Evangelion: The World Set Free

[TheNaut131]

"All of you, just leave."

Alexander just stood there, holding the small computer Owen had just thrown to him. He just sorta froze, as Dr. Laurence finished his rant. The man looked so dejected and just tired, that Alexander suddenly wanted to take back all the mean little quips he'd said to Owen earlier. Mostly because all that Owen said was true and it showed how irrational they were acting.

Why had he gotten so animated about a plan he barely cared about? His own petty revenge for something insignificant? He looked to the other pilots, Leonidas was still partially fuming, Rev tries to calm himself, Addison begins to lower her offense, Aiber shifts uncomfortably, and Piggy simply stood there like any terrified eleven year old would. Alexander then realized something. The guns hadn't fazed him, nor the guards, he hadn't cared about Owen's feelings, or getting in trouble. He'd simply worried about getting it done and the moment he realized they'd failed, he'd simply been worried about failing. Not guards, or repercussions, or anything. When Piggy earlier proposed his plan, these had been the things holding Alexander back, but since then Alexander had been turning his feelings on and off, not really thinking, just doing. He looked down at the laptop in his hands.

"My God, I'm crazy..." Alexander said this aloud and everyone looked at him. The guards stood awkwardly, Owen didn't move an inch, and David simply watched. The pilots gave him mixed looks he couldn't really decipher.

He looked at his teammates.

"We're all crazy, and we're in charge of defending the planet." Alexander chuckled a bit. It was so horribly funny to him. They gave him even more mixed up looks and thoughts, except he could read these. Offense, wary, realization, and exhaustion. He'd said what he wanted to say and everyone just sorta stared at him for a bit and then back to Owen.

The guards were waiting for another order, but after a few minutes they realized that Owen honestly wanted everyone to just leave. No charges, no arrest, just leave. Since it meant no paper work, they just sorta dispersed, only taking small, quick glances at the pilots. Once they were gone, it was just the pilots, Owen, and David peaking around a corner. No one knew what to do next so Alexander did the logical thing. He walked up to Dr. Laurence, left the laptop in front of him, and began walking away. He began to think aloud. He could hear everyone's thoughts, might as well his own.

"You know, I really want to be friends with you guys, so that when this all ends we won't be left with some void in our lives. We never really hang out or talk, and when we die nothing is lost, no tears are shed. Even if we lived to see the end of the angels, we'd be just as dead to the world and practically each other as Grim is. Sure, they could have parades for us, but it wouldn't wipe the blood off our evas or give us back the last few years of our lives. Life. That word is losing meaning to me."

He looked over to his team, slightly confused and perhaps worried, but each person was displaying characteristics that weren't them.

"I honestly do like all of you." Alexander paused for a bit, simply waiting for the elevator arrive and thinking about all he'd done today.

"But the more I get to know you guys...the more I realize I make a really crappy friend."

Spoiler: OOC

Alexander realizes the errors of his way, gives the laptop back to Owen, shares his feelings, and leaves.

 

[CJ1145]

Rev lowered his weapon, slightly, as he heard Owen shouting at him. The man looked mortified and enraged all at once. But he did not holster his gun. Not until the NERV guards were gone. He didn't trust a single one of them. He listened as the poor man begin to screech his grievances at everyone in the room. A tinge of guilt hit the back of Rev's mind as he understood the implications of invading a man's privacy for his own vendettas. But he wasn't sure that was enough to make him stop.

Before he could say anything in response to the poor man, Alexander began to speak up as well. He called himself crazy. He called all of them crazy. As if it were some startling revelation. Rev had known for quite some time he was insane, his only virtue on the matter was his ability to focus it. Someone obsessed with psychoanalysis and philosophy can only go so long before diagnosing themselves.

He lowered his gun as the guards left. But he still didn't let go. He wasn't going to be caught completely off guard.

As Alexander spoke he thought about his own opinions on the matter. About how unfriendly they all really were, deep down. He certainly wasn't the most complimentary person. As Alex walked past him, Rev spoke up.

"Don't make excuses."

Alexander turned to look at him, only to receive a punch to the face for his troubles. Coming from Rev, it hurt as much as maybe a light slap from one of the Neo-Spartans, but the point came across. As Pollux hunched over, nursing his wound, Rev grabbed his hair and yanked him up to eye level.

"You're an idiot if you think you're going to get to just walk out of here and wallow in self pity! You think that just because you've made mistakes you're some kind of monster kid? We're human. It's part of who we are."

He turned to the others. "We've all got our problems, our demons. And as much as we'd like to hope that sleep, or time, or beer will wipe them all clean, they won't! They're an imprint on your soul, a part of who you are! They can never be ignored, because they'll build up, and they'll come back stronger than ever. You have to embrace your fears, your doubts, everything that eats at you and wear them on your sleeve! We may all have our differences, maybe we're all broken, weak humans. But we're broken together. We can help each other, support each other. Our individuality is our greatest attribute, but that does not mean we need to be alone. We are not alone. And as long as we're all here together, we never will be."

Finally, he looked at Owen.

"That goes for you too. You may be angry, you may think we're irrational, and maybe we are. But whether we were brought here against our will or not, we're in it for the long haul, and we're not going to be cast aside like old toys when NERV is done with us. I can tell you're scared, Owen. Scared about something, very deeply. And if you want help with it, we're here."

He didn't step to leave just yet. He wanted to make sure he hadn't just created a social firebomb.

