Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ The One I Love Is...Mst ❯ Chapter 12 ( Chapter 13 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Standard Disclaimer

You know what I'm going to say don't you?

Should I repeat it just to clarify things for those who wish to
hear it again?

Why should I?

What do I get out of it?

Does the soul truely exist, what proof is their to define it?
Is the universe infinate or finite? How can something truly exist
forever, but if it ends, what is at the edge?

Why am I asking these questions?

I wish I knew :)

Well for legal purposes I'll repeat myself. I own nothing of evangelion nor
the original story.

I try to make a lasting impression upon the fanfic community, wish me luck!

------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------

Hikari: I think you punished him enough for the keys.

Asuka: If it were you?

Rei: I will only stop once Shinji-kun tells me to.

Touji: Where is Shinji?

Kensuke: FIND HIM!!

Toilet flushes.

Shinji: Kami-sama I needed that!

Asuka: You were in the bathroom this whole time?

Kensuke: How could you leave me like that!?

Shinji: I felt that Asuka and Rei needed a stress reliever, thanks Ken.

Kensuke: Sure...bastard.

Rei: What was that Aida-kun?

Kensuke: Lets finish this movie now!

Touji: But then what, this is the last part and we have alot of time before we
have to go home.

Hikari: We'll think of something.

Asuka/Rei: Lets watch, he'll choose in this part!

Shinji: 'Yahoo...somebodies going to be pissed off.'

Touji: Take your places everyone the last part is about to start!

Kensuke puts the tape in and hits play: That really hurt you two.

Rei: That was the intent, be thankful Shinji-kun abhors death.

Kensuke pales.

Shinji: You're just kidding, right?

Asuka:....
Rei: ....

Hikari: Kowaii! (scary)

(begin MST look for >>> as if you're life depended on it)

The One I Love Is...
Chapter 12 - End of Evangelion
Written by Alain Gravel <rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca>
Based on characters created by and copyright GAINAX

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/2236/

(*) See translations notes for details
(number) See the author's notes for details

>>>Asuka: I have goosebumps.

>>>Rei: We will finally learn of the saga's conclusion.

====================================================== =================

Chapter 12 - End of Evangelion
Part 1: Invasion

"I hate this room."
Those were the first words I had said in... I didn't even know now
long.

>>>Touji: Ten seconds.

>>>Shinji: Have to start off with something I know.

I looked around. A huge room that looked even larger because of the
way it was lit by the large reinforced windows and the fluorescent
lights on the ceiling. A room that looked very bare, despite the
presence of the bed the red-headed girl was lying on and all the
equipment around her.

>>>Asuka: What the hell happened to me!

>>>Hikari: Looks like you were hit by a bus, then the bus backed up and hit you again.

>>>Touji: Or her true nature is leaking through the facade.

The second bed and other extraneous furniture had
been removed, supposedly for the girl's safety. The only sound heard in
the room was the regular beeping of the cardiac monitor she was
connected to.
"You would be much better at home."

>>>Kensuke: She'd be better off dead.

>>>Rei: Sometimes death is better.

>>>Asuka: Don't kill me with your minds.

But I wasn't qualified to take care of her. I raised my head and
opened my eyes to look at the girl, gritting my teeth as I felt a surge
of pain in all the muscles of my neck. How long had I stayed like that,
sitting on that little stool?

>>>Shinji: A few minutes?

>>>Touji: Just sat down?

>>>Asuka: Maybe they should have given us some way to gauge time.

She was still asleep. But... she didn't seem to be at peace. Maybe
she was waging some sort of war inside herself. Her right wrist was
punctured with an IV drop, which kept her body alive by giving her the
nutrients it needed. I knew it wasn't enough, however, as I looked at
how pale her skin was and how she seemed to have lost some weight.

>>>Touji: She could stand to drop a few pounds.

>>>Kensuke: She's about as pale as Ayanami.

>>>Asuka: What does it take to shut you stooges up!

But
there was only so much that doctors could do. I looked at the bandages
on her left wrist. They had already saved her life.
"Why did you do that, Asuka?"

>>>Rei: She made an attempt upon her own life.

>>>Shinji: Thought only I was dumb enough to try that.

Why indeed. I couldn't understand. Asuka, of all people...
'Don't worry, I'll never bother you again. Never.'
Was it what she really meant?
"Damn it, Asuka! Why?! Because of me?! Was it because of me?! Baka!!!"
Like previous times before, I found myself crying, my tears making a
few wet spots on the bed sheets covering her chest. Then, after a few
minutes, the tears stopped as suddenly as they had come.
But the question remained: why did she act this way?

>>>Shinji: Stress?

>>>Rei: Mental instability.

>>>HIkari: Loss?

>>>Touji: She's an idiot?

Maybe because... she thought she had lost everything she ever had.
I knew the feeling. Hadn't I thought about it myself after Kaoru's
death?
But... Asuka wasn't a coward like I was...

>>>Rei: You're logic is flawed as she has indeed acted in the form of a coward.

>>>Shinji: If she was a coward she wouldn't have tried, takes some bravery to...

They found her in an abandoned building, about the same time I
finally left the entry plug of Unit-01. She had been lying in a bathtub.
Her clothes neatly folded on a chair nearby, something she never did,
the water was red from the blood slowly leaking from her slit wrist. The
kitchen knife she had used had been found on the floor on the other side
of the bath.

>>>Shinji: Those section 2 guys mark every detail.

>>>Asuka: As while the noted said details, they left me in the tub!

The security agents who had found her acted quickly enough
for the doctors to save her life. Fortunately, the infirmary kept large
reserves of all the pilots' blood types.
Physically, she was now fine. She had suffered from a bit of
malnutrition, but nothing severe. However, she wouldn't wake up. The
doctors had said it was all up to her. She didn't wake up because she
didn't want to.
So I waited for her to come back.

>>>Shinji: What else is their to do, all the angels are gone.

>>>Touji: Could leave.

>>>Kensuke: Get a normal girlfriend.

Most of the time, I simply waited in silence. It wasn't easy. In
fact, it was exhausting. It reminded me much of my experience inside the
Twelfth Angel.

>>>Shinji: I'm taking drugs?

>>>Rei: Why do you say that.

>>>Shinji: In that big ball I saw alot of colors and had really funky dreams.

There wasn't really anything else I could do but stay put
and wait. When I got too bored, I would talk to her, hoping that the
sound of my voice could reach her somehow... wherever she was. I spoke
of the past, of what I thought when I first saw her on that aircraft
carrier, looking so pretty in her yellow dress and how impressed I had
been by her air of confidence. I had admired her from the beginning.

>>>Touji: You say this now, why not before so I could have won the bet!

>>>Rei: You could have talked to me.

>>>Hikari: He's scared of you.

She
was all that I wasn't: strong, pretty, talented, and confident. I spoke
of our first night alone, the last day of our synchronization training,
how I had almost kissed her. I spoke of how it had been nice to live
with her, even if sometimes it had felt like some cruel torture, because
of the way she always teased and insulted me.

>>>Shinji: Odd how you get used to it after time.

>>>Asuka: Humans can adapt to anything.

I spoke of the Eighth
Angel, and how scared I had been when the Angel attacked her, and how
relieved I had been when I caught Unit-02 in-extremis, saving her from
imminent death.

>>>Kensuke: And got boiled in LCL.

>>>Shinji: My skin was so sensitive after the...boiling.

I spoke of our first date, and how I eventually enjoyed
myself, despite my decision at the time to be Rei's boyfriend. How,
despite everything, I enjoyed our first kiss and even more the second. I
spoke of the first night we spent in the same bed and how nervous I
felt, so nervous in fact that I didn't sleep at all that night.

>>>Touji: But you were experienced by then.

>>>Rei: He does not mean that 'type' of sleep.

>>>Kensuke: How do you know?

>>>Rei: ....

I spoke
about the trip with Touji and Hikari, and how hurt I had felt when I
thought she had just been using me, and how relieved I felt when she
admitted that she had acted this way because she loved me and feared
losing me to Rei. I spoke of the Fifteenth Angel attack, how useless I
had felt, and how relieved I had been when I saw that she wasn't
physically harmed, but how sad I felt to see how much that thing hurt
her.

>>>Asuka: From look of this, it's not helping.

>>>Touji: Trying to bring her back, yet talking about failure after failure.

>>>Shinji: So words of comfort are hard for me, not like I hear them all that much.

I spoke of the night we made love, and how good it had felt. Then I
spoke of the night she ran away. I told her everything about Rei, how
she was a clone and how she had forgotten about me. Finally, I spoke of
Kaoru. I told her everything, how she tried to get close to me, how I
tried to reject her, how I started to consider her as a friend and how I
was eventually forced to kill her.

>>>Asuka: And filled with murderous rage I wake and crush whats left of her.

>>>Kensuke: The head?

>>>Asuka: Like a grape between the fingers of Unit-02.

"Any progress, Ikari-kun?"
The voice startled me. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I had
not heard anyone enter the room. I recognized a now familiar nurse. Her
name was Tanaka Michiru, if I was not mistaken.

>>>Shinji: Ah! Michiru-san!!

>>>Touji: Eh?

>>>Shinji: She's the nurse that always helps me when I'm in there!

>>>Kensuke: That babe!

>>>Touji: She give you a sponge bath?

>>>SHinji: I..u...

>>>Asuka/Rei: Did she?

>>>Shinji nods.

She was the one assigned
to this section of the infirmary on the day shift. She was a rather
plain looking woman, but she had a warm smile and was very kind. She had
even brought me a meal at the end of her shift the previous day.
I shook my head. She seemed truly sorry for me.
"I'm sure she will get better."

>>>Shinji: Her voice sounds familiar to me...from long ago almost.

>>>Hikari: Such pretty greenish hair.

>>>( Ok ok, may not get what I'm implaying, the name Michiru is close to
>>> that of sailor neptune, the lover of sailor urinous, who was voiced by
>>> Shinji's voice actress Megumi Ogata...so...their you go)

"I really hope so."
"You must have faith. Besides, with such a kind man waiting for her,
there's no doubt that she'll come back."

>>>Shinji: Don't you mean killer?

If it wasn't my fault that she was in this bed in the first place.
"If you don't mind, would you leave the room? I need to take care of
Pilot Sohryu."
"Oh... of course. I guess I'll go eat something."
I didn't really want to leave, but I couldn't argue.

>>>Shinji: They'd kick me out if I did.

>>>Touji: Don't I know it, won't let me take anymore flowers for my sis!

>>>Shinji: That's why they kicked you out?

The infirmary
personal had been so kind to me. When I first got here, they had been
reluctant to let me in, as it was off the visiting hours. But after a
bit of arguing, the doctor in charge of Asuka had agreed to let me see
her, telling me that right now, what could help her the most was the
support of people who cared about her.

>>>Kensuke: Short list.

>>>Touji: She does make alot of enemies.

>>>Asuka: Not my fault most people aren't deserving of my attention.

Since then, I had only left the
room on one occasion, as they needed to make a few tests and give Asuka
a bath, as well as change her clothes.

>>>Hikari: That explains why the bedpan is used so much.

>>>Rei: You excrete waste in her presence?

>>>Shinji blushing: NO I DON'T!

When I came back, I had been
surprised to see that they had set up a small futon in a corner of the
room so I wouldn't have to sleep on a chair like I had the first night.
"You should. It wouldn't do her good if you end up yourself in one
of our beds because you overexerted yourself. You already look a bit
pale."
I smiled.
"Thanks for your concern."

>>>Shinji: Its's not concern, they just don't want more patients to care for.

>>>Asuka: More sick people means more work.

I stood up, grimacing as I felt as if lightning had just struck my
back. Every muscle hurt like hell. Definitely, getting up and moving a
bit would be a good idea. If the pain could subside...

>>>Shinji: They didn't ram painkillers down my throat this time?

>>>Rei: The signs of addiction may have set in by this time.

I bent down (painfully) toward Asuka and gave a soft kiss on the
sleeping girl's lips. I almost regretted I did. Those were not the moist
and soft lips I knew; they were dry, cracked, and completely
unresponsive.
"Ikari-kun... are you alright?"

>>>Kensuke: Kissing dead people is sick.

>>>Asuka/Shinji: She/I'm not dead!

>>>Rei: Very close.

I looked up and blinked, seeing the nurse's concerned look. Then I
realized that my cheeks were wet by a few tears.
"I will be when she wakes up."
I gave one last look at the sleeping girl and walked toward the
door.

>>>Hikari: That's so beutiful.

>>>Rei: He...did not lavish such attention upon me.

>>>Touji: You don't respond, what's he supposed to do?

"Please, take good care of her. And if it's possible, could you put
something on her lips? They are all dried. It will hurt when she wakes
up."
"Don't worry. I'll make her all beautiful again."
"Thank you, Tanaka-san."

>>>Asuka: I'm beautiful regardless.

>>>Hikari: You don't believe that do you?

>>>Asuka: I can try.
* * *

I took no real pleasure in eating the rice and stir-fried vegetables
that were right before me. The taste was acceptable, but I had my mind
on other matters.

>>>Rei: The vitamin and mineral content of the food?

>>>Touji: Where to find more girls?

>>>Shinji: Where I left my SDAT?

I didn't feel comfortable being away from Asuka for
too long. I knew that it was very unlikely, but whenever she was out of
my sight, I feared that she just might walk away. Or maybe do something
even worse.

>>>Kensuke: She'd have to wake up for that.

>>>Touji: And take out all of those tubes and needles.

I always dreaded entering her room, part of me fearing
finding her laying in a pool of her own blood or hanging from a ceiling,
at the end of a rope or bed sheet.

>>>Asuka: I will not take mothers way out.

>>>Rei: That is good to know.

Part of me tried to convince myself
that she would never do such a thing, but fact was... she had already
tried once.
So I ate without appetite. I would have eaten faster, but I knew
that nurse Tanaka would need some time before being done with Asuka.

>>>Asuka: Can I sue for malpractice?

>>>Shinji: It's a movie.

>>>Asuka: Ok, how about character defilement?

I got up and was just about to dispose of my tray, when suddenly, I
heard the faint sounds of explosions, quickly followed by much stronger
ones. Then, the alert siren made itself heard all throughout NERV.
I stood there, dumbfound. An alert? Could that be an Angel? But
Misato had said that the Seventeenth was supposed to be the last... I
didn't understand. I really regretted not having my cell phone with me.

>>>Shinji: Why is it that whenever I leave something behind I need it?

>>>Kensuke: That's an accident waiting to happen.

>>>Touji: More like a pregnancy waiting to happen.

