RETURNING TO THE WAKING WORLD

Hayden turned slammed the emergency alarm as the entry plug rose higher coming out to its half way point revealing its door as the gold and silver lightning faded away as unit 02 fours eyes went dark. He could hear the pilot's entry plug emergency alarm going off as LCL sprayed out venting all over the place as the entry plug went completely still not moving or shifting. He turned seeing that everyone was running back into the bay as Rei just stood there in utter shock staring down at the entry plug which remained still inside the two magnetic coils.

He was right all along they weren't machines they weren't random AI they had the souls of the former test pilots in them Kyoko had been 02's former and she was Asuka's mother. It all made sense now as to why they acted so human and right now he didn't care that he could never tell anyone the truth knowing it was enough he looked at 02's entry plug not thinking as he ran up to it pushing ahead of the men and women if Asuka was in there she could open it from the inside unless she was too weak, he turned seeing Maya fly back in running past Rei the pure shock in her face. "What happened?"

She paused looking at the entry plug. "How did it rise up?" Hayden shrugged trying to play dumb. "I don't know 02 did it on its own I mean I just walked in here and I was talking with Rei before this happened." Maya breathed in seeing Rei turn running down the stairs and instantly jump onto the ladder getting herself up to where Hayden was.

She turned looking at all of read outs as Misato and the others came running in. "She's in there I have her heart beat and brain waves!" Hayden eyed the entry plugs door. "Is she to weak to open the door, I mean is that the problem?" He watched as the entry plugs door handle was pulled up then let go off, only for it to happen a second time Asuka was clearly struggling on the other side.

Rei moved past him "I'm going to help her I don't think she can get it open." She grabbed the handle yanking it with all of her might feeling grateful that the magnetic coil above was not blocking the door as she pulled it open forcefully. She looked around seeing that Asuka wasn't near the door anymore. She looked over finally seeing her, she was dressed in her plug suit sitting on the floor leaning against her control panel she had clearly tried to open the door but just hadn't been able to. "She's in here!" Hayden's voice hit the air. "Is she dressed, its just we can get you a towel if she isn't?"

Rei moved inside ignoring the LCL around her shoes as she got closer seeing that Asuka hadn't moved she was leaning forward her long red hair hanging down as she coughed up the last of the LCL from her lungs close by were her interface clips. "No she is dressed, just give us a moment okay?"

Hayden's voice came back as he spoke calmly. "Take as long as you need." Rei slowly kneeled down in front of Asuka taking hold of her face moving her head back gently catching sight of the scar on her left eye which was letting out blue and white light her teeth were also in there razor form and her good eye looked very confused as if she was having trouble focusing. She looked down seeing that her pendant was back in place she leaned closer speaking softly. "Asuka can you hear me?"

She watched as the blue eye tried to focus on her but it was clear the other woman was really struggling which really bothered her. "You remember me right?" Asuka's hand suddenly shot up grabbing her shirt as she started to gain some form of focus and she spoke weakly. "Where am I?" Rei looked at her for a long moment. "You're inside 02's entry plug you got sucked into the core, do you remember anything?" Asuka blinked as Rei's face finally came back into focus and the gears in her brain started turning very slowly. "Vaguely…"

Rei breathed in deeply she was getting really concerned now. "Do you remember me Asuka?" Asuka looked at her. "Please like I could ever forget a divine goddess, like you Rei." She groaned. "Please tell me Bardiel's not in my head anymore because the thought of him watching us kiss or anything else makes my skin crawl." Rei laughed leaning closer to her. "You got him out, you ate him."

She looked up seeing the light fade in the other woman's left eye as it went back to its pulsing blue pattern state and her teeth returned to normal. "It's all over the world news." Asuka tried to get up only to find she couldn't it wasn't weakness or even tiredness she just felt so disoriented. It was mentality taking her a long time to tie events together in her mind and her body just wouldn't move the way she wanted it to. "Yeah I remember that now tasted like badly burnt brisket."

