Destiny: Gospel of a New Genesis [Evangelion/Destiny]

[Timerider]

That... That made me FEEL things.
Would really like it if we had some freakin' CONTEXT here.
How much of Eva cannon still applies here? You mentioned Shinji waking up in an entry plug, and some of Asuka-2's dialogue/memory flashes indicates she at least knew OF him (though that could just be from historical records, which may or may no be reliable). Was Shinji's freak-out trigger by the "OMG KILLER ROBOT" factor, or "What happened to this person I once knew?"
Anyway, I do kind of like where you seem to be going with this. So you've got Shinji the Human Hunter, Asuka the Exo Titan, and I'll bet anything that Rei will be an Awoken Warlock. This is looking very promising.
On the subject of romance. I will admit that I am a die-hard shipper. But my selling point for any ship is that it WORKS and feels natural. I have gotten behind pretty much every Naruto ship in existence, so long as it worked out nicely (Naruhina OTP though). In this case I don't really have too much of a preference for any ship at the moment. In MFE, you made all the relationships grow gently and naturally and made the story that much stronger for it. Here, well, Destiny is not the place I go looking for any type of good romance. NGE on the other hand... I guess I'll just wait and see how it goes. At this point in the story, romance doesn't seem to be anywhere near on the table. And that can work just fine. While I don't know Shinji's backstory, and therefore can't judge how messed up he is/isn't, he doesn't strike me as someone who is in need of a hug as desperately as his cannon self.
Destiny doesn't seem to have time for character development, what with immortal, unsleeping, un-eating Guardians fighting the Darkness potentially 24/7. But if you give the cast "downtime" episodes you might be able to add characterization that Destiny never gives us much of.
Also looking forward to how you're going to fuse the dramas of both settings. Destiny is basically "Doom on the horizon! Rise up Hero!" While NGE is more personal intrigue (giant monsters and apocalypse cults notwithstanding).
Aaannnnddd I just pictured Cayde-6 messing with Shinji and... WHY DID MY BRAIN JUST LINK HIM TO KAJI? Now there's Misato and Ikora Rey. (Pen-pen Ghost?) Zavala could be... On second thought. Don't touch that. Please. Don't.
Also I'm curious to see what roll (if any) the Evas will play in this. Because if I remember King's Fall, a little size adjustment could make Oryx a viable target.
Whatever, enough of my rambling. Good job so far. I'll be patiently waiting for whatever you bring. You have certainly earned my trust and I will maintain that trust that you know your own plan best. Good luck!

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

That... That made me FEEL things.

Click to shrink...

Would really like it if we had some freakin' CONTEXT here.

Click to shrink...

Gonna have to wait and see.

How much of Eva cannon still applies here? You mentioned Shinji waking up in an entry plug, and some of Asuka-2's dialogue/memory flashes indicates she at least knew OF him (though that could just be from historical records, which may or may no be reliable).

Click to shrink...

Some of it.

Was Shinji's freak-out trigger by the "OMG KILLER ROBOT" factor, or "What happened to this person I once knew?"

Click to shrink...

The first. This Shinji has never met this Asuka.

On the subject of romance. I will admit that I am a die-hard shipper. But my selling point for any ship is that it WORKS and feels natural. I have gotten behind pretty much every Naruto ship in existence, so long as it worked out nicely (Naruhina OTP though). In this case I don't really have too much of a preference for any ship at the moment. In MFE, you made all the relationships grow gently and naturally and made the story that much stronger for it. Here, well, Destiny is not the place I go looking for any type of good romance. NGE on the other hand... I guess I'll just wait and see how it goes. At this point in the story, romance doesn't seem to be anywhere near on the table. And that can work just fine.

Click to shrink...

At this point, romance is not on the table. Something may eventually develop. But romantic relationships will not be an overt focus, like ShinjixRei ended up being in MFE.

While I don't know Shinji's backstory, and therefore can't judge how messed up he is/isn't, he doesn't strike me as someone who is in need of a hug as desperately as his cannon self.

Click to shrink...

As the parenthetical sections implied prior to his resurrection as a Guardian, this Shinji has already experienced conflict. We're not dealing with the Shinji that first arrives in Tokyo-3 without a clue as to what Eva is, or what Angels are.

That may or may not be a good thing.

Destiny doesn't seem to have time for character development, what with immortal, unsleeping, un-eating Guardians fighting the Darkness potentially 24/7. But if you give the cast "downtime" episodes you might be able to add characterization that Destiny never gives us much of.

Click to shrink...

There definitely will be downtime scenes, because Destiny is sorely in need of them. Which is a shame, because the lore is really fascinating, as indicated by the Grimoire cards.

