Dearest Mother chapter 04: Frightening Image
BW: Sorry for not updating sooner. Now for the main plot. This one might be tricky. Last chapter was probably the longest chapter I ever wrote for a story. I'm honestly impressed by myself. But, anyway, I hope can make this long too.
(I don't own anything related the Neon Genesis Evangelion)
The pilots are having another synchronization test with their Evangelion.
Ritsuko is quick to monitor the three children, especially Rei, because last time, her synch ratio was down to a minimal amount. Fortunately this time, it looks like it's back to its normal spot. That's good, because if Rei can't work her Eva, not only would she be completely useless, Unit 00 would go berserk more than just twice. Plus the commanders will be happy.
For Rei, this is also a relief. With the matter of Yui plaguing her mind, and her quest for the answers are slowly being situated. Still, she doesn't know how to find those answers. Thankfully, Shinji promised he would help her.
Meanwhile, Asuka now faces the same problem with Unit 02's synchronization. Before, she had no problem connecting to Unit 02. Something must be distracting her. Surely not any ghost trying to make contact with her. That phenomenon is reversed for Yui Ikari only. Shinji, however, seems to be doing quite well, and has apparently beaten Asuka at synch ratio.
Thinking this might boost his confidence a little, Misato decides speak with Shinji about it. "Hey, Shinji, can you hear me?"
"Hi, Misato." Shinji smiled excitedly, "How are my test scores?"
"Not bad Shinji. You're number one!" Misato cheered with a thumbs up. She apparently right on the money. The happy expression on his face clearly shows that his confidence has indeed boosted.
"What?! He beat me?!" Asuka yelled, clearly shocked and unable to believe it. Rei on the other hand silently smiled for Shinji's success in testing. It's thanks to his connection to his mother, who's soul is in Unit 01. That's good for him.
The only ones who notices Rei's smile on screen were Maya and Ritsuko.
It didn't last long on account of having to listen to Asuka ranting in the girl's locker room.
"Shinji's so great! He's so wonderful He's so AWESOME! It really pisses me off!" she said snidely. She had already been dressed in her uniform.
Rei was in the middle of dressing herself as well. Normally, Rei would just ignore Asuka when she starts acting obnoxious and rants, but this time, she feels the need to comment on her behavior, "I don't understand why you're so frustrated. If he can operate his Eva, then there should be no issue."
"Okay, you're right. Since he can work so well with his Eva now, that's good for us. It makes our job easier." Asuka begrudgingly admitted. "But, it also means we'll have to do double time just so we won't get left behind!"
"I'm not competing." said Rei bluntly.
"Why not?!" snapped Asuka, whipping her head towards her co-pilot, "You're synch ratio is back to its usual spot now. Don't you want to go to the top too?"
"No. I'm only interested in completing our job, and to do that I must be able to perform my duty. And, instead of competing, we should be lending our support to Ikari-kun." Rei argued calmly.
"Support?" Asuka glared, "Just because he so happened to get a better test score then us? Then ME?!" she scoffed.
Rei expected an answer like that, well aware of her competitive nature. "Not because of mere test scores. Because, we're co-pilots and friends." Rei said.
"What? Friends?" Asuka scoffed again, "Let me make this clear, we may be working together to take down the Angels and save the world, but here's the truth. We're rivals, not friends! Why do you think we have those tests to begin with? They want to see which pilot can perform better than anyone else! That's why I'm aiming for the top!"
"That's your point of view. Not mine." said Rei, walking towards, and out the door, "I'm leaving."
"Dammit!" Asuka cursed, slamming her harden fist into the her locker door.
What's the deal with those two, anyway? Why are they so quick to defend each other? Oh that's right, they think they're friends trying to help each other find nonexistent answers to life. "Like I said, no doll could ever find those answers for something so pointless."
Meanwhile, as Rei is leaving the locker room, Maya just so happened to be listening in on the younger girls conversation.
Truth be told, and by mere coincidence, Maya was walking down the hallway where the girl's locker room is located, when she heard Asuka and Rei arguing. She knew they didn't get along very well, but to think they'd argue about friends and rivals like that. Not only that, but she never thought Rei would respond in kind to Asuka's boast. It's certainly a surprise. As long as she's known Rei, she never talked to anyone much. She's starting to change now. How much of that has to do with Shinji?