Rei moved her hand to her face. "I don't know what that tastes like but what I will tell you that eating his S² Engine wasn't pleasant I wanted to throw up." Asuka felt her eyes dart, now she was really confused this sucked so much. Her brain just wasn't putting the pieces together fast enough and it was really frustrating. Rei was about to say something only for Mari to poke her head around the corner a wide grin appearing as she spoke. "Oh look my little sister has finally come back to join us!"

Rei looked up watching as she came inside closely followed by Shinji. "Don't shout, I think she's a little disorientated, though she did recognise me." Mari slowly kneeled down next to Asuka instantly seeing what she was talking about her younger sister just wasn't quite with it she could see it in her good eye.

She inched a little closer picking up Asuka's fallen interface plugs putting them in her pocket as she spoke very softly seeing Rei shift to give her more room. "You had us really worried Asuka, I thought you were going to pick paradise in there over being out here with us." Asuka looked up knowing her voice sounded weak. "Please I'd miss your four eyed face too much."

Mari didn't think as she pulled her in a hug knowing that she couldn't get away or struggle as she just wasn't firing on all cylinders. "Yeah well I'd miss you being a bratty princess so the feelings mutual." She kept a tight hold of her. "So tell me did you have fun eating Bardiel because it looked like you were having heaps of fun to us?"

Asuka breathed in sharply. "I really don't remember everything, my head's so messed up right now I feel like shaken playing dice." Mari gently let her go allowing Rei to move back in her spot. "Well nothing a large bottle of lager won't cure I'm sure and you know I'm going to buy you one right, you know once we get you back in to your normal clothes?"

Shinji slowly kneeled down next to Asuka feeling a smile form. "You're so dramatic Asuka, you know you had us all really worried for a second." Asuka laughed as she turned to him. "Says idiot Shinji the guy who I once had to drag kicking and screaming out of his Evangelion's entry plug because berserk mode had gone to his head." Shinji smirked knowing that she wasn't being rude or mean as her tone was very playful. "Yeah well unlike you I didn't eat two thirds of the angel."

Asuka took in a deep breath. "I was hungry okay and it seemed like a really good idea at the time." Mari raised her hand. "Yeah I should get a t-shirt printed with the line it seemed like a really good idea at the time and stick it on you. It will look good with the rest of your impassive t-shirt collection you keep in your clothes cupboard with your other wonders like I like you I'll kill you last." Asuka looked at her for a long moment. "I've never showed you my t-shirt's how do you know that?"

Rei eased up a hand putting it on her face. "You've been stuck in the core for some time Asuka a whole night has passed and Shinji and the others all stayed with me around your house." Asuka breathed in deeply. "I'm so sorry I didn't know." Rei leaned forward gently kissing on the lips. "It doesn't matter you're back now that's all that counts." Asuka turned sharply eyeing Mari. "Why were you in my bedroom going through my draws?"

Mari raised her hands. "Before you loose your shit, I was trying to cheer Rei up, because she was fucking miserable without you, I was trying to humour her by going through all your t-shirt designs." She looked up slightly. "Because I gathered you'd want me to take care of her since you weren't around."

Asuka felt a smile form as she eyed her older sister. "Thank you Mari." Mari blinked in surprise she had been expecting some dry annoyed comment in return not that. Shinji moved closer. "Want us to give you a hand to stand up Asuka?" Asuka looked at him for a long moment her younger self would have said no but she was okay with this she knew she wasn't really in a fit state to walk herself. "Please help me up."

Shinji moved over easing her up onto her feet watching as Mari took her other arm as Rei smiled stepping out of the entry plug. They slowly moved forward out onto the platform helping Asuka who really was taking this slow he watched as the entire dock erupted in cheered and clapping much to Asuka's surprise.

Mari eyed her little sister who clearly had no idea of what to make of this. "Welcome back your highness looks like everyone's happy to see your return from up on high." She leaned over keeping her voice low. "And you thought nobody liked you and they hated your guts some time back." Hayden moved towards Asuka smirking as she looked so utterly confused now. "Well, well look who has finally joined us."

He watched as she looked away as he raised his hands. "Hey I'm not going to have a go at you, I know our last chat wasn't that great a couple of years ago I called you a selfish, cheating, little shit." Asuka looked down slightly. "I'm really sorry…I cheated in the card game you had every right to be angry with me." She breathed in deeply. "I stacked the deck in my favour and gave you the poor cards." She looked up ignoring his surprise. "I'll get you a new season ticket and a back stage pass."

