NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: PATHFINDERS
I don't own anything, please, don't sue...
Please, exercise patience and be gentle when pointing the grammar errors (I'm using the Spell Checker but we all now that is not always perfect.)
I'm dedicating this to a fellow writer and EVA shipper, onewingedangel173187, for giving the nudge I need to finally translate my Portuguese fics to English.
Onewingedangel73187 : I wrote the first chapter over a copy of the Portuguese version. I'm not doing that anymore. I fact, I will first write this one in English and then translate to Portuguese.
Sonnes-Loco77 : Ok...I really didn't get what you said about Rei/Shinji and Asuka/Touji; Maya/Kensuke has an explanation, that will come in future chapters. As for Hikari/Kaworu, It was kind of what was left in the original canon batch...
HolyDragoon : Yes, the couple are unusual, but I have always been a Rei/Shinji fan, so... I actually go the idea of Asuka/Touji from the first fanfic I ever read, "An Unwilling Angel" from Ryan Xavier...its on my favorites... Yeah I made some mistakes, specially because I got lazy and used an translator... not doing that again... instead, I will write in English first, then translate para a língua pátria (e se não tiver mais acento em língua e pátria, é pq o acordo ortográfico me tornou um semi-analfabeto e os vagabas que levavam pau em gramática, PhDs em Português...)
Dark Vizard447 : I hope you like this one too...
I decided to pay homage to a frikking funny and deliciously crazy fic titled "NGE: Nobody Dies" by Gregg Landsman... If you need a good laugh, go read that...
CHAPTER 02: A MIRROR TO THE FUTURE
[NERV Central – Piano Lounge (not in use until now) – Minutes later]
After the showdown in the EVA bays, the NERV staff were escorted by their "visitors" to the Mess Hall. The few workers that were there were promptly sent away,and the room was secured. From there the "visitors" opened a set of double doors that no one, save the Commander and Vice Commander, knew where it would lead. They were surprised to find a very elegant lounge, with a small stage and a grand piano sitting on it, surrounded by some other instruments. The place itself was spotlessly clean, but didn't look like it have seen much use in the last few years.
Right now, everyone were seated in the comfortable loveseats, couches and chairs. Fuyutsuki, at the gentle insistence of the Duchess, was also seated, as herself was leaning on the large armchair of the seat her consort was seating. Touji Sohryu-Suzuhara was also comfortably rested in one of the big seats, with his wife on his lap (much to the Second Child's chagrin). He had taken his glove, leaving exposed the technorganic skin, that was currently projecting a small hologram from the wrist, as he was performing some self diagnostics in his bionics. Asuka Sohryu-Suzuhara kept herself entertained alternating checking her weapon and playing with the Sector Two Director's hair.
Kensuke Ibuki-Aida was busy setting up the emitters around the lounge, and Maya Ibuki-Aida was fine-tuning the equipment, lending a hand to her husband. The Geek Stooge was very methodical in his work, as he placed the hovering units in position for optimal interactivity. Across from the Suzuhara couple, Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki were both seated in recliners, and both had their legs resters up, showing the same cold demeanor that the rest of the staff was more than used to.
In one of the couches, Shigeru Aoba, Maya Ibuki and Ritsuko Akagi just observed the work of the visitors, trying to figure it out what exactly they where doing. Occasionally they would exchange glances with Misato Katsuragi and Makoto Hyuga, that were in another couch,in the company of the Second Child, Asuka Sohryu. In the loveseat, Rei Ayanami and Touji Suzuhara, First and Fourth Children, were also observing their alternate selves. Shinji Ikari, Third Child, was up, behind the loveseat, as he was too restless to sit.
- "OK, its official now... I'm bored to death." - Misato said, sighing.
- "You tell me..." - Touji said - "Man, what I wouldn't give for an Call of Duty Arcade Machine right now."
- "What for?" - Asuka provoked - "So that you could lose to me, again?"
- "You got lucky twice, Devil, that's all." - The Jock retorted - "Your aim is so poor that if Shin-man weren't here to save the day, the Angels would have destroyed the world already."
- "I'm gonna make you eat your words!" - Asuka screamed, as she jumped from the couch, ready to kill the stooge.