(-City Streets-)
Meanwhile, Rei is now walking home. During her walk, she thought about her argument with the Second Child. Asuka's arrogant and competitive nature is perplexing enough, but the fact that she thinks of Shinji as her rival instead of an ally is anything but encouraging. That adds another to the "reasons why she and I don't get along" list. Why did she even try to argue her point of view to Asuka knowing she won't agree? Perhaps it was mostly concerning Shinji? Yes, the entirety of the conversation was about Shinji. That fact is undeniable.
As for Shinji, Rei can never see him as her rival, because he is her friend, and co-pilot working to fight off the Angels and protect the rest of mankind. Well, that how it looks on the surface. Her true mission is two see to it that Gendo's goal comes to light, and if she were to die, she can be replaced. But, now she's unsure what her mission is, or if she really wants to live or not.
"Doctor... what should I do?"
(-The Next Day-)
A new Angel has suddenly appeared above the city. Though the commanders weren't present, Misato took command, and the pilots where immediately dispatched to deal with the Twelfth Angel, Leliel.
The pilots spot the Angel, a floating black and black sphere hovering above the city. Keeping a good distance away, the pilot stand by and await further orders.
"Can you hear me?" Misato asked the pilots, "I've sent you all of the known data on the target. That's all we know of it so far. Approach it with caution, and watch out for any reactions. And if possible, try to lure out of the city. Watch each other's backs. Is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" Asuka said enthusiastically, "But, don't you think Shinji should take point position for this operation?"
"Huh?" Shinji gasped in surprise.
Rei scowled at Unit 02. "What is she thinking?" she whispered to herself. This is not the time for personal grudges to mix with the mission.
"It's only right that the guy with the highest synch ratio should lead the operation, right? Or are you just not up to it, Shinji?" Asuka goads Shinji in the most obnoxious way possible.
"I-I'll do it! I'll show you how it's done Asuka!" Shinji retorted, feeling a spark of confidence awaken.
"What was that?!"
"That's enough you two. You have a mission, so stick with it."
"Misato-san, didn't you say I'm number one."
"Y-Yeah, but..."
"Then just leave it all to me. Fighting is a man's job, after all." Shinji said, with a thumbs up and confident smirk befitting a grown man. He signs off.
"Oh, that little pig! I oughta..." Asuka growled, "Unit 02 will back him up." she begrudgingly said, signing off from the screen.
"Unit 00 will back up as well." Rei affirmed as well. To be honest, Rei did not like where this was going. Sure, it's nice to see Shinji having confidence in himself, but there's such a thing as overconfidence, and it often lead to one's downfall. She hoped such a fate wouldn't befall Shinji.
Rei sighed to herself. Now is not the time for this. They have a mission. Find a way to destroy the Angel and save the city. It's time for decisive action.
Moving shifty, Unit 01 approaches Leliel still floating in the sky. He positions himself behind a building, out of the Angel's line of sight, wherever it could be.
"Ayanami, Asuka, are you in position yet?" Shinji asked his co-pilots.
"Not yet." answered Rei. She took rare position, to fire at a distance with a sniper rifle.
"You do realize an Eva can't move that fast, right?" Asuka asked, annoyed. It grew when Unit 02's umbilical cable was snagged on a corner of a building. She quickly detached it, and replaced it with a new one.
Meanwhile, Rei is still moving to her position. "Ikari-kun, don't do anything rash..." she whispered to herself. She kept hoping her growing concern was unfounded. Ever since Shinji decided to take lead point, she's had this foreboding sense of dread and it wouldn't leave her alone. She had no idea why she's feeling this dread. All she can do now is hope for the best.
Shinji, still in position with Unit 01, communicates again with his co-pilots, hoping there were in they're position. With no response and continuous grips of his hand, Shinji clinches his fist, deciding to stop it himself. Without warning, Shinji opens fire at the Angel with Unit 01's pistol. However, the bullets fly right through the sphere, making it disappear.
"If vanished?!"
"Status!"
"Pattern Blue! Angel confirmed! It's directly under Unit 01!"
As confirmed, the Angel's true form is that of a shadow, directly underneath Unit 01's feet.