Hayden moved a step closer. "No that's not necessary I went there the year after and it wasn't all it was cracked up to be but I have heard a rumour that you make motorbikes from scratch and you can mod engines to make them even better." Rei turned to him. "She can believe me." Hayden looked at Asuka. "My Harley Davidson cruising motorbike is not that great, so how's about you customize it for me and we'll call it even?"

He paused before speaking. "Once you're back on your feet and you're fully rested that is." Asuka looked up. "I can do that." Hayden moved forward putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's a deal then." He turned seeing that Misato, Kaji and Maya were down bellow along with Toji and Kaworu. "We'll bring her down to you! She's a little unsteady on her feet and she might struggle with the ladder."

He made the signal watching as a women workers bellow pressed the machine bringing the walkway back down slowly to the ground so that it connecting with the main lower walkway. Misato watched as Mari and Shinji brought Asuka towards them while Rei stayed in front a big smile on her face.

She moved forward so she was close to Asuka who looked very tired. "You know you had us all really worried there we thought you might choose to stay in core because you didn't like it out here." Asuka looked up a sly smile forming. "No it's not like they have an LGBT magazine in there for me to read when I'm bored." She paused. "They don't do decent coffee either." She looked up as she turned serious. "Rei's is also out here not in there and so is my big sister along with all the other people I care about."

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She turned realizing for the first time that Rei was wearing her leather jacket she hadn't noticed it until now. Kaji felt a smile form. "Well we are glad you had plenty of reasons to come back." Asuka looked up speaking in a half playful tone. "Yeah well it's nice to know that you'd all miss my award winning personality." Maya laughed eyeing her. "Yes we all would." Mari smirked as she ruffled Asuka's red hair with the other hand. "Come on little sister lets get you, showered, dressed and changed."

She turned to the others. "You guys can chat to her once she rested plus her memories are a little foggy and she needs to see the news reports." Maya moved forward. "How are you foggy Asuka?" Asuka breathed in deeply. "I don't remember much after eating Bardiel it's really hazy and please don't ask me what happened in the core, I just don't remember. Right now all I can say is that despite being sucked in there I feel much better than I felt before and I really don't know why." She felt her eyes dart. "I know it's not just that I got Bardiel out, it's something more but I just can't remember what it was."

Maya put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe something we can talk about when you're much more rested perhaps?" Asuka looked up. "Yeah another time maybe…" Shinji looked up. "Hey Asuka I know you don't remember everything but you might want to see Rei's unit now because it's very similar to yours." Mari smirked as she helped turn Asuka so she could see 00. "That's putting it fucking mildly your girlfriends unit has the same jaw type just with slightly different teeth and even body build though its muscles are much leaner and the tails very different in that like me she only has one."

She smirked. "And it's got this fucking wicked cutting blade at the end of the tail which cut through that AT field of yours like butter." Asuka turned staring at 00 feeling the confusion wash over her as she eyed 00 granted their crests were very different but she could see just what Mari was getting at same jaw type and body build and lycanthrope like walking ability much like hers and she could see the massive tail with its huge cutting blade which was being brought up out of the bloody water by the workers. "Heilige Scheiße."

Rei folded her arms giving her a smile. "I was inspired what can I say." Asuka blinked as she turned to her. "How?" Rei raised an eyebrow. "I had 00 eat Bardiel's S² Engine which you threw out when you were eating him." Asuka felt a wide toothy smile form. "Yeah well wasn't like I was going to eat it anyway I just knew I didn't need it." Shinji turned looking at Asuka. "Should see her angry look too she's got red glowing eyes like me but her teeth are very similar to yours." Asuka eased up her hand as best she could. "Please I want the full recording of that!" Mari eyed her. "You can later."

She turned to Shinji. "Come on give me a hand getting her back to the wreck room, I mean they've fixed it now but it'll take them a week to redo the glass up both corridors." Asuka took in a deep breath looking down slightly. "Why am I cursed to remember that along with blowing out two levels of the Arcades zones glass, I mean he cut off his voice again so I couldn't hear but I could see it all? It just feels like more that I can add to the long list of things I've broken in these past few weeks."

