Second Impact changed the world. For what seemed like an eternity, the Earth went mad. Long dormant volcanos the world over exploded into life, scouring the land around them and searing anything alive into ash. Clouds of poisonous gases long trapped beneath the earth seeped out, descending on low lying villages and killing every single inhabitant. Cracks in the grounds appeared where there were none, magma erupting out and destroying entire towns. And that which was not destroyed by the fires of the earth were destroyed by Earthquakes that were only supposed to happen once in a thousand years. Gas mains went up in flame and fires started in random places, razing anything that remained.
Then came the monstrous Leviathans from the oceans. A unholy combination of the polar ice caps melting in an instant and the gigantic waves roaring from the under sea fault lines created solid mountains of water that smashed upon shorelines, altering the geography permanently. Entire oceanic eco-systems were shattered and many low-lying areas simplyà ceased to exist. And as if these disasters were not sufficient, there followed the coldest and most sunless years in the living history of man-kind as the heavens were blotted out by the ash and dust released into the air.
Fire. Earth. Water, and now, Ice. For a time it seemed that humanity would go extinct in the aftermath. Where there were once low lying fertile, golden plains, there remained only vast expanses of muddy water. Where there were buzzing metropolises, there remained only shattered hulks filled with the dead, the dying and a mere handful of survivors. Where there were verdant forests surrounding majestic extinct volcanoes, there remained dust, ashes and smoldering crater.
Humanity prevailed though, stubborn and headstrong, refusing to simply lie down and die. While there were days of insanity and stories of horrific cruelty, so too were there stories of simple everyday people rising up to save those around them. That we stand here today is thanks to this multitude of heroes. That the nations still exist and things have improved in a mere decade is a monument to human will and ingenuity.
Asides from the tremendous upheaval in society and the psychological changes that have occurred as a result of this gigantic scar on the human psyche, it has been claimed by some that humans in general have developed some additional small abilities as a result of the Second Impact that are becoming increasingly prevalent in the next generation of children born after the Second Impact. This paper examines the truth of these claims and à
Excerpt from a White Paper written by the ex-Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Georg Wilkinson. His studies showing the existence of mutations in children born in the post impact that provide evidence that humanity is evolving into a ônext stageö of evolution were discredited as mere lies. It was reported that he committed suicide upon being found out.
Prologue: A Meeting.
He woke. Strange, there was the faint beep of a machine in the background and the smell of medicine in the air. Trying to shift, he realized that he could not move much. And trying to open his eyes, he realized that aside from a harsh white-light bordering his vision, all he could see was darkness. Panicking for a moment, he jerked into full wakefulness and inadvertently pulled against unseen restraints holding his hands and legs down against something. His heart rate sped up and he opened his mouth.
ôYou are awake.ö A voice. Low, male, vaguely familiar. He shut his mouth. ôMy associates and I have a few questions for you and if you know whatÆs good for you, then you will answer.ö
He kept silent. Lips tightening, his mind frantically at work trying to place the voiceà and remember what happened. It seemed to move too slowly, like trying to run underwater and his head ached, and now that he knew what it was, the straps were cold. What had happened?
ôCooperate and the girls will be fine. If notàö The voice continued dispassionately, before trailing off. His heart leapt into his throat. They were supposed to be fine! Brother Ky?ya had said thatàHe opened his mouth and à time slowed down.
Stop. Remember the plan. Aura. An image of him speaking to Ky?ya andàwait. Relieved he had not said anything yet, as his memories returned in a flood. He had agreed to let himself be taken, to be used as a distractionà and he needed to spread misinformation. He sighed mentally.
Thank you Aura. He thought as time sped up again. A quick smile of happiness before it was tamped down. He let panic leak into his voice and spoke. ôWhat are you talking about? Where am I? I was just visiting my friend after she got hospitalizedàö
ôDONÆT LIE!ö Another voice, harsh and completely unfamiliar this time, he noted absently. He was being wheeled somewhere and there were two sets of footsteps.
He let himself cower, shrink back against the support, let his ônaturalö tendencies take-over as he watched distantly inside. He heard himself whine, in a high pitched, annoying voice, ôI donÆt know anything! Ià Ià IÆm sorry. Please donÆt hurt me!ö
Heh, priceless acting if he could say so himself. He had left that person behind so long ago. Had he not, Aura?