Here's an example. Let's talk about Taniks the Scarred (spoilers for those who haven't played Destiny):

Spoiler: Taniks

In canon, he is a Fallen mercenary.

He freed Aksor, the Archon Priest from the Prison of Elders, setting up the Winter's Run strike mission in-game.

He killed Andal Brask, the Hunter Vanguard prior to Cayde-6.

Andal and Cayde-6 were friends.

Basically, Taniks is the reason that Cayde-6, aka Exo!Mal, even became the current Hunter Vanguard at all.

And what happens to this figure of great narrative importance?

As far as most players are concerned, he's introduced as the boss of a Strike mission, and is killed in the same mission. You get no reaction from anyone else regarding this.

My thoughts?

SCREW THAT NOISE.

Also I'm curious to see what roll (if any) the Evas will play in this. Because if I remember King's Fall, a little size adjustment could make Oryx a viable target.

Click to shrink...

:3

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Grimoire: The City

"From across the ruined earth they came, seeking shelter from the storm."

Every wayward soul unlucky enough to be born outside The City's protecting arms whispers its truth across the wastes: an old metropolis, risen from the ashes of the Collapse, sheltered by the Traveler. It is a promise and a dream, the only refuge from the Darkness.

The City is a thriving walled ecumene, rich with the languages and traditions of every surviving human and neohuman culture. The City's population faces real challenges: inequality, fear, scarcity, and the specter of internal strife. But the deadly division of the Cataclysm remains a lingering memory, and many classes of suffering and injustice have been eradicated forever, to prevent it from happening again.

After all, if another Collapse were to occur while the Traveler lies dormant...what would remain, after the Darkness devours all?​

xxxx

Shinji Ikari groaned, woozily raising his head.

His gray Ghost floated in front of him, alongside Mari. "You're awake."

The pink Ghost's eye winked, as though evoking a smile. "Out cold for about twenty minutes and thirty-one seconds! Princess hit you pretty hard!"

"He'll eventually learn how to take a hit. Or re-learn. Whatever."

Shinji blinked, realizing he was crushed against the body of his erstwhile rescuer...the robotic lady. Then he remembered his decidedly drastic reaction to her unmasking. "Oh. Um..."

"Don't move. I don't want you touching the wrong button. Might make us crash."

"Ooh, that sounds like fun!" exclaimed Mari, getting further into Shinji's face. "Push it. PUSH IT."

Asuka-2's right hand flicked at her Ghost's pink shell, right as his Ghost bumped into it with an audible huff.

Shinji slowly controlled his breathing, trying to keep himself from panicking.

(Center the target, pull the trigger...center the target, pull the trigger...)​

Exhaling, he briefly noted the clouds outside the cockpit before leaning back against the taller woman. "I'm sorry."

"For freaking out?"

"Um...yeah. I mean...you went out of your way to save me, so...um...thank you."

Asuka-2 let loose an exasperated sigh, as though his words physically annoyed her. "Okay, first off: quit with the apologizing. Okay?"

"Oh. Sorry."

"Like that."

"Sor-er...um." Shinji gulped, barely catching himself. "...it's...a habit?"

"I gathered. But you're a literal newbie, so you're forgiven. So, secondly: if you're gonna end up heading back out into the Wild, you're gonna get transportation of your own." She briefly readjusted her seat, her armor jostling against him. "As you've gathered, the Sparrows and these jumpships aren't exactly built for two."

"Um...okay." He briefly wondered where in the would he would be going back out there, to that awful place.

"And third...well, you should at least enjoy the view." She tapped the cockpit window with the side of her gauntlet. "Look outside."

Dutifully, Shinji slowly leaned towards the cockpit...and saw the City. And truly, it deserved that capital 'C'. "...whoa..."

Two snow-capped mountain ranges encompassed that bastion of human civilization, one to the north and one to the south. A great wall - nay, a Barrier, blocking and repelling all who would dare strike against it - encircled the metropolis, itself a clustered gathering of roads, skyscrapers, and lights. Various vehicles moved through the air, a sign of life and vitality. Of greatest note, however, was the immense sphere that hovered over the City, reflecting the golden light of the setting sun.



"That's...the Traveler..."

"Oh, so you remember that much?" asked his Ghost.

"Can't imagine why you'd ever be able to forget it," muttered Asuka-2. "Then again, not everyone comes back with their heads screwed on straight."

"Speaking from experience?" slyly said Mari.

"Mari?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Shinji was positively awestruck; he couldn't quite figure out why, but the sight of the monolith was invigorating, and pleasing.

(The Lightbringer had fled their world, and a great multitude followed it, seeking the paradise of Mercury, the greenery of Venus, the waters of Mars; they had remained behind, to reclaim their home from them.)​

He looked closer at the white sphere, and blinked at the sight of scars: black patches along the bottom, and a broken hull. Other burns marked the surface at various spots, but the lower hemisphere bore the greatest wounds. "What...what happened...?"