Misato held the Second Child by her waist with a little effort, as she was used to the German's outbursts. Touji got up from his seat, balling his hands into fists, as he got ready to defend himself:
- "Bring it on, Red!" - The Jock taunted.
- "Enough!" - Sohryu said, with a hard glance.
She rose from her husband's lap, and the sight of the Captain was intimidating enough to stop both teenagers. Misato released the red-haired, that no longer struggled, and the Jock just sat back besides the albino girl. Sohryu turned to her Touji, and said:
- "Worse than toddlers, I swear to God..." - The Captain said.
- "Its all the reaction to undiscovered feelings, honey..." - Suzuhara said, holding her hand - "Don't you remember, all the fights, black eyes, biting and concussions?"
Asuka and Touji snorted soundly at the notion, and Sohryu didn't looked convinced. To settle the matter, he pulled her to him, and held the red-haired woman as she few into his arms, kissing her for all her worth. The sight of their older selves making out caused different feelings in Asuka and Touji; she felt... strange, not in a bad way, which was in itself a very bad thing; he felt... envious? The Fourth Child glanced a moment too long at the German girl, that appeared to be in shock, and his look didn't go unnoticed by others.
Finally, Asuka recovered from her stupor, and yelled:
- "Would you two stop with that?" - The Second Child complained - "That's sickening! Revolting!"
The Older Asuka turned her head from her love to her younger self, and said:
- "There is nothing sickening, nor revolting or perverted in showing affection to those you love." - Sohryu replied, in a tone that reminded the Second Child of her mother.
Asuka watched silently as her older self raised from her husband's embrace, and walked to her:
- "I didn't have anyone to teach me this, and it cost me dearly all the lost time and hurt I accumulated..." - Sohryu said, placing her hand on the Second Child's shoulder, in a stern, and yet hard demeanor - "See this as a bless in disguise... You can learn from my mistakes without having to make them as I did."
The glance of her own blue eyes made the Fiery German pilot turn away, as her voice, in a low tone, said:
- "I don't make mistakes..." - Asuka replied, feebly.
- "Yes, we do. And sometimes we keep incurring in the same mistakes, because the pride that make us blind, and fearful of be perceived as weak by those that surround us." - Sohryu said, as her hand move to Asuka's face, making her face the older woman - "But to acknowledge our limitations is not a sign of weakness..."
Sohryu knelt down facing the teenager, and kept going:
- "Our true strength doesn't come from us, it comes from those who surround us, those who we care for and that care for us..." - The Red-haired Captain said, and looking over her shoulder, she glanced at Suzuhara, before turning back to Asuka - "I know that Touji is difficult sometimes, but when I was recuperating from the injuries I suffered in a very violent battle, I ended up in a very dark place, metaphorically speaking, and no one, not Misato, or Kaji, Rei, Shinji, or even Hikari could reach me,or help me... I pushed everyone that I ever loved away from my life, I locked everyone out... but that insufferable brain-donor-jock stooge got in..."
- "What can I say? I was too dumb to notice the do not enter sign" - Suzuhara said, with a grin, as he finished his diagnostics and touched his badge, bringing back the tunic's sleeve.
Sohryu glanced with a amused expression to her husband, and kept going:
- "He was annoying beyond words, and half of the time I wanted to wipe that irritating grin of his face with my EVA, but when the nightmares came at night, he was there, always, every single time." - The Red-haired woman said - "In those moments, I saw glimpses of that boy that Hikari always described, but I could never see. The boy that ruffled my feathers was also capable of watch over me in the nights the doctors feared that my psychosis would make me hurt myself again. The Neanderthal Jock that was always the fast to talk back to me was even faster to be by my side when the weight of life in my shoulders was too much to bear..."
The Second Child looked over the older woman's shoulder, to see the adult version of the Fourth as he stood up. She had never seen the Stooge that way, but the man she saw walking towards her was powerful, intimidating and had an strange aura of authority; and yet, that same man was capable of tender gestures and was obviously in love with her older self. She couldn't even fathom that the Jock could one day turn into a man like that, but she couldn't deny what he eyes were showing her...