"W-What?! A Shadow!" Shinji panicked, shooting the shadow, only for the bullets to sink in, along with him and Unit 01. "What is this?! This can't be happening!" Shinji shouted. He looked up, and saw the sphere again floating right above him. Misato's voice told him to run for it, but he couldn't, as he ended being too paralyzed with fear to even move.
"Ikari-kun!" Rei called out. The dread in her mind came to reality. His overconfidence led to his downfall, literally. She could do nothing to help him, as she was too far away.
"What the hell are you doing, idiot?!" Asuka yelled.
Frantically calling out for help, Shinji sinks faster into the shadow. The staff at HQ couldn't eject Shinji's entry plug, due to being to far into the Angel's shadow. His screaming voice eventually vanished, along with Unit 01.
"Rei, Asuka! Rescue Unit 01 now!" Misato ordered to the two. Asuka already sprang into action by running over to Unit 01's position.
"What's the point of acing the synch tests when you wined eating by a god damn shadow?!" Asuka cursed.
Meanwhile, Rei shot a few sniper rounds at the sphere. It disappeared once again. This time, the Angel's shadow appeared directly under Unit 02. Luckily, Asuka was able to escape before the shadow could take Unit 02 using her ax and prong knife and climbing up on a building. To her horror, however, she saw the entire city being swallowed by the Angel's expending shadow.
"Asuka, Rei! Pull back immediately." ordered Misato.
"Wait! Unit 01 and Ikari-kun are still in there!" said Rei. She didn't want to abandon Shinji or Unit 01, which is essentially Yui Ikari. Shinji is her friend and he promised he'd help her find her answers, and there's still much she wants to learn from Yui. On top of that, there's no telling what the Angel with do to them while they're trapped in its shadow.
"That is an order. Retreat, immediately." Misato growled. Her voice shaking, and her body trembling, it was clear to anyone, and everyone, that Misato did not want to leave Shinji behind either. But there's wasn't a choice in the matter. They can't afford to lose either Unit 00 or Unit 02.
Understanding this, Rei and Asuka retreat for now.
Asuka had remained quiet for a while. She saw the concern in Rei's eyes, and to her surprised, seemed genuinely worried.
(-Evening: Base set up near the Angel-)
After Shinji and Unit 01 were swallowed by the Angel, NERV operatives under Misato's command set a base around the Angel, which hasn't moved. The shadow stopped moving after reaching diameters. Ground troops were deployed while Eva Unit 00 and Unit 02 remained closed by to the base.
Using the helicopter to scout the Angel's position, Misato and Hyuga search for any sign of Unit 01, with no luck.
They were successful in riling in the umbilical cable from the shadow, but no Evangelion was attached to it. While the Eva still has power, even without the cable, but it's limited. It will run out soon, and when it does, Shinji will probably die due to lack of oxygen, that is if he doesn't waste any power trying to get out of the darkness. Ritsuko estimates that Shinji to can stay alive for 16 hours at most.
Rei leaned against a wall, thinking about what happened today. That dread she felt. She never felt such a feeling before. She felt it because she felt Shinji might put himself in danger, and it has come to pass. She couldn't help him, not from where she was at the time. She couldn't help feeling responsible for Shinji's predicament. Should she have convinced Shinji to wait before opening fire on the Angel, or maybe take the lead position herself, so he wouldn't have wound up trapped in the shadow's darkness? It's too late now. She failed to foresee this event. Now she has hope he'll turn up okay, otherwise, she'll lose her first real friend.
"Well, sucks to be him! Taking matters into his own hands, and disobeying direct orders. He got what was coming to him." Asuka bragged, "Just because he got a little better of a score then mine, he thought he could teach me a lesson or two? What an idiot!"
Rei narrowed her eyes towards Asuka, who is being true to her obnoxious character. One would wonder how she can speak so callously of her comrades. Rei wasn't aware of the answer to such a question, but she knew one thing. Asuka is also partially responsible for this as well. A swell of annoyance, and possible anger grew within the First Child. She approached and shot a sharp glare at the Second Child, making it clear that she disapproves of Asuka's comments.
"What? Are my comments about Shinji rubbing you the wrong way?!" Asuka asked, dropping her cheery demeanor, glaring as well.
