Heavy Fuel
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I'm glad Scottish!Asuka has become a thingAsuka MacDougal Soryu, hailing from Glesga.
Though lets go back to the regular Asuka for a bit, because I cooked up another fresh instalment of Chronicles! NERV deals with it, Kaworu goes soul searching, and they watch themselves again!
You Are (Not) Alone
Key:
Shinji (S) Asuka (A)
Rei (Re) Kaworu (Kaw)
Misato (Mi) Kaji (Kaj)
Ritsuko (Ri) Maya (Ma)
Here we go again...
S: "So it's just the same thing again?"
Ri: "Red water though. Our seas aren't like that, in fact that's more akin to how the Laserdisc world was after Third Impact."
Mi: "And Japan was never in such a state after Second Impact."
A: "Who the hell would even draw a chalk outline of that! That looks like a damn Eva, I thought they weren't even deployed before Sachiel."
Ri: "They weren't. Least in our world."
Ma: "At least we know immediately this world will be different from ours. No blindsiding over halfway through the series."
Re: "We don't even know if the mechanics of this world are the same compared to ours. There are so many things that could be different."
Kaj: "There already are."
Mi: "A colour screen in my car? What the fuck, why don't we have that!"
Ri: "Forgetting the fact colour LCD's are prohibitively expensive, even for us? And Renault isn't exactly the epitome of luxury either."
A: "At the very least, this looks a whole lot nicer compared to the Laserdiscs."
S: "Even compared to our own world it looks nicer! I never had a cell phone that early!"
Call of Duty
A: "Odd. Somehow the simulator looks worse than it did."
S: "Forgetting that it's still a trigger pulling simulator."
Ri: "Taxpayers." She huffed. "Also we don't have bespoke simulators like that. That's practically a simulation body!"
Ma: "We normally just interface directly with the sensory inputs of the Eva, don't we?"
Ri: "Yeah, it's simpler just to emulate input and output to an Evangelion, though I admit it takes a while to connect an Eva to the interface. Maybe the us of that world thought that downtime to be unacceptable."
Mi: "...that doesn't sound like too bad an idea actually, what they did. It does take hours to connect the Evas to the simulator interface, during which the Evas have to be taken off active deployment, whereas with a bespoke simulator like that, it could potentially be used in minutes while allowing the Eva to remain on deploy."
A: "It would also allow us easier access to the simulator, without all the various restrictions."
Ritsuko was actually seriously considering it. "It would be expensive to make a simulator design akin to how the other NERV did it though. We know how it looks like, but looks don't mean anything when we don't know the mechanisms behind that machine. Though, it would be nice to reduce the turnaround of the simulator as it is now." She scratched some notes.
Ma: "If anything, you can at least add the idea to the pile and send it down the line, like most of our ideas."
Silicon Valley and Seattle would've likely been wiped out by Second Impact, resulting in certain tech not getting developed.
The bespoke simulator gives me an idea. I'm thinking of writing my own Eva fic, and I was trying to think of a way a pilot might train to use an eva without being able to get into one.
~
"Are you insane, 16?" The voice of Oversight 02 was low over the secure line.
"I admit this is rumour, but it's sourced directly from NERV resources."
"I find that hard to believe. How could we even prove this?"
"Satellites are out of the question. We need a rover."
"Out of the question. Getting a mobile probe to Mars will take at least half a year with conventional rocketry, forgetting that a rover hasn't been developed and sent to Mars since '97. We wouldn't even know where to begin!"
"They have facilities."
"Flooded in water and LCL. Even if they did have either of what you suggested on Mars, what could we do to stop them? We can only make a difference around Earth. There's jack shit we can do for the rest of the solar system!"
"In that case, we wait for them. If they didn't annihilate themselves in that Impact event, then they would surely try their hand at Earth again. And they might have something other than the MP-Eva."
"...The first scenario you described would explain how an Impact was possible. I'll give you that much. But I won't allocate resources I don't have to rumour and hearsay. I suggest we wait and see if they play their hand, as you said."
"Weren't you planning on going to Mars anyway?"
"Yes, albeit a colonising force, not paramilitary. Somewhere where we could've started fresh after Second Impact. It would've been sometime next decade but the Martian Impact set back the timeline several years. We won't have boots on the ground until then. Will this be discussed next meeting?"
"Not unless I find more information."
"Good. There's no reason to cause a panic in our ranks. I suggest you find more substantial information, 16."
The phone clicked off.
"...jackass."
