Neon Genesis Evangelion-The Sixth Child(ish)

by Jo Clark

Seele is sending another Evangelion right after the incident with the thirteenth angel from the United States. Along with that comes the new teenage pilot, Arden Vaken, a psychologically unstable weapon of mass destruction. What is Seele's plan with Arden? How is she connected to the human instrumentality project? Most importantly, what is her connection with the other pilots?

1. Chapter 0 The New Pilot

Chapter 0

"Unit 009!? Another Evangelion!? But we already have the three functioning units!? And we've seen just how dangerous Units 003 through 005 were!"

Misato Katsuragi stood before Ritsuko Akagi after the news of the new Evangelion and potential new pilot. Ritsuko looked to the computer screen in front of her and not to Misato's eyes. "Unit 009 shouldn't suffer the same complications as Unit 003 and Unit 004. As for Unit 005, we still don't know if that was the same crisis that caused its destruction."

"But how can you be so sure that this one will work? After all that has happened!"

Akagi sighed as she began to respond. "Unit 009 has already been tested in the United States, so we won't have to worry in that regard. Not to mention that the angel within Unit 004 has been destroyed."

Misato's gaze clouded as she thought of Shinji. "I just worry about Shinji. He almost lost Toji thanks to Commander Ikari. I just don't know how he'll take to another pilot." Ritsuko was silent for a moment. She felt as if she should say something in comfort to Misato, but the words just wouldn't come. She passed a folder labeled Evangelion Unit 009 Pilot Personal Files over to Misato. "What are these? The new pilot's files?"

Misato opened the file and looked it over. "Arden Vaken, huh? It says here her average synch ratio is 95%! How is that possible?" Ritsuko shrugged impassively though the matter had troubled her as well. "She's apparently been trained for piloting since the idea of Evas was even thought of. She's practically been bred for the Evas."

Misato continued to read the file. She went over the psychological examination. "Ritsuko, what is all this? Paranoid Schizophrenia? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Hypersexual tendencies? How is this girl fit to pilot an Eva? Sociopathic tendencies?" Misato spoke with an edge to her voice, almost distrusting, as if it was Ritsuko's doing.

Ritsuko pushed away from her desk and stood. She turned her head away from Misato as she began to speak. "Look, this is the way things are now. I need you to pick up the new pilot from the train station at 0800 hours and brief them on all Nerv procedures. She should either stay with you or alone like Rei. You already have Asuka and Shinji with you, so maybe it'd be better if she was alone. I'm sorry Misato; things aren't as they should be here. But this is the way it is."

Misato watched as Ritsuko left the room. Misato didn't know what to think. She felt betrayed. First with Adam, now with Shinji. What was happening within Nerv? Why couldn't she get a grasp on what was happening here? What was taking a hold of Nerv and what was Seele? Misato stood, in a fog. This pilot, whoever she was, seemed to pose some sort of threat to Nerv. Misato could sense that. Something about Seele was dangerous, though she couldn't work out what it was.

Misato listened as the sound of Ritsuko's steps faded down the hallway and the motion censored flicker off as she walked farther off from Misato.