[Warhammer returns from the light.]

WH: No matter how strong or smart you may be, there is ALWAYS someone 
helping you. Whether it be on Earth, in Heaven, Valhalla, ANYWHERE, 
there's always someone out there rooting for you.

Teknos Warhammer presents

Seraphim's Judgment:
Part 7:
Adam Bound

A Neon Genesis Evangelion and
Teknoman crossover

	Within one of the apartment buildings by the industrial areas of 
Tokyo-3, a figure sat on his bed, talking into the phone. 

	"Yes. So I've heard," a short pause for the other speaker, "Yes, I do 
agree that Ikari-san's gone too far as well. So, what are my 
instructions?" Once more, there was an answer that normal people would 
not have heard. "Just wait? Can do. Besides, I think that I won't have 
to wait that long. Considering how things are getting with the angels 
and all. Yes� thank you. See ya."

	He hung up the phone and laid back on his bed. He saw the faces of his 
adversaries. Then he saw the face of that same boy whom he bumped into. 
He reached up to try and touch the image he made with his mind, but 
found only empty air. 

	<Poor guy� Well, maybe if I can get close to him, maybe I can return. 
For some reason, I don't want to hurt him. You're getting soft, that's 
what's happening. SNAP OUT OF IT! You're using them, not the other way 
around.> 

	Kaworu Nagisa sighed and laid down to sleep. 

*************************************************

	It was the day after Shinji had returned. Touji and Rei had made Shinji 
feel more than welcome in return. Surprisingly enough, Asuka also 
admitted that she missed him� a tiny bit. She needed someone to torment 
and Shinji was always the one. Shinji had time to get used to it.  

	"So, Shinji. What exactly happened when you were� absorbed?" Touji 
asked hopping onto the desk beside Shinji's. 

	Words were hard to come by, especially he didn't want to tell how he 
was inside the EVA. Asuka would probably smack him. So, after a minute 
of careful though, he smiled and replied.

	"I met my mother. It's a long story, but being there with her� I would 
rather die than forget being with her. Even if it felt just like a 
little while." 

	"Really? How long was it since you saw your mom, before this happened I 
mean?" Touji asked.

	Shinji sighed and recalled that whole ordeal where he and his father 
last met for quite a while. He whispered, "Ten years."

	Touji winced and realized that he never should have asked that. What 
neither boy knew was that Rei Ayanami was not staring outside the window 
like always. Instead, her attention was focused on the younger Ikari. 
Her eyes shifted to the doorway when Asuka stepped through. 

	"Baka Shinji. What were you doing all that time in the EVA? Doing 
something perverted I'll bet." She continued to playfully torment him, 
stepping up to Shinji's and Touji's desks. Just as Touji was about to 
tell her off, someone grabbed Asuka's shoulder from behind, turned her 
around, and a resounding slap was heard throughout the whole classroom. 
The hand which slapped her belonged to none other than Rei Ayanami.

	Everything and everyone stood still at the event that just transpired. 

 	Asuka was shocked at the sight of the ice girl just slapping her. She 
recalled the time when Shinji was swallowed up and she was badmouthing 
the Ikari boy. Rei had stepped up to her and glared the same way which 
made Asuka's skin crawl. Only, this time was much more intense. 

She would have slapped back had Rei not spoken. Yet, there was something 
in her voice that Asuka never would have thought she would have heard. 
Anger. Much more uncontrolled and venomous. 

	"He does nothing to you, while you always torment him. Why?" She said 
quivering, using every once of her being to keep in control of herself. 
Her fists clenched, shivered at her sides, trying to resist the urge to 
hit Asuka. 

	Asuka found Rei's stare to be much more than what anyone else who was 
just seeing from the sidelines. Rei's glare silenced every word that 
Asuka would have said before they ever came from her throat. With 
Asuka's silence, Rei turned around and walked back to her desk. 
Surprisingly enough, the rest of the class went without incident. 
Everyone else who witnessed the event made a mental note NOT to cross 
Rei. 

*************************************************

	After school, the synchro tests for the children were to commence once 
more. After Touji and Asuka had left the change room, Shinji turned to 
see through the curtain to see Rei's shadow. Looking at him from what he 
could tell. He was about to put his other arm through the sleeve when he 
saw Rei step out, dressed in her plug suit. Not wanting to prove Asuka 
right, he turned away from Rei.

	In the same near emotionless tone she whispered, "Ikari-kun�" he turned 
and stared at her straight in the eye. "May� may I ask you something?" 
He never remembered a time when she had ever asked for anything before, 
so he nodded. This time, he could tell she was starting to get 
apprehensive as she continued. 

	"Would� would you touch me?" 

