Ayanami Rei was pissed. Everyone around her saw the same emotionless face, but she was definitely pissed. A chance encounter with Asuka on NERV HQ's notoriously slow elevators had resulted in a one-sided argument.

"It must be nice, being the favorite, eh Wonder Girl?"

"What?"

"Everyone knows that you're Commander Ikari's favorite, and the special treatment you get must be nice."

"I'm not the favorite. And I'm not treated any better, either."

"Don't you ever express yourself, Wonder Girl?"

"What?"

"Why don't you yell back at me, you doll!?"

"I am not a doll." SMACK

Asuka stormed out of the elevator a moment later, and turned back to look inside. Rei stood in the center of the elevator, a red scuff on her right cheek where Asuka had hit her. Rei retained her reserved look, though inwardly she was growing annoyed at everyone's disregard for her feelings. She definitely had feelings, she just did not feel the need to express them all the time. She was still quite annoyed by Asuka's rudeness, rounding the corner to the walkway over Unit 01's cage, heading for the locker rooms. As she approached, she saw Shinji talking with Misato.

"I just don't know how to talk with her, Misato."

"It's gonna be tough, Shinji."

"She's all about following orders, you know? She can be such a…"

"Doll?" Rei approached, filling in Shinji's sentence with a seemingly calm voice, though she was now more angry than she had ever felt.

"Rei… I… No! That's not what I was going to say."

"If you say so, Ikari." She began to walk away, trying to punish Shinji by not allowing him to apologize.

"Rei! I'm sorry! …"

Back at home, Rei lay in bed thinking. Everyone thought she was a doll, capable of following orders and nothing more. They needed to be shocked out of this stereotyping, no matter what. She didn't like the concept at first, but she was going to express emotion tomorrow. She planned out her new M.O. on paper. She started by making a list of what people found odd about her, then creating a way to do the complete opposite.

People say I rarely smile Smile no matter what I am speaking about

People say I speak mechanically Use creative words and slang

I never raise my voice Use vocal dynamics to extremes

I am always reserved and shy Be outgoing; seek people out to talk with

And last, but not least: Flirt with Shinji in public

Rei went to bed that night, holding her list above her head, reading it over and over again to burn it into her psyche. She was good at following orders; now she would act on her own orders. NERV was going to pay.

The next morning, Rei ran out of her apartment in her school uniform, headed for NERV HQ. She needed to get to Shinji before they got into work. She approached him speedily from behind as he walked slowly for the entrance.

"Good morning, Shinji!"

"Rei…?"

"That's right. How have you been?"

"Ok?"

"Alright then, I'll see you inside," she said, brushing past him, letting her butt push past Shinji's hand. She turned back, winked, and ran up to the Geofront entryway. Inside, she walked down the moving walkways, smiling as she passed Fuyutsuki, who was rather taken aback.

"Good morning, Professor Fuyutsuki!"

"Good morning, Rei…" She ran forward, letting the skirt of her uniform fly up in the back as she left him behind. It was time for her revenge on Asuka.

Asuka was in the locker room, getting changed into her plugsuit for the upcoming synch tests. Rei headed for her locker, and got changed into her own plugsuit. She pushed a button on the wrist, and the suit sealed itself tight around her body. She began to caress herself slowly as Asuka turned around to respond.

"What…what are you doing, Wonder Girl?"

"You know what I like most about these plugsuits, Asuka?"

"…What's that?"

"Mmm…They're so silky smooth… You ever feel that?"

"You're acting really weird, Rei…" Rei suddenly dropped her hands, letting her shoulders droop as a humongous frown came to her face.

"That makes me sad, Asuka. I just wanted to ask a friend a personal question…"

"Who…who are you, and what've you done with Rei?"

"You're breaking my heart, Asuka…" Rei began to bring tears to her eyes as she slowly turned away. Asuka reached out, and pulled Rei around by the shoulder. She was shocked to see a warm smile on the First Child's face; the smiling face leaned in and locked lips over Asuka's for a short but intense kiss. Rei parted with Asuka, who was frozen in place with her lips still engaged. Rei smiled one more time, and skipped away for the synch test. Asuka stayed there, frozen in shock and awe, nearly fainting in the steamy room.

As Shinji entered the elevator to bring him up to Unit 01's entry plug, Rei ran in, just barely getting inside before the door closed. She stood across the elevator cab, smiling at Shinji who tried his best to avert his eyes. He couldn't help but notice that Rei's plugsuit left very little to the imagination. Unlike Asuka's plugsuit, this one had no restraint in the chest; the shapes Rei's nipples were clearly visible. Shinji blushed heavily and turned away. Rei went in for the kill, approaching him and turning her back, looking seductively over her shoulder.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" She rubbed up against him, doing all the work while Shinji tried desperately to control his hands. "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"…Ok." The elevator door opened, and Shinji stumbled out.

"Don't be a stranger, Ikari…" She winked as the doors closed, continuing her journey up to the top level for her final revenge.

Up in his remote office, Commander Ikari sat at his desk, marveling over something in a steel briefcase in front of him. His view was so eclipsed, and his attention so fixated that he did not notice Rei until it was too late. She reached up, and closed the case, bringing herself into view. The Commander was quite surprised; he hadn't called her up to his office. Rei just smiled slightly as she got up on top of the desk, and crawled on her hands and knees towards the Commander.

"Is this nice, Commander?"

"Rei…"

"Can you handle it, Commander?"

"Handle what?"

"Playing uke. Does the change…excite you?" She inched closer to the Commander's sweating face, then past it, whispering into his ear.

"It…it does…"

"Oh… I bet. So much better than a lifeless doll to play with, right?"

"Yes!"

"Well Commander, for now, I think I'll keep you waiting. Know why?"

"Waiting… Why?"

"I've got some things to do. With Shinji." The Commander's pupils shrank as he heard his son's name spoken in such a seductive way. Rei had the nerve to pick little Shinji over him? "See you later, Commander…" Rei walked out slowly, and took the elevator down to Level 32, where she would intercept Shinji as he got ready for a shower…