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

[Ultra Sonic 007]

/Floor 18, Main Pyramid Complex, NERV-1/

The First Branch's headquarters had seen better days. Floors bore various fissures, and entire hallways had collapsed on themselves; the constant stress and damage from the past week's battles - from the Twentieth Angel, to the Final Angel, and finally the UN's invasion and bombardment - had taken their toll.

It would probably be cheaper to wipe the whole thing clean and start over.

The distant sounds of battle were also getting closer, and the aftershocks from the Evas' battle were unnervingly severe.

Boom.

Kirishima grimaced, nearly stumbling over as another quake rocked the structure. How much longer can this place stand? Standing back up, the woman continued on down the corridor, trying to follow the mental map in her head.

BOOM.

That...was much louder. That sounded more concussive.

"Agh, you bastard!"

And that sounded like Mana.

Hikari Kirishima rounded the corner, sliding the door open as quietly as she could.

What she found was a room that had been demolished by the Jet Alone's collision, revealing the open air of the Geofront. The Burning Gundam - utterly thrashed, and in pieces - laid silently, surrounded by dead UN soldiers.

Mana and Mayumi - their skin glowing with the power of Anima Overdrive - were facing off against three other nephilim, three young men with hair colored various shades of ash and gray. Despite the temporarily-ascended state that her daughters were in, their three opponents were displaying outstanding teamwork.

A kick in the sternum by Mayumi was enough to push one back by several meters, but she was quickly set upon by another.

...now's my chance.

Hikari Kirishima raised her submachine gun and opened fire at one of the aggressors; the nephilim's AT-Field flickered, blocking the bullets entirely.

The sudden gunfire was enough to catch the attention of the others. "Mother?!" shrieked Mayumi.

"The hell are you doin-GAH!" Mana was interrupted by a backhand to the face and a sidekick to the torso.

As Hikari Kirishima dropped her Steyr firearm, the ashen-haired nephilim charged, moving so fast, he was right there-

Chyoom.

Split in twain, fell the young man. Hikari Kirishima's arms were outstretched, holding the beam saber tightly. Tokita...thank you.

The other two nephilim stared in shock at the sudden turnaround-

SPLURCH.

Their shock at their brother's fate cost them, as Mana's glowing fist embedded itself into the rib cage of her adversary, while Mayumi - aiming with the plasma cannon in her artificial leg - blasted her opponent, vaporizing part of his torso. Several swift blows downed the two young men, their fatal wounds being enough to doom them entirely. "HAH!" boasted Mana, pulping the boy's heart in her hands. "Serves you right!"

Mayumi hurried over to her mother, fussing over her. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?!"

"To get you two. Are you okay?"

"We've...been better." Wincing, Mayumi glanced at the ruined wreck of the Jet Alone. "If we hadn't been in Overdrive...we might not have survived the collision."

"Eh, we managed to destroy an Eva. I'll take it." Mana lightly tapped the broken foot of the Burning Gundam, a fond smile on her face. "I need this baby to get back on its feet. Ain't no way I'm letting it rust away!"

"...you both did well," admitted Hikari Kirishima, deactivating the beam saber with the press of a switch.

"Gotta say, it was awful nice of ol' Tokita to let you borrow his prototype."

Mana's cavalier comment was almost enough to make her twitch. Almost. "It wasn't borrowed. It's...a memento now, I suppose."

Mayumi gasped. "He's...?"

Hikari nodded solemnly.

"...huh. Damn." Mana scratched the back of her head, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "That...really sucks, to be honest. As far as humans went...he was all right."

Hikari Kirishima numbly nodded. He...actually was. She quietly walked towards the open hole in the building, looking outside. A grand view of the Geofront was visible, and so much of the apocalyptic battle could be seen. To her left, eight MP-Evas were dancing around two flickering figures, one crimson (Unit-02?!), and one golden. The entire battle was...like something out of a storybook, or a fable: more appropriate for a legend, or an epic, and not real life.

"We were actually holding our own in that mess," said Mana, a cocky grin on her face. "We were awesome."

"...yes. You were." Hikari Kirishima looked to her right; from the far forests and rocky cliffs, the sounds of gunfire echoed, as UN forces engaged with Section 2 personnel in a mad dash towards NERV's headquarters, seeking to take control of yet another entry point into the First Branch. "...we need to get back underground. It's not safe up here."

"So I guess our part's over?" asked Mana. "Cause I think I can make Overdrive last for a little bit longer."

"No...you've done more than enough. You both have." Hikari Kirishima turned around, looking calmly at her two daughters. Despite all of her misgivings about the whole endeavor with the JET ALONE Project, NHIS's feud with NERV, and the whole affair with the Angel War in general...it had been a net gain for them. And she could accept that. "Let's go."

That's when a sniper bullet slammed into Hikari Kirishima's back, the sheer force driving her off of her feet.

xxxx

...waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Click to shrink...

/oh wait
//you meant the other shoe meant for asuka and kaworu
///my bad

 

[Lord Sovereign]

Cowards! Where the fuck is the honour in sniper rifles? There is a reason I don't use the bloody things on COD multiplayer...