~
Zero Two hooked the phone onto its cradle, a glass of Tennessee bourbon sitting forgotten on his desk.
Papers were illuminated, pinned onto a corkboard. Requisitioned from the UN, everything about SEELE he could find. It was a shame NERV had such a monopoly on information about them, but he was able to dig up a fair share. It helps he had a lot of money in his coffers. His partnership with NERV should also allow him to get some more information, even though they have a reputation of being obstinate mules at the best of times.
The intercom buzzed, a secretary on the line. "You have papers here for you, sir."
"Send them up, Claire."
"Yes, Mr Makinami."
He was left alone, the morning sun shining down on a framed photograph. A girl, wearing glasses, in a pink plugsuit. The last light in his world, snuffed out over a year ago.
SEELE were the reason why she met her horrifying end. He knew that to be true.
The glass was remembered.
~
Kaworu was resting in Rei's lap. Pensive. There were still questions.
"...Rei?"
"Yeah Kaworu?"
"...what happens to a soul if they can't be reborn?"
"...I... don't know. Why do you ask?"
"...my kin."
Rei was dispirited, as she realised. She held his hand. "You may not be able to see Lilim wanderers, but... try. Maybe... you can see them."
He expanded his awareness, with her help. He fell crestfallen, which Rei immediately picked up on.
"How many do you see?"
"...not many."
Rei thought. She had an idea. "...we're going out." She picked up Kaworu and positioned him on her back. "You, concentrate, and navigate me to one of your own."
~
The sight of a boy with ashen hair on the back of a blue haired girl, running without pause through the night, like she knew exactly where she was going, would usually give pause to someone. Not the people of Tokyo-3, considering what else happens in that damned city. They were left uninterrupted, as she made her way to the outskirts.
"Here." He hopped off and investigated. Kaworu served well as a navigator, though it helped they were linked.
Near a hillside that Rei recognised, Kaworu was able to pinpoint a single candle. A shadow of its former self, its light flickering and faded. A light only he could see.
"...yes. It's one of my own."
"...do you need some time alone, Kaworu?"
"No. I'd rather you be here."
He held out his hand, in front of him. Quietly beckoning.
The pyrefly drifted into his hand and rested. He could feel a warmth as it made its presence known. Emotion flooded in, emotion that was not his own.
"...Ramiel."
query pensive kin brother Tabris "b-brother. i am ashamed y-you had to f-f-f-find me in such a st-state."
"Don't be. You did well."
sadness melancholy longing "...i s-still failed in m-m-my mission. a-an-and now i can-cannot even fe-feel Father's light."
"...Father is gone." Mournful was his tone, as he held this faded soul. "I am the last of his seed that continues to walk this base Earth."
sorrow "...s-s-so it is true. i f-feared the worst when he le-left my mi-mind."
"I persist though." He cooed to his sister. "I have learnt to live with my nature, alongside the Lilim."
pensive "...y-you are wise, Tabris. that is why you w-won. you ar-are like the Lilim. our other bro-brothers and sisters could not k-know of such knowledge."
"I still cannot truly know of the Fruit of Knowledge, Rami. But I persist. I made relations with the Lilim, to overcome my own shortcomings."
pensive concession "...that is why you won." warmth light foreign soul "i feel another pr-presence. in your soul, Tabris. is this a Lilith?"
"Yes. She is beside me."
query "...may i speak with her?"
He looked towards Rei, silently enquiring.
She held his free hand.
acknowledgement fear aversion "...you were the other one? i-in the orange d-deviant."
"Yes. Do you hold anything against me?"
pensive concession "...no. it is the nature of life to fight back a-against those who seek to end it. T-Tabris succeeded because he did not aim to destroy y-your world. He sought to live in it, a-as you do."
"If it's any consolation, you were the second most powerful of the Angels. It took the whole capabilities of our nation to bring you low."
Melancholic elation, acknowledgement "Then I can r-rest easy, knowing I gave it my a-all. It was Z-Zeruel who was stronger than I?"
"Yes."
Humour, joy. Remembrance. Respect "He was always like that. Lilim, I give you m-my gratitude. T-that is all I have left at this point."
"Thank you, Ramiel."
weakness "Tabris, I-I wish to speak to you alone."
Kaworu could see wisps of her spirit flickering off her. Her light was decaying. Speaking with him was sapping her already spent resources. Rei disengaged from them, and gave them some privacy.
fear query "T-Tabris. Y-you do know what h-happens to us if w-we should fall, right? We- we cannot be reborn l-like the Lilim. Not without F-father."
