Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Shin Seiki Evangelion: War of the Apocalypse ❯ Striking a NERV ( Chapter 3 )

Shin Seiki Evangelion: The War of the Apocalypse

Written by otakufan

STORY SUMMERY: The Third Impact has come and gone and mankind still remains. NERV has reformed under the leadership of the Ikaris. But the death of Lilith is not the end, for the Angels were reborn as well, bearing the form of the Lilim. And through it all, SEELE plots its revenge. SEELE wages a war of attrition upon NERV, but, even if NERV wins, can the Fourth Impact, the Apocalypse that even SEELE fears, truly be avoided?

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shin Seiki (Neon Genesis) Evangelion or any of the characters originally from it v_v.

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS. Do NOT read this fanfic unless you have seen The End of Evangelion.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Before I do anything else, I would like to thank everyone who has read my fic so far. I would also like to restate the fact that this is my first fanfic ever, so please review so I know how I'm doing. On a side note, if you see any inaccurate facts or improper usage of non-English grammar, please let me know.

CHAPTER III: Striking a NERV.

Ikari Gendo stood in silence, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at the three still Evangelions. Units-00 and -03 were lying facedown on the shore, while Unit-02 kneeled on one knee just a few meters offshore. After gathering his nerves, Gendo began to force his way through the crowd.

God damn it, he said to himself. The Evangelions weren't supposed to revive. Is it possible that I missed something?

As he reached the shoreline, Gendo found that a group of NERV personnel had gathered and begun to clear the area of spectators. It's nice to see that they follow procedure, even after a crisis like this. A young officer gave him a salute and pointed to a mass of people in front of Unit-02, nearly all of them senior officers. Gendo received several more salutes as he joined them.

"Alright," he said aloud, his voice regaining its authority. "I want a search of all three entry plugs. Lieutenant Ibuki and Major Katsuragi will do Unit-02. Lieutenant Hyuga and I will search Unit-03. Lieutenant Aoba and . . ."

He paused as Kaji Ryoji came into sight. How is he still alive?

"Lieutenant Aoba and Special Agent Kaji will search Unit-00," he finished.

"Hai," everyone said at once, even Kaji, then everyone began to go about their duties.

"Fuyutsuki," Gendo said as NERV's Vice-Commander caught his sight. "Gather a team and send them to look for Dr. Akagi. I need to speak with her."

"Hai," replied Fuyutsuki.

Gendo turned around to see Hyuga Makoto waiting for him, a flashlight in his hand. With a nod, the two began making their way to Unit-03.

* * *

Sohryu Asuka Langley watched quietly, as the NERV personnel moved around her. After a few moments, she caught sight of Katsuragi Misato and Ibuki Maya wading towards her Evangelion. In an instant, Asuka got to her feet and followed.

"Misato-san," she said as she caught up to the two older women. "I know that you have to search the plug, but could you please leave her where she is? At least until we can bury her properly?"

"What are you talking about Asuka?" Misato asked, but Asuka had already turned away, trying to hide her tears.

"Asuka?!" Asuka merely walked away. Misato turned back to Unit-02.

"What was that about?" asked Maya as they began to climb.

"I . . . don't know."

* * *

Eva Unit-00 gave a shudder as Aoba Shigeru punched a special code into a panel embedded in the creature's neck, the manual-override switch to eject the plug. The muscles of the Eva's back tensed and contorted as the cylindrical entry plug twisted out of its body. A moment later, without the armored shell to hold it in place, the plug slipped free of the Eva and fell to the ground with a hollow, metallic clank.

Shigeru climbed down to Unit-00's arm, then jumped to the ground and joined Kaji next to the plug. After a few moments, they forced open the emergency hatch and gasped in surprise.

Floating in the LCL was a familiar young girl, maybe seven years old, with blue-white hair. She looked merely asleep. In the pilot seat was a middle-aged woman with reddish-brown hair. Shigeru did not recognize the woman. Kaji, however, did.