Suzuhara stopped behind his wife, and his hand touched her shoulder. Sohryu turned and saw him:
- "Schatzi, it has been 7 hours" - He said, in a gentle voice. - "You should take a few minutes to rest."
- "I'm good, thanks." - She said, dismissively, turning back to the Teen
The Second Child looked at Suzuhara, surprised of how he addressed her older self, calling her Schatzi... beloved.
- "It is not a matter of you being good or not, Liebe. Your body is still recovering." - He insisted, still in the same tone as she looked back at him
- "And I said I'm good." - She repeated, slightly annoyed.
The Second Child noticed the expression on Suzuhara's face become stern, as he said her name, glancing at her older self:
- "Asuka..I am not kidding." - He warned – "Either you sit down, or..."
- "...or?" - She cut him, daring him to finish his sentence.
The older Touji leaned on the red-haired woman and in a low voice, loud enough only for herself and her teenager counterpart to hear, he threatened:
- "...or I will tell Hikari." - He said, finishing with a cynical grin.
- "You wouldn't dare." - Sohryu said, in a outraged voice.
- "Try me..." - Suzuhara made the challenge.
Asuka knew that the Class Representative was her best friend, but she was confused as why that was the leverage the Director was using on her older self... the look Sohryu gave him was well known by the Second Child; a glance she used when she was very displeased, but the natural reaction that would follow (yelling, screaming, and physical altercation) didn't come. Instead, the Red-haired woman rose from her stance, standing tall and facing her husband, that kept unfazed. She looked back at Asuka, and said:
- "Still insufferable, as you can see." - Sohryu said, before giving a dangerous look at the man, and walking away.
- "I love you too, honey." - He said, shamelessly..
- "See if you'll love the couch as well.." - She retorted.
Suzuhara didn't reply, just watching as she walked to the recliner, and sat on it. Touji, that had witnessed everything with keen interest, couldn't resist to add his two cents:
- "Outch... being in the doghouse is bad enough, but being in the Red Devil's doghouse must be worse than Auschwitz..." - The Fourth said.
- "And you'd better watch and learn, Fourth." - Asuka replied - "No matter how mighty you may become, I will still be mightier."
Suzuhara smiled, amused, as the Second and Fourth kept the bickering, and said:
- "Not to worry... I will make up to her later." - The Director said, and with a conspiring look, added - "I always do."
Behind the seats, The older Ibuki put a hand Touji's shoulder, and looking at his older self, said:
- "Those two never stay at odds for long..." - Ibuki said. - "Soon they will be all smooches and hugs again."
From the recliner, Sohryu, without looking at the scientist, said:
- "That's nothing that make-up-sex can't fix." - The Red-Haired Captain said.
- "Amen to that." - Ibuki replied, much to the embarrassment of her younger self.
- "You said it all, Red!" - Aida agreed, from the opposite side of the room.
- "Ain't that half the fun in fighting?" - Suzuhara asked, rhetorically .
- "Indeed... very much indeed." - The Duchess said, with a very un-Rei-like tone, that sounded almost like a purr.
To say that the NERV staff was shocked at this point was a redundancy, but hearing the blue-haired woman purr was a new height of weird...
- "Did I just hear Rei Ayanami purr? - Misato asked, in disbelief.
- "The Neanderthal and I together, the Wimpy, a Duke, and Wondergirl purring. Its official, I'm hallucinating. - Asuka said - "What the hell did you spike my food with, Misato?"
- "And don't forget, Maya and Shinji's school friend..."- Shigeru said, much to the embarrassment of the young tech.
- "Oh, yes... The Otaku and the Bridge Bunny..." - Asuka said - "I never took Ibuki for a cradle-robber."
- "Asuka!" - Maya exclaimed, mortified.
- "Well, to be honest, I always thought that she had the hots for you, Rits-chan" - Misato said, teasingly
- "C-Captain!" - Maya's face grew redder.
- "Well, to be honest I thought that also... it was kind of flattering..." - Ritsuko said, as a matter-of-fact.
- "SEMPAI!" - The Bridge Bunny exclaimed, utterly embarrassed.