Spoiler: OOC

Rev prevents Alexander from leaving and goes on a rant about the need to work together, and to embrace your problems rather than hide from them. He also tells Owen that he is willing to help him, if he wants.

 

[Pappytech]

Well now. Reality has rather gone topsy-turvy, hasn't it?

David stared in a mixture of shock and disbelief at the scene before him. Pissed off teenagers, an enraged scientist (Who was technically still his boss), and several NERV guards armed to the bloody teeth; since when did things like these happen?

At least people had deigned to lower their weapons, both the guards and the pilot who was now shouting something about working together. David's own hands slowly unclenched as well, the heavy weight resting under his arm remaining in place. There would be no need for that here, not now anyways.

"Heheh."

David was somewhat surprised to find himself laughing, chuckling at the assortment of people gathered here. His mirth was not directed at the young Mr. Rev's heartfelt speech, nor at the good Dr. Laurence's wrathful reproaches, not at the youths' rebellious attitudes, not at the guards slowly lowering their weapons, wary looks of confusion crossing their faces. No, he was laughing at the absurdity of the entire situation, at the surreal position they found themselves in.

"Oh, that was brilliant, well done, well done. Beautiful speech Mr. Rev, really, heheh. Sounds like something we'd put into one of our videos."

What the hell, eh? If the situation was going to rise to levels of inanity such as these, then a little more escalation couldn't hurt.

"Yes, let's just all hold hands around the campfire, singing Kumbaya, right? What's the saying, 'Love makes the world go round'?"

Slowly, David's voice began to harden, his cheerful expression fading away.

"What kind of world do you think we live in? What kind of hell do you think this is? A few kind words and a white flag won't solve your problems; they won't change men's nature or convince nations to work together.

"You honestly believe that you've got a chance, that you're going to survive this? I don't know what you've been seeing, but I've watched the lot of you get tossed about like children on the playground, get your arms ripped off, heads torn away. And it's not like the Angels are getting weaker, no, THEY'RE GETTING FUCKING STRONGER! How much longer do you think you can keep them back, how long before they break each and every one of you?!"

Emotions other than anger started filling David's tone, peals of grief and terror, as he continued speaking.

"We're standing on the edge here. We're watching as mankind is burnt away, as we return to the dust. It's not a matter of if we're going to lose; it's a matter of when. Death's coming for us, for you and you and you and you and... and me..."

His voice slowed as wet stickiness spread across David's palm and fingers. Glancing down, he blinked at the blood dripping from his hand, his fingernails having torn through his skin. He shook his head, knocking his glasses slightly askew, as he brought his uninjured hand up, gripping his forehead.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Hell, you probably know what kind of mess we're in better than I do. It's just... Heh... I really, really need a nap."

Turning his gaze to Dr. Laurence, whatever bit of secrecy that David still held within him snapped. So what if the room was filled by guards and pilots, so what if people heard his questions? What could possibly make his situation any worse?"

"Dr. Laurence, I need to know. What is SEELE?"

Spoiler: OOC

Stressed and sleep-deprived, David reacts rather poorly to Rev's attempted encouragement. On the verge of giving up, he drops all pretenses and questions Owen in front of everybody.

 

[hiei82]

Owen rose from his chair. His body had calmed enough for at least some functionality to return. He ignored David's question and Rev's offer as best as possible. He had little other choice; his wonderful little guest wouldn't allow him another option. He doubted he could get a word out before the little creature had killed him. Yet, to ignore the question's would be dangerous beyond even his own life. If the pilots did not receive their answers, he would die anyway - the rest of humanity with them. If there was anything he could not accept, it would be the angels victorious.

[i/] Time to choose Owen: quick painful death with just the slightest hint of resistance and meaning or delayed death, with all humanity at your side. [/i]

Owen walked slowly into the hallway. When David began to protest, the pilots on his heels, he just raised his hand in a gesture of silence, and walked slowly down the hallway - to his discarded box lying all but forgotten near the elevator. If he was going to go this, it may as well be filled with pain medication. More importantly, he needed a moment to think. If he was going to make this meaningful, he would need to find a way to get the information they needed before his death. For that, he would need to convince his guest to let him live long enough - no easy task.

As he reached down to pick up the box, an idea occurred to him. Well, reoccurred to him anyway. It was risky of course - what one of his plans wasn't - but it was the only option. hell, he might even get to live to see tomorrow. He steeled his mind.

[i/]"Alastor. I have a proposition"[/i] he said, jumping into the conversation head first. [b/][i/]"What would that be my host? I know what you are planning to do - to speak of the Doomsayer's - and you know I will not allow it. What can you, a mere mortal, offer to change my disposition"[/i][/b] the creature called out in disdain. Owen sighed. "now or never" he uttered under his breath as he lowered the mental walls he had erected against the beast. [i/]"See for yourself"[/i].

The feeling of a creature, as alien as the word could mean, touching your soul was surprisingly pain free. He could feel the beast plunging through his mind, learning at a speed that would be unimaginable to a human. After what felt like hours of near constant nervousness, though the actual time was nigh-unmeasurable, The monster in his mind began to laugh. [b/][i/]"I did not know such mortals existed; most interesting. Very well. I shall aid you in your endeavor and the Doomsayers shall die for their impudence"[/i][/b]. By the time the exchange was over, He had finished retrieving the box and had re-entered his office

Owen was flabbergasted; not that his plan had worked, though it had contributed, but that the creature he had spent so much time fighting and fearing held more hate for the Doomsayers; rather Seele; than he did. Closing the door and sitting back in his chair, Owen set the box on his desk - the morphine within no longer necessary. He reached within his desk and retrieved a somewhat more important device - a remote to the rooms sound system. He pressed the button and was rewarded with one of his favorite songs: Bach's toccata and fugue.