You were never like that, big brother! You have always been a brave kindà!
Thank you. He quickly thought to her, sending soothing thoughts. Wincing inside. She sure was loud. He should have known better, given how highly she thought of him, and how defensive she was of him. Well, it must have been whatever drugs he was high onà
ôStop that.ö Another voice. He snapped back to reality, idly noting that he was blubbering meaningless words and that he was not moving anymore. This one is stern, commanding and beneath it contempt and annoyance... and oh so familiar. Ah. Father.á He wanted to spit, he was involved after all. Their guess was confirmed and well, it was show time.
ôF-f-father!ö he gasped out, stuttering, just right amount of spinelessness in his voice. ôW-w-whatÆs g-going on?ö
ôYour friends are the daughters of a terrorist.ö
ôWhat! What do you m-mean?ö Perfect. He could almost imagine the sneer on his face. He felt a trickle of annoyance from her, at how he was lowering himself to act like a complete wimp and some worry. You are broad-casting Aura.
A feeling of abashedness. Sorry...
He smiled internally at hair. No need for that, I am happy that you are angry for me. Just bear with it for a while. We will get down to the heart of this and find out the truth.
ôThat is not important now. The things that caused the 2nd Impact are back and I have a use for you. You will pilot Unit 01 against it.ö
A smile, practically incandescent and joy overflowing... He was always humbled at how much she looked up to him. They were in. And they were ready. Together, they would find out the source of the 2nd Impact and the attack on their familyà wait. ôWhat?!ö
The blindfolds was loosened, and the restraints were released. He quickly pulled off the blind-fold to seeà A giant robot. Some awe. ItÆs purple.
I noticed, Aura. He thought absently as he stared hard at it, his surprise unfeigned. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a blond in a swimsuit and wearing a white coat escorting a woman with purple hair hurrying into the gigantic room.
ôThis is Evangelion Unit 01. You will pilot it or I will throw you in a cell.ö He turned and looked. His father was up above, behind a glass window. He was drawn immediately to that damnable smirk on his face. That à he let his rage take reign of his mouth, even as he separated himself from it again.
ThatÆs not good Big Brother! You know, you should not use that technique so often.
ThereÆs no choice at the moment, Aura dear. He thought. We have to convince father that I can easily be controlled. You know the plan.
A pout. The worry remained. And he continued to soothe her, as he continued his act.
Then came the monstrous Leviathans from the oceans. A unholy combination of the polar ice caps melting in an instant and the gigantic waves roaring from the under sea fault lines created solid mountains of water that smashed upon shorelines, altering the geography permanently. Entire oceanic eco-systems were shattered and many low-lying areas simplyà ceased to exist. And as if these disasters were not sufficient, there followed the coldest and most sunless years in the living history of man-kind as the heavens were blotted out by the ash and dust released into the air.
Fire. Earth. Water, and now, Ice. For a time it seemed that humanity would go extinct in the aftermath. Where there were once low lying fertile, golden plains, there remained only vast expanses of muddy water. Where there were buzzing metropolises, there remained only shattered hulks filled with the dead, the dying and a mere handful of survivors. Where there were verdant forests surrounding majestic extinct volcanoes, there remained dust, ashes and smoldering crater.
Humanity prevailed though, stubborn and headstrong, refusing to simply lie down and die. While there were days of insanity and stories of horrific cruelty, so too were there stories of simple everyday people rising up to save those around them. That we stand here today is thanks to this multitude of heroes. That the nations still exist and things have improved in a mere decade is a monument to human will and ingenuity.
Asides from the tremendous upheaval in society and the psychological changes that have occurred as a result of this gigantic scar on the human psyche, it has been claimed by some that humans in general have developed some additional small abilities as a result of the Second Impact that are becoming increasingly prevalent in the next generation of children born after the Second Impact. This paper examines the truth of these claims and à
Excerpt from a White Paper written by the ex-Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Georg Wilkinson. His studies showing the existence of mutations in children born in the post impact that provide evidence that humanity is evolving into a ônext stageö of evolution were discredited as mere lies. It was reported that he committed suicide upon being found out.
Prologue: A Meeting.