"Doctor Akagi Naoko," he said. "Ritsuko's mother. I only met her once."

As Kaji spoke, Naoko shifted a bit, the opened her rich brown eyes.

"Where am I," she said faintly, giving no notice to the two men. Raising her head, Naoko caught sight of the young, floating Ayanami Rei. In an instant, her beautiful brown eyes grew ugly with hate, rage, and madness.

With a scream, the woman lunged at the girl, her arms reaching wildly for the child's pale white neck.

Shigeru panicked, his mind frozen, but then his training kicked in. Of its own accord, his hand snatched his pistol from its holster, drew aim, and fired a shot straight into the elder Akagi's left temple.

A splat of blood hit the walls of the entry plug. Naoko's body splashed into the LCL and, after a moment, began to sink.

"GOD DAMN IT!!!" Shigeru yelled aloud, cursing himself. He had meant to shoot her somewhere non-lethal, but, as always, his aim was pathetic.

"Don't kill yourself over it, Aoba," said Kaji, placing his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Akagi Naoko died a long time ago. You've just set her free."

"Sh . . . shit . . ." Shigeru said, slamming his fist, painfully, into the wall of the plug. Kaji reached through the hatch and pulled the sleeping child into his arms.

"So, this . . . must be the first," he said quietly. Then Kaji turned away and started back.

Shigeru slammed the hatch closed and sealed it up. Then, his hand shaking, he looked down at his gun.

Never again, he said to himself as he took aim. Then he pulled the trigger and the bullet embedded itself into the ground at his feet. He pulled the trigger again, adding a second bullet to the earth. He continued until the pistol in his hand had nothing left inside.

Then, he pulled out the clip and threw it as hard as he could into the lake, followed a moment later by the weapon itself.

Never again, he repeated, then turned to follow Kaji.

He was beginning to understand why Maya refused to touch a gun.

* * *

Misato sat on top of Unit-02's shoulder. It was lucky that the armor was shattered all over the body because she had nearly lost her balance several time, most recently when a string of gunshots had erupted from Unit-00, and the cracks provided plenty of handholds. Maya was a few meters away, looking for the panel that would let her release the entry plug.

What did she mean, Misato asked herself, thinking about Asuka's request.

Suddenly, Unit-02 shuddered, Maya had found the panel, and the entry plug rose from its back. Misato was just climbing to her feet when Maya screamed. She had already opened the emergency hatch.

Misato crossed the remainder of the Eva's shoulder quickly, seeing Maya clutch her left arm. When she got close, she was able to see several long cuts in her uniform's left sleeve, but no blood. Maya pulled up the sleeve, revealing several shallow gashes along the length of her lower arm.

It'll hurt like hell, but she'll be fine.

"Maya, can you climb back down?" Misato asked.

"Ha . . . ouch! Hai," Maya replied, wincing.

"Good. Go down and get that treated."

"Hai."

Then Maya turned and started to climb, carefully, back to the ground. Misato turned to the entry plug and looked inside. Floating in the LCL were dozens of shards of glass, the source a shattered view screen on the plug's wall. Also mixed in with the glass and LCL was a dark crimson fluid . . . blood?

Wedged into the pilot seat, despite the nearly vertical angle of the plug, was the curled up form of a young woman of Misato's age. Her eyes were closed, but her hair was a reddish-brown and a serene smile seemed frozen into her face. Suddenly, the memory of a photograph flashed through Misato's mind and she recognized the woman.

"Sohryu Kyoko Zeppelin," she said, quietly. For a moment, Misato thought about climbing into the plug to get the woman, but then noticed the long shard of glass gripped tightly in the elder Sohryu's hand. A moment later, she noticed the deep, freely bleeding cut across her left wrist.

So, this is what Asuka meant. How did she know?

Misato backed away, then closed and sealed the hatch.

"Rest in peace, Sohryu-sama," said Misato. The she turned away and began to follow Maya to the ground.

