Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything belonging to Marvel Comics or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.

Chapter 9: Scheming

Her mind overloaded with horrified astonishment, Misato stood frozen in the hall. Out of the corner of her eye, she was aware that Ritsuko was trapped in a similar state. The two of them helpless like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck, only it was no automobile that had left them in this state. Watching in slack-jawed astonishment, the two women watched as beast that seemed to have been torn from the depths of Hell itself clawed its way up from the molten hole it had burned in the floor.

It was huge. Eight feet tall if it was an inch, and it looked like some kind of robotic gargoyle. It's scaly, purple hide was scorched and holed in several places, revealing advanced machinery as it stepped forward. It's huge wings almost reached from one side of the hall to another, and it's tail swished about in anticipation as flames lit up the inside of the thing's mouth.

"Ritsuko, go!" Misato shouted, trained impulse taking over as she drew forth her gun. Squeezing the trigger as she took aim, the Major fired off three rounds at the dragon-like monster. Sparks flew as the bullets ricocheted off its exposed machinery, but there was no sign of them doing any additional damage.

But that didn't mean that the monster didn't notice that it had been attacked. Swiveling it's head at its assailant, the thing opened its mouth, sending tongues of flame pouring outwards.

Misato was a brave woman, but she was not stupid. And she certainly wasn't suicidal. Crying out, she leapt away from the monster, watching as the blaze hit several feet away from where she had been standing, melting the floor into so much slag.

This thing sure has lousy aim, Misato thought tersely. Looking over the dragon-like monster, she took in the damage that it had clearly suffered, damage that was probably impeding its effectiveness. That doesn't mean I want to give it any openings.

Deciding that her sidearm would be of little or no use, Misato broke into a full retreat, her ears telling her that the monster was hot on her heels. Roars of anger and fire filled the corridor as the Major ran down the path taken by her friend. However, despite the situation, her training didn't abandon her. Acting on impulse, she drew forth her cell phone, which was tied into the NERV communications network, and flipped it on.

"This Major Katsuragi to all personnel! We have an emergency!" Misato cried out, fully aware of the monster that was still on her trail. "We have an unidentified intruder within NERV Headquarters! Heavily armed and highly dangerous!" Another blast of flame lit up the hall behind her, tempting her with the thought of informing everyone that their uninvited guest also had the worst breath imaginable.

When the light and sound of the blaze finally subsided, Misato then heard something else; the sound of metal being torn apart. Screeching to a halt, the Major turned and looked, only to gasp as the biomechanical monster tore its way through one of the walls, folding its wings enough so that it could make its way through without difficulty.

The hair on the back of her neck prickling at this, Misato once again spoke into her cell phone. "Get me Section 2 immediately," she muttered beneath her breath, studying the hole in the wall from a safe distance. Then, more curious than cautious, the Major took a series of small steps closer towards the monster's egress. Drawing just close enough to be able to tell that it had been successful in melting its way into another part of the base, another hallway.

"This is Agent Hayame speaking," a voice finally came in from Misato's phone. "What is it, Major?"

Fearing sparking irritation in Misato, she shouted back, "Well, in case you haven't been looking at all these security cameras we've got all over the place, we have an intruder!" Taking a quick breath, the Major went on. "Listen, I want the Children and all other vital personnel found and escorted to safety! And get some troops down here to kill the damned thing!"

Moving closer to the massive hole the monster had carved in the wall, the still molten spots that it had subjected to its incendiary breath, Misato added, "And be sure to tell them to bring some really big guns!"


Shinji was not a big fan of synch tests.

The Entry Plug for Unit 01 had always confounded him. It just didn't seem right that something that stank of blood should feel so comfortable. But comfortable or not, Shinji really didn't enjoy spending at least an hour, doing absolutely nothing but trying to think to humanity's ultimate weapon. And he especially didn't enjoy now.

Maybe it was just nerves, maybe it was something else, but as the day of the anniversary of his mother's death drew closer, Shinji felt more and more discomforted by the purple berserker. Even now, fresh out of the shower and getting dressed, the boy could still smell LCL on him. Like the Eva had somehow…tainted him.

I don't know. It's all be so…crazy since then. And…Father… Shinji thought somberly. All the anxieties he felt about going to the grave, about meeting with his father returning to him with added strength as he tired to connect with Unit 01. I wonder…Aya seemed pretty interested in the Evas. Maybe I could…talk to her about it…and about what happened to her as well…

Sighing with a hint of reassurance, Shinji thought of the friendly, buoyant girl he had met. That someone who bore under many of the same pains as he did, and yet seemed so strong, so happy despite it…something about her stirred his heart. It made him wonder…if he could ever be that way himself.

Dressed in his civilian garb and with these thoughts filling his mind, Shinji exited the men's locker room and entered the hall. As soon as he did so, however, the boy frowned in confusion. Various NERV personnel were moving about in a hurried fashion, all of them wearing looks of urgency.

"What the…?" Shinji faltered as he studied the situation. He hadn't heard an alarm, so there didn't seem to be any reason for this activity. And if there was no alarm, then whatever was happening certainly couldn't be very serious.

But…Father cancelled the alarm when that last Angel attacked us, Shinji reminded himself, frowning even more deeply. Recalling how, while he and the other Children were stuck naked in their Test Plugs, the Commander of NERV had done everything in his power to keep their situation a secret, and how he and the other pilots had been sworn to secrecy. Something that made no sense at all to the 3rd Child.

This disturbing thought worming its way about in his mind, Shinji started looking at the various people moving about, trying to find an opening to ask one of them what was going on. But every time he raised his hand and tried to get a word out of his throat, the person he targeted would move on past, too busy with whatever was happening to so much as spare him a look.

Frustration mounting, Shinji was about set to just chase someone down and ask for answers more forcefully when he saw someone coming straight towards him. And somewhat to his dismay, for the person in question was dressed head to toe in black.

"Come with me, 3rd Child," the Section 2 man ordered. Not giving Shinji a chance to agree or disagree, the agent grabbed him by the wrist.

"Huh? Hey, wait!" Shinji cried out in protest, the Section 2 man applying excessive amounts of pressure as he started dragging the boy along with him. "What are you doing?! What's going on here?!"

"That's none of your concern, 3rd Child," the agent countered gruffly, using that 'I'm in charge, and you're not' tone of voice that Section 2 agents seemed to favor. "All you need to know is that I am to escort you to shelter. Beyond that, it is none of your concern."

Shinji groaned morosely at this. Having dealt with Section 2 in the past, he knew that there was no point in trying to get any answers from this man, and even less in trying to pull away from him. The agent clearly had a great deal more strength than Shinji had, and more importantly, the authority of NERV to back it up.

Coming to this conclusion, Shinji contented himself to just try and keep up with Section 2 agent as best as he could. Unfortunately, the halls were crowded with people who were going either one way, or the others, resulting in his impromptu escort veering to avoid them. And while Shinji didn't ask any questions, he could tell from the atmosphere filling the hallway that something out of the ordinary, and certainly very bad, had happened.

Just as Shinji's curiosity was getting the better, a female voice rose up above the rest of the crowd. "What the…Shinji?" the voice spoke. When the 3rd Child turned and looked, he saw Lt. Ibuki approaching, a look of concern on her face as she turned an annoyed look upon the agent. "What's going on? What are you doing with him?"

"I'm escorting the 3rd Child," the agent retorted superiorly. "Major Katsuragi ordered us to have all high-level personnel escorted to safety. And that includes him?"

Misato ordered this? Shinji thought hurriedly, trying to process the situation.

"I know about that," Maya returned, giving the boy a concerned frown. "But that doesn't mean you have to drag Shinji around like he was a rag doll!"

"Just making sure that the 3rd Child doesn't get lost," the Section 2 man countered superiorly. Clearly enjoying the position he was in.

Giving the agent a look that would have soured milk chocolate, Maya moved in next to him. "You don't have to worry about that," she told the man in black, just as she took hold of Shinji's free hand. "Because I'll be happy to hold onto him for you, and make sure he gets where he's going."

"No, thank you, ma'am," the Section 2 man countered gruffly. Tightening his grip on Shinji's wrist, causing him to grimace in pain. "I have the situation well in hand."

Looking between the two of them, Shinji saw that neither Maya nor the agent had any intention of backing down. The techie just looked determinedly at one of the men that Misato frequently referred to as the most useless people on the Earth before finally saying, "Then I guess you won't mind if I just tag along. Especially since we're heading in the same direction. Right?"

A few seconds passed before the agent frowned. It was obvious to Shinji that he wasn't happy about the idea of having Maya trail alongside him and his impromptu charge. "Aren't you supposed to be someplace else…Lieutenant?" the agent asked, not bothering to conceal his irritation.

"The Major's orders apply to me as well," Maya explained, smiling nicely. "So, if you think about it…it's your job to escort us both to safety. Right?"

The Section 2 man didn't say anything to this at first. He just rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth, looking like something had crawled in there and died before he finally said, "The 3rd Child's safety is still my responsibility."

"Fine," Maya countered. Then she looked at the boy, smiling compassionately. "You don't mind if I tag along, do you, Shinji?"

"Huh?" Shinji got out, surprised to suddenly be the focus of attention. Then, with a slight blush as he recalled the last time he had spent any real time with Maya, he squeaked out, "Oh, sure. I don't mind. Not at all."

Nodding in triumph, Maya then focused her attention on the agent. "So, what's going, anyway? Why the emergency?"

"That information is being given out on a need to know basis only," the agent told her gruffly. Clearly pleased to have reclaimed some measure of control over the situation. "And at the moment, all either of you need to know is that an evacuation has been ordered. And that is it."

A frown once again appeared on Maya's face, but she clearly couldn't think of anything else to say to this. So instead, she kept moving alongside of them, glancing at the people around her, who were moving in the same direction.

Shinji was doing much the same thing. What happened, anyway? he wondered inwardly. He was fairly certain that it wasn't an Angel attacking. The fact that no one was hustling him into his plug suit was a fairly good indicator of this.

