Shinji woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. He was dressed in a plain blue hospital gown lying in a semi comfortable bed. Memories from the previous day hadn't arrived yet. He just felt an aching sensation in his left hand. Ghost pain he thought, that's odd…

He got up from bed and looked in the mirror. He slightly combed his brownish hair with his hands and sighed. He felt exhausted. He couldn't remember the previous day and, deep inside, he felt somewhat glad about it. He didn't know why.

Shinji walked out of the room and was greeted with a white walled empty hallway. A sad sight really. He wasn't expecting a "Welcome back" party, but for there to not even be nurses keeping an eye on him… it pained him. A lot.

Walking through the silent hallway, Shinji started to remember. Misato, the Eva, his dad… his dad. That bastard! He only called him because he needed him! Shinji couldn't quite place his exact feeling. Was he angry? Yes. Was he sad too? Yes. But he still felt the urge to make Gendo proud of him. Maybe because he is the only parent figure he has.

I wanted to make him proud. Shinji thought. I knew he hated me and I still tried to show off in the battle…

Shinji looked at his left arm. He clenched and unclenched his fist. His arm was fine but it didn't feel fine. It was weird.

He was drowned in his thoughts when Misato approached him. He didn't even notice her when she was right in front of his face.

Misato cleared her throat.

"Ah!" Shinji looked up to see Misato's smirk. "S-Sorry. Didn't see you there…" Shinji smiled shyly.

Misato's smirk turned into a soft smile and said "Don't worry Shin-kun! After what you've been put through..." Shinji lowered his head and Misato cursed her poor choice of words.

"Hey!" Misato punched Shinji's shoulder, softly. "Don't feel so down. You did great yesterday! It was your first victory!"

It didn't feel like a victory though… Shinji thought.

Misato could read his thoughts and decided to change the subject. "Your dad called for a small meeting with the pilots. He wants to see you."

Shinji didn't look relieved at all after hearing that. "Right now?"

"Yes. Follow me. The commander isn't a patient man."

/

Gendo sat in his office quite frustrated really. He thought that with the resurgence of the Angels the world would unite against a common threat and he could put his plan in motion. He was severely disappointed when the old idiot, Cherneko, announced he wouldn't compromise the "purity" of the USSR by making a deal with the "devil" that is capitalism. He even stepped up his Defense spending. He is only a puppet of the governing class in the Soviet Union. Their reluctance to show compromise, even on the verge of Armageddon, enraged Gendo to a very high degree.

"They were always like this. They almost didn't help us when the Angels first attacked!" Fuyutsuki, the vice commander, argued.

"Reagan isn't making it easy for them either." Gendo shot back. "I warned him about taking a hard line against the Soviets, he didn't listen."

"Well… it is popular with the public…"

Fuyutsuki had him there. While Reagan's methods and overall political maneuvering is… debatable, his appeal to the public is unquestionable. It had allowed Nerve to stay afloat against SEELE's criticisms. Just one endorsement changed the whole situation. SEELE was in ruins and he was thriving. He owed Reagan for that.

Fuyutsuki pressed his earpiece. "Your son and Mayor Katsuragi are waiting to get in."

"What about Rei?" Gendo asked.

"She is still in a bad condition. It is not safe to bring her in."

"Fine." Gendo grunted. "Let the Third Child and the Mayor in."

/

The tension was palpable in the air. Shinji just stood there, in silence, not daring to look his dad in the eye. Gendo sat in silence too, keeping his eyes fixed on Shinji.

"What did you call us for, sir?" Misato suddenly asked.

"We have received an order from the US government." Gendo said, with his gaze still fixated on Shinji.

You, taking an order? Ha! Talk about karma. Misato thought. She tried extremely hard to suppress her forming smirk.

"President Ronald Reagan himself asked for the chosen pilots to be taken to a NERV base in Washington D.C. Mayor Katsuragi and I are coming too." Gendo explained. Shinji looked up, surprised. "There we will meet up with the Second Child from Germany."

"We'll be leaving in the morning. Dismissed." Gendo turned his back on Shinji, implying this wasn't up to question.

Shinji stood there, stunned.

/

Rei was packing. Not that she had several clothes to pack anyways. The news hadn't fazed her in the slightest. Gendo had been kind enough to tell them to her personally. He had gone to her hospital room wearing a smile all throughout, even though Rei knew the sudden change of events made him upset.

Once she had finished packing, she decided to walk around the NERV headquarters. She noticed the staff was in quite an upbeat mood. News travel quickly in NERV and almost everyone seemed to be happy that Gendo was leaving. Rei couldn't understand why. The commander was always so nice with her. She would probably feel devastated if he abandoned her.

In between all the happy staff, Rei spotted Shinji sitting in a corner of the installations. He seemed deep in thought. He was even listening to his SDAT. Rei approached him and noticed a sad look on his face. She was curious as to what he was thinking.

She tapped his shoulder and Shinji jumped in surprise. He looked sideways and saw the blue haired girl from yesterday.

"Oh! Y-you have recovered." He stuttered.

"Yes." Rei confirmed.

Silence.

"Uh-Um" Shinji felt uncomfortable. She didn't seem like the talkative type of person. He then remembered she had touched his shoulder and asked her, "What do you want?"

Rei looked at him. "You looked sad, is something wrong?"

Shinji sighed. "Yes. A lot is wrong actually." Rei just stared at him, urging him to go on. "I just… I'm scared. Leaving Japan, leaving everything behind…"

Rei continued to stare at him. Shinji looked at her "Aren't you scared too?" Rei shook her head and responded "No. I have nothing here, except for the commander. I have nothing to lose."

Shinji was left speechless. Rei turned around and walked away, leaving Shinji deep in thought.

/

The Third Child stood in the platform waiting for the NERV helicopter to arrive. Gendo, Rei and Misato were with him. Gendo stood at the front with his arms behind his back. Rei was at his side. Shinji and Misato were behind standing side by side. Misato looked down towards Shinji. She saw the unreadable expression in his face and kneeled to meet his eye level.

"Are you fine Shinji?" Misato asked.

Shinji didn't move his gaze. "I am."

"Aren't you scared to leave Japan behind?"

Shinji finally looked at her and smiled. "I have nothing here to leave behind."

/