Very quickly, the few people that were also in the cafeteria left,
obviously in a hurry. Was this what happened each time an Angel had
attacked or was today different?
"Don't stand there like an idiot! Go to your post!"
"Uh?"

>>>Asuka: Find something evil and kill it!

>>>Rei: But what would attack Nerv aside from an angel?

>>>Kensuke: A really dumb agency.

I turned to see a man standing in the kitchen entrance. From the way
the man was dressed, he was obviously a cook. The man seemed in his
fifties. His head was covered with silver and black hair, except for a
bald spot, and his severe looking face was sporting an angry moustache.

>>>Shinji: AH! I'm sorry!

>>>Touji: What?

>>>Shinji: Moustache...scared me.

>>>Kensuke/Hikari: Weird.

The man was rather tall, and while not overly muscled, he had a large
and apparently strong stature. I found him to be very intimidating.
"Sir, what's... what's going on?"

>>>Asuka: The new supply of meat has arrived and needs to be dealt with.

>>>Rei: It must be Tuesday.

>>>Kensuke: They bring in live animals for food?

>>>Asuka: Needs to be fresh.

If it was possible, the man's seemed even more menacing as he gave
me a cold stare.
"What kind of idiot are you?! We're under attack!"
"Attack? By an Angel?"
"Angel?! I wish..."

>>>Shinji: Now that is a stupid man.

>>>Kensuke: Being eaten by an angel must rate highly on his things to do list.

>>>Touji: I bet he's tired of being an old fart and wants to die.

Then, suddenly, enlightenment became visible on the man's face, to
be quickly replaced by a frown.
"Oh shit! You're one of those kids who pilots those giant robots,
aren't you?"
"Well... yeah..."
The man's frown deepened.
"Damn! C'mere! Now!"

>>>Asuka: Isn't that child abuse?

>>>Shinji: Dear Kami I hope not.

The man motioned me to come in the kitchen. As another explosion
made itself heard, I didn't hesitate.
Despite the fact that meals had just been served, the kitchen looked
almost spotless. I didn't have the time to look around however,

>>>Rei: But you made observations already, which meant you did look around.

>>>Shinji: Quick impression?

>>>Kensuke: More like a plot hole.

as the man dragged me toward an office located in the back of the kitchen.

>>>Kensuke: AH! it is going to be child abuse.

The office looked like the kitchen; neatly ordered. Apparently, it
was the man's office, as he seemed at ease in finding and picking up the
phone, then dialing a long series of numbers.

>>>Kensuke: 976-hot-evas?

>>>Shinji: What the hell?

>>>Asuka/Rei: We need to talk to the advertising department.

"Is this a secured line?" asked the man. "Yeah, I know there's a
bloody emergency! I heard the alarm! Look... just tell that gorgeous
babe Katsuragi that I've got her little pilot boy here and would like to
get him the hell out of here, so send someone to pick him up.

>>>Touji: Namely the Hot babe!

>>>Hikari: How does he know a Nerv Major?

>>>Shinji: That would be my fault, with how often I'm their Misato-san's there alot.

>>>Asuka: Must have gave her cooking lessons.

The cafeteria's kitchen."
Without another word, the man hung up the phone. I guess it would be
as good a time as any to try again the question that was on my mind.
"What's... what's going on?"
The man looked toward me. I was surprised to see his face soften.
"Invasion."
"An invasion? Someone's invading NERV?"

>>>Touji: It's an alien invasion of Earth!

>>>Shinji: It's the Jovians! (joke about English voice actors :) Shinji=Akito)

"Yeah. And from the way it looks, I don't think things will be going
our way."
An invasion. Who could be invading us? For what purpose?
"Here."
My thoughts were suddenly derailed as I realized the man was handing
me a gun and a holster. I gasped.
"What... what's that?"

>>>Rei: You knew it was a gun yet you asked?

>>>Shinji: I'm stupid at times.

>>>Kensuke: A MAGNUM!! like..like..Dirt Harry!

>>>Asuka: It's DIRTY Harry.

"A gun."
"I know... but... why?"
"Your safety. You ever used a gun before?"

>>>Shinji: Yeah but never one that small, have one the size of a bus?

>>>Rei: Or a positron rifle?

Oh God! This was... too much. My mind threatened to overload any
minute.
"I... I... I never used a real gun. I used guns with EVA, but..."
"Same thing," said the man as he pulled a second gun from a desk
drawer before showing it to me. "You remove the safety catch here. You
point toward the target. You squeeze the trigger. As simple as that.
There's only fifteen bullets, so don't waste your shots."
"But... but... the targets... would be people..."

>>>Asuka: People that have no qualms shooting you.

>>>Rei: And will shoot at unarmed civilians.

>>>Shinji: Get me something bigger then.

The man just gave me a stern look.
"It's you or them. If they shoot at you and miss, shoot back."
This was a nightmare. It had to be...
But I knew it wasn't. I realized that I was trembling. It was no
good. It was like EVA.

>>>Shinji: How is it like Eva, in Unit-01 if I'm shot I don't die!

>>>Kensuke: And you have that big ass force shield.

If I got scared now, there would be people who
would suffer because of me. I picked it up, studied the cold and black
piece of machinery and death.

>>>Touji: At least it's not purple.

>>>Hikari: Or red or blue.

I then awkwardly put the holster on and
secured the gun in. The gun seemed to weigh almost a ton against my
side.
I then remembered Misato's words.
"One must fight for his survival."
"That's it kid."
I looked at the man. Unlike me, he didn't look scared at all.

>>>Touji: Deathwish!

>>>Hikari: What would a man like that be doing in a hospital?

>>>Rei: Unnecessary surgery.

"It's not the first time... for you... I mean... I'm scared... but
you look calm."
The man gave a small chuckle and then smiled.
"Oh, I'm scared, kid. I just know better then to let it control me.
Properly channeled, fear makes you act more carefully."
"Oh..."
"And yes, it's not the first time. I was in the military a long time
ago. In the wars that followed Second Impact."

>>>Shinji: And you're in a hospital because?

>>>Asuka: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, be happy.

I nodded in understanding. That explained the man's rigid attitude.
But right now, he didn't seem as cold as he did minutes before.
"Have you... before... killed someone?"
"Plenty. Not that I'm proud of it. But sometimes, you've got to do
what you've got to do... I'd guess you know how it's like."
I nodded. Kaoru... I looked at the gun again. Would I be able to do
it? If someone tried to kill me, could I kill again?
I wished I wouldn't have to find out.

>>>Shinji: Now that isn't a likely outcome though.

>>>Touji: Now for a kick ass action scene, GO FIGHT WIN!

>>>Kensuke: It's not fair, how do you get a GUN!

>>>(You do know guns are illegal in japan right? some police stations have 3 or 4 handguns!)

"Get down!"
With one strong hand, the man threw me on the floor. I realized that
we could hear footsteps. Several long seconds passed and then, I heard
the man sigh as he lifted me up.
"It's alright. Those guys are NERV."

>>>Shinji: Looks like he broke something.

>>>Rei: Your body took a heavy fall.

Indeed, as I looked through the window of the office, I recognized
the usual black attire of NERV security. Twelve men, all dressed in
black. One of the men entered and looked straight at me.
"Come with us."
"Where are you taking me?"

>>>Asuka: Nerv?

>>>Kensuke: Hell?

>>>Shinji: Same place.

I was getting tired of not knowing what was going on. And besides...
I felt safe here with... I realized that I didn't even know the man's
name.
"Evangelion Unit-01."
"Unit-01?! Why?!"
"Those are the Major's orders."
Misato's orders? Why would she send me to Unit-01? Did she intend me
to... fight those invasion forces?

>>>Shinji: That's overkill.

>>>Asuka: Think of it like a video game, see how many you can get in one shot.

>>>Shinji: What could any invasion force do to an Eva?

"You better follow these guys, kid. That Katsuragi chick has some
brains to go along with that killer bod of hers. Trust her."
I nodded. Misato had never given me any reasons to doubt her.
"What about you?"
"Guess I'll come along. Staying alone here would be risky. And I'd
feel bad letting a kid like you go all alone with a bunch of goons in
black."

>>>Rei: They are trained to take a bullet for us, is he willing to do the same?

>>>Shinji: They are?

>>>Rei: Of course.

>>>Touji: It's a shame that they follow so far behind and will never get the chance.

The man smiled at me. The security agent didn't show any expression,
apparently choosing to ignore the insult.
"Thanks."

* * *

Maybe the situation hadn't been as bad as the cook had made it look.
We had been walking for maybe ten minutes and had avoided the enemy
forces so far. There had been a few close calls; we could still hear the
sound of gunfire and explosions, but we were alright.

>>>Shinji: Won't mention the people that didn't have an armed escort though.

>>>Asuka: Poor bastards won't know what hit th...WHAT ABOUT ME!

>>>Rei: You will either be moved or left for dead.

The man that lead
the security team in charge of me appeared to be getting new information
every minute or so, probably coming from Central Command. I guessed that
Misato probably looked at our progress through the security cameras and
MAGI.
I was just beginning to relax when all hell broke loose.

>>>Hikari: When else would it happen.

>>>Shinji: Why can't it happen when we're ready for it?

Suddenly,
there seemed to be bullets all around us. The agents that were covering
our backs grunted and fell, soon laying in pools of their own blood. I
gasped as I felt what seemed like an intense burning feeling on one of
my legs. It had just been scratched by a bullet. Just a centimeter on
the left and it would have penetrated flesh rather than just grazing the
skin.

>>>Shinji: Didn't the angel say we all had at-fields, why can't I use mine!

>>>Kensuke: A cruel joke?

>>>Touji: False hope?

I had no time however to reflect on that as I felt someone pick me
up and then tell me to run as fast as I could. We ran without really
looking where we were going. As we turned a corner, I saw two security
agents pull their guns and shoot, only to be crippled by a dozen
bullets. At least it seemed to have slowed down our adversaries.

>>>Kensuke: Don't feel so bad about their deaths.

>>>Touji: Or their families.

>>>Hikari: Now without fathers and husbands.

>>>Asuka/Shinji/Rei: It's part of the job.

I don't know just how long we ran, but when we finally stopped, I
was completely exhausted and about to fall on my knees. I realized with
horror that from the twelve men that had been accompanying me and the
cook, only one remained.
"Well, this ain't pretty..." whispered the cook to me. "'think you
should hide under here, kid," he added, pointing toward a stairway.

>>>Shinji: Don't train section 2 agents like they used to.

>>>Asuka: They sucked.

>>>Shinji: Hey, why are cooks always ex-military, ass kicking super-heros?

>>>Kensuke: Because the badguys never think the cook can do anything.

"But..."
"Just do it. Let us take care of things. And if they find you...
remember what you said. One must fight for his survival."
I nodded. But... those were merely words...

>>>Kensuke: Who is this 'us' he's reffering to?

>>>Rei: The loss of his commerades has snapped his reasoning abilities.

Still, I went under the stairway, trying to blend in the shadows as
much as I could, and pulled out my gun.

>>>Shinji: Be one with the wall, be one with the wall.

The next minute felt like years. I heard the exchange of bullets and
screams of pain. It all ended with the sound of a machine gun.
From my hiding place, I saw three men in black military gear walk in
front of the stairway. I heard the sound of a radio, then one of the men
spoke.
"We've found a pilot. Proceeding with elimination."

>>>Asuka: Nice hiding job baka.

>>>Shinji: Well I'm toast.

They had found me!
Frantically, I pulled on the trigger. Nothing happened. Someone
grabbed the gun from my hands before I realized I had forgotten to
remove the safety catch.

>>>Rei: With all the time you had to prepair, you still didn't remove the safty?

>>>Kensuke: Novice!

>>>Shinji: Can't all be military freaks like you Ken.

I was pulled forcefully from my hiding place,
and one of the men forced me to kneel. He removed the safety of my gun
and I felt its cold tip touch my forehead.
"Don't blame me, kid."

>>>Rei: When one plays with their kills, bad things happen.

People say that a real man faces death with open eyes. I guess I
must not have been a man, as I closed mine, hoping it might delay the
inevitable.
It didn't work, as a second later, the sound of gunfire made itself
heard.

================================================ =======================

>>>Asuka: What happend!!

>>>Touji: They killed him?

>>>Rei: That...isn't possible.

>>>Shinji: Son of a bitch!

First Interlude: Terminal Dogma

The look on his face was priceless.
That's what Doctor Akagi Ritsuko thought as she watched Ikari Gendo
from the shadows.

>>>Shinji: How did she get out?

>>>Hikari: Can never keep a good freak down.

He was standing by a small pile of discarded clothes,
looking around for the girl to whom they belong, puzzlement clearly
showing on his face. It was so comical she actually laughed, something
she hadn't done in a long time.
"Rei?"

>>>Shinji: He thought Rei was laughing, the new zombie Rei?

>>>Rei: Laugh?

>>>Asuka: Yes, laugh, when something is funny.

Ritsuko frowned. That bastard couldn't even recognize the sound of
her voice...
"Lost something, Ikari?"
"Akagi."
His face now showed no emotions, but for a brief moment, Ritsuko
thought she had seen surprise. Had that been a real show of emotions, or
only a figment of her imagination, like those brief moments she thought
she had seen love in his eyes as she shared his bed?

>>>Shinji: Shared...his..bed?

>>>Touji: You're dad's a playboy too!

>>>Kensuke: It must be genetic!

>>>Shinji: NOOO!

She walked out of the shadow, and stood by one of the many LCL
pools. Pools linked together, forming the shape of the Tree of
Sephiroth.
"What are you doing here?"

>>>Rei: Admiring the massive waste of resources.

One of his hands was now in one of his jacket pockets, no doubt
clutching the gun she knew he kept there.
"Just finishing the work I started."
This time, the shock on his face was real. Of course, it concerned
Rei after all...
"Have you killed Rei?" he asked, a touch of steel in his voice.
Ritsuko smiled gently.

>>>Rei: I will die again?

>>>Shinji: Guess we all die in this one.

>>>Hikari: That would be a real downer ending.

"That would wreck your plans, wouldn't it? Cutting the doll's
strings would leave you with nothing, all your sacrifices would have
been for nothing."
Even as the Commander's eyes narrowed slightly, the doctor's small,
serene smile never changed. Neither spoke for moments, the soft lapping
of LCL whispering around them.

>>>Asuka: Whats causing the LCL to move?

>>>Kensuke: Maybe Ayanami's swimming in it?

>>>Rei: It is very soothing.