* * *

Aida Kensuke returned to the fire carrying what felt like his fiftieth load of wood and other things to feed it; the fire had been over run with NERV personnel since it was now in the shadow of Eva Unit-02. After he dumped everything into the growing pile of flame, he sat down to take a much-needed break.

Sitting around the fire were Ikari Shinji, Horaki Hikari, Suzuhara Toji, Ayanami Rei, an uncharacteristically quiet Asuka, and a silver-haired boy that introduced himself as Nagisa Kaoru, not to mention several people he didn't know.

"Hey, Toji," Kensuke said, getting his friend's attention.

"Hai," Toji replied.

"Can I have my camcorder back now?"

"Fine by me."

With that, Toji handed over the practically sacred device. Kensuke immediately stood up and began to wander around, recording his surroundings. Kensuke wandered around for several minutes before deciding stop and rest.

Out of the corner of one eye, Kensuke noticed a tan-colored blur sit down next to a smaller black blur. Kensuke shifted his head so that he could see the figure through his glasses. The tan figure was a young woman, maybe in her early twenties, wearing a NERV officer's uniform; the pips on her collar showed that she was a First Lieutenant. The black blur turned out to be a briefcase, from which the Lieutenant pulled a laptop computer.

Kensuke unconsciously moved closer. The woman had dark brown hair, but her face was turned away. Her left arm had been bandaged and placed in a sling. Nonetheless, she was typing into her laptop with one hand faster than Kensuke could with both.

Suddenly, when reaching for something in her briefcase, she turned her head and revealed her face.

Kensuke was struck speechless, more so than he had been when he and Toji first met Misato. The woman was, quite simply, the most beautiful being he had seen in his life. In that moment, Kaji walked by.

"Kaji-san, who's that?" Kensuke asked, pointing to the woman.

"Who? Oh, her," Kaji replied. "First Lieutenant Ibuki Maya, why?"

I think I'm in love!

Noticing the look in Kensuke's eyes, Kaji said, "Hold on, kid. I can guarantee you won't get any where with her."

"Maya. Such a beautiful name."

"Aida, listen to me! There's something you need to know. Maya is a . . ."

Kensuke missed the last few words of Kaji's sentence, but didn't care. Blissfully ignorant of `what Maya was', Kensuke turned back towards the fire and walked away.

* * *

Misato sat down on the ground, deliberately keeping several meters away from Asuka. She desperately wanted to talk with the girl, but couldn't bring herself to face the red-haired German. Even though Asuka already knew, Misato felt that relating the fact that her mother had committed suicide, again . . . it was too much, even for Asuka.

Especially for Asuka.

Misato looked up as Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki walked up to her. Reflexively, she stood to her feet and saluted the older man.

"Major Katsuragi," he said, "Commander Ikari wants to hold a meeting of the senior officers. Please inform them."

"Hai," Misato replied.

"He wishes for the pilots to attend as well. All of them."

"Hai."

At this, Fuyutsuki turned away. Misato stood silently for a moment, and then set to work.

"ALL NERV SENIOR OFFICERS, REPORT TO UNIT-02," she said loudly, her voice echoing through the still air.

I'll tell the children personally.

* * *

Half a kilometer away from the main body of Tokyo-3 residents, Sakura sat impatiently. She was surrounded by eight others of her kind, out of a total of seventeen others, but no one had joined them for nearly a half hour. She looked over at the only one whose body was familiar to her. The boy was a virtual clone of Ikari Shinji; only his ice blue eyes showed the difference. Finally, she couldn't stand it any longer.

"Hey, Adam," she said to the boy. "What the hell are we waiting for, anyway?"

Adam smiled but neglected to answer.

"You've kept your temperament, Sachiel," said a boy with black hair. "You'd think that someone who named herself after a flower would be more pleasant."

"Oh, shut the hell up, Leliel. I chose my name because it sounded similar to my real one, not because of what it means."

"Oh, yeah," said one of two identical black haired girls, sarcasm heavy in her voice.

"Sachiel and Sakura sound almost exactly the same," said the other, matching her sister's sarcastic tone.

