Yeah.. I'm back. After too many problems with Geocities admin, I found a
new POP3 server to drag down with your posts. Let's celebrate.
Anyway, I'm sending out this revised form of NGE:Honor's Duty Stanza
Two, and I'd like feed back. It's not done yet, but I dropped it off where
it makes sense. This isn't as funny as the original - Hey, I have to put in
that character development somewhere, ne? - but I hope you'll enjoy it none
the less.
Special thanks to those who liked the first one enough to mail me
comments: Chad T. Pitchford, DB Sommer, Francis, James Merritt Jr, Jiro
Maeda, Phillip Masters, Reispirit, White Pheonix, and especially James R.
Leek/Skills LTD. Couldn't have done it without ya, Jimmy; Ain't gonna do it,
wouldn't be prudent.. ne?
Enough of my inccesent ramblings.. On with the fic.
-----------------
Ludicrous Configuration! Productions
Presents
A Neon Genesis Evangelion Alternate Universe
By JJ Corley
"God keep thee, thy works, and all thy transgressions;
for verily as ye shall sow, so shall ye reap."
Evangelion: Honor's Duty
Commander Ikari Gendou sighed. That damn headache was
back, and the third Angel, Sachiel, would recover -only to
resume in drawing ever closer when it did. 'Great. Juuust
wonderful. As If I really needed to give SEELE a reason to chew
my ass off.'
Movement caught his eye, and he spared a glance at the
surveillance monitor built into his desk. The forms of Misato
and a young man played across it for a brief moment, before the
image cycled again.
His son had arrived; action could now be taken against
the Angel.
[_}~`\-/'~{_] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Honor's Duty
^ " ^ Stanza Two: Retrograde
"What is Eva Unit One's current status?"
Hyuuga paused in mid-type to look at Ibuki. Ibuki did
likewise to look at Hyuuga. They both looked at Aoba.
Aoba giggled behind his tokuban as Youta was berated,
once again, by Ai for hurting Moemi-chan's feelings. Gotta love
that classic Manga.
Hyuuga shrugged, punched a few buttons, and took a sip
of his Dr. Pepper as the relevant data began to scroll in.
"Unit One should be in the cage in T-Minus four minutes and
counting, sir. Pilot Ayanami has regained consciousness, and
has reported no serious injuries. Once in the cage, Unit One
can be prepped and ready in two minutes."
Gendou absorbed the information without a word. Then he
stood. "Fuyutsuki, handle this."
"Yes, sir."
From his left, a new voice emerged. "Commander.. May I
ask your intentions?"
Gendou paused, turning to face her. "Yes, Dr. Akagi,
you may. We are going to reinitialize both Units."
"I needn't remind you that you're short a pilot."
Fuyutsuki said.
"Unit Zero hasn't even been activated yet.. we have
tests yet to preform, and the second Rei.."
"Her name is Kizuko, Dr. Akagi. You seem to forget
that."
"..has not yet recovered from your failed experiment
with Unit One." Ritsuko continued, undaunted.
"I know."
"Also, the first Rei seems to be unduly suffering from
some psychological battle.. Her synchrograph was down four
points yesterday, and another five before launch today."
"Hummn.. I see." Came the standard, uncaring reply.
"Do you? Do you
_Really_?" Ritsuko narrowed her eyes at
the commander. Sometimes, she wanted to scream at how callous
the man could be. She knew Gendou cared for the Ayanami clones,
but he seemed to be damned and determined to contridict - or..
could it be to hide? - those feelings in how he acted towards
them. "You don't seem to realize how serious this truly is. If
this keeps up, she will no longer be a viable pilot for either
Unit." Ritsuko shook her head. "I simply can't see how we are
to survive this."
"That is why I am the Comander and you are not. The..
'Reserve' pilot has arrvied. He is currently with Captian
Katsuragi. Dr. Akagi: you will find them, then bring them to
the Cage. I will be there shortly."
