The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Berserk—an event where an EVA acts on its own will, free from human control.

This is fundamentally different from a JA robot’s programming malfunction; it is a manifestation of the EVA’s subjective consciousness. Once upon a time, Gendo Ikari had looked forward to Unit-01 going berserk with immense anticipation.

’How? Why? Why now of all times?’

As Unit-01 struggled violently, even the reinforced restraints proved utterly useless. The entire underground facility shook as if struck by an earthquake, and the EVA let out a terrifying, human-like roar.

Ritsuko Akagi was completely stunned.

’You don’t go berserk when an Angel is launching a powerful attack, but you go berserk just because I’m running an experiment?’

However, the situation spiraled completely out of her control. With several sharp ”cracks,” the massive clamps were shoved aside. Dozens of giant bolts, each over a meter thick, were snapped like twigs. Unit-01 was free.

It was too fast. The steel was as brittle as potato chips. One had to remember that when Unit-00 went berserk and broke its restraints, it took over ten seconds—time enough for emergency measures.

ROAR—

It bellowed like a human, then turned its head toward the observation window. Standing right there was Gendo Ikari.

’Why? Yui.’

Gendo was also somewhat dazed, staring directly into Unit-01’s eyes as if he could read the machine’s feelings. It was a sense of rage, as if it were demanding an explanation.

Then, before he could react, Unit-01 threw a punch. The purple knuckles filled his entire field of vision.

BOOM!!

The force of this punch was far greater than that of Unit-00. The explosion-proof window, specifically reinforced after the last berserk accident, shattered instantly. A storm surged into the control room, slamming into Gendo and sending him flying.

”Commander Ikari!”

Ritsuko Akagi shrieked. She saw Gendo crash heavily against the wall. She scrambled toward him for a few steps, then spun around in terror.

A massive head loomed at the shattered window. The pale yellow electronic eyes stared at her, chilling her to the bone. She even had the hallucination that Unit-01 was judging her.

’How is this possible?’

Because of the Unit-00 incident, this lab had been reinforced several times over, yet it was blown open with a single strike. Seeing that gaze, she couldn’t even bring herself to check on Gendo.

”Inject the coagulant! Eject the power supply! Hurry!”

”It’s too late!”

Maya Ibuki spoke with a trembling voice. Unit-01 raised its fist again. This time, with no explosion-proof glass to protect them, a single blow would crush everyone present.

Chaos erupted in the lab. Some scrambled toward the exit on all fours; others simply closed their eyes as the fist grew larger in their sight. All Ritsuko could do was raise her hands to shield her face. One hit, and they would all be reduced to mincemeat.

She waited, trembling, for several seconds. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw the giant purple fist filling her vision—but it hadn’t descended. It stopped right at the edge of the broken window.

”The Dummy System has been disconnected from the inside! It’s Shinji-kun! Shinji-kun has taken over control!”

As Maya’s tearful voice rang out, Ritsuko took a step back and slumped to the floor.

’Hah... we’re saved.’

Every nerve in her body was shaking. The lingering shadow of death left her brilliant brain a complete blank. Ritsuko sat there in a daze. Once, she had desperately wanted to uncover the secret of how Shinji disconnected from surveillance. Now, it seemed that very secret had saved her life.

’How did he seize control? Looking at this, the Dummy System can’t replace him at all?’

Her rationality returned, but Ritsuko didn’t dwell on it. She quickly turned her head. ”Gendo!”

Gendo Ikari was slumped against the wall, his face covered in blood, his glasses completely shattered. For once, his gaze was clearly visible. It was full of disbelief and the dazed confusion of someone returning from the brink of death.

No matter how firm the will or how great the dream, it is meaningless if you are dead. Just seconds ago, he had nearly become a pile of flesh.

’Was this Yui trying to kill me? Or was it a warning from the boy?’

Gendo could only feel agonizing pain throughout his body. He gave one last unwilling look and lost consciousness on the spot.

”Medical team, hurry!”

-

-

-

’This is both the rage of the Machine Spirit and my warning.’

Shinji looked down at the chaotic lab, a slow smile spreading across his face. Everything was according to plan—no, the harvest exceeded his expectations.