The older Ibuki smiled, unfazed by the comments, and leaning close to Akagi (much to the Doc's surprise), she let her finger run along the blondie's jaw line, and said in a sexy voice:
- "And I do, Ritz-chan, I absolutely love how sexy and smart you are..." - Ibuki said, causing a frisson of surprise (and arousal) to shoot through Akagi's body.
She noticed as the channel brunette looked away to her husband and said:
- "Its a very good thing that Ken-sama also thinks that Intelligence is sexy, and doesn't mind sharing..." - The Scientist said.
- "I didn't just hear that." - Misato said... - "Ken-sama? Maya, in a threesome? Damn, I'm blushing now.."
- "C-Captain!" - Maya exclaimed, just wishing that the floor opened up and swallowed her...
- "Babe, stop aggravating your other self bashfulness." - The Vice-Commander said - "Now get your kinky mind back on business and your sexy behind back on tho your station and fire up the emitters, will ya?"
- "They're here already?" - Sohryu-Suzuhara asked.
- "They're already in the building." - Aida replied, turning off the holographic projection from his gauntlet.
Ibuki rose up again, and her lecherous eyes still focused on Aida, and she walked to the link controls, making a point of passing right in front of the older Geek, her hips swaying slightly. The Vice Commander allowed himself a quick glance, with a brazen smirk. While the shameless demeanor of the Visitors was very uncharacteristic, the apparent arrogant and bored demeanor that the Grand Duke was showing was by far the most bizarre of all. Everybody knew Shinji Ikari for being a gentle and selfless young man, but the older Shinji was as cold blooded as the Commander, and the looks he gave them were disturbing, as if they were completely naked and vulnerable, and no dirty little secret could be kept buried under is scrutiny. Grand Duke Ikari looked at them as if he was looking through them, straight at their very souls.
A collective relief was felt as the older Shinji rose from his chair, and walked towards the bar, and away from them. Moments before the doors opened unceremoniously, as the 17th Angel, Kaworu Nagisa and Doctor Hikari Hokariarrived, escorting the young Kensuke Aida and Hikari Hokari, and also, an slightly surprised Kaji Ryoji.
- "Greeting and salutations, my dears" - Tabris said, with high spirits. - "We brought back two more, and look at who we found on the way back here..."
- "Kaji!" - Director Suzuhara shouted with enthusiasm, much to everyone's surprise (as they where expecting the Second's older self to do that)
- "Hey, Kaji is here!" - Aida exclaimed
The reactions from Ibuki, Sohryu and even the Duchess mirrored the enthusiasm from their two teammates . Kaji, knowing how to adapt quickly, just opened a smile, and let himself be welcomed, receiving pats in the back from the men, hugs from the ladies, and a surprising kiss on the cheek from the older Rei. And most importantly, he ignored the death glares from the Commander and Vice-Commander.
- "Allow me to introduce, Doctor Hikari Hokari, our chief medical doctor, and the former fifth child, Kaworu Nagisa." - Suzuhara said.
- "Now, now, let's not underscore Nagisa's curriculum... He is also the Seventeenth angel, Tabris." - Aida said, with a smug grin.
At once, the NERV staff and pilots got up, most of them with fearful glances at the red-eyed man, that didn't seen bothered by the hostile attention he was getting.
- "Damn it, Ken!" - Hokari said - "You know that we don't give away this piece of information until later!"
- "Relax, Hi-chan, your boy-toy is safe." - The Vice-Commander said, dismissively - "We took control of the Geofront, EVAs, MAGI and Ayanami here is the second, not the third clone, so, her AT Field is not that strong to pose not even a threat to him."
The Duchess glanced with a dark expression at the Commander, and the Duke, back in the bar, noticing that, said:
- "Is there any reason in particular for you being running amok spilling sensitive information, Commander Aida?" - Duke Ikari asked, in a dangerous tone.
- "Yes, there is, Sire." - Aida replied, as he finished working on the last of the hovering emitters and put his tools back into his pocket - "We are online with our base."