"No, I didn't kill her. As much as I wanted to, to erase the doll
that you chose over me. I killed all the others, but her... no, I didn't
take her life."
Here, the doctor's smile widened, showing just a bit of teeth.
"For the second time, I gave her life."
Commander Ikari didn't move as he considered all the ramifications
of the doctor's words.

>>>Shinji: I don't get it.

>>>Rei: She is not as evil as I once thought.

"The memory wipe," he finally said, not as a question, but a simple
statement of fact.
"I freed her. A more fitting revenge and a way to atone for the pain
I have caused your son. Using hypnosis and drugs to lock away Rei's
memories of your son had the advantage of saving time, as Rei could keep
her experience as a pilot and could be programmed to obey you.

>>>Asuka: I knew you were on something! you're a big drugged out hippy!

>>>Rei: 'Since I arrived I haven't taken my meds..yet I am fine and..' the bastard.

A memory
wipe, in so little time, would have, after all, left her in a state
close to a newborn baby. But it had its flaw. A lock also means that a
key exists..."

>>>Shinji: More drugs and more hypnosis.

>>>Rei: They said it was to add pigment to my skin.

Although she hoped for some sign of outrage from Gendo, none came.
Still with that small smile the doctor continued.
"I unlocked the memory block! Fairly easy if you're the one who put
it on in the first place. I only had to say a few key words. How does it
feel when the puppet master has lost its strings to his puppet?"

>>>Shinji: She's just begging to be shot right now.

>>>Kensuke: Hope she finds it worth it.

>>>Touji: He can't kill that babe though!

>>>Hikari: TOUJI! stop being such a pervert!

Looking up towards the darkened roof, her mind's eye gazed towards
the Magi. "I've given life back to a child. Mother... is this what it
feels like to give birth?"
"Where is she?"

>>>Rei: Doctor Akagi, remnents of her are all over the floor from the fall.

>>>Kensuke: And her brain's in three different places.

>>>Shinji: I think he ment Rei.

Dr. Akagi shrugged. It was of so little importance, his demands. He
would probably kill her, but she was cocooned in material warmth,
nothing could touch her...

>>>Shinji: She has an at-field?

>>>Asuka: She have a bulletproof vest?

>>>Kensuke: She is already dead?

"Probably looking for your son. No need to go after her. She won't
obey you anymore. You lost."
"Who said I needed her to act of her own free will?"
His voice struck Ritsuko with a force so hard she though he had shot
her with words. Snapping her eyes down she stared at him in horror.
"She killed herself to protect the Third Children. If his life is
threatened again, she will do as I wish."

>>>Rei: His evil is truly astounding.

>>>Shinji: I'll have to send him a letter-bomb for his birthday.

Ritsuko simply couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I can't believe that you would be that heartless."
"I'm too close to my goal to be stopped now."
The Doctor shivered. He was serious.
He finally pulled his gun out.
"I'm sorry, you might interfere again."
His next words were spoken softly, only for her ears in this
isolated place.

>>>Kensuke: And if anybody else was allowed access to that place it would mean something.

>>>Rei: I am allowed access.

>>>Shinji: Would you be there?

>>>Rei: Point taken.

The tension fled from Akagi Ritsuko's shoulders, leaving behind a
strange feeling of peace. "Liar."
The sound of gunfire boomed in the dark room and Akagi Ritsuko fell
limply into one of the LCL pools. Ikari Gendo watched the body a moment,
then left in search of the key to his plans.

>>>Touji: He lost his car keys?

>>>Kensuke: The key to his hentai stash?

>>>Hikari: Poor Akagi.

>>>Asuka: She all but demanded he kill her.

============================================================= ==========

Part 2: Escape

It all happened very fast. So fast in fact that I think I only
understood what was going on after everything was over. My brain
received the data, but froze for a moment, before analyzing it.

>>>All cheering!!

>>>Shinji: I'm not dead!

>>>Rei: And I am myself again.

I heard the sound of a gunshot, but did not immediately registered
the fact that if I could hear it, it meant that I wasn't dead. Then,
there were other gunshots. I had barely opened my eyes to see a dead man
right in front of me, then, I looked to my right to see Misato holding a
soldier against a wall and pointing her gun under his chin. The third
soldier was the same as the first; on the floor, dead.
"Don't blame me either."

>>>Touji drooling: The...sexiest..thing..ever.

>>>Kensuke: Why can't somebody like her order me around?

Those words said, Misato pulled the trigger. I watched in horror as
the wall behind the man became painted in red and his lifeless body
slumped to the floor. I had never seen Misato this cold before. It was a
side of her... that scared me.

>>>Asuka: She just saved your life and you're afraid of her.

>>>Shinji: Watching brain fragments hit a wall is never a pretty sight.

"Are you all right, Shinji?"
There was no concern in her voice. Her eyes were of ice.
I looked around me. There were bodies on all sides. Blood on the
wall and floor. I looked at the man in black and the cook that had
pointlessly given their lives to try and save mine. I suddenly felt sick
and threw up. Guess I shouldn't have had that lunch earlier after all.
"Are you all right?"

>>>Shinji: Doesn't the vomit answer that question?

>>>Hikari: It's a form of an answer.

I felt an hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Misato staring at
me, this time obviously concerned.
"Not really... but I'm not injured if that's what you want to
know..."
Even if she looked like the Misato I knew, the images of her killing
a man in cold blood had shook me at my very core.

>>>Kensuke: Cold blood, he was going to kill you, I think that's a valid reason.

>>>Shinji: I agree, why doesn't that version of me?

>>>Kensuke: It's severly messed up.

"What about your leg?"
Now that she mentioned it, it did hurt and there was some blood on
my pants...
"Unbuckle you pants so that I can take a look."
She had that look again. Did battle do that to people?

>>>Rei: I have read that fear of death caused increased desire to procreate.

>>>Asuka: She's thinking about 'that?'

>>>Hikari: If you're going to die, you want to die happy right?

>>>Touji/Kensuke: DIE IKARI!

She helped me get up and I did as she told me. The wound was
superficial and it wasn't bleeding too much. Still, Misato insisted on
bandaging it. I almost threw up again as I saw her rip a piece of cloth
from one of the corpses to make a temporary bandage.
"Good," said Misato as I put my pants back on, satisfied of her
work. "Let's go. To Unit-01."

>>>Shinji: It's smashing time.

I removed the holster from my shoulders and followed Misato's lead,
more because I couldn't stand staying here than because I wanted to
follow her.

* * *

For long minutes, I let myself be guided by Misato. I followed every
one of her orders blindly, not even trying to see if they made sense or
not. I guess I was still under the shock of what I had just been
through.

>>>Shinji: Soldiers don't question orders, why should I?

>>>Asuka: You're not a sheep?

>>>Rei: You saw, via my example, what doing so will lead to?

Quite frankly, I think that seeing people killing each other is
far more horrifying and disturbing than battling a monster as tall as a
building. At least, a monster IS a monster, not a human being like you.

>>>Touji: What about Kaworu?

>>>Shinji: Exceptions are always made.

>>>Rei: She was a monster, or did you forget the pain she caused?

The fact that I often had to walk on dead bodies while following Misato
probably didn't help my mental health in any way.
Eventually, we ended up in one of Headquarters' parking lots. A few
bodies on the floor were testament that this place had already been
"cleaned".

>>>Hikari: Cleaned if you use blood as a detergent.

For this reason, it was almost deserted. We only saw one
guard, which Misato killed on sight. We waited for a full minute and
since the shot had not attracted any other soldiers, Misato dragged me
toward the fresh corpse. I watched in disgust as Misato searched the
body and retrieved a radio. A bit of the man's blood was on it.

>>>Hikari: Hope he didn't have any blood born pathagens.

>>>Shinji: Dead bodies everywhere!

>>>(Insert your own songfic here :) I recommend "shiny happy people")

Dragging me between two cars, Misato told me to sit down and then
put on the radio's headphones. She listened for a while, her expression
becoming more tense, some bits of swearing escaping her lips from time
to time.
"This is bad," she finally said, as she removed the headphones.

>>>Shinji: What tipped her off, the bodies, the blood, or the carnage?

>>>Asuka: I'd like to think the fact she's being shot at.

>>>Kensuke: I'd haunt anybody that ever hurt her!

>>>Rei: That would require your death as well.

"They're cutting every access route between you and Unit-01."

>>>Touji: Can you blaim them?

Finally, in this relative calm, I found the strength to ask a
question that was torturing me.
"Misato-san... why... why do you want to get me to Unit-01 so
badly?"
"You will be safer inside it. We've already got Asuka inside Unit-
02. She can remain there for a long time, you should know yourself.
And... Unit-01 may be our last hope..."

>>>Shinji: Wait just a damned minute, I was at the hospital with her
>>> how did they get her to her Eva so fast while I'm still headed there!

>>>Asuka: I have higher priority.

>>>Kensuke: Another plot hole?

>>>Rei: The shipped her body via ICBM?

"You want me to fight in it, don't you?"
Misato considered the question a bit and nodded.
"I don't want to hurt anyone anymore..."

>>>Hikari: Especially the nice men that find it ok to kill everybody and everything.

>>>Shinji: Of course.

"I know Shinji... but if you don't help us, we'll all die. I'm not
asking you to go out and kill them all. Just keep them away from
Headquarters. Block them with your AT-Field. If you can, disable their
vehicles. And if we're lucky, the sight of Unit-01 may be enough to keep
the JSSDF away."

>>>Asuka: Just freak out and eat something, that ought to work.

>>>Rei: Made the bridge crew sick.

>>>Shinji: Don't think eating a tank would taste very well.

Block them and scare them away. It didn't seem too bad. And if I
could do that... people would stop killing each other.
"I... I guess I can do that..."
"If we can find Rei, we'll try to send her to Unit-02. Then she can
take over."
"Yes..."
I could imagine that Ayanami would show no hesitation in fighting
our enemies.

>>>Rei: They wish to harm me, I will show no mercy.

>>>Touji: And if they try to harm Shinji?

>>>Rei: No bodies would be left to prove they existed.

I got a bit worried as I saw Misato's face get even more serious.
"There's one more thing, Shinji. There's... there's a chance that
they may use the Production Model EVA series against us. As far as I
know, there may be up to nine of them ready. You'll have to be
careful..."
I gasped.
"Nine EVAs!"
Nine EVAs. EVA... that also meant...

>>>Shinji: Alot of hungry people out in the world now.

>>>Kensuke: Nine! maybe now I can be a pilot!

>>>Hikari: Think of the costs!

"I know what you're thinking.

>>>Kensuke: Can he get in a quicky?

>>>Touji: When do we eat?

>>>Asuka/Rei: If I am alright.

Don't worry, there's no way they could
have gathered and trained nine pilots so fast. They'll be using dummy
plugs. Remember what Ritsuko said, the things in the dummy plugs are
just puppets. They have no souls. Don't hesitate."
I remembered. The dummy plug room. All those Ayanami clones...
"I... I understand."
"Let's go."
I nodded. I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, even less if I was
ready to do it, but I had no choice.
"What the hell?! Those damn sons of bitches!"
I froze in my tracks as Misato lost herself in a litany of insults.
It took me a while to understand why.

>>>Shinji: She just remembered she forgot to pay the phone bill?

>>>Asuka: She forgot to change the carpet?

>>>( I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!! WHY DID SHE SAY THAT! AAAAHHHHHHH)

We were standing in front of the charred remains of a car. I tried
to ignore the fuming body that was lying on it's hood.

>>>Asuka: I'd be pissed too if somebody stole my car.

>>>Rei: He was refering to the stench from a dead body.

>>>Kensuke: I think it's both.

A plaque on the wall behind the car said: "Major Katsuragi Misato"
Very obviously, a NERV officer had been standing right in front of
her car when a JSSDF soldier decided to blow the officer up. The car
blew up as well... Had the situation not been so grim, I might have
burst out laughing at Misato's lack of luck.

>>>Asuka: She loves that damn car so much!

>>>Shinji: Everyday off it's "I need to clean my baby."

>>>Asuka: Should steal the dumb thing.

Still swearing, Misato dragged me toward another blue sport car. She
then broke a window and we "borrowed" it.

>>>Shinji: I'm getting dragged around alot.

>>>Hikari: You're not putting up much resistence.

>>>Touji: I wouldn't fight against her.

>>>Hikari: 'I'm getting sick of his obsession with that woman!!'
* * *

Misato was recklessly (or in her case, normally) driving through the
parking lot, not even making efforts to avoid the occasional body she
rolled over, when suddenly, I thought it was the end of the world.

>>>Rei: Not quite but soon.

>>>Shinji: Alot of speed bumps.

More
accurately, we felt a powerful earthquake, strong enough for Misato to
loose her grip on the wheel and hit a parked car. Had I not had my
seatbelt attached, I guess I may just have got hurt pretty badly.
"What.... what was that?!"

>>>Kensuke: A bad driver?

>>>Shinji: An act of Kami-sama.

"Oh shit!" Misato answered simply before taking the wheel back on
her hands, backing off a bit and then driving like her life depended on
it.

>>>Asuka: Which it does.

>>>Hikari: Whenever you're driving your life depends on it.

The brakes screamed as she stopped right on what seemed like a car
lift, centimeters from the wall. I think Misato said something, but I
didn't pay attention... I was just glad I had not wet my pants. Misato
rushed out of the car, slipped her ID card in a slot on the upper right
of the lift and as the lift descended, she rushed in.
"Get your head between your knees and hold tight, this is going to
be a rocky descent!"

>>>Kensuke: And kissing your ass goodbye would be good too.

>>>Shinji: What ever it is, can't be worse than her driving.

I just did as she told and was glad I did as I felt the entire
Headquarters being rocked by another earthquake. I knew better this time
however, as I could clearly hear the obvious sound of an explosion. Or
rather multiple explosions.
"My God! What's going on?!"

>>>Touji: Explosions and carnage!! Finally getting to the good stuff!

>>>Asuka: This has turned into a total guy movie.

>>>Kensuke: Bout time it did.

The car was shaking so much I started to wonder if the lift wouldn't
give and if we wouldn't fall at the bottom of... where ever we were
going down...
Then it all stopped and we continued to go down smoothly.
"I think that the first quake was caused by an N2 mine. I think
those bastards blew up what was left of Tokyo-3.

>>>Shinji: The bastards, blowing up the rubble!

>>>Kensuke: More lake front property.

>>>Touji: Always did love the beach.

We didn't really have
time to make repairs to the armor plates after the explosion of Unit-00,
so they probably got through."
"An N2 mine! But... It must have killed thousands of people!"
"I hope not. The city was pretty much evacuated..."
Still, her silence suggested that there probably was a good number
of casualties.