"Please excuse the music; I'm afraid the members of Seele have very good hearing. Seele, Mr. Ashford, are many things. The word is German and means "Soul" though the relevance of that particular piece of information is minimal; it is only their proper name. They have many names aside from that. The more famous names include the "New World Order", the "Gnomes of Zurich", and yes Mr. Gemini, you may laugh if you like; the "Illuminati". They have more power and control than anyone outside their group truly know. There are twelve of them and they are led by a man named Keel Lorenz, though I suspect that is just a pseudonym. They provide the bulk of NERV's backing and they know even more about the angels than we do, thanks in no small part to something called the "Dead Sea Scrolls" - though what they are remains a mystery. Other than that, they have access to several powerful... objects. I believe you saw reference to two of them in my notes; the Lance of Longinus that "pierced the side of Christ" and the Horn of Jericho "that brought down the walls." The later of the two helped you escape the grasp of the angels when they invaded your minds. I don't truly understand their goals - only that they call it the Human Instrumentality Project and it somehow is supposed to take advantage of the conditions that caused the second impact to push humanity to the next stage of it's evolution - whatever that is supposed to mean. So, to answer your question Mr. Ashford, if I may quote Churchill, Seele is "a mystery wrapped in an enigma." That, Mr. Rev, is what I fear - among other things" Owen expounded, sweating as though from exertion.

Spoiler: OOC

Owen makes a mad decision and allows Alastor into the furthest reaches of his mind in hopes of convincing him to join his cause. Successful, Owen answers David's question as best he can.

 

[TheNaut131]

Alexander could still feels Rev's punch, it didn't hurt to badly, but it flared a bit as he laughed. What a day this had been. A failed attempt at love, learning a good chunk of information he could've just asked for, a humiliating reveal of the Alexander's own naivete and narcissism, Rev knocking some sense into him, David finally getting to the point of all this, and Owen revealing that Seele was one of the oldest secret organization on Earth, attempting to give humanity a push in the terms of evolution.

Alexander found this all strangely hilarious, wondering what would've happened if he'd made a few different choices. And Seele? The New World Order? Illuminati? Alexander found this more hilarious because it made perfect the sense to him. Even fifteen years after the event, the world was still pulling itself back together, humanity trying to survive the threat of the angels. Of course someone would be trying to make a power play, perhaps doing the extreme and unbelievable, especially on the prospect that it was for "the good of mankind." That mostly explained Seele, but there was something that6 bothered Alexander.

"So, if all you said is true, about Seele, about their plans, I only have one thing to ask you. The one thing that really matters."

Owen hardened a bit, but quickly relaxed. He probably knew this question was coming.

"Where do you fit into this and why does Seele need you?"

Spoiler: OOC

Alexander mulls things over and asks Owen how hes involved.

 

[hiei82]

[b/]"Where do you fit into this and why does Seele need you?"[/b] Pollux questioned, digging to the heart of the issue. Owen had expected the question; how could he not. Owen, not really wanting to answer the first part of the question, began with the second.

"Seele doesn't need me" He stated flatly, confusing the pilots. "Seele only needs people they can control. This is only conjecture, but because of their small size, they cannot control the world directly. What more, many country's elect their leaders, most of whom have limited terms of office. As a result, they need legions of proxy leaders to enforce their will. Eventually, if you work your way far enough up the chain, a proxy leader will need to know about Seele, if only in passing. This means higher you rise, the more tight the chains they bind you with. With the angels being the only true threat to their plans, and it's vital role in the Human Instrumentality Project, NERV is watched more closely than most. When Sandor was incapacitated, they needed a new director. I just happened to be high enough up the chain of command and had enough skeletons for them to enforce their control." Owen concluded the explanation, his face contorting in annoyance. Owen braced himself for the next answer. Unlike the other questions, he had no clear answer they would accept so easily. Owen took a breath than began anew.

"As to where I fit in... it's because I went to them for aid, and a devils bargain was struck." He let the words sink in for a moment before he continued, their protests ignored. Owen glanced back at David. "The same day you found me below actually... I never did thank you for helping me did I? Thank you for the help." Owen said, the tangent a welcome diversion.

"When the Ohotorael attacked your minds, an apparition of the creature appeared before NERV. At the time we believed it to be the true body of the angel. With all of unconscious and your condition's deteriorating, I had to make a move to stop it. Seele had the tools, resources, and knowledge to stop it, even if only temporarily. That's when they used the Horn of Jericho to push the beast back - by disrupting it's A.T. Field I suspect. Of course, being a devil's contract, it had some... repercussions that, until quiet recently, prevented me from so much as mentioning Seele." Owen concluded, his hand once again returning to the small incision on the back of his head.

Reaching into his mind, Owen contacted Alastor. [i/]"Anything to add?"[/i] he pried. [b/][i/]"I said I would aid you, I did not say I would act as your herald."[/i][/b] Alastor curtly jeered.

[i/]"Even turned traitor you're a jackass"[/i] Owen said, a little hot under his collar

Spoiler: OOC

Owen answers Pollux's question and has a word with Alastor.

Also, any other questions?

 

[Asclepion]

Even with the computer being jerked around, Piggy did not stop transmitting.

