Chapter 04: Dead Men Walking

January 03, 2016 (Day 1)

Geo-Front, Tokyo-3, Japan

Shinji had drifted off like the others had during their waiting. He awoke and, suddenly realizing where he was, looked over at the timer: -00:12:12.

"Hey is anyone awake?" Shinji asked, Wait…if Asuka is still sleeping…he gulped.

A moment later, Toji answered, "Hey, Shinji. I've been awake for a hour now. There were some spectacular fireworks about a half hour ago. I thought about waking you guys up, but they only lasted for about two minutes and you were all out cold," he explained.

"Fireworks?" Shinji asked when Rei's face appeared

"I am awake," she said, blinking the last of her sleep away.

"Uh, hey Rei," Shinji nodded slowly, "How long…"

"What do you want idiot!" Asuka yelled at him.

Shinji flinched, but managed to respond, "Th…The timer."

"Oh," was her response, "It looks like we'll be able to get out soon."

"I wonder how the commander will react to all this," Rei asked. Shinji shuddered; he wasn't looking forward to that.

"I just want some food!" Toji announced.

"Food would be good," Rei agreed quietly.

"Hey, now that Lilith's out of your system, are you going to start to eat real food?" Asuka taunted. Rei didn't respond.

"I wonder how much Dr. Akagi will be able to figure out about our new Evas," Shinji pondered.

"Hopefully, she'll be able to figure out how our new abilities work," Asuka remarked, "I mean, they won't be of much use if we can't use them."

Silence reigned for a moment, when Shinji spoke, "So what about those fireworks, Toji?"

"Fireworks?" Asuka frowned.

"You guys were asleep when they happened," Toji told them, "There was something like a lightning storm or something. It was weird, striking here and there. It looked like it electrified the whole place, but now there isn't a trace."

"Curious," Rei frowned, "Part of the preparations?"

"Dunno," Toji shrugged, "We got seven minutes to go, and than we get to see."

The minutes past by at an agonizingly slow pace and since no one had anything to say, it just went that much slower. As the clock ticked down second by second, all of the pilots pondered what it would be like. None of them had been alive before the Second Impact, even though they many of the adult constantly told them about it, so they didn't really know what it would be like. They also wondered how all of the…dead people who would soon be alive would react to being alive again. But no one said anything because they didn't know where to start.

As the clock moved to within seconds, Toji mumbled, "It would really suck if nothing happens."

00:00:02…00:00:01…00:00:00…

"Okay…" Shinji glanced about. Nothing was happening…wait.

"Can anyone else feeling the earth shaking?" Rei asked. The shaking continued for a moment, than stopped.

"Well that was anti-climactic," Asuka snorted, "We wait for a whole day−"

The ground beneath them suddenly turned sun bright as lances of energy flared and than the whole world turned white.

"Yaaghh!" Shinji cried as his Eva was rocked by the unnatural energies being released around him. He couldn't see anything and none of his sensors were operational.

And than it was over.

January 03, 2016 (Day 1)

NERV HQ, Tokyo-3, Japan

"Sir…?" a hesitant voice called to him.

"Ah, Lieutenant Ibuki," Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki said hesitantly, "Ah, um…what am I…aren't we…"

"Dead, sir?" Shigeru Aoba finished.

"Yes," Fuyutsuki look around. The Command Center was just like it would be on any normal day. No battle damage, no blood, no bodies. But…

"Excuse me…" in of the men in battle armor approached slowly, "Didn't we all just…"

"I think that it would be beneficial if all of your men were to call a cease-fire and get out of here," he grunted harshly.

"Ah, yes sir…That's a good idea."

"Lieutenant Aoba, track down Commander Ikari. We…"

"Sir!" Aoba paled significantly, "Um, Pilot Ayanami has just asked for docking permission for Eva-00 through 03."

Fuyutsuki's eyes bulged, "03?"

"Yes sir."

