Babylon 5 and its characters with the exception of Epsilon Squad were
created by J. Michael Straczynski and copyrights are held by Warner
Bros and TNT. The characters of Epsilon Squad, as well as the
characters of Rei Ayanami-Miranami and Danielle Asuka Langley are my
own creation. Please ask for my permission to use them in your own
fics.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Project Eva and copyrights are
held by Gainax in Japan and A.D. Vision in the U.S. Please let me know
if there are any other copyright holders for either series I may have
missed, as I'm not out to make any sort of material gain; I'm merely
expressing my interest in both these series. In other words, please
don't sue me.
Author's Notes:
This story takes place during Season 5 of Babylon 5, after #99
"Phoenix Rising" and before #103 "Darkness Ascending."
To make this story work, I took the events in Evangelion and
plopped them into the Babylon 5 universe at the same time as they
actually occurred (2000-2015). The following events occurred in the B5
universe at the same time as in Eva: Episodes 1-24, followed by the
events of the Rebirth and End of Evangelion movies. This story takes
place in 2262. For purposes of this story, episodes 25 and 26 never
happened.
Previously on Babylon 5:
After learning of the Angels' return after the Third Impact, the Earthforce
frigate Perry comes to Babylon 5 to request assistance from the Interstellar
Alliance in dealing with them. While the Perry is at Babylon 5, Commander Rei
Ayanami-Miranami is confronted by a former Starfury pilot named Danielle Asuka
Langley, who came to the station carrying Eva-02. Meanwhile, the 15th Angel
appears out of the jumpgate and Lt. Commander Jesa Marason leads a group of
fighters to battle it. Danielle also joins the fight in Eva-02, but it is Jesa
who is the first to pierce the Angel's AT Field and he is psychologically
attacked by the Angel to the point of suicidal rage. Two of his squadmates
manage to pull him away while Danielle deals the death blow to the Angel. While
all that is going on, Babylon 5 is infected with the 11th Angel and Captain
Lochley runs a program sent by Nerv called 'Akagi 3:16' to destroy it just
before the fusion reactor overloads and destroys the station. After the battle
ends, Jesa develops a splitting headache and he collapses on the deck.
Well, enough of the preliminaries, let's get on with it!
Babylon 5: Angels
A Babylon 5 / Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover
by Mark Craig
Part 8 - Thanatos
When Jesa awoke, he found himself in Medlab, groaning to himself.
Well, Laura, you got your wish. Happy now?
Dr. Franklin came over to him. "Ah, Lt. Commander, you're finally
awake," he said, running a medscanner over him. "You've been
unconscious for several hours. You've had an interesting day, I see."
"I've had worse, Doc."
"Hmm. Your cerebral activity seems to be slightly elevated, and
I'm reading some cell growth in parts of your brain."
"What? Anything serious?" Jesa asked in concern.
"No, it's merely unusual. Usually the brain ceases cell production
soon after birth. According to these readings, that's what caused your
headache, and probably your blackout, I'm not sure. We should learn
more when the lab work comes in a few hours. Also your brain wave
activity is well above normal, probably caused by stimuli produced by
the Angel."
"Will I live?"
Franklin gave him an amused smirk. "If you had chosen a less
hazardous line of work, I'd say you'll live another fifty to sixty
years. But you'll at least live until your next mission, Commander."
"Thanks, Doc."
"Now, I've just got a couple of tests to run and you'll be able to
go. I'll be right back."
As Franklin left, Laura, Rico, and Danielle appeared. Oh, hell,
Jesa thought. Now the whole damn squad's going to find out. "What the
hell are you guys doing here?"
"Well, you sound like you're all right, Jesa," Laura said
cheerfully. "You had us all worried for a while."
"Sorry about that," Jesa said. "Does the whole squad know?"
"Yeah, they do," Laura admitted, "but they understand, Jesa, I
assure you."
"The Doc seems to think my brain's grown and that led to the
headache and my blackout."
"Still, any needed surgery on your brain is bound to be minor,"
Laura quipped.
"Ouch!" winced Rico as Danielle suppressed a giggle.
"Very funny," Jesa chuckled.