Nikolai Ark's world was being turned upside down. The next time someone asked Piggy why he piloted, he knew he would have a whole new answer. It's because of them that Seele exists. They gave Seele it's power. Nerv is fueled by the Angels even as it destroys them. Piggy finally spoke.

"Director Laurence, I've decided that I don't care what it takes, or how many risks I have to run. I don't care what happens to me. I hate the Angels. And we will find a way to stop them."

 

[TheNaut131]

"Director Laurence, I've decided that I don't care what it takes, or how many risks I have to run. I don't care what happens to me. I hate the Angels. And we will find a way to stop them."

Alexander chuckled a bit. Where had that come from? A moment ago Owen was revealing all he knew about Seele and how they were using him, and suddenly Piggy just croaked out his mission statement.

"You and everyone else in this room."

Alexander brushed himself off.

 

[Pappytech]

So. There it was. David got his answer; he knew what was coming. He had stepped into a world he had no idea even existed, and was already suffering its wrath. A forced half-smile slid across his face, as he muttered out loud, "...So I've got the Illuminati after my head? Lovely."

This has got to be a dream, or something. No way this is actually happening. In a few moments, I'll just wake up, and everything will be fine, right?

Come now, you know that's not true. There's no point in deluding yourself; you need to face your trials.

Inner ramblings aside, David registered the young pilot, Mr. Ark, declaring his determination to stop the Angels at any and all costs, and then Mr. Gemini adding his two cents as well. Youthful defiance in the face of utter despair, standing proud and tall before insurmountable odds. If he wasn't such a cynic, David might have felt compelled to join in, and offer some other inspirational phrase to the discussion.

As it was, the most he could offer was a small, sad smile, for the pilots. These were the children, no, men and women that held mankind's survival in their hands, that stood between humanity and the abyss. No doubt they would suffer, no doubt they would cry out in pain and agony as they battled with tooth and claw for the future of their species. They may not stand a chance in hell at winning, but that didn't make their stance any less meaningful.

Clearing his throat, David met Dr. Laurence's expectant glance. If the man was willing to answer further questions, then there was no point in not asking them.

"First, I suppose that you're welcome for the help. Though I have to admit I'm regretting my decision more and more these days... no offense towards you, of course, but having a thousand year old secret society breathing down your neck will cause you to rethink a few decisions.

"Second, what kind of deal leaves one of its parties twitching on the floor, writhing in pain? I can imagine that SEELE isn't exactly subject to workplace safety laws, but what exactly did they do to you? Clearly you're a man with plenty of resources; you should have been able to find a way to deal with a bug or a tail. What could possibly frighten you into silence?"

Spoiler: OOC

David attempts to reject the reality of his situation, but realizes doing so is somewhat pointless. Questions Owen as to how SEELE could have been tracing his every movement and communication, in hopes of learning a way to escape their notice.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Everything that she knew spilled into the open. The fact that she was a manufactured was made known to her fellow teammates. She wanted to break it to them slowly. To piece together this elaborate secret that she's been keeping this entire time. She expected that in one way or another that her true origin would be known but not like this. It was thrown into the open in dossier form nonetheless.

Her breath left her lungs without a sound. More was spilled onto the table like SEELE and what they had planned for people like Thirteen or her sister.

She ignored the armed guards. She ignored the banter that the others were belting out because her secret had been broken. Her eyes were to the ground. Fingers digging into her palms which had gone cold again. Deep inside she was distraught, shocked at the mess that the group had uncovered. Her face might have shown utter indifference but on the inside she was more shattered and confused than before.

I'm a failure...

Addison's sense of inferiority had switched from Fifteen to the fact that the very company that had "made" her now deemed her nothing short of a failure. Maybe for good reason but it was still heartbreaking. Even if she might have been spared by scalpel she was now forced to live by the sword. There was relief in this but it was mostly covered by a cold depression. It was knowing that everything that she has ever tried, or has ever done will result in nothing to these people. That her efforts, or the way she talked, the way she thought, the way she acted, or interact with the people around no longer hold a greater importance to those higher up. It was both freeing and heart-breaking.

Tears began to stream down her face. Her shoulder moved up and down like a jackhammer. She made a noise. It sounded like she was sobbing, almost uncontrollably. Then she put a hand to her mouth and leaned onto the wall. Addison looked up and revealed her face. Her grin stretched from cheek to cheek. She wasn't crying. She was laughing.

It was odd to say the least. Her laugh was shrill, like a blue jay's call. A silence fell on the others at the room. Addison walked into the hallway filling it with her distinctive laugh.

"I'm free....I'm free... I'm fucking free..." Her laugh went up and down. It would be loud then silent. Hopping the line between sadness and happiness.

Spoiler: OOC

Addison sees the truth but is stricken with a rare laughing fit. She walks out of the room to laugh some more.

 

[TheNaut131]

Alexander noticed Addison begin to break down, her hand against her mouth, shaking a bit, as she began to heavily sobbed. Owen's answer to David's question had been cut short, as this strange fight emerged next to them. The pilots stared at her, not really sure what to say. Had she experienced her own grim epiphany, due to learning all this information? Was she having problems handling it? He tried to hear what was going on in her head, but found nothing. No one was revealing anything. Alexander walked up to her, about to lay his hand on her shoulder, when suddenly she revealed her face. She laughing like a madman, and Alexander was a-okay with it. Sure, she was crying a bit, but her tears seemed almost like tears of joy to him. She walked out of the room, laughing something as she walked out.

"I'm free....I'm free... I'm fucking free..." She said as she existed the room. Alexander grinned. He wasn't sure what she was talking about, it was nice to see that something good had come out of this for someone. He tried to talk to his brother.

