I do not own Mass Effect 2 or Evangelion.

oOo

On wings of light

Chapter 1. Awakening

"Shinji." the voice crackled over the intercom set into the stone wall.

Putting down his knife 21 year old Shinji Ikari turned towards the wall. Tall and slim with a runner's physique, he had an unruly mop of dark brown hair and penetrating sea blue eyes. He cut an impressive figure. Well that is if not for the pink apron and the band aid on his nose. Pushing his unruly hair out of his eyes he thumbed the intercom button. "What's up Kal?" He asked politely, his voice rich and cultured as he spoke.

"The boys want to know what you're making today?" Kal'Reeger's voice came in over the intercom.

"The same thing I make every day. Ration Packs." Shinji responded a smile on his face as he bantered back at Kal. "You guys didn't bring anything else. If I had some Turian's rations I could make you guys something new."

"Come on Shinji what about the stuff you made last week?" Kal wheedled.

"That was the last of the it. Until you guys get resupplied were back to basics. I could add some food coloring, make it look pretty."

"Make mine red and white so it matches my suit."

"Kal leave him alone." A calm female voice cut in to the conversation. "Shinji. Dr. Ikari wants you at the dig site."

"I'm cooking Tali what does mom want?" Shinji responded as he reached over and pulled a cutting board and knife closer to him.

"Its your dad. He wants you to get some measurements on the artifact." Tali's voice was colored with annoyance now.

"Can it wait?"

"A moment."The intercom was silent for a few moments. "He says No."

"Tali tell him I'll do it when I'm done here." Shinji cut off the intercom with an angry snap, then reached over and turned the entire unit off as well..

Moving back to the counter Shinji went back to preparing the meal. His movements angry and uncoordinated. A few minutes later the door to the mess hall opened with a hiss revealing the white and red suited figure of the Quarian Marine Commander Kal'Reeger.

"Hey Shinji." Kal called as he came in to the room, the tall Quarian slinging his assault rifle with casual ease. "So what's up man I tried getting a hold of you. But the intercom was off." Crossing the room Kal turned on the intercom before turning back to the young man.

"Sorry about that Kal I just didn't feel like talking." Shinji sighed as he continued to prepare the food. The familiar action serving to calm him.

"Yeah... I got that" He paused a moment to look around before continuing. "Anyways me and the rest of the guys were wondering about something. I mean your Mom and Dad and the rest of the team are all eggheads which is why they're here, but what are you doing here?"

Stirring the food Shinji looked into the soup he was preparing as if searching for an answer. "I don't know Kal. When Mom asked if I wanted to come along on this trip I just kind of jumped on the chance."

"Uh huh." Kal's voice sounded skeptical even through his visor's voice synthesizers. "So what was her name?" He asked shrewdly.

"WHAT!" Shinji's startled squawk brought a chuckle from Kal.

oOo

"Shinji!" Tali's annoyed voice barked again. Turning in her chair she faced the expressionless face of Dr. Gendo Ikari. "I'm sorry Dr. Ikari. It looks like he turned off the intercom. Do you want someone to go get him?"

"No, I don't have time to deal with an angry child. Ill do it myself" He snorted disdainfully before turning on his heel and heading off towards the dig site.

"That was odd." Tali muttered to herself as she turned back to analyzing her data.

"Don't mind him Tali." A soothing voice broke her train of thought. "Shinji and he never got along." Yui Ikari commented as she walked over to join Tali at her station.

"It must be odd to be estranged from ones family." Tali mused.

"Quarian's have very close family ties don't they?" Yui asked as she took her seat next to Tali, absentmindedly placing her coffee cup on a stack of printouts.

"Yes we do. Its hard for it to be otherwise with the way we live."

"I imagine so. I would love to visit the migrant fleet someday." Yui remarked, her dark eyes so much like her sons sparkling with merriment.

"Perhaps when this is over you can visit."

Before Yui could respond the long range comm began beeping. "One second Yui. This is the Joint Council Quarian Haehstrom research team. Tali'Zorah vas Neema speaking. Identify yourself."