- "Finally!" - Sohryu said, seating back in her recliner. - "It took an eternity to get this thing ready"
- "And yet, took me and Maya two hours less to set it up than it took you, Kirishima, Makinami, Kwon and Janeaux." - Aida said - "So much for that PhD right, Red?"
Sohryu gave a dark glance to the Geek and said:
- "My intelligence is brilliant by human parameters, not by the cosmic freaky standards that evaluates your intelligence." - The Red-haired Captain retorted - "I'm gorgeous and brilliant, and you're just plain looking and weird."
All the emitters began flashing, and a holographic projection came to life around the group, and they found themselves in a much lighter and less intimidating version of the Commander's office. Several individuals, some in NERV uniforms, some in plugsuits, were seated in chairs positioned at the sides of the commander's table, that was as big as the one they knew. Seated in the central focus, the officers saw an slightly older version of their Operations Director. Misato Ryoji Katsuragi, Supreme Commander of NERV, looked straight at her Number Two and her Operation's Director, and in her own variation of the Gendo Pose, reclined in the spacious chair, she said:
- == I see that the two of you are back at the bickering. - Katsuragi said,sarcastically – I will assume that the Geofront takeover went as planned. ==
- "Yes, it did,Ma'am. We are in possession of four EVA units, a full Reiquarium and the Fourth Child is safe and sound." - Aida answered
Misato looked from the couch, surprised to see herself seating in the old bastard place, and she grinned, until the full weight of her alternative self glance fell under her. The Captain actually recoiled, moving in deeper in the couch...
- == I know you all have questions, but do yourselves a favor, and keep them to yourselves until the briefing is done. - Katsuragi said – And that goes double to you, Captain Katsuragi. ==
- "Aye Aye, Sir!" - Misato actually felt so intimidated that she instinctively rose up, saluting her older self, and seating back in a hurry.
Katsuragi tried not to laugh at her younger self, and Aida, noticing the absence of some officers, asked:
- "Team Bravo didn't get back from their incursion yet?" - The Vice Commander asked.
Rising from his seat, Director Makoto Hyuga of the Transdimensional Bureau (or Section 5, as they're commonly known) reported:
- == Captain Kirishima's team encountered attenuating circumstances, sir. === - Hyuga said.
- "What kind of attenuating circumstances are you referring to, director?" - Aida asked, suspicious..
- == Err... I would think that is better for you to talk directly to her, Sir. == - Hyuga replied, nervous.
From her seat, Commander Katsuragi concealed a smirk behind her clasped hands, and said:
- == That's your mess, Vice-Commander. - She said – You did it, you clean it up. ==
Aida glanced to the side, where Ibuki was, and said:
- "Patch me trough... let's see what the heck Mana did it this time." - Aida said, already feeling the headache coming.
Behind him, next to Kaji, Dr. Hokari and Naguisa, Kensuke looked at his older self, almost giddy, the broad smile stamped permanently in his face:
- "Dude, I'm the Vice-Commander of NERV?" - The Military Otaku said, and looking at Ibuki, he added - "And I'm scoring with a sweet mama like that?"
On the couch, Maya couldn't curl up in a smaller ball, just dying of embarrassment, painfully and slowly...
- "Hold your horses, kid." - Suzuhara warned Kensuke - "You don't want to get on your own skin when you're all business..."
- "Touji?" - Kensuke replied, looking at the larger-than-life man, that was petting a red-haired woman that could be only one person - "... and.. Asuka?"
Sohryu actually smiled ate the funny surprised face the geek made, and brought a finger to her lips, gesturing for him to be silent, as a large holographic widescreen came to life, and a woman with ocean-green eyes and hazel hair, wearing the same type of combat suit as the visitors appeared. Behind her, fire, smoke and widespread destruction as far as the eye could see...
- "What the fuck...?" - Misato exclaimed, raising from her seat.
As the Operations Director did, also the others rose up, surprised by the post-apocalyptic landscape they were seeing. Mana Kirishima, Captain of NERV's Transdimensional Bravo Team was stoic, in her military posture, as she saluted her superior, and said:
- == Bravo Team reporting from Earth-2341. == She shouted.