>>>Rei: Mostly rats and other vermine.

>>>Touji: Where would the people be living?

>>>Shinji: Tokyo-2.

"The second quake was no doubt a direct air strike against NERV
Headquarters itself. If this place had not been built to resist Angel
attacks, we'd probably all be dead by now."
"My God... this is so crazy."
"It is."
Suddenly, the lift stopped, indicating we arrived at our
destination.

>>>Shinji: Funny, doesn't look like lakes of fire or boiling oil.

>>>Kensuke: Guess hell isn't such a bad place, is it Asuka.

>>>Asuka: No it..BAKA!

Misato got out of the car and slid her card to open two
reinforced steel doors in front of us. They opened to reveal a dimly lit
passage way. Misato got back in the car and drove in. As we got in the
passage way, I gasped at the dimensions. It was huge.
"This place look big enough for an EVA to stand."
Misato nodded.
"This access tunnel goes all the way through NERV. It's been built
to move an EVA around in case the catapults would stop functioning. Had
the Ninth Angel been inside of Geofront instead of trying to melt it's
way through from above, you would have used this route.

>>>Asuka: And they didn't tell us about this because?

>>>Rei: Need to know basis.

>>>Asuka: I'm a pilot, I need to know these things.

>>>Kensuke: Guess not.

Normally, I
wouldn't have access to this part of Headquarters, but... someone I
loved left me a parting gift..."
Misato kept a stern face, but I could tell that mentioning it was
hard on her. Someone she loved... Kaji.

>>>Shinji: Who's no doubt hiding out around her someplace.

>>>Asuka: Didn't he..die?

>>>Shinji: If you and Rei didn't knock each other out, you would have seen it was
>>> a farce.

"Let's go to Unit-01," I told her, trying to take example on her
courage. She nodded and we drove right into the bowels of NERV.

* * *

"Why are they attacking us?" I asked as Misato drove.
I was trying to set the car's radio to NERV's emergency frequency. I
was sure I had done it correctly, however it just remained silent.
Misato had however said it could happen, as the JSSDF were probably
listening to all radio frequencies, so the people from Central Command
probably wouldn't use it.

>>>Touji: So why have an emergency channel if you can't use it?

>>>Rei: It makes the more foolish people feel safer.

"I think they want EVA for themselves. They're probably just
puppets, manipulated without even knowing it."
"Manipulated? By whom?"
"The people who created NERV. The Committee. SEELE. We've defeated
the Angels, so now they must get rid of us, since now NERV is the only
obstacle in their way."
"What... what do they want?"

>>>Rei: The same thing all megelomaniacs desire, power and the earth.

>>>Asuka: Why do all old men want power and young women?

>>>Hikari: Sick old men.

"They want a Third Impact. Not through the Angels, but with the EVA
series. The Second Impact fifteen years ago was caused by humans, by
them, on purpose. The damage was minimized by making Adam into an egg,
before the Angels awakened. Shinji, we, humans, just like Adam, are born
from a life form called Lilith,

>>>Rei: Incorrect, Adam was not created by Lilith, but by Kami-sama.

>>>Shinji: Even we know that much, who could have confused such simple information?

>>>Kensuke: Maybe the director wants something else to happen.

the source of all living creatures. You
saw her when you battled Tabris. We are the 18th Angel. The other Angels
were other possibilities of what humans could have become.

>>>Touji: That's scary.

>>>Shinji: Imagine what buildings would have looked like if we looked like them.

>>>Asuka: Thank Kami-sama for this form.

Listen,
Shinji. Destroy all the EVAs. This is the only way to keep yourself and
everyone alive. Shinji, you must...

>>>Hikari: Kill nine giant monsters at one time.

>>>Shinji: So it's a no pressure kind of thing.

Misato was suddenly interrupted as the radio suddenly came to life,
thanks to Maya's wonderful voice. Her words were even more wonderful.

>>>Asuka/Rei: WONDERFUL!

>>>Shinji: Ibuki-san? 'I hardly know her..but she seems nice.'

"My god! Unit-02 has activated. Asuka... Asuka is awake! She's still
alive!"
Both Misato and I gasped! Asuka! She was alright! And she was
piloting EVA!
Misato was now smiling widely.

>>>Asuka: YES! time for me to kick some ass and take some names!

>>>Touji: Not like you to pass up on a fight.

>>>Asuka: That a challenge?

>>>Touji: You got it, but after the flic!

"Guess our chances just got better. Let's hurry up, I'm sure she'll
need the help."
Forgetting about the concept of safety, Misato pushed the car to
it's limit. She almost came to a stop after a minute. She drove slowly,
looking for something, before finally pointing at two small doors.
"Let's go."
We just got out of the car when we again heard Maya through the
radio.
"It's... it's impossible... Nine EVAs were just launched above
Geofront and are slowly descending, circling around Unit-02..."
"Shit!"

>>>Shinji: You wanted a fight, you got it.

>>>Asuka: Time to make up for lost time!

>>>Rei: I would feel sorry for the pilots, if the mass production had them.

Misato picked up her cell phone and punched in a similar number to
the one I'd seen the cook use earlier, in the kitchen's office.
"Makoto. Relay my call to Unit-02. Now!"
With her free hand, Misato slipped her card in a slot and silently
motioned me to enter the now opening doors. She followed me into a small
elevator. Soon, we were going up and Misato was talking to Asuka.

>>>Shinji: She have a super antenna in that cell phone or something?

>>>Touji: Passes through severl thousands pounds of concrete, steel, and cement!

>>>Kensuke: And makes fries!

"Asuka, you must destroy that group of EVAs. Shinji will come to
assist you very shortly. Do your best." She then terminated the call and
pushed the redial button. "It's me again. Can Unit-01 use exit #20?
Excellent."
She closed the phone and put it in her jacket. She then looked at me
and smiled.
"You'll be with her again soon."

>>>Shinji: Thanks for letting me 'talk' to her!

>>>Rei: It would have raised your happiness to much.

>>>Kensuke: Can't have you getting happy before a battle.

>>>Touji: You do your best work while pissed off.

The idea may have been comforting if I hadn't known that Asuka was
now forced to fight a battle where she was outnumbered nine to one.

>>>Asuka: I like those odds, me verse nice copies of wondergirl!

>>>Rei looks at the screen in what, if you knew her REALLY well, was akin to fear.

* * *

"Here it is."

>>>Kensuke: A nice secluded place to get the funk on!

>>>Hikari: Get your mind out of the gutter, it's not going to happen!

We were standing in front of a open door. Above it, I could see the
designation 'Emergency Elevator R-10-20'. Even though we ran, it had
taken us an entire minute to get here. A minute. Considering that Asuka
was risking her life out there, it was an awful lot of time.

>>>Asuka: I'm not made of glass, I can take care of myself.

>>>Touji: Like you did to your wrist?

>>>Shinji: Run faster boy RUN!

We were about to go in when suddenly bullets flew all around us.
Before I could even react, Misato grabbed me and we ran into the room. I
did notice, however, Misato's grunt of pain before we entered the room.

>>>Shinji: What, NO!

As quickly as possible, Misato pressed a button that closed the steel
doors behind us. Just in time as we heard an explosion. Then, Misato
slumped against a wall and let herself fall to the floor. We hadn't run
very much, but she suddenly looked very weak.
Had she been shot?

>>>Shinji: Get me in Unit-01 I want to grind them into powder and scatter
>>> them to the winds!

>>>Touji: Misato-san!

"I guess we'll be safe for a moment... Are you okay, Shinji-kun?"
"Misato-san... you're hurt..."
She tried to give me a reassuring smile. She didn't quite succeed.
"It's nothing serious... just a scratch... it won't kill me."

>>>Shinji: I'm not that big an idiot.

>>>Rei: She is trying to comfort you.

>>>Shinji: Getting killed isn't a good way to do that.

Slowly, she struggled to get up. For a scratch, it seemed to hurt a
lot. She bent toward two closed door labeled as R-20 and pushed a
button. They opened to reveal an elevator.
"Good. The power is still on. It'll work."
She then looked at me, her eyes serious, but her face soft and calm.
"Hey, Shinji.. from now on you are alone. You'll have to make the
decisions by yourself now."
She couldn't mean...

>>>Shinji: Not again, more death?

>>>Kensuke: Is it possible, the stormtrooper theory is flawed?

>>>Rei: They have to succeed on occation.

"What...? I don't understand... aren't you coming with me?"
She shook her head.
"But you can't stay here..."
"I... I... I have to stay to make sure no one follows you..."
"But the soldiers..."
"They won't get me."

>>>Touji: She going to blow herself up?

>>>Hikari: If they can't get her, why can't she go with him?

>>>Asuka: Adds to the drama.

"No."
Her eyes went wide as I said this very simple word.
"I won't go if you stay."
For a few seconds, Misato seemed to think, then nodded.
"Alright."
She did not follow me, however. In one swift move, she pushed me
into the elevator. I saw her, smiling at me, before the elevator doors
closed. The ride didn't take long. Not even half a minute. As the
elevator stopped and the door opened, I felt the ground shake and heard
the sound of a loud explosion. An explosion very close.
"No... no... NO! Misato-san!!!!"

>>>Touji and Kensuke pale, Rei lowers her head a bit, Shinji: THE HELL
>>> THEY WILL! I WILL PILOT NOW! THAT'S MY FAMILY!

>>>Asuka: She did say nobody would get her, sounded like she detonated
>>> a few tons of C4.

============================================================== =========

Second Interlude: The one who stayed behind

Katsuragi Misato winced in pain as she leaned against a wall. While
her injury really wasn't lethal, she had lied to Shinji; it would kill
her.

>>>Shinji: Usually I can't tell when I'm being lied to but that time.

>>>Asuka: It was the most obvious lie.

That was the reason why she had stayed; if she had followed, he
would have gotten himself worried and would have forgotten all about EVA
just to take care of her. She sighed. Her left arm was pretty much
useless and the right one was busy trying to slow down the blood flow.
And worse, there was an unknown number of UN soldiers, just a few meters
away, probably ready to strike any second now.

>>>Touji: Kensuke, we stay by Nerv at all times now, if we save her...

>>>Kensuke: Yes..yes, I see what your aiming at.

She was already dead. Her body just wasn't aware of that yet.
She felt the tears sliding down her cheeks.
Closing her eyes, she let herself slowly fall to the ground. She
couldn't stop the tears from flowing. She would die, along with Kaji's
baby.
She would never be a mother after all...

>>>Shinji: Urge to kill rising.

>>>Hikari: It's so sad.

At least Shinji was safe... for the moment.
"Shinji..."
She hoped he would be all right. And she hoped that Asuka would be
safe as well. Nine against one... the odds were against her, even if she
was an excellent pilot.
"I hope you get there in time, Shinji..."

>>>Kensuke: Hate to tell her but Nine to two isn't much better.

>>>Rei: And Shinji-kuns peaceful nature is a hinderence as well.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of an explosion. The UN had probably
decided to simply blow her up. That was it.
But she didn't die.
It took a few seconds for her to realize that. Surprised, she opened
her eyes, to see a familiar yellow hexagonal shape right in front of
her, blocking what seemed like a wall of fire.
An AT-Field!

>>>Rei: I will not allow Shinji-kun's loved ones to parish.

>>>Kensuke: What?

>>>Shinji: She's joking.

Looking at her right, she realized that Rei was there, completely
naked, a look of concern on her face. Concern? Could it be... that...
her memories were back?
"Rei...? How...?"
"You do not look well, Major."

>>>Asuka: Still stating the obvious.

>>>Shinji: Being shot tends to be detrimental to one's health.

"Rei... what... what are you doing here?"
"I sensed Shinji's presence."
'Shinji' she has said. 'So she did remember!
"He went to Unit-01's cage..."
"Then his destiny is in her hands."
Her? Did she mean... Shinji's mother... Yui?

>>>Kensuke: Can this be any more vague?

>>>Touji: She could have said, "his destiny is set."

>>>Kensuke: Don't give her any ideas.

"We must go," the girl simply said as she indicated with her hand
that the flames had died down.
"We can't."
"You need medical attention."
Sadly, Misato shook her head.
"They'll shoot us on sight, Rei."
"No, they will not," replied the girl, a confident smirk appearing
on her face.

>>>Rei: How will they shoot me through my At-field.

>>>Asuka: How DO you do that?

>>>Rei: I have a personal At-Field emitter, like the couch.

Never before had Katsuragi seen such an expression on that face.
Painfully, she stood up, then smiled at the girl.
"Alright Rei, I trust you. Show me what you can do."

>>>Shinji: That may be a tad excessive.

Her smile faded, however, as Rei pointed out the air vent she had
used to get into the room. Clearly, she expected to take the same route
out... of what little remained of the room. Misato groaned. This would
be a very painful escape...

>>>Shinji: But you get to live, be happy.
================================================================ =======

Part 3: Rage

I was sitting curled up in a ball, in a corner of the elevator. I
prayed that I would wake up from this nightmare. This had to be a
nightmare. It had to be...
'Call me Misato. Pleased to meet you, Ikari Shinji-kun.'

>>>Shinji: Oh, it's time for this.

>>>Touji: It's depression time, get your prozac.

Misato-san.
'Shinji-kun, this is your home!'
She had taken me into her home. No. Into her life.
'You've done something admirable today. You can be proud of
yourself.'

>>>Kensuke: Or...he could be pumping himself up?

>>>Shinji: I can see that, remember how she treated me and then think of
>>> the bastards, could work.

She had believed in me when others had not, including myself. She
had always been there to give me support.
'I'm not the kind of person who can live with a stranger just out of
sympathy, or because it's my job.' (1)
Together, we had been like a family. She had been more than a
guardian and a commanding officer. More then a friend. She had been
like... a mother. And again, I had... lost...

>>>Hikari: Wonder what he'll do when he see's her again?

>>>Touji: Break some headboards?

I had lost the only family I had left...
'Somehow... it will be okay, Shinji... I promise...'
It wasn't okay... it wasn't. Things were even worse... even worse...
'You think you have no hope left, but you are wrong. It's not all
lost...'
Liar... liar... LIAR!!! Why?! Why?! Why did she have to die?! WHY?!

>>>Asuka: It's what we're born to do, everything is just a waste of time
>>> until we die.

I was crying now, tears finally flowing freely. Only half a minute
had passed, but... it had felt like years. Years filled with pain and
sorrow.

