Mobile Fighter Evangelion [NGE/AU/Not a Gundam crossover]

[Ultra Sonic 007]

ADAM's soul converted spiritual energy into a tangible form, manifesting as microbursts of thrust form various portions of his body. He neared the Prime Evangelion - still tumbling about in a haphazard motion - and promptly slammed his fist into its abdomen. The golden titan soared through the void, frantically swinging its fists to try and hit him.

Hmm. Their low-gravity experience doesn't seem to be translating...

THEY ARE ALSO FIGHTING IN A VACUUM.

Oh, of course. How shortsighted of me.

OH, NOW YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR LACK OF FORESIGHT.

Don't you start with me!

ADAM barely dodged the Prime Eva's fists - his every movement punctuated by seamless bursts of energy, effortlessly maneuvering through the void of space - immediately retaliating with a knee to the face. His back flared, and the Angel twisted around the flailing Evangelion, delivering an elbow to the back. Before it got away, ADAM grabbed the creature by the ankle, limbs flaring with opposing thrust as he threw the Eva further into space. The Angel's left hand opened wide, firing a white spark of energy.

An explosion consumed the golden Eva, the excess energy spreading outward in a sphere of pale light.

THIS IS RATHER BORING.

...

BE HONEST, YOU EXPECTED A BETTER SHOWING.

...I'm still holding out hope.

ADAM huffed, staring expectantly at the Prime Evangelion as it emerged from the dissipating explosion. The various souls within were reorganizing, bringing different experiences and skill sets to the fore-

The Eva suddenly halted its haphazard movements, expertly regaining control with fiery microbursts of energy emanating from its limbs and torso.

OH?

Hah!

How curious. WHERE DID THEY FIND SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE IN VOID OPERATIONS?

Certain souls took prominence; for some reason, ADAM got the distinct impression of a young male human readjusting his eyeglasses. "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THOSE WHO HAVE PLAYED 'GUNDAM SPACE SIMULATOR 2015'. OR 'FREESPACE.' AND 'WING COMMANDER'. AND...WELL, WE'LL BE HERE ALL DAY IF WE LIST THEM ALL."

ADAM tilted his head. "HMM?"

"WE MAY NOT HAVE ACHIEVED CASUAL SPACEFLIGHT...BUT DO YOU THINK THAT ACTUALLY STOPPED US FROM DEVELOPING REALISTIC SPACE COMBAT SIMULATORS?"

...WAIT, WHAT-?

Bursts of energy erupted from Eva Prime's back, and the golden titan delivered a ferocious clothesline to the First Angel's neck.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The First Angel flipped end over end, soaring through deep space at thousands of miles a second, at approximately two percent of the speed of light. The Prime Evangelion quickly caught up, bringing down glowing fists upon ADAM's torso. Each blow was accompanied by bursts of energy from the titan's limbs and back, counteracting the force and keeping the Eva from flying away with each hit. Meanwhile, ADAM went off on a new trajectory with each punch, zigzagging through the void.

With the light of the Sun shining far in the distance - drowning out the ambience of more distant stars - the two giants seemed mere ants in the darkness of space, and so dreadfully small.

THEY ARE QUICK TO ADAPT.

And you're surprised by this?

MERELY COMMENTING TO MYSELF.

Another punch to the chest sent ADAM flying further away at a sharp angle.

...are you going to let them keep punching you?

IF THEY DID, WOULD YOU COMPLAIN?

...not necessarily, but my body is currently sequestered within your torso. And those blows are starting to irritate me.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO FIGHT BACK.

LILITH was silent.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

Eva Prime was upon him again.

ADAM's back flared with a sudden burst of energy, the thrust sufficient to immediately reverse his momentum. His heel drove into the Prime Evangelion's face, sending the titan caterwauling through space. Microbursts of thrusts reoriented ADAM, and he aligned himself with the golden entity. He accelerated further, charging into the Eva's back and propelling them even faster through the void.

Struggling, Eva Prime's right elbows pushed against the First Angel, shoving away from the Giant of Light. Concentrated thrusts slowed the Eva's gyroscopic motions, just in time to see ADAM rocketing back in its direction.

