Yes, yes.. I know what you're thinking. 'Took you long enough'. Well, here it is. Prior versions are archived at the Ludicrous Configuration! Productions Main site, jjcpub.cjb.net, now with a minty fresh Fan-Fic feel! Anyway..

All Comments and Critisim not only appreciated, but unduly begged for. Give it to me! Just Pump it in my viens!

Fic begin!
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  ****
    Disclaimer: The original Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Gainax. This particular plot devation was constructed by me, JJ Corley, and has been dubbed an 'Alternate Universe (AU)'. Therefore, the term Alternate Universe or AU shall serve as my disclaimer for any future posting of this series. Do not sue me, for if you do you'll only get a few bucks and an old 486DX with a copy of edit.com. What A Prize. I've made my point.
  ****

Ludicrous Configuration! Productions
        Presents
A Neon Genesis Evangelion Alternate Universe
    By JJ Corley

    "Hurry up and wait."

                Evangelion: Honor's Duty

    She was dead. Ayanami.

    Shinji could only stare at the silent form of Evangelion Unit-01, slumped lifelessly against the building before him. Blood and LCL mixed in the street, the Unit's brain and throat punctured by the Angel's attack.

    The moment stretched into an eternity where pain, grief, and regret reformed themselves to create a rosary of self hatred and depression unlike anything the young man had ever experienced before. It tasted like a garlic bagel.

    Sachiel leapt into action while Shinji gagged.

    The first blow was caught, as was the second. Unit-00 slowly rotated its head as Shinji turned his own to see the Angel. Unit-00 regarded the Angel before itself before the external speakers relayed its pilot's words to Sachiel.

    "damn you."

    It came out as an almost inaudible mutter, his tone and being laced with anguish. "Another.. Damn you."

    Sachiel stumbled backwards as Unit-00 released its hands. The wretched agony of bagel flavor coursing through Shinji's soul began to decay into a cold fury. The Eva slipped into an offensive stance as its pilot made ready to attack.

    The Angel began to fear bread.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]      Neon Genesis Evangelion: Honor's Duty
  ^ " ^               Stanza Three: A Silent Tear

    Inside the control room, things had been in a panic since Unit-01 had gone silent.

    "What do you mean, The Eva's not responding?!"

    "That's just what it is, Captain! We're getting absolutely no readings from either Unit One or Ayanami! There's NOTHING, the Eva is completely silent!" Hyuuga punched his console in frustration.

    "Eject the entry plug!" Ritsuko commanded.

    "Not possible! There's no manual override!" Ibuki explained.

    Fuyutsuki turned from the panic below to his commanding officer. "Well.. It can't get any worse." Their attention was diverted to Misato as she moaned in despair.

    Unit-00 had less than three minutes of internal power remaining.

    "Fuyutsuki.."

    "Sir?"

    "Never say that again."

    "Eh.. y.. yes, sir."

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    The first few blows were placed squarely upon the Angel's core, well before Sachiel was even aware of Unit-00 moving. It stumbled back even further, doubled over in pain, only to be sent to the ground by Shinji's kick.

    From within the entry plug, Shinji cursed as the Angel dodged his next attack, only to widen his eyes in surprise on seeing a beam of destructive light emanate from his enemy. He quickly rolled to the left, taking shelter behind another building; only to move again as it, too, was destroyed.

    Sachiel picked itself off the ground and pressed forward, timing its blasts to keep the dark servant on the defensive. It stepped on, then over the severed umbilical cable as Unit-00 moved around and behind it.

    Shinji smiled, grabbed the cord, pulled, and schlap! The Angel was down. "Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!"

    Inside the command center, Fuyutsuki turned to Gendou and asked, "Do you think that was Larry, Moe, or Curly?"

    "Actually, I thought it was Shemp."

    The professor frowned for a moment. ".. Oh yeah..."

    "I need a weapon." Shinji announced coolly over the comn, as he placed as much distance between himself and the Angel as possible.

    "You have a minute and thirty remaining." Came his father's voice. "There is an umbilical cable locker and a weapons locker two hundred meters behind you. Finish this quickly, and rescue Ayanami."

    Cold fire burned behind Shinji's eyes as he followed Ikari Gendou's directions. The door to the Umbilical cable slid up as he approached, and he connected it without a second thought, turning his attention to the weapons locker before him.

    His emotions flowed into one as he laid eyes upon the progressive sword within.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Blackness. A complete and utter void, absorbing any and all light; absorbing her soul.

    It would win, if she allowed it to. She knew that. She had promised her life for his, and had delivered. Only it wasn't enough.

    `It never is,` She mused, forcibly pulling herself back from the brink of the infinite again. `It never shall be.`

    \Be comforted. You are not alone. Go to him.\

    `Why?`

    \Because he is the one\

    `What the ^&@*%# does that mean?!`

    Then nothing.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    One must fall. Man or Angel, almost like an Epic MegaGame.