"Tali Its the Normandy." An amused masculine voice came in over the comm.

"Shepard?" Tali's voice become noticeably higher pitched and she fidgeted nervously with her suit much to Yui's amusement. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you Tali. We need your help if were going to stop the collector's."

"Me?" Tali squeaked. Yui didn't miss the hint of anticipation in Tali's voice.

"Yes Tali."

"But I'm on a mission from the admiralty board. Were here researching a prothean artifact I can't just leave." She protested weakly.

"We know Tali. I'm hoping we can reach an agreement with the board. That's why were here. I don't agree with the way Cerberus has handled relations with the Migrant Fleet. I'm here to make amends and try to get the support of the migrant fleet."

"Oh." Tali's voice was a bit awed.

"Yeah oh. Well be there in a few hours. Roll out the welcome wagon Tali. Ill see you soon. Take care."

"Right."

"Shepard out." with a hiss the comm connection cut off. Leaving Tali fidgeting in her seat a little as she turned to look at Yui.

"Dr. Ikari I'm sorry I should have-"

"Hush Tali." Yui said with a giggle. "Any friend of yours is welcome here. Especially someone like Commander Shepard. Ill let my husband know. Now run off and let Shinji know were going to be having guests."

"Thank Dr. Ikari" Tali said and left the control room. As soon as Tali had left Yui turned to her console chuckling. Anyone who spent any amount of time with Tali soon figured out her interest in Commander Shepard.

oOo

"TALI! TALI COME IN NOW!" A different and very worried voice came blaring in over the long range comm a few hours later.

"This is Dr. Yui Ikari. What's happening?" Yui asked as she thumbed the comm.

"Dr. Ikari this is Joker from the Normandy, Collector's just jumped into the system. You need to get everyone into shelter NOW!"

"What do you mean, what are the collector's and what are they doing here?" Yui asked concernedly.

"NO TIME GET EVERYONE TO SHELTER!" The voice continued over her protests.

"What?"

"Dr. Ikari This is Commander Shepard." Another more familiar voice cut in. "The collector's are a very serious threat. Get your team to safety and please patch me through to the Quarian security commander." Shepard spoke calmly as he took over the conversation.

"Right." Pressing a few buttons Yui patched the comm to Kal'Reeger's suit link. "Kal this is Yui we have a situation."

"Talk to me Yui what's going on." Kal's calm voice serving to calm Yui further as he answered her.

"Kal? This is commander Shepard vas Normandy. you have alien hostiles a few minutes out from your position. My ship is still an hour away. Bunker down. Is there a safe place for you take all the civilians?"

"Shepard? Commander Shepard? Uh Yes.. Yes" Shocked but recovering fast Kal'Reeger plowed on. "The prothean artifact were studying is in an underground hangar of some kind it only has one entrance. But there's one problem."

"What is it?"

"There's only one entrance Commander." Kal'Reeger finished.

"I understand. Delay them as best you can." Commander Shepard stated solemnly. "Dr. Ikari get your people moving."

"Understood commander. I have a request. Will you listen?"

"Of course."

"This artifact. Don't let it fall into enemy hands."

"It won't"

oOo

"Get down" Kal shouted as another particle beam turned another of his men into ash. Their fighting retreat had been working fine. Retreating from strong point to strong point they had delayed the collector's for nearly 45 minutes with only a few men wounded. Things were going well. That had all changed 5 minutes ago.

With an unearthly wail another of those giant bugs crashed into the ground smashing a crater into the loose rocks. Looking like an enormous insect with a mass of skulls inside their corpse gray shells they fired devastatingly powerful particle beams that sliced through armor with frightening ease. This coupled with their powerful shields made them terrifying foes.

"Move! Move! Move! Back to the entrance!" Kal shouted before firing a single rocket at the incoming horde. Throwing the now empty tube at the enemy as well he drew his rifle and retreated with his men.

Dodging and scrambling the remnant's of his platoon made a fighting retreat back to their final strong point. The cave mouth leading into the artifact's cave. It yawned over them like an enormous mouth. They called it the Giant's rest. Hopefully it wouldn't be their rest as well.