"And what are you going to do?" asked Fuyutsuki.
Gendou sighed. "If you must know, I shall be in the
lavatory."
Fuyutsuki and Ritsuko both blinked. They looked to each
other, and then to the Commander. All Fuyutsuki could think to
say was "Oh."
Grumbling, the Commander strode behind the gaurd rails
of his personal lift; He hit the button and slowly descended
from view.
When the lift doors swished shut, Fuyutsuki turned to
Ritsuko. "Their first meeting in ten years..."
"Who? The Commander and the toilet?" She snarked.
Fuyutsuki giggled like a drunken college boy just
released from an all night drinking binge. This drew more than
a few looks from the console techs. "That too. But seriously,
though."
"Yeah. To think that the reserve pilot is the
Commander's own son." Ritsuko shook her head sadly. "I just
hope Gendou knows what he's doing."
"As do we all." Fuyutsuki whispered as the doctor left.
"As do we all."
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
Footsteps echoed in empty corridors, rebounded off the
walls of gargantuim chambers, and stopped for the occasional
escalator or two. Continually. In that order.
"Are you sure you know where we're going?"
Misato growled at Shinji, her patience waning. "Of
course I am! We'll be there in a few minutes!"
Her younger companion rolled his eyes. "Riiight. That's
why we've been wandering around in circles.." He paused as a
pair of doors swished open diagonally, then continued. ".. Oh,
look: There's juntion J-34 AGAIN; that's what? 5 times in as
many minutes?"
Misato turned on her heel and glared at him. "Oh, SHUT
UP! Just be quiet and follow me, OK?"
Shinji wisely stayed silent; that is, until junction
J-34 came into view for the sixth time. "We're hopelessly lost.
Give me the map."
Misato complied, handing it to him over her shoulder
with a disgruntled 'Fine'. Shinji looked at it for a moment,
then turned it sideways. They passed a door - which, oddly
enough, was clicking - before Shinji asked the important
question. "Just where ARE we going, anyway?"
The answer of "Nowhere, fast" came from behind him,
catching him by surprise. He turned quickly to face the
newcomer, wondering how they had snuck up on him. It was
embarassingly obvious: The clicking doors had been an elevator;
standing inside was an attractive woman with blond hair. Shinji
looked her over: lab coat, a high-collared blue silk shirt with
a pull-ring zipper and a black skirt. She also wore a look of
mild annoyance.
"You're late, CAPTAIN Katsuragi."
Her tone carried 'mild' annoyance to new levels. Misato
winced. "Eh heh heh.. Hi ya, Ritsuko.."
"So late.." Ritsuko continued, "That they sent ME to
find you. We don't have the time or the man power for this."
"Well, I.. You know.. I mean-"
Ritsuko sighed, cutting her friend off. She then
glanced at Shinji, who was nonchalantly leaning against the
corridor wall, watching them. "Is this him? The Third Child?"
"Yes. Shinji, introduce yourself."
Shinji nodded, came forward, and bowed. "I'm Ikari
Shinji. Pleased to meet you."
Ritsuko, slightly amused, bowed somewhat. "Akagi
Ritsuko. Resident Doctor, Scientist, and Supervisor of Project
E. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. My door
is open, if you need to see me at anytime."
"Thank you. I'll try to remember that."
"Well then, Since we are currently under attack, I
think we should be going. Don't you, Captian?"
Misato nodded, then folded her arms. Her head fell and
the normmaly hyper-chearful Misato became rather somber. "Is
the Commander still planing to..?"
"Yes, and no."
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
Ayanami Rei tiredly crawled out of the entry plug and
onto the surrounding catwalks. She set her shaking frame down
and leaned her back against the purple giant's shoulder. She
was weary.
But it was more than that.
'No time for such thoughts now,' she chided herself
mentally as she pulled her knees up to her chest, the material
of the plug suit making a squishy scrunching sound. Her body,
mind, and soul were fatigued. The constant testing, probing,
analysing, scynchrograph readings, and now live combat.. all
had taken their toll on her.