"The Collapse," answered his Ghost. "And once we land at the Tower, you'll get all the answers you're looking for."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep," said Asuka-2, her voice sounding vaguely distant. She lightly tapped the side of his head. "Who knows what kind of questions he's got in that head of his?"

"A fair point," admitted his Ghost.

Shinji didn't know why, but he felt like he was being made fun of.

A little red light winked into green on the main control panel. "All right, we are cleared for landing. Hang on." With a practiced tilt of the joystick, Asuka-2's jumpship descended, moving on a downward vector towards the Last City.

 

[GeshronTyler]

So, if I understand the section in parentheses, during or after the Cataclysm, the Traveller/ADAM (White Moon?) and a portion of humanity escaped/left Earth, to settle on the other Inner Planets, while part of humanity stayed behind to struggel/fight against whatever the Cataclysm brought/wrought- until the Collapse came, and all of humanity was thrown back upon the Earth for survival, with the Traveller creating a Sanctuary City of some metropolis(or what was left of one), before or after suffering damage, and is now dormant to a certain extent. Some sort of passive protection is granted to the City. I'd guess Tokyo 3 is not the basis on which the City has grown? That is, if there was a Tokyo 3, and its true reason for existance, the Black Moon of Lilith...

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

So, if I understand the section in parentheses, during or after the Cataclysm, the Traveller/ADAM (White Moon?) and a portion of humanity escaped/left Earth, to settle on the other Inner Planets, while part of humanity stayed behind to struggel/fight against whatever the Cataclysm brought/wrought- until the Collapse came, and all of humanity was thrown back upon the Earth for survival, with the Traveller creating a Sanctuary City of some metropolis(or what was left of one), before or after suffering damage, and is now dormant to a certain extent. Some sort of passive protection is granted to the City.

Click to shrink...

Catch on quickly, you do. /Yoda

I'd guess Tokyo 3 is not the basis on which the City has grown? That is, if there was a Tokyo 3, and its true reason for existance, the Black Moon of Lilith...

Click to shrink...

The City has some particular guesses as to its location based on the lighting engine and physics.

I opted for setting the City in a place that's reasonably close to the real life Baikonur Cosmodrome (aka the largest spaceport in real life at this time): Ganja, Azerbaijan, nestled between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Shinji Ikari watched in quiet awe as Asuka-2's jumpship slowly maneuvered into a large hangar, latching onto a hanging arm amidst a variety of colorful vessels, of odd shapes and sizes. Before he could ask another question, both his Ghost and Mari emitted streams of light, engulfing both him and Asuka-2. "Hey, what are-"

SHYOOOM.

"-you doing-AAAAH!" yelped Shinji, nearly falling over as he suddenly found himself no longer in the ship. He caught himself on the concrete floors, bewildered by the sudden transportation.

His Ghost hovered over him, watching him with some concern. "Hmm. I think we should have warned him."

"Given that reaction? Absolutely not!" said Mari with a synthetic giggle.

Asuka-2's eyes made a passable attempt at rolling; helping Shinji to his feet, she explained, "This close to the City? Transmatting is practically instantaneous. Makes travel a lot easier."

"...um...?"

A delighted laugh came from behind them. "Well Asuka, it seems like you've found yourself another stray."

The two turned around, facing a woman with short, messy blonde hair; clad in an olive-green bodysuit - rife with stains of grease and oil and sweat - with a cut-off sleeve and a red scarf, she was leaning over a couple of schematics, littered with notes and scribbles. She stood up - revealing her right leg, a mechanical prosthetic - and offered a hand towards Shinji. "Always pays to make a good impression with the new help. Name's Amanda Holliday."

Shinji took one look at her green eyes, briefly blushed, and covered it up by bowing at the waist. "M-My name is Shinji Ikari. It's nice to meet you too."

"Boy, talk about old-fashioned," muttered Asuka-2, forcefully prying Shinji upward. "She's the chief mechanical engineer here at the Tower. Makes sure our ships and Sparrows are in tiptop shape. Speaking of which." The Exo glanced over at the blonde. "What's the status on my order for her mute button?" She jerked a thumb towards Mari, who was idly scanning a blueprint for a ship-mounted cannon. "She's becoming more and more useless."

"Love you too, Princess," replied the pink Ghost, not even bothering to look away from the blueprint.

Amanda chuckled. "Can't say I've had time."

"Feh."

She turned her gaze back towards Shinji, an amused smile on her face. "Hey kid, whenever you get your feet underneath you, head back here and I'll make sure you get set-up."