"...i don't know, Rami."
genuine feeling innocent query "...you w-were never told, were you?"
"...no." He conceded, emotions building.
"...Tabris. we die."
Rei felt her soul rend, bringing her low. Tears were welling in her eyes.
Kaworu locked up, the words piercing through his mind as he realised their true significance. Tears began streaming down his face, as he cupped this wavering light, holding it close. "i- i'm sorry... i... i did not know... if i did-"
"...i k-know. i accepted my fate l-long ago. i app-appreciate you finding m-me though, b-brother. at l-least now i can f-fade with someone i l-love by m-my si-side..."
"...sister... i wish i could do more to help you."
"...yo-you've done enou-enough, Tabris. you survived. y-you lived. you-you're thriving. you're loved. as l-long as you live, as long as o-one of our own c-can survive in a w-world that i-is not our own.
That's all you need to do, brother. Live."
She was fading faster now. "n-no... not yet. please." It was becoming difficult to feel her.
"i'm s-sorry, brother. p-promise me if you f-find more of o-our kin before they fade, y-you will help them a-as you helped me."
"...i promise."
"...thank you. g-goodbye, br-brother. i-ill see you again s-somed
The link between the two souls disappeared, and her light dissipated into the air. All that was left in his hands was the warmth of what was her soul.
His legs lost their strength, and he collapsed into a kneel. He stared, eyes wide and unblinking, into his hands.
Kaworu's anguish could be heard from a mile away.
~
"I admit this is rumour, but it's sourced directly from NERV resources."
"I find that hard to believe. How could we even prove this?"
"Satellites are out of the question. We need a rover."
"Out of the question. Getting a mobile probe to Mars will take at least half a year with conventional rocketry, forgetting that a rover hasn't been developed and sent to Mars since '97. We wouldn't even know where to begin!"
"They have facilities."
"Flooded in water and LCL. Even if they did have either of what you suggested on Mars, what could we do to stop them? We can only make a difference around Earth. There's jack shit we can do for the rest of the solar system!"
"In that case, we wait for them. If they didn't annihilate themselves in that Impact event, then they would surely try their hand at Earth again. And they might have something other than the MP-Eva."
"...The first scenario you described would explain how an Impact was possible. I'll give you that much. But I won't allocate resources I don't have to rumour and hearsay. I suggest we wait and see if they play their hand, as you said."
"Weren't you planning on going to Mars anyway?"
"Yes, albeit a colonising force, not paramilitary. Somewhere where we could've started fresh after Second Impact. It would've been sometime next decade but the Martian Impact set back the timeline several years. We won't have boots on the ground until then. Will this be discussed next meeting?"
"Not unless I find more information."
"Good. There's no reason to cause a panic in our ranks. I suggest you find more substantial information, 16."
The phone clicked off.
"...jackass."
~
Zero Two hooked the phone onto its cradle, a glass of Tennessee bourbon sitting forgotten on his desk.
Papers were illuminated, pinned onto a corkboard. Requisitioned from the UN, everything about SEELE he could find. It was a shame NERV had such a monopoly on information about them, but he was able to dig up a fair share. It helps he had a lot of money in his coffers. His partnership with NERV should also allow him to get some more information, even though they have a reputation of being obstinate mules at the best of times.
The intercom buzzed, a secretary on the line. "You have papers here for you, sir."
"Send them up, Claire."
"Yes, Mr Makinami."
He was left alone, the morning sun shining down on a framed photograph. A girl, wearing glasses, in a pink plugsuit. The last light in his world, snuffed out over a year ago.
SEELE were the reason why she met her horrifying end. He knew that to be true.
The glass was remembered.
~
Kaworu was resting in Rei's lap. Pensive. There were still questions.
"...Rei?"
"Yeah Kaworu?"
"...what happens to a soul if they can't be reborn?"
"...I... don't know. Why do you ask?"
"...my kin."
Rei was dispirited, as she realised. She held his hand. "You may not be able to see Lilim wanderers, but... try. Maybe... you can see them."
He expanded his awareness, with her help. He fell crestfallen, which Rei immediately picked up on.
"How many do you see?"
"...not many."
Rei thought. She had an idea. "...we're going out." She picked up Kaworu and positioned him on her back. "You, concentrate, and navigate me to one of your own."
~
The sight of a boy with ashen hair on the back of a blue haired girl, running without pause through the night, like she knew exactly where she was going, would usually give pause to someone. Not the people of Tokyo-3, considering what else happens in that damned city. They were left uninterrupted, as she made her way to the outskirts.