>>>Kensuke: Real time expired in movie 2 hr 32 min, experienced time 40 years.

I may have stayed in there, either crying or in a daze for a long
time, but a voice cut through the fog of confusion and sadness like a
knife.
"Dammit! Baka-Shinji! Move your big purple ass up here so I can kick
it!!! Scheisse!" (*)
For a few seconds, all thoughts about Misato were forgotten. Asuka?

>>>Asuka: Unless wondergirl has learned to speak German.

>>>Rei: I see no purpose learning that language.

>>>Asuka: Why, it's better than Japanese!

>>>All Japanese viewers: No it isn't.

For some reason, I realized that I could hear what was going on through
the room's speakers. Then I remembered *what* was going on. The battle
Asuka was waging outside. Why Misato had sent me here.
Misato...

>>>Shinji: Would be so pissed if I let Asuka die.

>>>Asuka: I'd haunt you till the day you died.

'Even if all the Angels are gone, I feel this war is not over yet.
Mankind may still depend on you, Shinji. So we need you to be strong and
you need to be strong for yourself, as well as those you love.'
Strong...
'Listen, Shinji. Destroy all the EVAs. This is the only way to keep
yourself and everyone alive.'
Destroy the EVAs. This had been Misato's wish. Her last wish. It was
the reason she had sacrificed her life. I got up, hands closed into
fists. The tears still flowed, but I did my best to stand straight.
I'd be damned if Misato's sacrifice was in vain.

>>>Rei: You seem very...'blushes' strong in that picture.

>>>Asuka: Finally getting off your ass and getting to work!

I would ride Unit-01 once more and finish it all.
All hope I had left crashed down at the sight before me. There was
bakelite. Everywhere. Blocking any access to the entry plug.
"No... no... no! It's not fair! It's not fair!!!"

>>>Shinji: DAMNIT! of course that had to happen.

>>>Hikari: Rather anti-climatic.

To have come this far,

>>>( Insert another songfic here, think of it,end, things not matter, thats right
>>> I'm saying Iko Iko!)

to have lost all that I loved... for this!
Kaji dead... for nothing! Rei gone... for nothing! I had killed Kaoru...
just so this would happen! Misato had sacrificed herself... so I could
sit less than ten meters away from Unit-01 and do nothing!!!

>>>Touji: Just think if he knew the truth about Misato, Kaji, or Ayanami.

>>>Shinji: I'd not be so bold.

>>>Hikari: So, it's a good thing, maybe.

I was ready to give up there and then when I heard Asuka again.
"I'll definitely win! Momma is watching me!"
Momma. Mother.
"Mother! Mother! Please! Help me! Help me..."
My pleas did not go unanswered. We could never figure out exactly
just how much Mother was aware of what was going on outside the EVA. But
it seemed that, when I was concerned, Mother, or rather Unit-01, seemed
to possess a degree of awareness. This was however not something I dwelt
on long.
Bakelite and restraints broke and a giant purple and green arm
emerged to hit the wall were I was standing. By reflex, I closed my
eyes. I was sure that I was going to die. But as a few seconds passed, I
came to the conclusion that I wasn't dead, so I opened my eyes. Unit-
01's hand was just beneath me.

>>>Kensuke: KICK ASS!!

>>>Touji: Your mom ROCKS!

>>>Shinji: Mother....will you crush father's office?

>>>Asuka: Now that would be a miracle.

Then I realized what it had tried to do.
If I climbed on its arm, there was a passageway I would be able to
reach. I didn't stop to think that if I slipped and fell, I'd likely
kill myself.

>>>Asuka: With Unit-01 acting on it's own, bet she'd catch him.

>>>Hikari: Motherly love.

I started to climb with a speed that only a madman would possess.
I had let so many people down, so many people had been hurt or had
even died because of me.
I would not let it happen to Asuka.

>>>Asuka: Man I love it when he talks like that.

* * *

Her scream. I heard it very clearly. I still hear it sometimes in my
nightmares. Asuka was hurt. Badly.
And I was not there.
It took all my concentration not to forget the task at hand.
Entering the entry plug, I initialized commands for manual
activation. Soon, basic control activated and I wasted no time in
closing the hatch and entering the command for plug insertion. Once
inside, I immediately felt the connection. It was like never before. It
felt... like a surge of energy. It nearly overwhelmed me. But it also
felt incredibly good.

>>>Rei: The LCL is entering your body through your leg wound.

>>>Shinji: Which means?

>>>Rei: You are under the influence of a powerful stimulent.

With a with a low, guttural howl, Unit-01 activated. A large section
of Headquarters blew up. At the center of the explosion was Unit-01,
floating, two wings of golden light spread. To many witnesses, it looked
like a demon that had just escaped from hell.
I opened my eyes and then saw a scene that will probably haunt me
the rest of my life. I saw nine white EVAs, circling around what was
left of Headquarters. And in their hands, or even worse, their mouths,
they held the remains of what had once been Unit-02.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

>>>Kensuke: Guess you were late.

>>>Asuka: My Unit-02!!

>>>Rei: You failed.

>>>Asuka: Bite me!

I think that I lost part of my mind at that moment. Yet, my thoughts
were still crystal clear.
Mother.
Father along with Mother.
Kaji.
Rei.
Kaoru.
Misato.
And now Asuka.
Asuka!!!

>>>Shinji: The list of people's lives I keep messing up.

>>>Hikari: Your mother?

>>>Shinji: My existance messed up father's mind.

All those who had meant something to me, all those I had cared
for... they were all dead. I had nothing, nothing left. Nothing to
expect. No hope.
No. I was wrong. I did have something left, one more reason to
remain alive, even if it would only be for a few more minutes.
Revenge!

>>>Asuka: Thats right, YOU KILL THEM FOR ME!

>>>Shinji: This will be a blood bath.

>>>Hikari: This has so much action on it.

"Die... die... die... die! Die! Die! You monsters! You killed Asuka!
I'll kill you! Kill you! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"

>>>Kensuke: He's turned into Asuka.

The EVA let out a loud furious growl as I shouted those words. I
opened my self totally to the EVA and we became one. This time however,
I was in perfect control and while I was barely aware of it, I knew that
this time my body had not been consumed by the beast. I later learned
that I had reached a stable synch ratio of 99,9999999%. (2)

>>>Asuka: You suck! How could I ever hope to beat that.

>>>Rei: Allow Unit-02 to consume you.

>>>Hikari: What was your highest score Ayanami.

>>>Rei: I do not remember.

>>>Asuka: 60%, which is 15% lower than my average!

We let ourselves float down toward the ground and once we reached
it, we raised our hand and brought it down furiously, as if we were
attempting to claw the air in front of us. High above, the hexagonal
shapes of two AT-Fields appeared, then seemed to burst. One of the enemy
EVAs erupted in a shower of blood and fell right to the ground.

>>>Touji: Expect sudden showers today over lower sections of Tokyo-3.

>>>Shinji: Didn't I tell you it would be a bloodbath?

A second
one had its wings and pieces of its armor ripped and it too fell. This
time, we let out a growl of savage satisfaction, as two of our prey were
laying on the ground, helpless. We slowly approached the one that was
closest to us. The damage was heavy but the EVA could still function.
However, Asuka had apparently sliced this EVA to the waist, so all it
could do was wait for its wings to regenerate enough so it could fly
away.

>>>Kensuke: Pick it up and use it like a wishbone.

>>>Shinji: Why can't our Eva's do that?

We didn't leave it the chance, as we grabbed both wings and ripped
them apart. We then grabbed an arm and pulled, ripping it apart as well.
We might have played for a while with our prey if the voice of Makoto
had not been heard through the comm.
"Shinji-kun! Be careful! These EVAs are not like conventional EVAs.
They can regenerate themselves and reactivate even after they seem
dead."

>>>Hikari: Then it's not dead is it?

>>>Rei: Just incopacited.

>>>Asuka: Stomp the core!

I had guessed as much. Asuka had caused them a lot of damage. But
they still moved. So these things were almost like Angels. And there was
only one way to destroy an Angel...

>>>Shinji: Kill myself.

>>>Asuka: Death and pain, the angel's weaknesses.

We wasted no time in ripping the remaining armor from the EVA. We
then saw it. A dark red orb. The EVA S2 engine. We held it tightly in
one hand and pulled hard. The white EVA howled in pain, then went
silent. With a horrible ripping sound, the S2 engine came off. It shone
for a second, then went dead, almost black. Unit-01 raised a bloodied
hand and roared.

>>>Rei: Seele would be most unpleased, 3rd impact is averted.

>>>Shinji: To bad I won't get to live and see it, I'm insane.

>>>Hikari: You're not calling unit-01 'precious' yet, maybe you have a chance.

We would probably have moved toward the second fallen EVA had we not
noticed an object falling toward the ground.
Unit-02! Or at least, what was left of it...
After a split second decision, we ran toward its probable point of
impact and leapt into the air. We caught Unit-02's torso and head and in
one swift move, threw it in the lake in front of Headquarters.

>>>Asuka: JERK!

>>>Rei: He didn't wish to dirty his hands.

>>>Shinji: It was really bloody.

I had no real hope that Asuka was still alive. But the least I could
do was make sure that her body stayed intact. There had been nothing
left after the death of both my mother and Rei. There would probably be
nothing left of Misato either. I didn't want Asuka's grave to be a
tombstone with an empty coffin.

>>>Shinji: All coffins are empty now-a-days.

>>>Asuka: Whats to good about a dead decaying corpse anyway?

>>>Touji: We don't have room in Japan for cemetaries.

As those thought crossed my mind, my rage grew.
With a mighty roar, Unit-01 ran toward the other fallen EVA that was
now struggling to stand on its single right leg.

>>>Shinji: What the hell did you do to those things?

>>>Asuka: Kicked their sorry asses.

>>>Touji/Rei: Then got your ass kicked.

A purple fist hit its
ugly head full strength. It blew up in a shower of blood and it fell to
the ground. But this probably wasn't enough. Unit-01's put it's foot on
the other EVA's back and pushed hard. The armored plates gave way under
the pressure. Now I could be sure it wouldn't get up. This was an EVA,
so destroying its power source was not the only way to stop it.
Destroying its entry plug would do just as well.

>>>Touji: Thank me for that knowledge.

>>>Kensuke: Ok stumpy, thanks!

>>>Touji rushes Kensuke and decks him.

>>>Shinji: 'Glad Kensuke said it before I did.'

I screamed as suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my chest, like nothing
I had never felt in my life. I coughed some blood and nearly passed out.
'Watch out.'
Mother?
I heard those words in my mind and raised my head to see a lance
coming our way. We barely dodged it.

>>>Rei: At least one Eva is responsive enough to dodge it.

>>>Asuka: It surprized me, and at least I still have my Eva.

>>>Rei: What little remains.

I then realized that a similar
lance was going right through Unit-01's chest and exited at the bottom
of its back. It had nearly pinned us to the ground. Apparently, they had
decided to attack from their position in the air. Taking the lance with
both hands, we pulled. I screamed and felt more blood in my mouth as
slowly the lance was pulled out of Unit-01's body. We had to interrupt
the painful process, as we barely avoided another lance. Quickly, we
grabbed the lance again and pulled it out in one last painful shot.
Then, despite the pain, we threw it toward one of the flying EVAs. It
was struck dead center and I was surprised to see it blow up, the
explosion hitting three other EVAs and throwing them to the ground.

>>>Rei: A surprizingly well planned attack.

>>>Hikari: Throwing a fork at an enemy is an attack?

>>>Rei: If it causes pain, it's an attack.

Apparently, I had been lucky enough to hit it right were its S2 engine
had been.
We picked up one of the lances that had been thrown at us. As we
took it, it changed from a simple lance to a familiar double pointed
lance. Rei had used a similar lance against the Fifteenth Angel.
Ignoring the pain, we charged the closest Evangelion. Asuka had
heavily damaged it, as it was missing an arm and its head hanged limply,
its neck apparently broken.

>>>Hikari: Asuka, you're so ruthless at times.

>>>Kensuke: I feel sorry for ya Shin-man, you'll feel that wrath.

>>>Asuka smiles lightly while Shinji sweat-drops.

We gave it no chance to get ready to fight.
In one swoop, we used the lance as if it had been a sword and sliced its
head off. It fell violently to the ground. We brought our foot on its
chest and crushed it, until I was sure that the entry plug on it's back
had been crushed as well.
Noticing a presence at the extreme limit of my field of vision, I
saw an EVA charging us, intending to hit us with its lance. We blocked
the blow, but lost our grip on our weapon. That EVA had showed a lot of
strength, considering that it had almost been sliced in half under the
shoulders.

>>>Rei: The ability to not feel pain is a great advantage.

>>>Shinji: Cheater.

We had lost our weapon, but it didn't matter. With a roar and
all our strength, we punched it under the chest. Unit-01's fingers,
extended as claws, went right through armor and flesh and its hand
exited on the back, holding the other EVA S2 engine in it. We let the S2
engine fall on the ground and removed our arm from the EVA, letting it
fall as well.

>>>Touji: Shin-man the Eva terminator!

>>>Kensuke: It won't be back!

>>>Shinji: Revenge, who said it's best served cold.

I then suddenly realized that the other EVAs had either landed or
gotten up and were slowly circling us.
'Finally! We can take the offensive against the Angel!'

>>>Rei: What angel?

>>>Shinji: The imaginary one I must be seeing.

'What difference does it makes?'
'Baka! Everyone knows that the best defense is a good offense!'
Asuka had said that during our transport toward Mt. Asamayama, where
later Asuka had been forced to fight the Eighth Angel.
'The best defense is a good offense!'

>>>Kensuke: The dying words of a brave idiot.

>>>Touji: I think it's right.

>>>Kensuke: And you are living proof of my belief.

Pulling our progressive knife, we charged towards one of the five
remaining EVAs. It's head was a mess of tissue in mid regeneration and
it had problems standing straight, suggesting that it had suffered some
damage in the back as well. With one swoop, we cut off the its right
arm, which held a lance. It tried to grab us with its remaining arm and
we used the close proximity to stab it in the back, where I knew the
entry plug was inserted.

>>>Touji: You have no problem, finding and entry plug, hitting an entry plug, but
>>> you can't remove one?

>>>Rei: Will you not desist with the constant reminds of your maiming?

The EVA went still and we easily threw it on
the ground. We quickly bent to pick its severed arm, which still held a
lance, and had to avoid a series of strike coming from two other EVAs.
The others were closing in fast.
Four against one. Those were not good odds...

>>>Hikari: But if you were winning with nine to one odds, four to one would
>>> be simple.