"So, I see you've fixed that 'interference,' huh?"

No response.

"Um, Castor? Hello?"

He could feel Samuel squirming around in there, but he didn't respond. It seemed as if Samuel was working on something, perhaps making a few precautions so this 'interference.' didn't happen again? Alexander decided to give up on that and focus on Owen and David, as the other pilots had. Samuel would respond whenever he wanted to, Alexander
supposed.

[hr]

"Hmm, what is going on here? I fixed the issue, no more outside thoughts, but where is this one coming from?"

Samuel looked around Alexander's psych, roaming through its many ins and outs. The damage section was festering, and reaching out as if trying to spread. It wasn't the source of this current issue. Dealing with the evas were fine, dealing with the minds of everyone around Alexander was annoying. Alexander could only hear the thoughts in his area, but Samuel was the guy sorting them all. He'd intended to ignore them, but he just couldn't, they were too many. It'd taken him a bit, but he'd finally repaired the issue. He could've waited till the current situation was over to stop the interference, but the thoughts of the guards, pilots, Owen, David, and everyone int he facility were driving him mad.

"A crazy person inside a crazy person. How amusing that would be" Samuel mused to himself.

Samuel had tinkered a bit and stopped the flow of thoughts. He could be as inquisitive as his brother, always reaching out for information, but those thoughts had been too much information. He was glad to have them gone. Or at least almost gone. Samuel noticed something, a single thought. Or that's what he thought it was. It was faint, almsost silent and Samuel could simply disregard it, but the idea of there being one single thought still there bugged him. He tried to figure out who or what it was. Was it a pilot's? Some random Joe? That feline friend Rev had found? No, it almost felt like an eva, but something was off about it. After a bit of investigating, he realized he couldn't pin point it and gave up.

"You know what? Do whatever you want, I don't care. I just hope whatever you're thinking is interesting enough to be in here."

Samuel felt Alexander prodding for a response.

"Hmm, I guess I have been a bit quiet, with all this madness going on."

Samuel ignored the minor thought and responded to Alexander.

Spoiler: OOC

Alexander enjoys Addison's laughter, glad to see someone is getting some type of positive closure out of this. Meanwhile, Samuel drifts around Alexander's mind, stopping the flow of thoughts, but trying to pin point this one, minor stream before giving. Alastor.

 

[Viking Incognito]

Spoiler: Important news

Okay so, my computer got knocked off of a desk and broke so I sent it off to an HP repair factory. I am barrowing my dorm moniter's computer to let you all know that I wont be able to post regularly for a while (anyware from a week to two weeks). I might be able to use the computers in the school library but my posting will be irregular at best. I just beg forsome patiens but if it will be too much trouble I understand.

 

[Asclepion]

Spoiler: OOC

Hiei82, you can still answer. I just didn't want to leave people waiting.

Piggy did not feel angry or afraid. He just felt depleted, wanting to sleep. His head was low when he walked out of the room. Addison was in the hall.

"Listen to me. Mankind is what matters, not them. Mankind is who we fight for. You've outlasted the others. You've killed Angels. You're a great pilot, nothing to do with your ability- it's because you would have been their slave, and that person isn't you."
...
"Thank God."

So there exists a secret organization working to shape the destiny of Earth. So what? Earth has no future at all if not for us.

When he returned to his apartment, Piggy was surprised to see people already there. Nerv personnel. Of course. Laurence, in his credit, had not pressed the issue. No arrest, no formal disciplinary measure, and no paperwork. But they were still upping security. The guards would be in their rooms with them, and physically follow them until Nerv was comfortable that such a act would not be attempted again.

"In a couple of days you won't even notice" a man said in a friendly tone. "But we have to ask you to wear one of these." He held up a GPS tracker. "Do you want the collar or bracelet?"

When Rev left, 15 followed him, through the lit streets below a starry sky.


[hr]

SEELE 01: "We commend you. Provoking such a reaction in your subordinates."
SEELE 07: "The pilots had seen themselves in an adversarial relationship with the adults. But you used an open gesture of honesty and emotion to bring down their guard. Now, they will become even more resolute, because they have more to prove."
SEELE 04: "Yes, it was a master stroke."
"It was an accident."
SEELE 02: "Really? It is perhaps preferable then that you possess the capability to turn even a crisis into a longer term gain."
SEELE 06: "The committee is pleased by your actions, Director Owen. Blessed be thee."

Spoiler: OOC

Piggy leaves. Fifteen follows Mikhael back. Guards are already at his room when he returns. Alastor shows Seele the conversation, but only the first part and ending.

 

[hiei82]

Owen was about to respond to Davids inquiry when Addison began to laugh and cry. Owen could not help but smile, all be it with a slight tinge of worry. He could remember when emotion began to pool up in his mind, though his first expressions of emotion had not been as joyous as that of the young pilot. His had been fear and wrath. Owen found himself lost in thought, wondering how things would have been if he had been in a similar situation and discovered he could scarcely imagine his life along a different path. A slight cough from Mr. Ashford drew him from his thoughts.

"Right... where was I?" He questioned, his train of thought explosively derailed. [b/] "you should have been able to find a way to deal with a bug or a tail. What could possibly frighten you into silence?" [/b] David repeated, a little annoyed.

