Angelus Retournen Incarnatus
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

by Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)

A fanfic inspired by the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, copyrighted by
Gainax and no attempt had been made to state otherwise.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Prologue

=-=-=-=-=

2019 A.D.  Nineteen years after Second Impact.
NERV 5th Branch Headquarters, Arizona, United States of America


"All hands prepare for final phase experimentation in ten minutes.  For
precaution, all personnel please report to your designated safety zones
within five."  The cryptic sounding order came through the public
announcement system a few minutes before the sirens sounded off throughout
the whole facility.

The fifth branch of NERV was centrally located within the man-modified
meteor crater floor of the Arizona desert.  It wasn't much of a crater
anymore.  The whole crater now had a fortress like city built on top of it,
while the main research and military facility was conveniently hidden from
view several armor plates below.

"All personnel have reported to the safety bunkers.  All machinery are now
remotely under our control, Major." A technician announced even if no one
was asking.  The control room was a huge room, several stories high.  There
was a three tier platform that had all the control panels that overlooked
the operations of the whole city wide complex facility.  The forty feet tall
glass panel in front served as the main viewing screen and computer display.
Right now, all that was being shown was a long wide-angle camera shot of a
building that was isolated on the desert floor several hundred miles from
their position.

"What is the status of the pilot?"  A tall young dark-haired woman asked one
of the technicians.  She looked like the person in charge, and her seat high
up on the third tier confirmed her authority.

"EVA pilot 35 A checks out fine, professor."  A camera window opened up on
the large screen.   There was a single child pictured.  She was in a
plugsuit and the LCL around her was changing color, confirming the
synchronization process was proceeding smoothly.  "Nerve and cranial
connection passed second critical level.  Synchronization estimated in
thirty seconds."

"Pilot 35 A.  How I missed calling them by their first name."  A tall man
came into view behind the woman.  He looked like he was in his early
thirties, the scars on his face was effectively covered by his dark rimmed
glasses.  "Although, it would be quite a job memorizing all one hundred
pilots and backups, right?"

"I guess so, Makoto."  She said as she turned to look at him.  "Those days
are over now.  I guess this naming convention makes it easier for us to
be..." She turned back towards the screen. "unattached."

"I guess you're right, Maya.  I guess you're right."  The screen changed
again.  The view of an EVA unit bounded in a cage filled the display.  "EVA
has become more like a toy in this peaceful world.  Unimportant because
there are no more angels, but..."

"Yes, we already know that, Makoto.  Please shut up."  A man sitting behind
them blurted out.  He was from the military, his uniform and all the brass
pinned on his lapel proudly made it known to everyone.  Most of those who
really knew already figured he was an agent of SEELE.  The committee that
had controlled Earth the past three years now.

Makoto looked displeasingly at the man in uniform.  "Well, excuse me Major
Stevenson.  I forgot that you were supervising today's test.  Not that there
was anything new to report to your superiors, Major."

"Professor, let me remind you that we are testing a new design."  Stevenson
slammed his fist on the tabletop.  "This will not be like what had happened
before."

"I'm sure it will, Major.  With your daughter up there in the cockpit and
all."  Makoto turned away, folding his arms and carefully eyeing the status
of the experiment taking place.  Behind him, Major William Stevenson fell
silent, saying a prayer or two probably.

=-=-=-=-=

"Pilot 35 A, final synchronization achieved.  How do you feel?"  The
question came through the EVA's cranial communication channel and it arrived
directly to her mind.  A post synaptic effect as most of the scientist would
try explain it to the pilots, it always felt like her head was being pierced
with a very long needle.  It wasn't painful, though, the feeling of a needle
stuck in one's head was ever present.  It was uncomfortable, but tolerable.
She had spent four months retraining for the new direct link technology that
replaced the head piece she used to wear.  "Pilot 35 A, your pulses are
nominal.  Synchronization is at fifty five percent."  That information came
from another operator.

"I feel fine.  I don't feel any pain anymore."  She looked directly in
front.  Soon, the neural connection would connect with the external sensors.
"Is this satisfactory, professor?"  Her surroundings suddenly changed.  The
cameras were online now and she only saw the barren desert around her.  A
small window opened up on her left.  Maya's face appeared as she
instinctively requested in her head.