"Oh. Um...thank you."

"You sure about that? The newbie probably doesn't have a speck of Glimmer to his name."

"I can confirm that!" helpfully exclaimed Shinji's Ghost.

Amanda shrugged it off with practiced ease. "Favors and supplies are just as good. He wouldn't be the first Guardian to set up a tab with me." Turning back towards her schematics, Amanda casually waved at them. "Y'all take care now."

The two Guardians nodded their thanks, and Asuka-2 turned on her heel. As their Ghosts merged with their bodies, Shinji dutifully followed, trying not to look too nervous amidst the busy people moving to and fro through the hangar. Amidst the chatter and relative anonymity, Shinji felt safe enough to talk. "She...seemed nice."

"She is."

"...what happened to her leg?"

"Lost it outside the City, back when she was still a refugee. Vaporized by a laser from a Ramielim."

"...you two seemed like friends."

"I've known her for a while."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was the one who escorted her family into the City. Used to be a rambunctious little tyke."

"Oh." Shinji tried not to think about it. But he couldn't help but think. "Um...how old are-"

SHYOOM.

BONK.

"GAH!" yelped Shinji, rubbing the spot on his forehead where Mari had suddenly rammed into him. "W-what was that for?!"

"Never ask a lady how old she is," chided Mari, trying to evoke as much mock outrage as she could.

The pink Ghost let loose a squeak of surprise as Asuka-2 grabbed her tightly. "And this lady is not a fragile little flower." With a slight growl, the Exo threw Mari into the sky. In a flash of light, the Ghost disappeared, once more merged with her Guardian. "...annoying Dummkopf."

'...they seem like quite the team.'

His Ghost's idle comment was a signal for Shinji to try and distract himself; looking off towards a lower part of the hangar, he noted a large black banner hanging against a wall, bearing the white sigil of an upside triangle with what looked like seven eyes. Further above on a higher level, affixed outside the window of a secluded suite, there was a purple banner that showed the image of what looked like bloody claws stretching from the image of Earth. "...what are those?"

Asuka-2 briefly glanced at the banners that he pointed out. "They're the logos of two of the City's three main Factions."

"Factions?"

"Part of the City's governing Consensus with the Vanguard and the Speaker. There are other factions, but only three have enough clout to actually be a part of the Consensus." She gestured towards the black banner. "Seele." She then pointed at the purple banner. "Wille. The third one congregates on the other side of the Tower, near the Speaker's Observatory."

Shinji mulled the names 'Seele' and 'Wille' over in his head before asking, "...what's the third one?"

"The third one is called Nerv."

In retrospect, Shinji would look back on this moment and say that he was quite justified in tripping over his own feet.

 

[Timerider]

Hehehehehehehe.
This will be fun.

 

[GeshronTyler]

Ho ho, so we've got the 3 main factions of NGE trying to direct the fate of humanity. I can see that working so very well.

Let me guess, Wille and Seele are mostly antagonistic, and Nerv is always playing the other two off each other? I'll further guess that Gendo is part of/leads Nerv, and Misato Wille? I do wonder who would be leading Seele. Would Keel Lorenz manage to still be around? Or, heh, maybe its Kaworu who's in charge there.

Seeing as how we likely aren't dealing with the canon "Human Instrumentality" plot, I'll have to wait and see what each major factions actual goals are. As opposed to nominally "public" goals.

What does the game lore say about the Guardians regarding "life and death"? Shinji was dead, and is now a Guardian, but as was mentioned in regards to the former Hunter Vanguard, Guardians can be "killed". So, are Guardians "immortal, but not invulnerable"? Going by Lore and not Game Mechanics, can they "respawn/ressurrect" under the proper conditions, or do they have only "one life to live"- i.e. if they are destroyed corporally without anyone nearby to heal/ressurect them, they "die" a final death?

Guardianship seems to involve investing a body with a soul. That has some interesting implications regarding Evangelions... The Ghosts come from the Traveller, correct? They aren't human technology, or human adaptation of "Traveller-tech"?

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Ho ho, so we've got the 3 main factions of NGE trying to direct the fate of humanity. I can see that working so very well.

Click to shrink...

:3

Let me guess, Wille and Seele are mostly antagonistic, and Nerv is always playing the other two off each other? I'll further guess that Gendo is part of/leads Nerv, and Misato Wille? I do wonder who would be leading Seele. Would Keel Lorenz manage to still be around? Or, heh, maybe its Kaworu who's in charge there.

Click to shrink...

Part of it involves an intentional decision to try and look at exactly how the Factions govern in the City, since we didn't much see how they do it in the game with New Monarchy, Future War Cult, and Dead Orbit (which have been ostensibly replaced by Nerv, Wille, and Seele in here).

