Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Next Crises of Man ❯ Back From The Shadows ( Chapter 1 )

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Next Crises of Man.

Chapter One: Back From the Shadows

“Wake up, bakka!” A loud, rude voice interrupted the somewhat pleasant dreams of one Shinji Ikari, the Third Child and former pilot of Evangelion Unit 01.

“Five more minutes…,” he mumbled, trying to get back to sleep.

“If you don't wake up now you'll be late for school AGAIN!” The voice persisted, forcing him to face yet another day. Shinji sat up with a groan, turning a grumpy, blood shot eye to the red-headed demon that had woken him up. Asuka Langly Sorhyu, Second Child and former pilot of Evangelion Unit 02, glared right back.

“Alright, I'm up already,” Shinji grumbled, throwing off the covers. It had been almost two years since the destruction of mankind had been averted, and both Shinji and Asuka were still living with Misato Katsuragi, former member of the organization that had been run by Shinji's father, Gendo Ikari. Shinji, puberty now over, no longer had the whiney quality to his voice and had filled out a bit where his musculature was concerned, his hair almost long enough to put in a pony-tail now as well (and, no, he doesn't have a mullet). Asuka had filled out as well, but in other areas…and she would kill him if he looked at those areas for any length of time.

“Well, then, move it!” Asuka grabbed him by the arm and began to tug in an effort to get him to stand; only managing to irritate the blue eyed young man further.

“Hey, let go!” He growled, trying to free himself and succeeding only in overbalancing her, causing the red-head to fall into his lap. There was a flash as Misato, their usually drunken and mischievous guardian, took a picture of them in that position.

“Am I interrupting anything?” She asked in an overly sweet tone that implied certain things had been going on. The two teens leapt to their feet, faces red with embarrassment and indignation.

“It's not like that!” They shouted in unison, causing Misato to grin from ear to ear.

“You know what they say about denial, right?” Misato teased, bringing the image of them up on her digital camera. Asuka was laying in between Shinji's legs at eye level with his naval…not the most innocent position to be caught in on camera.

“Give me that!” Shinji/Asuka cried in outrage, chasing after their guardian in an effort to get the “damning evidence” away from her.

“Wait till everyone at work sees this!” Misato was thoroughly enjoying herself despite the murderous looks in her two charges' eyes. She circled the kitchen table, Shinji right behind her while Asuka circled around in an attempt to cut her off. Meanwhile, Toji and Kensuke arrived at the front door to walk with Shinji to school. Hearing the doorbell, Misato raced for salvation, Shinji and Asuka nearly colliding with each other as the older woman made the mad dash for the door. Imagine, if you will, the surprise Toji and Kensuke felt when all three of them tumbled outside, fighting over a digital camera.

 

Later… (XD)

 

“I can't believe her!” Shinji exclaimed for the fifth time since he, Toji and Kensuke had left for school that morning. “Why does Misato-san have to be so twisted?!”

“Because she enjoys watching you squirm,” Kensuke murmured in response, looking over his camera, which had been knocked from his hands during the Shinji/Asuka/Misato tussle earlier.

“Yeah, but who can blame her when you're so easy to fluster,” Toji added with a grin. “So, have you turned to the Dark Side yet?”

“What kind of question is that?” Shinji asked in turn, evidently not realizing what Toji had meant.

“You know, you and Asuka,” Kensuke interjected, all serious now. “We saw the picture.”

“Argh, why am I surrounded by total perverts?” Shinji grumbled quietly before saying more loudly: “I already told you that there's nothing going on between me and Asuka!”

“Oh? Didn't look like nothing to us,” Kensuke said, enjoying the look on his friend's face.

“Yeah, so tell us, what base are you at?” Toji needled him, grinning even wider than before. Shinji groaned in dismay. Today was going to be the day from hell.

 

“Oh, come on, Asuka,” Hikari Hokari, who had been Asuka's friend since the German girl had arrived in school, begged, “you can tell me!”

“There's nothing to tell,” Asuka told her firmly, though it didn't seem to have an affect on her friend's curiosity.

“Yeah, sure there isn't,” Hikari said disbelievingly. “But you do have to admit he's cute.”

“Yeah, but he's still spineless,” Asuka grumbled. “Maybe if he'd grow a pair…even then I doubt it.” She decided to change the subject. “So, how are you and the Stooge doing?”

