Disclaimer: I do not own of the rights to Neon Genesis Evangelion, or any other religious or philosophical themes present in this story.
SouloftheDamned: Thanks for the support, hopefully things will continue to be interesting so please keep reading
emeraldknight72: If you like unconventional pairings then you may love what I have planned later
OK story time
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It has been 2 weeks since the confrontation between UNIT-01 and what NERV has decided to code name
That thing tries to kill my Shinji and all they can do is sit around and come up with some stupid code name , for an overgrown insect.
Hurricane Katsuragi had been on the warpath for the last week, apart from herself and a few class mates of Shinji's no one at NERV had bothered to visit him. They just left him there, she remembered the conversation she had with the commander yesterday regarding the subject.
He is a soldier, his only purpose is to fight, there is no need for NERV staff to become involved Captain. His words still fresh in her mind.
It was early in the morning, under normal circumstances hospitals would not allow visitors at such an early hour. Thankfully these were not normal circumstances the patient one Shinji Ikari, the pilot of UNIT-01 and the boy who saved Tokyo-3 twice without a word of thanks. The visitor one very concerned Captain Misato Katsuragi director of NERV operations guaranteed her access.
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Misato walked through the pristine and well lit corridors of the Tokyo-03 hospital, with each step her heart raced anxious to reach her destination. She eventually came to Shinjis room, her eyes looking over the few get well cards that were on his bedside cabinet. One from her, another from the Toji, another from Kensuke and another from the class rep Hikari. It was then she saw something that caught her eye.
Whats this another card? She thinks as opens the envelop, it was another card wishing him to get better, Misato read the message and looked down to see who sent it... Kaji so I guess you do care about us.
Misato looks at the stamp on the envelope to see where the card had been posted from So thats where you are.... please come home quickly Shinji needs you.... an I need you.
"Morning Misato... sorry I guess I must have slept in" says a groggy Shinji
"Thats ok Shinji-kun, I just arrived here, I was looking at your get well cards here"
"Oh, what do you think?"
"I think that you need to get out of here, an come home with me so that we can have a party an invite all your friends over"
"Wha... What?! A party? I don't know Misato, I don't wanna be a bother"
"Enough of that Shinji, you do deserve it as thanks for being such a great guy"
"Well OK, so when do I get out of here? I am not really a big fan of hospitals"
"Thanks understandable, I have spoken to the doctor who has advised that you can go home tomorrow, but I managed convince him to let you out today"
"Wow, really so I can come home?"
"Yes" was the only answer Misato could think of as a warm caring smile crossed her face.
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Back in NERV headquarters
Dr Akagi was overseeing the development of several prototype weapons to be utilised by the EVA's, taking another 2 pain killers just to deal with what Gendo had done to her last night. She promptly adjusts the sleeve of her lab coat to cover up the bruises on her wrist, it was nearing the summer and here she was working in a lab coat and a turtle neck jumper.
"Dr Akagi?"
That menacing cold voice, the same voice that had yelled such fowl obscenities to her last night came from behind her. Her stomach sank and churned threatening to vomit the last 6 cups of coffee she had drunk that morning.
"Yes Commander?" Her voice straining to create the illusion of a normal working relationship
"When will UNIT-00 be ready for re-activation?"
"We are working on that as we speak, we are hoping to do another activation later today"
"Excellent, an what of the development of UNIT-03?"
"From the last correspondence from the NERV Nevada branch the unit is almost complete, also the Marduk institute has discovered the locastion of the fourth child" What is your game here Ikari? I know that you could easily contact the Nevada branch an gotten all those details yourself.
"Ah good, then everything is proceeding nicely?"
"Sir, why such an increase in the interest on UNIT-00 and UNIT-03?"
"Its simple doctor we need soldiers and weapons to defend humanity, at present we have 1 inexperience pilot and an untrustworthy weapon that has gone berserk in the last two engagements."
"From a strategic stand point it leaves us at a disadvantage, with UNIT-00 operational we will be able to relieve some pressure from UNIT-01"
You mean dependency on Shinji, you hate him that much you wont even acknowledge that you need him.
"I have been informed that UNIT-02 and the pilot will be departing from Germany by the end of the week an they shall be escorted by the UN fleet, UNIT -03 will also be transferred to our command once completed"
"Understood, an Commander will I have Shinji in UNIT-01 on standby for the activation of UNIT-00?"