"I wonder, do you pilot the Eva just for the praise of others?" Rei asked, not letting up her glare.
"What the hell are you saying? I don't need anyone's praise, but my own!"
"And that's why you see us as rivals?" Rei questioned.
"You're bringing "that" up too?!" Asuka spat.
"This wouldn't have happened if you're self appointed rivalry and ego hadn't been dragged into our mission." Rei stated.
"Oh, that's real mature, Wonder Girl! Pin the blame on me, why don't you!" Asuka snarled.
"That's enough you two!" Misato's voice called to Rei and Asuka. The two girls turn to the Major, seeing her face the direction of the Angel. "Asuka's right. He acted on his own and disobeyed direct orders. So when he comes back, I'll have to punish him."
"See? Misato knows the score. Nice of you take my side of things, for once." Asuka smirked, going right back to her callous gloating stage.
"I'm not taking anyone's side, Asuka. I'm stating a fact." Misato scolded, "Now stop gloating, and remain in stand by until further notice." she ordered.
"Tch. This'll be a boring wait." Asuka said, turning and trotting off. She hadn't caught Rei glaring at her again.
"That includes you too Rei." Misato said to Rei as she approached the First, and placed gentle hands on her shoulders, "I know you're worried about Shinji-kun, but you of people know that staying calm and keeping a clear head will help us find a way to save him."
Rei looked at Misato's face. The expression in her eyes sent a message. She could instantly tell that the Major, even if she's trying to hide it, feels responsible as well, for failing to predict this Angel's abilities and act accordingly, not to mention being unable get Shinji out of danger. There's no helping it however, as every Angel is in fact unpredictable in regards to its abilities. Understanding this, Rei quietly nods, and walks away from Misato.
The only thing on her mind at this point is Shinji. "Ikari-kun..."
Meanwhile, Asuka narrowed her eyes on Rei. Behind the surface, Asuka is worried about Shinji too, but her pride won't let her show it. Wonder Girl doesn't seem to have a problem with showing her how worried she is about him. "She has some nerve, for a doll..."
(-Inside the Angel: Pocket Dimension-)
"Stop it! Just stop it!" yelled Shinji. Having been captured by Leliel and stuck in the Angel's body, which is an entirely different, though pocketed dimension altogether, Shinji sits in Unit 01's entry plug while the Angel probes his mind. Needless to say, it's not a pleasant experience for the Third Child. But, even if his Eva is running low on power, smells blood all around him, and is scared out of his mind, he can't let the Angel continue to get into his head and confuse him with his memories.
"Stop what? Why are you telling you to stop? Why are you afraid of me, yourself?" asked the Angel, using Shinji's voice to confuse him.
"You're not me!" Shinji retorted, "Don't act like you are?" Shinji has tried to stay wrong, but Leliel's curiosity isn't easily ignored. Unlike most of its brethren, Leliel is curious about desires and wishes, which the Lilim are usually about. Why do they want? Why do they desire? Why do they wish? It seeks knowledge, and before it can merge with the Father and return the world to nothing, it must have knowledge, only to sate its curiosity. Contacting this Lilim may be the key to gaining that knowledge.
But the Lilim, inside the Father's Shadow, is quite determined to keep Leliel out of his mind. This resilience is quite a surprise. But, it wants to see what happens if this Lilim gets what he desires. Perhaps a new a approach is needed. Somewhere in the deepest part of this Lilim's unstable mind is a certain desire that hasn't been touched upon for a while. Exploiting that might get Leliel an interesting result.
"But, if I'm not you, then why do I know what it is you want?" asked Leliel, its voice beginning to distort.
"Huh?" Shinji gasped.
"I know you want your father's approval, despite the mixed feelings of hating him and loving him. You want life free from torment, a life of peace, which can't be kept. But, above all other things, you want this..." said Leliel, the distorted voice fading out, and then shifting to Rei's quiet voice.
Shinji soon finds himself on top of Rei like the first time he visited he apartment. The only difference is that she has her arms wrapped around his neck, while smiling pleasantly.
This is all Leliel using the basis of Shinji's memories in his mind and creating an image of him and Rei. The thing it believes Shinji desires, kept hidden in the deepest part of his mind, is Rei. Leliel thinks using her image might help it to understand what "desire" means?