"Shinji, Tali get up here we need you to get some of the wounded back into the cave." Kal called over the radio as he dodged blaster bolts.

"Sure Kal." Shinji replied his voice high with fear before scrambling away from his parents and heading towards the caves mouth.

"Acknowledged." Tali responded as she chambered into her pistol. Suddenly a new voice came in over the net.

"Kal we red-lined the engines. Were landing in five mikes. Hold a little longer."

"Shepard." Tali whispered.

"Commander these damn bugs brought some kind of heavy assault units. You better bring some heavy weapons. We fired every rocket we had and only killed 3. They have some kind of particle beam that cuts through armor like paper. Keep your heads low."

"Thanks for the heads up. Hang on a little longer. Help is on the way."

Jumping into the cave mouth Kal looked up into the faces of his squad plus two more.

"You OK Kal." Shinji asked nervously as he reached over and helped his friend. up.

"I'm fine Shinji. Tali you two get the wounded farther into the cave. Help is on its way." Turning back to the cave mouth he shouldered his rifle. "Tali I said get the wounded back." He shouted as Tali took up a firing position next to him.

Behind them Shinji began to drag the wounded into the cave.

"You need every gun we have Kal. I won't hide in a cave while Shepard and my friends fight." Tali responded harshly as she aimed her pistol and began sending high caliber rounds downrange.

"Damn it Tali get back!"

"I will not!"

oOo

Landing behind the Main collector strike force Shepard and his two man team advanced steadily through the rearguard of the collector attack force.

Hefting his rocket launcher Shepard waved the two other members of his Squad forward. "Jacob Asuka we need to hurry."

"Aye aye commander" Jacob focused tone reassured Shepard that Jacob was a good man. Dressed in matte black power armor he held his heavy machine gun at the ready. Shepard was more worried about his second in command.

Tossing her long red hair over her shoulder Asuka struck a confident pose her grenade launcher held casually in her hands. Wearing her stylish red and gold armor she was the very picture of deadly confidence. "These idiots got themselves chewed up by these things." She let out an amused snort.

"Focus people Lets go." With their heavy weapons they began to blow a path to the embattled Quarian marines. With the majority of the enemy forces elsewhere they were able to advance quickly.

oOo

Putting the last of the wounded down Shinji turned his attention to the artifact in order to distract himself. Sitting half buried in solid granite it looked ancient beyond belief. Looking down he rubbed his hands together nervously. There was blood and other less identifiable goo on them. He didn't want to think of whose it might be. Or what. Pushing those thought's away he turned his attention back to the artifact.

A massive hexagon made of slate gray metal. It was beautiful in its simplicity, its ancient surface pitted with scars. Smooth to the touch it was unadorned save for a single symbol resembling a stylized one. Because of this the artifact had been unofficially dubbed Unit One.

As he gazed at unit one he felt something. A presence as if he stood in the shadow of something...

Enormous.

oOo

Enemy Detected... Engagement protocols...

Activated.

Creche level start up Initiated...

Primary system's online...

Secondary system's online...

Main Communications coming online... Query Status and situation...

No response...

Switching to secondary Comm channels... Query Status and situation...

No response.

Tertiary Comm channels cycling... Chatter found...

oOo

"I can see the cave Commander. They're pinned down by four of those Heavies the Quarian mentioned. And thirteen more infantry, say again one three infantry four heavies. I'm moving to a better firing position. Ill fire on your order."

"Got it Jacob. Give me one minute Me and Asuka are getting in position." Giving his weapon one last check Shepard nodded to Asuka.

"GO!" He shouted into his com and vaulted over a broken barricade. Firing on the run he and Asuka poured fire into the back of the collector formation. From far to the left Jacob's heavy Machine gun stitched a line of death through collector drones.

Turning awkwardly the drones returned fire ineffectively as they were caught in a deadly crossfire.

Explosions bloomed like deadly roses sowing death amongst the collector's. Asuka's banshee yell echoed over the battlefield as she ran forward firing from the hip.