Unless…it's like last time… Shinji thought, recalling the unconventional form taken by the previous Angel. Then he shook his head in negation. No, that doesn't make any sense. If an Angel was attacking, Maya would probably know about it, the boy decided, well aware that she and her fellow techs constantly monitored the Angel Detection System. And the brunette was apparently as every bit in the dark as Shinji himself was.

While Shinji was trying to decide whether or not this concept scared him, a familiar voice rose up above the general chaos flooding the hallway. "Hey!" came Asuka's voice. While Shinji was trying to spot the irritable redhead, she continued, "Watch the merchandise, jerk!"

"Asuka?" Maya spoke in a questioning manner as she searched the crowd. As Shinji observed the woman's face, he saw her light up with realization as she started off in another direction. "Oh, come on, now! What is with you people?! Can't you be just a bit gentler with them?!"

"Hey, trying telling that to the bitch here!" retorted a male voice that sounded like the soul of aggravation. "She's been kicking me this entire time!"

"Well, maybe if you'd take those fat hands of yours off of me…!" Asuka retorted grumpily.

Letting out a weary sigh as he realized that his fellow pilot was having about as much luck with her escort as he was with his, Shinji just shook his head and lowered his gaze to the floor. Continuing to allow himself to be dragged along, the boy continued to wonder what was going on, and wish that he was someplace other than this crowed, noisy hallway.

Just as he was thinking this, Shinji was practically sent flying as a massive wave of sound and heat erupted into the hallway. Cried of confusion erupting all around him, the 3rd Child felt the Section 2 agent relinquish his hold on him, just as a hideous, mechanical screech filled the hall, making him want to cover his ears and hide. Aware of the people around him turning to look at the source of the cry, Shinji followed their example, and felt his jaw clatter to the floor at what he saw.

A monster, a purple gargoyle/dragon thing had just blasted its way into the hallway, plumes of fire still spilling from its maw. Patches of purple scales were missing from its hide, revealing advanced technology within. The monster's baleful eyes scanned the people before it, just before it screamed its rage once again.

What is it with this place and purple monsters? Shinji found himself thinking, ironically finding himself numbed by the sight of the monster. Even as the people surrounding him screamed their terror, the boy found that he really wasn't all that frightened by the thing. That wasn't to say that he didn't think there was danger; Shinji had taken in the monster's fangs, claws, fire breath and apparent strength, and knew that it was definitely a threat to both life and limb.

But while the threat the creature posed was now causing many of the people there to cry out in terror, to flee for their lives, Shinji just stood there and watched as his escort drew his gun and opened fire. Even the sight of the bullets bouncing off the monster still quite drive home the message to his legs that running might be a very good idea at the point in time.

"Shinji, what are you doing?!" demanded a voice that snapped Shinji out of his paralysis, a voice that was following by the sensation of a gentle hand tensely wrapping about his wrist. Looking about, he saw that Maya had grabbed hold of him, and was now pulling him along. "We have to get away from here!"

"But -!" Shinji got out, completely flummoxed by this turn of events. He cast one look at the agent, who was still firing at the monster.

"There's no time! We have to get out of here!" Maya ordered, not waiting for the boy to make up his mind. The tech kept going with Shinji, looking wildly about. Then she let out a cry of realization, and she shifted course. "Asuka!"

"Huh?" came the puzzled reply of the redhead, at which point Shinji saw her standing about, apparently lost in confusion. Her own Section 2 escort's entire focus on the monster.

"Come on! Let's go!" Maya cried out, reaching out and placing her free arm beneath Asuka's shoulder. Soon the brunette was pulling them both along, the German as surprised by this turn of events as Shinji himself was.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Asuka demanded fiercely, instinctively struggling to break free of Maya.

"Getting you two as far away from that thing as I can!" Maya returned, not slowing down for even a moment.

Lost in this madness, Shinji's thought processes were jumpstarted when the savage roar of the monster echoed through the hall, followed by the tramp of footsteps. Looking back over his shoulder, Shinji paled a couple shades. "Maya!" the boy cried out as he saw the monster rushing towards them, knocking over the Section 2 men like they were little more than rag dolls, tongues of flame spitting from its mouth.

"I know, I know!" Maya cried out, not bothering to look back and see their attacker drawing closer, its eyes narrowing determinedly. "This way!"

"Wha – hey, watch it!" Asuka screeched as Maya forced them to turn down an intersecting hallway. "Where are you taking us?!"

"Anywhere but here!" Maya replied, visibly pushing herself for everything she was worth. The young woman's breaths came out as desperate pants as another blast of flame heated the air they were breathing.

Shinji had no way of knowing whether or not Asuka said anything to this. Everything was happening too fast for him to get himself together, to make sense of anything or do anything other than allow himself to be guided to safety. And so he did. With Maya pulling him and the German along, the boy watched the halls of NERV blur past him, felt the heat of their enemy, its screeches of hatred, hunger, and frustration at this prey that was just barely keeping ahead of it.

Then Shinji saw something that he processed effortlessly. An open, elevator door that lay just ahead of them. And while the boy wasn't the most socially experienced of people, he had seen enough movies for his panic-stricken mind to recognize this as a dead-end.

However, it was clear that Maya wasn't quite movie buff that he was. "In there!" the brunette cried out, quickening her pace.

"What, are you crazy?!!?!" Asuka shrilled as they closed the gap between them and the elevator. The German squirming that much frantically as Maya practically tossed them into the tiny chamber.

While the monster was looking at the elevator car like it was a packed lunch, Maya whipped about and started pressing the controls, trying to force the car to take them as far away from the monster as it could. Unaware of the mortal peril they were in, the elevator dinged, causing its doors to start closing. The thin slabs of metal sliding shut with agonizing slowness, while the monster drew ever closer. Close enough for Shinji to feel its smoky breath wafting up to him.

"C'mon, c'mon!!" Maya pleaded, rapidly and repeatedly pushing the 'close' button, her eyes widening in horror as the monster opened its mouth, revealing a series of dagger-like teeth. And it was clear that she expected those teeth to be burying themselves in her flesh at any moment.

However, as Shinji watched the monster draw closer, he felt something shift inside of him. The fear he felt, what little concern he might have had for himself fell away as he looked at the women sharing the elevator with him. Maya's eyes had turned into orbs of terror, while Asuka was staring hatefully at the monster, her hands balled into fists. And while it was clear that the volatile 2nd Child felt no fear, she was equally helpless against the monster before them, and obviously frustrated by this.

Everyone was helpless against this monster, including Shinji himself. And this fact, the feeling of being cornered with no place with go, ignited a madness in the boy. And without any thought, any consideration of the potential circumstances, Shinji placed himself just on the their side of the elevator doors, just as the monster was jammed its head into the door.

"Shinji, don't!!!!" Maya screeched in horror, but it was too late. The monster was just opening its mouth to rip Shinji limb from limb, but the boy mindlessly countered by thrusting both fists into the things eyes.

The result was astonishing. The monster squealed in surprise, the fact that its prey was actually attacking it, rather than the other way around, caused it to rear back and shake its head. Giving the elevator doors just enough time to finish closing before the monster could consider launching another attack. Leaving both females staring in awe at Shinji, who was still blinded by the adrenaline rush and the madness that had claimed him.

As Shinji stood there, panting heavily, Maya finally said, "Wow…" The brunette stood straight and gazed down at the boy, a gaze he returned. "Shinji…that was amazing…!"

"Hmph. You always have to save the day, don't you?" Asuka snorted, folding her arms. However, when Shinji looked at the German, he saw a gaze of what could almost have been called grudging respect.

Looking at the two of them and realizing what he had just done, Shinji felt a weak smile spread across his face. A smile that was cut off by something slamming into the bottom of the elevator, sending it lurching upwards before it screeched down again.

While Asuka was crying out in German, Maya grabbed hold of Shinji and pressed him tightly against her. "Omigod! It's still coming!"

Acting on impulse, Shinji returned Maya's embrace, holding onto her like she was an anchor as he stared at the floor. While the elevator continued to lurch about slightly, a series of dents began to form in the space between the three passengers. Acting on impulse, the impromptu threesome huddled together in one of the corners, staring fearfully at the growing bulge, heaving deep, terrified breaths. Only for Maya to squeal fearfully as a series of purple claws punctured the metal.

Staring helplessly at the knife-like claws of the monsters as they began to slice through the metal, Shinji felt two sets of arms clutching desperately at him. All the while he knew that there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. And when the monster finally succeeded in clawing away a section of the floor and stuck its arm in there, he knew that they were about to die.

And then it stopped.

For a moment, Shinji thought that time itself had stopped, rather than the monster. It just couldn't be possible that this indestructible horror would change its computerized mind after coming so far, and was now so close to victory. But seconds passed, then what felt like minutes, the elevator still dangling somewhat, and the creature's claws failed to so much as budge an inch.

Finally, a questioning noise escaped from Asuka's throat, the German sliding away from the other two and leaning closer to the hole. "Hey…what's that thing waiting for, anyway?"

"Asuka, shhh!!!" Maya hissed, placing her finger to her throat and gesturing for the German to back away. "Who knows what that thing is doing?!"

"But it's not doing anything! See?!" Asuka insisted, waving for the two of them to join her.

Several moments passed as Shinji and Maya looked at each other, then at the German, and finally at the clawed hand that remained perfectly frozen. Finally, unsure if it was curiosity or the desire to get Asuka away from the dread hand or some combination of the two that motivated them, both boy and woman edged closer to the hole, close enough to be able to look through and see the biomechanical abomination that hung beneath them.

"What the…?" Shinji gasped out as he looked down and saw the monster. It wasn't hanging limp, but it wasn't moving either. It was simply frozen as still as a statue, it's eyed blank and the fire that it had belched extinguished.

More baffled than anything else, Shinji looked up at Maya and asked, "Wh-what happened to it?"