She desperately needed a break, but as long as she was
the only one who could pilot the Eva, she could not rest.
Piloting is what she would have to do.
A famillar shadow fell across her, and she addressed it
without looking. "Is this why he is here? Shinji? Will you make
him ride as well?"
Ikari Gendou sighed. He had to tell her. He owed her
that much. "I will give him the choice I could not afford to
give you."
"And if he refuses?" She asked, looking up to the older
man. Gendou's gaze softened slightly. Rei's hair fell into her
eyes, only slightly masking the tears wich began to fall. She
knew the answer, but she also knew she would fail. And her
demise would mean Shinji's as well.
Gendou supplied the answer she dreaded.
"Then you shall pilot it again.. alone."
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
"First wave personnel to battle stations!" The P.A.
screeched, "Reapeat, first wave personnel to battle stations!!"
Ristuko removed her gaze from the speaker above to her
companions on the stairs below. "It must be moving again."
"The angel?" Shinji queried as he reached the doctor's
level, Misato gasping not far behind.
"Prepare to launch Anti-Ground Attack Units One and
Zero!" the P.A. system belched before Ristuko could answer.
From behind him, Shinji could hear Misato groan.
"They.. *gasp!*; have got to be.. kidding.." Said the
wheezing captain as she tried to regain her breath. "..Right?
Rei's probably.. injured and Unit Zero hasn't even been fully
activated yet.."
"It has a point zero eight one one seven nine four
percent chance of actavating.."
"That's not even a full numerial!" Misato countered.
"Still, it's not a negitive. And if we can activate two
units at once.."
"Save your survivability profiles for someone who
cares. Kizuko's still in the hospital, so you don't have a
pilot." At this, Ristuko remained silent - yet that was all the
answer Misato needed. She covered her mouth and surpressed the
cry of grief and outrage she could feel swelling within her
breast. "Oh my god.." she murmured, "You were right. The
Comander really is going to..
*Haaa*" she gasped, realizing
just who could over hear her. Shinji's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The final choice isn't the Commander's.." Ristuko
whispered fircely to her friend as she took her aside, "It's
HIS."
`Something is going on here..` Shinji thought as a
faint vibration swept through the building. He looked high over
head to see the ceiling lights slowly begin to sway. `Why do I
get the feeling I'm going to regret ever reciving that letter?`
He asked himself. Then aloud, "Shouldn't we get going?"
Ritsuko turned her head, speaking to him over her
shoulder. "We are here. We only need to take the final step.
Are you ready, Misato?"
As the younger woman nodded, Ristuko strode forward and
swiped a card through a reader. It beeped, and the wall next to
the landing pulled apart into darkness. Shinji, not knowing
what else to do, vainly attempted to follow Ritsuko's advice of
watching his step as the three of them entered. The massive
door closed, and all was silent.
The lights came on with a resounding *ClacK!*, and
Shinji found himself looking into the glassy surface of a
single, cycloptic eye.
"'Holy Schinikies!' What is this?" He asked in awe.
"This," A voice emerged from the shadows above the
yellow giant, "Is Evangelion Unit Zero. And you, Ikari Shinji,
shall pilot it."
Shinji forced his eyes from the Eva's blank stare to
meet the unwaivering gaze of Ikari Gendou. "Father.."
From the observation window above, Gendou cracked a
small smile. "Isashiburi desu ne?"
Shinji stared up at his father with his mouth open for
a few moments. Then he began to laugh. It was a hollow,
haunting sound with no mirth involved. It was a sound born from
cynicism. It was wholly unappropriate for the situation, but it
continued.
Ritsuko glanced at Misato, who raised an eyebrow and
shrugged at the unasked question. (What's going on? I don't
know, ask him.) Ritsuko frowned, and Misato shook her head.
