Shinji took a breath and opened the door to Inia's room, preparing himself to deal with an attractive older woman.
And stopped in confusion. There was no 19 year old Misato.
Instead, his heart leaped into his mouth as he was confronted with a stunningly gorgeous girl his own age. Shinji stood and gaped - he was never good with pretty girls.
The girl looked up as he came in, and a look of recognition spread on her face, quickly followed by horror as she pulled the covers up over her head.
"Inia?" Shinji asked, his heart was hammering away like a trip hammer. He could tell it was her. It felt like it was her.
"Don't look," squeaked the covers.
"Are you ok? What happened after you came through the Dirac? I didn't hear anything from you after – we lost the telepathic link. How did you end up here? Why are you hiding under your blankets?" Questions spilled out of Shinji faster than water from a firehouse. With Inia hiding under a blanket, he was able to think again.
Inia lowered her blanket, "I didn't want you to see me."
"What? Why?" Shinji couldn't take his eyes off of her. She didn't have a classic sort of beauty, but instead was cute, almost girlish, especially with her antics.
"Because I lied about what I look like. When you asked, I described Cryska. I didn't think it mattered – you would never see me, and well.."
"Well what? I think you are pretty. Really very pretty." Shinji stuttered. There was an awkward silence, "You know, it's been a really long time since I didn't know what to say to you. Usually, it's so easy to just chat, but now, I.."
"Turn around," pronounced Inia, "Face away from me." She followed her own instructions, turning in her bed so that she was facing the wall. "Pretend I'm half way around the earth, or on the other side of the universe."
Shinji stared at the blank wall. "Huh, that's better. You're really smart, you know that? So what happened after you landed?"
"We got split up – Yuuya and Cryska went with a UN delegation to report to Geneva about the situation on our world, the engineers were taken to your, I mean NERV's, science section, and the rest of us bounced around from medical to interviews with assorted big wigs. Oh, um Shinji, you're right: Your father is an asshole."
"Yeah, I know." Shinji sat down on the bed and leaned back to back with Inia. "I think Misato acts more like a parent than he does. And she's not very good at it. She's nice and all," Shinji added quickly. "She's just a little immature."
"I know. You've told me before." Inia interrupted, "Anyway. A couple of days ago, the angry blond scientist - Ritsuko, I think her name is – asked me if I wanted to try out piloting an Evangelion, to see if I would be compatible."
"What makes you think she's angry?"
"Because she is. I'm an empath, remember?"
"Then how come you didn't realize I was at the door until I came into your room?"
"I was reading, and I can't really identify people by their emotional signature. At least not unless I have spend a lot of time with them." Inia replied sheepishly, before quickly adding, "When we were on different worlds, I was only getting your conscious thoughts – I wasn't getting any of the usual empathic stuff."
Shinji perked up at that, "So now I show up just like everybody else?"
"I wouldn't say like everybody else. You're very special to me."
"Oh," Shinji digested that, but before he could say anything else, Inia continued.
"Ritsuko was really thrilled at how well I synced in the test, so she asked me to try syncing with the new Unit 04 that was being brought to Japan. And the rest you know."
"I'm sorry you have had such a horrible time here."
"Don't be. I'm alive, and your world is fascinating. I love flying in your VTOLs - I wish I could get one to pilot myself – it would be so cool! We stopped development on aircraft back in the '70s, and our TSFs can't go that high above the ground – it's not safe, with the Laser-type BETA."
The conversation drifted from Evangelions to more mundane topics as the two teens sat back to back, chatting like they used to. It was hours later when the nurse entered, saying "I am sorry Mr. Ikari, visiting hours are over."
Shinji stood up, "I wish I could talk longer, but I guess I have to go."
A remarkable transformation swept over the bubbly teenage girl. She looked over at the nurse in a serious fashion and proclaimed, "I am Lt. Shestina, currently attached to NERV, special section. I would like you to find a cot for Pilot Ikari. He will be spending the night."