	Shinji's eyes flew open. Not at all remembering the way and rather 
plain way that she usually spoke. Seeing her face redden a bit, he 
couldn't help but follow suit. So, after a semi-audible gulp, she 
reached forward and took his hand. Shinji closed his eyes, for what 
reason he couldn't tell.

	Instead of anything that Asuka or anyone else for that matter would 
have labeled perverted, he felt the curve of her cheek instead. He 
opened his eyes to see Rei holding his hand to the side of her face. He 
noted, despite how cold she seemed to look, she was about as warm as� 
well, anyone else. 

Her eyes were closed as if in meditation, gently caressing his hand with 
her cheek. From what he could tell, she was smiling as she opened her 
eyes and whispered gently,

	"Ikari-kun� your hand� it's so warm� and soft." 

	Shinji didn't know what to say. What surprised him even more was that 
she walked up to him, his hand still on her cheek, and embraced him. As 
if it had a mind of it's own, his other arm crawled around her waist and 
hugged her as well. 

	He suddenly stopped. He could feel something thumping against his 
chest, as well as something inside his own. Both his and her hearts were 
beating in unison. The words he wanted to say came out at a pace that he 
wished he could changed.

	"Rei� I don't know what to� I mean�" he was interrupted as Rei 
whispered in his ear. 

	"I do not know what to say either. But� let's just have this moment to 
ourselves. Just for a moment." With that, she rested her head on his 
shoulder. He turned to her slightly and a small smile grew from his 
lips. She was right, just for this moment. With that, he wrapped both 
arms around her and felt as if he were a child once more. Enjoying the 
feeling of being with another whom cared for you and you for them. 

	What neither one noticed that Touji was peeking from beside the door. 
Seeing them both embrace, brought a smile to his face. He was ordered by 
Misato to see why they were taking so long, but after seeing that he 
didn't want to. It was too beautiful a moment. So, he returned to the 
testing site where he would tell Misato that they would be there 
momentarily. 

*************************************************

The testing had shown that Touji had gotten the same exact rate as Re, 
which was getting a bit higher, while Shinji was a few points behind 
Asuka. Things couldn't be better for the pilots. That is, until the 
alarms sounded. 

	Shigeru turned to Gendou, "Sir! We have an angel closing on radar. From 
the looks of it, it's holding position directly over us! About 10 miles 
straight up." Gendou saw the angel, known as Arael, through the view 
screen and his eyes narrowed. It almost looked like a phoenix, only 
instead of being a powerful malignancy, it's only purpose would most 
likely kill them all. 

	"Scramble the EVAs. Have Shinji move up ahead, while Rei and Touji 
backup, and put Asuka in reserve. Also, equip Shinji with the newer 
positron rifle and the long range cannons to the others." 

	The weapon given to Shinji was a more powerful and compact version of 
the positron rifle used against the 5th angel. While the long range 
cannons, a target could be hit in the center for more than 20 miles. The 
only problem was the targeting system was rather faulty, it never took 
the wind factors into account. That was what the computers on the EVAs 
were for. 

	All four children received their orders and accepted them without 
qualm. Although, Asuka would have objected to being used as a reserve, 
she kept in mind that it was Ikari giving the orders. So, sighing 
inwardly, she accepted her fate this time. Yet, she still felt she 
should have been in front. 

*************************************************

	As the civilians were evacuating, among them, a single kimono clad 
woman ran the opposite way. She hid behind the side of a building and 
held her hand out, where a glowing crystal came from nowhere. The 
crystal was changing from sky blue to a pure white. 

	<Well, at least she gave me ample warning this time.> the woman, Nodoka 
Saotome, thought. Bringing the glow about her to as little power as 
possible, she flew up to the roof of the building she hid beside. In the 
distance, she saw the enemy that was going to be next to try and find 
Adam.. 

*************************************************

	From entry passages, four EVAs emerged. The large purple one, armed 
with a massive rifle, stepped ahead of an ice blue EVA and a black 
colored one. In the back, the red EVA stood still, hidden from where the 
Angel would probably see it. The rifle, the large purple one carried, 
was attached to what would have been an umbilical cord. 

	Among the commands and what not being sent to and from the EVAs, one 
would find an interesting conversation going on between the souls of the 
EVAs. 

	It was not easy for Koorichi and Sanshi to tune out the ear-piercing 
complaints of Ninohi. In fact, the other two envied Yui, for she was the 
only one who was far enough so she couldn't hear the sould of the red 
EVA. Suddenly, Ninohi, along with Asuka, broke through the bonds and 
tore through the city, snatching Shinji's rifle in the process.

	"Ninohi, what are you doing?" Sanshi cried. Ninohi simply ignored the 
other EVA and pushed Yui out of the way.

	"Now, I'll show you all who's the best!" with that, Asuka began to fire 
as many streams of power as the rifle she had stolen would allow. Every 
shot would have hit it's mark, except they all simply passed through the 
large phoenix like angel. 

