Part 95: Mission 53 - Soul's Refrain - Part 3
Mission 53 – Soul’s Refrain
: Hmhmhm… Look on, NERV. Behold the might of my Thunder.
: O-One of the Haudragon’s Hakke Robos…!
: What the hell… weren’t they all destroyed?!: Maybe SEELE saved it, just as they did Miwa…!
: The old men's fingerprints were all over the Tekkoryu’s creation, so that’s very likely.
: Commander, surface heat is receding and the steam discharges are also gone. All Dragoon squads are in position.
: What’s the status inside the HQ?: We have secured both the third layer of Central Dogma as well as the purple unit.: And the command center?: They are still fighting back.: If our troops aren’t making any progress there, then we’ll forgo taking the MAGI. Just kill those traitors immediately.: Yes, sir!: Miwa… we’ve found the red unit.
: And it does not appear to be moving. The marionette is now a simple doll.: I don’t care – we don’t need that one.: Heh… Roger that. I’ll make it an example for the rest of the Magnate Ten.: (And, later, I’ll end them and Miwa… I’ll claim the Zeorymer and crown myself Hades. It’ll be I, not SEELE or the MU, who’ll rule over the new world…!)
: Troops, attack! Crush these rebels scheming to end the world!
: (I’m…alive…?)
: Kch! Aaaah!!: Kill them! Destroy them!!
: Aah— Uwaah!!: Obliterate those demons! Slaughter them!!
: GAAAAH!!: WAHAHAHA!! Kill them! Kill them all!
: No… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…I…
: (…You must live on…): I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…: (…You cannot die yet…): I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…: (…I won’t let you die…): I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…: (…You won’t die…): I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…: (…I won’t let you die yet…): No… I don’t want to die…: (We’ll die together…) (…You won’t die yet…): I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…!: (…Live…)
: I don’t want to…DIIIIIIIIEEEEE!!
: …Mama… you were in here…!: Th-That’s!: Ooh! Is it down?
: OOOORYAAAAAAAAA!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AowK32hSnRE
: Mama… Mama! I understand now! I know what the A.T. Field means!: You were protecting me! You were watching over me! We’ve always been together, Mama!
: Wh-What in blazes!
: The EVA-02's active! Asuka’s alive and well!!: Hrrgh, this little maggot! Attack! Attack!! Destroy her!!: The Umbilical Cable might be off… but we’ve still got twelve thousand sheets of reinforced armor and the A.T. Field!: So there’s no way we’re losing! NOT TO YOU BASTARDS!!
This here isn’t even a fair fight – Asuka A.T. Field is unbreakable and the Dragoons aren’t even airborne.
Just pick a good spot to hit them all and let them come to you.
They’re also piss-weak, though give out a ton of experience. Asuka’ll likely end up one of your highest level folks after this.
Enemy Phase!
And they all play ball.
Bang. To make things a wee bit simpler, leave whichever Dragoon’s closer to the eastern side of the map alive.
Player Phase!
So you can move Asuka that way as much as you can and still be in range. Alternatively, you can let it follow you – the vent near Asuka’s a good marker.
: I-Impossible…! The Dragoons…!
: Were all destroyed…!: Damn it, retreat! We have to retreat for now!*Off goes Saiga.*
: Loathsome EVA… still, you obstruct us? Indeed, one must fight fire with fire.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAAdRN_d4_Q
: The EVA Series… they’ve been completed?
: They’re deploying all nine S² Engine-equipped units…? That’s far too excessive… Unless, are they planning on triggering it here?!*Beep!*
: Asuka… Asuka, please respond.
: Misato… You’re alright?! Where are you?!: That doesn’t matter – just listen. You have to destroy all of the EVA Series. Shinji’ll be up there soon. Hang in there.*Bzzt.*
: Destroy them all, huh? Never mind the fact that I’ve just came back from a coma…: I still have three and half minutes on my internal battery… and there are nine of them. That works out to one every twenty seconds. : I can’t count on that idiot or the Magnate Ten now… I have to pull this off by myself…!Again, no problem. Let them attack Asuka and her Revenge-boosted damage will oneshot the things.
