Neon Genesis II:
The Gates of the Oblivion





        Misato: So they're moving Eva-04 here?

        Ritsuko: Seems like it.

        Misato: Do we have a pilot yet?

            Major Katsuragi and Dr. Akagi both stood in a small room in the Geo-front, slowly taking sips of coffee from large white cups. Ritsuko put her cup down on a desk near her and sat down in front of a computer located in the corner of the room. She entered a password quickly, as a profile appeared on the screen. Misato leaned over to take a look, scratching the back of her head a bit.

       Misato: He's 22? Born before the Second Impact?

       Ritsuko: His abilities seem to match the ones required to pilot. He inherited a large company from his dead father and is providing us with machinery.

       Misato: What about Evangelion 03?

       Ritsuko: What about it?

       Misato: How much longer until it's done?

       Ritsuko: I'd say it's a matter of a few weeks.

       Misato: Have you found a pilot?

       Ritsuko: Yes, the 6th Child.

       Misato: Oh, who is he?

           Ritsuko once more entered a password into the computer, as the screen blinked for a few seconds, slowly loading the file of Unit 03's new pilot. Misato frowned and shook her head, sighing.

       Misato: No personal data?

       Ritsuko: Well, we have part of his childhood, and partial information about him from the past few years. But we have no data whatsoever from age seven to fourteen.

       Misato: September 13, 1994? Poor guy. The Second Impact happened on his birthday... When are they getting here?

       Ritsuko: The 7th should be here tomorrow, to initialize Eva-04's core with his data. The 6th is currently in Los Angeles. He is supposed to arrive in a week or so.
 
 



* * *
 

Genesis 1:1
The Second Coming


            December 1st, 2017

            It was his first time inside the Geo-front and he was quite amazed by how deep underground it was. He was slowly lowered towards Central Dogma and he could now see the blue pyramid at the bottom of a gigantic cavity inside the earth. He brushed a few purple bangs out of his face, as the small elevator he was in stopped inside the main facility. The doors of the elevator opened, and he stepped out into a large hall.

                Before he could choose a destination, a woman, who was leaning lazily against a wall, walked up to him, smiling brightly. But what caught the attention of his sky blue eyes was not the woman herself, but rather her large breasts. As a grin slowly formed on his face, the blue haired woman slapped him across the right cheek. He suddenly snapped out of his stare, taking a step back as he brought his hand to his sore jaw.

            Man: Now what was that for?

            Woman: Did you see where you were looking?!

            Man: [embarassed] Er.. I'm sorry..

            Woman: I am Major Katsuragi. You're the 7th Child, right?

            Man: Erm.. [saluting] Yes, Major.

            Misato: Oh, don't do that. Hiditio Nikaido, right?

            Hiditio: Hai.

                The 7th Child, who was somewhat too old to be called an actual child [author's note: I smoke too much marijuana to make sense for both you and me, so bear with it, it adds to the mystery *cough* right. Back to the story!], wore large black pants with orange boots, along with a skintight black tanktop, covered by some kind of old purple pilot jacket. He looked very awkward, compared to the rest of the Nerv staff.

            Misato: Great, follow me.

            Hiditio: Err.. where?

            Misato: To initialize the core of the Eva you will be piloting.

            Hiditio: Oh, right. I was told I'd have to wear some kind of suit.

            Misato: Yes, the plug suit. Dr. Akagi will give you all you need. But for now, follow me.

                She led him through many halls inside the facility and finally brought him into Evangelion Unit 04's cage, exposing him to the gigantic creature that he had been designated to pilot. The white Unit's two black eyes would have made it look dead, but its devilish grin remained, sending shivers down Hiditio's spine. He took a few steps back, taking deep breaths.

            Ritsuko: So here's here, finally.

            Misato: Yeah.. I'd been waiting for him for over an hour.

                Ritsuko stood a few feet to Hiditio's right, looking down at a few papers she held in her right hand.

            Hiditio: I'm sorry..

            Misato: It's okay.

            Hiditio: Hello, Dr. Akagi.

            Misato: You already know each other?