As for Gendo's role? Well...

Seeing as how we likely aren't dealing with the canon "Human Instrumentality" plot, I'll have to wait and see what each major factions actual goals are. As opposed to nominally "public" goals.

Click to shrink...

The representative of Seele looked down at the slogan with a frown. "...what in the world is Tang?"

The artist shrugged. "I don't know. Seemed fitting."

What does the game lore say about the Guardians regarding "life and death"? Shinji was dead, and is now a Guardian, but as was mentioned in regards to the former Hunter Vanguard, Guardians can be "killed". So, are Guardians "immortal, but not invulnerable"? Going by Lore and not Game Mechanics, can they "respawn/ressurrect" under the proper conditions, or do they have only "one life to live"- i.e. if they are destroyed corporally without anyone nearby to heal/ressurect them, they "die" a final death?

Click to shrink...

This lore video from Myelin Games should answer your questions. (Spoilers, obviously)

Guardianship seems to involve investing a body with a soul. That has some interesting implications regarding Evangelions... The Ghosts come from the Traveller, correct? They aren't human technology, or human adaptation of "Traveller-tech"?

Click to shrink...

Per the wiki:

Spoiler: Ghosts

Appearing as a small, floating drone,[2]​ Ghosts were created by the Traveler "with its dying breath", and have spent their time since the Collapse searching for their guardians. While Ghosts can revive their Guardian from death, Ghosts themselves are irreplaceable. The Ghost serves as a scout, librarian and mechanic, waking ancient machinery and cracking ancient codes.[3]​ They seem to possess some degree of artificial intelligence, being able to converse with their masters in a very human manner.

Ghosts can support Guardians by performing certain actions such as illuminating darkened areas, repairing technology from the Golden Age, informing Guardians of incoming hostile threats,[2]​ and providing communications.[4]​

Granted, there is at least one specific thing about these Ghosts that is unique to GONG, but you'll see what that is before long.

/given the available acronyms for this fic
//GNG
///GOANG
////and GONG
/////how could I not go with GONG?

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

"Did...did you say Nerv?!"

(The red leaf was a sign of hope for everyone else; a heavy burden for him.)​

Asuka-2 looked oddly at him. "What's got you spooked?"

"Oh...um..."

("I brought you here because you were needed." His father's voice was calm, yet distant, detached; nothing had truly changed.)​

"...nothing..."

The female Exo's eyes seemed to pierce him. Shinji wondered if it was impossible to call someone a liar with just a look. "...whatever." She jerked her head forward. "Come on."

Shinji quietly followed the older Guardian, moving through the halls with trepidation. After ascending and descending some distant flights of stairs, they found themselves outside on a massive terrace. Various kiosks and computer terminals dotted the platform, which were crowded by various individuals clad in myriad styles of armor and eclectic colors. The presence of Ghosts, a multitude bearing odd styles of shells, indicated that a great deal of these people were also Guardians. "So many..."

"We've been fighting for a long time," murmured Asuka-2. "Thousands of Guardians, spread all over the Inner Planets, beating back the Darkness...all so we can have one more day."

"...what...what is the Darkness?"

"And that is a question that smarter people than you or I have tried and failed to answer. And we're about to meet one of them. Come on."

Shinji silently followed, eyes wandering to and fro at the other Guardians. His sheer newness must have been obvious, because a few actually looked back, giving him nods of acknowledgment, or even a thumbs-up. It was...nice.

'Every Guardian was once in your shoes,' said his Ghost from within his mind. 'Some of them still remember what it was like, waking up as someone...new.'

...huh. Slowly, he realized that the certain Guardians were something...else. He saw humans, and Exos like Asuka-2; however, he also saw people with skin in various shades of pale blue and gray, bearing oddly-colored eyes that glowed. Who...who are they?

'The Awoken? You...you don't have any knowledge of them, do you?'

(The girl had blue hair, and glowing red eyes; despite her injuries, she was going to step forward in his place.)​

...no. Should I?

'Not necessarily! It only means you originally died before the Collapse, since the Awoken didn't exist until after the Cataclysm ended.'

...will I actually get answers about this Collapse? This Cataclysm?

(He had many questions; about the giant in purple armor, about the enemies they faced. He never asked, because he knew there would be no answers.)​

'As much as we know. Which might not be as much as you'd like.'

...okay.

Stairs led to a hall underneath the terrace, and Asuka-2 continued walking with confidence. He moved past thin, cycloptic robots with a rather skeletal look - 'Frames', his Ghost cheerfully elaborated - and past a hall adorned with various canvases and banners, predominantly red in color.