=-=-=-=-=

"Yes, Trisha.  Your performance is always satisfactory." Maya wasn't kidding
about what she said as she spoke seriously through the communication link.
The young girl sitting in one of the most expensive piece of para-military
equipment man ever made was among the best pilots this side of the world.
Of course she had seen one better, but he had disappeared a long time ago.
"Prepare for S2 engine startup."

Everyone in the room braced for the final phase to start.  The last time
this experiment was performed, the fourth branch in France was damaged
extensively.  This was not the last one, Maya feared.  Today's test would
only be one in a long line of history testing NERV had undergone to finally
achieve a complete energy source unit for an EVANGELION.  The first one
destroyed a whole branch, and if the test failed today, a new facility would
soon rise somewhere in the world to do again what was being conducted here,
in the desert of Arizona.

"S2 Engine block activated.  Awaiting startup command from pilot."  A
controller announced to everyone.

"It's all up to you, Trisha."

=-=-=-=-=

The cage was enclosed in a mesh brick like building isolated by almost two
hundred miles from the nearest facility by the scorching desert terrain.
All the external sensor were active now, and each one poked around the
surroundings.  If things were to fail today, the causality would be limited
to only one.

Inside, the EVA was silent.  Only the several lights emanating from
pinpoints on its head and chest area gave indication that the biomechanical
beast was turned on.  "Start EVA."  The command came directly from the
pilot's head.  No spoken words were needed anymore.  Soon, the hiss of the
S2 Engine rattled the whole unit.  Trisha sequenced the next few commands
that properly continued the initiation of the power source.  A moment later
a computer feedback flashed in one corner of the heads up display.  "EVA
started normal.  S2 Engine on line.  Rated power is at ten percent."

=-=-=-=-=

"Confirmed, Pilot 35 A.  Engine block approached experimental limit in three
point four seconds." The middle operator continued to read the measured data
coming from the EVA.  All looked normal, or at least on target to what was
expected.

"EVA is advised to shutdown.  Use normal sequence in five...four..."

Maya stared at the readings.  "Three and a half seconds.  That is great
news."  Makoto was also impressed.  The new procedure of starting at a lower
power limit made for a quicker startup time.  The test did not turned out to
be such a waste of time after all, Maya thought.  "And we're still alive.
Very good news indeed." Finally, much to Maya's relief, the newly designed
S2 engine finally was far more stable than those of previous designs.  She
made a mental note to thank the guys at the Research Division for coming up
with the innovative safety measures.

"Well, are you satisfied Major Stevenson?"  Makoto turned to the Major, but
the officer was busy on the phone.  "What is it?"

Major Stevenson slammed the phone hard.  "Professor, send Unit 35 to sector
243B for intercept immediately."

"What?  What for?"  Maya and Makoto quickly turned to the major, a concerned
look on their faces.  "This has got to be a joke."

"Maybe, professor.  Unfortunately, satellites," The large screen was
suddenly filled with a topographic digital feed from an external source,
"have picked up an object traveling through the Arizona desert at incredible
speeds."  The screen only showed a small lump, much like a small wave,
moving across the desert floor.  It was still three hundred miles from the
facility, but the present speed and course made its path intercept with the
EVA unit that was all alone in the desert.

"Must be a jet or something."  Makoto fixed his glasses as the details
flowed and started filling in the picture.  "It can't be!"

"Confirmed.  Object identification has been established.  Rate of intercept
is in one minute and fifteen seconds.  Target is now being scanned into the
base's security network.  Present intercept rate is forty percent..."

Maya stood at ends seeing the ghost of an old friend up on the monitor.
It's blue and purplish hue was indistinguishable from a satellite's point of
view, but its outline shape was too remarkable for her not to recognize or
remember.  It had saved her life many times in the past already, and that in
itself etched the figure of the most memorable EVA unit on her mind forever.
"Unit 01, but how?"

"Professor, send out Unit 35 now!"

=-=-=-=-=

2016 AD
NERV Headquarters Geofront, Japan

"Impossible!  Unit 01 couldn't have just disappeared."  Misato cried upon
arriving at the Central Dogma that morning.  The news came almost at the
heels of another tragedy striking the whole NERV organization.  Commander
Gendou Ikari was taken into custody by the United Nations' Security Council,
a known front of SEELE, yesterday.  NERV's future had become bleak from the
onset of the last angel attack, and now with the only remaining EVA that was
still operational vanishing, only time will tell how long each remaining
personnel had left.

