Story: NGE Oversynch

 

The cityscape was a blur of shifting buildings and smoke as Tokyo-3 reconfigured itself for battle. Towering skyscrapers slid away, revealing reinforced emplacements and concealed weapon caches, while the Evangelions took their positions amid the urban maze.

Above ground, the twin Angels loomed, their shimmering forms bending light and space. From their vantage point in their towering Evangelions, the pilots could see every terrifying detail—their pulsating surfaces, their erratic movements, and the way the air seemed to distort around them.

"Pilots, stay in formation!" Misato’s voice came over the comms, sharp and commanding. The weight of her words carried the concern everyone in NERV felt for the three of them. The pilot gestalt was known, but trust in it was... tentative.

Shinji tightened his grip on Unit-01’s controls, his breathing shallow as his mind was flooded with the noise of their shared connection. The mental link, which had been a faint buzz during sync tests, was now a roaring torrent.

Rei’s focused thoughts cut through first, calm but insistent: Flank left. Block their retreat.

Before Shinji could act, Asuka’s voice blasted through his mind. No! Hit them head-on! They’re not going to wait for us to play chess!

Why must she always argue? Rei’s frustration bled through, sharper than her words.

Shinji winced, his fingers trembling on the controls. "Could you two just... stop for a second?!"

His plea went unanswered as Unit-00 and Unit-02 surged forward, each pilot acting on their own instincts. Rei angled her Evangelion to intercept one of the Angels, her lance slicing through the air with precise, measured strikes. Meanwhile, Asuka launched herself directly at the second Angel, her aggressive movements pushing Unit-02 into a dangerous melee.

Shinji hesitated, unsure where to go or how to help. The conflicting emotions in his mind—his own fears, Asuka’s searing impatience, Rei’s cold focus—made it hard to think clearly.

On the ground, the chaos was visible even to the NERV tactical teams. Cameras mounted on drones and defense installations fed live footage back to the command center, showing the disjointed movements of the Evangelions.

“They’re not coordinated,” Maya observed, her voice tight. “Unit-00 and Unit-02 are acting independently. Unit-01 isn’t engaging at all.”

“They’re out of sync,” Ritsuko said, frowning at the synchronization data. “The gestalt is fragmenting under stress. If this continues—”

“Then we’ll lose them,” Misato interrupted, her tone grim. “We need to get them on the same page—fast.”

Above the city, the Angels capitalized on the Evangelions’ disarray. One moved to flank Rei, its whip-like appendage slicing through the air. Another Angel targeted Asuka, its movements unpredictable as it darted in and out of her range.

“You’re going to get yourself killed!” Rei’s voice snapped in Asuka’s mind, sharper than her usual monotone.

“I’ve got this under control!” Asuka shot back, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her doubt.

Shinji felt the tension between them like a weight pressing down on his chest. He wanted to move, to help, but every time he tried to act, a flood of conflicting emotions held him back.

What if I mess up?

Why is she so reckless?

Why can’t he just move?!

The thoughts crashed over him, drowning out his own instincts.

Then, suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos.

“Enough!” Rei’s tone was louder than Shinji had ever heard it, firm and commanding.

Asuka’s surprise was palpable, even through the link. “What the hell, Wondergirl?”

“We are losing,” Rei said bluntly. “Because we are divided.”

Her words hit like a slap, pulling Shinji out of his spiral. He took a deep breath, focusing on the link rather than fighting it.

“She’s right,” he said, his voice steadier now. “We have to work together.”

For a moment, Asuka didn’t respond. Then, grudgingly, she muttered, “Fine. But if this goes south, I’m blaming both of you.”

The change was immediate. The connection that had felt like a chaotic storm now began to settle into something smoother, more controlled.

Rei’s calculated precision guided their movements, ensuring they didn’t waste energy on unnecessary strikes. Asuka’s raw aggression pushed them forward, driving the fight. And Shinji’s cautious empathy balanced them, keeping the team grounded even in the heat of battle.

Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02 moved as one, their actions synchronized in a way that felt almost supernatural.

On the surface, the Angels hesitated, their erratic movements faltering as the Evangelions closed in.

“They’re adapting,” Ritsuko said, watching the monitors with a mix of awe and trepidation. “The gestalt... it’s working.”

Misato allowed herself a small smile. “I told you they’d figure it out.”

As the battle raged on, the pilots felt the gestalt solidify. The chaos in their minds didn’t disappear, but it became manageable, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

Rei, Shinji, and Asuka weren’t just three individuals anymore.

They were a single force.

And the Angels didn’t stand a chance.