"Ah, Asuka!" called a loud voice, boisterous and full of vigor. Shinji glanced at the source, blinking at the bulky Guardian; clad in white, orange, and blue armor, with brown fur adorning his pauldrons, and a single golden horn curving away from his helm (the horn on his left was simply missing, and Shinji wondered what this man's story was), the Guardian cut an imposing figure. "It is good to see you return from the Wild once more!"

"Hey Shaxx." Asuka-2 pointed her thumb at him. "Taking the new guy to see the Vanguard."

"Ah, it is always heartening to see new blood!" The man, Shaxx, enthusiastically shook Shinji's shoulder. "I look forward to seeing you sharpen your skills in the Crucible!"

"Er..."

Asuka-2 sighed. "Come on, don't intimidate the newbie. He needs...a chance to adjust."

"And what better place to adjust than on the field of battle with his fellow Guardians?"

"Look, I know how you get. If you promise to leave him alone, I'll head to Bannerfall for a few rounds later this afternoon, and show some of the younger Titans the ropes."

Even though his face was hidden, one could tell that Shaxx was grinning. "An acceptable promise!" He released Shinji's shoulder, allowing him to escape. "I'll see you soon, Guardians!"

Shinji scurried after Asuka-2, feeling somewhat...unnerved. "...who-?"

"Lord Shaxx. He manages the Crucible, which is a...live-fire training program for Guardians, so to speak. He's easily excited."

Her tone had a sense of finality to it, so Shinji didn't ask another question. Finally, they descended more stairs, entering a large chamber with old pillars of stone surrounding a central table; atop its surface were various papers, maps, and digital tablets with holographic screens. At the far end, in front of a window with a picturesque view of the City's Barrier, a monument stood, three spires surrounding a sphere of metal. Three individuals stood around the table, talking intermittently with each other.

"Look," said the Exo standing to the left of the table, clad in garments of browns, grays, and greens; a dark hood covered his head, colored shades of blue and gray, but it couldn't hide his electric blue eyes, nor the yellow glow of his mouth as he spoke. "All I'm saying is that it would be a great morale booster."

Another Guardian, bearing bulky armor of white and silver, stood on the right side of the table. He was shaking his head with well-practiced exasperation. His helm was brilliantly polished, with a thin vertical visor of neon purple; of particular note was the extension shaped like a broom sticking out from the crown of his head, a historical throwback that Shinji would not have been able to place. "Cayde, I appreciate your enthusiasm." There was a subtle twang to his voice, a cadence shared by Asuka-2 and this 'Cayde'; was he also an Exo? "Know that I would never doubt your sincerity."

"I'm hearing a lot of doubt right now," said Cayde snarkily.

Another voice interrupted them. "If you two would have a brief stay on your discussion...I believe we have some guests." The man at the head of the table was clad in robes of yellow and black, his head shrouded in a hooded helm of golden metal. The shape was akin to that of a canine, another ancient throwback. "Asuka-2." His voice lacked an Exo's twang, so he could have been a human or an Awoken. "Who's your...friend?"

Asuka-2 huffed turning back towards Shinji. "Kid, these guys are the Vanguard, responsible for coordinating the City's defenses, Guardian missions, and our overall military strategy." She pointed at the Exo to the left. "Cayde-6, Hunter Vanguard."

"Yo."

She pointed at the Exo on the right. "Saint-14, Titan Vanguard."

"Greetings, young warrior."

Finally, she pointed at the golden man at the head of the table. "And that's Osiris, Warlock Vanguard, and the current Vanguard Commander."

"Welcome, new Guardian..." Osiris tilted his head, as though observing Shinji with...understanding. "...or should I say, Shinji Ikari? The Ahamkara Slayer, and Hero of the Cataclysm?"

Shinji blinked. And then paled at the man's words.

(With a mouth not his own, yet so much more, he howled. Facing him was a great wyrm, the first of many.)​

"You...you know who I am...?"

"I know who you once were. Despite our relative lack of records about Earth before the Collapse...no one who knows anything about the Cataclysm would be ignorant of you." There was a definite smile in his voice. "You've made quite a find, Asuka."

xxxx

/and the ripples of the AU are already felt

 

[Lord Sovereign]

I see you've gotten rid of the boring Vanguard members. This pleases me greatly.

 

[gamebrain89]

I see you've gotten rid of the boring Vanguard members. This pleases me greatly.

Click to shrink...