"I've already gave the word to the committee.  They've told us to come up
with a very good explanation in two hours."  Ritsuko said, her temperament
concealed her obvious relief that now SEELE won't have control over Unit 01
anymore.

"Well, its not like we can go anywhere anyway.  We've all been put on house
arrest inside this Geofront since last night."  Makoto said, a visible
depressing atmosphere hung in the air.

"What do we do now?"  A rather nervous Maya asked the former chief or
operations and planning, Major Katsuragi.

"The only thing we can do," Everyone of the staff looked at her hoping for
some light in the grim darkness they were all facing, "we can...go to my
place and get drunk."  For once, no one face faulted at her.

"Not a bad idea, Misato." Ritsuko was the first to grab her things. "For
once I'm rather glad that we are going to your place."

"Hmm, I'm coming as well. That is, if you want me to, Misato-san?"  Makoto
had a grin on his face, forgetting for once the trouble they all were
facing.  "I've never been at you place before, Misato---Oww!"  Makoto rubbed
the pain away from his sore cheeks.

Maya was scowling at him for acting obnoxiously rather than be concerned
towards their future, and immediate doom.  "Why you!  Makoto, how could you
sink to such low depths, when you know that we're all in big trouble now!"

"Hey, are you two love birds coming?"  Misato and Ritsuko held the elevator
door long enough for the two young ones.  "Ah, at least love is still in the
air, yes Ritsuko?"

"Whatever, Misato."  Ritsuko was obviously thinking about some serious
matter.

"Hey, I'm not in-love with you, Makoto!  Never!"

"Oh, yeah!  Then why do I always see you looking towards my station."

"You're dreaming!"

=-=-=-=-=

"Ikari Shinji-kun.  Can I talk with you?"  Kouzou Fuyutsuki asked the pilot
of EVA Unit 01 politely as both of them were left behind by the security
force inside Gendou's office.  A while ago, both bared witness to Shinji's
father's arrest by the power of the United Nation's Security Council's
order.  The second in command of NERVE had seen beforehand how SEELE's
influence even overrun those agencies that were meant to protect the people.
Innocent people like Shinji.  "Do you know why your father was taken away?"

"No.  Why was he arrested?"  Shinji spoke in a shocked tense voice.

"Because he tried to save humanity, Shinji."  Kouzou spoke like a preacher
teaching the gospel, an unfortunate truth that was turning into reality.
"Do you know what you must do now, Shinji-kun?"

"I think," Shinji stuttered hesitantly, the thoughts he had conceived in his
head were overwhelming him.  Some things he had never learned from his
father, he had learned from becoming a pilot of EVA Unit 01.  He wondered if
he was absolutely sure of his course of action.  "I think It is father who I
have to save now.  Is that right, Dr. Fuyutsuki?"

"You are your mother's son, Shinji-kun."

=-=-=-=-=

2019 AD

NERV Headquarters
Tokyo-3, Japan

Major Misato Katsuragi waited outside the commander's office.  She had
prepared herself for this day.  She even practiced her little speech at
home.  With her was a manila envelope, inside was her resignation letter.
The fourth, in fact.  Three years, she thought.  It finally took her that
long a time to make up her mind.  Finally she wanted out.  The first time
she thought it was because there were no more angels.  The second time was
because Ritsuko finally left too.  This time she finally knew why she was
really leaving.  She wondered if Shinji was alive today, would she change
her mind?

"You may see the commander now, Major Katsuragi."  The secretary opened the
door for her.

The room was smaller now, unlike Gendou Ikari's huge expanse office which
often made her a little nervous.  The commander had become her friend over
the short three years they had known each other.  Commander Usagi was a
woman after all, the two of them always found time to talk.  In her three
years of loneliness, a friendly talk was what she needed all the time.

"Misato-san, what can I do for you?"  Maria offered a seat, something Misato
would have never received if Gendou was still around.

"Commander Usagi, please accept my letter of resignation."  Misato handed
over the envelope, accompanied by her security passcode card.

"Not again.  Misato, I'm really getting tired of these depressions of
yours."  Maria Usagi was about to tear the envelope in half when Misato
hastily grabbed it back from her.

"Hey, I'm serious now!  There is nothing for me to do now.  And besides, I'm
getting kind of...well, you know.  I better start planning for my future,
don't you think?"  She laid down the envelope slowly on Commander Usagi's
desk.