Major Misato Katsuragi stood slowly after a long moment. I'm not dead? But I was shot and I fell over…and…

"Attention all personal! By order of Commander Fuyutsuki, all personal are to go to Battle Stations and are to stand by. Also, no personal are to engage…former enemy troops as they exit NERV HQ unless engaged."

"Well that's just dandy!" Misato yelled. She punched the elevator controls and waited.

Did Shinji succeed? Are we all right? I mean, I died, at least I think I did, but…I'm fine now. Why? I mean…How the hell did all of is happen?

The elevator arrived.

Dr. Ritsuko Akagi climbed out of the LCL lake more on instinct than anything else.

But I died. I was shot and I died. Mother betrayed me, so I was shot and I died. Commander Ikari shot me and I died!

"Ikari!" she screamed.

"Oh, Dr. Akagi," he answered calmly, "I see you're alive as well. At least, I believe we are alive."

She gaped as she sat down hard, "This…this isn't…"

"Oh it must be possible," Commander Gendo Ikari sighed, "Otherwise we could not be here. If I remember correctly, the Third Impact was occurring when…Yui…killed me."

"Y…Yui?" she stuttered.

"Mmm, yes…Yes it was Yui, I'm sure of it. I don't think she was happy with the way I acted towards Shinji after she died. That's why the dummy plug wouldn't work again, and that's why she killed me."

The PA system suddenly blared out Aoba's voice. Afterward, Ikari calmly started to walk, "Doctor…despite our differences, I think it would be best if we headed up to the Command Center."

"Our…differences!" Akagi nearly choked, "You shot me you bastard!"

He turned, "I did, but only so that Third Impact could occur. Now that that is seemingly over, we have to deal with whatever Shinji has done in order to allow us this conversation." He started to walk again.

Ritsuko Akagi stared at him, and than with a surrendering sigh, followed him.

Misato entered the Command Center to see Shigeru Aoba, Makoto Hyuga, Maya Ibuki, and Commander Fuyutsuki busily trying to get things under control.

Fuyutsuki motioned to her, "Take command of the Evas, Major," he ordered quickly, "I'm trying to get a hold of the government."

"What's going on?" Misato blurted out, "I was dead up until a few minutes ago!"

"Join the club," Shigeru snorted, "We were all dead. That's why the entire world is in a panic."

"The…whole world?" she breathed incredulously.

"Yep. And four Evas are coming home to roost."

"Four!" her jaw dropped.

"That's right," Maya nodded, "Apparently Toji Suzuhara is the pilot of Eva-03; which is apparently functioning fine."

"But…but…" Misato stammered, "Only 01 and 02 were operational…00 and 03 were scrap!"

"Indeed, Major," Commander Ikari said as he and Dr. Akagi entered, "Things have progressed…unexpectedly."

"…Unexpectedly?" she whispered to herself.

Shinji slowly maneuvered into his docking bay when his comm chirped.

"Hey Shinji!" Misato smiled broadly.

"Oh, Mistato!" Shinji blinked, "Umm, hi. It's been a while…well, actually a day, but it seems like a while."

"Uh, right," she nodded, "So what happened? I mean, I was dead…I think…"

"I…we explain later," Shinji told her, "It's complicated…and it's no over yet."

She frowned, "Not over? But all of the Angels…"

"This isn't about the Angels, Misato."

"Oh…" she paused, "Umm, Shinji…you remember if I…umm, said anything…odd before…"

"Nope," he said quickly, "I don't really remember you saying anything out of the ordinary."

"Oh, okay," she smiled faintly, "Just…making sure…"

"Right."

An hour had past since the Rebirth and most of the nations of the world had managed to get themselves under control. Emergency status was norm, but things were calming down, at least in terms of the panic of awaking from the dead. The celebrations of being reunited with people nearly sixteen years dead were just starting to flare up.