"I guess…whatever was powering this thing died out," Maya replied, examining the thing as closely as she dared. "See? It looks pretty heavily damaged. Maybe it just…gave out."

"And in that case…" Asuka smirked in relief. Drawing back her foot, she then delivered a swift kick to the monster's clawed hand.

"Asuka, I don't think that you -!" Shinji protested, raising his hands at the girl. Once again, it was like a scene out of a movie, this time of the horror variety. The survivors of the monster's rampage celebrating over its corpse, only for one of them to get cocky just in time for the creature to revive just long enough to give them all one final scare, and maybe even take one final hapless victim down for the road.

But even as Shinji was picturing the creature's claws wrapping about Asuka's ankle and pulling her to her doom, the German delivered the kick, and the creature didn't do anything to prevent it. Instead, the kick struck home, and the immobile claws did nothing to hold their purchase. The sound like nails on a chalkboard filled the elevator car just before the clawed hand slipped free, and the still-frozen monster fell to its doom.

All three of them just stood over the hole, listening to the various impacts the defunct beast made as it crashed down the elevator shaft, Asuka then smiled broadly at the two of them. "Well, that takes care of that!" the redhead beamed in satisfaction. "Now, how about we get out of here?"

"I like the sound of that," Maya agreed, looking like she had just run marathon race. Which Shinji supposed she had, more or less.

"But how?" Shinji wondered, gesturing at the hole. "That thing wrecked the elevator! And if it can't move anymore…!"

"Well, then we'll just have to call for help, now, won't we, Third?" Asuka decided, eyeing Shinji in a way the boy was very familiar with.

"I just hope that the emergency phone is still operational," Maya murmured. The brunette then went over to the small compartment in which the red phone was held and retrieved it. As she held the device to her ear, Maya grinned in clear relief. "It's working!"

"See? Now, that wasn't too much, now was it, baka?" Asuka smirked as Maya began speaking over the line.

Heaving a tired breath, Shinji then looked over at Maya, who was tersely explaining their situation to whomever was on the other end of the line. Both of the Children just stood there, watching and listening to one half of the conversation, only to frown as Maya's face became more concerned. "Huh? That long?"

"What is it, Maya?" Shinji asked, as the brunette made a face.

Turning away from the phone, the Lieutenant eyed the two of them apologetically. "According to him, it's going to take a while to get a crew here to help us," Maya explained, frowning unhappily.

"Huh?!" Asuka growled, looking incredulously at Maya. "What do you mean?! Didn't you tell them we're stuck in a damned elevator that's falling apart?!"

"I did, but…" Maya got out, gesturing helplessly at the phone.

"I don't believe this!" Asuka sneered, marching up and yanking the phone from the tech's hand. "Here! Let me!" While Maya gingerly stepped away, careful to mind the hole in the floor, the German took a deep breath and shouted, "Now, you listen and you good! Do you have any idea just who you're talking to here?! I…!!"

While Asuka proceeded to lecture the person on the other end of the line on just how important she was to the safety of the world and all the horrible things that would happen to him if he didn't find some way to get them out of that elevator that very instant, Maya edged towards the other captive of the decimated elevator. "I'm sorry about this, Shinji," Maya smiled apologetically. "It looks like we're going to be here for awhile."

"Oh, that's alright," Shinji replied, blushing slightly as she came to stand next to him. "I kinda guessed that it would…take awhile."

"Yeah. I guess so. What with that monster tearing this place apart," Maya nodded, rolling her eyes at this. Then she deepened her smile. "So…anything interesting going on with you?" Shinji didn't answer this. He just frowned, cocking his head in a questioning manner. Holding her hands to the boy, Maya added, "Well, I just figured we should…I don't know. Do something while we're waiting for a rescue team to come. And unless you've got a deck of cards on you…"

Sighing somewhat, Shinji smiled in return. "Uh, no. Sorry," the boy apologized. Only to wince as Asuka screeched into the phone, just before making several biting remarks about the person she was talking to. While she was making derogatory references to his parentage, intelligence, breeding habits, and several other things, Shinji sighed tiredly. "And…I guess we are gonna be here for a while. So…"

"Great," Maya sighed, carefully leaning up against the wall and sliding down into a sitting position. "So…anything special you'd like to talk about?"

Standing a polite distance from Maya, Shinji prepared to speak. Only to frown as something prickled in his ears. "Did you hear that?"

"Hmm?" Maya frowned. "I didn't hear anything." Then the tech shrugged before jerking indicating the irate German with her head. "Well, except for…"

Too caught up in her ranting, Asuka didn't notice Maya's gesture. Nor did she notice the slight tittering that escaped Shinji's lips. "Okay. I guess it's nothing," the boy finally decided. Despite the fact that he could have sworn he heard a faint groaning of metal, and the hiss of flame.


There! That should do it! Ms. Fantastic thought, truly satisfied as she studied her handiwork. Hitomi! How are things on your end?

'Everything's A-okay up here!' Hitomi reported happily, her voice sounding over their nanotech link. 'I think Shinji heard you working down there, but even he isn't too sure about it. What with the way a certain someone is mouthing off!' Giving the superwoman a moment to laugh, the cyber-clone then asked, 'So, just out of curiosity, how long do we have before this thing falls apart and we all plunge to our doom?'

Barely suppressing the urge to laugh, Ms. Fantastic shook her head as she ran an in-depth analysis on the structure of the damaged elevator. Not to worry, Hitomi. I made sure that Dragon Man didn't damage any of the critical supports down here, the green-haired superwoman reported. And just to make sure that you'd be alright, I bent some of the supports to hold the elevator better. It's another hit to the budget, but I think we can both live with that. Even as she sent this message, Ms. Fantastic did another check of the repairs in question. It had taken a good deal of concentration on her part, making as little noise as possible while she stood supported by her invisible platform, effecting the minimal repairs that would insure that the elevator car would remain in place. But a bit of bent metal, along with a spot of heat applied here and there, would assure their safe positioning.

Just make sure that you stay away from the hole, Ms. Fantastic warned the cyber-clone after finishing her second inspection. It's not big enough to fall through, but you could cut yourself on the edges.

'Yeah, I kinda figured that one out," Hitomi grumped. 'But why did you have that thing rip out the bottom of this box to begin with?!'

I'm sorry, but I couldn't have that thing just give up on trying to get all of you, Ms. Fantastic explained sympathetically. I had to make it look Dragon Man's attack look as convincing as possible!

'Well, guess what? You succeeded!' Hitomi retorted with an edge of sarcasm. 'I think I wet myself several times back there, and I wouldn't be surprised if Shinji or Asuka had an accident, either!'

I'm sorry about that, Hitomi, Ms. Fantastic told her genetic duplicate. But if it makes you feel any better, you pulled off your part of the plan perfectly.

'Which reminds me,' Hitomi started, drilling even more sarcasm into her creator. 'I would really like to know why you had that biomechanical creep chasing after us to begin with?'

Sighing wearily, Ms. Fantastic commanded the platform to begin its descent. All the while thinking of the scare she had suffered not that long ago. Of how the monster she had thought she had defeated had once again gotten to its feet, despite its insides being subjected to fires greater than those found in the depths of a volcano. And how it was about to bring its deadly claws down upon her, ready to strike her down just when she thought she had been truly victorious…

(Flashback)

Reeling backwards from the force of the blow, Ms. Fantastic tumbled to the ground, several deep gashes decorating her face. Stunned with pain even as her Angelic powers started mending the wounds, the dazed superwoman looked up, and gasped as she once again saw her attacker stomping towards her. The dragon-like horror was limping somewhat, and much of its scaly exterior had been destroyed during the course of the battle, but it was still so powerful and deadly.

Scrabbling backwards as she tried to recover, Ms. Fantastic found her mind fogged with shock, her ability to think gone in the face of this monster's seeming invulnerability. And when it finally arrived before her, rearing back both arms so as to drive them down upon her head, she forgot everything. Her relative invulnerability to blunt impact, her rapid healing, even the powers she had just used to bring this creature down just seconds earlier. She forgot about all these things, and could do nothing but bring up her arms before her face.

"Nooo!!!!" the fledgling superwoman screamed, just as the monster struck. "Stop!! Get away from me!!"

Grimacing as she awaited the blow that was sure to come, Ms. Fantastic gasped in shock as something else happened. The monster let out something that could only be described as a surprised gasp…just before it took several steps backwards.

Several moments passed, moments in which Ms. Fantastic lowered her arms just enough to peak out over them. She saw the monster looked about dazedly, just before it once again looked at her, and narrowed its eyes into burning slits. Snarling in a guttural manner, the creature started towards her once again, brandishing its claws.

"Stop right there!!" Ms. Fantastic shouted at the monster. The fear and confusion she felt giving way ever so slightly, just enough for her technician's mind to step forward and present her with the beginnings of a theory. A theory that was incredible, impossible…but one that she felt compelled to test, anyway.

Once again, the monster stopped in its tracks, crying out in surprise as it looked down at itself. Wondering why its feet weren't taking it closer to its quarry.

Looking on at the monster wonderingly, Ms. Fantastic hurriedly got to her feet, pressing her lips together as her theory found roots, and began to grow more solid. "Raise your right arm," the superwoman ordered, never once looking away from the creature.

Much to its surprise, the monster complied. Staring at its appendage like it was foreign limb.

Releasing something that was part gasp, part laugh, Ms. Fantastic stepped gingerly towards the monster. "Now, jump and down," she ordered, and laughed even more as the creature found itself helpless to obey. "Rub your belly and your head at the same time."

Again, the creature obeyed, and Ms. Fantastic started laughing even more. And she kept laughing as she gave the monster one ridiculous command after another, commands that it found itself helplessly obeying.

I don't believe this! Ms. Fantastic cried out in her own mind, wrapping her arms about her stomach as her ribs began to ache from her mirth. Her theory all but confirmed, the superwoman reached out with her mind, and put the final nail on the monster's coffin, sealing its fate.