"I see, so you're looking for a man again, eh?"

=-=-=-=-=

NERV 5th branch
Arizona Desert, United States of America

"Unit 35 restarting.  Neural connections reestablished, Synchronization in
ten seconds."  A male operator announced all over the control room.  The
screen was getting its first land based images of the threat as it
approached the outer border sector of the 5th branch.  "First sighting in
five...four...three..." A hazy, noise distorted window appeared on the large
screen on the left.  As the operator counted to one, the picture finally
cleared up.  There was no denying that the inbound was not a fighter jet of
some kind.  It was an EVA, and it left a trail of blue and violet haze in
its wake as it  stirred up the desert beneath in its flight.

"Unit 01?  I can't believe it.  This EVA was supposed to be destroyed in the
final Angel attack." A woman operator muttered in disbelief.  It was obvious
that only a handful of people really knew about Unit 01's disappearance over
three years ago.

Maya finally stood up from her seat and shouted to her staff.  "Stop that
nonsense talk!  Prepare Unit 36 for backup and launch Unit 35 already!"  Her
duty was to those under her command, but inside she was deeply questioning
why she had given those orders.  It wasn't only her who wanted to see the
blue and purple biomechanical EVA again.  She also wanted to see the pilot
after so many years.  "Trisha, sortie but restrain from firing first.  Do
you understand?"

"Yes, Unit 35 heading for Unit 01."

A controller announced the ETA for the intercept to be in five minutes with
an eighty percent success rate.

"Maya, do you think it's Shinji-kun whose piloting?"  Makoto asked.

"I hope so, I surely hope so." Maya sat back in her seat, wondering how
Shinji looked now.  He must be seventeen or eighteen, she thought.  Probably
as cute as she last saw him.

"We're getting the first scanned readings from the target.  All information
seems to be..." the operator's voice was cut short by her shocked pale
expression, "oh, my god!"

"What is it? What are you reading from Unit 01?"  Makoto asked impatiently.
The operator had everyone's attention.

"The pattern is...is...blue!"  The silence that fell in the room was almost
unbearable.  Makoto and Maya just looked at each other, knowing full well
what that particular reading meant.

Major Stevenson punched in a special number and quickly lifted the receiver.
"Get me Headquarters ASAP.  We have an angel attack!"

=-=-=-=-=

2016 AD
UN Headquarters
New York, United States of America

"Where is Unit 01, Gendou!"  Kihl was as impatient in questioning the former
head of NERV as everyone else in the committee was.  They weren't buying
Gendou's claim of innocence, knowing full well who was the only person
capable of controlling the last of the EVANGELIONS.

"We are getting tired of this charade you are playing Ikari-kun."  A yellow
lighted Seele committee member provocatively said.  "You will tell us were
our EVA is now!"

Gendou was silent in his chair.  He couldn't move his hands as they were
chained in multiple handcuffs.  He supposed he could just move his head to
reseat his glasses up his nose.  For once his ears were deaf to the same
persons he relied on to make his plans for NERV work.

"Gendou!  Where is EVA 01?!" Kihl shouted.

"She is in good hands, that is all I can say."

=-=-=-=-=

2019 AD
NERV Headquarters
Tokyo-3, Japan

"You've got to be kidding."  The man on the pedestal asked the operator that
was reporting to him from below.  "An Angel?  Attacking the 5th branch now?"

"Sir, satellite imagery confirm a fast moving object approaching the
vicinity of the 5th branch."  A male voice boomed over the speaker system.

"Damn it!  Get me the commander!"

=-=-=-=-=

"Now, really Misato.  There is no need for you to leave NERV just to find a
man."  Maria couldn't help giggling.  "Besides, who'll be able to coax Rei
into piloting an EVA if you're not around."

Misato thought she had a valid point.  Rei had slowly deteriorated in
performance ever since she found out that Gendou was arrested and was no
longer the head of NERV.  "I guess so."  Foolish thinking, Misato told
herself.

"See, I knew you'd get over this quickly."  Maria picked up the phone.
"Yes, what is it?"

=-=-=-=-=

NERV 5th branch
Arizona desert, United States

Most of the personnel of the base complex had finally returned to their
stations.  Finally the whole security network was operational, but the order
to hunt down the attacking threat had not been given.