 

[Turing Decidable]

•_•

...

Make that bastard suffer.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The utter shock numbed everything, and all sound faded into a vague white noise. Hikari didn't feel her body colliding with the floor, nor her body being dragged away from the opening by Mayumi. What…what just happened…? She woozily looked up, taking in the sight of Mayumi – shouting frantically, tears beginning to form – and Mana – muttering nervously to herself, hands reaching for her abdomen – with a strangely peaceful air. They're…they're so beautiful…

Her daughters…her daughters. Even though they had been artificially aged, even though they had been created for the sake of war…they were hers. Am I dying…? The woman warily looked at her gut, inwardly marveling at how it looked so much like ground hamburger, splattered and shredded. Ah…I am dying…

All of this…and she was going to die by blood loss.

She felt like she was wading through cotton. Moving felt so…troublesome.

Yet she still found the meager strength needed to raise her hands, gently caressing her daughters' faces. "I…" Why couldn't she talk? "…lo…" Why was it so hard?! "…lov…" Talk, dammit! "…love…you…"

Ah. That was better.

Her last sight was of her girls, before everything faded away.

xxxx

Mayumi Yamagishi and her Mana Kirishima went silent as the light left their mother's eyes, her hands drooping back to the ground. Mother…? dimly thought Mayumi.

"No…no…no no no…don't do this, you stupid woman," muttered Mana, hyperventilating with a raw panic that she had never witnessed before, "come on, you're not allowed to die…we're gonna need a new Overseer now, and they're probably gonna suck! You can't do this to us!"

Mother's dead. Mayumi hiccupped, her eyes becoming hot. Mother…! The blunette hiccupped harder, as a soft, weeping whine slipped past her lips.

"No sis, come on...don't start crying…you know I hate it when you cry…!" Mana looked back down, as if wanting to get their mother to stop her, but froze again at the ragged wound in Hikari Kirishima's abdomen, and the lack of life in her face. That was enough to crush her sister's bravado, as she began to sob heavily. "Mom…Mom…!"

Mayumi brought her hands up, staring coolly at them. These hands…were made for war…and yet…you still saw us as more than weapons…Mother. The whole enterprise had been one that Mayumi tolerated, despite her distaste for fighting. Now, it all tasted of ash. Why…why…we could have taken the hit…why did it have to be you…?!

There was a distant sound, of a door opening. Her head shot up, looking at the source with a horrifying intensity.

More JSSDF soldiers, from the UN invasion.

A bestial growl rose from Mana; she had seen them too. Her sister gripped the fallen beam saber handle with trembling fingers, even as her breathing became heavier.

It's them…they killed her…THEY did it…

All of her thoughts narrowed down to a single focus: MAKE. THEM. PAY.

She was built and bred for war…fine then. She would embrace it.

Her flesh, and that of her sister, blazed even brighter, their bodysuits beginning to burn away from the sheer energy as they surrendered themselves to their power. None of it mattered…not as long as they could make them suffer.

So focused was she, that her short-term memory itself faded, her entire being living in the moment, burning away at everything she had left. Blazing brightly, hotter than the Sun, consuming her entirely until she faded into oblivion…that was fine. As long as she could kill them…all was right with the world.

Die.

A glowing hand piercing a man's rib cage, tearing through Kevlar.

Die.

Mana's knee pulped a man's head, the bone chips of his shattered skull having enough force to perforate the face of the man behind him.

Die.

Two more nephilim, with cropped white hair and long green hair, were shocked by their sudden appearance. Her fingers, glowing white, effortlessly pierced the white-haired boy's AT-Field and gouged into his eyes.

Die.

A muted shout of 'Akira!' was cut short as Mana decapitated the green-haired girl with the beam saber.

All of you…!

A wordless snarl erupted from her and Mana's lips, their glowing limbs beginning to liquefy any enemy they came across. She never acknowledged the brief reflection in her victim's eyes before she literally pulled him apart: that of a girl glowing pure white, eyes black as the void.

Truly, she had discarded all traces of her humanity, becoming the monster she had long feared herself to be.

That was fine.

Just as long as she could hate them, and hurt them, and kill them…everything was fine.

…DIE!

And so the sisters lost themselves to their rage.

 

[Turing Decidable]

Not surprising that this was going to be scary...

Incidentally, the nephilim they've just killed are the ones who crippled Ai, right? That's at least one good thing to come of this.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Incidentally, the nephilim they've just killed are the ones who crippled Ai, right? That's at least one good thing to come of this.

Click to shrink...

Yep, that was indeed Akira and Homura.

First appearance: Episode 14, in which they stormed an Angelic Acolyte compound and wrecked the place.

Second appearance: Episode 22, in which they kidnapped Mari and crippled Ai.

Third appearance: Episode 31, where they kill even more cultists...and, after being built up so much, are unceremoniously killed by Mana and Mayumi the Rage-a-holics.

/subverted expectations
//almost as satisfying as the tears and anguish of my readers
///as we get closer and closer to the end
////my face gets more and more like this

 

[CalumTraveler]

Second appearance: Episode 22, in which they kidnapped Mari and crippled Ai.