"Ah... that... Well, In fact it was a bug and a tale I had to deal with but not in the way you are thinking" Owen said, smiling at the turn of phrase before continuing; "and it was quiet frightening to be honest." Owen concluded. "You are correct however, in a manner of speaking. This particular bug happened to be extraordinarily difficult to overcome without alerting Seele that I had done so. In fact, I only managed to bypass it recently. As for the state you found me in, lets just say the bug had gotten under my skin in both a figurative and literal sense of the phrase." Owen said, letting the nature of the problem set in.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alastor backed away from the other mind. His counter part was more intelligent than he had thought; by filtering out the minds around them, he had lost his hiding place. Thus, retreat had been his only option... for the moment. As a result, his "hearing" was greatly diminished. Yet, he could not retreat fully - he needed a way to overcome the Doomsayer's; now more than ever.

[b/]"...crazy....inside... crazy person...Do whatever you want, I... I just hope whatever you're... is interesting..."[/b] his opposite said. Alastor grinned. [b/][i/]"It sounds as though I'm revealed. If stealth will not suffice, Young-Seraphim, then power will have to do. [/i][/b] Alastor thought as he prepared his psychic attack.

Spoiler: OOC

Owen comments on Addison's sudden emotional burst, answers David's question (all be it ambiguously), and Alastor, still believing Castor to be a tattletale and hoarding vital information, plans an attack on Pollux's mind (because Alastor, as previously stated, is a complete and total jackass)

Also: sorry for the delay, Tuesday's are hellish

 

[TheNaut131]

"...and yeah, that's pretty much how my day has been. God damn, hearing everything at every moment is annoying. So, hows this circus of an interrogation going?"

David had finished speaking about his bug and surveillance issue with SEELE. Alexander couldn't really comprehend what kind of surveillance device could keep Owen quiet for this long. Was it undercover agents and armed guards? Or just a very uncomfortable microphone jammed up his ass? He tried not to think about it.

"Castor, I don't think there's really much more to be said, most of the pilots are already going home with either headaches or exhaustion. I'm just about ready to go. I was thinking of asking Owen what he plans to do with this information on SEELE, but even without surveillance there probably isn't much he can do."

Alexander turned around quietly and made his way to the door. He figured that he should simply let Owen and David finish their little interview. Addison was still in the hallway, euphoric as ever, with a hint of peculiar misery as well. What to say, what to say...

"I say just take her home, simplest thing you can do. Plus, since there's not much really hidden between you now, aside from the dead guy in your head, I'm sure things can take a direction for the better." Samuel paused for a bit, and Alexander felt his confusion. "It's gone, it pulsed for a bit, but...hmmm, whatever. Must've been a straggler or something. Alright, lets go." Alexandr had no idea what Samuel was talking about and didn't really care.

"Seriously, what the hell is going on?" Samuel asked himself.

Alexander walked out into the hall and over to Addison. They didn't really say much as they accompanied each other out of the facility. A few guards gave them strange looks and followed them to the door, but for the most part it seemed like a normal, clear starry night. Alexander tilted his head, and looked up. He spoke to Addison.

"Hmm, it's been awhile since I really took a look at the stars."

Spoiler

Alexander catches Samuel up to speed, before leaving with Addison.

 

[CJ1145]

Mikhael took a stroll through a darker part of the city that night. Technically, it was still under construction, so it was off limits. However, all the workers had gone home for the night. The only person in the district was him. Well, him and his stalker. He didn't mind Fifteen following him. He wanted to talk to her, actually. He had stopped several times, under the pretense of looking at the stars. He hoped she would take the opportunity to come up to him. She did not, preferring to keep a distance. He needed to do something drastic.

He turned down an alley. His feline friend hopped off his shoulder and trotted alongside him and snapping at the occasional mouse. They emerged on the other side to a new neighborhood. His. Another two minutes brought the pair to an unassuming building, his home. He stepped up to the door and put a hand on the handle. He took a final glance up at the night sky. It really was beautiful at this time. He thought he would go on his roof later to admire the view. Before he entered he turned his head to look back at Fifteen, standing at the foot of the steps.

"Would you like to come in?"

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

"It's pretty..." Addison finally said after a moment of gazing at its beauty. It was a shame though as some of those stars might not even exist by the time humanity will get to them but at least they were able to shine. Shine. That's what Addison needed to do.

She reached for his hand and Pollux rightfully grabbed it. She looked at him and gave him a tender smile. Addison knew that it must have been an effort to handle her and what she did back at the ice cream shop was especially hurtful to him. She needed to show that she was sorry, that she was changed. So she leaned on him. Her head tilted on his shoulder as she looked out. The night was lovely, almost too lovely. Addison could now feel his chest rise and fall to his heart's beat. They were close now.

"Thank you..." Addison said softly. "I'm hard to manage...I know... but you keep on trying. Whenever something goes wrong, you pick yourself up and try again. I-I like that."

 

[TheNaut131]

Addion lay her head on Alexander's chest.

"I try all I can. It's just that sometimes I feel I'm making a lot of the wrong choices. This whole situation was one big example of that. Then again, there's nothing we can do about it now and honestly, it isn't that big of a deal. We just have to wear our problems and mistakes on our sleeves."

Alexander had borrowed that line from Rev, now just comprehending how stupidly he'd actually been acting, but Alexander wasn't gonna let Rev be all the inspiration for his lines and thoughts.