"Fuck off, Israfel," said Sakura, referring to both girls as one. "At least I don't suffer from the world's worst case of multiple personality disorder."

Before the twins could respond, a calm voice spoke up from a boy with a shaved head.

"I would also like to know what we are waiting for, Adam."

"At least Ramiel agrees with me," said Sakura.

With a sigh, Adam spoke, "We are waiting for Tabris, and also for Rei. The others have already made their choice and will not be joining us."

"They shall not join us either, Adam," said a girl with blue-white hair and equally colored eyes.

"Iie, but they must see us, Lilith. They could not properly play their roles if they did not."

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance: a silver-haired boy with blood-red eyes wearing a long black coat. His normally cheerful face now wore a frighteningly serious expression. Following a few steps behind him was a girl with blue-white hair, identical to Lilith save for her blood-red eyes, wearing a large t-shirt that fell to her knees.

"Speak of the devil," replied Sakura.

"I would prefer not to at the moment," replied Adam.

"Damn it, Adam, it's a figure of speech."

It took Tabris and Rei only a minute or so to reach the group.

"I see that only half of us have decided to aid you, Adam," said Tabris as he approached, his voice unnaturally menacing. "I assume that you still plan to go through with it."

"Of course," replied Adam. "The Apocalypse is my sole reason for existence."

"You do realize that I will do everything within my power to stop you."

"Your powers are vast, Tabris, but they are nothing compared to mine. If I wished to, I could initiate the Fourth Impact, even now."

"Then, why haven't you done so already?"

Adam smiled, then said, "There is no meaning to crushing an opponent weaker than myself. When the final day arrives, I want to face an equal."

A silent exchange seemed to pass between the two, a similar exchange of glares occurring between Lilith and Rei, and then Tabris turned away and left them, the girl following afterwards.

As one, the nine former Angels stood to their feet and began walking in the opposite direction.

"So, Adam," said Sakura. "Where are we going?"

"To Tokyo-2," replied the boy. "We need to find the man responsible for all of this."

"But, Ikari Gendo is back that way," said one of the two Israfels . . . How the hell am I going to tell them apart?

"Iie. Ikari is a pawn. I wish to meet the man who is trying to move the pieces."

"And just who is that?" asked Leliel.

Adam smiled.

"Lorenz Kiel."

* * *

Ikari Shinji glanced over at Misato. She had sat down with them several minutes ago, but seemed reluctant to say anything until Kaoru and Rei returned. No one was quite sure where they had disappeared to, or even when they had done so, but Misato was clearly waiting for all the pilots to gather.

Silently and nearly unnoticed, like ghosts, the pair of albinos returned and sat down, which, in turn, was Misato's signal to stand.

"Alright," she said, "Commander Ikari has called a meeting of the senior officers and he wants the pilots to attend as well. We're meeting in front of Unit-02, so come on."

"Hai," said Shinji, Rei, and Kaoru as one, then they climbed to their feet; Misato looked at Kaoru uneasily, but did nothing to stop him.

"Mein Gott, it never ends," said Asuka as she, reluctantly, stood as well.

"You too, Suzuhara-kun," said Misato. Toji looked back at her, confused.

"But . . . I'm no . . ." he stuttered.

"Despite what happened to Unit-03, you're the Fourth Child and, since you've miraculously recovered, you're officially a pilot again."

"But . . . Damn it!"

At this, Toji stood up and the group started towards Unit-02, a low string of curses uttering from the mouths of both Asuka and Toji, though Asuka's were in a particularly vivid German.

They sat down again amidst the people who ran NERV headquarters: Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki; Lieutenants Ibuki, Aoba, and Hyuga; Misato herself; Kaji, for some reason; and several division leaders that Shinji didn't know.

Two people, however, were missing. One was Dr. Akagi Ritsuko, though Shinji knew she would never come. The other was Shinji's father.