“Uh…well, I haven't asked him yet,” Hikari replied, blushing. She was saved any more embarrassment when the bell rang. “All rise!” The first ten minutes of class passed normally, until a new guy walked in, standing over six feet tall with hip length auburn hair tied back in a functional pony tail and had soulless lavender eyes.

“Ah, that's right,” the teacher said after a moment. “Class we have a new exchange student today from America and I'd like you all to make him feel welcome.”

“My name is Nathaniel Williams,” he said with a bow in near perfect Japanese, “pleased to meet you.” His eyes scanned the room, landing on Asuka, Shinji, then Rei Ayanami, First Child and former pilot of Evangelion Unit 00, before he found a seat in the back with a clear view of the class. Shinji felt unnerved by the way his eyes had seemed so cold when he looked at them. He opened up the chat option on his desk top mounted note book.

 

01: What do you think, Asuka?”

Red: About what?

01: The new guy…what else?

Red: He's a foreign exchange student…so what?

01: Yeah, but there's something creepy about him.

CR: Pay attention to the lesson you two!

01: Gomen!

Red: Yeah, yeah.

 

They both looked up to see Hikari glaring at them. With matching sighs, they turned their gazes, if not their attention, to the head of the class. Rei, meanwhile, turned her red eyes to look at Nathaniel.

`Who is he?' She wondered mentally, seeing him look right at her with a small smile. She would have to think on it later when class was not in session.

 

Shinji sat down beneath a semi-large tree to eat his lunch, thinking about the exchange student. However, there is the saying: speak of the Devil and he appears.

“You are Shinji Ikari, na?” A semi-familiar voice interrupted his train of thought. It was the American, standing over him with a slight smile on his face.

“Hai…Nathaniel?” Shinji wasn't sure but he felt a strange vibe coming from this guy.

“Hai,” Nathaniel replied, bowing politely. “You are the Third.” Shinji blinked in surprise.

“How…?” Shinji trailed off, Nathaniel having crouched down in front of him.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Ikari-san,” the American continued, oblivious to Shinji's obvious discomfort. “I am sure we will see more of each other in the future.” With that he stood and left.

“Is something wrong, Ikari-kun?” Rei asked suddenly, accidentally startling Shinji by her unexpected appearance.

“Uh, no I'm fine,” Shinji replied with a forced smile.

“You are lying,” she stated simply, arching an eyebrow in curiosity. “Why?”

“”The exchange student,” Shinji murmured, brushing his bangs out of his face irritably. “Man, I need a haircut.”

“I like your hair as it is,” Rei told him as if commenting on the weather, “and why does he bother you, Ikari-kun?”

“You know you can call me Shinji, right? And I don't know; he just does.” Shinji looked at the ground, avoiding Rei's eyes, feeling embarrassed.

“Very well, Shinji-kun,” Rei said with a barely noticeable sigh. With that she sat down sat down in front of him, opening her own lunch. To say Shinji was surprised would have been an understatement, but he just decided to go with it as to not offend her. They ate in silence, Shinji unable to think of anything to say and Rei feeling that it was unnecessary to.

 

“You know, he'll never know how you feel unless you tell him,” Asuka told her friend chidingly. Hikari nodded.

“I know, it's just that...” She trailed off, seeing that the exchange student was headed their way.

“Hello, class representative Hikari,” Nathaniel said with a smile. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but could you excuse us for a moment please?”

“Oh, sure,” Hikari replied, standing from her seat beside Asuka on the bench they had been sharing. “See you later, Asuka-chan!” Nathaniel waited till she was out of hearing range before speaking again.

“Guten tach, meine fraulein,” the American said with the same smile he had given Shinji earlier. “So…you are the Second.” Asuka fought to keep from shifting uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Yeah, what of it?” She hid her discomfort behind the only shield she knew, which was anger.

“Easy, I am unarmed,” he chuckled mirthlessly. “I shall return when your mood has improved.” Then he was walking away, humming to himself. Asuka shuddered.

“That guy gives me the creeps.”

 

Shinji and Asuka walked back to Misato's apartment in silence, thoughts of Nathaniel on both of their minds. Little did they realize that Death was about to descend from the heavens. An explosion ripped through the heart of Tokyo 3, devastating in its merciless destruction. The shock wave knocked the two teens to the ground, the sky darkening with thick smoke.