"Do you feel that is necessary?"
"Yes Commander if UNIT-00 goes berserker again then I feel will have no other choice but to terminate the unit, a task which would be easier for UNIT -01"
"An what of Rei?"
Oh yes Rei, your precious doll, a copy of your dead wife you really are one twisted son of a bitch Gendo Ikari!
"Like last time we can simple eject the entry plug an salavage the first child"
"That is acceptable Dr Akagi, however have a back up in case there any unforeseen variables"
"Understood commander"
"Oh an Dr Akagi, one more thing... I do hope I wasn't too rough with you last night?" A sick sadistic smile crosses the commanders faces as his mind relives the pain which had inflicted upon the gorgeous woman in front of him.
Ritsuko did not say a word, her own mind was full of the painful memories from the previous night, her hands tightening into fists as she watched Gendo walk out of her office.
Dr Akaig raises her arms into the air before slamming them into her desk, sending several books, her coffee mug and ash tray crashing to the ground. "You Bastard!!!"
RING! RING!
"Hello Dr Akagi speaking"
"Hey Rits, its Misato what are you doing tonight?"
"Well..."
"Don't even try to say that you have plans, you are invited over to mine"
"You are not cooking dinner are you?"
"Oh no, I am having party for Shinji, just as a way of thanking him for what he has done, he has invited a few people from school, Shinji asked me to invite you"
"Why me? I am not that close to him"
"I think it was for my benefit more than anything"
Dr Akagi thought about the situation, she had the UNIT-00 reactivation, she knew that Rei would be at NERV straight after school, give or take a few minutes to write up the report on the activation, an she estimated that she could be at Misato's by eight.
"Well ok then I accept shall I be there at around eight? However only if I can ask a favour from Shinji"
"What is it Ritsuko?"
"Well we are doing the UNIT-00 re-activation test today, pressure from the commander and well...." She knew what she wanted to say but the thought of UNIT-00 going berserk and slamming its massive fists into the safety glass to attack everyone had stopped her mid-sentence
"An you want Shinji with UNIT-01 there as a bodyguard of sorts?"
"Yeah.. when you say it like that, it seems kind of stupid... never mind then"
"Let me ask Shinji before we make any decisions"
There was a breif pause over the line, Dr Akagi could hear both Misato and Shinji's voice in background
"He says ok!"
Ritsuko could imagine the captains triumphant smile over the phone "Ok, tell him to be here by five and I will give him a lift over when we are done, sound good?"
"Perfect! See you there... oh an Rits?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks"
Like chalk and cheese, one hand there is the commander who only cares about his own selfish pleasure and on the other is Shinji, who actually encouraged Misato to invite someone he hardly knows to his own party..... I know which Ikari I like better.
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Later in the day, all of the technical team were togather in the observation unit over looking the activation chamber at the moment it was only Dr Akagi. The chamber itself resembled a padded room, the type which was used to house the dangerous crazies who could harm themselves or others.
To the far wall stood EVA UNIT-00, the prototype despite being the original it had a more rounded appearance than the test type UNIT-01. It lacked the distinctive protruding horn of UNIT-01 as well as an obvious jawline, it also appears to only have one functional eye.
However unlike UNIT-01, the prototype looks more human and from its body composition it gave the impression that it would be more graceful than the other unit.
Between the observation unit and UNIT-00 stood UNIT-01, Ritsuko had thought herself paranoid to enlist the help of the second EVA but those were quickly pushed out of her mind as the other technicians took their posts.
"I can not believe that they are going to try an re-activate UNIT-00"
"You remember last time?"
"Yeah, I hope they have stronger glass than before"
"Hey wait, isn't that?"
"Yeah thats UNIT-01, but why is it here?"
"Insurance, last time UNIT-00 was activated it attacked all of us fortunately no one was hurt, but it proved that the restriants were ineffective"
All of the technicians looked at the doctor as she continued to explain the presence of the other EVA.
"I am taking no chances with the lives of anyone on my team, after the previous attempt the worse case scenario would be that UNIT-00 goes berserk again and attacks us.... however if that happens UNIT-00 has to get through a battle tested UNIT-01"
The entire team let out a thankful sigh as they looked at the doctor gesturing their thanks for her consideration for their safety an taking more than necessary precautions.