Third appearance: Episode 31, [snip] are unceremoniously killed by Mana and Mayumi the Rage-a-holics.

Click to shrink...

It was in that moment they learned- Karma truly is a pair of enraged sisters who just lost their mother.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

It was in that moment they learned- Karma truly is a pair of enraged sisters who just lost their mother.

Click to shrink...

You could even say that on that day, they received...a grim reminder.

/i tried to find an attack on titan/eva meme picture to make a good punchline
//alas, I only found this
///internet
////you have failed me

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

/LILITH's Throne Room, Terminal Dogma, NERV-1/​

​

One might be surprised to find Ryoji Kaji here, sitting at the foot of LILITH's throne.​

​

To be honest...where else was he going to be? He didn't really have any input on NERV's command decisions, and although passable with a gun, he didn't fancy facing off against the forces of the UN. That was Misato-chan's area: best to stay out of her way and let her do what she did best.​

​

If the end of the world was going to happen...then this would be where it began. So why not have a front row seat?​

​

At least, that was the logic he had provided to the other visitor, who had arrived less than half an hour ago.​

​

Look on the bright side: at least he now had company.​

​

"So. How do you think they're doing up there?" he asked.​

​

"Per the MAGI, Units-00 and 01 have exited the Geofront, and are warding off the artillery bombardment. Unit-02 is faring quite admirably against the rest of the MP-Series."​

​

Kaji chuckled, tapping his limp cigarette. Ashes fell to the floor, joining a small mound. "You know that's not the question I asked."​

​

"The numbers of the MP-Evas have inexplicably decreased, with no confirmation as to their fate...which only means that they are on their way here."​

​

"Mah, how terrifying," drolly said the Special Inspector. "...have you ever wondered, about the nature of truth?"​

​

"...more and more, in recent years, when I needed to wield both truths and falsehoods in equal measure."​

​

"So many people live their lives, acting according to their limited knowledge and limited beliefs...the subjective truth of one may not correspond to the subjective truth of another. Sometimes, it just takes a little bit of persuasion to play into people's own preconceptions, to get them to do what you want...of course, I don't need to tell you that."​

​

"Naturally."​

​

"It's actually funny; from my perspective, my little band of scavengers wasn't worth killing in the Post-Impact era...but someone thought so, enough to order our deaths. Were it not for the whims of a very friendly assassin, I wouldn't be here. The difference between life and death came down to the differences in the subjective truths that we all held."​

​

"Hmm. And?"​

​

"However...I do believe that there is such a thing as objective truth, in more than just the coldly scientific sense. Call me an idealist, if you will...but if we're going to make decisions on life or death matters, it should at least be informed by the most objective truth that we can attain." Kaji sighed, his grin both curious yet knowing. "ADAM and LILITH...they've been around longer than we have...so of course they would know more of the truth than we do. So it only makes sense to be here, if the world is going to end."​

​

"Hmm. An interesting perspective."​

​

A gunmetal blade suddenly tore into the Gate of the Apocalypse. "Well well...looks like we have more guests."​

​

With a harsh clattering, the massive barrier - hastily welded back into place after Tabris's incursion - crumbled, and in stepped MP-01 and MP-06, the latter holding a Replica Sword. With a brief twist, the weapon twisted further, transforming into a bident. The grim visage of the Mass Production Eva Series looked down at Kaji, huffing loudly. "Inspector Kaji...this was unexpected," said MP-01.​

​

"Yo," replied Kaji with a wave, "where else should I be?"​

​

MP-06 seemed to look grimly at LILITH. "The Second Angel and the Sword of Uriel are still intact...but where is the First? Where is the True Lance?"​

​

Kaji chuckled, pointing over the Evas' shoulders. "You might want to look up."​

​

The two MP-Evas turned, looking up...and froze.​

​

ADAM, the First Angel, hung as one crucified. The massive form of the Lance of Longinus was still sticking into the Angel's chest...but only barely.​

​

For holding onto the Lance with one hand was the Devil Gundam, its other hand gripping the edge of the open bulkhead, and its hulking feet magnetically-clamped onto the wall.​

​

That's when Kaji's conversational partner spoke, his voice amplified by the Gundam's speakers. "Chairman Lorenz and Dr. Ikari, I presume," said Gendo Ikari.​

​

 

[Turing Decidable]

Blackmail, then? How gauche.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Blackmail, then? How gauche.

Click to shrink...

Heh. 'Blackmail' he says.

 

[CalumTraveler]

Yknow, I had a feeling this was what he had planned, somehow. XD

...Kaji being there was a *complete* surprise, though. 0_0 Hopefully he won't get squished underfoot.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

"Chairman Lorenz and Dr. Ikari, I presume," said Gendo Ikari.

MP-06 snarled. "Rokubungi…"Despite the bestial, guttural voice of the Eva, the tone, word choice, and sheer animus made it clear that the animating soul was that of Katsuhito Ikari.

"And what game do you think you're playing, Ikari?" asked MP-01. "Do you really think you have a chance of stopping either of us? Or are you threatening to destroy ADAM? Honestly: I expected a better attempt at blackmail than this."