	Asuka continued to fire, despite orders from Misato and requests from 
Shinji and Touji. That was when a beam erupted from the part of the disc 
closest to it's attacker. 

	Makoto reported the beam had no physical damage on the EVA itself, but 
was interrupted as Maia announced Asuka's synchro rates were breaking 
down. 

	"No! NO! STAY OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT!" Asuka screamed over the comm. 
The remaining three EVAs did their best to use their own weapons to stop 
the attacks  Sadly, nothing they could do would work. 

Touji found himself  squeezing the trigger on his console harder than 
what was necessary. True, he and Asuka were not exactly on the best of 
terms, but even she didn't deserve what was happening to her. 

	Then, an explosion of light appeared from the top of one of the 
remaining buildings. At a rate faster than anything man made, it crashed 
into the 'head' of the angel. Unlike the last time, Teknos Katana, now 
possessed by the Seraphim, simply wasn't able to push it away. 
Fortunately for Asuka, the connection between her and the angel was 
severed. Yet, she didn't escape unscathed. The Eva collapsed to the 
ground and stayed there.

	Within the red EVA, a soul was crying. Ninohi floated up behind Asuka 
to see her crying as well. They were both the victims of the angel's 
vicious power, and there was nothing they could do. The only thing 
Ninohi could do was wrap her arms around the pilot and do it's best to 
comfort her. Neither one could stop crying. 

	Back on the outside, the angel was struggling to keep itself in one 
piece from the light that had interrupted it's duel. From the standpoint 
of those inside Central Dogma, they could do nothing but watch. 

>From within the light, the armor covered Seraphim was trying to cut 
through the head of it's foe. Yet, it could not. This was clearly one of 
the most powerful angels. Both possessor and the possessed  within 
realized a dark truth. 
	
	She could not hold this stance against the fallen angel forever. She 
needed help, badly. Taking a moment to turn back within Tokyo-3, she 
sent a mental message to the one who would be best to help carry out her 
contingency. She would have to be brief and right to the point. If she 
used up any more time, she would suffer defeat and everything that she 
had fought for would have been for naught. She sent the message to 
Gendou using only two words.

	<Lancea Longini.>

Gendou blinked a few times and suddenly comprehended what he was being 
told. Yet, he wasn't sure if it was worth getting rid of one of the most 
important tools for the HCP for this. The Lancea Longini was a very 
important stabilizer when the HCP commenced.. He then weighed the 
options of using it now and still working with the HCP, or not using it 
and not even getting a chance to start the HCP. Only a true fool would 
choose the latter. 

	He opened the comm between his station and Rei. "Pilot 00, return 
inside and retrieve the Lancea. Once it is retrieved, go back outside 
and use it against the Angel." Several pairs of eyes turned to him, 
wondering what exactly he was referring to. 

	Rei nodded and returned to the inside of NERV, where the weapon that 
would assure them victory would be. 

	At that time, Misato took over, "Ok then, Shinji, Touji, see if you can 
help that light-whatever it is. Buy as much time as you can!" Both boys 
responded the affirmative in unison. 

	Both boys re-aimed their rifles at the angel and fired away. Every shot 
hit it's mark. Both weapons they used still had no effect, yet 
continued, hoping that something would happen. 

	Minutes of failed attacks from both boys continued, until Rei came back 
out with a giant two-pronged spear in the EVA's hands. It ran beside 
Shinji's EVA and took careful aim at the foe. 

Yet, what Rei did not see was Asuka and her EVA got up, ran to her, and 
yanked the spear out of her hands. Everyone was about protest when she 
simply threw the spear straight up at the pheonix. 

With that, the red EVA finally collapsed, no longer having any 
synchronization with it's pilot. Rei took a single last look at the 
fading spear as it seemed it would be thrown clear out into space. She 
wondered what exactly it was, but figured that she would never find out.

Seeing the spear approach, Seraphim moved out of the way fast enough to 
allow the spear it's target. Yet, another beam shot out from Arael and 
knocked the spear away. 

Everyone watched in despair as the only weapon that could hope to beat 
the angel was lost. Yet, regained that hope when the light took hold of 
the spear, turned around and threw it with more force than Asuka did. 
The spear tore through another shot from the angel and through the heart 
of it's body as well. The resulting explosion created a flash so great, 
nobody noticed where Seraphim came from landed on the ground by the 
shelter.  

After Seraphim left Nodoka's body, she fell on her knees and panted. 
This angel was more dangerous than the first time she intervened. It all 
looked so easy. She mentally slapped herself and shook her heads. Only 
dead men thought that anything like this was easy. 

*************************************************

	A few hours later, the pilots had returned to NERV and went to the 
dressing room. Except for Asuka. When she was found, she was still 
crying inside the entry plug. She had to be helped from the plug to the 
dressing room. 