BUT! Do make sure you leave one of them left alive to kill on your turn or you’ll regret it!
Enemy Phase!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j38Ozxvph9g
: Erste!
: Zweite!
: Dritte!
: Vierte!
: Fünfte!
: Sechste!
: Siebte!!
: Achte!
Player Phase!
: And here’s! THE LAST ONE!!
: Haah…hah…haah…! Neunte…!!: The EVA Series have all ceased function…!: Is… is it over, then…?*Beeeep!*
: Wh-What?!
: Over here, Shinji.
: …*Someone runs over!*
: Target spotted! Engaging!: ?!*Bang!*
: Argh!
: Misato?!: Hrm…!*Bang!*
: Gwaaargh!*Dead.*
: Mi…Misato…
: I’m fine… it’s just a scratch… And you’ve some extra time now. : The elevator over to the #01 is also working… you’re good to go.: !: Shinji… you’ll have to go it alone from this point onwards. You’ll have to make your own decisions, without anyone’s help.
: I… I can’t… : How can I pilot an EVA if what I’ll do is hurt or even kill people?: …
: I thought I had no choice… but that was just a lie I told myself. An ignorant boy like me isn’t fit to pilot an EVA. I can’t do anything good for others…: I’ve killed Kaworu… there isn’t a shred of good in me, only dishonesty and cowardice. I can’t be like Ayato, Hokuto, Ginga, Akira… or anyone in the Magnate Ten…: I just can’t protect anything… so I’m better off not doing anything…!: You better not be expecting pity from me. If you don’t like the idea of being hurt, then you can just sit here and wait to die.: …
: You hate yourself, don’t you? That’s why you hurt others… because you know you’ll suffer more than if you let yourself get hurt. : Still, regardless of what you had in mind, it was a choice YOU made. And that makes it meaningful.: Stop lying to yourself and think of the options you’ve available… then accept the choices you made.: … But you’re not me! You don’t understand anything about what I have to go through!
: So what that I’m not you?!: !!: Are you really just going to give up?! Because if you don’t do anything now… I will never forgive you…! Not for as long as I live…!: …: No one’s perfect… Time and again I’ve made mistakes only to regret them later. I just went back and forth between false hope, disappointment and self-loathing… but I always felt like I was growing from it all.: …
: Listen to me, Shinji… Pilot the EVA again and settle things with yourself. “Why did you come here? What are you alive for?”… Find your own answers to those questions.: And when you’ve found them… come back to me.: It’s a promise, hm?: …OK.: I’ll see you later.
: …!: That was a grown-up kiss… We’ll take it from there once you’re back.*Shinji heads up the elevator.*
: …Urrgh…!: Aah… If I knew this was going to happen… I would’ve changed my room’s carpet like Vega and Haruka suggested…: Kaji… I did the right thing, yes…?*Someone runs over!*
: Target located. Moving to eliminate.: I guess… this is it…: Hmph… I’ve no sympathy for traitors.: …Ridiculous.: Hm?! Who goes there?!: I am a dog… exactly like you and your fellows.*Judo chop!*
: Gaargh…!*Dead.*
: Who is that…? Kaji…?
: …
: !!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukqiuJhd3zU
: AAAAAAAAAAH!!
: Asuka!!: AAAAAH! GAAAAAAHAAAAAARGH!!: Th-The EVA-02…!!
: H-How…?! The MP EVAs were down…!: It can’t be…!: The Eva Series… they’ve reactivated…!*Four MP EVAs rush down the #02.*
: They’re coming to finish her off?!
: Aah!
: Urk—!: What’s going on?!: I can’t watch anymore! Don’t make me!*Maya drops her laptop on the ground.*
: Th-That’s …the #02…!
: Ack…Aaaah…hrrrrrgh…! Grrrr… K-Kill…!: I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…: I-I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…: She’s going berserk…?!: Killkillkillkillkill…!: Stop…! Asuka, stop!!: Killkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkillkilll…!: N-No…! She’s going to…!
: Gwooooo…: HOLD IT!!: ?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufB3WfKo6k0
Captions!