"Here." He hopped off and investigated. Kaworu served well as a navigator, though it helped they were linked.
Near a hillside that Rei recognised, Kaworu was able to pinpoint a single candle. A shadow of its former self, its light flickering and faded. A light only he could see.
"...yes. It's one of my own."
"...do you need some time alone, Kaworu?"
"No. I'd rather you be here."
He held out his hand, in front of him. Quietly beckoning.
The pyrefly drifted into his hand and rested. He could feel a warmth as it made its presence known. Emotion flooded in, emotion that was not his own.
"...Ramiel."
query pensive kin brother Tabris "b-brother. i am ashamed y-you had to f-f-f-find me in such a st-state."
"Don't be. You did well."
sadness melancholy longing "...i s-still failed in m-m-my mission. a-an-and now i can-cannot even fe-feel Father's light."
"...Father is gone." Mournful was his tone, as he held this faded soul. "I am the last of his seed that continues to walk this base Earth."
sorrow "...s-s-so it is true. i f-feared the worst when he le-left my mi-mind."
"I persist though." He cooed to his sister. "I have learnt to live with my nature, alongside the Lilim."
pensive "...y-you are wise, Tabris. that is why you w-won. you ar-are like the Lilim. our other bro-brothers and sisters could not k-know of such knowledge."
"I still cannot truly know of the Fruit of Knowledge, Rami. But I persist. I made relations with the Lilim, to overcome my own shortcomings."
pensive concession "...that is why you won." warmth light foreign soul "i feel another pr-presence. in your soul, Tabris. is this a Lilith?"
"Yes. She is beside me."
query "...may i speak with her?"
He looked towards Rei, silently enquiring.
She held his free hand.
acknowledgement fear aversion "...you were the other one? i-in the orange d-deviant."
"Yes. Do you hold anything against me?"
pensive concession "...no. it is the nature of life to fight back a-against those who seek to end it. T-Tabris succeeded because he did not aim to destroy y-your world. He sought to live in it, a-as you do."
"If it's any consolation, you were the second most powerful of the Angels. It took the whole capabilities of our nation to bring you low."
Melancholic elation, acknowledgement "Then I can r-rest easy, knowing I gave it my a-all. It was Z-Zeruel who was stronger than I?"
"Yes."
Humour, joy. Remembrance. Respect "He was always like that. Lilim, I give you m-my gratitude. T-that is all I have left at this point."
"Thank you, Ramiel."
weakness "Tabris, I-I wish to speak to you alone."
Kaworu could see wisps of her spirit flickering off her. Her light was decaying. Speaking with him was sapping her already spent resources. Rei disengaged from them, and gave them some privacy.
fear query "T-Tabris. Y-you do know what h-happens to us if w-we should fall, right? We- we cannot be reborn l-like the Lilim. Not without F-father."
"...i don't know, Rami."
genuine feeling innocent query "...you w-were never told, were you?"
"...no." He conceded, emotions building.
"...Tabris. we die."
Rei felt her soul rend, bringing her low. Tears were welling in her eyes.
Kaworu locked up, the words piercing through his mind as he realised their true significance. Tears began streaming down his face, as he cupped this wavering light, holding it close. "i- i'm sorry... i... i did not know... if i did-"
"...i k-know. i accepted my fate l-long ago. i app-appreciate you finding m-me though, b-brother. at l-least now i can f-fade with someone i l-love by m-my si-side..."
"...sister... i wish i could do more to help you."
"...yo-you've done enou-enough, Tabris. you survived. y-you lived. you-you're thriving. you're loved. as l-long as you live, as long as o-one of our own c-can survive in a w-world that i-is not our own.
That's all you need to do, brother. Live."
She was fading faster now. "n-no... not yet. please." It was becoming difficult to feel her.
"i'm s-sorry, brother. p-promise me if you f-find more of o-our kin before they fade, y-you will help them a-as you helped me."
"...i promise."
"...thank you. g-goodbye, br-brother. i-ill see you again s-somed
The link between the two souls disappeared, and her light dissipated into the air. All that was left in his hands was the warmth of what was her soul.
His legs lost their strength, and he collapsed into a kneel. He stared, eyes wide and unblinking, into his hands.
Kaworu's anguish could be heard from a mile away.
~
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Maya leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "You need me. I need you. If you have to do this to make sure Rei and I can be safe, do it. Just think of me and how we have a date with a sunny Hawaiian beach one day after we win."