(I'm not going to ask him, You ask him. Nah-uh, you're the one
who cares, YOU ask.) Ritsuko sighed, Misato striking a victory
pose - which she quickly dropped at the Commander's
dissaproving glance and Ritsuko's glare. (Alright.. I'll ask
him. Heh, I won again! Hey, I heard that! You Idiots.)
During this unspoken exchange, Shinji had stopped
laughing. "That is just so like you, Pops. You don't give a
damn about me for ten years; then when you have a use for me,
you whistle." He said quietly, staring at his shoes. As he
lifted his gaze to meet that of his father's, he continued: "Do
you really expect me to always jump at your beck and call? This
is your one chance. You have forty five seconds to convey just
WHY I am needed here. And it had DAMN well better be good,
pop." Gendou smiled, and his eyes narrowed at his father's
bemused expression.
"Shinji, You will use the Evangelion to battle the
angel. Why? Because if you do not, all of mankind shall perish
in fiery oblivion."
Shinji folded his arms across his chest and let go of
the anger inside of him. "All right. Clocks' stopped, you have
my attention. Now explain: Why am I needed to do this?"
Before Gendou could answer, another voice emerged from
the shadows, along with its owner. Shinji recognized her. It
was the girl from the street.
"I can't do this alone. That is why you are needed."
She said. She was dressed in what appeared to be a wet suit,
and crossed her arms around her stomach. "I am Ayanami Rei.
First child, and designated pilot of Evangelion Unit One. And
if you will not help me to defeat this threat.. then I will
die, alone, in the attempt."
A brief look of concern flashed across Shinji's face,
his left arm falling to the side while the other gestured
towards Rei. "Wait.. You were the pilot of the purple robot,
right?"
"Strictly speaking, these are not robots." Ritsuko
informed from behind him. "They are man made, all purpose
weapons for the war to end all wars.. Artificial Human
Evangelion."
Shinji almost jumped out of his skin. "'ARTIFICIAL
HUMAN'?!? Is that why you have them so restrained? Are they
going to get up and walk away?"
"You may rest assured, that while such an improbable
thing, in most variables, could never occur.. It is still a
possibility; and no matter how remote that possibility may be,
we must be cautious." Gendou said.
Shinji turned to his father. 'That is the stupidest
crock of shit I've ever heard..' He thought. `If a chicken can
live with only the lower portion of its cerebellum intact, then
what of us?' "How do you plan on controlling these..
'Evangelions'?"
A brief tremor shook the building, and Gendou attempted
to briefly explain. "We have devised a system which we call the
'Entry Plug', a large cylindrical device in which a pilot is
enclosed, and then inserted into the Unit's spinal cord.
Without the plug, none of the impulses from the brain of the
Unit may get through. With the plug, the pilot serves as the
brain of the Unit."
"And what if the pilot is knocked unconscious? Or if
there is no pilot inside this 'Entry Plug'?"
"Then.." Rei began, hesitating slighly, "There is the
possibility of the unit going beserk. Or rather.. of the Unit
controlling itself, as do you and I. If such a thing were to
occur.. I only hope the Evangelions will fight for us." Rei
hugged herself tightly. "If not.. then humanity may be twice
damnned.."
"..." Shinji shook his head. "I don't like this one
bit. This entire situation reeks of disaster." Out of the
corner of his eye, he could almost see Rei's spirit fall.
"But.. I'll help you pops. Under three conditions."
"What are they?"
"One: I'm on the pay roll."
"Agreed."
"Two: There is no way this side of your personal hell
that I'm going to live with you."
"Of course."
"Three: Tell me. Is this why you sent me to be trained?
Answer me, Father! Is this the purpose you had for me all
along?!?"
Gendou shook his head. "Your training was your mother's
idea. if you have a complaint, register it now. If not, then
prepare yourself for battle."
His fists clenched tightly, he had known his training
was due to his mother. And through it all, Shinji had but one
question. "Why? Why did she place me on this path?"
