NAE: Shock Value by Reg This is an Evangelion fanfic. I took the original story and threw in a new character, totally screwing up all the events leading to the last episode in the anime series. This is a Self-Insertion fanfic so brace yourself for god-boy mayhem! Neon Genesis Evangelion is copyright Gainax. Here goes... NEON AVATAR EVANGELION: SHOCK VALUE Chapter IV Everybody noticed Yukio's new, happy demeanor when he came in the classroom the following day. Although Yukio was basically a very carefree and easygoing guy, today he seemed extra joyous. He was always smiling and he was very nice to everybody, even to Asuka. Curious, Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke decided to confront him. "So, Yukio," said Toji. "Spill it. Why are you acting so weird today?" "Nothing. I'm just really happy," answered Yukio. That stupid smile was still on his face. "Have you noticed how beautiful life is?" "Quit that, Yukio," said Kensuke. "You're starting to creep me out." "I know," said Toji with a smile. "You got laid last night, didn't you?" "No," answered Yukio. "Although I did get a kiss from somebody." "Who?" asked Shinji. At that very moment, Asuka and Hikari were walking by them. Realizing that he still had a great life ahead of him, Yukio chose not to tell them any more about what happened between him and Asuka. "Just some girl I know," answered Yukio. "Anyway, it was just a friendly kiss on the cheek." Not satisfied, Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke went on questioning Yukio. After a few minutes of unfruitful inquiries, the three boys gave up on Yukio. Deciding that there was nothing they could do to make him talk, they all decided to just get something to eat at the Noodle House instead. On the way there, Shinji and the others couldn't help but notice the extra spring in Yukio's every step. The three boys just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. ***** Later that day, at NERV HQ, Ritsuko was running another harmonics test on the four pilots. Everybody was surprised when the results came in, especially Yukio. His synch ratio had just increased dramatically and was now higher than Asuka's. Obviously, this pissed off Asuka greatly. She just couldn't accept that she was now just second-best. ***** The next day, as Yukio was going home from school, he happened to see Maya again in the bookstore where he first told her how he felt. Seeing Maya again made him even happier, and as he entered the bookstore he just couldn't help but smile. He just ignored the stares the sales ladies gave him when they saw the stupid smile on his face. Immediately, he made his way to where Maya was looking at another romance novel. "Hi Maya," Yukio said. "How's life?" "Oh, hello, Yukio," said Maya. Yukio noticed that Maya seemed uncomortable with him around, but he paid it no heed. "So, buying another romance novel, huh," said Yukio as he took a paperback off its shelf. "You must really like this stuff." "I do. Reading romance novels takes my mind off of all the death and destruction here in Tokyo-3," said Maya. After a few moments of uneasy silence, they both engaged in small talk as Maya made her purchase. Yukio then asked Maya if he could treat her to a snack over at the Noodle House, to which she said yes. As they waited for their orders, Yukio decided to ask Maya about what he said the other night. "So, Maya," said Yukio. "About the other night. Have you thought about it?" "Well, " said Maya. "Actually, I have given it some thought." "So? What do you think?" asked Yukio. He was already starting to get that weird sinking feeling in his stomach, as if something bad was about to happen. "Yukio," Maya said, taking Yukio's hands in her own. "I really want the two of us to be friends." Oh shit, Yukio thought to himself. Better brace yourself, Yukio, this ain't gonna be good. "Friends, huh," said Yukio, desperately trying to keep smiling. "Well, we can be friends. We can even be more than friends." "Let's just be friends, OK?" said Maya. No, it's not OK! thought Yukio. It was getting harder and harder for him to keep smiling and not breking down. "I mean, you're just a kid. I'm already 24. And another thing," said Maya, looking down. "There's somebody else in my heart." Shit! Damn you, Ritsuko! thought Yukio. He was rather surprised at that thought but now that he thought about it, he realized that that idea wasn't very farfetched. "Well, being friends with you is quite alright with me, Maya," said Yukio, hoping that the quiver in his voice went unnoticed. "Just being your friend would make anybody happy." "I'm glad you're taking this so calmly, Yukio," said Maya. Then, with a laugh, she added, "I was afraid you'd go ballistic." "Me?" said Yukio in his most innocent voice. "Why, Lt. Ibuki, I'm surprised you would think that of me!" Yukio then laughed, hoping that would ease Maya's feelings. After a few moments, Maya started laughing, too. They then proceeded to eat their snacks, engaging in more small talk now and then. The air between the two of them was still pretty tense, but Yukio thought that Maya really thought that everything was OK with him. That night, as he lay in his bed, Yukio wasn't able to hold back his true feelings any longer, and after almost breaking his fingers from punching the walls of his apartment, he slept, the tears streaming unhindered down his cheeks. ***** When Shinji and the rest of the gang came by his apartment on the way to school the next day, Yukio still acted as though he was still on top of the world. Knowing that they would be asking more questions if he started acting depressed, Yukio decided to just keep up his