As a Warlock main I feel the need to defend Ikora's honor. But then I could just let her borrow Invective back for a bit, instead. Besides, She's not any more boring than Zavala, and I like Zavala's dry sense of humor and exasperation with Cayde and everyone else's shenanigans. Plus...Saint 14 is dead in the original lore, and Osiris is crazy pants. Like full out kookoo for cocoa puffs. This...really isn't an improvement, if you ask me. At least not in a way that doesn't end in general mayhem.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

As a Warlock main I feel the need to defend Ikora's honor. But then I could just let her borrow Invective back for a bit, instead. Besides, She's not any more boring than Zavala, and I like Zavala's dry sense of humor and exasperation with Cayde and everyone else's shenanigans. Plus...Saint 14 is dead in the original lore, and Osiris is crazy pants. Like full out kookoo for cocoa puffs. This...really isn't an improvement, if you ask me. At least not in a way that doesn't end in general mayhem.

Click to shrink...

From my reading and experience of the lore...

Spoiler

Quite a bit of it has to do with a falling out between the Speaker and Osiris, who were teacher and apprentice. Osiris's frustrations with the Speaker's beliefs and understandings regarding the Traveler led to his branching out to more in-depth research on the Vex and the Darkness, to the point of no return, ultimately resulting in his exile.

GONG!Speaker, on the other hand, has been a bit more...lenient, allowing Osiris to do his work in a more constructive fashion.

This has to do with the events of the Cataclysm, and how they play into the Speaker's understanding of the Traveler.

Which we'll see by the end of this chapter anyway. :3

But yeah, I second your support for Ikora and Zavala. It's just that Saint-14 and Osiris never had their falling out here, which is why Ikora and Zavala never ascended the ranks.

/and Zavala is secretly adorable
//upon getting a scarf in the Dawning event
///his reaction is to admire the stitching and quality of the material
////truly, a professional critique!

 

[MagicMan333]

I think it makes sense. Osiris is still around so Ikora's probably still doing fieldwork and Saint-14 is Osiris' best friend. If Osiris had held onto his position longer I could see him convincing him to do a stint as Tiran Vanguard. Poor Cayde-6. Even in an alternate universe he's still trapped in the Tower.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

I think it makes sense. Osiris is still around so Ikora's probably still doing fieldwork and Saint-14 is Osiris' best friend. If Osiris had held onto his position longer I could see him convincing him to do a stint as Tiran Vanguard. Poor Cayde-6. Even in an alternate universe he's still trapped in the Tower.

Click to shrink...

Eh, the deal with Andal Brask and Taniks is separate from the whole issue with Osiris and Saint-14, so no reason to assume Osiris still being around would change that.

GONG!Taniks (or his equivalent, at least), is still a mean son of a gun.

 

[GeshronTyler]

Oh, GONG, is it?

Will the lyrics be appropriate? =D

 

[gamebrain89]

From my reading and experience of the lore...

Spoiler

Quite a bit of it has to do with a falling out between the Speaker and Osiris, who were teacher and apprentice. Osiris's frustrations with the Speaker's beliefs and understandings regarding the Traveler led to his branching out to more in-depth research on the Vex and the Darkness, to the point of no return, ultimately resulting in his exile.

GONG!Speaker, on the other hand, has been a bit more...lenient, allowing Osiris to do his work in a more constructive fashion.

This has to do with the events of the Cataclysm, and how they play into the Speaker's understanding of the Traveler.

Which we'll see by the end of this chapter anyway. :3

But yeah, I second your support for Ikora and Zavala. It's just that Saint-14 and Osiris never had their falling out here, which is why Ikora and Zavala never ascended the ranks.

/and Zavala is secretly adorable
//upon getting a scarf in the Dawning event
///his reaction is to admire the stitching and quality of the material
////truly, a professional critique!

Click to shrink...

Yes it started as an ideological difference that lead to the falling out between the Speaker and Osiris, but there's some scary shit he involves himself and his followers with (Dabbling in Ahamkara stuff, which yes we are all guilty of but holy shit the "O bearer mine" stuff spooks the shit out of me), and that's not even going into "Fireteams of Warlocks with no shadow that never blink." Osiris is delving far and deep, and seeing as what happened with Toland...well. I perfectly understand why he was exiled. And there's little to say he's not still doing it, in this universe.

 

[PatrickDiomedes]

"Fireteams of Warlocks with no shadow that never blink."

Click to shrink...

Wait, what?

 

[gamebrain89]

Wait, what?

Click to shrink...

Grimoire Card: Osiris. It is from the perspective of someone generally assumed to be the Speaker, and talks about what caused Osiris' exile and the strange happenings surrounding him and his followers afterward.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Wait, what?

Click to shrink...

Grimoire Card: Osiris. It is from the perspective of someone generally assumed to be the Speaker, and talks about what caused Osiris' exile and the strange happenings surrounding him and his followers afterward.

Click to shrink...

Summary: It's Destiny.

You get deep into the underlying metaphysical causality of everything, you might go cray-cray.

Or, in picture form:

 

[gamebrain89]

Summary: It's Destiny.