Just as she had suspected, when the monster had tasted of her flesh and blood, the nanites that had long since infiltrated every square inch of her flesh had infected the monster. And just like everything else that was connected to those nanites…it was now under her control.

(End Flashback)

I still can't believe how easily my nanites infected that thing! Ms. Fantastic thought as she continued her descent, dizzied by the thought, by the possibilities.

'What I can't believe is that you decided to sic your new slave on me, your faithful stand-in!' Hitomi griped. Grumbling beneath her breath at her creation's complaining, Ms. Fantastic still listened as the cyber-clone continued. "Seriously, what good does sending that thing on rampage do us! Now Gendo and everybody else who's in on this knows that somebody broke into Terminal Dogma!!"

They would have figured that one out sooner or later anyway. The fact that that thing came after me is proof of that, Ms. Fantastic returned, frowning in thought as Hitomi's complaints made her once again review her plan even as she was carrying the remainder of it out. Besides, I had enough time to look about most of Terminal Dogma. And I didn't detect any sign of Adam down there.

'So Adam isn't on the base?' Hitomi wondered, sounding uncertain of this.

It doesn't look like it, Ms. Fantastic admitted. Besides, I found something else while I was down there.

'Huh? Like what?' Hitomi demanded.

When I was at the disposal site for the failed Evas, after the fight? Ms. Fantastic explained, picturing the graveyard for monsters in her mind. Feeling an involuntary shudder run through her body as she did so. I saw some tunnels on the far wall.

'Tunnels?' Hitomi gaped. 'But to where?'

I'm not sure. They had been collapsed, and from the readings I got on them, it hadn't been that long ago, Ms. Fantastic explained, thinking of how she had spotted the tunnels. Of how she had been experimenting with her new toy, make it fly around as she had perfected her control of the beast. But it looks like I'm not the only one interested in poking around down there. Frowning in thought, Ms. Fantastic eventually found her floor, and with minimal effort, slid her malleable body through the closed doors without disturbing them. As soon as she recreated her platform so as to move silently there, she continued towards her destination. I don't know what's going on here, but maybe the Commander didn't put Dragon Man down there for just me.

'Uh, you're not really going to call that thing 'Dragon Man', are you?' Hitomi wondered weakly. 'Isn't that kinda lame?'

This from the person who thought calling me 'Ms. Fantastic' was a good idea? the superwoman thought snidely, making sure that this thought didn't make its way to her creation.

After making sure that she didn't give away her presence as she navigated the hall and the people that were currently moving through, Ms. Fantastic continued to explain. Anyway, after the fight, I had an idea. There's no way that Dragon Man is some kind of standard equipment. Meaning that it's the sort of thing that the Commander would want to keep secret.

'But it's not any secret anymore!' Hitomi grinned over their link. 'Which means that there's gonna be an investigation, and -!'

That's what I'm hoping, Ms. Fantastic returned, despite the fact that her mental voice was none too hopeful. Her failed attempt to send information to the UN had been a hard lesson, and she wasn't about going to assume that things would work out exactly the way she planned. But even if they don't, I'm sure that people around here will be asking questions. And the Commander…he's going to want to know what happened.

'And that helps us…how?' Hitomi asked.

Because he's going to be holding a meeting in order to find out what went wrong with Dragon Man, Ms. Fantastic asserted as her destination finally came into sight. The office that was known throughout NERV as Gendo's Lair. And I'm going to be listening to every word of it.

'Huh?' Hitomi squeaked out incredulously. Then she intuited what her creator had in mind, and retorted, 'Excuse me? You're not actually planning on sitting around in Commander Creep's office until he has a meeting – which could be a very long time – and then hope you can…?'

Nope. I've got a better idea, Ms. Fantastic replied as she slid into the office, grimacing in horror at the dread expanse. The entire space decorated with bizarre, Angelic equations, where every square centimeter seemed designed for the express purpose of making the occupants wish they were somewhere, anywhere else. And about the last place the superwoman would want to spend a few seconds, let alone the untold hours that Hitomi was suggesting.

While Ms. Fantastic was wondering just how Gendo himself could like being in such a place, spend so much time there without being completely creeped out of his own skin by the décor, the superwoman hovered towards her objective. Which was sitting in plain sight, on the top of the Commander's desk.

'Okay. I'll bite,' Hitomi began in a cutting manner. 'What's your brilliant plan this time?'

Well, I figured if I can infect things like Dragon Man and my laptop with nanites and take control of them, why not other things? Ms. Fantastic asked rhetorically as she held out her hand towards the phone. Narrowing her eyes in concentration, the green-haired woman stretched out her fingertips, making them longer and thinner before forcing them into the phone's interior. She then focused on the nanites within her body, commanding them. Sending them forth from the pores in her skin, where they spread and multiplied within the wiring of the phone with almost ridiculous ease.

In less than a minute, the phone was completely under the control of Ms. Fantastic. Perfect, the superwoman thought with a sense of deep satisfaction as she retracted her flesh and flexed her fingers experimentally. Now the phone will record everything said in here, and I'll be able to listen on anything the Commander says at any time I want.

'Like, oh say, one of his infamous make-out sessions with Ritsuko?' Hitomi wondered impishly.

The instant these words were in her mind, Ms. Fantastic was helpless to keep herself from picturing her beloved sempai, naked and in the arms of a man who was quite possibly the most evil creature on the planet. Grimacing in disgust, the superwoman shook her head vigorously, trying to eradicate that picture from her mind. Ugh!! Hitomi!!

'Hey, what can I say? People talk!' Hitomi protested laughingly. 'According to them, those two having been boinking each other everywhere from his office to the inside of Unit 01!'

Not bothering to point out that making out in an Entry Plug sounded a lot more pleasant than the alternative, Ms. Fantastic growled, Well, don't believe everything you hear, okay?! Shaking her head disdainfully, the superwoman exited the way she had entered. I'm heading home now. I've got some planning to do, and with Shinji going to his mother's grave tomorrow, I want to be ready to cheer him up if he needs it.

'Oh, right. Your big plan to make Shinji so happy that the bad guys can't use him to cause Third Impact,' Hitomi spoke mockingly. 'And what am I supposed to do? Just sit around and wait for rescue?!'

Just keep talking to Shinji and Asuka, okay? Ms. Fantastic asked of her double. If you can get close to Shinji as well, then that's another thing going for us. And try and listen to everything Asuka says. Anything that might help me get close to her at school.

'Why do you need me? You've read her file!' Hitomi protested. Then, after a beat, she added, 'Well, her public one, anyway.'

For all the good that does me, Ms. Fantastic grumbled, thinking of the file in question. One that she wasn't entirely sure if had been heavily edited or just written by idiots. All it really told me is that she was selected as a pilot at four, and that her mother committed suicide at about the same time after having some kind of accident. If I'm going to get close to her at school, I need more information than that.

'Okay, okay! I'll try! Sheesh,' Hitomi grumped. 'At least she's talking, though. Shinji's just sort of sitting here, looking at me funny.'

Huh? Ms. Fantastic sent back, puzzled by this statement. That's strange. I mean, we've never exactly been close on the base, but – oh.

While Ms. Fantastic's eyes were expanding into dinner plates, her concentration faltering until she almost fell to the floor, silence fell between her and her doppelganger until Hitomi finally demanded, 'Oh? What 'oh'? Are we talking about a good 'oh', or a bad 'oh'?'

More like…an embarrassing one, Ms. Fantastic confessed, struggling to regain her composure and remain undetected long enough to make her escape. Y'see, on the day I…got my powers, I asked for someone from NERV to bring me my laptop. They sent Shinji, and…

'And…?' Hitomi prompted, clearly looking forward to whatever it was that her creator had to say.

Well, I couldn't control my powers yet, and I'd already destroyed my shirt and some of my other clothes, Ms. Fantastic, feeling her cheeks burn as she recalled this particular incident. Anyway, I didn't want to ruin anymore of my clothes, so I wasn't wearing anything, only I forgot that when Shinji showed up, I… Practically squirming with humiliation, the superwoman finally admitted, I…kinda forgot I didn't have a shirt or bra on when I went to the door, and…

'And you flashed the kid, huh?' Hitomi returned, grinning over the line. While Ms. Fantastic was glowing red beneath her field of invisibility, the cyber-clone asked, 'So what's the big deal?'

Once again stunned, this time with incredulity, Ms. Fantastic felt her jaw plummet. Taking a moment to make sure it didn't slam into the floor, the green-haired heroine shot back, What's the big deal?! Hitomi, don't you get it?! I met Shinji at the door, and I almost nude!

'So what? You think the kid would be freaked out by the A-cups you used to wear? Gimme a break!' Hitomi grinned over their link. 'The little guy lives with Misato, for crying out loud! And you think he'd get all worked up by a set of low-voltage man-magnets like the ones you stuck me with?! Please!'

Stunned for a third time, Ms. Fantastic felt her flushing once more. The only difference was that this time, it was humiliation and outrage that was spurring her emotional reaction. And this time, she wasn't able to keep her concentration from being broken. Her AT-Field platform dissipated beneath her feet, leaving the scantily clad heroine to tumble to the floor, letting out a surprised squawk upon impact.

"Hey, did you hear something?" the superwoman distantly heard someone ask. Looking wildly about, Ms. Fantastic saw a pair of technicians standing nearby, looking about wonderingly.

Not waiting to listen if the tech's companion agreed, Ms. Fantastic recreated her platform and hurriedly flew away on it. Hitomi, I don't believe this! How can you say something like that?!?!!

'Because it's the truth?' Hitomi asked deviously. Like it was something so pathetically obvious, that she couldn't believe that her creator hadn't figured it out for herself. 'Seriously! I'm almost embarrassed to be stuck with these tiny things! Can't I pretend to have plastic surgery and trade them in for a set of jugs that will actually get me some attention?'

What?! Ms. Fantastic growled, growing more and more annoyed with her creation. Are you kidding me?! No way! You're supposed to be acting the way that I would!!