The nurse halted before continuing a bit more diffidently, "Yes, ma'am."
"You didn't have to.."Shinji began
"I haven't seen you in.. well ever. And I haven't talked to you in weeks." She paused, before continuing sheepishly, "You don't mind, do you?"
/\ PoC /\
"I hear you got into hot water with Commander Ikari." Asuka asked as Shinji slid into class, still dressed in the rumpled clothes from the day before. He had spent half the night talking to Inia, so he was only partially awake.
"Yeah. My dad's a jerk."
"Well, I think you're a hero for what you did. And he had no right detaining you all night for it."
Before Shinji could say anything further, Hikari pronounced "Stand. Bow. Sit" And class began.
Lunch was awkward. He didn't like keeping secrets, but he didn't think that Asuka would react well to finding out that he had spent the night with another girl. Even if she was an old friend that he had never met before.
Fortunately, Kensuke came over to hang out again: Toji's sister had been released from the hospital the day before, and he was staying home to help her out.
/\ PoC /\
"We never talk anymore," Asuka complained as she walked home from school with Shinji.
"That's because you have the sync tests all afternoon while I am suspended for ten days," Shinji prevaricated. "I have a week to go."
"And you always hanging out with the two stooges." Asuka grumbled, "I don't see why you have to spend all your evening with them."
Shinji just shrugged. He didn't know how to explain Inia to Asuka. Or the fact that he was spending most afternoons with her at the hospital. Which was partly that he felt guilty for her injuries – she got injured because he brought her to this world – but it was also partly because she was so easy to get along with. He didn't have to watch what he said so as to avoid an explosion. He had also learned, much to his embarrassment, that he had been getting her name wrong this whole time. It wasn't Inia Sestina, but 'Ina Shestina'. But Inia had insisted that he keep calling her by the wrong name. Shinji forced his face back into a neutral expression, as he realized that he was smiling.
"Well, Ritsuko has me scheduled for a marathon session today, so I won't be home in time for dinner. I sometimes wish that she had been squashed when the Matsushiro complex was destroyed by the 13th angel. Anyway. I'll see you." She gave Shinji a quick peck on the cheek and turned off towards the geofront.
Shinji dumped his bag at home before heading over to the hospital – Inia was being released today, and he wanted to do something nice for her. Maybe take her to dinner. But he wasn't certain if that was appropriate.
As he walked out of the apartment, he almost ran into Kaji, "Hey, Shinji. Is Misato in?" He was holding a bouquet of flowers, "I wanted to bring these by as a get well gift."
"You know how Misato is – she's back at work already," Shinji paused, as Kaji brought the flowers inside and set them into vase, "Um, Kaji, I have a question." Shinji figured that if anybody could help him figure this out, it would be Kaji, "I don't know if you know, but Asuka and I are dating."
"Congratulations," Kaji began, slapping the teen on the back.
"The problem is," Shinji interrupted, "I ah, recently ran into an old friend - a girl - that I was really good friends with, before, and she got injured recently, and I was thinking of taking her out to dinner, to celebrate her being released from the hospital. I was wondering if that was an ok thing to do."
Kaji sighed, the kid was starting to sound like himself, "You have to be honest with your feelings. If you want to be with Asuka, then you can't do that, not at this stage in your relationship. But if you want to date this new girl of yours, you need to let Asuka know, now. And let her down easy. She has abandonment issues."
"Uhm, ok. I'll think about that," Shinji turned to go to the hospital. He would have to rush to get there on time.
Unfortunately, Shinji's approach to confrontations was to ignore them and hope that they go away.
/\ PoC /\
"Uhm, Inia, do you want to go grab something to eat?" Shinji asked as he held the door for Inia so she could step out. Inia had just opened her mouth to reply when the alarm went off. Again.
"All personnel are to report to their security stations. This is not a drill. The building will lower for your protection in thirty seconds. All personal must stay clear of the doors."