The Prime Evangelion opened its mouth wide.

ADAM's face suddenly burned, bombarded by the invisible stream of electromagnetic radiation. As his AT-Field manifested - a glowing orange circle - and blocked the laser, he sensed brief impressions of confusion from the human aggregate that controlled the Evangelion.

WHERE'S THE LASER?

Many more voices suddenly 'shouted' at those who had asked this question.

LASERS ARE INVISIBLE IN A VACUUM.

Another soul - a long-haired woman, bearing a close connection to the golden Star that helped hold the Prime Eva together - ended the brief bout of turmoil with frightening efficiency. ARGUE LATER, WE'RE FIGHTING!

ADAM scowled. THEIR SENSE OF UNITY WON'T LAST FOREVER.

Long enough to win, perhaps.

I DON'T THINK SO. IF THEY SOMEHOW MANAGE TO TRIUMPH-

For one thing, I will never let you live it down.

OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T.

The orange circle suddenly narrowed, moving forward and smashing into Eva Prime's neck. ADAM's back flared with light, and he was upon the golden titan once more.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Eva Prime brought its six hands forward, miming the action of finger guns. Bursts of orange light erupted from the Evangelion's fingers, the force sending the golden Eva on ever more erratic trajectories. ADAM wove in and around the incoming projectiles, seamlessly dodging them before his back flared even more brightly, his brilliance briefly overpowering the light of the distant Sun.

The Prime Evangelion let loose a soundless groan as the First Angel slammed into its torso, accelerating even more. Far in the distance, a dim red orb loomed, growing larger and larger as they neared it.

AH. MARS.

You mean Nergal.

OF COURSE YOU WOULD PREFER THE BABYLONIAN NAME.

Like you don't have your own particular preference.

SCIENTIFICALLY: SOL-POINT-FOUR.

Oh come on! You haven't even referred to Earth as Sol-Point-Three in centuries.

...BUT PERSONALLY, I PREFERRED MANGALA.

Why Hindu?

WHY NOT?

Eva Prime tried to grab onto ADAM with its arms. The Angel responded by ramming his elbow into the Eva's gut several times. A ring of fire coated them, friction searing their bodies as they entered the thin atmosphere of Mars. With a sudden burst of deceleration - AT-Field redirecting all force from the instantaneous change in velocity towards his opponent - ADAM separated from the Eva, letting it fall like a meteor towards the red planet. Microbursts of thrust could be seen as the Eva tried to reduce its velocity, barely managing to reduce its speed to fifty miles per second before it crashed into Daedalia Planum. The vast plain quaked from the force of the collision, and a massive mushroom cloud of dust and soil roiled into the air as the shock wave traveled for miles around.

ADAM watched quietly from above, briefly observing the perturbations in the contours of space and time at the epicenter of the blast. HMM. APPROXIMATELY...EQUIVALENT TO SEVEN MEGATONS OF TRINITROTOLUENE.

Over double the estimated energy of all explosives used during the Second World War.

HMPH. 'SECOND', THEY CALL IT.

Let them have their own nomenclature.

FAIR ENOUGH. NOW...LET'S SEE HOW THEY FARE AGAINST THIS. ADAM's hand glowed with motes of light, and his soul began to lose some of its inherent radiance.

...are you really going to do that?

WHAT? ALL CIVILIZATIONS THAT I FORMED PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL ON EARTH WERE UNDONE IN THIS MANNER. IT ONLY SEEMS [PROPER/JUST] TO DO THE SAME WITH HUMANITY.

It just...seems...silly.

SAYS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORY OF LEDA AND THE SWAN.

Hey, I only did that on a bet! I didn't think the Greeks would run so far with it!

And so they continued their bickering as nineteen motes of light dispersed from ADAM's hand, diving into the dusty maelstrom surrounding the site of Eva Prime's collision.

xxxx

The total aggregate of humanity, despite their inherent differences, could agree on one thing.

"...OW."

Atmospheric reentry, and the subsequent collision, hurt.

Eva Prime slowly got to its feet, working the kinks out of its limbs; strange sensations echoed from around it, new forms taking weight upon the metaphysical...and yet...strangely familiar, to a very limited subset of humanity.

