2 the class of 2-A stays deep within the shelter hearing the news of the battle as it unfolds from the transmitter Shinji gave Kensuke a few weeks ago. Muddling through the heavy static Kensuke, Toji and Hikari listen in with a grave concern for their friends welfare and safety “Shinji!” Rei transmitted as she managed to save Shinji from the fiery blades of Lucifer’s scepter by slicing through his AT field only to give him a minor wound to his left wing. The roar of the angel over took the transmitter as the rest of the class woke up from their sleep. Some of them were huddled up trying to reassure each other that they’d live to see the mourning. “Asuka…” Hikari thought as she heard her voice over the transmitter, the cries of her friends brought a tear to her eye as the battle continued to rage on “I hate feeling powerless, everything is on them and here we are waiting to die.” Toji angrily said as Hikari put her hand on his shoulder “don’t worry, Suzahara we’ll be fine.” Although her words made him feel a bit at ease the situation at hand seemed austere at best.

***

“The magi has classified this Angel as Michael…” Maya said not knowing what to expect when Gendo walked from his post to her terminal, the commander looked at the terminal at the very image of the Angel that Dr. Hazuki and Takeda so adamantly predicted would fight Lucifer. Never before had the image of a being known as the holiest of arch angels would been seen on the earth that contained the blood of all mankind in an attempt to be like god. Such a vision of light had filled the monitors as the crew of the central dogma looked with surprise at the angel. The sliver wings and white armor over took the attention of even the most non believers. Holding a sword crafted by the hand of god Michael the Magi had no further information other than “he has come…” Misato held the small sliver cross on her chest harder than ever as she felt the sensation of fear and elation at the same time.

As the Eva’s were on their last few seconds of power Asuka made a daring move, rather than waiting to be killed by Lucifer she used the last remaining cells of power in her Eva and threw the lance, quickly sensing the power of the lance Lucifer using his will alone pulled Adam to him and placed the body of the “first” angel in front of him as a shield. The lance punctured the body as the last ounces of strength in Adam’s body flailed in a wild manor before a bright explosion over took the early dawn sky as the lance and Adam were no more Lucifer still stood looking down at the feeble Eva units that lay before him. “I…failed….” Asuka cried as she felt the time of her death as well as the other pilots at hand. The Tears ran down her face, yet she knew piloting this vile machine would be the very demise of her.

“They’ve lost power…” Maya sorrowfully reported as the links to the Eva’s were cut all the monitors went black. Gendo said nothing as he returned to his post everything he knew was a lie, all his research and efforts to stop the Eva’s had failed. The very proof his failure would be a son he hardly knew, but so adamantly rejected while putting all his efforts into Rei, a meager attempt to bring back a wife he loved. On the field the Lucifer flared out his wings while his heads puked up blood from the sinners he’d long since devoured in the recesses of darkness. Knowing to the west his “brother” would come he awaited his arrival. Flying with speed and grace to his fallen brothers position Michael looked down upon the ground to see Lucifer awaiting him.

His blackened wings flew up into the sky were the light and darkness would clash once again, the trident banged with the fine sword. Fire and light rained down to the earth using all his skill to find an opening on the superior defense in his brothers defense. Michael parried the predictable thrust and sliced the wing of the mourning star. Quickly attacking once more before a failed counterattack would commence Michael brought his fire tempered sword into the skull of the first head of Lucifer, the rams head bleed wildly as they fought on their decent to the ground, yelling out in agony the very light of the sword sapped much of his strength from him. Yet defiance was a trait well known to the mourning star, persistently combating his brother Lucifer managed to pierce the right wing of Michael as they fell to the ground the two “angels” quickly regained their will to fight.

A quick link to ground zero was established as the Nerv crew watched in horror to see the Eva’s out of commission. Yet they watched the two angels fight Misato felt nothing more anxiety as they battled. Another crushing blow to the snake head of Lucifer, nearly crippled and dying. Michael called forth from the father to open up the earth to imprison Lucifer once more. As the lake of fire roared near the Eva’s, inside the entry plug Shinji knew of one last option, diverting the last remaining cells in the system and what was left in the progressive knives. Frantically working to divert the last few power cells to restarting the Eva Shinji prayed that everything would work. Once the system started there was little time to waste with only 35 seconds of power, the Eva was up and ready, dragging the two arms of 00 and 02 away from the massive opening of fire. Before the last few vital seconds of power depleted Shinji managed to pull his two fellow pilots away from the gates of hell; Michael standing tall over his fallen brother held him by the sword to enter the fiery abyss he called home since his fall from grace.

Flying up into the sky once more Michael left the battered Eva’s alone for their final judgment that only the father knew. Within a few hours the recovery teams were on their way, but for now the pilots would sleep. Misato was the first to drive to the battle site, once the crews opened the entry plugs she found Shinji asleep in his plug suit. She walked into the Eva and awoke him, she wanted him to be the first thing he’d see. Shinji smiled as he seen the woman that took him, without any words exchanged she placed her hands on his face and kissed him Shinji wrapped his arms around her as she embraced him the tears of joy ran down her face.

Days later Gendo personally approved the promotion of the pilots, Shinji felt somewhat closer to his father but nothing came from the promotion. Gendo still left him alone and yet Shinji felt at peace with things like this, just hours later Rei had died. Ritsuko said the cause of her death was a result in her injuries in battle and heavy amount of internal bleeding. Shinji and Asuka accepted her death and slowly moved on, on the anniversary of Yui’s death Shinji and his father met at the same grave site of Yui Ikari. “Why doesn’t Rei have a grave stone?” Shinji asked, Gendo looked at his son awaiting to tell him the truth about Rei and his mother he knew so little about. “01 and Rei were operating on the Soul of your mother. Rei was the direct clone of Yui. In fact the Rei you knew was only the second one.” Shinji turned his back on his father “you sick bastard! All this time it was fucking lie, from the this day forward I want nothing to do with you!” Shinji walked away with the tears running down his face. His son was the last link to his wife he truly had Gendo reached into breast pocket and pulled out his standard issue 9mm glock handgun. The insignia of Nerv, etched on the handgrip. With his son out to the distance he put the cold barrel to his temple “Yui you can rest in Heaven now, our son has become a man.” Without a second thought he pulled the trigger, the blood and brains fragments covered the grave stone his wife as he fell to the ground. Shinji didn’t look back he continued to walking to a life filled with uncertainty and fear but he felt ready and able no longer would he utter the empty mantra “I mustn’t run away.”

The End