You get deep into the underlying metaphysical causality of everything, you might go cray-cray.

Or, in picture form:

Click to shrink...

Pretty much that exactly. So it could fit in with Evangelion pretty well.

 

[Timerider]

Great. Now Shinji is a legendary historical figure. As if he didn't have enough problems. I wonder if the Speaker will specifically call Shinji some kind of "Chosen One." Lampshades will be needed if that happens

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Asuka-2 appeared entirely unimpressed by Osiris's knowing tone. "No need to intimidate the kid."

"Not at all, not at all," said Osiris, stepping around to the table to get a closer look at Shinji. The Warlock's Ghost fluttered silently behind him, its shell painted yellow with jagged black. "It's simply rare to run into any figures of note from before the Collapse. Wouldn't you agree?"

"...feh." The female Exo patted Shinji on the back. "You take care, kid. I'm out."

"Huh?" Shinji whirled around, watching despondently as his rescuer began to leave. "You...you're leaving?!"

"I brought you to the safety of the City, but I'm not gonna hold your hand. Believe it or not, I actually have shit to get done." Asuka-2 looked over her shoulder, a piercing blue gaze pinning him down. "Maybe we'll run into each other again. Though, probably best if you don't."

SHYOOM.

"She's basically warning you that apocalyptic calamities happen near her on a regular basis. She's a walking, talking doomsday event!"

Asuka-2 brought her hand up, flicking Mari in the side with her middle finger. The pink Ghost cackled with delighted madness before vanishing once more. "ANYWAY," continued Asuka-2, looking towards the Titan Vanguard. "I'm off to deliver some spinmetal to the Quartermaster and do a few Crucible matches at Bannerfall. Anything in particular I need to be aware of?"

"You should visit Owl Sector. They're researching something that seems to have caught Lord Saladin's attention," answered Saint-14.

"...that so?"

Before the female Titan could turn away, Osiris spoke up once more; the Warlock's gaze never broke away from Shinji. "Oh, and while you're there...you might want to ask for Ikora. Her Hidden have found another one."

"...seriously?" The Exo sighed, this one deep and heavy with resignation. "It never ends...stupid idiots." She looked once more at Shinji, this time with less heat in her synthetic gaze. "...see you around, Ikari." And with, Asuka-2 departed.

Shinji suddenly felt incredibly alone.

"...I still believe she would've made a better Hunter. Any takers?" Cayde-6 looked around. "What? No one else?"

Osiris focused more intently upon Shinji, prompting the teenager to fidget. "What do you remember of your old life, young Guardian?"

"...um..." The teen brought a hand up to his head, resisting the urge to tremble under the Warlock's penetrating gaze. "Um...well...it's...there are...flashes. Bits and pieces. I..." He tried to concentrate, to remember specifics. There were impressions, faint feelings...but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't say a word. "...well..."

"There are many details I'd like to learn from you personally. What do you remember of the period before the Cataclysm? How and why were the Exos created? How was humanity able to so quickly mobilize and escape from Earth during the Cataclysm? What was the catalyst for the emergence of the Ahamkara? What was it like, controlling an Evangelion? How-" An armored hand dropped onto Osiris's shoulder. "What?"

Saint-14's body language was clear enough. "Friend, you're going to overwhelm the young child. Everything in its own time."

"...a fair point." The Warlock stepped away, relenting in his barrage of questions. "There will be time. There's always time, if you can find it."

Shinji stared dumbly at the Warlock.

"...so, unnecessarily intrusive interrogation aside," interjected Cayde-6, drawing attention away from the youngest Guardian in the group. "Tell you what Shinji, mind if I call you Shinji?"

"Um-"

"Good! So Shinji, tell you what: you look like you could use a bite to eat, so why don't we go grab some grub, and we can talk about what you want to do. Sound fair?"

"...uh-"

"Good, glad you agree." The Hunter Vanguard glanced at his compatriots, casually saying, "Don't wait up you two." Placing an arm around Shinji's shoulder, he began leading the young teen out.

"...Cayde, you're an Exo. You can't eat," said Saint-14.

"Oh I know. But a guy can dream, can't he?" And with that, Cayde-6 whisked Shinji away.

 

[YggKnight]

Question, did the moon assault happen in this story? Because, well, if not, then there's some nasty shit on the horizon. Or is it not infested with Hive but Angel Spawn/Fallen?

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Question, did the moon assault happen in this story? Because, well, if not, then there's some nasty shit on the horizon. Or is it not infested with Hive but Angel Spawn/Fallen?

Click to shrink...

Yes.

But the Great Disaster did not happen.

Rather, it is remembered as the Clash of Giants.

/to be elaborated on later
//on a related note
///wei ning is still alive