Postby NAveryW » Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:56 pm
I apologize for the long wait. This perverse and often baffling chapter raises new and disturbing questions about stuff.
Neon Phthora EVANGALIEN
“Commander Ikari!” Kiyoshi Kaga shouted as Gendo and the First Child exited the top secret area. “Thank God you're back! The entire base has been taken over, and we can't do...” The technician stopped as Gendo rushed past him, paying no attention. The First was following him at a surprisingly fast pace. She seemed to be floating slightly above the ground. This was quite puzzling, but Kiyoshi was almost immediately distracted by a growl coming from behind him. He turned around and saw nothing.
EPISODE 28**: だきしめたい / THE DEAD PAST
The nine giants crashed to the ground, forming a circle around Unit 01, and consequently around Misato. The shaking of the earth caused her to lose her footing, but she succeeded in not falling over. Fearing the worst, she yelled back to the pilot.
“Shinji-kun! You have to stand up!”
He didn't.
“Shinji, I don't know why these Evas are here. But if it was for something good, we'd probably know about it. There's a good chance you'll have to fight.”
“I won't fight anymore.” A rather weak response for such an amplified voice. “Nothing good can come of it.”
“Then don't fight, but at least stand up!”
A pause. Then, “No.”
The identical white Evangelions stood still for the time, perhaps waiting to see what Unit 01 would do before advancing. Finally, the Evangelion closest to Misato took a step forward. Its enormous foot was enough to crush her car. Thankfully, she was no longer in it.
Misato's thoughts frantically scurried for answers. Shinji hadn't told anyone he was leaving, as there was nobody at NERV. Perhaps, knowing Unit 01's power, they sent these Evangelions as a retrieval squad? But there were no other Evas at NERV, not to mention the fact that these showed a distinct disregard for humans. They had not reacted to her presence, and did not seem to care that her car was now destroyed. It was as if they had no human pilots. Did they have human pilots?
The Evangelion took another step toward Shinji. This time, the shockwave knocked Misato onto the ground. If these Evangelions had come from NERV, it would be worth calling to them. They had surely noticed her yelling if they ever would, so they at least had no intention to harm her.
***
After what she had learned, the giant, purple and green figure was easily recognizeable to Hikari Horaki as Evangelion Unit 01. Why was it curled up on the ground? That was Shinji's Evangelion, right? Was Shinji inside it? Hikari thought she had heard him. She wanted to wave to him, but her hands were no longer hers. They were now large, white, and at the control of something inside her back.
“Hey! Can you hear me?” a voice yelled from below her. She recognized it as Misato's voice, but could not turn her head to look. Instead, she continued to advance toward Shinji's Eva. When it was within reach, she grabbed one of its arms and tugged it upward. It offered no resistance, and Unit 01's upper body was lifted from the ground. Hikari's mock grin widened, and she uttered a horrible growl that she could not believe came from her own mouth. The other Evangelions began to progress toward them.
***
Shinji heard a scream from Misato's direction. He looked in her direction. When the foot lifted, he realized that her legs had been crushed.
“Misato-san!” he yelled. He felt himself being pulled higher off the ground as more of the Evas reached him, but he didn't bother resisting.
“Shinji-kun,” Misato gasped, “You need to act!”
Almost simultaneously, long, metallic blades protruded from the arms of the white Evangelions. Growing in a seemingly impossible manner, the blades shot out at Unit 01 and clashed against its armor repeatedly. Shrill blows echoed across what remained of the city, mixing with Shinji's screams to form a stridulant symphony of despair. Within a few seconds, purple chunks fell freely to the ground.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Purple gave way to brown. Brown gave way to red.
Come to think of it, did I even once say something nice to him?
Another unearthly bellow joined the motley as Unit 01 finally stood up. Most of her restraints were now gone, and her movement was unhindered. The gashes in her skin sealed as quickly as they were formed. The boy inside was powerless.
.................................................¿ɹǝɥʇoW
Yui grabbed two of the blades in her hands and pulled. The force was enough to yank their owners from their feet. Three of the white Evangelions grabbed onto Yui and bit down into her flesh, but were almost instantly bashed against the ground. A small red lake formed around Misato.
Is Shinji really doing this? I can't imagine him ever being so brutal...
Hikari felt a strong grasp around her neck. There was a brief, sharp pain as it was crushed and she toppled to the ground.
I don't hate you.
***
“Ikari, I'm sure you realize what has started,” Fuyutsuki said as soon as Gendo came into view.
“It's worse than we imagined,” Gendo responded. “Before Arka was destroyed, they must have saved a sample of the Kelippot.”
Fuyutsuki's eyes widened. “You don't mean...”
“Yes. They're growing inside Terminal Dogma.”
“How?! What did they use for their vessel?!”
“All I can think of is that one was indeed within Tabris. Once it escaped, it has been using Lilith to reproduce. The white giant itself is now...” Gendo sighed. “Is Unit 01 still missing?”
“Yes, and we've completely lost control of the Geofront. We have no way to search, and no way to leave headquarters.”
“The only option that remains to us is to shut down all of NERV's power manually. That will at least give us the option of escaping.”
“Commander Ikari!” Kiyoshi yelled, running to his superior. “What the hell was that thing?! First we lose power, and then this...” He pulled down his collar, showing a large bandage. “It would have killed me if Ugen-san hadn't shot it! But its blood... It's burning a hole into the floor...”
Gendo turned to face his addresser. “Was there just one of them?”
“Only one that I know of, but I didn't even see it until it was already dead.”
“How many others know of this?”
“Almost everyone, sir. It's not helping the panic.” Kiyoshi halted as he looked at the First Child. “Oh my God, she is floating!”
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
NERV struggles desperately to break SEELE's control, but faces their most deadly aggressor yet! Gendo searches for some way to carry out his plan to reunite with his wife, who is currently outnumbered by assailants who will not stay dead! Asuka strikes once more, but will she be able to survive against an alien enemy in a weakened state? Next time on Neon Phthora EVANGALIEN, EPISODE 29**: We Must Run Away!
"Today?... hmm... today... right... Um... I'm just gonna wing it." -Guess who
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