"Well, you just get the hell out of here so you can put her in her
place," Rico added.
"You wish, Vazquez," Laura said haughtily.
Jesa turned his attention to Danielle. "Thanks for helping us out
there."
"It had to be done, Jesa," she replied. "I'm sorry for what I
said."
"Hey, that's history now," Jesa said amiably. "Think no more of
it."
Danielle gazed at him intently. She was obviously wanting to say
something to him in private. He turned to Rico and Laura. "Hey, guys,
could I possibly have a word with her alone?"
"Sure," Laura said, "Come on, Vazquez."
"Right. See you later, Jesa."
"You guys tell Castro and the others I'm looking forward to a
great dinner on their creds after tomorrow night."
"We'll tell him," Laura said as she and Rico left.
Now they were gone, Jesa turned his attention back to Danielle,
who gratefully nodded. She stood gazing at him for a long moment,
apparently thinking carefully about what she wanted to say.
"Jesa," she said at last. "I have to make a confession to you. A
confession which only both of us must know. What I'm about to tell you
does not leave here."
He nodded. "All right, you have my word. You obviously have
something on your mind, Danielle, so spill it."
She took a long breath. "For the past year I have harbored a
hatred for you like I have for no one else in my whole life. Ever since
Proxima-3 I have despised you, the great Jesa Marason. I had blamed you
for what Kaworu had done, my psych discharge, everything that's
happened to me since that fateful day. And the injustice of it was I
never really knew you. All I knew was your reputation as being the best
in all Earthforce. You seemed to be larger than life, larger than even
the universe itself, and I resented that."
"Do you still?" Jesa asked.
She shook her head. "No, Jesa. Not any more, because we have
something in common, and it was the 15th Angel which made me realize
it."
"Don't remind me of the 15th Angel," Jesa said.
"Let me finish, okay? I know something of what that Angel did to
you. I know it was horrific."
"You do, do you? How could you possibly know what that thing put
me through? Do you know what it's like to have your darkest memories
ripped out and thrown back in your face tenfold!?" His voice was
becoming louder. "Do you!? The Angel showed me every face I killed
directly or indirectly in the civil war with Earth! It brought to the
forefront that which I'd been keeping hidden the last two years,
starting with the only woman I ever loved!
"You think you can understand what I went through? You have
absolutely no idea the kind of hell it inflicted! None!" Tears were
beginning to well up in his eyes as he felt his control slipping. "Damn
the Angel for what it did to me! Damn you for your presumptions! And
most of all, damn me for not being strong enough to resist it!" At
that point he lost control as sobs racked his body.
Danielle, for her part, knelt down and placed a comforting hand on
his. He gratefully and gently clasped it, looking at her with tears
flowing down his face; but he was trying to regain some semblance of
control.
"I should've been stronger," he cried. "I knew what the Angel was
doing all along and I tried to stop it, to fight it, but I couldn't! I
just couldn't!" More sobs racked him as he again lost control of
himself, gripping her hand tighter.
"So the great Jesa Marason is a human being after all," Danielle
said softly.
He could only nod. They stayed like that for several minutes until
Jesa was able to regain his composure and released her hand. "Oh, that
was stupid to be blubbering like a damned infant," he said in disgust.
"It's okay, Jesa," Danielle replied reassuringly. "You were due
after what you've been through."
"You know, if my squad finds out about this, I'll never hear the
end of it."
Danielle smiled. "I think whey would understand. You're only
human."
Jesa nodded. "Thanks again. I think I needed that."
"I know, and it was my pleasure."
"Tell me something. How did you know what the Angel did to me?"
"Because it did the same thing to my ancestor nearly 250 years
ago. Soryu Asuka Langley. In the end, that was my real purpose in
piloting Evangelion Unit 02, to avenge Asuka. That purpose has been
fulfilled now. I am free of the Angels now. Never again will I have to
worry about our struggles beginning with Angels."
"So if your only purpose was to avenge Asuka, that means you can't
pilot the Eva any more."
"No," Danielle admitted, "The Eva is not really for me. It is
meant for another. Who it will be, I do not know."