>>>Shinji: You would think that wouldn't you.

>>>Asuka: I took them all down by myself, why can't you?

>>>Rei: They did not stay down.

>>>Asuka: If they were normal they would have.

============================================================ ===========

Third Interlude: Help from the shadows

"Begin operation."
It felt as if he had said those words years ago. But it had been
only minutes. For a moment, it had seemed like things would go smoothly.
Asuka had been doing great dealing with the JSSDF forces.

>>>Asuka: Was there ever a doubt?

That is, until SEELE's nine EVAs had landed inside the Geofront.
Even then, for a while, it seemed that Asuka would manage to
actually destroy them all. That was until she got hit by a Lancea
Longini copy. Out of power and pinned down to the ground, there was
nothing she could do to stop the white monsters, as they reactivated and
slowly regenerated.

>>>Kensuke: And ripped her apart.

>>>Touji: Wonder what Eva's taste like.

Kaji Ryouji had seen a lot in his life, but nothing had looked as
sickening as the sight of Unit-02 being eaten by the white EVAs. Asuka
didn't deserve such a cruel fate. Tears silently made their way down his
cheeks as he helplessly watched the struggling EVA being pierced by all
the other eight Lancea Longini copies, then ripped apart by the hungry
mouths of its adversaries.

>>>Asuka: He does love me!! YEA..oyh..um..

>>>Touji: Shinji..you in there? Hello!

>>>Shinji: Huh..wha?

>>>Rei: 'Mental note- Agent Ryouji could be used against the 2nd.'

Asuka had, after all, been almost like a little sister to him.

>>>Asuka: Little sister!

>>>Hikari: You have a big brother complex?

He then watched with awe the apparition of Unit-01 and its own fight
with the nine EVAs. The boy was fighting like a madman, apparently not
caring in the least for his life. Never before had the purple EVA seemed
so powerful and frightening. Despite everything, Kaji smiled. Shinji had
come a long way...

>>>Shinji: All to die at the end.

>>>Kensuke: Ret-irony.

>>>Touji: We'll take care of Misato-san for you.

"My God! This is unbelievable!"
"Of course," Kaji replied to the cameraman at his side, obviously
both excited and scared by what he was filming. "I told you that you
would be filming history in the making."
Already, the man had forgotten about Kaji, trying frantically to
film as much of the fight as he could.

>>>Rei: It is likely that debris will crush him.

>>>Hikari: Good, thieving reporters.

Kaji gave one last look at the purple EVA, then tried to concentrate
on the business at hand.
"Status?" he asked, having opened his cell phone and dialed a now
very familiar number.
"Invasion of MAGI proceeding as planned. New York will soon be taken
over, then the rest will follow easily."
Kaji smirked. Those fools! By using the other five MAGI systems of
the world to take over NERV's system, they had left those computers
virtually defenseless. While a system like MAGI didn't have much to fear
from a single hacker, Kaji had spent the last weeks gathering together
some of the greatest, if not sometimes wild, minds in computer science.

>>>Kensuke: Bet he called me!

>>>Touji: If he wanted hentai-site passwords.

>>>Hikari: Kensuke, I know more about computers than you do.

>>>Kensuke: Do not!

>>>Hikari: Then why does your hardrive have a virus.

>>>Kensuke: A hack...er..gave.shit.

Using all the data he had managed to acquire from NERV and the UN,
getting in those systems, in such a weakened state, was almost child's
play.
Ritsuko might have been proud of him.

>>>Rei: If she didn't have a hole in her chest at the moment.

"New York under our control, as well as Moscow and China."
"Good. Proceed with steps two and three."
Step two consisted of uploading on a worldwide level all the data
Kaji had been able to gather about NERV, SEELE, as well as their
relations with the UN and the JSSDF, the Angels, and Second Impact. The
MAGI would also take over all communication satellites and transmit
images on every TV channel possible.

>>>Shinji: So his goal is global anarchy?

>>>Asuka: People would go beserk if they learned about the truth.

>>>Shinji: Some plan.

Soon, the entire would know of what had occurred and was still occurring in Tokyo-3.
Or rather what remained of it.
Step three consisted of tracing SEELE's computers and downloading as
much data as possible. One of Kaji's hopes was that they could find how
SEELE controlled the Type 5 EVA series and find a way to stop them. Even
if Shinji was doing a good job on his own, he was still outnumbered.
"Communication established with target's system. Target's system
currently in communication with satellite in orbit."
Kaji smiled. They had a chance!
"Can you confirm that this satellite is used to remotely control the
target's Evangelions?"
"Confirmed."
"Excellent. Send ejection codes on that signal."

>>>Shinji: Eject the plug, does that ever work?

>>>Rei: Only when it isn't wanted.

>>>Asuka: Like the time it shot you into the wall?

>>>Rei: That was most unpleasent.

There was only a slight chance that this would work. If SEELE had
changed the codes for the controls on that EVA model, that plan would
fail. It was also possible that the intrusion on SEELE's system would be
detected any second now...
Kaji almost let out a scream of joy when two of the white EVAs
suddenly stopped, their entry plug being ejected.
"Connection with target's system has been terminated."
That much was expected. Still, they had managed to stop two of the
remaining EVAs. And from what he was hearing on a radio Kaji had
"borrowed" from a JSSDF soldier, apparently the orders to invade NERV
had just been nullified.
"Maybe I was able to keep my promise after all," Kaji thought, as he
remembered his vow to protect Misato and the Children from the shadows.

>>>Rei: Then why did I need to detonate unit-00.

>>>Asuka: And the 15th angel, and the sorry state of Unit-02?

>>>Kensuke: He said he'd try, not that he'd do it.

>>>Touji: He's just one man, give him a break.

=========================================================== ============

Part 4: Choice

Things were not going well. Two EVAs had managed to grab hold of us
while a third was about to shove its lance right through Unit-01's
chest. As hard as we fought to get free, the two other EVAs managed to
overpower Unit-01.
Then, a miracle occurred.

>>>Asuka: Kaji is a miracle isn't he.

>>>Rei: He is a womanizer, but his work is appreciated.

The EVA that was about to kill us stopped
moving for some reason and its entry plug ejected. I also felt the EVA
holding my right arm loose its hold. I didn't try to understand what was
going on; we just grabbed the neck of the other EVA with our free hand
and squeezed. That EVA was a pretty ugly sight, as there were metal
spikes embedded in its heavily damaged head. Asuka had not been tender
with it. It didn't get prettier when its neck suddenly snapped. It let
go of me and it only took one punch in the back to make sure it would
bother no one ever again.

>>>Kensuke: It's a robot, what does it care if it's neck is broken?

>>>Asuka: How I do the spike trick?

>>>Hikari: Kami-sama knows.

Now, only one remained. It had been standing at a distance from us.
Whether it was because it wasn't needed or simply because it had
intended to watch the other EVAs finish us, I never knew. Not that I
cared. It only had signs of moderate damage to the chest. This one had
probably been the last one Asuka had battled before she was finally
beaten.

>>>Asuka: Due to a cheap shot!

>>>Shinji: Should have expected them to fight dirty.

>>>Touji: Shin-man did.

>>>Rei: It is only natural.

>>>Asuka fumes a minute or so the lets go of it.

We picked up the lance that had threatened to pierce us a few
moments earlier and faced the remaining white Evangelion. It seemed to
stare at us. We raised the lance we were holding and held it firmly in
front of us. Our adversary raised its own lance just like we did. Its
reptilian like face seemed to give us a mocking smile.
"Die!" I screamed while Unit-01 roared.
We launched ourselves toward the white EVA. It ran toward us. In
retrospect, it was very cliche. The final battle, two enemies charging
one another, intent on killing the other in one last strike.

>>>Kensuke: That scene is replayed in every anime with sword fighters.

>>>Touji: And mecha shows.

>>>Hikari: A very trite sight indeed.

The two EVAs met for a split second,

>>>Shinji: Then, let me guess, one fell and died leaving the other unscathed?

then stopped after a few steps. They both stood still, no longer facing each other.
The white EVA then fell on its side, a lance going through its chest
and exiting on its back, where its entry plug had been located.

>>>Kensuke: How did you ever guess that Shinji, it was so unpredictable.

In Unit-01's cockpit, my hand went to my right side. My shirt was
red with blood.
Unit-01's hand went to its side. The other EVA's lance had torn the
armor and scratched the flesh.
We had done it. We had destroyed the EVA series. We had won.
I coughed some blood. Now that it was over, I could feel just how
badly my chest hurt. I realized just how hard breathing had become.
"Kaji... Rei... Misato... Asuka... guess we'll meet soon..."

>>>Kensuke: Won't he be in for a surprize.

>>>Asuka: He doesn't know a thing, poor sap.

>>>Shinji: I'll be waiting.

I was slipping into unconsciousness when I felt the EVA being shaken
and sharp pain in one of my shoulders. My eyes snapped opened and I
saw... something in front of me. It was a humanoid form, made of...
white light? And it was slowly growing, much taller then an EVA. At the
center of its chest I saw the all too familiar shape of an Angel's core.
In shock, I recognized the features of that being of light. Father!

>>>Shinji: I died and this is hell.

>>>Rei: I shall have nightmares.

>>>Kensuke: Ew man, who wants to see your old man naked and that big?

The being raised a hand and a light beam shot from it. It struck
Unit-01 right at the center of its chest. I coughed some more blood,
before the pain finally knocked me out.

* * *

I slowly awoke under a familiar ceiling. An infirmary room. I fought
a moment to keep my eyes open, but the dim light hurt my eyes and my
eyelids were very heavy. I felt numb all over, and very groggy. I was
probably under heavy medication. But I was alive. How come?

>>>Rei: You would perfer to be dead?

>>>Shinji: Look at me, I'm more than half-way there.

I couldn't really ponder more on that question as sleep claimed me
once again.

>>>Kensuke: When I doubt, pass out.
* * *

The next time I awoke, I felt a bit better, although, I couldn't
really feel my entire body, so I suspected I was still under sedative.

>>>Shinji: If the glazed look in my eyes isn't sign enough.

>>>Kensuke: Put your tongue back in your mouth.

It didn't quite explain, however, a slight discomfort I felt each time I
breathed. It felt as if... something was holding my chest very tightly,
even thought I couldn't see anything of the sort. It felt constricted; I
could breathe, but not nearly as much as I used to.

>>>Asuka: Having a spear go through your lung would hamper breathing.

>>>Touji: He's got two, why would it matter if he lost the one?

>>>Hikari: Touji-chan, don't talk.

For a moment I
panicked, which didn't help in anyway, but eventually I calmed down as I
realized that things where not as bad as I originally assessed them. It
just required a slight extra effort on my part.
I looked around. I was clearly in an infirmary room, I could tell
from the look, if the cardiac monitor and IV drop in my arm wasn't
indication enough,

>>>Shinji: They're not, I need more assurance!

>>>Rei: He could have been kidnapped and those devices stolen.

>>>Hikari: From the entry plug?

>>>Rei/Shinji: Strange things happen.

but it looked like none of the rooms I had visited in
Headquarters before. It was brighter. I gasped as I realized that
through a window, I could see the sky.
I was definitely not in Headquarters.

>>>Asuka: Probablily because HQ was destroyed.

There were a good number of plants and flowers in the room which
gave it a joyous air. On a bouquet, I could read the words "Get well". I
closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

>>>Shinji: Why didn't I realize that somebody had to be alive to send
>>> me the flowers?

>>>Kensuke: That would have you acting smart.

It smelled nicer then the
infirmary rooms I was used to. I was still looking around when I heard
someone enter the room.
"So, you finally woke up for good."
I gasped, the cardiac monitor going wild for a moment.
Misato.
It... it had to be a dream... or maybe it was paradise. I had died
and I was in paradise.

>>>Touji: She has cloths on, what sort of sick paradise do you think of!

>>>Rei: Not as sick as yours Suzahara-kun.

But if it was the case, why did she wear one of her arms in a sling?
If this was paradise, I had a weird view of the afterlife.

>>>Kensuke: We already said that.

"Mi... Misato... Misato-san..."
I could feel my eyes getting wetter by the tears.
"Oh Shinji... It's okay... it's okay..."
She ran to my side and leaned toward me so that she could give me a
hug without getting in the way of all the machines I was hooked up too.

>>>Shinji: How, is she a contortionist?

>>>Kensuke: Do we dare dream?

>>>Shinji: If she heard half the stuff you say about her...

>>>Asuka: She'd dismember you.

"There is no reason to cry, Shinji. It's all over now. Thanks to
you, we're alright."
"Misato-san... I thought... I thought you had died..."
She looked down at me. Tears were wetting her cheeks too.

>>>Shinji: See she is a hypocrit.

"I'm okay Shinji. I told you that gunshot wouldn't kill me."

>>>Hikari: What about the explosion?

"I'm so glad..."
Misato smiled.
"Tell me... what happened, Misato-san? I remember fighting the last
EVA series. Then, there was that thing... I think it knocked me out..."
"You were lucky it didn't kill you. The blast completely ripped off
Unit-01's chest armor."
"What was that thing... I... I thought I saw my father..."
"That thing was the first Angel. Adam."
"What?!"

>>>Shinji: My bastard father is an angel!?!?!

>>>Kensuke: I want into hell if thats the case.

>>>Rest of them: Agreed.

"Guess it's better to show you."
From her jacket pocket, Misato retrieved a DVD. She walked toward a
corner of the room where a television and DVD player were fixed and put
the DVD in. (3)

>>>Touji: They turned your life into a DVD?

>>>Shinji: What are we watching, My life on a DVD.

>>>Touji: Tis true.

"We were lucky to get those first pictures from one of the few
cameras that actually survived both the N2 blast and the JSSDF air
strike."
On the screen, I saw my father. A group of JSSDF soldiers surprised
him and shot him on sight.

>>>Kensuke: Bet he didn't see that coming.

>>>Rei: It hit him between the eyes firt, so he must have seen the attacker.

>>>Hikari: He ment he didn't expect it.

>>>Rei: 'Mental note- devote more time to learning slang.'

I hated the man. He had been a constant
source of pain, hurting me over and over again. Yet, to see him die this
way...

>>>Shinji: So pathetically.

>>>Asuka: Deservingly.

knowing that my last words to him were that he was a heartless
son of a bitch... it hurt. Deep down, despite everything, I had hoped
that once everything would be over, we would have a last chance. But
that chance had been denied. I surprised myself in feeling a tear making
it's way down my cheek.

>>>Asuka: I bet you'd pass out if he wanted to spend time with you.