"Of course," replied Gendo Ikari. The Devil Gundam's head tilted, looking at the Lance of Longinus. "It's clear that merely interacting with the Lance itself isn't enough for ADAM to trigger an Impact Event; without knowledge of Dr. Katsuragi's exact circumstances, threatening to destroy ADAM or triggering a Third Impact in the hopes of stopping Instrumentality wouldn't go very far. Then again, it's not like you'd have another opportunity."

"And what are you implying by that?" asked MP-06.

"I released…quite a bit of information last night, in an attempt to curtail at least part of the UN's invasion. Information about the origins of NERV. Of SEELE. Of Second Impact. Of the Instrumentality Project. Enough to incriminate me, certainly…but almost certainly enough to incriminate the Committee as well. Quite simply, there are no second chances after this for you."

MP-01 snorted. "How pathetic. Do you honestly believe that you can stop us from simply subduing you and taking control of ADAM right now?"

The Devil Gundam glanced towards LILITH. "I had briefly entertained freeing the Second Angel...but given what I know from the Dead Sea Scrolls, of her fascination with the intermingling of Life and Knowledge...there's no guarantee that LILITH wouldn't agree with your motives, if not your means." How strange, to consider ADAM a safer alternative. Kaji couldn't help but wonder how blindly Gendo was flying, right now. "All I have to do is pull the Lance out...and let ADAM awaken. He has already regenerated to his Pre-Impact form, in spite of his imprisonment. What the First Angel will do…is uncertain." The Devil Gundam turned its gaze back to the MP-Evas. "But uncertainty is leagues better than the guaranteed extinction event that I know you will usher in."

"…to think that you would fall so far, Ikari," bemoaned MP-01. "Given how distraught you were over the demise of your wife, I was always under the impression that your interests were somewhat aligned with ours."

"Honestly? For the longest time, I was. Your Scenario and my Plan operated on parallel tracks for the most part. I had ADAM and LILITH. I had the Lance and the Sword. Once Unit-01 and Unit-00 obtained their S2 Organs…I could've initiated my own Instrumentality at any time, sufficiently controlled to minimize the Event Horizon, and break down the metaphysical barriers keeping Yui's broken soul bound within Eva." Kaji arched an eyebrow, surprised by this confession. Huh...didn't see that one coming. "Yes…I could have done it. Even if it resulted in Third Impact…I would have done it. For the longest time…I thought of little else."

"Clearly you've had a change of heart," sneered MP-06. "Does reuniting with Yui mean so little to you?"

"Not at all. I miss her…dearly. Her loss is something that will always remain with me, Katsuhito. However…unlike you, so desperate to cast away your humanity, I finally accepted her loss…and moved on."

MP-06 snorted. "Moved on, you say. Given how obsessive you were, what could have possibly changed your mind?"

"Simple: it was my son. I watched him become a man before my eyes; I watched him save the world time and time again with his comrades; I watched him fall in love with a girl. Having witnessed all of that…how could I have continued? How could I?"

 

[Turing Decidable]

"All I have to do is pull the Lance out...and let ADAM awaken. He has already regenerated to his Pre-Impact form, in spite of his imprisonment. What the First Angel will do…is uncertain. But uncertainty is leagues better than the guaranteed extinction event that I know you will usher in."

Click to shrink...

Huh, that's actually what I expected the blackmail to be.

But of course, one must never disregard the possibility that Gendo is lying.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

"Such sentimentality is unexpected," said MP-01. "Despite our...disagreements and animosity, I saw you as one who shared our ultimate vision. It's actually a shame." Even now, Keel Lorenz spoke with a sense of decorum and confidence, as though the entire outcome were set in stone.

Then again, given how long he's manipulated global affairs, he has a right to act that way, thought Kaji with a frown.

"At least I still maintained a semblance of humanity. That is the ultimate sin of your Scenario: it takes everything about mankind - our flaws, our strengths, our weaknesses, and everything in-between - and reduces it to a blank slate. So what if it ends all suffering? That only means you've ended all capacity for true happiness. Instrumentality...will be the very end of homo sapiens."

"Spoken like a man who has lost his way. Humanity will be made better...perfected," insisted MP-01.

"And we don't want your perfection," spat Gendo. "You have already become bound to an Evangelion: a man-made god, driven by an S2 Engine that will never tire...for all intents and purposes, you have become an immortal, one that can last until the end of time and space. You can no longer die...but you can be killed."

"Is that a threat, Rokubungi?" growled MP-06.

"It is an appeal to reason. You have found the proverbial Fountain of Youth, and have become a thing of myth. Accept that, and leave us to our own devices. Traverse the stars, plumb the depths of the ocean, do as you please...but leave us alone. If we end up damning ourselves, one day, far in the future...then we will at least die as people."

There was a measure of silence...a heavy, contemplative quiet...but it was broken by a disappointed chuckle. "Such a selfish creature you are, Gendo Ikari," mused MP-01. "Would a parent let their child harm themselves needlessly? When all lessons have been taught, yet no correction has occurred? When all knowledge has been granted, but there is no wisdom? To simply stand back and let humanity wallow in its misery and long, slow decline...that would simply be uncharitable."