The souls of Yui and Shinji Ikari, in particular, were feeling especially unnerved. "WHAT IS THIS...?"

The lights bloomed, and took physical form, hidden by the swirling dust. One was very close.

A sensation of alarm echoed from Kaworu Nagisa. "...COULD IT...?"

Out of the dust stormed Sachiel, violet lance gleaming wickedly.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Eva Prime stepped away, dodging the sharp weapons extending from the Third Angel's palms. Confusion roiled from the souls of those who had lived and worked within Tokyo-3, recognizing the familiar form. "HOW?"

Suddenly, the Prime Evangelion leapt away, dodging whips of pink light. That was also familiar: the weapon of choice from the Fourth Angel, Shamshel. "THEN…" Two of the lights were sourced within the Third and Fourth Angels, somehow made manifest. Inductive reasoning brought about an unsettling conclusion. "…ALL OF THEM…?"

Two familiar bodies suddenly charged out of the dust, swiping at Eva Prime with deadly claws. The Seventh Angel – Israfel, split into Red and Green bodies – swiped ferociously, barely missing the golden Evangelion as it dodged their blows. What was their intention: to attack one at a time-?

Beyond their line of sight, one light seemed to consume five others before vanishing itself.

Israfel jumped away, right as the remaining lights suddenly flared.

The Eva's eyes widened.

CHYOOOM!!!

xxxx

The Angels unleashed a devastating assault upon humanity's position.

Ramiel had transformed into a cross between a pincer and a spiked bowl, unleashing a horrific stream of red energy. Shateiel's twin Cores sparked with bolts of lightning. The jewel atop Turel's crown unleashed bursts of concussive force. Matarael spewed caustic acid. Seraphiel's twin cannons fired red beams of explosive gas and fire. Tabris – bereft of the Mark-06's armor, flesh still glowing crimson – released a powerful laser beam from his eyes.

The other Angels settled for unleashing cross blasts.

The impact crater that Eva Prime had formed became awash in energy and explosions, massive bursts of light flashing into the sky. The surface of the plain cracked and shook as whole swathes of Mars' surface were vaporized.

After thirty seconds, the Angels ceased their barrage. Zeruel's AT-Field flared, and a massive wind blew away the dust and debris.

At the center of the impact crater, a glowing dome of interlocking octagons of orange light faded, revealing the Prime Evangelion. Unharmed and uninjured, the golden titan glared at them all. "…IS THAT IT?" The sensation of experience and memory – from all walks of life, from young and old – flooded through the primary controllers of the Evangelion, manifesting as a casual embrace of power.

Israfel's two bodies leapt at high speed, claws aimed at the Prime Eva's head.

Quick as a flash, Eva Prime ducked under the simultaneous blow; its lower arms lashed out, grabbing their torsos and slamming the two together. "MUDA DA."

The middle and upper pairs of arms reared back.

And then Eva Prime began to punch.

"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!!!"

After ten seconds, Eva Prime had punched Israfel over one thousand times. By that point, Israfel was simply gone, his entire being pulverized into oblivion.

The Prime Evangelion glared at the Angels that surrounded it, its arms brimming with tension and might. "…OUR TURN."

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The Prime Evangelion glared at the Angels that surrounded it, its arms brimming with tension and might. "…OUR TURN."

The other Angels seemed to stare at the golden Eva. Finally, Zeruel – a swirling mass of darkness surrounding a distorted skull – spoke, eyes gleaming with the promise of retribution. "SO BE IT!" roared the Twentieth Angel.

A cross blast erupted beneath Eva Prime.

But it didn't hit, for the golden titan was now in front of Zeruel. With six simultaneous palm thrusts, the Eva unleashed a massive gust that blew the Twentieth Angel dozens of miles away.

Not to be deterred, Sachiel and Seraphiel leapt at Eva Prime's back. Far in the distance, the tall and skeletal form of Samael unwound, legions of black pikes zigzagging at the golden Eva.