"Or, on your back." For the first time in years, Alexander actually thought about the scar on his back, practically invisible to him but still a constant reminder of what he'd lost so many years ago. He thought about his eva, his brother, his former life, his new one, the pilots, NERV, everything happening around him and looked up at the sky once more with millions of twinkling lights staring back at them

"Addison, I don't know what the future will be like, no one does. Sure, people have plans, goals, and other fancies, but no one can grantee everything. Honestly, I don't care about my future or the world's future as long as I can spend part of it with you. Nothing else really matters to me. As long as there are still stars up there, grass beneath our feet, and a world to live in, I think we'll be just fine."

Addison smiled at him, warm and secure, as if at true peace. She moved in closer. Alexander moved in as well and soon they met up, with a long satisfying kiss. And then everything around him faded, NERV, the streets, the evas, the other pilots, the world itself. It was just him, Addison, and the company of the universe looking down at them with what felt like approval, the Gemini constellation shining with the brightest admiration. After that, they just sorta stared at each other warmly for a bit before they began making their way over to Alexander's moped. Alexander suddenly stopped walking and stared out blankly, but soon started up again. His mind felt strangely clear. Guess love does that.

"So, you need a lift?"

[hr]

Samuel watched the scene from Alexander's eyes, and beamed with approval.

"Way to finally make the grade, Pollux. Glad to see things are looking up for you. Now, if only I could get over my issue."

Samuel reached out, searching for that thought he'd sense earlier. He wasn't gonna let it just worm away like that. It had felt strange and quiet, usually quiet, almost as if it had been waiting for something. Or perhaps observing. Samuel scanned through most of NERV, passing Aiber and Lisa's thoughts, scientists, guards, but nothing seemed to fit.

"C'mon, c'mon. Where are-hello, what do we have here?"

Samuel had gotten bored of searching and decided to see how Owen and David were doing. Suddenly a match, coming from Owen. But that didn't make sense. It didn't feel like Owen, in fact it felt like Owen had an entirely separate train of thought. Similar to that of Samuel and Alexander. But how, and what? Unit-31 was using it's A.T field to help project Samuel, what was this thing using? What was this thing at all? Samuel could faintly hear something and tried to tune in. After a bit of tinkering, things were finally clear.

"-stealth will not suffice, Young-Seraphim, then power will have to do."

It didn't seem like a recent thought, more like an echo. Samuel probed a bit, and found something else. It felt strange, yet oddly familiar. Almost like-

"Wait, that's not possible, it can't be. This isn't happening again!"

Samuel blocked out all outside connections and fortified Alexander's psyche, overclouding his mind. Samuel wasn't gonna let anything else happen to Alexander's mind, not now, not ever.

"Trying to hurt my brother is one thing. Trying to hurt him right after he's gotten a girl to fall for him is another!"

Spoiler: OOC

Alexander and Addison work things out, and finally kiss. Samuel goes off to find out where the hidden thought was coming from and is after learning it's origin and sensing a horrifying familiar sensation, strengthens Alexander's mental defenses.

 

[ZapperX]

Lisa returned to her room, escorted by guards, who remained right outside, ensuring that she wouldn't go anywhere. The gravity of the situation was still hitting her. How could the people trying to prevent the third impact be trying to cause it simultaneously? Why was she fighting since they were? She had been trained all her life to fight. Was she not supposed to fight? Not supposed to stop the impact? If so... What was her purpose?

She sat on her bed a half a second before grabbing her pillow and silently tearing it in half. Then Lisa turned and punched the wall, denting the metal and causing her knuckles to bleed. She felt empty, almost as empty as when... As...

"No." Lisa stopped her mind. No more. None of that. She needed to forget. No drugs this time, though... So she sat down crosslegged and emptied her thoughts into the air around her. She would not relive. The current moment was all that mattered.

 

[Asclepion]

Spoiler: OOC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTWi_wJXGPI music for Naatiel

Nikolai took off his clothes to prepare for sleep. He felt the GPS bracelet that he couldn't take off, but the real burden was in his mind, the revelations of the day. It wasn't a good experience, but nobody ever said all experiences had to be good. Sometimes they're just experiences.

But before he went to bed, he looked out over his balcony at the night sky. Nikolai tried to imagine himself as some prehistoric man, looking up at the stars in awe, making spirits and legend out of the expanse. Or before his birth, before Second Impact- people saw themselves building spaceships and exploring new worlds. We saw the Earth, bearing the entire human species through the darkness of the universe. And we saw others.

But now we knew what was out there.


[hr]

Fifteen grinned and came inside. Plainclothes and uniformed men were there. "I'm sure you already know about this, but we have been told to keep you under watch; for the time being."

For the whole night, guards were never more than 10 feet from Rev. They sat on the roof with him and the clone. And as it progressed, it became clear that she wasn't some succubus creature that wanted to antagonize "normal" humans. She was joyous, friendly, and perceptive. Even the guards began to relax.

We have this idea that love is supposed to last forever. But love isn't like that. It's a free-flowing energy that comes and goes when it pleases. Sometimes, it stays for life; other times it stays for a week, a day, or a single second. A single breath.


[hr]

The early morning, when Naatiel was detected, there would be a siren but delayed announcements. While relaying the data, a crystalline pod crashed through the roof of the primary comms station, unleashing Angelspawn directly into the structure's interior. The operators were slaughtered within minutes, forcing Nerv to access the amplifiers remotely.

Nerv HQ was rushed with with activity. The personal guards for each pilot were called- they had to move now! The SAAO (South African Astronomical Observatory) was relaying their own data of the recently detected Angel. Nerv's own satellites adjusted their orbits to intercept the target, transmitting high-resolution visual imagery of all spectrums.