The decision had been made. Keel Lorenz would not back down. SEELE would not back down. Kaji calmly lit another cigarette, if only to break the tension. So...what are you going to do, Supreme Commander?

The Devil Gundam turned its head towards MP-06. "You know, it just occurred to me...you never did find out why Shiro Katsuragi betrayed you." The two Evas stilled as Gendo continued. "You see, my dear Yui learned of the Human Instrumentality Project's ultimate aim, and confided in me. We both agreed that it needed to be stopped."

"You dare slander my daughter?!" snarled MP-06.

"I was the one who delivered Yui's handwritten letter to Dr. Katsuragi. It was her words that prompted him to change course. Granted, we had only hoped for the destruction of ADAM, and not for Second Impact...but what happened, happened. And so we set your Scenario back by years." You could almost hear the smirk in Gendo's voice. "Tell me, most venerable father-in-law: how does it feel to learn that your daughter turned her back on you? To know that the genius, a once-in-a-generation mind, looked upon your ideals...and found them lacking?"

Katsuhito Ikari howled, swinging the Replica Lance with a harsh motion. The bident smashed into the side of the Devil Gundam, unleashing a torrent of force that broke the Gundam in half.

Hmm. So you default for 'pissing people off.' Kaji chuckled. At least you're consistent.

However, Gendo had the last laugh. You see, he had been lying about his threat to pull the Lance out of ADAM...for there was no pulling left to be done: the Devil Gundam had been the only thing keeping the Lance in.

So gravity finally had its say as the red bident slipped out of ADAM's flesh.

xxxx

We pause at this particular slice of time, and view the expanse of space.

In the bowels of NERV-1, men and women are fighting for their lives, with the members of Section 2 fighting back valiantly against the encroaching forces of the UN.

Misato Katsuragi is raising her handgun, aiming at a door that was just blown in on the upper deck of the reserve command center. Toji Suzuhara, eyes wide with panic, nonetheless steps forward to protect. There is a distinctly cold look in the eyes of Shiori Aoba and the Ibuki Twins as they rise to meet the invaders.

The nephilim of Katsuhito Ikari - the distinctive Lemon, Lime, Pink, and Perry - are struggling to hold back the fury of Mana Kirishima and Mayumi Yamagishi. Behind the glowing girls lies a trail of corpses and charred blood.

The UN Pacific Fleet floats, impotent by design and by circumstance.

Unit-00 and Unit-01 have their hands held high, AT-Field warding off the rockets and shells of the Central Army.

General Sakamura watches grimly as bombers approach from the north, carrying their terrible payload.

There is a great tension to the world, as though the planet itself is holding a bated breath.

Such pressure is felt most keenly by Kaworu Nagisa and, by proxy, Asuka Langley-Sohryu.

For while Unit-02 is frozen in this slice of time - jaws tearing into the torso of MP-02, devouring the S2 Organ while the golden avatar of the Second Child keeps the white Eva restrained - a sudden bolt of alarm shoots through the Fourth Child's soul.

And in that moment, he feels terror.

That power...can it be...?!

Time resumes.

xxxx

The bindings on ADAM's wrists suddenly burned away, atomized by a reflexive application of metaphysical might.

The Giant of Light, formerly limp and inert, suddenly looked at the MP-Evas with intent. Tellingly, he was still airborne, even though there were no longer any physical restraints holding him up.

And then he spoke. "THIS FARCE HAS GONE ON FOR LONG ENOUGH."

ADAM, the First Angel, was finally awake.

xxxx

But of course, one must never disregard the possibility that Gendo is lying.

Click to shrink...

/well
//you were kinda right

 

[CalumTraveler]

Well...

Crap! 0_0 Gendo was quite literally the dead man's switch. Shit is about to get real... there'd better be some team posing before the end of this XP

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

MP-06 reacted swiftly, thrusting the Replica Lance-!

ADAM's eyes flickered.

The two MP-Evas froze, unable to move in the slightest. Even their shouts of frustration and surprise manifested as mere gurgles.

"THESE...CREATIONS OF YOURS," said ADAM, slowly descending to the ground. Calmly, he advanced towards the frozen Evas, observing the Replica Lance and then the two manmade titans. "THEY ARE FASHIONED FROM MY OWN FLESH. THE METAPHYSICAL PROCESS BY WHICH YOU MANIPULATE THEM IS INTERESTING, IF CRUDE...BUT THE CONNECTION IS FRAGILE, AND NEW, AS AN INFANT'S. IF YOU HAD MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT WHICH YOU DUB THE AT-FIELD...YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESIST, AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE." ADAM reached out with both hands, pressing them against the torsos of the MP-Evas, right over where the Cores were. "YOU WILL SERVE AS MY INSTRUMENTS."

The Light of ADAM's Soul bloomed.

xxxx

Keel Lorenz didn't quite know what to say.

Decades of planning. Nations manipulated. The world, reorganized according to the whims of SEELE. Becoming one with an Evangelion, powered by an S2 Organ...an eternal lifeform, theoretically speaking. Instrumentality, within his fingertips.