- "At easy, Captain... Hyuga said that your team ran into attenuating circumstances. What was he referring t..." - Aida started, and as something caught his eye, he inclined his head, and asked - "Is that the Eiffel Tower?"
Mana gulped, and smiled sheepishly, as the Vice Commander brought up his holographic console, moving the camera around the Captain, showing a full view of the burning inferno that was once Paris. The tower in question, didn't last long, as an red-and-black Evangelion, identified in the HUD readers as EVA-06 and its pilot being C. Vega, ripped it of its foundations, to use it as a bat to hit what could be described only as a giant-sized scorpion with a aligator's head on it. The big scorpion was hit seconds before a "Foooore!" was heard through the comm.
The monster flew against his will, and became an easy target to another Evangelion, this one blue-and-silver, identified as EVA-10, and its pilot, , raised his hand, and out of thin air, a huge and threatening looking cannon appeared in a flash. The HUD briefly identified the weapon as an Pulse Cannon, and became clear, when the EVA fired, that the creature never stood a chance... a rapid firing sequence turned the monster into a bloody pulp, and leveling the entire vicinity in the process..
Having seen enough, aid moved the camera back to Mana, that was sweating bullets by now,but trying to be cool... Suzuhara, Sohryu and Ibuki knew enough to know that the Vice-Commander was pissed, and that was not good... at all.
- "Kirishima, I'm going ask you just once..." - Aida said, in a even, and slightly psychotic voice, that made it much more disturbing by the predatory smile he had in his face - "what the heck happened?"
Mana glanced at something that was off-camera, and she nodded that direction, saying:
-== She happened... == - The Captain replied.
Suddenly, the camera was moved, and collective gasps where heard as a huge pair of red eyes and a cracked smile came to view...
-== Heeee~ey... What'cha doin'? == - Nana Ayanami said.
- "AAAAHHHhhh!" - Aida screamed, stepping back in panic as he saw one of the Ree, the clones of Rei Ayanami from Earth-9457.
- "Ken!" - Ibuki came to him immediately, before he fell over the couch.
The Vice-Commander hadn't recovered yet from the shock, and Suzuhara and Sohryu literally jumped over the pilot's couch to assist their friends. The Duchess rose from her chair, marching into view with a stern face:
- "Nana, why did you scared Aida-kun like that?" - The Duchess asked. - "And for that matter, what are you doing on this Earth?"
-== Hey, Your Worshipfulness! - Nana greeted – I got lost in the transdimensional leap and ended up here. ==
- "Your parents must be worried about you." - The Duchess said, with motherly patience - "Have you contacted them yet?"
-== I was going to, as soon as Mana-chan frees up the link. ==- The Ree said
- "Good, now, be a good girl and don't give any trouble to Mana-chan, ok?" - The Duchess said
-== ..Kay!==- Nana replied
The camera moved again, facing Kirishima, that looked flustered, understandably so:
-== Sorry for that, Your Highness. == Kirishima said.
- "Think nothing of it." - Rei Ikari said - "Now, was the mission compromised?"
-== Negative, your Highness. We stopped SEELI and the Adversary, but they had already started Angelforming. - Mana said – But the damage was restricted to the city. ==
The Duchess noticed that Aida was recovered, and made a gesture for him to take the reins again. NERV's Vice Commander straightened his tunic, and looking at the screen, he said:
- "Do you already know the total estimated collateral damage?" - Aida asked
-== Paris is gone, I would say about 3.5 million casualties here, as they struck here first, and about 50.000 other casualties in Moscow and Buenos Aires. - The Captain said – They activated this one here first, because Mana leaped here before us It is not really her fault.. ===
- "Put that on your report." - Aida replied - "Have the site secured for the emergency teams to arrive. Aida out."
With a wave of hand, he turned the screen off, bringing back the projection of the Commander's chambers. Hyuga was standing up, and Aida said:
- "Director Hyuga, get in contact with Earth-9457 and let them know that Bravo Team has Nana Ayanami and that she is safe and sound." - The Vice-Commander ordered.
-==Aye aye, Sir! ==- Hyuga replied
The Section 5 director left the room, and Kasturagi, clearly amused, rose from her chair:
-== Now, how about you give me your report, Kensuke? ==- The Commander asked.