Rei moved towards her putting a hand on her face very gently. "It's just wood, metal and glass Asuka it can all be replaced, you on the other hand can't." She leaned closer. "Also now that you're back I'm dying for you tell me all about those images you drew of me on your computer, because Anneberg was showing me them while you were away." She paused speaking in a silky soft voice. "Because I saw them all including the ones in your school sketch book, it was really fascinating." Mari turned seeing the blush as it started to creep into Asuka's cheeks. "Oh really so did she draw images of you when you were naked?"

Asuka narrowed her gaze watching as Rei took in a deep breath shaking her head. "Shut up four eyes, I would never do that." Shinji took in a deep breath. "Seriously you can carry on this conversation back in the wreck room." Mari eyed Asuka. "He has a point." Misato watched as they started to move Asuka away she turned to Kaji. "She going to remember soon enough and realize that she created two lances."

Kaji pulled a disc out of his pocket passing it to her as they walked into Misato's office along with Maya who closed the door behind them. "This just got sent directly to you from Seele, I got one as well and so did Maya. Asuka did not create two Lances of Longinus she created two Spears Of Destiny they are very different but more over they are weapons of creations rather than destruction and they are the equal and parallel opposite to the lances."

He breathed in deeply. "I think you had a good point about the destroyer of worlds having something to come back for." He paused before speaking. "Seele want her to learn to use those Spears and I feel as soon as she's well enough there going to be forced back into her hands whether she wants them or not."

Misato breathed in putting the disc away. "It makes no sense there are two Lances of Longinus and she was their former keeper one is missing the other is useless unless she breathes life into it and now she creates two new ones." She shook her head. "I think this is all that other Rei's doing she's clearly a god, she said that our Rei was like her but she changed her giving her a normal life and that Asuka made a deal with her though we will never know what the deal was or even if it's been fulfilled."

Kaji leaned against the wall watching as Maya listened quietly. "You're worried you think that maybe Rei and Asuka are her pawns in a much bigger game." Misato nodded calmly. "She's clearly against the angels but that doesn't mean she's on our side and since all we have are fifty painted digital images which show the rise and fall of 02 and our Rei and nothing beyond that we have nothing to go on and we have no clue about what our Rei and Asuka went though in their former human instrumentality before they were both swept up by this goddess and sent on to be reborn." She folded her arms. "I think she has massive plans for those two and we are going to get pulled along regardless."

Maya raised her hand. "Personally I'd just rather that she's on our side but I've heard Gendo doesn't like her but he won't say why only that he prefers his daughter over her. Granted it's not much of a compliment from him but it's weird that he'd ever talk about it, it's like he's nervous." Misato shook her head. "Also now Bardiel is dead it will probably be a year or more before another angel show's up and we have to somehow work on something to stop them getting in the pilots minds first Shamshel and now Bardiel and he spoke of another brother who is far worse named Arael."

Maya looked up. "Well I can work on something but it will have to be something that dims the attack but doesn't stop it, like they can get in but without the emotional feeling. I doubt after them seeing Bardiel get eaten that they'll try it this way again and they might be scared of the Spears of Destiny as well." She pushed her hair back. "My team also believes that though Bardiel died his soul accessed and he used Asuka to accomplish his final goal that was what the blue and white creature was leaving in that strange void was all about, though were he went we will never ever know."

She breathed in deeply. "We could have never foreseen that this was his final goal but it says a lot about the state of Adam's children, for one to break free and ascend it means the command structure is breaking down and they all may no longer want to play along and they want out which also means that some may not even choose to come at all. It also makes me wonder as the Rei who is a god said she is from our worlds first cycle and that she is a traveller. So she could have passed though many places and even others parallel worlds before coming back to our world and she could be beyond ancient and it was our Rei that gave up her god hood to her making her even more powerful."

Kaji breathed in deeply. "Yeah you know I find that whole concept depressing I mean this world must have been a wreck if both Asuka and Rei were so happy to destroy it and start over, makes me wonder just what happened." Misato took in a deep breath. "I'm really not sure I want to find out personally, since I prefer our world over whatever caused that fucking train wreck and I don't think it was just Asuka getting permanently crippled in the right leg and loosing her whole left eye, I think there was way more going on that we just don't know about."