facade. Just after they got to school, the alarms sounded again. At NERV HQ, everybody was at attention as Misato and Ritsuko explained the situation to the four pilots. Everybody except Yukio, that is. He was still thinking about Maya and what she said, and he couldn't keep himself from feeling angry at Ritsuko. "Alright everybody, quick recap," said Misato. "The Angel appears to be a huge black blob. We have no idea of how strong it is so exercise extreme caution when you engage it. I want Yukio to take the point position. Yukio, are you listening?" "Wha.. uh, yeah, sure Misato," answered Yukio. "Whatever you say." "OK. Yukio, I want you to use a long-range sniper rifle to try and gauge this Angel's strength. Shinji, I want you, Asuka, and Rei to act as backup. Any questions?" "Why does Yukio get point position?" asked Asuka. "Asuka, don't start this. Not now, please," said Misato. "Just because he got the highest score in yesterday's synch test doesn't mean he's better than me," said Asuka. "I didn't say he was better than you, Asuka," said a clearly exasperated Misato. "Now get into your entry plugs right this instant!" With one last look at Maya, Yukio stood up and walked over to the changing rooms. About halfway there, he stopped, turned around, and waved his hand at everybody in the command center in a gesture of goodbye, puzzling everybody and sending a chill up Maya's spine. ***** A few minutes later, all four Evas we're already out of their loading bays. The black Angel was still quite far away. The Evas immedately broke into a run, changing their power cords everytime the cables grew taut. Misato had instructed them to try and intercept the Angel as far away from NERV as they could. Misato's description of the Angel was justified. It really did look like some form of black blob. However, it was not covered in slime and had a vaguely metallic look to it. It left a trail of devastation in its wake as it slowly but surely made its way towards NERV HQ. When the blob was within range, Yukio fired a salvo at the Angel. The Angel did not seem to be affected by the shots however, as it didn't show any signs of slowing down. "You know, I've always wondered how I'd die," said Yukio, startling everybody. They had been maintaining radio silence, although there were no instructions to do so. They had just decided that this was not the time for small talk. Apparently, Yukio had thought otherwise. "Stop talking like that, Yukio!" said Misato. The fear in her voice was barely discernible, but Yukio heard it nonetheless. "Just focus on the task at hand." "OK, Misato," said Yukio. "A shame though that we never had a chance to get drunk together." Yukio was already starting to creep out Shinji and the other pilots, and it was Asuka who spoke first. "Yukio, you freak! What's gotten into you?" "Oh, hello Asuka," answered Yukio. "By the way, thanks for the kiss." "You bastard! Stop that!" Asuka was already beginning to worry about the way Yukio was acting. "Yukio," said Shinji. "You're starting to scare us." "Nothing to be scared about, Shinji," said Yukio. "I'm just reflecting on life, that's all." Misato was about to tell Yukio to shut up when she noticed that Maya was already standing beside her, her eyes filled with tears. "It's all my fault," said Maya to no one in particular. "What do you mean?" asked Misato. "He said he loved me," answered Maya. Shit, this isn't making much sense, thought Misato to herself. "Please, guys, not now! We've already got enough problems as it is." "You're right, Misato," said Yukio. Misato could clearly see that Yukio was still grinning, but something about that grin made her shudder. "We do have enough problems as it is. Well, guess I'll just have to do something about them." After a brief pause, he added, "I love you, Maya-chan." With those words, Yukio cut off his Eva's communications with the others and instructed Unit 01 to advance. The huge biomechanical weapon immediately started to engage the Angel, firing its rifle indiscriminately into the black blob. "Yukio, don't!" cried Misato. "Shit! Shinji, Asuka, Rei, help him!" The other Evas immediately started to open fire. The Angel started to shrink back from the combined fire of the Eva Units when it suddenly whipped out a black tendril and hit Unit 03, sending the Eva's sniper rifle flying out of its hands. Another tendril shot out of the Angel's body and closed on the nearest Eva's leg, which just happened to be Unit 03's. With a very loud bang, Unit 03 fell to the ground, sending up a cloud of smoke and dust into the air. The other Evas immediately shot at the tendril wrapped around Unit 03's leg, hoping to sever it. Rei's shots found their mark and succeeded in cutting the tendril in half. Unit 03 immediately got back up but before the others could open fire at the Angel again, their line of sight was blocked by Yukio, who had decided to take the Angel on in close combat. "Yukio, get out of there, dammit!" Asuka shouted over the commlink. When she got no immediate answer, she decided to join the melee herself. Picking up an ax from one of the many weapons bays in Tokyo-3, Asuka immediately proceeded to hack at the Angel. Before Rei and Shinji could help, Yukio was thrown away from the blob by another tendril, sending the Eva crashing into Unit 01. The Angel then sent Asuka crashing into Rei, making Unit 02 losing its grip on the ax it was holding. Without bothering to see if the others were alright, Yukio engaged the Angel again, this time armed only with a progressive knife. Before the Eva Unit could reach the Angel, however, a few vents opened on the metallic blob's body, spraying out a dark