"Where's Commander Ikari?" Shinji heard Asuka ask. As if to answer her, two figures appeared and joined Fuyutsuki at the head of the group. The first was Ikari Gendo; the second, Ikari Yui, though Shinji doubted that anyone other Fuyutsuki, Gendo, Misato, and himself knew who she was.

"Konban wa," said Gendo, addressing his subordinates. "Before we explain why my wife and I have called this meeting, we need to hear the reports from the teams that searched the Evas. Major Katsuragi?"

Misato stood up and began speaking, but Shinji didn't hear a word; at that moment, both Asuka and Toji leaned towards Shinji to whisper into his ear.

"I didn't know Commander Ikari was married," said Asuka, unaware of Toji.

"Hey, Shinji. Whose tha babe?" said Toji, unaware of Asuka.

"Hey, wouldn't that make her your step-mother, Shinji-kun?"

"Ya know, come ta think of it, she kinda looks like Ayanami."

"She's my mother, alright!?" Shinji whispered harshly to the two.

"I thought your mom was dead!?" said Toji and Asuka at the same time.

"Will you three PAY ATTENTION!" said Gendo, instantly silencing the trio. Despite the anger in his voice, Shinji thought he saw a faint smile as well. Two up on Rei . . . she'll never catch him now.

Misato sat down looking relieved, apparently finished with her report. Shinji looked over at Rei to see Kaoru whisper something in her ear. A moment later, Rei smiled widely and began to giggle silently . . . she was laughing!

Oh my God . . .

Asuka elbowed Shinji in the side and he turned his attention to Kaji, who was explaining the events that occurred at Unit-00. When he told about how he was forced to kill the woman inside the plug, Shinji got the distinct feeling that he was lying and deliberately taking the blame, but remained silent. Lastly Kaji pointed to the blue-haired girl asleep in his arms, whom everyone recognized as a younger Rei, and mentioned the need to find a guardian for her.

"I'll do it!" said an enthusiastic Lieutenant Ibuki, nearly knocking over a nervous Hyuga as she raised her hand to the sky. A moment later, the "chibi" Rei exchanged hands. "Kawaii!!" said Maya as the girl slept peacefully in her lap.

Unsteadily, Lieutenant Hyuga stood up, said that Unit-03's entry plug was damaged and stuck inside the Eva, then sat down again, just as a black-suited man, probably from NERV Intelligence, approached the Commanders.

"Any word on Doctor Akagi?" Fuyutsuki asked the man.

"She's dead, sir," he replied. "Bullet wound to her head, gun in her hand. Until we can get a forensics team together, we're assuming suicide."

"Very well, dismissed."

Shinji noticed both Misato and Kaji lower their heads to mourn their friend's death, as did several others; Lieutenant Ibuki looked to be on the verge of tears. After several minutes to allow Ritsuko's death to sink in, it finally seemed to be Yui's turn.

She stood in front of everyone, still wearing nothing save her husband's jacket, which was buttoned up and just long enough to serve as a short miniskirt; Shinji narrowed his eyes angrily as he noticed Toji, Kaji, and even Lieutenant Aoba discretely lean forward for a "better" angle.

Luckily, Asuka and Misato noticed this as well. Almost as one, they yelled "HENTAI!!" and decked the nearest offender. For Misato, this was Kaji. For Asuka, Toji, though she nearly hit Shinji in her effort to get to him. Within an instant, every back within twenty meters was straightened, regardless of guilt, or even of sex.

"Sorry, Ikari-sama," said Misato, apologetically, as she pulled a groaning Kaji out of the ground. "Go ahead."

For just a moment, Yui laughed silently, then her face became serious.

"Konban wa," she said, capturing everyone's attention without effort. "As a few of you already know, I am Doctor Ikari Yui. For the past ten years, I have been a part of Eva Unit-01. This allowed me to control the Eva when my son could not. And no, I don't intend to even attempt to explain how it happened or how it works. Not yet.

"My husband has spent the past couple of hours filling me in on the events that took place over my absence, but mostly over the past five months. After running through the facts, it is my sad duty to announce that the Angels are still alive."