>>>Shinji: Naturally, seemingly because it would probably be Eva related.

My father's body was slowly emptying itself of all it's blood when
suddenly, his head got up and his eyes opened.
"What the hell?!" I gasped.
"Look at his eyes," simply said Misato.

>>>Shinji: I can't, even in death he has those damn glasses on.

>>>Rei: They are tinted, he has new ones.

>>>Shinji: Why DO you have his glasses?

>>>Rei: So I may stab him with them and make it look like a suicide.

White light. They were glowing...
The same light kind of light the being that attacked me was
emitting.
My father, or rather the thing, got up and walked away, its body
slowly starting to glow and grow.

>>>Hikari: Making all normal people sick.

"What just happened there?" I managed to ask. The initial surprise
gone, I found it actually hard to talk.
"From the information we gathered, your father intended to trigger
his own Third Impact. The specifics are rather complicated, but to
simplify things, to that effect, your father apparently had Adam, in
embryo form, implanted into his left hand. Apparently, when your father
got killed, Adam awoke and started to regenerate, using your father's
body."

>>>Rei: I pity Adam.

>>>Shinji: Making a home out of such a man.

>>>Kensuke: Picture Misato.....'drools.'

>>>Touji: Bigger than life!

I nodded. I didn't really understand, but it didn't matter. Father
had died and the First Angel had grown from his body. Good enough.
"And then it attacked me?"
"Yes."
"If it was really the First Angel, why are we still alive?"
"Well, after you were knocked out, Unit-01 went berserk.

>>>Shinji: Again!

>>>Asuka: How many times was that again?

But... it
wasn't as erratic as usual. It picked up one of the lance of Longinus
copies and attempted to destroy the Angel's core with it, without
success. Then, for some reason, the real lance of Longinus just...
came... and Unit-01 used it to kill the Angel.

>>>Asuka: What an odd thing to happen.

>>>Shinji: Thank Kami-sama for large miracles.

Now, I don't know if it
was because it had just awakened, or because it had lost most of its
energy when Second Impact occurred, but the explosion that followed its
destruction was nothing compared to the explosion that destroyed
Antarctica. However, it would have been powerful enough to kill us all
if Unit-01 hadn't taken most of the blast, just after it ejected your
plug."
"Unit-01... took the blast? It ejected me?"

>>>Kensuke: Make mother upset?

>>>Touji: Bad boy, mommy not hold you anymore!

Was it... Mother? Was she the one, who fought... Father?
"How... how is Unit-01?"
"Took heavy damage. We've managed to get it moved into cryostasis,
as for the two relatively intact Type-5 EVAs and three others that were
not too damaged, as well as a few... spare parts.

>>>Touji: Unit-02.

>>>Asuka: My Eva is NOT spare parts!

>>>Rei: I doubt anything could be salvaged from that wreck.

I don't know, however, if Project-E will go on. With all that happened..."
I could only agree. EVA had hurt so much. But... Mother was still...
inside that thing.
"I see..."
Misato gave me a worried look.
"Shinji... will you be alright... with all this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"

>>>Touji: You were neverly killed.

>>>Kensuke: You saw people die in front of you.

>>>Rei: You're father was killed.

>>>Hikari: Your mother's soul is trapped in Unit-01.

"I know you hoped to... with your father..."
"It's okay Misato... I'll be alright. It's sad, however. Father
sacrificed everything for his obsession and in the end, it destroyed
him."
She smiled.
"Well, I at least have some good news. Well, sorta. It depends on
the point of view."
"Good news?"
"I'm not the only person who lived through this hell."

>>>Shinji: Kaji shoulded back up?

I gasped. Was... was it possible?
"A... A... Asuka? Is Asuka alive?"
I held my breath, awaiting the answer. Misato just nodded and
smiled.
"She's alive... she's alive..."

>>>Rei: But near death.

>>>Touji: And mangled beyond belief.

"Partly thanks to you. Throwing the remains of Unit-02 into the lake
protected her from Adam's explosion. You gave her the chance she needed.
But..."
Her expression changed from an happy one to a worried one.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Well, she's been badly hurt. Those lances... you felt it yourself.
It nearly killed you, you know. If your lungs hadn't been filled with
LCL, you'd probably have died. Even now, a small part of your right lung
is only a mass of dead tissue."

>>>Shinji: I'd have dead tissue...inside me?

>>>Rei: Best to inject you with maggots.

>>>Hikari: EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

>>>Rei: They will eat the dead flesh.

>>>All: STOP!!

So that's why my breathing seemed odd...
"I don't know what those things really are, but their effects are
frightening. Unit-02 was stabbed with all nine of those EVAs lances. It
took sixteen hours just to stabilize her condition. Thankfully part of
Headquarters' infirmary survived the explosion, so one of our surviving
doctors could operate on her.

>>>Shinji: Odd, a stroke of good luck.

>>>Asuka: You call being hit with nine lances good luck?

She's in this hospital now. I think they
are currently working on her. You two are considered like heroes by a
lot of people, so with the whole JSSDF mess, the government is using her
to try to save their face. Guess it's luck within bad luck."
Asuka... was hurt... But she was strong... she would be okay. She
had to be.
"She'll be okay," said Misato, as if she wanted to confirm my
beliefs.
"I hope... but... something I don't understand... why didn't the
JSSDF kill us all?"

>>>Kensuke: Do you want to die that bad?

>>>Shinji: Just curious.

"Well, while you were fighting, someone released information on
SEELE, NERV, the UN and the JSSDF all over the Internet. Images of the
JSSDF attack and your fight against the EVA series were aired on all
channels all over the world.

>>>Shinji: Why do I get the feeling many people didn't understand it?

>>>Touji: Or that children will have nightmares for a long long time?

The public was quickly outraged by the
sight of such massacre. The government quickly called off the attack.
Right now, there are a number of investigations taking place all around
the world. This thing is a total mess..."
"I see..."
Misato walked toward me and caressed one of my cheeks with a finger.
"You still seem pretty worn down, Shinji. You should rest now. You
can think about all this later, with a clearer mind. I'll leave you for
now."
"Misato-san... I'm really relieved that you're alive..."

>>>Kensuke: As are all other males on the planet, to be deprived of..of..

>>>Asuka/Hikari: Will you stop your idol worship!

She smiled again, and surprised me by leaning down and kissing my
forehead. Like... a mother would to a son.
"Sleep well, Shinji."
She left without another word. Father was dead. But Misato and Asuka
were alive. I found myself having difficulties feeling sad. I felt a bit
guilty about it, but quickly all thought became a confused mess as I
fell asleep.

>>>Rei: No...thoughts of me?

>>>Asuka: Hikari...does this...end like I think it's going to?
* * *

Five days later, I woke up to find a girl sitting on a chair next to
me. She was reading a book. I blinked, wondering who this girl could be.

>>>Shinji blushing: She's...very attractive.

>>>Touji: She looks like a freak!

>>>Kensuke: Guess you only attract ugly girls now.

>>>Shinji: HEY!

She had short jet black hair, cut straight an inch under her ears and
from what I could make, she seemed to have dark brown eyes, partly
hidden behind a pair of glasses. She wore a baggy sweatshirt and a pair
of loose jeans. She was a bit pale, but she had a beautiful face. It was
somewhat familiar, but...
Could it be a girl from my class?
"Excuse me... who are you? What are you doing here?"

>>>Rei: My replacement, what happend to me?

This surprised the girl. She had apparently been so absorbed by her
reading that she hadn't noticed that I had been looking at her for a
full minute. She looked toward me and for a few seconds, her gaze bore
into mine. It felt very familiar...
"Shinji!!!"

>>>Shinji: She knows me too?

>>>Hikari: How many girls do you know Shinji-kun?

>>>Kensuke: Do you have a harem you're not telling us about?

The girl's book fell on the floor, forgotten, as the girl nearly
leapt toward me. I grunted in pain as I felt the girl squeeze me in a
hug.
"Oh! I am sorry! I had forgotten! I... I... I am sorry..."
I watched the girl apologize... something... about her...
"Who... who are you?"
"Shinji... it is... me... you do not recognize me?"

>>>Shinji: REI!

>>>Asuka: How..she..change?

And I suddenly did. That voice. That gaze. The color wasn't the
same, but the intensity... I blinked several times. This couldn't be...
"R... Rei? Is that... is that you?"
The girl nodded. Tears watered her eyes.
"But... but... you didn't remember... and your hair... your eyes..."
I didn't understand. What was going on here?

>>>Rei: I am back to normal.

>>>Kensuke: I still have a chance!

>>>Touji: SHIT SHIT SHIT!

The girl removed her glasses and I saw her guide a finger to one of
her eyes. I gasped as she removed a contact lens and as she stared at
me, one eye red and the other dark brown.
Rei... it was Rei! And she was alive!
"You're... you're alive! Rei!"
I reached out for one of her hands, and took it into mine, holding
it tight. I had to know if this was a dream or not. It wasn't.
"What... what's going on? Why this disguise?"

>>>Asuka: She's tired of looking like a mutant freak child?

>>>Rei: I do not look like a freak.

>>>Touji: That outfit makes you look like a gimp.

"Ayanami Rei is dead," Rei said flatly. "She died in the invasion of
NERV Headquarters." Rei then smiled. "This is Major Katsuragi's official
report."
"I... I don't understand..."

>>>Asuka: As usual.

>>>Shinji: Do you get it?

>>>Asuka: ....Yeah, but I'm not going to tell you.

Rei lowered her head, as if in shame.
"SEELE knows what I am. If Ayanami Rei is alive, they would be
tempted to use her for their own ambitions. So she died."
I suddenly understood. If Rei was considered dead, then people
wouldn't try to harm her.
"But what I don't understand... how... why... why do you remember me
now?"
"It is thanks to Doctor Akagi."
Ritsuko. She had done this. I would have to thank her.

>>>Shinji: Of all the people to think of thanking.

>>>Hikari: You think the living are dead and the dead are living.

"I see," I said, a grin appearing on my face. "But you didn't answer
my initial question. Who are you?"
Rei smiled in return.
"Mizuno Rei." (4)

>>>Kensuke: Who thought of that name?

>>>Shinji: Major Sailor Moon flashback!

>>>Touji: You watched Sailor Moon AHAHAHAHA WUSS!

"Pleased to meet you, Mizuno-san. I'm Ikari Shinji."
"I know."
Rei. Rei was alive. The Angels were dead and the EVAs were, for now,
no longer a threat. Finally, we could have a normal life. Things could
go back to the way they had been before the Fifteen Angel had appeared.
No. They couldn't. It had almost destroyed us...
'Shinji-kun, there are many ways to love. It is possible to love two
persons, in similar, yet different ways. It is right. But for you to
really be happy, you must find the love that you held the dearest, that
will make you feel complete. Do not hesitate.'
Kaoru had been right. It was time to choose.

>>>Rei/Asuka: Choose?

>>>Touji: Did he choose then...who was it who won!?!

>>>Shinji: 'I could never ever choose one over the other...this won't be good.'
* * *

412. I stared a long time at this number. My hand reached for the
doorknob. It was slightly shaking. Nearly one month had passed since I
had learned that Rei was back to her old self. One month and yet I
hadn't managed to prepare myself to do this. I was pathetic.

>>>Rei: A month, he must have told me the answer.

>>>Hikari: I'm sure he did.

>>>Asuka: No...he's..going to leave me?

I did have the excuse that I had been somewhat busy. The first week
after Rei's visit had been rather calm, as the doctors had decided to
keep me for one more week, to make sure that none of my injuries,
especially the one to my lungs, would not get worse.

>>>Shinji: I do enjoy breathing.

I doubted it would,
that was not how the power of the Lance of Longinus seemed to work, but
I didn't really complain. Some peace and quiet was rather welcome, even
if it was boring at times. Quickly, I got used to my new breathing
capacities and I used the time I had to visit Touji's sister, Suzuhara
Mari, who happened to be in the same hospital I was.

>>>Touji: You visit my sister...don't you dare think of hitting on her.

>>>Shinji: But she's such a cutey, and she does want to marry me.

>>>Touji/Asuka/Rei: WHAT!!!

>>>Shinji: Kidding.

I had been
surprised to see that the little girl was actually able to make a few
steps now. The first time I had seen her, she been almost covered in
bandages. Now... it was only a matter of time before she would walk
normally again.

>>>Shinji/Touji: Mari-chan!

I cried in relief at that sight, guilt that I had always
refused to let go finally being taken away. Puzzled, the little girl
just hugged me.
I tried to visit Asuka, but it hadn't been possible, due to her
condition.
I did, however, receive some visits myself, as Touji, accompanied by
Hikari and Kensuke, as well as Rei, in company of Hotaru, came a few
times.

>>>Rei: Wait...no..no..this does not sit correctly.

>>>Asuka: If he chose you...you'd never leave his side..that..that means!!

>>>Rei stands up and runs to bathroom.

>>>Shinji: Rei-chan!

>>>Hikari: Give her some time, she'll remember it's a movie and come back.

>>>Touji: I WIN I WIN I WIN!!

>>>Asuka is in a state of bliss unattained before.

Then, things became a bit hectic. The day after I've been released,
I've been asked to take part in an inquiry lead by the UN, with the
purpose of understanding the events that occurred that day of June 11th.
Since I had played a major role in stopping the attack lead by SEELE, I
was asked many questions.

>>>Kensuke: Like what you were wairing.

>>>Touji: What type of cereal you eat.

>>>Shinji: I don't need sponsers.

It lasted more then a week and once it was
over, Misato and I attended an official NERV press release, where we
explained the events that had occurred to the general public, who had
watched on TV the entire event and wanted to know what exactly had
happened. I apparently became quickly a popular figure; after all I had
basically saved the world, at least that's what people thought, and I
spent the following days travelling around the world with Misato to
appear on TV shows and give interviews.

>>>Kensuke: Getting a taste from around the world?

>>>Touji: Fans do love getting, 'special' attention.

>>>Shinji: GUYS!

>>>Hikari: Whow, Asuka's not making any responces.

>>>Asuka smiling: 'It's just in the movie but...still makes me feel GOOD!'

Those had been very exhausting days. I was glad to be back in Tokyo-2 now.
Now I could finally do something I should have done a long time ago.
"Time to get this over with."
I opened the door and entered Asuka's hospital room.
Like the room I had woken in after the battle at NERV, this was a
rather pleasant room. The walls were of a light shade of blue, which was
better then a bare white. The shades were fully opened, letting the
morning light poor freely into the room. I walked toward a desk, removed
withered roses from a vase and replaced them with a fresh dozen of red
roses. Then I went to the side of the bed and sat on a chair, as I had
done many times before.