And now...by the mere whim of the First Angel, he could do nothing.

The power of ADAM was slowly suffusing the MP-Eva, wearing away at his soul.

So...this is how it ends.

Such a shame. He had been so close, to becoming part of the new godhead of humanity. Instrumentality would have transformed mankind, ascending into something greater, purer, everlasting.

Alas, it was not to be.

Oh well.

Strangely...this wasn't so bad. The hypothetical possibilities of ADAM's awakening had been hinted at by the historical portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and by the memories of Tabris: in all likelihood, ADAM would proceed to unmake all of humanity. After this was over, humankind would only live on in the memories of a colossus that had lived for eons. That was a testament in and of itself, at least.

And to be honest...oblivion sounded nice. He had given it his best shot, and had come up short.

Such was life. Such was evolution encapsulated.

The fate of destruction is the joy of rebirth...all is right with the world.

Not with a bang, not with a whimper, but with contentment, did Keel Lorenz embrace nothingness.

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

xxxx

/Reserve Command Center, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/

An alarm sounded that no one had ever heard before within the First Branch.

The sound was a classic, if you could call it such a thing.

Loud and droning, rising and falling like a wave…it was the air raid siren, made infamous in the Second World War.

That it was playing now, of all times, made Misato's blood run cold, for it was tied to one thing and one thing only. "No…no..." She ducked underneath the errant knife swing of a JSSDF soldier, jamming her handgun under his chin and firing once. As the soldier collapsed, she whirled towards Ritsuko. "WHY IS THAT SOUND PLAYING?!"

Ritsuko Akagi was crouched over a terminal, typing furiously while the Ibuki Twins covered her. "The sound is playing because it has to! It's…" The blonde's face went slack. "…two of the MP-Evas got into Terminal Dogma."

"HOW?!"

"Does it matter, now? Because ADAM is free."

xxxx

/LILITH's Throne Room, Terminal Dogma, NERV-1/

As the two Mass Production Evangelions slumped over, ADAM stepped beyond them. His body held a vague luminescence to it, so uniform and seamless as to be unsettling. The First Angel's lithe form was unnervingly similar to that of an Eva; even the shoulders were shaped like armored pylons, even though they appeared entirely organic. "HMM. A MINOR FAULT LINE IS PRESENT IN MY SPIRITUAL CORPUS…THERE IS STILL A PIECE MISSING. I WILL HAVE TO CORRECT THAT…NOW. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE I WAS LAST AWAKE?" The Angel held up his right hand, fingers wiggling experimentally. "AH. FIVE THOUSAND, SIX HUNDRED, AND NINETY-THREE LOCAL DAYS." The hand dropped down to his side, and the light of his body briefly flickered. "SO. THEY HAVE REACHED THIS STAGE…I SEE."

Ryoji Kaji chuckled at ADAM's hilariously normal speech. "I must say, you're awfully chatty for one with your reputation."

ADAM glanced down, staring ominously at the diminutive man. "AND WHY ARE YOU HERE, YOUNG HUMAN?"

"Heh. Young, he says," joked Kaji. Taking a puff of his cigarette, he replied, "simple: to bear witness to the truth. Nothing more, and nothing less."

"I SEE. THEN YOU WILL BEAR WITNESS TO THE END."

"Wait!"

Ryoji Kaji and ADAM glanced at the wreck of the Devil Gundam; a hatch popped open beneath the head of the shattered machine, revealing Gendo Ikari. The frames of his shades were bent, and his left arm had a nasty gash in it. "I want to negotiate with you!"

"YOU CAN SPARE YOURSELF THE ATTEMPT."

"But-!"

"NOTHING YOU OFFER OR SAY WILL CHANGE MY DECISION. IT WAS ONE THAT I MADE OVER FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, BEFORE I WAS HINDERED BY YOUR…COLLEAGUE. THE PASSAGE OF TIME HAS ONLY EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM." ADAM tilted his head, as though looking far into the distance. Kaji could only wonder what it was that the Angel saw. "IN THE FABRIC OF SPACE AND TIME AND MEMORY, I CAN SEE THE TEAR THAT WAS NEARLY FORMED…BY THE FRAGMENT CALLED 'ZERUEL', I BELIEVE. THAT A PART OF ME WOULD EVEN INDULGE IN SUCH LUNACY…IT MUST BE CURTAILED." ADAM looked back towards LILITH, sitting silently on her throne. "IT MUST BE BROUGHT BACK TO ZERO." He gripped the hilt of the Sword of Uriel, and placed his other hand upon her shoulder. "YOU WILL ASSIST."

LILITH – still for so long, unmoving and unresponsive – slowly raised her head, staring inscrutably at ADAM. The tension between the two Angels was one that Kaji found unsettlingly familiar. Huh. Jilted lovers, maybe? How…normal.

A hoarse whisper echoed through the air, soft, yet loud. "You are quite forward…and bold."

"I NEED YOUR INSTINCTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR SPIRITUAL WAVELENGTH. AND I CANNOT RISK YOUR INTERFERENCE. YOU WILL BE SEQUESTERED; EVEN IF WE MUST BIND PHYSICALLY, THERE WILL BE NO METAPHYSICAL UNION."