"A-Ayanami...?" Shinji mumbled in shock.
"This is what you truly desire, isn't it?" asked the Rei apparition in the forged memory, though clearly Leliel impersonating her, "You want this girl, don't you? She's right here because you desired her out of everyone you called for."
"I wanted Ayanami...?"
"Yes, but she's loyal to father, who favors her over you." the apparition Rei moves her hands down to cup Shinji's cheeks, "But, this is strange. Shouldn't you hate this girl for taking your father away? Why do you want her, despite that?"
"I... I..." Shinji stammered. He knows full well that this is the Angel trying to manipulate his memories, and trying to confuse him for its own twisted curiosity. But, this feels so real. The feeling of Rei's hands on his cheeks feel the same as any other humans. The awkwardness he felt at that time was there too, but her eyes. They're different.
"Maybe, because..." said Leliel, distort again with Rei's voice.
The image shifts to the aftermath of the battle with the Fifth Angel, Ramiel. Shinji find himself stand over the open hatch of Unit 00's entry plug, while the image of Rei in her plug suit sits in the cockpit.
"You want her because she's your father's, and you want to take her away from him?" asked the apparition of Rei, with the same exact smile as the one from that night.
Shinji remembered it plain as day. After he asked her to smile, she did in fact smile, and it was beautiful. Her already exotic appearance added to the affect of that smile, which was a true smile of being happy to be alive. He may not of known Rei that long, but at that moment, Shinji truly felt as if he knew her. But, once again, her eyes. They were different. That smile too. It feels off. Why does it feel so off? Everything felt off. It's all just... off...
"Or maybe because you feel empty because of it." the apparition leans closer to Shinji's face, "So, you want this girl to make the empty feeling go away. Is that it? To fill the empty void?"
"T-That's..." Shinji found it hard to properly answer. The memory disappears again, now leaving a white void, and he's back in his uniform. He felt arms wrap around his waists from behind.
"I understand. Your reasons for desire for this girl may vary..." said the apparition of Rei, once again naked in form, "But, your desire for this girl is still there. I know, because all of this is you. The memories. The feelings. The desire. It's all you. I understand because I'm you, and the girl you desire is yours." she whispers into Shinji's ear.
This makes Shinji tremble. Every words this fake has said. It began to sink in. Does he really want Rei, just so he make his father suffer? Or is there some other twisted reason? He became afraid. Too afraid to answer. So afraid, he forces his away out of the illusion's grasp and pushed her away and making her fall to the ground. Backing away a few steps, Shinji feels as if he's having a heart attack. He's breathing becomes erratic, and he's sweating profoundly.
It's evident that he's still trying to resist. That doesn't mean Leliel will give up. It has to keep pushing, because the knowledge of desire of within grasp.
The apparition of Rei stood up, and approached Shinji slowly.
"D-Don't come any closer!" Shinji screamed, paralyzed in fear.
"Why are you pushing me away? Isn't this what you want? To have the girl you want here?" asked the apparition of Rei, calmly. Shinji didn't answer, being too afraid to even look the Rei in front of him in the eye. The illusion slowly walks towards Shinji, arms spread open as if she wants to hug him again, smiling all the way. "You don't need to be scared. You can do as you please with me. Wouldn't that make you happy?"
"I-I don't know! I don't know what's real or what's fake anymore!" Shinji cried, clutching his head.
"What does it matter? Real or not, I'm right here by your side, like you wanted me to be." said the apparition.
Shinji releases his head in shock of what the apparition just said.
"Don't you want me to offer myself to you completely, without question, just as I would with father?" the apparition of Rei's when she wraps her arms around Shinji once more, and pressing her body against the frighten boy. This time, she doesn't plan on letting him go.
"I'll do anything you ask. Just tell me, and I'll be your desired one..." the apparition said, with a seductive tone in her voice, with an equally seductive expression on her face. She leans up, closer to Shinji, closing the distance between their faces.
(-Outside: Somewhere close to the base-)
She could feel it. Shinji is in danger. Every moment he spends in the Dirac Sea his life comes closer to its end. Dr. Akagi dubbed the pocket space Shinji is in as a Dirac Sea, and there's no escape now that he's caught in it.