"Sounds kind of sad, really," Jesa said.
Danielle shook her head. "It really isn't, Jesa. It's an end, yes,
but I can go on, be the same person I was before Proxima-3." She got
back to her feet. "Well, I must go now, Jesa. I'll see you later."
He nodded. "See you."
Outside the infirmary, Rico, Laura, and Dr. Franklin watched the
goings-on with Jesa and Danielle. Laura looked at Jesa with some degree
of sympathy. Rico shook his head in disbelief. How could something like
that drive mad an emotional stone like Jesa?
"So, Doctor," Laura said, "what's your opinion? Is he insane now?"
Franklin shook his head. "No, far from it. He's had this image of
Invulnerability for years, I suspect. It's common with most pilots to
think they're indestructible to build up the courage to climb into
their Starfuries and go to battle, and possibly not come back. And now
he's gone through something which broke that wall down and made him
realize he's no different than the rest of us. I would suggest he rest
for several days, but beyond that I think he'll be just fine. He may
not be exactly the same person as he was before the Angel came. Events
like this can change a person for the rest of his life. He just needed
to confront this shaken image of himself, that's all. I'll probably
release him to his quarters in a couple of hours."
"Thanks, Doc," Rico said.
As Franklin left, Laura pulled Rico aside. "Tell this to no one,
Vazquez."
Rico noted the tone of her voice and thought it better to do what
she said, or else. "Yes, ma'am."
In her office deep inside Nerv headquarters, Thirteen nearly
dropped her coffee upon reading Commander Ayanami-Miranami's report on
Babylon 5's encounter with the 11th and 15th Angels. Eva-02 was found
and it killed Ariel? She also wondered how Iruel got into the data
crystals Ayanami-Miranami used to transfer the Angel data into the
Babylon 5 computers. Upon hearing of this event, she had contacted
Commander D'Argent to initiate a full investigation into the matter.
God knew there were plenty of possible suspects who would want Babylon
5 destroyed. Including herself, if the truth be told,. But she had
better things to do with her time than blowing up renegade space
stations. That left the most likely possible suspect to be one or more
of the members of Seele, though what Seele would stand to gain by
destroying the interim headquarters of the Interstellar Alliance was
really anyone's guess.
Seele was always like that, she mused. Nobody ever really what
their true intentions were, not even her, and she'd been trying to
learn those for the last two years. From the Human Complement Program
to now in the wake of the recent developments between Nerv and the
Earth Alliance. Rumors around EarthDome spread like wildfire concerning
Seele's return ever since President Clark first assumed power. Even
though nobody could confirm Seele's existence, this sort of attack was
part of their M.O.
Her thoughts drifted to Eva-02 being found at the very place the
Angels were discovered. Coincidence? Thirteen didn't think so. In an
odd sort of way, it did make sense. After all, the Evangelions were
supposed to be the same as the Angels. But why only Eva-02? Why not any
of the others, like Eva-00, Eva-04, or even Eva-03? Or why not the
mass-produced Seele units, Eva-05 through Eva-13? Thirteen was not one
for mystery. She wanted answers.
Her door chime sounded. She put the report down and sat back at
her desk. "Enter."
The door slid open and a black-haired woman wearing an Earthforce
uniform strode quickly in, carrying an old red notebook. She sported
fierce blue-gray eyes and a slightly harsh face which could drive fear
into the hearts of her subordinates. Commander Alanna D'Argent was
Thirteen's first choice to be Nerv tactician, and she was perfect for
the job. One would be hard-pressed to find a more resourceful, cunning,
and ruthless officer in all of Earthforce.
"Ah, Commander D'Argent," Thirteen said pleasantly, rising out of
her chair. "What do you have for me?
"Status report on Unit 01 restoration," D'Argent replied. "The
main body is about 30% complete. We're still trying to repair the armor
around the core and we should have that completed in about two to three
weeks. The S2 engine itself is still intact. We'll have to rebuild the
entry plug and all limbs from the ground up. We won't be ready for
activation tests until early next year."
"We won't be ready to act before then at any rate, Commander,"
Thirteen said. "I take it you read Commander Miranami's report?"