- "Ok... we encountered light resistance, as expected, and the Thirteenth Angel as the standard type, no variations. I took over the global MAGI system and the IDA (Inter Dimensional Alliance) teams must be taking over all of NERV's branches as we speak." - Aida explained - "There is no signs of the Adversary presence here yet, and SEELI only threat are the Mass Production Evas, but I plan an assault to their assembly lines as soon as we refit the EVA units that we seized."
- "Why not simply use our EVAs and blow the place up?" - Sohryu asked
- "Because we have a roster of pilots that are not too deep into their psychosis and a staff that has not been emotionally compromised." - Aida answered, and turning to his boss, he said - "In fact, I recommend that we use this Earth as an stronghold in this sector of the Quantum"
-== Let's take care of SEELI first, then we see about that. - Katsuragi said, and looking at her side, she said – Doctor, do you have your report ready? ==
Gendo Ikari and Kozou Fuyutsuki Immediately rose from their chair, as they saw a woman, with brown hair, blue eyes and a unmistakeable face, come into light. Doctor Yui Ikari, Head Scientist of the Earth Restoration Council walked to the center of the room, accompanied by her husband, former NERV's Supreme Commander and now Chairman of the ERC, Gendo Ikari. They both looked older than before, but the former Commander looked a lot less dark and authoritarian, and strangely enough, Yui carried in her arms what was in fact a newborn, wrapped in a purple mantle... Shinji, seeing your mother, also rose, hesitantly, and ans shocked as the two commanders
- "Yui..." - Gendo said, in shock, as he approached the projection of his dead wife.
-== Greetings, Gendo, Professor. - Yui said, acknowledging both men – I see that you both are glad to see me. And I know that you are happy to see me, right, Shinji?==
-== Fuyutsuki, Rokonbugi. - Ikari also greeted both men, with cold politeness – Now,you both sit back where you were. We have work to do and the pleasantries can wait. Shinji, you too. You will have plenty of opportunity to talk to your mother later.==
Sohryu approached the Ikaris and looked at the newborn, with a broad smile on her face:
- "Oh, she's looks so adorable..." - The Captain said, and making a silly face, she said in a childish voice - "Who's the most precious princess in the world? who is it? Who is it?"
Behind her, The Duchess approached, with a gentle smile, and looking at the little miracle in her mother-in-law's arms, she asked:
- "I hope she wasn't much trouble to you, Doctor" - She said.
-== Non sense, my dear. - Yui replied – My granddaughter is never trouble for us, isn't that right, Gen? ==
-== Don't you worry Rei – Ikari said – Actually, it is the two grandmas that give them trouble. They will spoil them rotten this way...==
Coming from behind them , Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, former head of Project E and current head of Human Advancement Project walked from her seat, cradling another baby in her arms. She looked at her former lover, and said:
-== As if you, Mr. Ikari, had any moral grounds to talk. - Akagi said – Its a wonder that you let poor Yui carry one of the twins for more than five minutes, that's not to say when you get both of them and we need to threaten you physically to have some time with our grandchildren.==
Akagi ignored the dirty look from Gendo, and walked next to Yui, gaining the immediate attention from the Duchess. She moved around Sohryu and looked at the baby boy in the blonde's arm:
- "How is he doing, mother?" - The Duchess asked
-== The fever subsided, just as I told you it would. - Akagi said,in a gentle tone – Your babies are special, but are babies, nonetheless, and they all get an infection in the first months, specially considering how stressful your pregnancy was. ==
- "One of the many reasons for me to kill that sonovabitch Kyra..." - Sohryu said, in a dangerous tone - "No one messes with my godchildren..."
From the back of the room, The Duke finally emerged, with a cup of cappuccino in his hands. He looked at his father, that excused himself from the others, and approached his son, right in between Shinji and Gendo...
-== How was everything, son? - Ikari Senior asked ==
- "As expected." - Ikari said – "Your report?"
-== As we calculated, the Terraforming was a success. - Ikari Senior said – The seismic activity already ceased in Africa and Europe, and the sea levels are going down all over the planet ===
- "And your prognostic is..?" - Ikari asked
-== Anywhere between 10 to 30 years to restore Earth to its geography pre-impact. But I can't say how long after that to have the wetlands usable...== - Ikari Senior replied.