“What the hell was that?!” Shinji shouted over the sound of the secondary explosions.

“Terrorists maybe? How the fuck should I know?!” Asuka shouted back, cringing as the ground shook from a massive impact tremor. Both of them looked up, eyes widening in horror. Towering over the buildings was a massive humanoid figure, its reptilian shaped head encased in bone and metal, its tail lashing behind it like a whip. It stood head and shoulders over the surrounding buildings, its body red with black stripes and grey splotches. And when it opened its fang filled mouth to roar they could see the tell-tale core of an Angel inside.

“Not possible,” Shinji murmured, shaking his head in denial. Asuka, for once, stood speechless, shaking from fear. How could this be? The core in the Angel's mouth flared white and a blast of energy ripped through several dozen more buildings, the sounds of sirens and the screams of thousands of civilians filling the air. The Angel flexed its clawed hands in satisfaction, turning in the direction of Shinji and Asuka now. It opened its mouth again, intent on loosing another blast, when a black and silver blur tackled it from the side, sending it careening into a nearby building, causing the structure to collapse. It was an Eva, modeled after Asuka's old Unit 02, its four eyes gleaming as it squared off against the Angel. It drew a progressive knife from its left shoulder paldron, causing Shinji to realize they had to leave quickly before the battle escalated any further.

“Come on!” Shinji cried, grabbing Asuka by the hand and pulling her after him before she could offer any protest. Shinji ran blindly, not knowing exactly where he was heading. `An Angel,' he thought, `when their kind are supposed to be gone.'

`…Shinji…'

Shinji stopped, Asuka nearly bowling him over.

“Hey! What's the big idea?!” The red head sounded more than a little pissed.

“Quiet,” Shinji hissed, straining to hear…what? A voice in his head?

“Don't you tell me to be quiet!” Asuka yelled, her anger a very prominent thing in her mind now.

“Would you just shut up?!” Shinji yelled back, acting far differently than his normal meek attitude.

`…help me…'

Shinji stiffened, sure he had actually heard something this time.

“How dare you?” Asuka was genuinely shocked by this sudden change in him. “I'm gonna…” Shinji took off at a run, and not from fear as Asuka thought. “Get back here! When I catch up with you I'll make sure you'll never be able to have children!”

 

The Angel and black Eva squared off against one another in the midst of all the rubble created during the initial attack. The Eva tightened its grip on its progressive knife and charged. The Angel struck out with its clawed hands, the slightly smaller Eva rolling to the side at the last moment, barely avoiding the attack. Springing into action once more, the black Eva drove its progressive knife deep into the Angel's side, causing it to roar in pain. It struck back, sending the Eva flying into another building. The Angel opened its mouth impossibly wide and launched a blast that engulfed the Eva in a fiery explosion. Believing itself victorious, the Angel turned back to resume its destruction of Tokyo 3. But the Eva wasn't out of the fight yet. It leapt free of the blaze, descending with a drop kick to the back of the Angel's reptilian skull. The monster staggered, lashing out with its tail in retaliation. The Eva leapt over it, landing in front of the Angel and giving it the finger. The Angel rushed forward in rage, not because it knew the gesture but because it was pissed off, planning to snap the Eva in half with its jaws. The black armored Eva sidestepped the attack, giving the Angel a right cross to the face while it was still low enough. The Angel spun, opening its mouth to unleash another destructive blast. The Eva did a flip kick (think Guile from Street Fighter 2) that snapped its jaws shut before it had enough time to build up the energy to attack. The Angel growled menacingly, several of its fangs falling from its half open mouth. The Eva gave it a “bring it” gesture this time. The Angel was all too happy to do so. It charged, grappling with the Eva, the two titans seemingly deadlocked. That was until the Angel grew a second pair of arms and used them to begin strangling the life from its opponent. The black Eva was immobilized and seemed about to lose. Then its four eyes flared red, a gurgling roar rising from its tortured throat as its own AT field expanded, forcing the Angel to let go. With another roar, the Eva hurled itself skyward, landing atop the Angel's back and forcing its jaws apart. The Angel and Eva struggled for a few moments, and then there was a sickening, nearly deafening crack as the Angel's jaw was dislocated. It screeched in agony, still trying to shake the Eva off. Its foe would not be dissuaded so easily, hanging onto the Angel for dear life. It held on with one hand and reached down with the other, grasping the progressive knife still imbedded in the Angel's side. It wrenched the weapon free, and then drove it into the back of the Angel's skull, digging for the core. The two giants fell amidst a fountain of blood, the Angel finally going silent. The Eva stood, its eyes back to normal, holding the Angel's core in its hands. The Eva crushed the red orb easily, grinding it into a fine powder that it let drift away on the hot breeze. The metal behemoth stood amidst the carnage, looking very much like a god of death.