It was Rei who gave him the answer he had both wanted,
and yet had also known all along.
"A Martial Artist's duty, his honor, lies not with
himself, but in helping and protecting those in need - those
who cannot, or will not, defend themselves - to the best of
their ability. In this, and for this, you have been trained;
have you not?"
Shinji dropped his head and closed his eyes. 'Mother
knew this was going to happen all along..' he shook his head,
then turned to Ritsuko. "I'll do it."
Rei silently came from behind him, and he only
registered her presence as she touched his back. "Thank you."
She said. Then she was gone.
Gendou, high above, smiled a slow resentful smile. It
would work.
It had to.
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
"So then, Shinji.. You understand the reason behind
this test?" Ritsuko asked over the comn.
From the confines of Unit-00's entry plug, He nodded.
"With the Angel above, making sure I'm able to pilot seems like
a good idea.. But I'm still not clear on how to pilot this.."
Shinji guestured around himself, "..Thing.."
From inside Unit-01's entry plug, and already inserted
into the Eva, Rei smiled. "Think, and it shall be done. But do
not dwell on the goal, but of the very essence of the action
you wish to take."
"Oh, THAT helps. Might as well tell me to run on
instinct.." He muttered.
"Shinji: Run on instinct." Said a voice over the comn.
Shinji narrowed his eyes as the door of the entry plug
swung into position. "Oh, Thanks pops. You're a REAL help."
"Don't mention it. Inject the entry plug!" From his
desk in the command center of Nerv, Gendou watched as Ibuki
swiftly complied.
"Roger! Inserting entry plug!" Maya's fingers flew
across the keys, routing comands to the Magi and other
sub-systems. "Plug lock-in procedure complete! Initiating first
contact and flooding entry plug!"
Inside Unit-00, Shinji was immensely glad for that
liquid oxygen dive training last summer, but found it amazing
that he could still talk. "What in the hell? It this even..? It
isn't! You know this is physically impossible, don't you?!"
A small box with Ritsuko inside poped into his view.
"Just except it."
"But..!" It was obvious he couldn't.
"Look, just except the fact and get on with it!"
"But I..!"
"No 'But's!"
"I! You! GyAh.." Shinji's arms waived wildly, his hands
forming several interesting gestures. He tensed for a moment,
then let it go. "Yes ma'am.." he sighed in abject defeat.
"Better."
The box winked out of existance as weird things began
to happen.. First floating words, then some type of graph
followed by sparkling lights.. Shaking his head, he tried to
focus on Ibuki's voice and concentrated on not having a bad
trip.
The lightshow stopped and the world became red, almost
a blood colored sheen. Shinji waited a moment, beliving this to
be normal.
Then it spoke. Not in words, but in images flashing
through his mind with an intensity akin to a raging fire.
Shinji couldn't help the small gasp of pain and surprise.
It was Hers. Not Rei, but someone identical to her.
This was her Eva, her soul had taken the Evangelion's massive
bulk as its own residence. He screamed in pain as it attempted
to rip out the very thing which made him Human and replace it
with what, to his distorted perceptions, seemed nothing more
than a man made mockery.
Then the invasion stopped. An image appeared in his
field of vision, flawless white skin and blue hair an almost
painful contrast to the red ichor he floated in.
\You do not have permission\
\Why are you here, He Who Is The One\
He struggled with the pain and his mind to find an
answer, barely able to belive what was happening. "To prevent
the death of the innocent.. It's my obligation now! I must go,
lemme go!"
\Why should I comply with you, He Who Is The One\
`This is insane..` he told himself, shaking his head to
clear it. "I don't have an answer for that, I don't even know
what's going on here! Just let me go! If you don't," He
guestured around, "None of this will matter! She won't exist!
We'll all die!
\That is your perception, He Who Is The One\
Shinji blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, my
perception? The Angel is here!"
\So it would seem\
\What would He Who Is The One have me do about it?\
"Just let me go kill the damn thing already! You're
waisting time!"
