Source:Transformers Mode "Eva"

The document below is a faithful translation of web prose produced for the Masterpiece Transformers × Evangelion collaboration.

Translators: Star Spangled Sam

(Translation and notes copied over verbatim from Sam's now defunct site)

Story 01

The Angels had struck. Mysterious lifeforms, the Angels suddenly appeared after a long silence with great force and violence. The combined might of the United Nations Armed Forces was no match for them… Until Anti-Angel Strategy became the responsibility of the paramilitary organisation Nerv.

During the silent invasion of Tokyo-3 by one such Angel, the Autobot Sky Lynx dropped out of the sky in the form of a space shuttle. From within his hull came Optimus Prime and his Autobots, who had detected unusual energy readings from their headquarters on far-off Planet Cybertron.

“We cannot allow a disaster like Second Impact to wrack this planet again!” said Optimus. “Hm? Wh… What is that monster?” As he stepped on to the ground, Optimus was shocked as his eyes fell upon the titanic enemy in the distance.

“What… What on Earth could it be? It doesn’t look like something from the UN Armed Forces!” Nerv Tactical Operations Captain Misato Katsuragi was at a total loss at how to respond to this unprecedented situation.

Story 02

Then, a mysterious shadow appeared in front of the Angel.

“I can feel it… This energy… This freak will be perfect for my new body!”

“What?! Impossible, is that… S-Starscream?” Optimus’ voice rose without thinking. It was indeed he who had perished years before in the Unicron War, Starscream, left as a free-floating spark… A ghost.

Starscream’s ghost flowed into the Angel’s body, its form changing in the blink of an eye. It had become something half-alive, half-gigantic Starscream, a creature that could only be called Angelscream.

Misato could not hide her shock. “Impossible! The Angel… it’s transformed!”

“Mwahahahaha! Yes! Finally, I’ve got a new body!” Angelscream let out a booming laugh, before finally noticing the Autobots gathered at his feet.

“Hehehe… If it isn’t the Auto-boobs! Perfect, this is just what I needed to test my new powers!” Angelscream lashed out at the Autobots. They despaired, as with such a size difference they had no chance against him.

Piece by piece the situation had fallen deeper and deeper into chaos. However, commanding officer Misato had already given the order to follow the original plan and launch Eva Unit-01. In a flash Tokyo-03 itself began to transform.

“What? This place can transform like Scramble City?” Just as Optimus thought so, the ground in front of him opened, and Eva Unit-01 began its launch protocols. The Autobots were overwhelmed as, for the first time in forever, they felt truly small.

Story 03

“Incredible… I had no idea that the humans could ever build such a gigantic robot…!” However, Optimus suddenly felt a curious sensation. “Is this… not a robot? I can feel life pulsing within… No, could it be some primeval call?”

As if being guided, Optimus scanned Unit-01, and his body began a shocking transformation, growing in size and strength as his plating became Unit-01’s purple.

“Wh… Now that Transformer… is becoming an Eva?” Misato and the Nerv personnel watched in dumbfounded amazement.

The now-giant Optimus glared at Angelscream and let out a roar from within his open chestplate.

“Uooooooooo!!” At that moment, the Matrix within Optimus’ chest resonated the same red colour as Angelscream’s core, shining with a light that seemed to herald the birth of a new form of life.

Here, the stage was set for the curtain to rise on the next evolution of battle.

Story 04

“What the?! Prime! You’ve obtained a new body as well!”

Starscream, having fused with the titanic body of an Angel… Or rather, Angelscream shouted out. Standing in front of him was the Autobot commander who had scanned Eva Unit-01 and evolved into a giant purple form far beyond regular Autobots… Optimus Prime: Mode Eva.

Optimus closed his chestplate and glared silently at Angelscream. The other Autobots, who had climbed up the surrounding buildings, called out timidly to their commander.

“Prime! Are… Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Though I have this strange sensation…” Optimus answered to the uneasy Sideswipe. Though his consciousness was completely clear, he felt something strange… It was as if some new life had taken root inside him.

“Just because you’ve upsized like I have doesn’t mean you can beat me, Prime!”

The eyes of the Angel’s head embedded in Angelscream’s chest briefly shone before launching a volley of energy balls at Optimus. He glanced back at Eva Unit-01 for just an instant before shielding it from the attack with his own body.

“Not happening, Starscream!”

Optimus drew his ion blaster, now giant as well, and returned fire. However, the shots fizzled out before they reached Angelscream’s body.

“What? Why didn’t that work?”

In front of Angelscream some sort of barrier had appeared, defending him from the blasts.

“An A.T. Field! That giant Transformer really has absorbed all of the Angel’s power!” murmured Misato as she watched the battle from HQ. Nerv was now in total panic over the bizarre events unfolding.