With the blink of an eye, the Eva was elsewhere, materializing besides Shamshel. The upper arms latched onto the Fourth Angel's limbs, ripping the base of its whips out. Swish, slice, and dice; the Prime Evangelion eviscerated Shamshel with its own whips, the pink blades cutting into the Angel's flesh.

The earth rumbled, and out of the dirt erupted the titanic forms of Gaghiel and Sandalphon. Eva Prime dodged the armored strikes of the Eighth Angel, only for the Sixth Angel's titanic jaws to snap down tight. With vicious intent, the aquatic beast – apparently capable of swimming through Martian rock as easily as Earth's oceans – dove back into the ground, diving deeper into the Earth-

DOOOOOM.

A deep roar rumbled across the plains, accompanied by a pillar of orange light shooting from within Gaghiel. The beast was vaporized, burned to ashes by the collective radiance of humanity's souls, amplified by Evangelion. As the pillar faded, Eva Prime slowly ascended, eyes gazing across the battlefield.

In an instant, Eva Prime was beside Samael, kicking at the Eleventh Angel's spindly leg. The titanic creature was knocked off balance, its avian mask blinking owlishly at the sudden change in perspective. Eva Prime, using leverage to its advantage, grabbed the airborne leg of Samael and swung.

Slowly, yet inexorably and inevitably, the spindly Angel of black carbon crashed into Matarael. The giant Angels crashed into the ground, a tangled mass of limbs, acid, and lattice.

Eva Prime's six hands shined. "HA!!!"

Six orbs of light shot from the golden titan's hand, enveloping the spidery Fourteenth and spindly Eleventh Angels' bodies in a massive explosion.

Swirling black suddenly consumed the Eva, as Zeruel's face materialized behind Eva Prime-

The Prime Eva pointed its left palms behind it, willing forth another gust of wind that blew the Twentieth Angel away. A howl of frustration echoed through Mars' atmosphere.

xxxx

High above, in low Mars orbit, ADAM quirked his head. I'M FEELING DISTINCTLY IRRITATED FOR SOME REASON.

xxxx

Tabris shifted behind Eva Prime, punching the golden Eva in the back. The Prime Evangelion tumbled forward, only to be kicked in the face by Sachiel before being launched into the sky by Sandalphon's fist.

xxxx

…NEVER MIND.

…can you continue?

OF COURSE. SO, THEY ENDED UP CALLING IT 'FAST FOOD'.

I know that, I saw everything. I want to know how it tasted.

WHY?

Because I never got a chance to, no thanks to you.

YOU WEREN'T MISSING MUCH.

Give me your Top Five then.

...THAT MIGHT TAKE A WHILE.

Why?

THERE WERE A LOT OF CHOICES.

So?

IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT HUMANITY WAS SO FASCINATED WITH ALL FORMS OF CUISINE.

Are you saying it's my fault, then?

GIVEN THAT I TECHNICALLY DON'T NEED TO EAT? YES.

They continued their banter, even as the surface of Mars glittered with fire and destructive light.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Eva Prime landed deftly on its feet, standing just in time for Sandalphon to rise from the Martian soil, its armored hide untouched and unmarred by the elements. The Eight Angel's claws extended-

CRUNCH.

The Prime Evangelion's mid-right hand - fingers forming a straight knife edge - pierced through the armor like wet paper. The Eva's eyes glowed.

BOOM!

A burst of energy erupted from the hand, cooking Sandalphon from the inside and popping it from sheer pressure. The corpse slid off of Eva Prime's hand, dissolving into a mass of burnt flesh and smoke.

A dense fog surrounded the golden titan, warping reality and distorting space: the work of Shateiel. In the distance, a high-pitched whine began to grow, the sign of Ramiel charging an attack.

Eva Prime snorted. "NOT THIS TIME." Its AT-Field, bloomed, utterly unraveling the Twelfth Angel's warping of space. The bolts of lightning from Shateiel's body were absorbed harmlessly by the Eva's AT-Field, converted into excess electrical energy that danced through its armor. Grabbing the Angel's crystalline body, it slammed it downward-

CHYOOOOM!!!

-just in time to block Ramiel's massive laser. The beam blasted away at Shateiel, its surface breaking off in chips of charred crystal.