	Touji couldn't help but listen intently as he heard Asuka sob and saw 
her quivering form through the curtain. She hadn't even bothered to 
change out of her plug suit it seemed. So, being brave, he stepped 
through the curtain to see her curled up on the bench. 

	The normally self-centered, and loud-mouthed Asuka Sohryu Langley was 
not here. Instead, there was a crying girl, whose mind was invaded upon 
by an enemy they didn't know. Shinji and Rei were still on their way 
back from the loading bay, and here he was, seeing a side of the most 
hot tempered child he ever knew. 

	He knelt in front of her and asked, "You feeling any better?" she 
looked up at him with a tear soaked face and shook her head. She 
whispered her reply. 

	"I saw here again. That thing was inside my mind. I saw my mother 
again. When she killed herself. The memories I didn't want to see 
anymore. I just wanted to die." With that, she started to sob again. She 
moved forward and to Touji's surprise, wrapped her arms around his 
shoulders for support. She sobbed on his shoulder and held him as hard 
as she could. Like he was the only anchor to reality she could hold on 
to. 

	Touji thought about what he could do. If he pushed her away, and 
treated her the same way he usually did, she just might as well kill 
herself. He would never want that on his conscience. So, he did the only 
thing he figured he could do. He sat down on the bench and let her cry 
on him. He leaned his head against the top of hers and tried his best to 
comfort her. Gradually, her sobbing lessened, until it settled. 

	The last time he saw her that night was when he carried her to Misato's 
car. She was asleep and would probably stay that way for a while. Yet, 
he still wondered if she would be alright. 

	The next day, he met her in the hallway. She looked at him and said 
without the usual gusto. "I� I never thanked you for being there for me 
yesterday." She looked away, and whispered, "Doumo." Passing her, he 
replied,

	"Don't worry about it." He replied simply. They didn't need to make a 
bigger deal out of this than it already was. 

	Yet, Touji didn't know the full extent of just how much Asuka was hurt. 
Over the next several days, her enthusiasm and her syncro levels dropped 
like a lead balloon. This attack had taken everything away from Asuka's 
confidence.

*************************************************

	In the darkened room, the heads of SEELE were more than happy to hear 
the report of Asuka's
loss of status as an EVA pilot. Now was the time to strike, place their 
agent in, and witness Ikari's  treachery as it happened.

*************************************************

	Back at her apartment, Misato was talking on the phone. "Oh� I see. So, 
she won't pilot it anymore, right? That's sad. But what now? Another 
Child? You can't be serious? Alright� I see. He's already here? Ok ok 
ok, tomorrow then," she hung up the phone and went to her room for some 
much needed sleep. 

	One thing for sure, Asuka was definitely NOT going to be happy.

End of Chapter 7

[Warhammer returns from the light.]
	WH: With more chapters coming, the more exposure for Kaworu-san. I will 
admit, that I do like him, but not as much as Shinji. But he WILL play 
an central role in the next chapter. 

	Oh and the title "Adam Bound" is basically are what the angels are 
doing. They are bound for Adam to return to him. Also, it was also 
inspired by title of the Disney movie, "Homeward Bound". Get it? Good. 
If you think that title's ridiculous, you should wait until Chapter 9. I 
just might as well get smacked for using it. 

Now, I may be overdoing Asuka's teasing or torment of Shinji a bit, but 
I needed a reason for Asuka to push Rei over the edge and slap her. 
After some thought, I changed Asuka's ranting to just simple teasing. 
Believe me, I know people who can only take so much. Like myself 
[facefault].

I hoped that no one got the wrong idea when I put down Rei's 'request'. 
I think she was in character enough so that she would ask such a thing, 
but after some of the things she and Shinji had been through�  

	Considering the Touji/Asuka thing� I am still not sure. Maybe something 
will come to me after I get hit by something. Hmm� [runs head first into 
the nearest wall. Wakes up rather groggily.] Maybe not�

	On a final note, in the first draft, I made a TON of mistakes, both EVA 
story-wise, and grammar-wise. [Dresses in SUPER formal Kimono, throws a 
formal carpet in front of himself, knells down and bows.] Doumo arigato 
gozaimasu Lurker-sensei and Huang-sensei. I am in your debt for the help 
you've given me before. Thank you very much. 

	Now then�[returns to normal]. With Asuka's removal as an EVA pilot, can 
there be any hope for her? Will Rei find the answers to emotions that 
seemed so alien to her? Can Touji do what he can for a friend in need? A 
familiar face to Shinji may turn out to be either the best or worsst 
thing that's ever happen to him, how will he react? Can Nodoka keep her 
secret about her and Seraphim covered for much longer? Read in the next 
chapter.

[Warhammer returns to the light.] 


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