"But of course. You would never allow such a glorious thing."

I wish I had the context for their words, wondered Kaji, his undying curiosity eating away at him.

"AND FOR GOOD REASON."

"I know." With those words, a strange hum suffused the air; moments later, LILITH's body oozed over the twisting zweihander. ADAM's chest seemed to split apart, serving as an open receptacle for the Second Angel to bond with; the massive form of LILITH seemed to compress into an impossibly small area, until only the purple mask remained visible atop the First Angel's torso.

"BEGINNING CALIBRATION …RUBY-GRADE SPIRITUAL WARDS ARE ACTIVE…SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE." The First Angel gestured towards the Lance of Longinus; with a mere thought, the red bident flew towards him, landing gently in his left palm.

"Will you not reconsider at all?" asked Gendo, not quite on the verge of pleading. Perhaps…the Supreme Commander recognized the futility.

"NO. YOUR FOLLIES MUST BE RECTIFIED." Gendo Ikari and Ryoji Kaji watched in silence as the colossus stood tall, wielding both the Lance of Longinus and the Sword of Uriel. "AND NOW…IT ALL RETURNS…TO NOTHING."

With those words, ADAM began his ascension.

 

[Lord Sovereign]

...oh shit...

 

[Turing Decidable]

Ah well. You tried, Gendo.

Now it's up to the Children to fix this. Somehow.

they can do it, right?

 

[Lord Sovereign]

Ah well. You tried, Gendo.

Now it's up to the Children to fix this. Somehow.

they can do it, right?

Click to shrink...

Well this is done in the style of the super robot genre so it's not an impossibility that they can save the day...

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Ah well. You tried, Gendo.

Now it's up to the Children to fix this. Somehow.

they can do it, right?

Click to shrink...

>:3

xxxx

"AND NOW…IT ALL RETURNS…TO NOTHING."

With those words, ADAM began his ascent. Tuned to his will, MP-01 and MP-06 ascended as well.

xxxx

/Antarctic Sea/

The South Pole was now gripped completely by nautical twilight, the sky predominantly dark blue with a band of orange and warm red shades along the horizon. The great sea's colors were a stark contrast, a bloody orange that marked the site of Second Impact.

The ocean suddenly thrummed, and pulsed.

Rising, rising, rising; into the sky, rose the lifeblood of ADAM, a perfect sphere the color of persimmon.

With speed belying its size, the sphere began its fateful voyage towards Hakone.

xxxx

/Isolation Chamber SHEOL, Terminal Dogma, NERV-1/

The Core of Tabris was enmeshed in a block of hardened bakelite, which was in turn surrounded by pylons and rods of arcane metaphysical science, serving as wards to prevent Kaworu Nagisa from making physical contact.

The metallic floor boiled away from the power of ADAM's AT-Field, molten slag dripping harmlessly off of his spiritual barrier. He stared at the block with a blank expression, recognizing the familiar [tinge/color/song] of his soul. SO THIS IS WHERE THEY'VE KEPT IT.

With a mere thought, a pike of orange light smashed into the block, piercing the Core and shattering it.

The remnant of his soul, in sympathetic resonance, rejoined his own.

At last, he was truly whole.

xxxx

/Geofront, Tokyo-3/

Unit-02's fists had just pulped MP-04 – leaving only six standing now – when ADAM destroyed the Core of Tabris.

"AGGGHH!!!" shrieked Kaworu Nagisa, a bolt of exquisite agony shooting through his entire being. In a sudden snap of metaphysical energy, the faceless avatar of the Second Child vanished. My soul…!

kaworu!

The Fourth Child hyperventilated, his body's senses interacting haphazardly with that of Unit-02. Spots of light mixed with pits of unfeeling, his lesser soul suddenly being the only thing synchronizing with Miss Sohryu's. Red eyes shakily stared at his foes, who observed his sudden weakness…and sneered. Miss Sohryu…!

you have to move!

Six Replica Lances pierced Unit-02, the sheer momentum driving the Eva off of its feet. Two in the shoulders, one in the rib cage, two in the gut, one in the pelvis. Barely missing the Core, somehow…not that that was any consolation.

With a sharp hacking sound, Kaworu coughed up globs of blood, sympathetic wounds manifesting in his skin. And yet…this pain was meager compared to the metaphysical reality: ADAM was whole; he was no longer tied to his Source…no. He couldn't even say that anymore.

All vestiges of Tabris were gone, and Kaworu Nagisa was all that remained. Miss Sohryu…I'm sorry…

 

[Turing Decidable]

Threadmark: 31.40, in which the other shoe that Turing Decidable feared actually drops.

Click to shrink...

fuck

With a mere thought, a pike of orange light smashed into the block, piercing the Core and shattering it.

Click to shrink...

Fuck

Six Replica Lances pierced Unit-02, the sheer momentum driving the Eva off of its feet. Two in the shoulders, one in the rib cage, two in the gut, one in the pelvis. Barely missing the Core, somehow…not that that was any consolation.

Click to shrink...