However, there's nothing the real Rei can do. That's her greatest angst. Shinji's life support is nearly about to run out, and he only has a mere few hours to live before he dies from the lack of oxygen. Dr. Akagi suggested that they send 992 M2 Mines into the Angel's shadow while Units 02 and 00 use their AT fields to block the blast radius and concentrate it on the shadow, in an effort to push Unit 01, while also destroying the Angel, but at the possible cost of Shinji's life. Misato was particularly against the idea, which causes Ritsuko to relieve Misato of command and takes charge herself, due to her emotional involvement.
Destroying the Angel is the right thing to do, and Unit 01 is very important, but she doesn't want to lose Shinji. Sacrificing her first real friend for the cause of protecting Humanity didn't sit well with her.
Rei is now experiencing a new feeling. An anxiety that is slowly swelling up inside her and making her chest hurt, and she can't understand why. Every time she so much as think of Shinji, her chest hurts more and more.
"Rei?" called a young female's voice. Rei turned and found Maya Ibuki standing there.
"Lieutenant Ibuki." Rei said, somewhat surprised to see her.
"Are you alright?" asked Maya, "You've been standing here by yourself for a while now."
Rei looks down to her feet, uncertain how to answer.
The is probably the first time the two have actually talked, outside of synch tests and operations. Rei never did open up to anyone besides the Commanders. Still, Maya at least want to try and talk to Rei and see what's bothering her. Remembering her behavior when confronting Asuka about her callous attitude towards Shinji, it only took Maya a second to figure out why.
"Are you worried about Shinji-kun?" the lieutenant asked, catching Rei's attention.
"I... had a feeling... that Ikari-kun would be in danger..." The First Child casts her gaze to the Angel's shadow, which is actually the body while the sphere is truly the shadow. It's probably the most bizarre Angel seen yet. "Now... he's in there."
"Oh yeah... that Angel's the most bizarre one of all. Getting sucked into that Angel's body, and dropped in some sort of pocket dimension. I can only imagine what he's going through right now." said Maya, before glancing at Rei, who's simply staring at her. Realizing what she just said, Maya quickly and nervously tries to think of what to say, worried she may have offended Rei like Asuka did before, "I-I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to sound mean or anything, I..." Maya stopped herself. She paused for a few seconds, trying to think of what to say next.
Meanwhile, Rei placed a hand on her chest. "My chest hurts... I don't know why..."
"Eh?"
"The more I think of Ikari-kun, the more it hurts. And I keep feeling some kind of anxiety. I don't understand what it means. I'm in perfect condition for operating Unit 00, so why do I feel like this?"
This can as a surprise to Maya. Now perfectly calm, she smiles, "Rei, I don't think it has anything to do with your physical condition."
"It doesn't?" asked Rei, curiously.
"No. I think it's your heart that's hurting." Maya points to Rei's heart.
"My heart?" Rei began feeling her heart. She didn't know a heart could "hurt".
"Yeah. The feeling your experiencing is called heartache. It's something that happens when you feel really sad about something. Your anxiety comes from your sadness, the reason for your chest hurting is because your heart is hurting from the sadness. Your sadness over Shinji-kun is what's causing this."
Heartache. So that's what it's called.
"Heartache..." Rei repeats. Her heart is aching because of her inability to save Shinji. It aches because of her conflicted emotions about Dr. Akagi's plan and Shinji's possible fate. "What can I do to make it stop?" Rei asked.
"Um... that's a really good question. Well, obviously doing nothing isn't going to solve the problem." answered Maya.
Yes, standing here and doing nothing won't save Shinji from the Angel. But what else is there to do?
"Will... finding a way to save Ikari-kun make it stop?"
"I'm sorry, Rei. There aren't any other options. I wish there were..." Maya said with a guilty expression. She may be Ritsuko's assistant in matters concerning the Eva and medical care for the pilots and such, but even she doesn't agree with her plan to destroy the Angel and possibly take Shinji along with it. Well, Unit 01 might survive, albeit damaged, Shinji is a different matter entirely.
"No other options..." Rei quietly thought to herself. If that's really the case, then this heartache will not stop. If they do end up killing Shinji, her heart will simply break. It's at this point that she now realizes how precious a friend he is to her, and she can't bare to lose him.