The image of the Rei look-alike smiled ruefuly for a
moment before speaking again.
\I shall help He Who Is The One, I shall give He Who Is
The One the knowlege needed to Ride\
\Be warned, however\
\Come inside me again without permission and I shall
destroy the soul of He Who Is The One\
"Just what the hell do you mean by that?"
Shinji recieved no answer as the world seen through the
eye of an Eva came sharply into focus; Ibuki's voice faded
rapidly, saying: "Opening riciprocal circuits."
He found his head swimming with pain, and a dark sense
of foreboding took root within his soul. Surprizingly, no time
seemed to have elapsed while he was in communication with
Unit-00. He wanted to say something about what had happened -
although, try as he might, his voice failed him. Just what
could he say that wouldn't sound like a frightened child making
lame excuses to get out of saving the world?
In the end, Shinji hardened his resolve and said
nothing. No matter what, the Angel would die, and that was all
that truly mattered at the moment.
Wasn't it?
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
From inside the control room, Ritsuko was in shock.
"This.. is amazing.." She whispered. "Synchro errors are within
point two percent.. It's going to work!" She said, turing to
Misato.
"But, can we REALLY do this to him?" Misato turned to
the commander, knowing even as she asked what the answer would
be.
"Of course. If we fail to defeat the angels, Humanity
has no future. Proceed, captian Katsuragi."
Misato turned back to Ritsuko. "Are the Eva's ready?"
"Primary and secondary restraints have been released,
and all preperations are complete."
"Gates 4 and 5 are clear, Eva's loaded and ready for
launch sequence." Ibuki added.
"Then let's do this.." Misato muttered. "Evangelion
Units Zero and One, Launch!"
Inside Unit-00, Shinji scowled as the electromagnetic
rail system sent the Eva rocketing towards the surface. In less
that a moment, he was above ground, Unit-01 some distance to
his right. But that was not what concerened him, it was the
Angel.
Sachiel blinked both sets of eyes. Very disconcerting,
rather, yes. Either this four eye thing had him seeing double,
or there really were two of these dark servants of the Lillim.
`Wait a minute,` Sachiel blinked agian, recognizing the
battle between the purple servant's soul and that of its rider
which was absent from the orange/yellow servent, `those is two
dark servents of the Lillim`
That thought was quickly followed by another as Sachiel
sized the orange/yellow servant up. The servant's soul seemed
to be almost complementing that of the riders, although the
link beteen them was non existant. And as for the rider..
Shinji glared at the Angel, wanting nothing more than
for the final safty locks to release, so he could jump on it
and pummel it to death. Unit-00 did as Shinji did, its single
eye reflecting the surrounding light in an almost ominous
manner.
Sachiel began to sweat. `Oh, shit.`
[_}~`\-/'~{_]
^ " ^
"Release final safty locks! Rei, concentrate on the
Angel. Shinji, I want you to try-"
"Negitive, Captian!" Came Rei's voice from the comn,
"The Angel's ignoring me, it's heading straight towards
Shinji!"
Misato's eyes widened. "What?!? Rei, stop the Angel!"
Unit-01 ran from its harness, coming along side
Sachiel. Rei made a grab for the Angel, but it evaded, turing
on her.
Inside Unit-00, Shinji narrowed his eyes. "Let's do
this." He said, confusing the entire Command staff.
"Shinji, what do yo.." Misato started, only to drop off
as the Evangelion lept into the air. Ristuko dropped her
pencil, the sound echoing through the silent command center.
"He.. He shouldn't be able to do that.." The doctor
murmered.
As Unit-00 came down on Sachiel with a mighty kick,
Misato agreed with as much intelligence she could muster.
"Uh-huh."
[_}~`\-/'~{_] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Honor's Duty
^ " ^ Stanza Two: Retrograde
Current End
---------------
"Embrace the world with the perceptions you have grown
accustomed to: Change.. Just makes more sense that way." -Me
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