: “Advantage” and “disadvantage” are birds of a feather, soaring ever around those who do battle…: Even when it seems that all hope is lost, the state of a clash can still change in but an instant…: That is what people call…turning the tide!
: Heaven and earth, fire and water! Grant me power!!: PIIIIIILE FOOOOOOORMATION!!
: Th-That’s!!
: Boson Out, complete! Looks like we made it just in time!
: Yes. All thanks to Uribatake speeding up the engine’s repairs.
: The Magnate Ten…!: Y-You… Why are you here…?
: Heh… “Why,” she asks. Didn’t I tell you before? Moments like this are when you should just smile and take our help.: !!
: Besides, saving the damsel in distress…
: Is the Three Musketeers’ raison d'être, yup.
: Y-You… You bunch of idiots…!
: Oh, my… Now that phrase’s a blast from the past, huh, Ruri?: Ah, I’ve stopped with that.: Huh?
: Because I’m an idiot, too.
: Hahah… Maybe you are.
: Captain, the situation is still critical. I’m also worried about the Argama as they’re headed to rendezvous with Ayato’s group. We should wrap this up quickly.: You’re right. Deploy at once, everyone.
: You buncha eels did a real number on my friend… Y’all ain’t gonna end up just a lil bit singed after that! I’m gonna run a whole BBQ on your asses!: Gwooooo…!
: Yeesh, “eels”…?
: Heheh… that’s Kaine.: Either way, we’ve got all actors on set now… and every show’s gotta have a big twist, so let’s go and make one!
: Hold on, now. We’re still missing someone, don’t you think?*RUUUUMBLE!*
: Th-This signal is!!: The #01?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8PUvZTbhSg
: …: Sh-Shinji…!: …I…: I’m done running.: “What am I alive for?”… I’ll stand and fight in order to find that answer!: Y-You…!
: Heh… Shinji’s grown much in the short while we were away.
: Hm… He has the look of a man now.: Still, I… I should’ve come to help Asuka a lot sooner…: Everyone bears doubt within their hearts. However, there is a major difference in letting it stop you or continuing your journey despite it.: And I believe you’ve chosen the latter, isn’t that right, Shinji?: Y-Yes.: Then you have but to make up for lost time… We’ll do this together, with our own strength.: Alright, Domon…!: (…So, they weren’t the only unexpected actors to take to the stage…): (Actually, no… They are not actors, but a force capable of resolving the script. Indeed, they are a mechanical god proper… a Deus Ex Machina.): (What kind of finale awaits us, now…?)
: All units, rescue Asuka’s EVA-02 and eliminate the EVA Series ASAP.
: Aye, aye! The conclusion of all this is almost upon us, my friends!
: Right! And we came back precisely to make that happen!
: And we’ll stand in defense of all that must be defended!
: Here goes! We’re pulling the plug on this “end of the world” business!!
I knew this scene was coming and that still didn’t stop me from punching the air when it happened. And I’m not the only hyped as hell: our entire team has deployed with max morale to help you stomp the MP EVAs in mush.
Mind you, if it was still the enemy turn when you had Asuka first kill them, they would get to move again… and the four around the EVA-02 are still very much interested in a bite. While you only get a game over if the Nadesico falls, letting Asuka get wrecked after all that makes you SCUM!
And, despite our morale, you really should approach these enemies with care:
Mass-Produced EVA
Pilot Skills:
- Prevail L7
- Support Attack L2
- A.T. Field
- S² Engine
- 30% HP Regen
These things are real dangerous, I’ll be honest. S ranks on all terrains and HUGE accuracy modifiers means your Reals need to be very careful (Confuse is always good). They don’t hit as hard as the Gulfer Emperor but still pack a hefty punch, bolstered by massive crit modifiers on their weapons. Their range and overall stats are also great, too.
Focus-fire is the name of the game, because, first, you don’t want many of these running on Prevail and, two, 30% HP regen is a lot. Go crazy with Valor and Soul, wreck the ones up close and turn your sights on the remaining units when they move in. Be mindful that Support Attacks will almost always stop on the A.T. Fields, so pop those first with Shinji, Asuka and Touji.