Taken completely by surprise the drones died first as they were caught between the hammer of Shepard's forces and the anvil of the Quarian marines.

Coming to a sliding halt Shepard brought his missile launcher to his shoulder. Sighting in and firing in one single motion he sent a rocket screaming downrange. It caught the nearest heavy at a leg joint blowing the limb clean off and spinning the floating monstrosity off to one side. Advancing steadily he poured rocket after rocket into the monster. Finally a rocket slipped through a crack in its armor and detonated inside it blowing it apart in a shower of shrapnel and other fluids.

Keeping his head down Jacob kept the stream of laser fire focused on a single spot on the alien heavy. A particle beam shot out and tore through the stone next to him. Shifting his aim slightly he blew out two of the things eyes causing its aim to veer wildly as the shields protecting it failed. It died as the Quarian marines shifted their fire onto the now defenseless Heavy.

Slamming in a fresh clip of grenades Asuka vaulted over a barricade and smashed round after round into the faces of the remaining two heavies. With a shuddering cry the last two fell to the ground under concentrated fire. As they died one let out long piercing wails which were cut off abruptly as Asuka slammed a last grenade into the corpse.

"Shut up you." She snarled before turning her attention back to the battlefield.

"That's all them commander" Jacob's voice came over the radio. "Wait I got something on my short range radar. Looks big probably reinforcements."

"Alright Jacob come on down, we will be take firing positions down here."

"Roger."

oOo

Language unknown... Analyzing...

No connection found... Extrapolating... Not enough data...

Shunting to tertiary data storage for later analysis...

Enemy chatter found... Analyzing... Confirmed... 82.23% match plus or minus 5% with archived data...

Analyzing...

Enemy target is this storage facility...

Independent action Protocols...

ENGAGED.

oOo

Keying his mike again Shepard contacted the Normandy. "Talk to me Joker what's going on? What's coming towards us?"

"Little busy Shepard. We got hostiles up here. Some kind of unmanned flying Thing. DAMN IT!" Jokers communication cut off in a wash of static.

"Joker? Joker? EDI Someone answer."

A few tense moments passed before the mike's green transmission light ticked over from red. "Sorry Shepard your on your own for now. I need to pull out of upper atmosphere, I can't win a dogfight here."

"Give em hell Joker. Shepard out."

"Aye aye Commander. All right EDI lets go and wrassle them around some more." Joker called before com was lost.

Chuckling a bit at Joker's antics Shepard made his way over to Asuka who was conversing with a Quarian who had to be Kal'Reeger.

"I appreciate the help but you can't just order my men around like that." The armored Quarian gestured angrily as he stood in front of the volatile red head.

"Your men wouldn't have last-"

"Asuka! That's enough." Shepard barked out. "Kal'Reeger. I presume?"

"Yes. Shepard right?" Kal pushed past Asuka to walk over to Shepard extending a hand in welcome as he did so. "Thanks Commander You really saved our asses there."

Taking Kal's hand Shepard waved the other Quarian's over. "Its not over yet. We got enemy contacts still inbound. Kal If we can take their shields down can your men deal the death blows?"

"You can count on us." Kal held up his rifle confidently. "You heard the man! Form a perimeter." At his harsh bark the rest of his men slid into firing positions smoothly, knocking over stones and building some hasty cover with debris.

"Shepard!" Tali whispered softly as she reloaded. She paused briefly to talk with one of the Quarian marines before striding over to join the group.

"Shepard!" she called holding out her hand to Shepard who gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Its been too long Tali. But were not out of the woods yet."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. All of the civilians are safe and our wounded are stabilized. So I'll be remaining on the line." Her tone made it clear she wasn't asking.

Kal'Reeger and Shepard exchanged a look before nodding in agreement. With the arrival of Jacob a few moments later their efforts to reinforce their position sped up. In a few short minutes every one was dug in with Shepard's heavy weapons anchoring the line of Quarian Marines.

Now all they could do was wait.