"Yes, I have. I still can't believe it. I still can't believe the
Angels would return. And a former Starfury pilot found Evangelion Unit
02 on the same planet Commander Miranami located the Angels. Will
another great and terrible day like the Third Impact come?"
"I can't say for sure; it's far too early to tell."
"Oh, Captain Toronsco wanted me to inform you the prototype Omega-
2 Thunderbolt is ready for flight tests. The initial five Crimson Angel
Thunderbolts are near completion, and construction of the rest is
proceeding on schedule in our facilities in Tokyo-4."
"Excellent," Thirteen said. This was clearly good news. If we can
get the Crimson Angels on-line before Earthforce is ready to move
against us, we will have an additional advantage on top of having half
the Special Operations personnel and equipment in our back pockets,
ready to fight for us and only us should the need arise. If Earth
Alliance thinks we are going away quietly, they are sorely mistaken.
"Tell Captain Toronsco to proceed, Commander. I will be going to Tokyo-
4 myself first thing in the morning for a first-hand inspection. You
will be in command here until I return in five days."
"Yes, Commander," D'Argent saluted and started to walk out.
"Commander?"
"Yes?" D'Argent turned her head.
"What's the status of the investigation into the 11th Angel
incident on Babylon 5?"
"We're got a couple of possible leads, one involving Seele, and
the other a group of rogue telepaths that broke into Nerv facilities on
Mars two weeks ago. Nerv security thinks there's a possibility the two
are related. We're continuing our investigation and we hope to learn
more before you leave for Tokyo-4."
Thirteen nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, Commander. Keep me
informed of anything you find. Carry on."
D'Argent gave a single nod and walked out of Thirteen's office.
Far beneath the bustling crowds and gargantuan skyscrapers of
Tokyo-4 lay a black-walled circular chamber bathed in white light from
above. Twelve black rectangular objects arranged in a perfect circle
measuring one foot thick, four feet wide, and nine feet tall graced the
room with its only feature. Each object was labeled with the word
"Seele" and a number from 01 to 12 in red. The room was quiet for a
long moment before Seele 01 spoke.
"The time for the Second Complement Program will soon be upon us."
"Yes," replied Seele 04, "but we must not grow too hasty lest we
overlook something which must be done."
"A pity the Angel we planted in the Nerv data crystals was
defeated," added Seele 07. "It would have solved a great many problems
we are due to have with the Babylon Station."
"The Babylon Station is not our concern for the moment,"
interjected Seele 02. "What does concern us is Nerv's gradual buildup
in forces for a possible confrontation with Earthforce."
"My colleague is of course correct," said Seele 03. "Nerv is set
to become a terrorist organization just as they were once before. That
was why the Human Complement Program was necessary to ensure the
evolution of man."
"The Human Complement Program was a mistake made by the weak-
minded," objected Seele 08. "It was a mistake and the heavens
themselves knew it was, so naturally it was a failure."
"It was only a failure because it was incomplete," Seele 05 said.
"It was incomplete because Third Impact was also incomplete. The Second
Complement Program will accomplish our purposes and do what was not
done before."
"Yes," said Seele 01. "The Rosetta stone to the evolution of man
is the Second Complement Program, my friends. With that, mankind can
achieve greatness equal to the Vorlons. But Seele 07 is also correct.
The Babylon Station and the Interstellar Alliance are a threat to the
Second Complement, as is the situation between Nerv and Earth Alliance.
These are dangerous times, and we must proceed ever so cautiously. For
one mistake could result in incalculable consequences."
"He is right," said Seele 10. "No one must learn of our plans
until the time is right."
"Not only that," said Seele 12. "I have just been informed that
Nerv is investigating the Babylon Station incident."
"Do not be concerned," said Seele 01. "There is nothing Nerv or
anyone else could find which would link the 11th Angel's infection of
the Babylon Station to us."
"If you say so," said Seele 06. "The Second Complement Program may
be our only hope for survival of what is to come."
"Let us hope it does not come to that," said Seele 01. "Our time
has ended for now, let us depart."