            Ritsuko: I told you he owned a rather large company, Tritoch. It's providing us with more advanced machinery that has allowed us to start rebuilding Unit 03.

            Misato: Oh, yeah, I remember. So what about his harmonics test?

            Ritsuko: We're about to start.

                With those words, the head scientist of Nerv reached to her side, throwing a small white bag to Hiditio, who swiftly caught it in his right hand.

            Ritsuko: Your plug suit. You can go change in the dressing rooms over there, at the end of the hall. [pointing to a hall leading out of the Eva's cage]

            Hiditio: Hai..
 
 


                * * *


 




             Ritsuko: How do you feel?

                Hiditio leaned his head back inside of his entry plug, breathing with a lot of difficulty from the taste of the orange liquid that was now filling his lungs.

            Hiditio: This tastes horrible.

            Ritsuko: It's LCL. You can't synchronize with your Unit without it.

                Ritsuko and Misato now stood in the main control room of the facility, near Maya, Shigeru and Makoto who were sitting in front of keyboards, entering data which could be seen appearing on the large screens of MAGI.

            Ritsuko: How is the core?

            Makoto: It seems to be adapting to the 7th Child's data easily.

            Ritsuko: What's the status on the pilot?

            Maya: His harmonics level is at 17.6% and rising. It's increasing as the core is being initialized with his data.

            Misato: Hiditio, are you all right?

                From inside his entry plug, Hiditio grunted, disgusted by the LCL that had invaded all of the space around him. The plug suit did not bother him much, but he could not stand the taste of the orange liquid that seemed to similar to blood.

            Ritsuko: Ignore the LCL. You have to clear your mind and focus only on the task at hand, or we won't get any good results.

            Hiditio: [grunting] That's easier said than done..

                Finally, he took a deep breath, allowing his lungs to slowly get accustomed to the liquid that Hiditio was now forced to inhale and exhale in order to live inside his entry plug. He gripped the handles inside his plug firmly and closed his eyes, attempting to open up his mind to Unit 04. His breathing became slow and consistent, his heart pulse lowering as well, his harmonics level rising to the rhythm of his heartbeats.

           Maya: His sync. ratio is now at 35.3%, it's still going up.

           Makoto: Core completely initialized.

           Misato: How is he doing?

           Shigeru: No mental contamination detected.

           Ritsuko: Good, raise his harmonics by 3%. See how far he can go.

           Maya: Hai.

               He growled, feeling his muscles tense up, pain rushing through his ears as though he was swimming deep underwater. But his mind slowly adapted itself to the higher pressure brought inside his plug. His fingers relaxed once more, followed by the rest of his body. He was getting used to the mental connection that he could feel being established between him and the creature he was going to pilot. It had a soul, and he could feel it. He could feel the incredible potential, the godly power hidden inside the sleeping Unit.

           Maya: Pilot is reaching critical zone, sync. ratio at 47.9%.

           Ritsuko: Good. We're done. Shut off nervous connections, eject the plug.

               As the LCL flowed out of the entry plug, Hiditio sighed with relief, running his fingers through his hair as he did. He sat up, opening his sky blue eyes.

           Misato: Good job, Hiditio! You're done, for today.

           Hiditio: Finally.. LCL tastes disgusting.

           Ritsuko: You aren't the first one to complain about it, trust me.

           Hiditio: Oh, I'm not surprised.

               The plug was ejected, and the 7th Child walked out of Eva-04, taking long deep breaths of fresh air as he made his way back onto the platform surrounding the Unit inside its cage.

           Misato: You may go change, now.

           Hiditio: Thank you, Major.

* * *


           Seele 09: The S2 Engine systems have disappeared.

           Seele 04: Do you have anything to say for yourself, Ikari?

           Keel: You have lost the Lance of Longinus, and now the mass produced Evangelions.

           Gendo: Nerv had nothing to do with the disappearance of the Units.

           Seele 07: The Evangelions were in your hands.

           Keel: How do you explain the fact that only the Units disappeared, and not the several branches of Nerv that had built them?

           Seele 09: Are you lying to us, Ikari?