He had intended to sabotage the experiment, forcing Gendo to constantly doubt himself, thereby widening the cracks in his AT Field until he became a total thrall. Looking at it now, the effect was excellent. The successive blows were making this top-tier conspirator increasingly frantic.

When that confidence in controlling everything vanished entirely, the psychic seeds he had planted would sprout, turning Gendo into a puppet without changing a single outward thing.

Yes, just like Dr. Itou. The man thought he was competing with an EVA, unaware that his every action perfectly met Shinji’s requirements. This was fundamentally different from a marionette like Mark; Itou was full of subjective initiative, retaining all his talent while working day and night for Shinji.

This was the subtle utility of psychic powers. Similar tricks were undetectable even by the Inquisition. The victim thinks they are sacrificing for the Emperor, when in reality, they are a pawn of Chaos—the harder they work and the more determined they are, the greater the destruction they cause.

”Additionally, there’s Unit-01.”

He pulled out a thurible, gently soothing the Machine Spirit. Previously, Shinji had been wary of the Machine Spirit, but now he was certain.

Unit-01’s Machine Spirit stood firmly on his side.

Just now, he had felt its rage. Perhaps that rage stemmed from the attempt to replace him, or perhaps it was simple dissatisfaction with Gendo. Regardless, when he used his psychic powers to retake control, Unit-01 offered zero resistance.

”When my psychic power grows stronger, perhaps I can contact her directly.”

Shinji raised his chin. Even the Machine Spirit is on my side—you still think you can play tricks?

”Hey, Shinji, are you okay?”

Asuka’s urgent voice came through his ear. A screen popped up, showing the girl drenched in sweat; she had clearly been terrified. Seeing Unit-01 go berserk, she had wanted to help, but Unit-02 was pinned down, leaving her to watch helplessly.

Shinji didn’t speak, but his gaze was peculiar.

’Once I handle Unit-01, perhaps I can help her contact Unit-02’s Machine Spirit?’

”I’m fine.”

He shook his head slightly as another screen popped up. Rei Ayanami didn’t speak; she just stared at him with a face full of concern and a deep sense of guilt in her eyes.

”Ikari-kun, I...”

”You can’t tell me why, can you?”

Shinji glanced at her, saw the struggle on the girl’s face, and suddenly raised a hand to stop her.

”Don’t resist it. Everything is under my control. Don’t take this to heart.”

”But I...”

”That is an order.”

Shinji cut her off bluntly. The word ”order” acted like a specific program; Rei seemed to bypass her inner conflict and calmed down immediately.

”Understood.”

”Hey, what are you two talking about?” Asuka didn’t understand a word. She just looked at the machinery extending behind her back. ”Unit-02 won’t go berserk too, will it? Ritsuko, let me out!”

”Everything is a mess over there, who has time for you? Besides, even if Unit-02 went berserk, wouldn’t I be here to suppress it?”

”Don’t you dare break my precious! Don’t you even scratch the paint!” Asuka immediately raised a small fist.

Shinji didn’t reply. He silently watched Gendo Ikari, covered in blood, being carried away on a stretcher. That usually majestic figure looked somewhat pathetic.

’Trying to put everything under your control? You think you’re worthy?’

Gendo was indeed clever and iron-fisted, but he lacked true power. This was as laughable as a High Lord of Terra trying to tell a Primarch how to do things.

’I can make you suffer a great deal whenever I please; let’s see if you dare cause trouble in the future.’

Shinji needed someone to coordinate various factions, mobilize resources, and handle troublesome affairs on his behalf. Beyond that, if Gendo dared to reach out, Shinji would cut his hand off.

”This is a good thing. After a failure like this, no one will ever dare to try and replace us with a Dummy System again.”

’Eh, that’s true.’

Asuka suddenly cheered up. She was the most vehement opponent of the Dummy System. Though she appeared cheerful and extroverted, if she were unable to pilot Unit-02, she would collapse on the spot. The cramped entry plug was her true home deep within her heart.

Thinking it over, she decided not to get excited too early.

”Probably not, right? Experimental failures happen all the time. Ritsuko will probably adjust it and try again.”

”Don’t worry.”

Shinji leaned back slightly, reclining comfortably in his seat as if he were back in his own home.

”They won’t dare.”

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