He woke. Strange, there was the faint beep of a machine in the background and the smell of medicine in the air. Trying to shift, he realized that he could not move much. And trying to open his eyes, he realized that aside from a harsh white-light bordering his vision, all he could see was darkness. Panicking for a moment, he jerked into full wakefulness and inadvertently pulled against unseen restraints holding his hands and legs down against something. His heart rate sped up and he opened his mouth.
ôYou are awake.ö A voice. Low, male, vaguely familiar. He shut his mouth. ôMy associates and I have a few questions for you and if you know whatÆs good for you, then you will answer.ö
He kept silent. Lips tightening, his mind frantically at work trying to place the voiceà and remember what happened. It seemed to move too slowly, like trying to run underwater and his head ached, and now that he knew what it was, the straps were cold. What had happened?
ôCooperate and the girls will be fine. If notàö The voice continued dispassionately, before trailing off. His heart leapt into his throat. They were supposed to be fine! Brother Ky?ya had said thatàHe opened his mouth and à time slowed down.
Stop. Remember the plan. Aura. An image of him speaking to Ky?ya andàwait. Relieved he had not said anything yet, as his memories returned in a flood. He had agreed to let himself be taken, to be used as a distractionà and he needed to spread misinformation. He sighed mentally.
Thank you Aura. He thought as time sped up again. A quick smile of happiness before it was tamped down. He let panic leak into his voice and spoke. ôWhat are you talking about? Where am I? I was just visiting my friend after she got hospitalizedàö
ôDONÆT LIE!ö Another voice, harsh and completely unfamiliar this time, he noted absently. He was being wheeled somewhere and there were two sets of footsteps.
He let himself cower, shrink back against the support, let his ônaturalö tendencies take-over as he watched distantly inside. He heard himself whine, in a high pitched, annoying voice, ôI donÆt know anything! Ià Ià IÆm sorry. Please donÆt hurt me!ö
Heh, priceless acting if he could say so himself. He had left that person behind so long ago. Had he not, Aura?
You were never like that, big brother! You have always been a brave kindà!
Thank you. He quickly thought to her, sending soothing thoughts. Wincing inside. She sure was loud. He should have known better, given how highly she thought of him, and how defensive she was of him. Well, it must have been whatever drugs he was high onà
ôStop that.ö Another voice. He snapped back to reality, idly noting that he was blubbering meaningless words and that he was not moving anymore. This one is stern, commanding and beneath it contempt and annoyance... and oh so familiar. Ah. Father.á He wanted to spit, he was involved after all. Their guess was confirmed and well, it was show time.
ôF-f-father!ö he gasped out, stuttering, just right amount of spinelessness in his voice. ôW-w-whatÆs g-going on?ö
ôYour friends are the daughters of a terrorist.ö
ôWhat! What do you m-mean?ö Perfect. He could almost imagine the sneer on his face. He felt a trickle of annoyance from her, at how he was lowering himself to act like a complete wimp and some worry. You are broad-casting Aura.
A feeling of abashedness. Sorry...
He smiled internally at hair. No need for that, I am happy that you are angry for me. Just bear with it for a while. We will get down to the heart of this and find out the truth.
ôThat is not important now. The things that caused the 2nd Impact are back and I have a use for you. You will pilot Unit 01 against it.ö
A smile, practically incandescent and joy overflowing... He was always humbled at how much she looked up to him. They were in. And they were ready. Together, they would find out the source of the 2nd Impact and the attack on their familyà wait. ôWhat?!ö
The blindfolds was loosened, and the restraints were released. He quickly pulled off the blind-fold to seeà A giant robot. Some awe. ItÆs purple.
I noticed, Aura. He thought absently as he stared hard at it, his surprise unfeigned. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a blond in a swimsuit and wearing a white coat escorting a woman with purple hair hurrying into the gigantic room.
ôThis is Evangelion Unit 01. You will pilot it or I will throw you in a cell.ö He turned and looked. His father was up above, behind a glass window. He was drawn immediately to that damnable smirk on his face. That à he let his rage take reign of his mouth, even as he separated himself from it again.
ThatÆs not good Big Brother! You know, you should not use that technique so often.
ThereÆs no choice at the moment, Aura dear. He thought. We have to convince father that I can easily be controlled. You know the plan.
A pout. The worry remained. And he continued to soothe her, as he continued his act.
Btw, the title is VERY provisional.
Edit: Oops. corrected Italics.