           Seele 11: And what of the reappearance of Unit 04 and the U.S. branch?

           Gendo: Once again, Nerv had nothing to do with it. There are thousands of possibilities that the MAGI could give to explain this.

           Keel: You are running out of excuses, and we are running out of time, Ikari.

             As the monoliths disappeared, the phone inside Ikari's desk rang. The Commander of Nerv picked up, keeping his cold and placid stature.

           Gendo: Already? Activate Unit 04. We don't have a choice, Fuyutsuki. It'll buy us enough time for the Children to get here.
 


* * *


 


             Since the death of the 17th Angel in 2015, Tokyo-3 had lived through two years of peace, even though most of the city still remained in ruins from the self destruction of Unit 00 in a desperate attempt to destroy the 16th Angel. But nothing lasts forever, and the illusion of peace was soon to be broken.

             First, there was a loud high pitched sound. A scream echoing from the very heart of the planet, ringing through the ears of all who lived to witness it.

             Then, the ground shook throughout the land of all Japan and the earth split, cracking open for the return of a forgotten deity. Two enormous arms of black coal ripped from the growing cavity, slamming down onto the streets of Tokyo-3. As its fingers gripped the sides of buildings, it pulled itself out from its grave, leaping high into the sky. The charcoal creature landed atop of a mall, tearing through the building, as hundreds of frightened teenagers were crushed by the crumbling structure.

              The dark giant had the overall figure of a human, yet it was headless. On its stomach, a large grey sphere could be seen, similar to the core of the Angels that had appeared fifteen years after the Second Impact.

              With another scream, the creature raised its arms towards the sky, as large streams of ash-grey energy flew into the air, curving down towards the ground in midflight, erupting from the cavity that the coal humanoid had risen from. All of the streams collided with the earth supporting the city of Tokyo-3.
 


* * *


           Misato: How in the hell did it get here?!

           Maya: A.T. Field detected!

           Misato: An Angel?

           Makoto: The MAGI doesn't have any data about this creature's blood pattern.

            The appearance of the dark giant had surprised Nerv as much as the citizens of the city. The MAGI had not picked up anything until the earth had begun to tremble. Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki, Major Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi all stood in front of the screens within the main control room of the facility, witnessing the assault is disbelief.

             Fuyutsuki: They appeared sooner than expected.

             Misato: You knew about this?

             Fuyutsuki: It doesn't matter. Is the 7th Child ready?

             Maya: Hai. Eva-04 is almost ready for launch, sir.

             Misato: Where are the other Children?

             Makoto: I can't reach them.

             Misato: It's okay, I'm sure they'll know what to do..

* * *

             Shinji: [screaming] AAAHHH!!!! AN ANGEL!!!!!

             Asuka: Stop screaming like an idiot!!

              With a mighty slap, Shinji was sent to the ground, with a bright red mark on his right cheek. Rei, Shinji and Asuka had gathered in front of their school, while everyone had hid into their designated shelters. All the buildings of the city had gone underground, now hidden beneath the Geo-front, even though the Angel assaults had proven that being buried under the earth was no protection from the wrath of God.

             Shinji: What was that for?!

             Asuka: Start acting like a man, Shinji! Stop being such a pansy!

             Shinji: Why do you always have to yell at me like that?!?

             Asuka: Because I FEEL LIKE IT!

             Rei: We have to report to Nerv.

               Standing a few feet from the two others, Rei looked to the two fighting, without understanding the reason for such quarrel.

              Shinji: Yeah.. we should go.

              Asuka: Let's hope he [pointing at the giant off in the distance] doesn't get us first!

              Shinji: Errr... W-wait.. Look!

                Rei and Asuka both looked in the direction that Shinji pointed to, as a familiar figure rose from the Geo-front, standing about seven blocks from the charcoal creature.

              Asuka: Wh-what the hell? Is that Unit 04?!

              Shinji: I thought the pilot was supposed to have his first test today..

              Asuka: Looks like he may need some professional assistance from the best pilot in the world!

             Shinji: ... now, who might that be?

              Asuka: Me, of course!

              Shinji: ... Right....