>>>Kensuke: I can't believe this shit, it was Ayanami all the way till now!

>>>Touji: Pay up! give me your adult-movie pass card.

>>>Kensuke hands over his laminated card.

>>>Shinji/Hikari: That was the bet?

Asuka was lying still on the bed. She was very pale and had lost a
lot more weight in the last few weeks. Doctors were amazed that she
actually managed to live through all the numerous operations she had
undergone.

>>>Shinji: They expected her to give up?

>>>Hikari: They don't know Asuka.

Even now as I looked at her, her left eye and right arm were
in bandages, after some American specialist had tried a new experimental
neural regenerative treatment on her. The man had high hopes for her
arm, but not for her eye. The damage to her optical nerve and to her
retina had been too extensive. She would never see from that eye ever
again. That is, if she would open her eyes at all.

>>>Touji: Foreshadow?

>>>Hikari: Don't know...they kinda just end it.

>>>(Hikari doesn't know about the epilouge)

It was almost ironic. The assault against NERV had pulled her out of
a catatonic sleep only to throw her into a coma at the end.
The doctors had lost hope for her to wake up long ago. Still, they
had operated on her, repaired or replaced damaged organs one after
another. It seemed like a waste, but it was good propaganda. This girl
was, after all, a hero to the world. She might have been proud of
herself, had she been awake.

>>>Asuka: I'll wake up, you better believe I will.

Delicately, I took her bandaged hand into mine.
"Asuka... I've got something to tell you."
I looked at the girl. I had wished she had been awake for me to tell
her this, but I could no longer delay my decision.
"I'm sorry Asuka. I should have done this a long time ago. But I was
afraid. With Rei and you... I no longer felt alone.

>>>Touji: You felt alot of other things.

>>>Shinji: That is sick man, you turn an act of love into cheap thrills?

>>>Kensuke: Whow, step back man, it's a joke 'hit a nerve that time.'

I thought that if I
made a choice, I would lose one of you. I didn't want to lose either of
you. So I made you wait. I was so selfish..."
I took a moment to gather my thoughts. Somehow, the words I had
thought of before coming here were slipping my mind.
"At one time, I thought that everything would be simple. Rei didn't
remember me, so I didn't have to make a choice.

>>>Kensuke: But if she did you would have picked her! why..why!

>>>Touji: You picked the wrong horse.

>>>Rei returns with red eyes: I apologize for my..my..absense.

>>>Shinji offers a light hug to calm her down: 'She was crying..over this movie.'

It was unfair, but it
was so simple... But... she remembers me now. She's back to her old
self. I won't make the same mistake this time. I won't wait for one of
you to leave me. I... I had a lot of time to think. About a choice..."
God, this was difficult.
"Asuka... when I'm with Rei... I feel... how could I say it... safe.
I feel good. Comfortable. There's nothing for me to do.

>>>Asuka: But you crave more than that now.

>>>Shinji: I like comfort.

I know that
she's the kind of girl... who'll love me no matter what. She'll never do
anything to hurt me. She'll never scold me or tease me. She'll do
everything I'll ask of her with a smile... Asuka... I... I..."

>>>Shinji: ' I love her...as I do Asuka...I actually do, wow, never thought
>>> I'd actually love somebody let alone two people.'

>>>Touji: Earth to Shin-man...hello Shin-man? 'to others' He's gone.

I took a pause. Come on, Shinji, say it!
"I... I don't want a comfortable life!

>>>Asuka: YES!!!!!!!!!

>>>Rei's eyes leak out a few more tears but stops once Shinji draps his arm around
>>> her shoulder, and Asuka's.

>>>Touji: Emotional overload, he can't possible mean this.

>>>Kensuke: Movie moment.

I don't want someone who'll
make me the only goal of her existence. I'd only be hiding from reality
again. And it wouldn't be fair to Rei. Asuka... what I'm trying to
say... I want you Asuka."
Somehow, I had hoped that saying those words would steer some
reaction from her. But it didn't. Still, I had to go on.

>>>Rei: Why?

>>>Hikari: It's the end, this is how it ends.

"I think it's something I knew all along, but never tried to see it.
But when I saw you in that infirmary bed at NERV... when I saw those
white EVAs eating the remains of your Unit-02... when I thought you had
died... it hurt more then losing Rei had.

>>>Shinji: Losing one...would never hurt more than the other.

>>>Asuka/Rei: You mean it, don't you. 'Damn, matched set.'

When I slept in Kaoru's arms
that night, before I killed her, I thought of you. When I made love to
you, I felt something... a moment where I felt that there was my place,
in your arms. I won't lie. I love Rei. She means a lot to me. But...
it's not quite the same. I guess she's a bit like... a mother. No...
maybe a sister. Or maybe even more.

>>>Kensuke: That would mean that was incest.

>>>Shinji/Rei: He/I don't feel like that.

I'm not quite sure. But what I
know... as much as I love Rei... I love you more. I love you, Sohryu
Asuka Langley."
I got up, and briefly kissed her lips. Then, I pulled a small velvet
box from one of my pockets. I opened it to retrieve an engagement ring,
a perfect copy of the ring I had bought weeks ago, on impulse, while
shopping with the girls. The original ring had been destroyed in the
Geofront N2 bombing. Slowly, I slid the ring on Asuka's left hand.
"Unless you wake up now to say 'no', you'll be my fiancee from now
on..."

>>>Rei: She doesn't does she?

>>>Hikari: No Ayanami she doesn't.

>>>Rei: Then I will remain content with the real Shinji.

The girl didn't react. While part of me had feared her suddenly
waking up and rejecting me, I felt very disappointed in her not reacting
at all. Maybe the doctors were right...
But I wouldn't give up.
"I'll wait for you, Asuka. Even if it means waiting all my life..."

>>>Asuka wipes a few tears: That was so touching.

>>>Rei: I must agree, it was a emotional scene.
---


Author's notes:

(1) This quote is taken (although, slightly modified, based on the
French translation) from the second Evangelion manga. In that story,
Misato played a greater role in Shinji's decision to stay in Tokyo-3
instead of leaving to go back to his old life. I found it more
appropriate.

(2) In a lot of fictions, a synch ratio over 100% was considered as a
superior ratio, making Unit-01 stronger, etc. Absorption by Unit-01 was
presumed to happen only when it reached 400%. Personally, I don't think
it works that way. If one looks at episode 19, the process happened very
quickly. Unit-01 restarted and Shinji had reached 400% in a matter of
seconds. He was gone. His synch ratio did not slowly progress to reach
400%. Actually, I believe that 400% may not be an accurate number, but
rather a speculation made by MAGI following Shinji's absorption,
something that was most likely outside set parameters. Taking all this
into account, I would considers 99,9999999% to be an extremely high
synch rate, almost on the edge of absorption of the pilot by EVA.

(3) I realize that in the future, they'll likely have more advanced
technology then DVD technology, but I didn't feel like making something
up...

(4) A translation of Mizuno could be "of water", which seems to fit Rei.
It was inspired by Mizuno Ami, from Sailormoon, who also happens to be a
cute short blue haired girl ^_^

Some people mentioned to me that this chapter seemed rushed. It was
intentionally written this way. With the exception of the beginning and
end, Shinji is either running for his life and against the clock. Such
moments are not the best for introspection, they are for action. As for
Shinji's choice, it was also on purpose that I didn't show the
introspective process that lead to it (beside, I think that the
explanations he gives are quite clear enough). That way, I could delay
him voicing his choice as close to the end as I could.

There are of course a number of unresolved questions here. Some of them
are answered in a side story written by Darren Demaine: "Let the World
Burn / One Dream at a Time". Others will be answered in the epilogue.


---


Translation notes:

Scheisse (or Scheiß) : Shit



Alain Gravel
rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca
January 18th 2000

Started on September 2nd 1999
First pre-reader draft finished on January 18th 2000
Second pre-reader draft finished on February 8th 2000
Final draft finished on February 24th 2000
Final revision on March 21th 2000
>>>Mst March 28th 2002

(end MST)

Hikari: And that's it, the movie's over.

Rei: I disliked that movie a great deal.

Asuka: You suck it was great!

Shinji: It was very good, but flawed.

Touji: How so?

Asuka: You..mean?

Shinji whispers to both Asuka and Rei: I could never choose one of you over the other.

Kensuke: Well I liked it, took one hell of a long time to watch it all but it
was worth it, now what?

Rei: Something to lighten my mood please?

Hikari: How about kariokei?

Misato bursts into the room: Did you say kariokei?

Shinji: Y..yeah.

Misato: Set it up lets SING!! Me first!

They set the machine up and Misato selects her song.

Misato: If anybody wants to join me feel free!

The music starts and

Misato:soyo kaze fuita ato honno sukoshi
hora kisetsu ga ugoku yo yume ga arukidasu
omoidoori ni narazu tomadottari
nakitaku naru koto attarimo suru yo
demo itsuka umaku yuku hazu

Shinji: I know that the Sailor Stars opening!

The song becomes a duet!

Misato/Shinji:* taisetsu na koto wa shinjiru koto ne
motto suteki na asa ga kuru yo
kagayaki no naka de hajimaru subete
atarashii yuuki de uketomete mi you
*I'm used to believing in important things
A more beautiful morning will come
Everything began inside the light
Take control with new courage
hitomi tojita toki ga kyou no owari
ureshi katta are kore omoidashite miru
itsumo onna jiyou ni kanjitatte
doko ka ga chigau no kinou to kurabete
sou hoshi wa kitto mite iru
tame iki ni tsubasa tsukete tobasou
motto suteki na asa ga kuru yo
tobikiri no egao jumbi o shiyou
atarashii jiken ga machiukete iru

Final score 85

Touji: Man..wish I knew that...he got to sing with Misato.

Kensuke: He sounds like a girl while singing.

Asuka/Hikari: SHut up! he sang great!

Rei: May I?

Shinji blushing: Sure...Rei we'd love to hear it.

Rei selects her song and...

Rei: (Oh my darling, I love you
And the kid who just stands tonight)

Shinji blushes: This..is going to be something.

Asuka: Hmmph..I'll show her up.

Rei continues: Mystery--mashou wo utsusu purachina no tsuki akari
kasukani hohoemu kuchibiru azayakani someta
mitsumeteite sorasanaide
anata no sono shisende,
fuuin wa tokareru...

Shinji marvels at the transformed Rei as she sings the rather provacotive song.

Rei: *Shy na Venus kamen sutete
yasashikute zankokuna
sugao wo misetai no
anata dake ni ageru secret
I want to kiss you, surrender to your heart
nigebashou no nai yajuu
ai no meiro no naka de ikitaeru made

Misato: Damn..she's good.

Rei: Sadistic--jounetsu no muchi de odorasete ageru
maru de haritsumeraretai to ayatsuru youni
Tokimete koe de sakebu "I love you"
kono mune ni kizamikomu,
kienai akashi wo...

Asuka/Hikari: How can she sing that with a straight face?

Rei: **Zurui Venus kamen sutete
yasashikute zankokuna
sugao wo miseru no wa
daremo shiranai toki no carnival
I want to hold you, surrender in my heart
ai ni oboreta yajuu
yume ni kokochi no mama ne ikitaeru made

(Oh my darling, I love you
And the kid who just stands tonight
Oh my darling, I love you
And the kid who just stands tonight)

Final score 84

After singing Rei blushes, and sits back down my Shinji.

The crew is...well stunned and clap for her.

Asuka: I'm up! Listen to THIS! Hikari que up the music!

Music starts.

Asuka starts to bounce her feet to the beet.

Asuka: *HAI TENSHON! (high tension)
BIRIBIRI kiteruyo PAWAFURU WAARUDO(powerful world)
zenkaichuu
SURAIze IKASUze kyuukyoku no AIDORU (idol)
TOUCH AND FEEL!
IIHAA kibun ni
VERYONE kubittake
okiraku gokuraku shinjou no AIDORU (idol)

Misato: I like this song, very upbeat!

Shinji: SO much engergy!

Asuka:ochikomi BURUU (blue) wa miseranai (STAND UP, CHANGE UP, BOY!)
suyoki no asu shika hoshikunai (EVERYTIME TAKE YOUR DREAM!)
okoro ni atsui yume wo MURIYARI moyashiterya
ono yo wa kimi no tame ni mawatteru!

Kensuke: Who is she signing about?

Asuka:#LUCKY CHANCE!
ishii TOKO dake
APPY TIME!
marukajiri
HAKKARI SHIKKARI ojouzu ni AIDORU (idol)
IGHT AND COOL!
NANAME no POOZU (pose) ga
EVERYTIME oyakusoku
SSARI SHAKKIRI muteki no AIDORU (idol)
okenai PAZURU (puzzle) mo makeranai (GET UP, WAKE UP, BOY!)
ORAI (dry) na egao de kirikaese (EVERYDAY KEEP YOUR SMILE!)
kokoro ni haneta kimochi itsudemo odoraserya
ono yo wa kimi no ato wo tsuite kuru!
Final score 84.

Hikari: SUGOI ASUKA!

Asuka: Told you I was good.

The crew claps again while Asuka and Rei exchange glances.

Then the door bursts open and of all people.

Shinji: FATHER!!

Gendo: I see you are butchering songs here.

Misato: Commander, we're just having fun...nothing wrong with that!

Gendo: It seems I must show you how to do it properly.

Puts a tape in the machine and...

Gendo: Fly me to the moon
And let fly WaHAAAAAAAA

Shinji/Asuka/Rei pushing him out of the apartment: NO, ANYTHING BUT THAT!!

The party continues on till about 9 p.m.

Kensuke/Touji: Well, we need to go, see ya at school tomarow.

Shinji: Yeah, take care.

Hikari: Bye Asuka, Shinji.

Asuka: Thanks again Hikari, that movie was excellent.

Shinji: You know she was wrong about something.

Rei: What was that?

Asuka: AH, you still here?

Rei: Yes.

Shinji: One part left to that movie

Rei/Asuka: Really?
--------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Mst Author notes.
Well that does it for the actuall TOILI, the epilouge will be done VERY soon
and done by Shinji/Asuka/Rei.
about the songs they sang?
Sailor stars ending (mist/Shin)
Bakuratsu Hunters ending (Rei)
Vs Knight Lamune Kieser fire 40 ending (asuka)

lyrics available at www.animelyrics.com

hope you like this chapter, hope for some comments, and to all keep reading :)
zentrodie (zentrodie@secondimact.com)