Eva Prime's lower and middle arms reared back, the electricity within the armor concentrating within the fists.

Boom, went the middle fists, unleashing an electrified shock wave that tore through Shateiel, continuing beyond and breaking up Ramiel's beam.

Boom, went the lower fists, shattering Shateiel entirely. The force carried the sharp, glowing remnants of the Twelfth Angel's body beyond. Ramiel's body - currently a collection of various blue cubes, arranged like a six-pointed star - cried with sympathetic pain as the shattered fragments tore through, cracking the Fifth Angel's pristine form.

The Prime Evangelion's upper right hand turned over, fingers snapping decisively.

KRAKA-BOOOOM!!!

The individual fragments of Shateiel, imbued with excess electricity and metaphysical energy from Eva Prime's spiritual collective, suddenly exploded, annihilating Ramiel in a storm of sparks and glass shards. Eva Prime stared as the massive Angel crumbled, feeling an undeniable sense of satisfaction.

The Eva suddenly whirled around, its palms lashing out to unleash another massive gust.

"DAMN YOU!" howled Zeruel as the Twentieth Angel was blown away for a third time.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Tabris charged past the black haze of his kin, AT-Field flaring outward in a wave that atomized all physical material it touched.

A shift – skipping from one point of spacetime to another – allowed Eva Prime to avoid the fatal attack. However, this brought it between Sachiel, Turel, and Seraphiel. The three Angels glowed, their bodies brimming with spiritual pressure. Sachiel's eyes flashed; Turel's jewel and eyes gleamed like strobe lights; Seraphiel's arm cannons shimmered.

Eva Prime's fists clenched, its collective souls forcefully twisting the spiritual reality around it.

CHYOOOM!

BWONG!

VWOM.

The energy, instead of converging upon Eva Prime, curved around it.

Sachiel's cross erupted from within Seraphiel, skewering the Fifteenth Angel.

Seraphiel's red beams tore through Turel, the Thirteenth Angel's massive form vanishing beneath a flurry of explosions.

Turel's attack enveloped Sachiel in hellish fire, immolating the Third Angel.

Satisfied, the Prime Evangelion turned around just in time to parry Tabris's fists, the crimson giant phasing in and out of existence at random. Despite Mars's thin atmosphere, the Final Angel's voice still thundered. "Why do you persist?" His foot smashed against the back of Eva Prime's head, and then he was gone again. "I can sense you, Kaworu Nagisa. You know as well as I do that this conflict is ultimately futile.." Tabris lashed out with his fists, only to be caught by the golden Eva's upper hands. "...so why fight? "

Eva Prime snarled; the feelings and intentions of Kaworu Nagisa formed the core of its words, backed up by a collective sense of rebellion from a significant portion of humanity. "THIS FIGHT MAY BE DOOMED…BUT THERE IS VALUE IN THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE AND LIVE. YOU KNOW THIS AS WELL AS I DO, TABRIS."

"…perhaps." There was a distinctly melancholic tone in the Final Angel's voice. "Even if it was short…it was good to see you again."

"…IF ONLY IT WERE IN BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES."

Tabris chuckled. "If only."

The Prime Eva's middle arms flashed upward, slicing off Tabris's arms. Its right foot promptly smashed into the Angel's torso, sending it flying back into Zeruel. The two Angels crashed through the soil, giving the titan enough time to grab the Black Lance from behind its back. The twin prongs sparked, unleashing a spiraling beam of crackling light.

Zeruel had just enough time to shove Tabris off to see the incoming wave of energy approach. "…SUCH STRENGTH…" The two were overwhelmed, utterly unmade by the Replica Lance's power.

The Prime Evangelion huffed, looking around at the barren realm of Mars; the sudden emptiness was…unnerving. For some reason, a foreboding feeling began to trickle through the aggregate of human souls. "…WEREN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE MORE…?"

Three portals – darker than the void – suddenly opened around the golden Eva. From one emerged a wiry worm of light; from another, a swarm of nanomachines; from the last, an amorphous blob of blue goo.