 

“Why the hell did you bring us here?” Shinji didn't rightly know the answer to that himself. “Hey, bakka, are you listening to me?” They stood outside the entrance to the train that would take them to the geo-front…and to NERV central.

“We need to get inside,” Shinji murmured. Asuka rapped her knuckles off the back of his skull. “Hey!”

“Yeah, it's hollow,” the German girl observed with a sigh. “How the hell do you expect to get in? It's been closed off for two years almost. Not to mention the fact the train might not even work even if we somehow do get in.” Shinji shrugged.

“I don't know how, but I have to try,” he told her quietly, moving to force the doors open…which happened to be totally unnecessary as they slid open automatically as he approached. “Seems we're expected.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Asuka grumbled. “Well, come on, let's move it!”

 

Fifteen minutes later… (Forth floor: lingerie, cosmetic supplies and giant robots for all ages.)

 

Shinji and Asuka stood outside the main access doors for NERV HQ, which had been supposedly locked down for the last two years. Now, however, the entire complex appeared to be fully operational.

“Nani?” Asuka scratched her head, feeling altogether unsettled. “Does this mean NERV is…?” She trailed off, for the answer seemed obvious.

“Only one thing to do then,” Shinji stated, swallowing loudly. `I mustn't run away! I have to know the truth, even if…' He shuddered before pulling his wallet from his back pocket, from which he retrieved his old NERV ID card.

“You kept that thing?!” Asuka asked him incredulously. “I threw mine away!” Shinji swiped his ID through the card reader, causing one of the doors to slide open with a hiss.

“Good thing I didn't,” Shinji murmured, doing his best to ignore Asuka's glare. The two teens headed inside, using the automatic walkways (err…or whatever they're called) to get to the Command and Control Center (CCC).

“Stand down from 3rd stage alert and revert to standby status,” an all too familiar voice ordered.

“Misato-san?!” Shinji's jaw nearly hit the floor in shock.

“Shinji-kun,” Misato nodded to him, “and Asuka-chan.”

“Just what the hell is going on here?!” Asuka was doing quite well, considering she hadn't resorted to violence, yet. “Was that thing actually an Angel? Explain to us what the fuck is happening!”

“Well…uh, you see,” she began nervously, now under the full force of Asuka's “death glare”. “The UN had taken control of NERV after Third Impact was prevented and, well they kept the E-Project running in case they had to use an Eva as a…deterrent.”

“You mean as a weapon,” Shinji observed coldly, feeling an intense dislike for the United Nation's cabinet members right now. “Okay…why are the Angels back?” Another familiar person stepped into view, scribbling away on a notepad.

“We frankly just don't know,” Maya Ibuki told him, not even looking up from her scribbling. “Not even the Magi can come up with any theories. It just doesn't make any sense, what with Adam gone and all.” She paused to erase something she had just scribbled. “Damn it, I told them I wasn't qualified for this!”

“You're doing fine,” Misato reassured her before turning to one of the techs. “What's the status on Unit 05's pilot?”

“All his vitals are in the green,” Shigeru replied, looking over the data on his screen. “His sync ratio was fluctuating for awhile there, but now it's holding steady at fifty five percent.”

“Good, patch him through,” Misato ordered, looking up as the main monitor flickered to life. “How are you doing, Nathaniel?”

 

Hah! Like you didn't see that coming! Sorry if this chapter's a little short…and I KNOW that the Angel was a lot like Godzilla. Sorry, but I couldn't think of how it should look. If you have any suggestions for future Angels or any other criticism/advice I'd love to here it. Be gentle with the flames though, please. Till chapter two, be good!