"Rei?" Maya called, having Rei turn to her, "If there's something we can do to help Shinji-kun, then wouldn't doing it no matter what be the simplest solution?"
Rei thought for a few moments on that.
Doing it no matter what? Can she really do it?
No other options? That Rei wouldn't have. She won't have it.
Yes, she's going to do something. She's going to save him, no matter what, and there's probably one way of doing. Her mind set, she dashes away.
"Huh? Rei, where are you going?" Maya asked, shocked by Rei's actions.
"To save Ikari-kun!" Rei answered back as she ran back to base camp. Yes, she will save him, and there's one surefire way of doing it. It's reckless at best, but Shinji's running out of time, and she has to save him before then.
She may know much in the ways of emotions and feelings, but she does know she'll feel better once she knows Shinji is safe and sound.
(-Dirac Sea: white space-)
He could feel it. Something is definitely off here. He knows it. The Rei in front of him is just a fake. Whether he really does want her or not, he doesn't know, but he knows for a fact that Rei isn't like this. Not some illusion of a submissive succubus, or some apparition manipulating his memories created by some Angel trying to prob his mind.
"This isn't real..."
The apparition paused. Before she could kiss him, Shinji clasped his hands roughly on her shoulders and pushes her away from his face.
"No. It's not real..." Shinji growled.
"Why do you say it's not real? Aren't I the one you want?" asked apparition Rei?
"This isn't want I want!" Shinji retort.
"Then what do you want? Just tell me and I'll do it. I am the one you want, after all."
"I don't want you!" Shinji shouts, "I don't want you using some false image to confuse me!"
The apparition stood there, silently staring at Shinji.
Leliel hadn't counted on this. From what it gathered from the boy's mind, Shinji had a weak will, and can't seem to make up his mind. At least not on his own. The Lilim looked so close accepting the desire buried in his mind, so why does he continue to resist?
"You don't want this. You don't want that. I don't understand." said apparition Rei, "Do you not know how to say what you want? Why can't you just say you want this girl?"
"Stop saying "this girl"! She has a name! Rei Ayanami! That's her name!" Shinji retorted.
Rei Ayanami? Perhaps out of everything he feels uncertain of, this girl is the one thing he's certain about.
"So, 'Rei Ayanami' is the one you want. But, 'Rei Ayanami' is in front of you, close to you, as you so desired. But, you act as if you don't want her. Why are so you confused?" asked the apparition.
"I'm not confused! I know this is you, the Angel, trying to get into my mind! And I know for a fact that the Rei Ayanami standing in front of me is not the one I know." Shinji glared. He's no longer afraid of this illusion. This apparition.
The apparition stares blankly at Shinji. It appears indeed, that he's no longer scared of this image crafted in his mind by Leliel. Could it because the 'Rei Ayanami' he wants is the only one he wants? "So I'm not the 'Rei Ayanami' you want? You want the 'Rei Ayanami' you know?"
"Huh?"
(-Outside the Dirac Sea-)
"Rei, what're you doing?!" Misato yelled in horror of Unit 00 sprinting towards the Angel's 'shadow'.
Ritsuko's plan was to drop M2 mines into the Angel's body and expunge Unit 01 provided Units 00 and 02 keep their AT fields centered on the Angel's body, but that would likely kill Shinji. Rei's plan? Hijack her Eva and charge straight towards the shadow body.
This is likely the best way she could think of the save Shinji. Reckless as it may be, it's all she can do, and it's better than waiting for someone to give the order and killing her one friend. She knew Dr. Akagi would immediately disapprove if she brought her plan to her, so she had to steal her Eva and go.
"Rei, what do you think you're doing? Stop this at once!" Ritsuko demanded as she appearance on Rei's screen in the cockpit.
"I can't. Ikari-kun is in danger." Rei said calmly.
"I'm sure you're aware that I'm not asking you to turn around and come back. I'm ordering you to stand down and return to base immediately!" Ritsuko yelled, already losing her composure. First Misato gets emotional, now Rei. This situation couldn't possibly get more screwed up and to make matters worse, Rei continues driving Unit 00 to run to the shadow. That told Ritsuko that Rei's disobeying the doctor's orders. "Rei, I hope you know that you'll in much more trouble if you don't come back, NOW!"