Armisael, Iruel, and Bardiel converged upon Eva Prime, delving into its armor and cutting into its flesh. A true sense of alarm rang through the human aggregate, their sense of invincibility and might rendered feeble by the violation of these subversive Angels.

However, humanity wasn't alone. The souls of the Seventeenth, Tenth, and Nineteenth Angels encroached upon the spirits that controlled the Eva…and came across an overwhelming light.

WARK.

Pen-Pen's soul, appearing as a golden Star within the spiritual realm, lived up to its appearance as it burned away at the Angelic souls. In the waking world, Eva Prime burned with lustrous flames, burning away at the corrupting influence of Armisael, Iruel, and Bardiel. The titan gasped, relieved by the swift turnaround. "THAT…COULD HAVE BEEN BAD."

And that's when a horrific ray of light shined down from the sky, enveloping the Prime Evangelion.

Pardon me.
​

Eva Prime went still, a terrible tension gripping its body.

You…are all so very interesting.
​

A pained gurgle trickled past the Eva's throat. "NO…"

Unfortunately…enlightening you would take too long…​

"…DON'T…"

…so I can't afford to be gentle.​

The Eva's seven eyes went wide. "STOP…!"

Would you kindly die for me?​

Arael's light intensified, and the Eighteenth Angel proceeded to subject every single soul within Eva Prime to their worst fears.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

ADAM tilted his head, watching the psychically-tinged radiation stream from his glowing remnant towards the golden Evangelion. HMM. IT SEEMS VERY...EFFECTIVE.

It's rather cruel.

IT'S ONLY BEING TRUTHFUL.

Hmph. Indeed.

WHAT? EACH INDIVIDUAL HAS LEGITIMATE FEARS. IT'S NOT MY FAULT IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY COPE.

It's still cruel.

...YOU DO REALIZE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIES THAT I COMPLETELY ANNIHILATED, RIGHT? WERE IT NOT FOR UNEXPECTED FACTORS, THEY WOULD BE EXTINCT. YOU'RE A LITTLE LATE TO BE TALKING ABOUT CRUELTY.

...a fair point.

THEIR CONTINUED RESISTANCE HAS BEEN INTERESTING, NO DOUBT. AND I WILL CATALOGUE THEIR ACTIONS FOR FUTURE STUDY. BUT THEIR FATE IS SET IN STONE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WHETHER IT ENDS BECAUSE OF THIS, OR ULTIMATELY BY MY OWN HANDS...THE OUTCOME WILL BE THE SAME. IT WILL ONLY DIFFER IN TIME AND EFFORT.

...hmm. So you say.

xxxx

Sheer terror and panic roiled through the aggregate of human souls, the light of Arael threatening to overwhelm every individual spirit. Enraptured by fear, they would impulsively desire nothingness and separation; anything to get rid of the terror, anything to be safe again.

One particular soul - that of Kaworu Nagisa - soldiered on, despite the existential terror (crippling loneliness, you have NOTHING) currently gripping him. His dual existence as both Kaworu and Tabris enabled him to withstand it better than most. Right now, he focused upon one other soul: that of the Second Child. "Miss Sohryu..." The specter of Asuka Langley-Sohryu was trembling. "...are you...?"

The soul's self-image turned, facing him. Asuka's eyes showed no fear. "...I've dealt with this before. I can handle it."

Relief flooded through Kaworu. "Then...?"

"But not everyone is me." Asuka resisted the overarching sensations of dread and horror trying to filter through her towards Kyoko. "Mama!"

The soul of Kyoko Zeppelin Langley-Sohryu nodded. "I understand."

xxxx

In the waking world, the Prime Evangelion's eyes flashed, its upper left arm reaching feebly for the Black Lance. Even as its entire body quivered with fear-induced spasms, the upper left arm aimed straight and true.

The Lance's prongs extended, growing and growing and growing, stretching over two kilometers into the air. Seamlessly, it pierced Arael's AT-Field, skewering the Eighteenth Angel.

Howling, Eva Prime swung its arm downward, smashing Arael's frail body into the Martian soil. The force of the collision pulped the Angel, and it dissipated in an explosive flash of light.