"The U.N., whom we officially report to," Commander Ikari spoke to all of the senior members of NERV and the pilots, "is holding a full-session in two hours. In this meeting, I am to report exactly what has transpired in the last few days. Considering that SEELE and the committee no longer are with us, we can't avoid this meeting in any way. So…would anyone tell me what exactly happened?"

Shinji sighed, "Well…it all started with a test…"

Five minutes later…

"Wait a minute," Ritsuko Akagi waved her hand, "You're telling us that all of this was in preparation for an invasion of entities that are going to try and enslave us? And that the benevolent Angels decided to kindly prepare us for it. But we can't let so-called Demons learn that the Angels were here, otherwise they'll simply vaporize our planet?"

"That's about it, Doc," Toji nodded.

"Wait a minute…You're saying that everyone that was killed by Second Impact was brought back?" Misato asked rather tensely.

"Umm…nearly everyone…" Shinji nodded slowly.

"Lieutenant Hyuga," she snapped into her comm, "what's the situation with Antarctica?"

"Antarctica? Well…" he paused as he checked for data on his console, "Umm…its…there…"

"Father…" she breathed, "My father is alive…

"Sir, permission to search for and recover the Katsuragi Antarctic Expedition!" she said as she stood.

"Major…" Ikari sighed.

"I am…was the sole survivor of that expedition! I am the best person for the job!" she snapped, "Umm...sir!"

The commander of NERV sighed, "Very well…"

"Can I come?" a masculine voice called, "It'd be nice to meet your dad."

"No…way…" Misato nearly faint.

Commander Ikari merely stared.

Shinji and Asuka's jaws dropped.

"But…" Fuyutsuki stammered, "But you're dead!"

Ryoji Kaji smiled, "So I was. Apparently, so were a whole lot of people; many of them were dead a lot longer than I was, but that didn't stop them."

"Kaji you jerk!" Misato cried as she made a half-hearted attempt to floor him with a haymaker.

"Whoa, I didn't do anything to deserve that, did I?" he smiled roguishly.

"Mr. Kaji," Commander Ikari spoke quietly, "I don't believe that you are authorized to be here anymore."

"Oh, come come, Commander," he smiled again, "We both now that our differences are in the past. I mean, now that Third Impact is over and done with and SEELE is gone, why can't we all just get along."

"I believe that you said something similar to me," Dr. Akagi smiled coldly, "and that was after you personally shot me!"

"Oh dear," Kaji blinked, "You shot poor Dr. Akagi? How cruel…"

"Kaji…" he growled.

"Father," Shinji spoke suddenly, "We don't have time to fight one another. We only have 30 days until the Demons are here."

The elder Ikari glared at him, than Kaji before shaking his head, "Fine. But be aware that your activities will be closely monitored. I will brook no rebellion at this point."

"Just so long as no one is trying to kill me or is plotting against the rest of humanity," Kaji replied.

"Fair enough."

"Crap!" Toji snapped as he started for the door.

"Mr. Suzuhara!" Misato snapped, "Where are you going?"

"Ma'am," he turned, "my little sister is out there somewhere, and frankly I just realized that she probably isn't lain up in the hospital anymore."

"So? The hospital won't let her…"

"Given the situation and given that it's my sister, I doubt that they'll be able to keep her for long," he shot back.

"Umm," Misato turned to the commander.

He waved his hand, "I know everything I need to right now, and I have to prepare for my meeting with the U.N. None of the pilots are needed right now, so you are dismissed. Be back here at 0800.

"Let's go, Fuyutsuki," he stood.

Toji turned to Shinji, "Can you head to my place?"

"Sure," Shinji nodded.

Asuka got up, "I'm going to go see Hikari."

"Oh, check on Pen-Pen when you do!" Misato called after her. Soon, it was just Misato and Ryoji in the conference room.

"Well, we need to get ready to head out−" Misato said when Ryoji put a hand on her shoulder.

"Been a while, hasn't it Katsuragi?"

"Kaji…" she growled.