"I'll face any punishment you deem necessary when I return. Please, let me do this." Rei pleaded.
"WONDER GIRL!" Asuka's voice roared as she, piloting Unit 02, leaps from out of nowhere, tackling and pinning down Unit 00 to the ground.
"Ugh... S-Soryu..." Rei grunted in frustration.
"Hahaha! This indeed a surprise, Wonder Girl. There's some fire in you, after all!" Asuka laughed with an arrogant smirk.
"Good work, Asuka. Now bring her back quickly." Ritsuko ordered.
"Yes, ma'am!" Asuka chirped. She didn't bother hiding that she was more then happy to do this.
"I don't have time for this. I need to save Ikari-kun..."
"No use~! I've got you pinned down. You're not going anywhere!" Asuka sang.
"Get... off...! I have to... I have to..." Rei struggled in vain to get loose from Asuka.
"What good is it going to do you to go after him? All you'll do is get sucked into that shadow and get stuck in that same position as that idiot." Asuka said, "This is what happens when you let your emotions run wild."
"Should you really be talking? You're the one who made Ikari-kun get lead position. As I stated, it's you and your competitive nature that's the cause of all of this." Rei restated, stilling trying to get free.
"Blaming me again? Well, who's to say it's not your fault either, Wonder Girl?!" Asuka reproached.
Unit 00 ceases all movement. Rei falls silent, but only for a short moment.
"You're right..."
"What?"
"I'm at fault as well. I failed to warn Ikari-kun before this could actually happen." Rei said, "And that's why... my heart has been aching." Rei clutched her heart. "If I don't save Ikari-kun, my heart won't aching."
"So, you want to save your "friend" to stop your heartache? Pretty selfish, Wonder Girl." Asuka mocked.
"It's more then that..." Rei muttered, "I want to save Ikari-kun, because I want to save my friend..."
Asuka paused, once again surprised by Rei's spark of emotion. What's her deal?
"Rei, that's enough." Ritsuko said, now keeping her cool, "As Asuka said, it wouldn't do any good. You'd only wind up in the same position as Shinji. We can't afford to lose anymore Evangelion units to this Angel. Return to base and you're off the hook. Once you do, you can think more carefully."
Silence filled the air.
The two Eva Units sat still for what seemed an eternity. Until...
"I'm sorry..." Rei whispered. "HAAAHHH!" letting out a mighty battle cry, she put all of her strength into making Unit 00 lift itself up, forcing Unit 02 off and onto its back side.
"W-WHOAA!" Asuka yelped as Unit 02 fell back.
Now free, Unit 00 quickly breaks into a sprint, going back into its original course, to the Angel's body, to save her friend.
Back at the base van, Ritsuko gritted her teeth in anger and frustration in regards to Rei's rebellious behavior. She wasn't going to have it. "Asuka, bring her back now! I don't care what you have to do! Break her legs, or rip off her head! I don't care! Just get the job done!" she yelled to Asuka.
"With pleasure!" Asuka growled, more then happy to comply. Unit 02 sprints into action, chasing Unit 00. No gets away with doing that to her & Unit 02 and lives to brag about it.
"What's going on with her..." Ritsuko muttered. Why is Rei acting like this? This has never happened before.
"Now, it may not be my place to say, but I think I know why Rei is doing this." said Misato, leaning against the wall behind her. Ritsuko turns back, as if curious. "She's doing this because she cares for her friend." she said, with smile.
"Friend...?"
Meanwhile, Rei is nearing the shadow. Now all she has to do is dive in and rescue Shinji. However, Asuka soon shows up, dashing at high speed in front of her, to Rei's ire.
Forced to stop Unit 00, now the two EVAs stare each other down.
"Like I said, Wonder Girl, you're not going anywhere." Asuka grinned, crossing Unit 02's arms.
BW: And that's it. Man, what a long chapter this is. It's a little bit longer anyway, but still, long. I don't know if what Leliel is doing to Shinji here counts as frightening, but I hope I did a moderate job of making it creepy. Plus, I felt as if changing what happened in the main story would make things more interesting. How do you like it? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to the next one.