Second chance

Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion. Anno does.

Shinji Ikari stood before the telephone booth. The phone wasn't working, and the woman hasn't arrived yet. He stared at the postcard again. He wondered. Suddenly, a slab of Stone fell next to him. He turned, and saw a gigantic monster walking through the streets, unaffected by the huge amount of firepower sent at its direction. Gasping, he ran the other way, then a blue sedan stopped before him.

"Come on in!" The purple haired woman beckons him in, smiling. "Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

He entered the car. The woman took off her sunglasses. "I'm Misato Katsuragi," she said.

He steps onto the bridge as the lights turn on before him. He steps backwards as he soon as he saw the monstrosity before him.

"A...a…"

"This is the multi-purpose bio mechanical humanoid fighting machine Evangelion." Said Misato, as she insisted him call her. "This is your father's work."

"Father…"

"Shinji." Said Gendo Ikari, who stood behind a piece of glass. "You will pilot it to fight the Angel."

Shinji almost fell backwards in shock. He wasn't expecting this at all.

"It's been three years, and this is what you ask?"

"Will you pilot it or not? If you will, then get in. If not, then get out of my sight."

"I didn't come here for this!"

Gendo inwardly sighs. He'll have bring out the clone. He always hated the way he had to portray his son, just to fool the committee - a total wimp.

"Ritsuko," he called through the PA system. "Bring Rei. The spare, third child, proved useless."

Obviously he didn't need me… there was always someone else, wasn't there?

"But, commander, Rei is in no shape to fight!"

"She isn't dead."

"How can you?" A new voice, filled with anger, and was it? A hint of concern, joined the conversation. "If you send her out, she'll die!"

"That is not my fault, fifth child. Or would you like to pilot instead?"

"You know obviously that Yui Ikari would never accept me, Gendo Ikari. Or would she, but you didn't let her, because you know you can't use me?"

"Do not mention her name." The face of the commander reddens. As all know, the fifth was the only one who the commander somehow respected, ( or was it fear, as some speculated? ), as if he was of the same rank as he is. Strangely though, he was also the only one Rei Ayanami, first child, is close to. Few knew the truth of who he was, as he had joined them one day, all records erased, without any hint as to how he came to this world except that his birthday was the day of Second Impact.

"You said the spare would work. The committee will not forgive you if the scenario fails now!"

"All of this is no matter. Rei shall pilot, as the third child refuses to."

"Then I will go with her! Rei will be able to help me sync, and with me she stands a better chance of survival."

"As you wish. Though, the Angel is coming soon, can you hurry?" The hidden smile often on Gendo's face, however, had disappeared as the boy mentions the committee. It was hard to keep them off his back, with him there always watching him. And he can't really get him removed yet, since Rei is close to him. He wondered how this clone of a human had been able to get close to Rei, when even he himself couldn't. Save those thoughts, he told himself. I won't let you win, Yui.

Just as they finished speaking, Shinji turns and saw the doctor, referred to just now as Ritsuko, push a hospital bed on a bridge. Lying on it was a blue haired, red eyed albino girl. She had bandages all over her body, as if she was a fragile doll, easy to be broken. And beside her, holding her hand and whispering words of comfort to her, was a boy who looked eerily similar to her, except that he had grey hair. Seeing Shinji standing there, staring, he glared, accusation clear in his eyes.

I can't do it… I just can't. I haven't even seen this thing at all!

Suddenly, the whole place shook, causing the bed to turn, and the girl, Rei, fell off the bed and into the boy's arms. Holding her up, he turns and looked at Shinji. But this time, those eyes were almost pleading.

"I'll do it!" Shinji cries out. "I'll pilot the Evangelion!"

The boy relaxed visibly. Placing Rei gently onto the bed and giving Ritsuko some gentle words, he walks over to Shinji.

"My name is Kaworu Nagisa. I am the fifth child, pilot of Unit Beta, which is currently being built. I will go into the entry plug with you, in order to help you defeat the Angel. However, it is you who will go through the mental process of syncing with the soul. I can only work as the mind for you. If all is clear, follow me to the entry plug."

Shinji follows him, and wonders how he can be that assertive, even to his father.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ritsuko asked the boy, concern and could it be… motherly love? in her eyes.

"Yes. Shinji will need my help. And this is the only way so that Rei wouldn't have to fight, at least until they finish Unit Beta. Is there any news on when it's going to be done?"

"I believe not. However, the second child will come to Japan soon, along with Unit 2, if the committee allows it. And your sister also, possibly." Ritsuko frowned. The committee… this was the only reason she hadn't adopted the boy as her own. He was the committee's, and she couldn't really do much. As much as she loved him, he was not someone who she can trust with all Gendo's secrets, if he didn't know them already.

It was all because of Yui…

The commander's dead wife. And the reason why she still pretends to have an infatuation with Gendo. All to fool the committee. Yui tried to kill her mother, and escaped into the Evangelion, while her mother, shocked by the attempt, left for Nerv-Berlin to cool down, and almost got killed in the flight. All that contributed to her mother now in a coma, despite still being alive due to Kaworu. And Rei… she couldn't forget the truth behind the girl, despite the fact Kaworu and her both know that it wasn't her who tried to kill her mother, and it was Yui who planned it all.

But she cared for both of them, really. Two children who were clones of their makers, containing souls of power like nothing else. Two souls meant for each other, searching for a way to escape the plans that seemed set into stone. She maintained the other clones, and secretly saved their memories even though she was told not to. But they were like her children. And she found in them a way to redeem herself from what she did years ago.

"Evangelion shogouki, start up!"