    Sachiel stood, ready for attack. He refused to fail in his divine errand. Shinji waited, ready; his weapon raised, poised for the strike. He would survive.

    Sachiel rushed forward, closing the gap between them, bringing the same beam weapon into play that had killed Ayanami. Shinji narrowed his eyes, the monstrous katana weaving through the air faster than the eye could follow, deflecting Sachiel's attempts and leaving the Angel open. The progressive sword struck out in a wide arc, bisecting the Angel diagonally.

    Sachiel shuddered, and split, his torso landing upright on the pavement with a loud *Splorch*.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Everyone within the command center fixed their gaze upon the main screen in awe. From behind his hands, Commander Ikari smiled. "It is over."

    The much shorter, and now deceased, Angel appeared to scratch its head in disbelief.

    Unit-00 quickly ran to the prone form of Unit-01. Ritsuko instructed Shinji on how to remove the entry plug before turning to Ibuki. "Is there..?"

    Maya shook her head sadly. "I'm still receiving nothing from pilot Ayanami.. We may have lost her."

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Shinji tried to ignore the gaping hole in the side of the entry plug as he pulled on the emergency release lever. "please be alright, please be alright, please be alright" he chanted as the lever began to turn, as if by him willing it to be so, it would.

    The lever spun suddenly, the door popped open and LCL flooded out, tinged red by blood. He quickly pulled the door aside, and stared in horror.

    He crawled inside the dark confines of the entry plug, his unsteady hand checking for a pulse on the girl's neck, brushing past the gaping wound in her shoulder. Her left arm had either completely disintegrated, or was floating somewhere in the LCL; Shinji was too preoccupied to check.

    There was a pulse. Slight, and growing fainter. Shinji quickly removed his belt and made a rough tourniquet around the remains of her arm.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Gendou stood before the observation window, watching as the medical scanners revolved around the nude and barely conscious form of Rei Ayanami. "Will she recover?"

    Ritsuko studied him briefly before returning her attention to the data being gathered. "Well.." She hesitated for a moment, attempting to bring her own feelings for the girl under control; "In terms of healing her.. we will be able to replace the limb.. but the shoulder to arm muscle structure has me more concerned."

    Gendou huffed impatiently. "Will she or not?"

    "Of course." She frowned at him. "What we can't fix, we'll replace. However, she may never be able to use her left arm again. Until she undergoes proper therapy, and regains full control of the arm, she will not be a truly viable pilot."

    "How long."

    "Without complications? Four months to a year."

    On the examination table, Rei grimaced in pain as the scanner came too close to her wounded shoulder. Gendou's eyes hardened. "No sooner?"

    "No."

    An awkward moment passed between them. Ritsuko glanced at the data feed, then back to Gendou. "If your son hadn't been so resourceful, she would have been dead long before I even saw her."

    "I know."

    Another moment, then: "Kizuko can't pilot Unit One."

    "I am painfully aware of that."

    "Will you transfer command to Shinji?"

    "I have little choice in the matter, the angels must be defeated. Unit Zero was pretty cheesed about us putting him in there in the first place, it won't put up with it again."

    She watched him from the corner of her eye. "Will Shinji?"

    "That is none of your concern, Doctor."

    "Would you have me place him as Rei's caretaker?"

    She was rewarded by seeing Gendou wince. `D'oh!` "Uh.. yeah.. Whatever.."

    "..."

    The comn beeped, Fuyutsuki appearing on a monitor a moment later. "The Committee wishes to speak with you, preferably as soon as possible."

    She heard Gendou give a derisive snort. "What do those fools want now?"

    Fuyutsuki gave him a weak smile, "Oh, I wouldn't even begin to speculate.."

    "I will be there shortly." as the viewscreen switched off, he turned to Ritsuko. "If you would, focus yourself upon Rei, and nothing else, Doctor."

    "Yes, sir."

    Gendou didn't see her smile as he strode out the door.

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Shinji turned off the TV with a derisive snort, laying back into the soft hospital bed. "Not a word.. on any of it." He grumbled, trying to bring himself into focus. He had fought the angel, and won. He had brought back Ayanami, alive. He had been deemed a hero.

    A hero currently confined in the psych ward, but hero none the less.

    'We want to run a few tests,' Dr. Akagi had said; 'To make sure piloting the Eva hasn't had any detrimental effects on you.'

    `Oh, no problems.. just some naked girl threatening to DESTROY MY SOUL... Other than that, I'm just Super.` He thought bitterly, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. Listless, he looked at everything that wasn't a ceiling.