'Aw, c'mon! How am I supposed to get a guy when I have to compete with women like Misato or Ritsuko running around the base?' Hitomi demanded in a wounded fashion. 'Because if there's anything I've learned watching soap operas, it's that those things are power!!'

Shaking her head in dismay, Ms. Fantastic found herself jolted by her clone's words. Wait a minute! Since when do you watch soap operas, anyway?!

'Well, you told me to do things as slowly as humans do! So I modified my nanites so I can get cable while I'm at work. Between that and a few online books, I not only slow myself down, but it keeps me from getting bored while I'm sitting on my butt so much!' Hitomi explained. 'But, seriously, I really would like to get myself a guy here! From what I've been seeing and reading, some of those biological functions human have look like a lot of fun!'

Unable to help herself, Ms. Fantastic let out a pain groan as she placed her hand upon her now-throbbing temples. Just talk to them, Hitomi, and try and keep them comfortable until somebody gets you out of there, the invisible heroine sent, not wanting to bother saying anything further to the clone whom she was once again thinking of as her biggest mistake of all time. I'm going home…and take a long, long nap!


Fuyutsuki wanted very dearly to be able to take a nap.

It had already been a long day. An incident at NERV had forced he and Gendo to return to the base late in the evening. And after several hours, they and those who worked there had managed to restore NERV Headquarters to order, something that would have proven trying to a man many years Fuyutsuki's junior. But that was not the reason he was tired.

In the years in which he had fallen under the sway of his former student, Kozo Fuyutsuki had grown old. He had been an old man in body for some time before then, but he had still been vigorous, and active. But after the things he had seen, been a part of, since the day one who had been his pupil had become the master, the former professor had aged rapidly in spirit. Leaving him old, sick, and tired in his heart of hearts, making him readily susceptible to the frailties of the flesh.

So now, fatigued both on a mental and physical level, Fuyutsuki found himself the focus of his former student's attention, and his irritation. Irritation that was subtle, but still plain as day to the old professor, who listened as Gendo stated, "This is unacceptable, sensei."

"Agreed," Fuyutsuki muttered, thinking of the backlash that had already occurred because of the incident. "Major Katsuragi had already been asking questions about D-00's rampage, amongst several others. And given the fact that it apparently escaped from the depths of Terminal Dogma…"

"I wouldn't worry about it, sir," Captain Iwao Chiron broke in. Both Fuyutsuki and Gendo looked at the Section 2 head, who was standing off to the professor's side. "I've already arranged for all records of the incident to be erased, and a complete debriefing of everyone involved. There's no chance of a security breach."

"There's always a risk, given the circumstances," Gendo frowned icily, staring daggers at the man who represented his fists. While Chiron stepped back from his Commander's deadly gaze, the man who was Ikari's voice at times, advisor at others, received his former student's gaze. "Were there any casualties?"

"None, fortunately," Fuyutsuki reported. "Lt. Ibuki and the 2nd and 3rd Children were trapped in an elevator by D-00 before its systems failed, but they were successfully retrieved. They are apparently uninjured."

Frowning intently from his seat, Gendo continued to look out across his desk at his subordinates. "Make certain that D-Unit 00 is safely disposed of. The last thing I want if for it to attract any additional attention. And have all needed maintenance teams start working on repairing the damage it did. Have them work round the clock if necessary, but I want everything back in order as quickly as possible."

Fuyutsuki frowned to this. "Ikari…we still don't know who or what set D-00 off. And judging from what I've heard, it was severely damaged before it even began its attack."

"I am fully aware of this, sensei," Ikari grumbled, his fingers steepled before him in what was known as the 'Gendo pose'. "I've already made arrangements for it to be examined, and defenses in Terminal Dogma to be reinforced. We cannot afford a repeat of this fiasco."

"But how did someone get into Terminal Dogma to begin with?" Chiron wondered, his face creased with concentration.

"I have my suspicions about that, and as to the identity of our intruders," Gendo muttered, sounding thoroughly disgusted with the situation. Then the Commander of NERV stood from his desk, and started towards the door. "However, that is something that I will have to deal with some other time."

"What?" Chiron got out, clearly as surprised as anything that Gendo was leaving without coming to a clear resolution regarding the situation.

"Fuyutsuki, I want for you to arrange a meeting with the various department heads, as well as Mr. Kaji," Gendo muttered beneath his breath. "Sometime on the day after tomorrow would be best."

While Fuyutsuki was nodding to this, Chiron was frowning that much more. "The day…after tomorrow, sir?" the Section 2 head wondered, looking from Gendo to the old professor and back again. "With all due respect, sir, I would have thought that you would prefer to settle this matter immediately."

"I would," Gendo replied, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "However, given the current condition of most of the department heads, I doubt that we would accomplish much this evening."

Fuyutsuki barely held down the urge to snort a chuckle at this. For he had seen Misato, Ritsuko, and several other key personnel walking blearily about, just barely sustained by the coffee-flavored caffeine served at NERV at sheer willpower. That had been hours ago, and both these essential fuels had been in short supply even back then.

"And I have a…special appointment tomorrow," Gendo continued, his expression intensifying. "One that I cannot cancel. For any reason."

Chiron looked ready to question this, but Fuyutsuki shot him a meaningful glare. One that even someone as blunt as the Section 2 head was incapable of misinterpreting. Heaving a weary breath, the former teacher nodded to his student. "Very well, Ikari," he muttered. "But how do we explain how D-00 appeared within NERV Headquarters? Too many people saw it, and…"

Gendo paused momentarily before turning and considering the old professor. "That is a very good question, sensei," the Commander finally admitted. Then a somewhat sadistic smile curled his lips. "And I look forward to hearing what you come up with." Not giving Fuyutsuki a chance to give any form of retort, Gendo started away again. "You're dismissed."

"Very well, sir," Fuyutsuki finally muttered. Just standing there and watching as his former student departed his office.

Fuyutsuki wanted very dearly to be able to take a nap. But as he had long since learned, one didn't always get what one wanted in life. Especially when Gendo Ikari held sway over all.


"Dammit!" Misato growled as she marched into her apartment, a cloud of barely constrained aggravation hovering overhead, and dark shadows forming beneath her eyes.

"Hey there, Misato," Asuka muttered lazily from her place on the floor. The television was heard in the background, and PenPen was lying next to the redhead.

"Asuka, what are you still doing up?" Misato wondered as she surveyed the German. "I thought you had a date tomorrow."

"Oh, you mean that blind date that Hikari talked me into?" Asuka grumbled, rolling her eyes at the memory.

"Yeah, that one," Misato nodded. "You should get to bed if you want to be ready for night on out on the town with a possible Mr. Right."

"Hmph. It's just some dork of a med student that Hikari's sister knows," Asuka scoffed, propping herself up and looking directly at her guardian. "Besides, I wanted to know if you found out anything about that thing that nearly roasted us today!"

Growling in her own throat, Misato directed a forceful look at her charge. "I didn't find out anything except that the Commander wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone! The entire base is on lockdown!"

"What?!" Asuka screeched in protest. Staring in disbelief as Misato kicked off her shoes, the redhead flew to her feet and started following her. "You've got to be kidding me?! I nearly got eaten by that damned thing, got stuck in a damned elevator for hours, and got a lecture from Section 2 idiot that I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that it happened, and now you're telling me that the Bastard in Chief doesn't want to talk about it?!!"

"Nobody's talking about anything down there right now," Misato grumbled. For although Asuka had exaggerated somewhat in certain respects, her overall ire was certainly understandable. She, Shinji, and Maya had been cooped up in the damaged elevator for some time before they had been rescued, and had received a quick checkup before the children had been hustled home. While Misato and the rest of NERV were left with the arduous task of trying to restore order to chaos. A task that was much easier said than done, not to mention far more tiring and time consuming.

And I never even had the chance to go look for a new dress! Misato fumed unhappily, recalling how she had planned to find something new to wear for the wedding the next day. Just another reason to find whoever was responsible for that thing and shove my gun up his ass!

A metaphorical bolt of lightning bursting from the cloud of anger hovering over her head, Misato frowned as she looked about. "Hey, where's Shinji at?"

"Oh, him?" Asuka returned carelessly. "He went to bed a while ago. I'm pretty sure that he's asleep."

Heaving a deep breath through her pursed lips, Misato found herself being disappointed. Despite the fact that she honestly couldn't blame Shinji for his exhaustion, she had been truly looking forward to one of the culinary delights he managed to whip on a daily basis. And the thought of trying to salve both her exhaustion and her hunger with instant curry seemed like a very poor one.

While Misato was already running down the list of restaurants that delivered at that hour, Asuka smiled deviously, seeming to intuit what her guardian was thinking. "Don't worry, Misato. The Third stayed up just long enough to make dinner for you. He left it in the oven, so all you have to do is warm it up." The German let this sink in for a moment before adding, "That is, assuming you can manage to do that without wrecking it."

At this, Misato released a sound that was one part relief that she had been saved from having to prepare her own meal, and another part disgust at once again being called on just how rotten a cook she was. "Gimme a break, Asuka! I'm not that bad!" Misato lied unconvincingly. When the German snickered at this pathetic prevarication, she decided to change subjects. "So, anything happening here? Anyone call while I was out?"

"Yeah. That ditz Aya called while we were out," Asuka grumbled disdainfully. "Apparently, she was wondering if it'd be okay if she could drop by tomorrow."

"Really?" Misato replied, frowning slightly at this. "And Shinji…what did he say to that?"

"Well, of course he said it was okay," Asuka grumbled, rolling her eyes in patent disapproval. "You know the baka. He can't say no to anyone." While Misato was considering this development, the German face changed subjects. "By the way, can I use some of your lavender perfume?" When a raised purple eyebrow was the only response she got, Asuka elaborated. "For my date tomorrow? Even if he is some loser, I still want to be at my best."