FUCK

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

/Reserve Command Center, NERV-1, Tokyo-3/

"Uh…is it me, or is it getting warmer in here?" asked Makoto Hyuga. "And brighter?"

The scent of welding fumes became paramount, and screams of surprise came from the bottom floor of the command center. Everyone – NERV and UN-affiliated – paused in their struggles, befuddled by the sudden turn of events.

Rising from below, ascending slowly, were the First Angel and two MP-Evas, now its thralls. The sight of the Sword of Uriel and the Lance of Longinus in its hands…well, given public knowledge of the Lance's role in Second Impact, and the Sword's role in the Angel War, everyone drew some horrific conclusions.

Snarling, Misato Katsuragi raised her HK USP handgun and opened fire on ADAM.

As if the signal had been given, everyone opened fire on the Giant of Light, as if instinctively recognizing the greater threat.

Not that it mattered; their bullets were as motes of dust brushing against the mountainside. Such was the First Angel's AT-Field: an absolute defense, annihilating every projectile before it even got close. The creature's mere presence was enough to short some of the electronic equipment, introducing a static noise to the background.

The ceiling boiled away as ADAM neared it; liquid metal dripped down, blazing red and flickering with fire. The trio of titans continued their ascent, unimpeded and undaunted.

Misato huffed, a sour look on her face. "…well…we're screwed."

"…why were the MP-Evas with the First Angel?" asked a JSSDF soldier, looking very bewildered. "Our superiors told us that NERV would be sending Evangelions to help us subdue the First Branch…why weren't they fighting ADAM…?!"

Aoba chuckled, her smirk even more acerbic than usual. "Think they deserve a clue?"

"Congratulations: you were actually helping the bad guys," bitterly said Misato.

The UN soldiers looked amongst each other, not a few of them looking troubled and unsure of what to do now.

"If I might make a suggestion?" Everyone glanced up at Kozou Fuyutsuki, still on the highest level of the command center. "Unless our Evangelions can turn the tide…then ADAM is about to initiate Third Impact. If we are doomed regardless…then I would rather not spend it in a fight to the death. Don't you all agree?"

To be honest? That sounded like a good idea.

The immediate commanding officer of the UN soldiers turned on his radio. "Men, stand down. We have a new development. I repeat: stand down." With the flick of a dial, he turned to another channel. "Get me a line with General Sakumura."

As the strange tension between the defenders and invaders permeated the command center, Misato turned her eyes towards the Sixth Child, who was slumped against the wall. "You okay, Toji-kun?"

"…I dunno how Shin-man deals with this sort of thing…" The pseudo-nephilim glanced up with an expression that belonged more to a frightened and confused child than a superhuman teenager. "…how does anyone?"

"Experience. Desperation. A little luck helps, too."

"…are…are we gonna be okay…?"

Misato knew that she could be bluntly realistic. She could also lie and say that everything would turn out fine. Instead, she borrowed a page from her boyfriend and settled for the truth. "Right now? It's up to Shinji-kun, Rei-chan, and Kaworu Nagisa." The Lieutenant Colonel gazed at the ceiling – still red and molten from the First Angel's ascent – and knew a deep-seated dread. "Right now…we can only hope that they'll find a way."

(Far in the distance…is cast a shadow…)​

 

[Ultra Sonic 007]

/Geofront, Tokyo-3/

Unit-02 gurgled weakly as the six remaining MP-Evas withdrew their Replica Lances. "What a pitiful display," mocked MP-05.

"All of that power at your fingertips…and you waste it with this little rebellion of yours," scorned MP-10. "When we ascend…you shall be left behind."

(Symbol of our freedom…will bring us salvation…!)​

Six crimson wires suddenly pierced the MP-Evas from behind, eliciting a strangled gasp from the whole ensemble.

Within the Entry Plug, Kaworu Nagisa stared, dumbfounded. What…? Following the wires, he saw the source, and felt like weeping. ADAM…

The First Angel held the Lance of Longinus forward, its twin prongs having unraveled into three wires each, thick as cables. "YOU SHALL ALSO SERVE AS MY INSTRUMENTS."

(On the horizon…hope for tomorrow…)​

That voice. That power. The utter lack of effort displayed in the subjugation and demolition of the MP-Evas' souls.

It was so familiar…so overwhelming to his lesser nephilim form…and yet, without the transcendent mind of Tabris, it rang hollow.

ADAM stared at the fallen Unit-02 – quirking His head in a brief moment of observation – before turning back to the sky and rising. His eight thralls, the former Chariots of SEELE, rose with Him.

(Sweeping across the land…to give us unity…!)​

"Wait…" Kaworu cringed at the sudden bout of pain that roiled through his bloody torso. He raised a hand, as a son trying to grasp the leg of his father. "…wait…!"

ADAM was beyond reach. Beyond him. Beyond Kaworu Nagisa…for Tabris had already become one with his Creator. Kaworu Nagisa didn't matter. Kaworu Nagisa…was irrelevant.

Despite the plaintive words of Asuka Langley-Sohryu – so far away, from a distant shore that he dared not hope to reach – Kaworu responded to ADAM's absolute rejection by weeping, deeply and bitterly.