              Rei: [quietly]... Why do you two... fight like this?

              Asuka: ... [grinning] Because Shinji is an idiot.

              Shinji: What?!
 


* * *

             Misato: Hiditio, can you hear me?

             Hiditio: Loud and clear, Major. But with all due respect, ma'am, LCL tastes like shit.

             Ritsuko: ... [twitching]

             Misato: ...

             Hiditio: ... Just forget I said that. [cough]

             Misato: Right...

             Hiditio: ... So what am I supposed to do?

             Misato: Destroy the damn thing?!

             Hiditio: ... I think that's clear enough, yep.

               The side-screen that had appeared near Hiditio in the entry plug of Unit 04 disappeared, as contact between him and Nerv was cut suddenly. Before he knew it, the coal black creature that had stood still for the past few minutes had leaped into the air, and landed right in front of the white Evangelion. With incredible strength, the dark giant's two fists nailed the back of Eva-04's neck, driving it into the earth.

               Hiditio growled, gritting his teeth as he focused on the task of bringing his Evangelion back to its feet. But with a powerful stomp, the mysterious invader brought Unit 04's face back into the ground, using its weight to put pressure on the fallen Eva's cranium.

               Instinctively, the 7th Child reacted, as Unit 04's right hand locked around the creature's ankle, pulling the foot off of its head. At the same time, with an accurate and quick sweep of its other arm, the white Evangelion nailed the black giant to the back of its other leg, knocking it off balance, and leading its enemy down to the ground.

             Maya: His synchronization ratio is rising considerably!

             Ritsuko: He is much more instinctive than most human beings.. It is showing in his innate ability to fight with the Evangelion.

               As the giant fell down, Eva-04 followed through, leaping right on top of its fallen enemy, pounding its chest with both its fists furiously, crushing the surface of the coal black creature's body.

               But as Hiditio got lost in his frenzy, the headless giant spread its greyish A.T. Field to its full extent, blowing Unit 04 hundreds of feet away. As the white Evangelion crashed through empty city blocks, its enemy was getting ready for another assault. With a loud shriek, it surged into the air, flying down towards its enemy at a pace that the human eye could barely follow like an Angel of Death.

               The impact was made, as the headless creature slammed into Unit 04's back. Hiditio growled with anger and pain, as he gripped the handles inside his entry plug firmly, yet he was unable to move. His Evangelion had an S2 Engine system, which allowed it to have a limitless supply of energy, but even with that advantage, the giant was too strong and kept Unit 04 down to the ground.

               The monster who had risen from the underground slammed its left palm into the back of the fallen Evangelion's right shoulder, crushing the protective armor covering its flesh. With its other hand, the headless beast gripped its enemy's right wrist. With doubled force, it applied more pressure to the shoulder of its motionless victim. As it pulled Unit 04's wrist, the Eva's right arm slowly began to tear from the rest of its body, the flesh ripping away like fragile cloth, as blood began to pour down onto the earth on which the wounded Evangelion lay.

             Misato: Shit!

             Maya: Nervous connections with the pilot severed! Harmonics decreasing!

             Makoto: He's reaching critical zone!

              Suddenly, the arm gave away, as the creature ripped the member away from the Evangelion's body, burying Unit 04 in a pool of its own blood. A piece of broken bone still hung from its mutilated shoulder, surrounded by ripped flesh.

              Tossing the useless arm away, the creature grabbed the bleeding Unit by its head, putting pressure on its victim's cranium with both its hands, fingers digging into Eva-04's heavily damaged protective armor. With a lightning quick motion, the headless creature snapped the fallen Unit's neck, a sickening sound of bones shattering echoing through the deserted streets of Tokyo-3.

              Misato: HIDITIO!!!

              Ritsuko: Don't worry. He's still alive.

              Maya: He is still conscious, but his harmonics are completely dropping..

              Makoto: His sync. ratio has reached 0%!

               Sitting at his desk, Gendo Ikari eyed the scene carefully, his facial features revealing the glimpse of a frown. At his side, Fuyutsuki stood, looking on to the events as they unrolled before him on the giant screens of the MAGI.