Always pack defensive spirits or else.
This is still a long battle, so it’s time for a montage!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su95PtL9rWw
Before that, though, the Phoenix Alae FA.
And here’s the vocal version while we’re at it! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2-ApR5J3Qg
And the last one, killed in appropriate fashion.
Goodies earned today are a Space Alloy Gren, I-Field Generator and a Super Repair Kit.
: The EVA Series have ceased function again!
: They’re not going to revive a second time, right…?
: I wouldn’t expect it after being on the receiving end of everything the Magnate Ten’s got to offer but…: There’s no way to be sure yet, yeah? I mean, their wrecks are all still lying out there.: What’s the status on the troops that invaded HQ?: They’re already retreating. Do you think they gave up on trying to take the place over?: …I doubt the old men would give up that easily. Maintain everyone on high alert.: Roger.: And what’s the situation elsewhere?: There are battles against the MU across the world… The Federation forces seem to be at a disadvantage but details are sparse!: So things are still looking poorly. And TERRA’s T-J Busters? : Unknown. We’ve no way of telling with how much mayhem’s spread across the comm. lines!: (Everyone’s holding onto their cards despite the fact that SEELE was forced to make some last-minute rewrites to their script…): (How will this affect the MU and Bähbem…? What about our own script, Ikari…?)
: ... The wind’s turning in our favor. Quickly, Rei.
: …: …I’ve been waiting for you.*
*: …
: My apologies. When I was bolstering the MAGI’s defenses, I’ve altered their programming.: …: …: SEELE’s Pluridimensional Instrumentality Project cannot be completed now that the EVA Series are disabled. : Their project was based around the Dead Sea Scrolls and those were incomplete for the very beginning. There wasn’t any other way for this to end.: But wasn’t EVA made of Adam to help the project succeed? And, yet, things still turned out as they did. Did you… or, rather, did Yui Ikari expect this from the start?: …: That’s why she remained within the EVA-01… for Shinji and others’ future. Impelled by her disappearance, you proposed the Human Instrumentality Project to SEELE, as based on the writings of the Dead Sea Scrolls. And the old men agreed to it.: And thus, the ceremony of death and rebirth experienced by past humans began to grow distorted... until it reached the point where you couldn't cover it up anymore.: That’s correct. Instrumentality must be achieved this time or it would mean the death of everything.: It “must be achieved this time”…? No, that can't be right. Even without that project, the world would be reborn after meeting its end… That’s the fundamental principle of the universe. But you two weren’t about to simply accept that, were you?: Instead, you decided that human hands would do that which only God is meant to do. You pressed on and on, going as far as creating a false God. : All in hopes of escaping the endlessly repeating cycle of universal death and rebirth… You sought to see for yourselves the new world that’d be born after the destruction of this one.: That’s it, isn’t it…? You two only wanted to know what’d be the end result of either Instrumentality or Tuning happening.: …Does that not apply to you as well?: No… I no longer care about whatever the end result is. I simply want to end things on my own terms. I simply cannot bring myself to accept what you’ve tried to do in the shadows of the Human Instrumentality Project. …: You… your true goal was always…: …: MAGI…rather, mother… your daughter has one last request... Let us die together.*Bzzzt.*
: …!: The self-destruct isn’t activating… why?! *Beeep!*
: Casper’s turned against me?! You’d choose your man over your own daughter, mother…?!: Ritsuko Akagi. *
*: !: The truth is… *whisper, whisper*: …Liar.*Bang!*
: …: …Adam’s already part of me. There is no other way for Yui and I to be reunited.: The forbidden union between Adam and Lilith… it is the only method that can interfere with the Tuning. : …: Soon, the Ollins… or, better put, Ixtli In Yolotl will echo the song that beckons this world towards its death and rebirth far and wide…: …: Time is short. The A.T. Field can no longer hold your form together… : Let’s begin, Rei. Release your A.T. Field – the wall around your heart. Make our splintered hearts whole… Abandon the needless flesh and bring all souls together as one.: And, then, take me to Yui’s side…: …