After everyone had gotten to their assigned stations commander Gendo Ikari entered the observation unit much to the annoyance of a certain doctor. He did not even bother to acknowledge the existence of the other members of the team, nor his own son in the UNIT-01 EVA, not an easy task considering that UNIT-01 was in his direct line of sight.
The commander walks over to the reinforced class as he opens comm-link to UNIT-00
"Rei, can you hear me?"
"Yes"
"We are about to begin the re-activation test for UNIT-00"
"Understood, commander what is the purpose of having pilot Ikari present?"
"That is not important Rei"
"Understood"
Gendo severs the comm-link before ordering the technicians to intiate the primary connection. From there all other orders are given by Dr Akagi.
"Connect the power supply..."
"Activation voltage has passed the critical point, so far everything is green senpai"
"Roger, shift format to phase two"
"Opening circuits"
Inside UNIT-00
Why is it not important for pilot Ikari to be present? Is the commander hiding something from me?
The inner views screens in the EVA flicker with life as they cycle through a series of spectrums before settling on that which displays the world in a way similar to the human eye. Rei can see UNIT-01 standing before her own EVA.
Inside UNIT-01
I may not be important to you father, but I am here as a favour for Dr Akagi and Misato. Misato trusted me to portect her friends life an I will not let her down.
Shinji watches on, his hands tightening around the controls ready to react in case UNIT-00 makes another attack.
Observation Unit
"Pulse and harmonics are normal"
"No problems detected, we are in sync"
"All nerve links completed, central nerve system nominal"
"Checklist is satisfactory up to 25-90, approaching critical mark"
"Borderline clear, UNIT-00 has been activated"
"Roger"
"Rei, re-activation has been successfully completed return now"
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True to her word, Ritsuko had arrived at Misatos apartment at exactly 20.00pm with Shinji, much to the gratefulness of the class rep who had gotten bored trying to converse with the Toji and Kensuke as they drooled all over Shinjis guardian Misato.
Hikari noticed that unlike this stooge friends, Shinji didn't seem all that interested in Misato. It was almost like Shinji thought of Misato as something like a sister, instead Shinji spent most of the evening talking to Hikari on several subjects even making a few jokes which made her giggle.
It was getting late, Hikari was picked up by her dad at 22.30, Toji and Kensuke left shortly after which just left Misato, Ritsuko and Shinji.
Shinji had one of the large rubbish bags in his hand as he did a quick sweep of all the loose pieces of trash that could be thrown out. He reasoned that if he got this done now, he would have less to do in the morning.
He noticed the last two guest standing sitting in the kitchen, eating up some of the instant food which Misato had purchased an heated up for the party.
"You know Shinji we saw you with that girl Hikari... whats going on there?"
"Uh nothing we are just friends"
"Oh so you were trying to get of the friend zone then?"
" What!? Misato cut it out!"
"You know Shinji perhaps you should think about moving out, no need to allow one bad roommate effect the rest of your life"
"But I am use to it know"
"Yeah, Ritsuko an if he wanted to move out he would have to go through all the red tape. An was it not you who told me never to underestimate the power of the human animal to adapt to its environment"
"I guess"
"An Shinji just got his permanent security pass today"
"Oh shoot, I must have forgot with the party and the reactivation test of UNIT-00, Shinji could you do me a favour"
"Sure what is it Ritsuko?"
"Could you give Rei her new security card the next time you see her"
Shinji tentatively takes the security card as he looks on to the photo ID of Rei, it was just then he realised how little he actually knew about her. Now that UNIT-00 was active they would soon be comrades in arms.
After a few moments, both women share a mischeiouvs grin
"Whats the matter? You are staring at Rei's picture aren't ya?"
"An here we were thinking you may have had a thing for Hikari"
"No I am not, an leave Hikari out of this..."
"Oh so you do like Hikari..."
"An yes you were staring at Rei's picture, is Hikari not pretty enough?"
"I was not looking a her picture, an Hikari is more than just pretty" Shinjis cheeks begin to turn red once he realises how that must have sounded
Both women burst out in fits of hysterical laughter seeing his own reaction to his words.
"Stop teasing me!" were the last words Shinji said before retreating to his room from the onslaught of teasing from the two intoxicated older women.
A/N: Ok so unlike last week I only get one chapter out, bit this is quite a long chapter, an yes I know I have messed with the timeline but hopefully this should be interesting.
Please Rate and Review any suggestions or tips will be very much appreciated