               Gendo: The headless one, rising from his eternal grave. Seele has gone mad.

               Fuyutsuki: So now that the Angels are gone, they want to get rid of us.

               Gendo: Actually, I believe it's beyond their control.

               Fuyutsuki: ...

               As the Vice Commander went silent, the headless giant gripped its lifeless victim by the abdomen, its wide black fingers tearing into Unit 04's flesh. A growl emitted from the creature, even though it had no mouth to make such a sound, as it ripped the mutilated Evangelion's stomach open, revealing its core. Slowly, the dark monster who had risen from the bowls of the earth lowered its right hand onto the exposed red sphere, grasping it firmly.

              Misato: It's going after Unit 04's S2 Engine?

              Makoto: Unit 04 is producing an A.T. Field!

              Misato: Hiditio?!

              Maya: Negative, his sync. ratio is still at 0%!

              Suddenly, around Unit 04's core, tendrils of light began to form, flickering in and out of sight. The particles of energy slowly gathered as one, forming a tight barrier around the contours of the fallen Evangelion's S2 Engine. The creature applied more pressure to the red orb with its fingers, as the A.T. Field that had mysteriously manifested itself adapted its form to the shape of the giant's hand.

               From within the core, ruby red light appeared under the shape of a sphere. But as the creature pressed its fingers with more strength onto the S2 Engine of Eva-04, the sphere began to distort into long streams, drawn from within the core to the palm of the headless giant.

               Makoto: Unit 04's A.T. Field is slowly starting to decrease!

               Shigeru: The MAGI is detecting an A.T. Field similar to Unit 04's in the target!

               Ritsuko: [surprised] It's draining the Eva's A.T. Field?!

               As Dr. Akagi spoke those words, the Geo-front shook with such intensity that all of the personel of Nerv who was standing inside the facility fell to the ground. The screams of dozens and dozens of employees echoed in unison, forming a quite disturbing melody to the human ear.

               Misato: [stumbling to her feet] What in the HELL was that?!

* * *

               Shinji: Gah! Shit!

               Asuka: Watch where you're falling, Ikari!!!

               The earthquake had not only reached all of the Geo-front, but also half of the deserted city. Asuka, Shinji and Rei, who were now only a few minutes away from Nerv, and only a few hundreds of feet away from the battle, had been caught off guard by the sudden shaking. All three Children fell to the ground, even though Rei managed to roll to her feet in her fall. But Asuka and Shinji were not that lucky. The 2nd Child hit the pavement, back first, and was soon followed by Shinji, who fell on top of her, face first. But unfortunately for Ikari, not only had he landed on Asuka, but his face had landed on her chest.

                 Asuka: Ikari... I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!

                 Shinji: I'm sorry! I-it was an accident!!

                 *WHAP*

                 *SLAP*

                 *BITCHSMACK*

                 Shinji: [holding his bruised cheeks in pain] Itai..

                 Asuka: MMPH! You deserved it!

                 Rei: We must hurry, before the Headquarters are hit again.

                 Asuka: What do you mean, before the Headquarters are hit again?

* * *

                 Misato: It used Unit 04's A.T. Field to destroy the top protection layers?

                 Ritsuko: Yes. The target is draining Unit 04's A.T. Field from its core, and transfering it to his own. And it's using it as a weapon against us.

                  Misato: How much of the A.T. Field has it used up?

                  Ritsuko: Only 1 or 2%, thanks to the pilot. We have approximately four hours until all of the core's energy is drained. The only problem is it could strike again at any time.

                  Misato: What do you mean, thanks to the pilot?!

                  Ritsuko: By staying conscious, the creature can't drain the A.T. Field as easily.

                  Misato: You mean, in four hours he will be-

                  Ritsuko: [nodding]
 
                  Misato: ... [thinking] Damnit, where are the Children?

                  Above the facility, the creature's hand remained on Unit 04's core, the ruby red light flowing into the giant's palm, relocating into its own core. Beneath the headless one and the lifeless Evangelion, a hundred feet wide hole now tore through the earth, leading deep underground, into the Geo-front.