    He was lying in the adjustable bed, located in a room painted 'comfortable white' with two windows to his right. The door was six feet to his left. A few monitors next to the bed beeped quietly to themselves. The TV was hanging on the wall in front of him, and a radio was built into the bed, along with an intercom system. Finally, his gaze flicked back up. "Man.. If these ceilings had eyes, they'd be pretty bored..."

    He hit the intercom button.

    A moment later, a female voice answered. "Yes, Ikari-kun?"

    "Can you patch me through to Doctor Akagi?"

    "One moment please." said the woman. Shinji waited patiently.

    Ritsuko's voice floated to him over the cheap speakers. "What's up, Ikari-kun? Feeling ok?"

    He smiled, in spite of himself. "Just fine, Doc. Been wondering about Ayanami, though.. How is she?"

    "Well, we just got out of the OR half an hour ago. Her arm is fixed, and she's feeling better."

    "Glad to hear it, Akagi-sensei."

    A brief chuckle came over to him. "Please, Ritsuko is fine."

    He raised an eyebrow. "Awfully familiar, ain't it?"

    Another chuckle. "Oh, just think of it as part of the way I show my gratitude."

    "For saving the city?"

    "No," She answered, "For saving my daughter."

    Shinji bolted upright, looking at the speaker. "Ayanami's your kid?!"

    When he didn't hear a response, he checked the intercom. It had been turned off from Ritsuko's side. He lay back, staring at the ceiling, once again confused. `Dang, I guess that means she's unavailable..`

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    Ritsuko smiled as she heard Shinji's cry of disbelief, flicking the off button. Yes, he was her personal hero, but that didn't mean she couldn't tease him.

    She looked to the form of her barely conscious daughter, and sighed. Crossing the room to Rei's side, Ritsuko brushed a few errant hairs back from the girl's eyes. Rei's brow furrowed at the touch, her eyes fluttering open. She moaned softly. "s.. shinji..?"

    Ritsuko leaned over her daughter, kissing her on the forehead. "You wish. No dear, it's me."

    Rei's eyes opened halfway, her crimson gaze still sleepy from the sedative. "Mom? what are you-"

    Ritsuko shushed her. "Sleep now. We'll talk later," Rei nodded weakly as Ritsuko continued. "I have a few things I have to do, but I'll be back shortly, ok?" She patted Rei gently on her good shoulder as she turned to go. "Cheer up, kiddo. You'll be fine."

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    "Mr. Ikari.."

    `Once more into the lion's den..` Gendou sighed inwardly. He was behind a holographic desk, seated at the virtual conference table of the Human Instrumentality Committee. Chairman Keel, and his Committee, were not pleased; although they were of no consequence, merely reflections of Keel: each as nagging and obnoxious as the last.

    "..Surely Nerv and the Eva's can be used more Efficiently?" Keel continued in his time weathered voice. Fortunately for Gendou, many of the man's facial expressions were hidden behind a visor; effectively saving him from Cthulhu's gaze. "First Unit Zero, and NOW you have wrecked Unit One on her maiden campaign!" The old man grumbled as he flicked on his monitor. "Their repair bills, PLUS the reconstruction of several armored buildings.. Why, It's going to cost as much as a small nation! Luxembourg, to be exact."

    Keel was a little more than 'angry' this time.  Gendou was going to have to appease him somehow. `Maybe chocolates?  That used to work with Yui...`

    The representative from Cagliostro, a spidery man with long hair and an airport for a nose, took his cue with a hauty, nasal voice. "Your Primary obligations are being forgotten.. or is it ignored? While these.. Pet Projects of yours Bankrupt us!"

    Ikari groaned inwardly. `I know where this is headed..`

    The American operative, a bulk of a man with chiseled features, leaned forward, openly glaring at Gendou. "Nerv and the Eva's are NOT your only concern!"

    `My life sucks...`

    "Well put." Keel said, typing a command into his computer console. A white page with prominent black text appeared, and he swiveled it around for all to see. Not that this was necessary, of course; everyone assembled knew what it said. Human Instrumentality Project, 17th Interim Report, Classified, Eyes Only, Do Not Pass Go, Yadda Yadda. "What about the Instrumentality Project, eh? To us, this project, above all others, represents the greatest hope for these dark times! Where are your priorities?"

    `One of these days, you old buzzard, I'll.. I'll..!` He sighed inwardly again. "I Understand."

    The German proxy, a greasy man with a pronounced widows peak in his oily black hair, snorted in contempt. "Well then. How is the intel op progressing?"

    "No need for concern. THAT particular manner has already been dealt with." `I'll get you for this, you slimy little..`

[_}~'\-/'~{_]
  ^ " ^

    `That's funny..` Shinji thought, sitting in the hospital waiting room for his ride. `No matter how much I think about it, Dr. Akagi still seems too young to have a daughter of 16..` He shook his head, attempting to clear it. It didn't work, but it settled his questions for awhile. He looked to the TV, which was still yapping about 'the unexplained meteor shower' which had damaged several buildings, while -for some inexplicable reason- 'a as yet unknown terrorist faction bombed several buildings during the meteor shower last night, destroying parts of the downtown office block'.