"I may be a good-for-nothing bum at times," he smiled, "But I do remember my promises."

Misato paled slightly and tried to turn away, "I don't think…"

He pulled her back and put his other hand on her shoulder, "Kat…Misato. I love you."

"Kaji, you idiotic jerk," she whimpered, trying not to cry.

"I'm sorry for everything I've put you through," he said softly, "But I want us to work. We all died Misato. We died with things unresolved and frankly I don't want to live this…second chance at life making the same mistakes. I'll understand if…"

"Oh, just shut up," she smiled, wiping away some tears, "You're right…it's just that…that I…I'm scared that if we try we'll just screw it up."

"I know," he nodded, "but I think that if Shinji can get up the guts to defend me from his father, we can get this to work."

Misato smirked, "Yeah." She hugged him, "I'm glad you're alive."

"Me too," he laughed and looked at her playfully, "So you wanna get married?"

"WHAT!"

Asuka moved away from the doorway, attempting to keep herself from crying out. She had decided to wait outside the door for Kaji, not wanting to ask him in front of everyone if he would come with her. Only now she realized her true position.

What a fool I've been. I thought that maybe I still had a chance that I could get him, she raged to herself, But…why did I have to wait! Why did I have to hear that?

At least now you know.

Would you shut up! I don't need you! I don't need anyone! Just leave me alone!

Shinji walked down the street cautiously, glancing around at all of the people. Some were still in a state of shock, moving around like robots. Others were literally dancing in the streets. Some people asked him what it was like for him.

"I don't know really," he would smiled sheepishly, "I just woke up." True in everyway, but he had been around of the day that they had all missed.

Life was the same as it had always been, yet it was suddenly very different, he realized, I mean, I literally decided what the world would be like, didn't I? I wanted this world, where people have the ability to make their own lives, and not be bound all into one as Lilin. What it the right choice? What if we fail and we all are enslaved or killed? Would it be the right choice then?

Yes.

Shinji blinked in surprise at his own answer. He never felt so confident about any decision before. But why? Where did this confident come from?

The answer was obvious: It came from his experiences during the Third Impact. Despite the pain and horror that he had suffered, it had done one thing for him: It had forced him to make an important and irreversible decision. No one had told him how he should decide, no one had been there to support him or correct him. He had had to do all of it on his own.

He smiled tightly, It's like a part of me that was afraid to come out was dragged out. The part of me that was afraid to stop playing the cello because I was told to start, but never to stop. I was afraid that someone would be angry with me, so I didn't. Am I not afraid anymore, or am I just prepared to take the risk if I need to?

His thoughts stopped as he arrived at Toji's apartment complex. A few minutes later and he was standing outside of his friend's door. Pausing momentarily, he knocked, "Hello?" Toji had said that his sister had a key to the apartment on her necklace, so she wouldn't forget it. So if she did manage to slip out of the hospital, she would have been able to get in.

Grunting he glanced around before knocking again, "Hello? My name is Shinji Ikari and I'm a friend of your brother, Toji. If you're in there, please say so. Your brother is worried about you, Sakura."

When there wasn't an answer, Shinji sighed, She's not here.

He turned to leave when a small voice came from the door, "You know Toji?"

Shinji's heart stopped for a minute. He whirled around, "Umm, yes I know your brother. He's a good friend of mine."

For a moment, she said nothing. Than, "Where is he? He wasn't at the hospital, so I thought he might be here…"

"Your brother went to the hospital to look for you, but I guess you had left…"

"But he was in the hospital! His…leg…"

"Oh, that," Shinji smiled, "His leg was fixed when everything…"

"But why wasn't he in when I…woke up like everyone else!" she demanded, "Where was he?"

"Shinji!" Toji arrived suddenly, obviously winded, "Is…tell me you're not crazy and just talking to my door."

"Toji!" the door opened and a blur blazed past Shinji and blew Toji to the ground, with a 12 year old girl sitting on him.