"What?" Misato got out, surprised by this change in subject. Rolling her weary eyes back, she shook her head. "Asuka, that stuff isn't for kids!"

"Hey, I'm not a kid, you meanie!" Asuka protested, even as Misato headed towards the kitchen.

Looking over at the phone, Misato frowned in consideration. Shinji had been spending a fair amount of time with Aya since she had shown up at his school, which in and of itself was a good sign as far as the purple-haired woman was concerned. After the pain and difficulty her ward had had in reaching out to others, at growing accustomed in simply being with other people, the fact that he was spending so much time with friends in general and this girl in particular was a good trend. And it showed a great deal of progress on his part, and greater self-confidence.

And yet, even as Misato considered that, she found herself honestly worrying. For while she was willing to give Aya the benefit of doubt, and found herself liking the young girl, she also knew that she hadn't spent much time with her. And although she was hopeful for Shinji and his broadening social horizons, she knew firsthand how badly relationships could go wrong. A situation that she knew would be tested tomorrow, when she and Ritsuko would be spending a great deal of time with the man with whom she had learned this lesson firsthand.

Oh, what was I ever thinking, getting involved with him, anyway? Misato thought unhappily, thinking of how hard things had been since Kaji had arrived in Tokyo-3. At how easily he was able to push her buttons, and how hard it was to keep herself from giving into her former lover, despite knowing that surrendering to the past would only result in a repeat of it, including their breakup.

This was a lesson Misato dearly didn't want Shinji to learn, at least not for a little while longer, a bit better equipped to handle such things. She spent enough time with the young boy to know that he was delicate, and that it would potentially take very little to undo much, perhaps even all, of the progress he had made. But at the same time, she had no reason to protest his seeing Aya. For if things could work out between them, that could only be a good thing.

Still…maybe I should say a few things to him tomorrow. Especially since he's going to be meeting his father, Misato decided, uncertainty biting at her as she cracked open the door of the oven, and smiled at the delightful dinner the boy had left for her. Considering how many times he's saved me from my own cooking, it's the least I can do for him.


The next day came with frightening speed for Shinji, and ironically, it started much like any other day. He got up, prepared breakfast for his two female housemates and the resident penguin. The three of them exchanged conversation, and discussed what they would be doing for the day. In fact, except for Misato pulling Shinji aside at one point, and telling him that he couldn't run away from his father, and that it was okay to have Aya come over after he got back, it might as well have been any other day. Which left shinji feeling even more out of place than he already did.

The landscape surrounding Shinji was completely dead. Which was appropriate enough, he supposed, considering that he was at massive graveyard. But the boy had seen many cemeteries before, based on various cultures and practices for laying their dead to rest, and they had been filled with flowers, colors, things that made them far more pleasant.

The place where the memory of Dr. Yui Ikari was no such place. There was no sign of plant life, or any other form of life, for that matter. There was only scorched brown earth surrounding the many markers for as far as the eye could see. The only sound to be heard in that desolate place was the wind was howling in the background, as if warning away all who were foolish enough to venture to this place where the living had no business being.

Then something else was a heard. A voice belonging to the only other living being present there that day. "It's been three years since we were last here," Gendo muttered, standing a short distance behind his son.

"That's when I ran away," Shinji murmured, staring at the marker that bore his name. "I haven't come back here since then. I just…don't believe that my mom's really resting here." Heaving a deep breath, Shinji lowered his gaze even more. "Her face…I don't even remember that much."

"Man forgets the past in order to survive. But there are some things a man should never forget," Gendo responded promptly. "Yui taught me that one, irreplaceable thing, Shinji. That is the reason I come here, to confirm that commitment."

Pressing his lips tightly, Shinji didn't bother looking around. He just asked, "You...don't even have a picture of her?"

"No photographs," Gendo told him, using the same cold voice that he used with everyone. "Even this grave is an artifice. Nothing remains."

"Then…it's true. What my teacher told me," Shinji muttered. "You threw everything away. Everything…"

"Everything is kept in my heart," Gendo told his son. "That is enough for me."

These cold words echoing in Shinji's mind, the boy turned and looked at his father for the very first time. "Father…there're some…things I wanted to ask you." A slightly raised eyebrow was Gendo's only reaction to this. "Why…when Mother died…why did you send me away?"

If anything, Gendo seemed even more surprised by this. The Commander of NERV just stood there for a time, studying his son's face, until he eventually frowned, a slight snort escaping him before he answered. "When Yui died, I…there was a great deal happening in my life. The Evangelions, the preparation for the eventual return of the Angels. Many demands that I had to deal with. Many things that had to be done, if humanity was to survive."

"Then…you sent me away…so you'd have more time to work?" Shinji wondered, uncertain if he understood his father's meaning.

"That is part of it, yes," Gendo nodded. Once again, he studied his son's face, looking at his own flesh and blood in deep consideration. "But there is another reason for that."

"There is?" Shinji gaped, surprised by this statement.

"You said before that you don't remember what your mother's face," Gendo spoke, his voice tensing with each word he spoke. "But I do remember. And in the years following her…passing…I saw it everywhere I went. I saw it in everything she made. Every invention of hers, every theory, everything that came into being by the grace of her hand." Lowering his eyes, Gendo seemed to study the ground for a time, leaving Shinji to take an involuntary step forward, waiting for whatever it was that his father had to say next. "But there were two things for which this was more true than anything else."

"Wh-what do you mean?" Shinji sputtered out. Looking at his father, the boy watched and waited as he gave him a look. A look that was filled with meaning, and even a hint of pain. Blinking rapidly, the boy then sucked in a slow breath of realization. "You mean…me?"

"Yes," Gendo confessed with a slight nod. "You…reminded me so much of her. Having you there, and her gone…it was very difficult for me. And then there was the work at NERV, work that I wanted to complete myself. For Yui's sake, if for no other reason." The wind howled again, as if emphasizing the Commander's words, just before he looked away from his son and looked about the various grave markers. As if asking the dead to help him choose his next words. "With so much riding on the work being done there, and my own…situation…I decided it would be best for us both if I found someone…better suited to caring for you."

Shinji just stood there, staring at his father's back. The question that had haunted him for years, a question that had terrified him so much that he dreaded even asking it, was finally answered. He had been sent away because of he reminded his father of the woman who had been such a part of both their lives. Gendo's words burning in his mind, Shinji found himself unable to say anything, or move at all. All he could do was stand there, unsure of how he truly even felt about this discovery.

While Shinji was trying as best as he could to process this, Gendo narrowed his eyes at him. "You said that there was something else you wanted to ask me?"

"Hmm?" Shinji started, only to gasp in realization. "Oh, right! I…" Even as he was preparing to speak, however, Shinji found his mouth falling flat before Gendo's formidable gaze. His mind and body still numbed by his father's confession, he found himself frightened. Scared to even ask the next question. Then, just as Shinji was preparing to give it up, to just forget it and let his father go about his way, something sparked inside of him. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was strong. Strong enough to send four words dancing through his mind.

I mustn't run away.

Mustering all of the courage he could find, Shinji looked directly into his father's face, and asked, "H-how…did you meet mother, anyway?"

"How did I…meet her?" Gendo repeated, apparently unsure if he had heard the question correctly. When Shinji nodded, the Commander of NERV cocked his head back. And then something happened. Something that Shinji would never have believed if he hadn't seen it himself. Gendo Ikari, the Commander of NERV, feared by virtually everyone who worked beneath and widely considered to be the coldest person on the face of the planet, smiled at his son. A small smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"It was in Fuytsuki's class back in college," Gendo told the boy, his eyes rolling back to times long since past. "He was a professor at our college at the time, and Yui was his star student." Apparently lost in the memory, the elder Ikari's expression grew even softer. "She was a remarkable woman. Brilliant in the sciences…and so gentle. Almost…too gentle to survive in the world we live in."

"Really?" Shinji gaped, staring at this man. This man that he hadn't seen in ten years, a man that had been masked by the Commander of NERV.

Then his father nodded slightly, and his expression was once again masked by the face that had Shinji had seen staring down at him when he had come face to face with Evangelion Unit 01. "Why do you ask?" Gendo demanded, looking forcefully at his son.

Squirming beneath his father's gaze, Shinji answered, "Well…you see, I…met this girl and…"

"A girl?" Gendo cut in, looking at his son in surprise. Like this confession was about the last thing he could have ever imagined Shinji making.

"Yeah," Shinji replied, his heart jumping at the sudden interest displayed by his father. "Her name is Aya, and…"

Before Shinji could say another word, however, the roar of an engine was heard. Looking about, the boy and Gendo watched as a NERV transport helicopter descended nearby, sending up massive clouds of dust as its landing gear touched the earth.

Directing a frown at the intruding vehicle, Gendo then returned his attention to his son. "Apparently, our time is up," the Commander intoned unhappily. While Shinji was lightly frowning his dismay, his father bent a bit closer to him. "However…it would appear that we have much to talk about."

"We do?" Shinji asked, jumping slightly as surprise and delight took hold within his heart.

"Indeed," Gendo nodded, wheels turning within his eyes. "I have…avoided my duty as your father in favor for my duties to NERV for ten years now. However…it might be time that I got to know…my son better."

The sound of the helicopter still filling his ears, Shinji was almost tempted to think that what he was hearing Gendo wrong. That he simply couldn't be hearing what he thought he was hearing. That the desolate wasteland surrounding him was doing something to his mind. For it simply wasn't possible that Gendo had said what he thought he had just said. "You…mean it?" Shinji finally sputtered, staring at his father incredulously.

"Perhaps we could have lunch together," Gendo suggested, Shinji's heart leaping at this. "I would, of course, have to work around my schedule, but…"

"Oh, I understand!" Shinji replied, unable to help himself. For even as he was looking at his father, hearing him say these words, two voices were colliding within his heart. One voice was filled with cynicism and pain, one that had taken form over the ten years of exile from his father's side, and quickly told the boy that this was lie. That his father can't possibly be saying what he thought he was saying, or that it was just some trick, because there was no way that Gendo could possibly express any interest in him. Not in the pathetic, worthless creature that was Shinji Ikari.