                 Inside Unit 04's entry plug, Hiditio lay nearly unconscious, struggling for air, as he could feel the life of the Evangelion slowly fading away, along with his. His face was now pale, and his body was getting weaker by the minute. He was cold.

                 He was unable to see or hear a thing, yet he could still smell the sickening odor and taste the bitter savor of the LCL that surrounded him and allowed him to breathe. His eyes were closed, and he was too tired to think. But he would not let himself sleep, for he knew that if he succumbed, he would die.

                 From inside Central Dogma, Misato looked on to the data readouts concerning the pilot of Eva-04.

                 Misato: What a horrible experience for his first sortie..

                 The Major shook her head, sighing silently. But as she heard the sounds of footsteps moving radidly towards the control room, she turned around and sighed again, yet this time, of relief.

                  Misato: Finally!

                  Asuka and Rei ran in, quickly skidding to a stop. A few seconds after them, Shinji trailed in, gripping his chest and breathing heavily, sweat covering his forehead, trailing down his face and onto the ground.

                  Misato: ... huh... Shinji, are you all right?

                  Asuka: Oh, don't worry! Shinji's a wimp! We sprinted for the last few blocks on the way here.

                  Shinji: I-I'm not a[cough] w-[wheeze] wimp!

                  Ritsuko: We don't have time for chat. Get ready.

                  Shinji: Hai..

* * *

                  Ritsuko: Unit 04's pilot has about 3 hours left to live. The target has been silent for over fourty-five minutes and is continuing to drain Unit 04's A.T. Field.

                  Gendo: Send Units 00, 01 and 02 out and have them destroy the target.

                  Ritsuko: If hand to hand combat is initiated, the disturbance created could cause the creature's core to explode, being that it is already overloaded with the energy of Unit 04's A.T. Field. That would lead to Unit 04's total destruction, along with the death of the pilot.

                  Gendo: We can't afford to lose the Geo-front because of the life of a pilot.

                  Misato: But we can't risk the life of a pilot like this!

                  Gendo: We must protect the facility by any means necessary.

                  Misato: Sir, we have 3 hours. It is plenty enough time to come up with a plan.

                  Gendo: Very well. You have 90 minutes. If by then you have not thought of anything, all three Units will be dispatched.

                  Misato: Thank, you sir.

                  Gendo: Major Katsuragi, Dr. Akagi, you are dismissed.

                  Misato and Ritsuko exited Commander Ikari's office, leaving the cold chairman of Nerv alone with Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki.

                  Fuyutsuki: You gave her time to figure out a plan? That's not like you.

                  Gendo: We may need Unit 04 in the future.

                  Fuyutsuki: What about the pilot?

                  Gendo: Our contract with Tritoch is still active, whether Nikaido is alive or not. It is irrelevant.

                  Fuyutsuki: If that headless beast releases the power of all of Unit 04's A.T. Field on us, the entire facility would be destroyed, Terminal Dogma included.

                  Gendo: I know.

                  Fuyutsuki: What is Seele thinking?

                  Gendo: As I said earlier, I don't think Seele has any control over this. We must make sure that if an explosion does occur, it occurs on the surface.

* * *

                  Misato: We need a way to kill it with one shot.. and at the same time blow it away enough from Unit 04 not to destroy it..

                  Misato, who had directed nearly every battle against the Angels, was unable to find a way to destroy the target without risking the life of Eva-04's pilot. Nervously, the Major walked in circles around a small room within the facility. Inside the same room, Ritsuko sat at a desk, drumming her fingers onto it.

                  Misato: Maybe we could borrow the cannon that we used against the 5th Angel again.

                  Ritsuko: I doubt it. It would take too long to get the permission, bring it here, and then load it with enough energy to pierce through the target's A.T. Field.

                  Misato: What if we used the Evas' A.T. Fields to load the cannon?

                  Ritsuko: It would take too long to adapt the cannon to carry such energy without overloading and malfunctinoning. And even then, it would still take too much time. 

                  Misato: But-

                  Ritsuko: Look, Misato, there's nothing you can do. Even if we did use a cannon, it's not sure that the core would not explode on impact anyway. If we don't sacrifice Unit 04, we're all going to die.