8

Keel looked up the red light flashing across his visor. "Did you find it!?" Hikari folded her arms eyeing Keel who was seated with five monoliths behind him all with their glowing red Ouroboros symbols and numbers one to five on each. "No, we fucking didn't!" Kensuke pushed up his silver framed glasses. "The Lance wasn't where you said Nerv ditched it! Some asshole took it and we did not enjoy combing the bottom of the dead zone trying to find it plus we had to submerge Bukavac because Asuka picked her moment to show up and fight Bardiel right above us."

Hikari eyed her lover. "You mean picked her moment to fucking cannibalize him." Kensuke folded his arms. "Your ex is fucking messed up I mean she ate him while he was alive." Hikari eyed him feeling her teeth grind together. "She is not my ex Kensuke we talked about this!" Kensuke moved speaking softer as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Who cares what she is, she's a bitch and I'm going to rip out her stomach when we meet again for what she did to you, she put you in the hospital wing over night." Keel breathed in deeply. "Clearly one of our rivals took it."

Ouroboros one spoke her cold female voice echoing through the room. "Ankh perhaps Cerberus would never take it, it has no value to them, they're more interested in the creation on of anti AT field weapons and they have never been successful from what I've heard. It's why they've never brought their full power to order because it would be a blood bath though we have heard that they have created a new faster and much better vertical wing which they had those rich foolish twins test for them and our spies are telling us that they are now building them on mass because they still saw the outcome as a huge success."

Keel took in another deep breath. "I do not fear their meagre efforts, I do however fear Ankh because they have vast power at there disposal and we have never found their base. Granted we killed the founder Langley many years ago but cutting of the snakes head did nothing the body carried on thrashing around and it re-grew two heads just like a hydra."

Ouroboros two spoke in a dark even male voice. "Ankh could destroy us if they ever find a way to create Evangelions, because then we'll have Nerv on one side and them on the other. It would be even worse if they joined together."

Keel turned slightly. "That will not happen believe me and there are so many reasons as to why not." He paused before speaking. "No our creations can crush Nerv and any half breed Evangelion Ankh creates, we have created the ultimate gods our Archangels will bring order to this world!" Ouroboros Three spoke her voice full of concern. "Three of the six Evangelion's have transcended they have taken on their primal inhuman forms and the German girl created two Spears of Destiny, they could hurt our creations badly!"

Keel sat back. "Its still a miner point, do you really believe the German girl can use them to rekindle life? I doubt it she is a destroyer of worlds that is her purpose! It's why human instrumentality kicks her out in every cycle she effects heaven and turns into hell for others because she sets them free. Its how she became a destroyer in the first place because she repeated it over and over until the time came when she had so much power than the two Lance's of Longinus, turned away from Shinji and began to seek her out, as he was becoming more balanced in every cycle and she was becoming more unhinged, the lances choose their owner not the other way around."

He breathed in deeply. "No Asuka will never be the creator she will do what she is made for, she will destroy and Rei Ayanami won't change that and she gave up any real power she ever had when she made the choice to throw away her godhood to become normal flesh and blood just like Kaworu who betrayed us all in the last cycle and again when his soul was inside human instrumentality as he asked only to remember Shinji and in returned he also wanted to loose all memories of the past cycles. The goddess Rei the traveller granted his wish and we could do nothing to stop it, she basically took away our prize and made him a sickly human being and useless to us."

He breathed in deeply. "No our aim should be to get the two Lances Of Longinus and when the right time comes give them back to the destroyer of worlds so she can finish what she started and destroy this world for us it's just this time we won't allow that Rei goddess to interferer again and it will reset the clock again and return everything back to how it was when we are not spilt but thirteen again and we have full control over this world."

Ouroboros Two spoke again. "You can not guarantee that plus none of know what happened to our former thirtieth member Seele believe they faded out and died and though we believe the same it does not mean they will return when we reset this world." Keel put his hands together. "Regardless it's a risk we have to take."

End of part 67

Silvermoonlight