Danielle returned to Medlab an hour after she left watching Jesa
being examined by Dr. Franklin and Dr. Skiles. She wasn't really sure
why she would come back to see him so soon after leaving him. It just
felt natural for her to be there. It was like she felt she had to see
him again; she wanted to see him again. Why should she feel this way
about him, it couldn't possibly be natural, could it? He was an enemy
pilot at one time, but the war's over now.
"Thinking long thoughts, Danielle?" a voice asked beside her.
She turned around and saw Lochley standing next to her. Danielle
was watching Jesa so intently she didn't even know Lochley was there.
"Oh, Captain, I had no idea you were standing there."
Lochley indicated Jesa. "How is he? I'd heard what happened out
there but we've been so busy getting all the ambassadors and fighters back on board I didn't get a chance to check in earlier."
"Dr. Franklin says he'll be okay. He just needs to rest a few
days."
Lochley nodded. "Good. I've known Commander Marason by reputation
for a long time. He's the best pilot we've got, and we're lucky to have
him. Look, Danielle, I just wanted to tell you it was a courageous
thing you did out there today. A lot of people were saved by what you
did."
Danielle inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Captain.
But I fear the worst is not over for all of us."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a great battle coming, Captain. A terrible battle, but a
necessary one or else the Angels will ensure an end to everything we've
all worked so hard to build."
"When is this battle coming?"
"Soon. Quite soon."
"How do you know this?" Lochley asked.
"I have it on good authority, Captain Lochley," Danielle replied.
"Let's leave it at that for now."
President Luchenko sat in her EarthDome office glancing over the
report her aide had given her about the Angel attack on Babylon 5.
Generals Smits and Foxworth sat across from her, along with Captain
Michael Reidenbach of the Earthforce Destroyer Alexandria, and Captain
Mitch Dumas of the Earthforce Destroyer Constantinople. Both ships were
currently assigned to the Earth Alliance Home Fleet. They had returned
to Earth Station Prime when Luchenko summoned them to EarthDome. All
four officers also had copies of the report provided by Commander
Miranami.
"Gentlemen," Luchenko said, "your analysis."
"I must say when I heard of the Angels' return, I was not
expecting an overt attack like this so soon," Smits said. "According to
this report, Commander Marason is a very lucky man right now."
"Which also illustrates the complexity of our problem," Foxworth
added. "We know from the archival records provided by both Nerv and
Special Ops the Angels were very adaptive to tactical and environmental
situations. The 15th Angel was selective in its attack on Babylon 5.
Starfury pilots and the main guns from the Griffin and the
Missouri couldn't even distract it. Only when Commander Marason
penetrated its AT Field did it attack, which leads me to believe that
the 15th Angel's attack was deliberate. It wanted something at Babylon
5."
"If that's true," Reidenbach said, "what did it want? Could it
have been the Evangelion?"
"A distinct possibility, Captain," Smits said. "Or maybe its
original target was the pilot, Danielle Asuka Langley."
"She was also one of us, General," Foxworth pointed out. "She was
a Starfury pilot stationed aboard the Damocles until she was given a
psychological discharge at Proxima-3 last year. It was something about
seeing images on the battlefield. Apparently she found Unit 02 on the
planet M-235 in Sector 999."
"The same place the Angels were first discovered," Dumas said.
"Yes, and we believe that to be no coincidence, Captain," Foxworth
added thoughtfully.
"What's the status on the situation with Nerv?" Luchenko asked.
"Still no change, Madame President," Smits admitted. "Nerv has
spent the last couple of days recalling people out of other facilities
in Earth Alliance. Plus they've allocated more than 300 additional
Special Ops officers. Our intelligence also believes they are attempting to restore Unit 01."
If Luchenko was shocked by this, she hid it well. "I see. Anything
more?"
"Not at this time, Madame President. What shall we do about the
Angel situation?"
"That will be Commander Miranami's prerogative. It is unfortunate
we could only provide her with two ships, but she should be able to
manage with assistance from the Interstellar Alliance. Keep monitoring
the situation and inform me on any new developments. Gentlemen, you are
dismissed."
As one the four officers stood, saluted the President and marched
stiffly out of her office.
End Part 8
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