gas. With the gas effectively hiding both the black Angel and the black and red Eva, the others had no idea what was happening to Yukio. "Ritsuko, can't you get a bead on Yukio or something?" asked Misato. "We can't," answered Ritsuko. "All I can say is that Yukio is still alive. The data we're receiving from Unit 03 shows that his life signs and synch ratio are holding." "How can we fight that thing when we can't even see it?" asked Asuka. Just then, they heard a very loud shriek come from the dark cloud that covered Unit 03 and the Angel. "What the..." said Shinji. He was unable to finish his question when he saw Unit 03 thrown from the cloud, it's right arm gone. Unit 03 landed near Shinji's feet and he clearly saw with horror that the Eva's new chest armor was destroyed. "Yukio!" cried Maya. She was still standing next to Misato. When she saw that Unit 03's right arm had been torn off, she immediately turned away from the screen and buried her face in Misato's shoulder. Shinji and Rei immediately opened fire at the Angel, who was now visible since the smoke screen had somehow lifted. At such close range, even the Angel's armor was not enough to resist the Evas' combined fire. Red goo that looked sickeningly like human blood seeped from the wounds inflicted by the Evas' gunfire on the Angel. The Angel was far from being defeated, however, and it soon disarmed both Evas with a few more tendrils. In the melee, the Angel had forgotten about Unit 02, and it didn't notice Asuka creeping up on it until Asuka had planted her Eva's progressive knife in the Angel's body. With a loud shriek, the Angel turned on Unit 02. Now weaponless, Asuka was put in between a rock and a hard place. Before the Angel could launch another attack, however, something crashed hard into its right flank. "Yukio! You're still alive!" cried a bewildered Asuka. "Yes I am," answered Yukio. "Now get out of here, Asuka!" Unit 02 immediately started to retreat as Unit 03 again faced off against the Angel. The odds were heavily in the Angel's favor, though, as it again pulled the one-armed Eva Unit nearer with its tendrils. Then, something happened that startled everybody, especially Ritsuko. "What the...? Yukio's synch ratio is climbing!" cried Ritsuko. "It's passed 100, 200, 300, 400. It's reached 500%!" Everybody watched in amazement as the sleeping beast trapped with the Eva Unit was suddenly awakened, letting out a loud howl that made even the black Angel shrink back. The Eva Unit then began to attack the Angel with a savagery that made the other Eva pilots step back from the carnage enfolding before their eyes. Eva Unit 03, piloted by Yukio Mori, was savagely ripping the Angel to pieces, even though the Eva had already lost one arm. Blood was flying everywhere as the Angel tried desperately to somehow stop or escape Unit 03's rampage. Finally, with one final shriek of agony, the Angel's body shuddered and went limp. Letting out a howl, Unit 03 went on attacking the dead Angel, making Misato wonder if they were going to have to take on Unit 03, too. Misato's fear was soon unfounded as Unit 03 finally stopped its attack and just stood there, beside the mangled body of the Angel. Then, the huge Eva swayed on its feet, lost balance, and fell to the ground. "Yukio's synch ratio just hit zero," said Ritsuko. "His vital signs are starting to drop! Get a rescue team down there, now!" Both Maya and Misato were already running for the door even before the emergency rescue squads were mobilized. They both got into a NERV chopper and instructed the pilot to bring them to the Eva Units, quick. Once at the battleground, Misato couldn't help but feel sick as she saw all the blood splattered all over Tokyo-3. Maya, however, was already off the chopper and running towards where Yukio's Eva Unit was lying even though the chopper was still a few fet off the ground. The Eva Units' entry plugs were already ejected, and Maya reached Yukio's just in time to see the entry plug open, spilling the LCL onto the ground. Only the LCL was red with Yukio's blood. "Yukio!" cried Maya as she knelt beside the entry plug. Inside, Yukio was covered in his own blood, a huge gash in his chest. Maya could also see a couple of places where Yukio's bones were broken, the broken bone breaking the skin and pushing into the plug suit. Slowly, Yukio opened his eyes. When he saw Maya kneeling beside him, he tried to smile, but the action only made him cough up more blood. "Hello, Maya-chan," he managed to say. He heard somebody call out his name, and saw Misato running towards him. Shinji, Asuka, and Rei were close behind her. "I see everybody's here." "Oh, Yukio," said Maya, her tears already flowing copiously from her eyes. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault." "Ssshhh," Yukio said, caressing her cheek. His arm was broken, and the gesture was hurting his arm like hell, but Yukio still managed to smile. "It's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. At least, we're friends, right?" "Right," said Maya. She saw that Yukio was clearly in great pain, but he was still smiling at her. When she saw him start to close his eyes, Maya was filled with alarm. "No, Yukio! You can't die!" she cried out, her voice quivering with emotion. "Goodbye, Maya-chan. I love you. Tell the others that I love them, too." With these words, Yukio's eyes closed for the last time, and the darkness welcomed him in its cold embrace. ***** THE END OK. That was the last chapter in the first NAE story arc. I hope you enjoyed this little series. Chapters I, II, and III are still available at Atomica (www.geocities.com/reg_01/). Send C&C to reg_01@yahoo.com.