Shinji and Warhammer 40k by Charles Bhepin
Length: 20 Chapters, Ongoing
Sources: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Warhammer 40k
Rating: 5/5
Adjusted timeline, skewed loyalties, a well-written original character or two, philosophy, and psychology. This story has it all. In fact, I think it’s now tied with “The Wild Horse Thesis” for first place in my personal Evangelion favorites lists. (Different desirable qualities make it an apples and oranges comparison between the two and yes, I have started constructing such lists. It helps me keep track of what I might want to re-read.) I’d say this has more in common with Innortal’s True Angel but True Angel falls just a hair short. It’ll probable waver in and out of another tie as my tastes change.
I recently blogged about Thousand Shinji, but I have to say, I enjoy this a lot more for two reasons. First, because between then and now, a new chapter was posted which lowered my opinion of it. Second, because when you’re working with something like Warhammer 40k, it’s always better to see what can be done if the crossover isn’t actually merging the two universes. (It makes it more psychological and I like psychological stuff)
I also love seeing what a smart and creative author can come up with as contingency plans when operating through a smart and manipulative character. Charles Bhepin is definitely a smart and creative author. 🙂
Of course, my favorite part is probably this for it’s surprising originality… (You can tell I’m a computer geek)
“What’s wrong…?”
She shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong.” She huffed out. “That’s the problem.” Maya explained that she was nearly caught with unathorized use of the MAGI only once. Ritsuko had noticed the odd processing rates of the system, despite being given what seemed to be basic tasks. A lot of of processing power was being directed to external monitoring, which was supposed to have a battery of secondary computing systems. There were active scripts leading everywhere, but the idea of the MAGI being infected by a virus of some form without her knowing about it was ludicrous. The system was supposed to be self-maintaining. That was the most likely cause. Like a cancerous growth, in digital form.
So, she decided to tighten up the system. The scientist cleared most of all Maya’s carefully-placed work; excused as garbage processes.
“I see. How much control of the MAGI do you still have?”
Maya looked up, her face confused. “That’s just it. I have all of it. My outgoing nodes are still there. They’re just completely invisible to the system now. MAGI is making two self-updating system reports; one to NERV and the other to my external terminal. Even its own hardware gauges are spoofed. I can get away with nearly anything now!”
“… that’s good isn’t it?” he asked, confused too.
“You don’t understand. It’s not supposed to be possible. That goes deep into core programming, and even THAT isn’t open to Ritsuko-sempai. It’s writing itself, it’s even optimizing my own grafted codes. Sometimes I don’t even have to type my password anymore. The interface just vanishes afterwards, and compiled when I need it.” She winced. “I don’t really believe all this machine spirit business, but apparently the MAGI can distinguish between me and Ritsuko… and that just scares me. ”
— Chapter 19
Oh, and this will be the last reasonably-regular review post with the exception of a little surprise I have in store. Until I can be sure I’ve taken firm control of my procrastinative urges, I won’t be reading much (if any) fanfiction. However, I will continue to blog about interesting sites as I happen across them.