A murmur of disbelief ran through the group, but was instantly silenced by Yui's glare.

"I cannot be totally certain of this until I run some tests, but, seeing as the Fifth Child is alive, I can at least partially confirm this. That is why I propose the rebuilding of NERV headquarters. Before I continue, however, I must speak with the pilots."

At this, Yui gestured for the five of them to stand and ushered them to the front, where they were seated once again.

"It's been a while, Shinji-chan," Yui said, smiling. "Alright, I'll get right to the point. If I'm right and the Angels have returned to life, we can't fight them without the Evas. But I don't want to force you to pilot for NERV anymore, so I'm leaving the choice to you. Just be aware; if the Angels are alive, there is the threat of a Fourth Impact and I honestly don't think we could survive again."

Without a moment's hesitation, Rei and Kaoru raised their hands.

"I will stay," said Rei.

"As will I," said Kaoru. "And yes, my brethren are alive. However, we have all taken human forms now. The Evas are needed, but maybe to protect from a different threat. Such as SEELE."

"No need to worry about that," said Yui. "SEELE wouldn't dare attack us without the Eva Series."

What about me? Shinji asked himself as his mother spoke with Kaoru. No, I won't! I hate the Evas!

As soon as he thought this however, an image came to his mind that he hated infinitely more: the Earth, devoid of life and covered in an ocean of LCL. It was the world that the Third Impact had nearly created.

I don't want that to happen again, but . . . am I willing to pilot that thing just to stop it?

Without realizing it, Shinji raised his hand slowly into the air.

Yes, I am.

* * *

It took everything Asuka had to keep her jaw from dropping as Shinji raised his hand.

"I'll pilot Unit-01," he said.

What the hell?!! Asuka asked herself. I can understand Wondergirl, but Shinji actually wants to pilot his Eva!? Did he hit his head or something?

"Well," Asuka said, trying to hide her surprise, "there's no way in hell that I'm letting baka Shinji and Wondergirl out do me! I'm in."

* * *

Toji touched his right arm reflexively then clenched his fist in anger.

God damn it!! he said to himself. Am I gonna do dis every time someone mentions tha Evas? Hell iie!! If Shinji can say hai to dis, then so can I. It's time I prove that I'm not just a screw up.

"Sign me up, Ikari-san."

* * *

"Thank you," said Yui, smiling. "The rest of the meeting will be mostly just planning the rebuilding of Headquarters, so you five can go rest up. It's getting late."

Shinji stood up and started back towards Hikari and Kensuke, followed closely by Asuka and Toji. Kaoru and Rei held back a bit, but then followed as well.

"Oh, Shinji-chan! Rei-kun!"

They stopped and turned to see Yui running up to them.

"Hai," said Rei and Shinji.

"I need to speak with you two, later. We need to work out the new living arrangements."

Before this could quite sink in, Yui turned back to the meeting and left them. As the pilots sat down next to the fire, Asuka immediately struck up a conversation with Hikari and Shinji looked up at the beautiful night sky. At some point, the blood-red haze had dissipated and left the sky as clear as ever.

Floating high above, in orbit around the Earth, was the twenty-kilometer wide blue-black orb of the Geofront. It looked almost like a second moon, being close enough to appear about the same size.

Somehow, it felt . . . ominous. Like it would be the source of future problems.

Damn, this has been a bad day. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Shinji closed his eyes. Looking forward to the future, Shinji finally fell, uninterrupted, into a deep, dreamless sleep.

* * *

Several kilometers away, Adam came to a halt. He looked back over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. He had felt something . . . a brief presence. It felt like hearing the voice of a long dead enemy, except that there was no voice.

Instinctively, his eyes shifted to the obsidian orb of Lilith's Egg hanging in the sky, but knew it wasn't the source. There was nothing alive there.

Unable to locate the presence, Adam turned back towards Tokyo-2. The feeling concerned Adam; what ever it had been, it was strong enough to send a chill down his spine.