The golden Eva panted, its numerous souls slowly readjusting now that the psychic assault had ended. Its shoulders were slumped, and its entire body seemed to sag with fatigue.

And that's when a black void opened up mere meters above the Prime Evangelion, from which shot the massive form of Sahaquiel.

BOOOOOOM!!!!!!

xxxx

ADAM actually winced, the explosive burst of light nearly blinding. HOW...UNSUBTLE.

You're one to talk.

NO, YOU'RE ONE TO TALK.

...how much energy was in that blast?

ADAM focused briefly on the mushroom cloud, stretching hundreds of kilometers through the Martian atmosphere. The Red Planet's surface would not see the light of the Sun again for years. HMM. I WOULD PLACE THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT KRAKATOA AS A LOWER BOUND.

...talk about overkill.

LIKE I SAID: UNSUBTLE.

xxxx

/in all seriousness
//I can't recall ever seeing a fic
///where Sahaquiel actually landed
////and then exploded

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

ADAM slowly began to descend towards the planet. HMM. NO SPIRITUAL RESIDUE WHATSOEVER.

…that's odd.

AND UNLIKELY.

xxxx

/April 29, 2027/

/Ikari Residence, Yonaguni Island/

"…oh, that reminds me," interrupted Mari, looking up from her notepad, "did you hear the news about the colony?"

"Only the barest details," commented Gendo Ikari. "As you very well know, our information flow is heavily regulated by the government."

"Well, we've officially established a colony on Amazonis Planitia."

"Oh my, how exciting," murmured Yui Ikari, taking another sip of her husband's saké. "I take it they've sufficiently minimized the logistical difficulties?"

"Well, not that I'm one to brag-"

"You are."

Ignoring Gendo's barbed comment, Mari continued, "but I've actually interviewed people at the Center of Applied Metaphysical Research in Tokyo-2. It turns out that synthesizing Kleinium is really easy when you have a Super Solenoid Engine to supply the necessary energy."

Gendo hummed thoughtfully. With the force of gravity minimized, the energy requirements to actually escape Earth's atmosphere were drastically reduced. Furthermore, the official establishment of a lunar colony two years ago had only made the eventual journey to Mars an easier task. "Space colonies in our lifetime…" Truly, it was amazing.

"Yeah…" Mari frowned, looking down at her fingers. Slightly callused, from constant writing; nails somewhat worn down and lacking any polish, given how quickly it tended to wear off. Her life was a challenging one, yet it was…fulfilling. "…if even one thing had gone differently, we wouldn't be here."

"That is the nature of life," said Yui. "Consequences stem from every action. Asking 'what if'…well, it only keeps us from moving forward."

xxxx

/April 15, 2016/

/Low Mars Orbit/

ADAM suddenly paused; reality was beginning to ripple near one of Mars's moons. OH?

A black sphere manifested above the pitted surface of Phobos, mere moments before it burst apart in a shower of red liquid. From it emerged the Prime Evangelion, its armor looking slightly singed, but otherwise unharmed.

Hah! It used your fragment's own dimensional tunnel as a way to escape.

CLEVER. AND ANNOYING.

Oh come on, give them some credit.

THIS IS ME GIVING THEM CREDIT. Sighing mentally, ADAM's soul – once again whole – began to drink deeply of the Metaphysical Deep, as he took off for the distant satellite.

Eva Prime shot upwards and away from Phobos, its collective spirit fixing a portion of spacetime. It 'stood' upon this platform, manifesting a sturdy staff of orange light that impaled Phobos. Roaring – soundless in space, but oh-so-loud in the spirit – the Evangelion heaved.

ADAM blinked as Phobos was torn from its orbit, swinging in a wide arc at an incredible speed. OH.

Oh.

…an arc that intersected with his current position. …I REALLY DISLIKE THEM.

They're using it like a hammer! I love it!

OF COURSE YOU DO.

Phobos – bearing an average radius of seven miles – smashed into ADAM, the force of the collision shattering the satellite and sending ADAM flying away, deeper into space. Snarling, the Eva followed, ignoring the spreading rubble of what had once been Mars's largest moon.

By the time humanity returned to Mars, the Red Planet would have its own ring system. But that was a story for another time.