Then there was another voice, the desperate, sad voice spawned of all the pain and loneliness that Shinji had felt in his young life. The voice that had rejoiced when Shinji had been summoned to Tokyo-3, the voice that cheered when Gendo had spoken to him by name after he had stopped the 10th Angel. The voice that wanted Shinji to do anything, anything to keep from being alone. To be liked, to be useful, whatever it took to keep from being cast aside once again.

"Good. I'll call you as soon as I can arrange something," Gendo informed his son. Even smiling at Shinji before he started towards the helicopter.

"Um…Father?" Shinji cried out, his mind caught between the forces at work in his own mind. When Gendo turned and looked back at him, the boy added, "I'm…glad that…we were able to talk together…today."

Nodding, Gendo then answered, "As am I." And with that, the Commander of NERV once again started towards the helicopter, before he suddenly turned around again. "And I hope that we can we have many more such conversations. And soon.

This said, Gendo turned once more towards the helicopter. Leaving Shinji to watch intently as he flew away from that place, with nothing but his own thoughts and hopes. Things that were burning feverishly within the young man's mind. Along with a question that was bubbling just beneath the surface of the boy's mind.


Smiling deeply as she sped along the streets of Tokyo-3, the girl who now wore the face and name of Aya Kusanagi looked about the towers of glass and steel, noting the lightly clouded sky that the setting sun was coloring a collage of gentle reds and deep oranges. And was unable to help but think just how peaceful the fortress city looked at times such as this.

It's too bad I was never able to get out and see this city like this before, Aya decided, thinking of all the late nights and hectic days she had spent as Maya. Toiling away within the depths of the Geofront, cut off from the sights and places that were to be found within this city that was her home. The first, last, and only real hope for humanity's survival, and certainly not someplace where people spent a lot of time loafing around. And while she had not been a loafer, she certainly would have appreciated more tranquil moments such as this, in this city where time between battle was spent preparing for the next fight for survival.

Feeling herself growing somewhat lazy and unmotivated, Aya then shook her head, trying to free herself from any stray thoughts. Okay, stay focused here! she ordered herself, going over what she was going to do very carefully in her mind. You've already called Shinji, so he's expecting you. Just remember that he spent today with the Commander at his mother's grave, so he's probably a bit down after that. So be careful with him!

Hammering these thoughts into her mind, Aya looked up ahead, and saw the apartment building that was her destination come into view. Pushing herself that much harder, the brunette propelled herself past the parking lot and into the elevator. As soon as she pressed the button for her designated floor, Aya sat herself down on the floor and began shedding her rollerblades in favor of a set of walking shoes. Though she was capable of transforming the footwear, she had long since decided that unnecessary transformations while out in public only worsened her chance of exposure.

Besides, how would I explain it if someone stopped the elevator before my shoes finished changing? Aya asked herself, not even wanting to think of the questions that she would be stuck trying to answer.

Just as she was lacing up her walking shoes, Aya heard the ding that signaled that she had arrived at her floor. Getting to her feet and picking up her blades, the brunette stepped out of the elevator and started towards the Katsuragi apartment. However, just as she arrived in front of it, she heard something. The sound of classical music was wafting to her ears, with each perfect note filling her mind with beauty.

Stopping to listen, Aya frowned somewhat before she hesitantly pressed the call button. The instant it rang out, the music stopped, much to her disappointment.

"Coming!" came Shinji's voice. Taking a step back from the door, Aya waited and watched as the door opened, revealing the face of the boy she had come to visit. The instant he saw who it was, Shinji's face broke out in a broad smile. "Oh, Aya! It's you!"

"Hi, Shinji!" Aya smiled pleasantly. Shifting about on her feet, she looked about the hall leading from the door. "Can I come in?"

"Huh? Oh, sure! No problem!" Shinji responded. The boy then stood back and gestured for her to enter, to which replied with a polite bow of her head.

Looking about the apartment interior, Aya started forward, looking and listening. "So, um…are Misato-sama or Asuka here?" she asked when she realized that there was no apparent sign of them.

"Uh, no," Shinji answered quickly. "Misato is out a friend's wedding, and Asuka's out on a date."

"Really?" Aya replied. For although she had already known about Misato being out with Ritsuko, courtesy of Hitomi's eavesdropping, she hadn't been aware of Asuka's activities. "So, it's…just you then?"

Shinji nodded to this, just before he smiled in a bashful manner. "Well, not exactly," the boy corrected himself as they arrived in the living room. Aya then laughed as she spied the slumbering penguin on the floor, only to stop and stare when she saw what leaning against the table.

"Is that yours?" Aya asked as she gazed at the cello there. When Shinji answered with an affirmative sound, the brunette turned and gazed deeply at the boy. "Before I buzzed you, I…heard some music coming from here. Was that…?"

"Uh, yeah," Shinji nodded, his cheeks coloring slightly. "You see, when I got back from…well, you know…" Nodding her understanding, Aya waited for the boy to continue. "Anyway, I hadn't practiced in a while, and I wasn't sure what else to do, so…"

"I see," Aya nodded pleasantly as she examined the cello. "Well, from what I could hear, you must be very good."

"Uh, no. Not really," Shinji demurred. When Aya looked at him perplexedly, the boy shrugged in a self-depreciating fashion. "I mean…I started when I was five, but…I have no talent at all."

No talent? Aya repeated incredulously within her own mind. Instantly, she took Shinji's statement and compared it with the tender melody she had heard wafting out of the apartment door, and found that his words simply didn't add up.

"Well, why don't you let me be the judge of that?" Aya asked, to which Shinji frowned slightly. Eyeing the idle cello, the girl explained, "You said you were practicing, so…go ahead. Play something." Then, realizing that she might be acting a bit too pushy, she added, "That is…if you don't mind…"

"Oh, of course not," Shinji replied, though he still seemed somewhat nervous. Taking hold of the classical instrument, the boy carefully seated himself. "I mean…if you're sure…"

"Absolutely," Aya assured him. Then, a bit more plaintively, she added, "Please?"

"Well…okay," Shinji replied bashfully. Then, with incredible delicacy, the 3rd Child, pilot of humanity's most terrifying weapon, took a deep breath and began to manipulate the instrument in his hands. And from this combination of the human and the artifact of wood and string, strains of beautiful music came forth, and began to melt Aya's heart.

Beautiful, Aya though, a smile spreading across her face as she carefully pulled out the chair opposite Shinji, making certain to do nothing to distract him, to detract from the melody that had already entranced her. Propping up her head in her hands, the brunette sat there, watching and listening as Shinji played a magnificent, classical piece with all the skill of a master. She did nothing, said nothing, and thought nothing. All she did was allow the sweet melody to sweep her away, forgetting about everything.

Unaware of the passage of time, Aya just sat there, until all too soon, the boy before her completed the song, and set the cello aside. With the shyness she had grown so used to as Maya, Shinji shrugged nervously. "Well…what do you think?"

"What…what do I think?" Aya asked incredulously. Her mouth hanging open, she shook her head slightly before grinning wildly. "Shinji…that was wonderful! Why…why didn't you tell me that you played?"

Frowning slightly, Shinji answered, "Well, like I said, I'm still not very good, and…"

"Not very good?!" Aya got out, once again floored by his low self-opinion. "Shinji…you could play in orchestra, right now!"

"Huh?" Shinji got out, staring in amazement at the girl who was even now standing from her seat. "You…really think so?"

Gasping in disbelief, Aya returned, "Shinji, I'm sure of it! You should try out for the school band! You'd be the head of the class in no time!" Then the brunette frowned, quickly considering her words. "Wait. There is a band at our school, right?"

"I…think so," Shinji frowned in response. But then he sighed despondently. "But…it probably wouldn't do any good, anyway." While Aya's stared in shock at him, he shrugged and explained. "Well, you see…with all the time I spend with NERV, what with testing and training and everything…I probably wouldn't have time to play with a band, anyway."

Sputtering at this, Aya just stood there. Staring at the boy who was so completely unaware of his own talent, who saw no reason to even try and display it for others. For a time she just couldn't believe what she was hearing.

And then she remembered. The file she had seen. The file that detailed on how Gendo had worked from a distance, destroying his son's happiness. Working to insure that he had no sense of self-worth, no redeeming features from his own standpoint. That he would know nothing but pain, loneliness, and misery, all for the sake of destroying all life on the planet.

In that instant, Aya felt a cold knot of anger welling up in her gut, anger that was focused intently on the man so responsible for Shinji's condition. That he could take his own son and so coldly shape him so that he saw no value in anything he did, so unable to believe himself that he couldn't even see the wonderful gifts he had, that he could play such music and say to himself that he had no talent at all.

For the first time in her life, the person who now used the name of Aya Kusanagi wanted very dearly to hurt someone. To use the powers she now held, and use them to exact vengeance on another. To wave fists of stone in Gendo's face before using those fists to make him feel all the pain he had suffered his own son to endure.

The anger she felt growing more and more powerful, Aya gasped inwardly before dumping a mental bucket of water on her head. No. I can't start thinking that way. Hurting Gendo isn't going to help Shinji, or stop to the people he's working for, she told herself forcefully. Taking several deep breaths, Aya felt the anger draining slightly. But only slightly as she looked at the boy before her, feeling his pain. Helping Shinji…helping him and the others…that's the only way to save him.

"Well…even if you don't have time to play at school…that doesn't mean you can't play for others," Aya told him. When Shinji answered with a confused look, the brunette explained, "I mean, I'm sure Misato and Asuka would love it if you were to play for them as well!"

"Huh?" Shinji got out, clearly surprised by this suggestion. Blinking rapidly, a bashful smile formed on his lips. "You…really think so?"

"Sure I do," Aya nodded before spreading her hands out. "Heck, maybe Toji and Kensuke would like to listen to one of your practice sessions."