"EVA Unit 36 is restarting.  Synchronization in 40 seconds."  The staff that
handled the control room's operations was already in full force.  The delay
was owed to the safety precaution taken before the testing done earlier.
Nevertheless, a back up EVA was waiting to be launched off the catapult any
minute now.

"What is the word from Headquarters?"  Makoto asked Stevenson.

"Nothing, they're still booting up the MAGI." William received a few
quizzical look from both professors.  "Hey, it wasn't my idea to shutdown
the supercomputer.  The committee ordered that, remember?"

The screen was spilt into two, an image of Unit 35 was on the right, and its
intercept target on the left.  The clock was ticking down into the last two
minutes.  "Intercept in..."

Maya looked over the external communication station that was now manned.
"Higawa, has Unit 01 spoken to you yet?"  The man on the control panel only
scratched his head, obviously still groping to keep up with the present
situation.  "Well, what you sitting there for!  Get me online with Unit 01.
Use the last login code for EVA 01.  It's 023425-A if I remember correctly."

"B, Maya.  A was Rei's Unit 0."  Makoto corrected his wife.

=-=-=-=-=

Sector 243B, Arizona

Unit 35 was flying in for intercept.  Trisha Stevenson was aware that this
was her first real battle. She had been training the past four years for
just this purpose.  Protect humanity.  Fortunately she had a lot of
confidence in the mechanized machine helping her.  Unit 35 was the first to
be fitted with an S2 engine successfully, and that happened only ten minutes
ago.  That didn't worry her though.  Even with internal battery, she had
enough time to finish any enemy.  She asked for a listing of the weaponry
that was outfitted on her EVA.  She decided to use her rifle first, a
positron attack could follow since she already had at least ten percent
power from her S2 engine, and if everything went bleak she could resort to
blowing herself up with the enemy if necessary.  She hoped it didn't have to
go all that way.  She wanted to go to the dance tonight in her high school.

"EVA detected."  The sensors around her warned her of Unit 01's location.
"Slowing down for close proximity sortie."  Her training was all she was
leaning on now.  Experience was nowhere to be found inside her EVA.  She
reconfigured her on screen display so that she could see from where Unit 01
was coming from.  Trisha understood the need for proper positioning to have
the upper hand in any fight.  "He's coming straight at me.  I better move
around him, if its really me or if its headquarters he's headed for."  The
EVA responded to her thoughts instantaneously, Unit 35 flew towards south
south west hoping to out flank Unit 01.

"I can see you."  The billowing dust cloud was rather large and was heading
straight north.  "I see, it's the headquarters that you're after."
Instinctively, EVA Unit 35 brought out the rifle it was carrying on its
back.  "I'll make sure you fail, Unit 01."

=-=-=-=-=

SEELE Headquarters
Location Unknown

"Is it true?  Unit 01 has finally resurfaced?"

"Yes, it was identified and confirmed over the deserts of Arizona."

"That's where the S2 engine testing was conducted."

"Yes, and Unit 35 and 36 was already sent to capture Unit 01."

"I see.  Soon we'll have our property back."

"What is MAGI projecting?"

"Nothing, the supercomputer failed to restart.  They're trying again in two
minutes."

"Sabotage?"

=-=-=-=-=

NERV Headquarters
Tokyo-3, Japan

Misato found herself running towards Central Dogma again.  She never had to
do that in three years, no reason ever came up.  Hearing the news about an
Angel though convinced her otherwise.  "What is the report on the Angel?"

"Its heading towards the 5th branch.  Unit 35 is less than a minute to
intercept."  A male controller answered Misato.

"What is the status of Unit 01?" The question came from the commander
herself.  Misato thought she must have made a mistake.

"You mean Unit 35, right?" Misato asked.

"Unit 01 is not answering all communication link up.  All previous codes are
not working, Commander."  The controller again answered.

"What?  Unit 01 is alive?  Where is it?"  Everyone stared at Misato.

"Major, Unit 01 is the Angel."  Like bucket of cold water being poured on
her, Misato was stopped cold and shocked at the news.

=-=-=-=-=

End of Prologue

=-=-=-=-=


Please C & C

Thanks to Anand Rao, for helping me pick up NGE in the first place.

Also, why is the list acting up.  I'm not getting everything posted on the
list, heck my own post don't even come back to me.