The satellite's onboard computers calculated the Angel as 274 meters in height, about 900 feet tall. The shape was that of a giant insectoid fairy, with two scything limbs, a forward-leaning "head" that swept down to a mask-like face shaped like a skull of a longed beaked owl that held no visible mouth or nostrils. Only two black, empty pits that seemed to be eyes marred the smoothness. There were flexible trailing structures and multiple sets of wings.

Tiniest bits of the Angel's skin seemed to be flaking off. Tiny glittering particles, like sprites. Then the sensors detected a massive energy spike in the target, charging itself up.

Alastor was silent, communicating with the enormous thing at the edge of space. But Owen could experience it too- interacting, interfacing. Why was he seeing this?

As if in answer, he saw the battles with the Lilim, destroying them in a blaze of light. What the Angel felt was sadness, a sense of resignation. Naatiel was saddened that the Lilim had chosen to struggle until the end. It was saddened of the wonders of Earth that would be lost, of Lilim offspring that would never be born. It was saddened of the future left undone: we could live with you in peace, with the beings split into billions of separate parts. But they gave neither their planet nor our Seed. He felt what the Angel felt, watching through alien eyes as it rained destruction below. We need not be your enemy. Believe us, believe us, believe us.

Forgive me, it thought. You will surely die.


[hr]

Piggy awoke to the siren when it was still dark, with the barest hint of sunrise. His security personnel were talking through a phone, and there was something like thunder. And when he had thrown his clothes on, the thunder was more than thunder now. It was like a continuous, nonstop rumble.

BBBBRRRRRBBBRRRRRRMMMM! BBBBR-RRRRBBBBBMMMMMM!
Nikolai ran to the window, held up a visual scanner and turned his gaze outside. A big, teardrop-shaped thing fell from above. The sky was full of them, and they came raining down on New Masau. And then Piggy realized that it wasn't thunder he was hearing and feeling. It was tanks- a whole division. A column of them motored down the highway.

But before he could dwell on his line of thought he was pulled away by security personnel. He heard a blast of a tank's main turret when they reached the door. The guards brought Piggy to the hall where a mass wave of residents were gathered. A small herd of people flowed into the hallway, confusion gripping their faces as they ebbed forward. Piggy seemed in a daze. Every nerve, every cell of his body told him to flee to some imagined safety, but he couldn't.

Then there was screaming down the hallway- something moving caught his eye's attention. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity he pushed past the small crowd. Nikolai's skin was tingling, he looked down at his left arm to see the hair on it start to stand on end. Around him an energy started to reverberate, a radiating force.

His mind fought with the realization of the impossibility that now stood just several yards away. One of them. An alien, inside his apartment building.

It was humanoid, with crystalline swords projecting from the wrists with its hands, the head a smooth, featureless mask. The entire creature looked like it had been formed out of ice or diamond. Translucent, glassy blues and whites. It made a clanging sound from inside the flat geode of it's face.

What? How? His mind raced with both questions and stunned horror at this strange thing when the men opened fire with their guns. The entity dropped in a hail of bullets, it's body cracking and pieces shattering off from overlapping fields of fire. The cracks where the bullets hit bled watery fluid.

When the creature fell, they saw behind it. Several more were ascending the stairwell, and the walkway was drenched in an amber liquid. It flowed down the stairs, running in rivers. A river of humans; LCL. A few apartment residents were on the floor, convulsing, and for an instant became gelatinous and liquidated into the blood of Lilith - pooling as the essence of life.

They were attacking the people in this area. Somehow the Angel was aware of the Evangelions, and that there was somehow a connection between them and a Lilim inside. That's why the Angel made these things- keep us from raising any defense at all.

The guards were retreating backwards down the hall with Piggy. He thought back to Battle School. Perfect, he thought. I'm shielded by a crowd. It will be hard for them to find me. And I'm shorter than everyone else, so I have an advantage. Let them attack the civilians while I escape. Sacrifice the others and protect myself, so we have a chance to save mankind. It was cold, hard logic. It was what he was trained for, what Nerv wanted him to do.

What Nerv would have done themselves.

"You want a pilot!? Come and get him! Fucking pussy!"

Piggy didn't believe for a second that the Angel would understand English, or that these mindless things would somehow respond. Of course not. Angels speak through the soul, and human language has no more meaning to them than a dog's barking. But Piggy's A.T. Field formed new patterns as he yelled. Among the dozens of A.T. Fields communicating distress and confoundment, one that dished out a defiant challenge shone like a lighthouse.

"You can tell the other Angels, 'That Piggy is so scary, I only had to send 60 of my drones against him. And we somehow managed to kill him. But the fat kid was so dangerous and terrifying, it was all I could do not to send a thousand!"

One of the spawn dropped a man it was holding in the air and turned to face him. Piggy bolted with the guards.

Spoiler: OOC

Nerv faces it's greatest threat yet. Naatiel commences it's attack the next morning: Appearing in the upper atmosphere and sending Angelspawn down in orbital drop pods made from it's own body. Before they can even get to their Evas, the pilots must cross a city under siege by an army of these beings. It prepares an energy attack to pierce through HQ's armor layers, then send it's core down the shaft. It makes mental contact with Alastor/Owen Laurence and expresses a love for Earth and sadness that the humans have fought the Angels and will be destroyed.

On Piggy's floor, the civilians have not been trained to sustain their Ego Barrier against Angelic A.T. Fields. Many collapse into LCL. Piggy at first decides to let them attack the other people to slow them, but stops himself. Piggy takes the risk and yells for them to chase him instead. He and the guards make a run to escape the apartment building.