"Well…I'm not sure about that," Shinji confessed, shifting about in his seat. Glancing at his cello, he added, "They really don't seem like they'd been into…this kind of thing."

"Maybe, maybe not," Aya commented, although she privately admitted that the boy had a point. Then she sent him a reassuring smile. "But in any case, I know I'd like to hear you play some more."

Blinking in surprise, Shinji's cheeks burned fiercely as he squirmed in his seat. "Well…maybe later, okay?" he told her in a somewhat defensive manner. When Aya was nodding her understanding, the boy asked, "So, uh…is there anything you'd like to do right? Watch TV…maybe have something to eat?"

Tittering at his nervous manner, Aya replied, "Actually, I wouldn't mind going out for a bite."

"Going out?" Shinji replied, clearly surprised by this suggestion.

"Sure!" Aya grinned. "Go for a walk in the park, maybe grab something to eat while we're out." When uncertainty crept across Shinji's face, she asked, "What, is something wrong?"

"Uh, no!" Shinji answered, before his eyes started rolling about, as if looking at his options. Then, tilting his head one way, then the next, before saying. "Well…Asuka's supposed to be having dinner out, and so is Misato, so…" Finally, a small smile sprouted on his face. "Uh, sure. I guess that would okay."

"Great!" Aya grinned happily. Her pleasure growing by the moment as Shinji stood from his seat and moved over to her. Feeling a heady excitement at the prospect of a simple night out on the town, with no curfews, no limits. Nothing but an evening of simple pleasures.

Why couldn't this be the life I was born with? Aya found herself wondering, thinking of a childhood she had spent with seemingly nothing but curfews, limits…and disapproval.

"Just let me write a note, okay?" Shinji asked, breaking into the girl's chain of thought. "You know, so no one wonders where I am?"

"Sure! No problem," Aya answered. Before sighing a deep sigh of longing, one that she couldn't expect to be answered.


Over the next hour, Shinji and Aya meandered throughout some of the better parts of Tokyo-3. After taking a moment to ditch the usual incompetents Section 2 had trailing the 3rd Child, the two of them spent some time walking in the park. Doing little more than talking about their day-to-day lives, school, the things they liked to do when they had the time to spare. Simple, meaningless things that meant everything to them at the time.

Finally, the rumbling of Aya's stomach caught both of their attention, resulting in the girl's cheeks flushing with humiliation. As Shinji smiled at her, the boy confessed that he was getting hungry as well, and so the two of them decided to break away from the natural beauty of the park, and seek out sustenance.

Leading the way, Aya escorted Shinji to the pizza parlor that Maya Ibuki, half-drowned by the rain and mired in her woes, had been escorted and given words of wisdom. And as before, the warmth and various smells of the restaurant were a welcome sensation for the both of them. Adding to these things were the taste of good food and drink, and the welcome feel of a full stomach.

"So, seriously…you do all of the cooking at your place?" Aya asked incredulously around a mouthful of pizza. Wincing at how garbled her words sounded, even to her, the girl quickly swallowed and washed it down with a mouthful of soda before speaking. "I mean…with everything you already do, you have to cook and clean and…?!"

"Oh, it's not like that!" Shinji protested, raising a hand in emphasis. "The thing is, Misato and I played a game to see who would do what chores and when, and…"

"And you lost. Big time," Aya gathered, rolling her eyes at such a thing. For although she knew that the Major could be somewhat immature at work, the things she was hearing seemed to befit a girl of Shinji's age, rather than a woman in the military.

"Actually, it's not that bad," Shinji responded. Then he grimaced slightly before saying, "Besides, Misato isn't all that…good a cook. And Asuka, I don't think she's ever had to make anything for herself, anyway. So…"

"In other words, those two would be completely lost without you," Aya decided, heaving a somewhat despairing groan. "That sure sounds familiar…"

"Huh?" Shinji got out, narrowing his eyes somewhat at the girl opposite him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, let me put it to you this way: Have you ever seen melted, grey broccoli before?" When Shinji curled his lip in obvious revulsion, Aya nodded. "I have. And I used to eat it, too."

"Really?" Shinji got out, looking rather queasy at the thought.

"Just part of my mother's secret recipe for the Veggie Platter of Death," Aya informed him, memories of her true past coming to the fore. Rolling her eyes in recollection at these dinnertime disasters, the girl shook herself back to the present. "And if you didn't clean your plate, then you got the lecture of how hard she slaved over a hot stove, all for your benefit."

Shinji made a face at this, just before he explained, "Well, Misato's not like that. I mean, she gets upset when you talk about her cooking, but she doesn't get really mad about it." Then he cocked his head and looked sympathetically at the girl. "But…it sounds like you've had it pretty rough."

"Well, I'm still alive, so I guess I can't complain too much," Aya shrugged wearily. Then, looking down at remained of their meal, she smiled and asked, "So…any ideas what you want to do after we're done eating?"

Frowning slightly, Shinji gave the girl an apologetic look. "Actually, I think I should probably head back home soon," he told her. When Aya released a groan of disappointment. "Sorry, but…it's getting pretty late, and…I don't want anyone to worry."

"I understand," Aya nodded, extending her hand over the table. A hand that Shinji smiled before taking in his own.

"Thanks," Shinji told her, just before he released his hold. Then his eyes lit up in thought. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot, but…"

"Forgot what?" Aya wondered blankly.

"It's nothing big. It's just…" Shinji explained, holding up his hands helplessly. "Y'see, Misato plays the lottery a lot. And sometimes, when she gets really busy with everything, I pick up a couple tickets for her."

"Really?" Aya murmured. Then realization made her smile, and she added, "And you're hoping that today is you're lucky day, huh?"

"Well, I figured with the jackpot at two billion yen, it couldn't hurt," Shinji explained, seeming a touch embarrassed by this.

Yeah, that's right. I remember him saying something about that when the 10th Angel was about to attack, Aya nodding, recalling that day of tension and fear like it was yesterday. And although there was certainly nothing funny about that at the time, looking back at in memory, it was so funny, basing such an operation on the intuition of a woman who had such abysmal luck with the lottery. Too bad the odds are against them, though. I'm sure Shinji and the Major would be thrilled if they…

This thought never even completed itself. Instead, even as this line was trailing off within Aya's mind, that same mind was taking the implications of that idea, and spinning it into another one. And idea that slowly spread an impish smile on the girl's face.

"Tell you what, Shinji," Aya grinned, leaning over closer to him. "Why don't we finish up dinner, and once that's done, we can pick up some ice cream while you're getting the lottery."

"Okay!" Shinji smiled, clearly approving of this plan. All the while Aya was giving her newest scheme another look, and finding not a single flaw in it.


Author's Notes: Okay, I'm pretty sure that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what Aya's planning now. Still, I hope you'll read and review. And hopefully give my other stories a look while you're at it?

Mike313, okay, I'll admit it. Trying to figure out how Maya (Aya) would feel and act hasn't exactly been easy. But I do appreciate the warning. And as for the rest of my readers, I can only hope that the storry proper is shaping up the way it should be now.

Sorry I don't have more to say right now. RL has been grinding its gears on me lately. So I'll just leave you with this omake.

Omake

"But it's not doing anything! See?!" Asuka insisted, waving for the two of them to join her.

Several moments passed as Shinji and Maya looked at each other, then at the German, and finally at the clawed hand that remained perfectly frozen. Finally, unsure if it was curiosity or the desire to get Asuka away from the dread hand or some combination of the two that motivated them, both boy and woman edged closer to the hole, close enough to be able to look through and see the biomechanical abomination that hung beneath them.

"What the…?" Shinji gasped out as he looked down and saw the monster. It wasn't hanging limp, but it wasn't moving either. It was simply frozen as still as a statue, it's eyed blank and the fire that it had belched extinguished.

More baffled than anything else, Shinji looked up at Maya and asked, "Wh-what happened to it?"

"I guess…whatever was powering this thing died out," Maya replied, examining the thing as closely as she dared. "See? It looks pretty heavily damaged. Maybe it just…gave out."

"And in that case…" Asuka smirked in relief. Drawing back her foot, she then delivered a swift kick to the monster's clawed hand.

"Asuka, I don't think that you -!" Shinji protested, raising his hands at the girl. But before he could say another word, Asuka reared back to deliver a kick to the creature's claws…only to be stopped cold as a geyser of flames erupted from the creature's mouth, surrounding her in flame.

"Aaarrrghh!!!!" Asuka screeched as the flames died out, revealing her to be unscathed, and completely unclothed, save for a few burnt scraps of cloth. Looking down at herself in horror, the German glared hatefully at the monster that was once again trying to get into the elevator car. "That was a brand new dress, you dummkopf!!"

Asuka's body once again exploded into flame, flame that rapidly burned her flesh away and replaced it. Soon she wore the form of the Ghost Rider, as the flames that made up her body transformed into a dark biker's outfit. Holding out her hand, a bolt of flame erupted from it, resolving into her signature chainsaw-sword. "To Hell with you, you perverted freak!"

Without another word, the Ghost Rider drove the burning teeth of her weapon into the monster's forehead, an action that was rewarded with a shriek of pain. Crying out in rage, the horned superwomen plunged the chainsaw-sword even deeper into the monster, sending sparks flying up from the monster, and finally silencing it.

"There! Serves you right!" the Ghost Rider snarled as the monster plunged to its doom. Then she looked at the other occupants of the car, and shook her burning head disdainfully. "What is with all these perverts, anyway? First I have to put up with the Three Stooges looking up my dress, and now this!"

"I'm sorry, As- I mean, Ghost Rider," Shinji got out, frowning somewhat at the horned superwoman. "But…don't you think that was a bit much?"

"A bit much?! Thanks to that damned thing, I'm stuck being Ghost Rider until I can find some fresh clothes!" the Ghost Rider complained, rolling her blazing eyes skyward. "What, you expect me to parade around naked in front of everyone?! That's She-Hulk's bit, not mine!"