- "We worry about that when it comes to that." - Ikari said.
-== Have you checked the EVAs you seized yet?- Ikari Senior asked – Are the Cores intact?==
- "Yes the cores are intact." - Ikari replied - "Naoko, Kyoko and Yui are fully there. We will begin extraction as soon as we receive the equipments."
-== I will take care of that. - Ikari Senior said. - Our time is almost up. Why don't you go say hello to the twins?==
- "I will..." - Ikari said, and looking at his father, he added - "I'm afraid that I wont be able to be at our ride this weekend."
-== That's ok, Shinji. - Ikari Senior said, with a minimum smile – There will be other rides. Just get back home safe ==
The Duke nodded briefly and passed through his father's projection, approaching his consort and their children. Gendo Ikari observed as he approached Yui and the others, and gave away a brief smile. He could see that the Duke was still being cold with his mother, but he was confident that, with time and a little help from the Duchess, we could heal the rift between mother and son. God knows that if he could amend things with his son after everything he did, he sure could bring his family together.. Knowing that his younger self and the Third Child were close by, he commented:
- == Shinji's is not on the best terms with his mother right now. - Ikari Senior said – But I'm confident that he will warm up to her in time.==
- "I've noticed." - Gendo said. - "But you too seem to be getting along pretty well"
-== Indeed, but it was needed Armageddon to knock at our door for us to unite. - Ikari Senior said – Word of advice,though, don't wait that long. In fact, don't wait at all. The hosts extraction from the Units should occur soon, and you two should be prepared to give support to Yui.==
- "And the scenario?" - Gendo asked
-== Forget the scenario. - Ikari Senior answered – I would be more worried in getting my boxing guard back. Yui is bound to be displeased, and she still has that mean right hook. ==
Gendo looked at his older self, and bringing both hands to his face, he took off the tinted glasses, folding it and placing it in his tunic pockets. Without the glasses, it was possible to see the striking resemblance between father and son.. scratching his beard, the Commander said:
- "That bad, hum..?" - Gendo asked.
-== Be gratefull. - Ikari replied – At least, she wont be pissed enough to shoot you... At least, I hope she wont.==-
Fuyutsuki, that was behind his former student, padded his back, and said, slightly amused:
- "Don't worry". - Kozou said – "I'll bring you flowers in the infirmary"
The Vice-commander ignored the dirty look from his Gendo, as the electronic voice said:
-== Dimensional Link off-line in 10, 9, 8... ==-
Ikari Senior nodded to his younger self, and gave a surprising smile to Shinji. Ristuko was still in shock looking at her older self, and the Duchess, that had called her "mother". Rei Ayanami was also staring at the fading Akagi and Yui Ikari, and most specifically, to the babies they were carrying... in all of her existence, she never considered the possibility of another purpose other than fulfilling Instrumentality, and she was always told (and she concluded the same after looking at her own scans) that she could never conceive a child. But that woman, that older Ayanami... no, not Ayanami, Rei Ikari, she was a mother, and she looked so... human, so happy...
Kaji came behind Misato, that was still looking at the point where Commander Kasturagi, and he spoke next to her ear:
- "I must say, Misato, that you matured very well..." - The Spy said, smugly.
- "And you couldn't keep noticing, right?" - Misato asked.
- "What can I say, Katsuragi? I have eyes only for you... all versions of you." - Kaji replied.
He ignored the dirty look from the Operations Director, and walked away, whistling...
And back at the Commander and the Third Child... after the Vice-Commander walked away, with a grin in his face, Gendo turned to his son, and suddenly feeling the turtle neck too tight , he absently passed a finger around loosing the fabric, as he glanced at Shinji, with an expression that for some reason reminded the teen of himself when he was around a angry Asuka. Shinji's eyes widened in realization that his father was nervous...
- Say, Shinji... have I ever mentioned that your mother was a Regional Jiu-Jitsu Champion two years in a row back in college? - Gendo asked.
END OF CHAPTER 2