Sitting in the hanger with the rest of the scientist's and the wounded Shinji felt a strange foreboding wash over him. Light spilled in from the large hanger like doors at the other end of the hanger. It seemed like all the movement at the entrance had finally died down. Doing his best to burn off some restless energy he got up and began to walk around a bit. He ended up a few short feet from the artifact. Behind him the metal surface of the artifact began to ripple.

oOo

"Keelah Se'lai " One of the Quarian Marines whispered. Ahead of them the enemy reinforcements had finally come into view. 32 drones, 8 Heavies. But that wasn't what caused a wave of fear to ripple palpably across the group of defenders. Leading the pack were 2 massive enemy units.

Each was twice the height of a geth colossus. Humanoid with a bone white death mask through which glowing blue orbs stared out, the rest of their bodies seemed to be made out of the Standard Collector flesh and materials albeit on a massive scale. They walked on two spindly legs ending in dagger-like points with long arms reaching to their knees. Odd rib like spurs grew out of their chests framing a ghostly blue sphere set into their chests. It was from these sphere's that massive energy shields rippled out across their frames. With every step their blade like feet drove deep into the soil and rock of the planets surface.

Keying his mike Shepard spoke rapidly into it. "Joker we need you." Static was his only response.

oOo

"Shinji!" Yui gasped as green shaft of light speared out of the artifact behind her son. Beside her her husband stood impassively. The light came from a hole which grew steadily larger spilling more and more light into the air.

Shinji could only stare as a dark shape began to rise out from within the artifact. The first thing he noticed was the long 'horn' that stuck out of the things head. A head with a long narrow chin, deep set eyes and a sweeping crest. He couldn't describe the feeling that rose within him. Like being afraid without fear.

Next came the broad massive shoulders that tapered down to a seemingly delicate waist. Tall thin armor segments jutted vertically from its shoulders making it seem even taller. Colored in dazzling royal purple and emerald green it crouched atop the artifact like a jewel in a case.

oOo

Initiating Attack protocols...

Biological presences detected... Scanning... No known match...

Scanning...

Tools... Clothing... Language... Probability of Sentience 95% plus or minus 3%

Threat level... Minimal...

Scanning Hangar...

Anomalies detected... Time spent in storage unknown...

Extrapolating... Unable to extrapolate...

Information required before further action...

Acquiring sentient...

oOo

Shinji screamed in fright as a beam shot out of the machine and illuminated him. At the same time the massive chest plate slid open into upper and lower halves, in the dimly lit interior a shallow coffin like structure could be seen. Two metallic gray manipulator arms shot out from its chest and dragged Shinji inside with a muffled yell.

oOo

Sentient Acquired...

Weapon Safeties disengaging...

Flooding Pilot chamber...

Targeting Sensors engaging...

Connecting Mind Impulse unit...

oOo

Shinji screamed in fright as he was yanked inside the chest cavity of the artifact machine.

Thudding into the center of an open space he pawed frantically at the walls but he couldn't see anything. His fear increased tenfold as he felt warm liquid welling up around his legs.

"Mom! Kal! Someone, anyone get me out of here."

He kept screaming until the warm liquid covered his face and drowned out his cries. His panic only grew as some kind of electric charge ran through his body, shattering his world with pain.

oOo

Mind Impulse Unit connected... Data In loading...

Reading... Compiling...

In loading Language...

Classification... Human... Male... Adolescent...

Reevaluating... Young Adult...

Scholar... junior grade...

Galactic Status... Querying sentient's main memory... Creators known as Protheans... changing designations...

Prothean race extinct... Secondary command protocols engaging...

Sentient... Shinji... Status Civilian...

Sentient... Shinji... Status Pilot...

oOo

Standing next to her husband Yui was paralyzed with fear as her son was swallowed up by the giant purple machine. A titan wrought in power and born in light.

And then it spoke.

A bass tone so deep it vibrated the air itself.

"Evangelion Unit One..."

"Launch."

oOo

AN: Thanks to my Beta's Whitedragon17 and Psudocode Samurai who as always provide me with unparalleled help and support. Both are amazing authors and I highly recommend All of their fics. And thanks to all my reviewers.

AAN: If you think I made a mistake or have a suggestion or an idea, Please PM me or leave it in a review.