                  Misato: Mmph.. What about the MAGI? Any other possibilities?

                  Ritsuko: They propose the self destruction of Unit 04, that would possibly take out the target without risking the destruction of the headquarters.

                  Misato; I see..

* * *

                  Inside a briefing room within the facility, Misato stood in front of the three Children, who were now dressed in their plug suits. They had been ready for over two hours, awaiting orders, while the headless creature was still draining Unit 04's A.T. Field on the surface, while its pilot was struggling to maintain himself alive.

                  Misato: We were unable to come up with any plan to rescue Unit 04, so we have to sortie all three Evangelions. There are chances that the target's core may explode if hand to hand combat is initiated, but we have no other way. If such does occur, raise your A.T. Fields.

                  Shinji: But what if our A.T. Fields can't hold the explosion?

                  Misato: Then we're shit out of luck.

                  Asuka: This really doesn't sound like a good plan.

                  Misato: Commander Ikari made it clear that we must prevent the destruction of Terminal Dogma by any means necessary. I'm sorry we have no other way.

                   Asuka: This isn't a plan! This is a suicide mission!

                   Misato: Asuka, as I said, we have NO other way. We are running out of time. Let's go.

* * *

                   On the surface, nothing had changed. Everything was silent outside, for all life in the city had stopped during the past few hours. Unit 04 and the creature still floated slightly above the hole that the headless giant had pierced through the earth with a discharge of its victim's A.T. Field. Its core was now glowing with a bright ruby red light, flickers of electricity flowing around the greyish sphere.

                   Maya: Sempai!
 
                   Ritsuko: What?

                   Maya: Unit 04's A.T. Field! It's disappearing quicker and quicker!

                   Ritsuko: What?! How can that be?

                   Maya: The pilot is weakening! He can barely stay conscious!

                   Makoto: The energy in the target's core is rising! The MAGI can't determine its value!

                   Shigeru: All our sensors are going nuts!

                   Misato: [angrily] Launch the Units immediately!

                   From the Geo-front, the three Evangelions rose to the surface nearly instantly. From left to right, Unit 00, 01 and 02 stood in a line, a couple of miles away from the headless giant and Eva-04.

                   Misato: Hurry. Get through the target's A.T. Field and destroy it as quickly as possible!

                   Asuka: Hai.

                   Shinji: Hai.. [thinking] There's a pilot in Unit 04... we can't kill him, damnit!

                   Rei: Hai.
 
                   Unit 01 slowly started advancing towards the coal black creature that had mysteriously appeared from beneath the earth and "captured" Eva-04. Unit 00 walked by its side, a large rifle in each one of its hands. Shinji sighed inside his entry plug, feeling sorry for the pilot of the lifeless Evangelion.

                   Misato: How are they all doing?

                   Maya: Not too good, Major. They seem nervous.

                   Misato: That's understandable...

                   Asuka took a deep breath, as she looked on to the gigantic creature that held Unit 04 captive.

                   Asuka: Well.. it's now or never..

                   A small grin formed over the 2nd Child's face, as with a leap, Unit 02 made its way towards its target, gaining speed with every dash it made. In merely a matter of seconds, the red four-eyed Evangelion came face to face (that would be if the creature had had a face) with its enemy. Eva-02's right shoulder guard open, as the Unit grasped its progressive knife with its right hand.

                   The only obstacle between Unit 02 and the mysterious invader was the wide hole that exposed the inside of the Geo-front. With another leap, Asuka brought her Evangelion above its target, as Unit 02 lowered its right arm with incredible strength and rapidity, the progressive knfie slicing through the air, thrusting down towards the coal-like flesh of its enemy.

                    But as the blade neared the gigantic monster, it merely rebounded against its A.T. Field, which suddenly appeared as a sphere of dark grey energy. The creature's right hand remained on Unit 04's core, but with its left fist, it sent a powerful blow to Unit 02's face. So strong was the impact that the leaping Evangelion was knocked back hundreds and hundreds of feet through the city.

                    Misato: Asuka?!