“Hehehe… This thing’s power is unmatched! With strength like this I can’t lose, not even to that scum Galvatron! However!” With that, Angelscream flew towards Optimus. His reaction a split second too slow, Optimus was left helpless as Angelscream grabbed him by the neck with his claws and lifted him up. “I think I’ll start with finishing you off, Prime! You’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long! Defeating the Autobot’s Supreme Commander will cement my position as the new leader of the Decepticons and ruler of the universe!”

Angelscream rammed his arm-mounted Null Ray into Optimus’ face, repeatedly ramming an energy stake into his head. This Null Pile Bunker struck again and again, slowly cracking Optimus’ helmet.

“Guh, urgh…”

Optimus’ let out an anguished noise as he hung from Angelscream’s grasp. The assembled Autobot soldiers did their best to help, but were helpless against a foe of such size. Then, Wheeljack suddenly felt a communication signal, and connected to the radio channel.

“This is Misato Katsuragi of Nerv Tactical Operations Headquarters, can you read me?”

Hesitant only for a moment at the name of an organisation he didn’t recognise, Wheeljack responded.

“Wheeljack of the Autobots here, what kinda rinky-dink organisation is that?!”

Though she had been bewildered as to how to speak with the alien Transformers before calling, Misato quickly reclaimed her nerve and began to explain.

“Since our Eva Unit isn’t moving, we’ve no choice but to leave the Angel’s extermination to that giant Transformer. Listen to me carefully…”

“Hahaha… Looks like your head is finally ventilated, Prime! You’re finished!” Thanks to Angelscream’s unrelenting attacks, cracks ran all along Optimus’ head. But at that moment, shots flew towards him. It was of course the Autobots, whose attacks had no effect thanks to the size difference and the A.T. field. However….

“Hey Starscream! Just cause you’re big doesn’t mean you’re fast!! Betcha can’t catch me!” It was Bumblebee, driving around Angelscream’s feet in circles.

“What?! I don’t take lip from shrimps like you!” Without letting go of Optimus Prime, Angelscream moved to crush Bumblebee underfoot. But Angelscream was not yet used to his new body, and ended up off-balance as he stretched to reach his target.

“Now’s our chance!” shouted Misato, the city itself responding to her order by transforming around Angelscream’s ankle, pinning him down. The Autobots had lured him to that point on purpose, following Misato’s instructions.

“Wh-what?!” Angelscream cried out as he lost his balance, briefly losing his grip on Optimus, who seized the opportunity.

“Uoooh!” Optimus pulled himself from Angelscream’s grip before throwing a mighty punch. Alas, his iron fist was unable to break through the A.T. Field.

“I see it still hasn’t gotten through your thick head, Prime! That won’t work!”

At that moment, liquid energy flowed from Optimus’ right hand, congealing into the shape of his Energon-axe. Optimus then brought the crimson blade down on Angelscream with a shout.

“Muooooh!” Though the A.T. Field appeared to hold for a moment, the axe broke through, shattering the Field completely.

“It’s… neutralising… no, destroying the field?!” gasped Misato, realising that this was the combined power of Evas and Transformers.

“Starscream… You picked the wrong planet!” Optimus’ axe continued past the broken A.T. Field and into Angelscream’s body, splitting both Starscream’s and the Angel’s heads clean in two.

“I… Impossible! But, but I…! Nooooo!” When the Energon-axe reached the crimson core within the Angel’s body, Starscream’s ghost fled out with a vengeful scream, disappearing into the empty sky. Blood-like liquid poured from the Angel’s remains as it collapsed in the streets of Tokyo-3.

“We won…” Misato stared dumbfounded at the monitor, and the form of Optimus Prime displayed upon it.

Hours after the battle… Optimus Prime, having returned to his original size, was at a Nerv camp on the outskirts of Tokyo-3. Beside him was his trailer, which Nerv personnel were refitting to function as a mobile base. Sideswipe was helping with the refit, while Wheeljack could be seen deep in conversation with Nerv researchers.

“It won’t just be Starscream… Other Decepticons will no doubt come to menace Earth.” Optimus looked up to the sky, murmuring to himself. “And that creature, the Angel… Perhaps it’s time we and humanity fight together once again.” Bumblebee pulled up alongside him, and Misato stepped out.

“The Transformers, huh… Things just got interesting.”

As the twilight shone on the titanic form of Optimus Prime: Mode Eva, Misato looked on, her expression equal parts worried and hopeful.

Translation notes

If you think the images appear out of order, you’re right! For some reason, the first three story pages depict the events of what happen in the next part of the story. Very strange.

While Optimus Prime and Misato both act with some meta-understanding of Evangelion not just being a show about robots fighting monsters, Starscream shows no awareness of the Angel or Eva’s nature. To fit this, I’ve translated him with his dialogue from the 80s cartoon in mind, including insults like “Auto-boob”.

While Optimus commands Starscream to leave Earth at the end of the fight, (kono wakusei wo saru), I’ve translated it as “You picked the wrong planet!”, a reference to Prime’s line in Revenge of the Fallen‘s infamous “Give me your face” scene, where he kills the titular villain in a similarly grizzly manner.