"Toji you idiot, where were you?" she demanded, thumping him hard on his forehead.

"Ahh, Sis," he smiled tightly, "can't you get off? I…"

"Talk!" she snapped.

"She and Asuka would get along…" Shinji mumbled.

"Umm…" Toji tried to glance around, "It's a top secret. I can't just say it out here."

"Oh," she blinked, accepting that as perfectly reasonable. She rolled off and walked over to Shinji.

"Hi, I'm Sakura Suzuhara!" she smiled sweetly, "Nice to meet you, Shinji."

"Umm, yeah," he chuckled as he shook her hand.

"Come in, Toji!" she said as she marched into the apartment, "I'll get some snacks out!"

"Your sister is…nice," Shinji said as he helped Toji up.

"Yep," he chuckled.

No one had told Rei to do anything, so she simply went to her apartment. As she turned the knob, a cold feeling ran done her spine, chilling her. She paused momentarily, but ignored the feeling and entered.

Why am I suddenly uncomfortable? she pondered as she walked to the desk and sat. She glanced about, looking for the latest school work. When she located it underneath another folder, but as she started to read it, she suddenly didn't feel like working on it. She frowned at her reaction.

She set the papers down and went over to the mirror. Why am I reacting this way? Is it because I no longer have a portion of Lilith within me?

She sat down on her bed, trying to find the source of her unease. She looked around the room and could only find one thing to say, "I hate this place."

Hikari Horaki nearly jumped out of her chair when someone abruptly knocked on her door. Nervously she approached the door, "Hello?"

"Hey, Hikari; it's me, Asuka!" the German girl responded.

"Oh, Asuka," Hikari breathed a sigh of relief as she opened the door, "I'm glad you're here. Everything is…well…"

"Yeah, I know," Asuka nodded as she sat at the table, "Where's Midori and Ayumi?"

"In their room, playing," Hikari said as she sat down, "I…tried to explain what happened but…what did happen Asuka? You know, right?"

Asuka sighed softly, "It's…complicated. Essentially…well everybody died. Well, almost everybody. I didn't…I least I don't think I did, 'cause I woke up injured. And that idiot Shinji…"

Hikari frowned, "Why are you always attacking him? He hasn't done anything to you."

Asuka snorted, "Maybe, but he is at least partially responsible for what happened."

Hikari blinked in surprise, "How's that?"

"Well, the Third Impact was basically a choice of how life for humanity was going to continue before we faced down the demons, or something; I don't really know the details. Anyways, Lilith, in one way or another, asks what we are going to be. Thing is, she don't ask everyone, or even all of the Eva pilots; she just asked little Shinji!" Asuka spat.

"So you're upset that Shinji made a decision that affected you," Hikari analyzed.

Asuka blinked, than sighed, "Yeah."

"Would you have chosen differently?"

Asuka gave her an irritated look, "So what if I wouldn't have? I don't like it that he chose and I had no power to do anything about it! I was, am and Eva pilot, too! I suffered─"

"I understand," Hikari said calmly interrupting her, "But does that mean that you have to take it out of him? I mean, you two are more alike…"

"Don't say that," Asuka hissed.

Suddenly, a door flew open and a screaming penguin dashed out, closely followed by two girls, "WARK!"

"Hey, Pen-Pen," Asuka smiled, "Having fun?"

The avian creature regarded her with disdain, "Wark!"

"Hiya Asuka!" the two younger Horakis smiled.

"Oh, right," Hikari laughed, "Umm, can you take Pen-Pen back now? I mean, he's fun to have around, but…umm, he drinks beer…"

"Yeah, I know," Asuka grinned, "So, you ready to come back?"

"Wark!" the penguin nodded emphatically.

"Right, now that that's taken care of," Hikari turned back to Asuka, "Now what? I mean…the Angels are gone, so…"

Asuka heaved a sigh, "It's…complicated."