                    Asuka: I'm all right..

                    Misato: Rei, Shinji, combine your A.T. Fields to destroy the target's! Hurry!

                    Makoto: Unit 04's pilot is reaching critical state!

                    Maya: 99.7% of Unit 04's A.T. Field has been drained, we have 30 seconds left!

                    Misato: REI, SHINJI, NOW!!

                    The headless giant's grey core was now glowing with such intensity that the entire city was bathed in ruby red light. The earth began to shake once more, as the energy now searched to be released from its confines. The core of the creature could no longer hold that much power, and now the giant was aiming its core right above the hole it had created earlier. Streams of light appeared near the glowing core, gathering into a bright sphere of condensed A.T. Field.

                    Unit 01 and Unit 00 suddenly rushed from their positions, their A.T. Fields spreading fully, sending a powerful gust of wind throughout the city. Both Evangelions leaped into the air, as the pilots pushed with every ounce of strength in their systems to try to pierce through their target's A.T. Field.  Yet the field stood proudly, not flinching by the combined efforts of the First and Third Children.

                    Maya: Major!

                    Misato: What's wrong?

                    Maya: We're detecting an incredible energy output from Unit 04!

                    Makoto: It's coming from inside the entry plug!

                    Misato: From the entry plug? Hiditio?

                    With a spread of its A.T. Field, the creature knocked Unit 00 and 01 hundreds of feet back. The sphere of energy that had manifested itself in front of the giant's core was ready to explode, but suddenly, the mysterious invader felt a sharp pain tearing through its body. From Unit 04's mutilated right shoulder, an arm grew once more, similar to the one of a human's. Whipping its new arm across the air, Eva-04 released a large wave of golden energy, which tore through the giant's own right shoulder, causing its arm to fall into the hole beneath it.

                    Unit 04's eyes snapped open, shining brightly with a pure shade of emerald green. Around the Eva, a golden flame surged, releasing energy with such strength that the creature was knocked into the hole that it had created earlier, crashing into the depths of the Geo-front, merely a few hundreds of feet above the main control room of Nerv. Unit 04 dove in after its victim, landing a few feet from it, a devilish grin shining upon the Evangelion's face.

                    Misato: How can Unit 04 be moving?!

                    Makoto: All signals are emitting from the entry plug, but we have no readouts coming from the pilot whatsoever!

                    Misato: Ritsuko, how can that possibly be happening?!

                    Ritsuko: I honestly have no clue..

                    With a thud, the giant's core cracked, as Unit 04's knuckles impacted with it, tearing into the abdomen of the coal black creature, as the golden aura around the white Evangelion glew brighter by the second. In a desperate attempt to save its life, the giant tried to release the energy of the A.T. Field that it had stolen from the now ressurected Unit, yet before it could do such thing, Unit 04 opened its mouth and screamed with an unmatched fury, as its golden aura merged with its right arm, bursting into the headless giant's body in a stream of absolute destruction.

                    A beam of golden energy tore through the figure of the dark monster, rising into the city under the form of a bright pillar of light. Within seconds, the giant disappeared from reality, the energy released by the Evangelion bringing an end to its short rebirth. As the pillar faded away, Unit 04's eyes shut once more as it fell to its knees, and finally down on its face, within the ruins of a devastated level of the Geo-front.

                     Maya: Target entirely annihilated.

                     Makoto: Unit 04 has gone silent. We are no longer receiving any data from the entry plug.

                     Misato: Have a rescue team retrieve Unit 04's entry plug and save the pilot..

                     Ritsuko: Well... looks like we got lucky.

* * *

                     Fuyutsuki: It looks like the 7th may be more useful alive than dead.

                     Gendo: At least until the arrival of the 6th Child in a week.

                     Fuyutsuki: I am still not convinced with the efficiency of the pilot that you chose for Unit 03.

                     Gendo: Whether you are convinced or not doesn't matter. The tests he has taken so far were conclusive, and his abilities are far beyond what we expected.

                     Fuyutsuki: I certainly hope you are right.

End of Genesis 1:1


 

 

               
 
 
 
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