For now, the battle for humanity's right to live continued.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Microbursts of thrust erupted behind ADAM, stopping his wild trajectory through space-

SMASH!

Eva Prime's fists slammed into ADAM, and further they went. The golden Eva's collective soul burned, and the void of space shined with cannons that converted metaphysical energy into bolts of kinetic force that slammed into his AT-Field.

ADAM frowned. ENOUGH. His soul bloomed, and a wave of light unmade humanity's spiritual constructs. Time and space flipped, and the First Angel was suddenly behind the golden titan; his fist shimmered with an arcane glow, a color beyond description. TIME TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW POINTLESS THIS IS.

He punched Eva Prime in the back, and reality cracked. The Prime Evangelion was forced out of the physical realm, and into the Metaphysical Deep. The Eva's entire form took on a multi-colored hue, flickering sparks of celadon visible within its body. ADAM delved after it, his whole body taking on a whiter sheen. "UNBOUND BY PHYSICAL LAWS, BY SPACE, BY TIME..." ADAM vanished.

Eva Prime was kicked and punched a dozen times over, all simultaneously. The golden being gurgled, its collective soul starting to flare-

"...WHAT HOPE DO YOU HAVE, AGAINST A PARAGON OF LIFE?"

With a mere flick of his fingers, ADAM willed vast waves of orange - the pure essence of metaphysical energy - to smash into the titan. Undifferentiated spirit crashed over and over into the Prime Evangelion, beating away at it relentlessly. Howling, Eva Prime plowed through the waves, fists ready to fly-

"YOU FOUGHT HARD. AND WELL. I WOULD EVEN VENTURE TO SAY THAT IT WAS A VALIANT EFFORT..."

The golden Eva suddenly paused, screaming, its atomic bonds and spiritual essence scorching hot, the flesh taken from ADAM turning against itself.

"...BUT IN THIS REALM, YOU STAND NO CHANCE-"

There was a sudden flash.

xx

"-UNBOUND BY PHYSICAL LAWS, BY SPACE, BY...TIME..." ADAM paused. WAIT. THIS SEEMS FAMILIAR.

LILITH was cackling. They...just...hahahahahaha! Brilliant!

Eva Prime glared at the First Angel, its myriad souls seeming...more robust, now. Directed, and searing with a deadly intent. "YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, DIDN'T YOU?" said the collective voice of humanity. "WE AREN'T BOUND BY THE PHYSICAL LIMITS OF REALITY. HERE, IN THE METAPHYSICAL...THE WILL IS PARAMOUNT."

...ARE THEY SAYING WHAT I THINK THEY'RE SAYING?

Heheheheh...HAHAHAHAHA!

"THE EVENTS JUST NOW, WHERE YOU OVERWHELMED US...HAVE BEEN NEGATED."

ADAM blinked. "...YOU JUST WARRANTED AN UPGRADE FROM 'ANNOYING' TO 'TROUBLESOME'."

It was at this instant that individual spirits began to make their presence felt, fortified and protected by the Evangelion. The vast array of human experiences - millions upon millions of people - manifested as glittering stars, avatars of Eva itself. The vastness of the Metaphysical Deep echoed with the song of mankind, bolstered by the radiance of Pen-Pen's soul, the golden Star still bearing an unbreakable connection with ADAM and LILITH's souls. "YOU SAY WE HAVE NO CHANCE..." As one, everyone's souls sang, a unified symphony of defiance and determination. "...AND WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT!"

ADAM stared.

So. What now?

WHAT NOW, YOU ASK? THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS. ADAM's soul - singular, yet heavy and great with the weight of pure existence - blossomed, a mandala of white light bursting into being behind him. "VERY WELL. FIGHT ALL THAT YOU WANT." In response to humanity's song, his spirit blared a soul-rending sound, great and terrible. "I WILL BEAT THE FUTILITY OF THIS WHOLE AFFAIR INTO YOUR VERY BEING!" The First Angel - his soul a universal power unto itself - and the Prime Evangelion - the souls of humanity appearing as the stars and galaxies of a universe-in-miniature - clashed.

And lo, did the heavens tremble.