    "Geez, that has got to be the WORST attempt at a Government misinformation campaign I've ever seen.." he muttered.

    The elevators pinged, declaring someone's arrival. Shinji turned his attention to it, and froze. It was the only person who's visit was even more unpleasant than boredom.. His Father. Shinji turned away from him, swearing to himself. Surprisingly, Gendou walked over to him.

    "May I sit down?"

    "What's your clearance?" Shinji sighed, looking to his father.

    "Ultravio-"

    "Geez, pop, I was jokin'. Siddown if you must."

    Gendou took the seat to Shinji's left, visibly slumping into it. "Thanks."

    "Yeah yeah."

    "No," the Commander sighed, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I mean, thank you for defeating the Angel."

    Shinji stiffened, his head slowly turning to his father as if his body were made of stone. "Huh..?"

    Gendou chuckled lightly. "Yeah, you really had us going there for a second. And thanks.. for saving Ayanami."

    "Umn... yeah, sure.. you're welcome?"

    Gendou snorted in amusement. "Indeed."

    "You know I hate you." Gendou's eyebrow quirked in a strange manner as Shinji continued. "Funny thing is, I really don't want to hate you.. but you make it so easy!"

    Gendou blinked. "I.. see. Be that as it may, know that, despite all appearances, I am concerned about you."

    "Reeeeaaaallly.."

    "Yes. Really."

    An awkward moment passed between father and son, neither knowing what to say. Gendou sighed and slumped deeper into the hospital chair. "Bad day, huh?" Shinji asked.

    "Oh, one could say that, and horribly understate the events I have gone through since I awoke this morning." Gendou shrugged. "All in a days work, though."

    "Hey," Shinji gestured in a comforting manner, "..at least you haven't been threatened with the destruction of your soul by a naked chick floating in a sea of darkness."

    "Well, not today anyway.. Oh, you're to be transferred as Unit One's designated driver as of tomorrow, seeing as Rei is unable to pilot."

    "How is she?"

    Gendou inwardly smirked, `Was that a note of worry in his voice?` "I have not seen her since before the operation. I have heard, however, that she is fine.. and that the operation was a success. Doctor Akagi is not allowing anyone to see her."

    "Not even you?"

    Gendou shook his head. "No, not even me."

    A holographic window popped up before them, with Fuyutsuki inside. "Ikari!

    "Yes?" Father and son replied in unison.  Shinji glared at his father.

    "..Oh, so this is the third child?"

    "Yes," Commander Ikari nodded to Shinji. "Fuyutsuki, this is my son, Ikari Shinji. Shinji, meet Fuyutsuki Kozo, my second in command."

    "Pleased to meet you." Said the screen.

    "Likewise."

    "Well, Ikari, Final repairs on the Evangelions are being completed, and Ritsuko would like to see you about the.. left over pieces.."

    (Back at the Cage, Ritsuko glared at the large bolt in her hands. "Just where the hell does This go, anyway?!")

    "Nice job on that Angel, Shinji-kun." Fuyutsuki said, raising his fist in a 'go get 'em' gesture.

    "Ahh.. Yeah, Anytime."

    "Good!  I'm going to take that literally."

    "D'oh!"

    "Tell Doctor Akagi that I am on my way." Gendou said, standing up. Several joints popped, and he groaned. "Fuyutsuki."

    "Sir?"

    "Schedule me in for a vacation sometime in the immediate future."

    "Ye'Sir." The window said before disappearing.

    "Sorry to cut this short, duty calls."

    "I understand."

    "Your ride should be here shortly, and you'll be taken to administration for assignment of living quarters."

    Shinji nodded. Gendou smiled briefly, and then left. Once again Shinji was alone.

    It didn't last for long. The sharp 'Tap tap tap' of high heels pulled him from his reverie. Misato.

    "Hi ya, Shinji! Sorry I'm late.. kinda got lost again. teehee." He looked the older woman over. She was wearing a yellow sleeveless turtleneck and a blue denim skirt. She squirmed under his gaze. "What..?"

    "You look very good today. Those colors complement you nicely."
`Maybe you should be a cub scout den mother?`

    She blushed slightly. "Oh.. thank you.." Her embarrassment turned to anger. "You're not hitting on me, are you?!"

    Shinji shrugged. "Could be."

    Misato blinked. That wasn't exactly what she was expecting. She decided to drop the subject. "Uh, right. So then, ready to go?"

    He nodded.

[_}~`\-/'~{_]      Neon Genesis Evangelion: Honor's Duty
  ^ " ^               Stanza Three: A Silent Tear
                                End
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