Shinji glanced back and forth. "Should we go back inside?"
"No, we'll be stuck there. I want to see what's going on," Inia stepped outside, dropping her meager belonging into the bushes by the sidewalk. "Besides, don't you have to report to NERV?"
"No, I'm still suspended," Shinji said bitterly.
"Do you think that matters, when we are under attack?"
"With my father, yes. It could be the end of the world, and he would still find the time to be a jerk to me."
Inia smiled and shook her head. "Well, lets head towards the geofront anyway. Maybe we can use my TSF."
Shinji glanced sharply over at her predatory smile, "Don't even joke about that. Without an AT field, we wouldn't stand a chance." But nevertheless, he began walking towards the closest access point. "You're a very violent girl, you know that?"
Inia shrugged. "I'm not violent. I just feel good stopping aliens that are threatening humanity." She paused, before adding gleefully, "And blasting them to bits!"
Shinji couldn't help but smile. The sheer joy she took in life, even in the face of adversity, was immense. They stood like that, staring at each other, as behind them in the distance a huge vaguely anthropomorphic figure came into view, drifting across the space where the city used to be.
Shinji caught the motion out of the corner of his eye: 'oh crap.' He grabbed Inia's hand and ran for NERV. In the end, Inia was right – he had to try to help.
/\ PoC /\
Shinji and Inia ended up going down in an access elevator on the periphery of the geofront. Once at the bottom, they took off at a run for the Evangelion dock. They were crossing over to the main building when Unit 02 burst into view, a pair of pallet guns blazing at the Angel.
Inside the Geofront.
They stopped and watched as Asuka blasted away at the Angel, to no avail. The massive, ape-like thing just floated there, its ribbon-tendrils writhing slightly. One of the Angel's whip like arms flashed out, but Asuka dropped and rolled, snatching up a rocket launcher on the way. She charged forward, her AT field mashing into the Angel's, forcing it down as she opened fire with the 6 barrel launcher.
Shuckt – Boom!
The missile detonating against the weakened AT field.
Shuckt – Boom!
and another
Shuckt – Boom!
But before she could launch a fourth projectile, the Angel lashed out, its razor sharp ribbons severing both of unit 02's arms.
As Unit 02 dropped to its knees with a roar of pain, Shinji turned, "we need to go," and they continued running into the NERV complex.
They dodged past technicians hurrying about their tasks. They were almost at the cages when another boom followed. They just entered the giant room as Unit 00 was whisked out on a launch platform.
"What's going on?" Shinji demanded of the officer in charge.
"The Angel is just not stopping. It broke through into the geofront in one strike."
Inia and Shinji looked at each other, "Let me launch. Unit 00 can't handle something like that on it's own."
"I'm sorry, sir," the officer looked conflicted. On the one hand, he had his order. On the other, the pilot in front of him was his best chance of not dying in the next ten minutes. "You're still suspended."
"But pilot Sestina is not. I'm going to show her how to operate Unit 01!" Shinji led Inia up to the entry plug for unit 01. "My entry plug is built for tandem piloting. We'll both launch."
The floor officer looked relieved at this loophole as he ordered the entry plug to be inserted.
"Unit 01, ready for launch," Shinji pronounced as he and Inia settled into their seats. He toggled on the radio to command and control, "how is the sync score?"
"Shinji?" Misato asked, "What are you doing..."
The building rattled as if an N2 mine had just gone off.
"Angel is not damaged. Unit 00 is incapacitated," came the voice of Maya as the building shook again and cracks appeared in the northern wall.
'Inia, can you hear me?' Shinji asked silently.
'Yes. Let's do this!'
The Angel smashed its way inside the the NERV pyramid, heading straight for the command deck that overlooked the docking cages. It ripped through people and equipment with equal impunity.
"Launching Unit 01!" Shinji pronounced. Unit 01 ripped off its restraints and charged at the Angel, smashing into it with its shoulder, shoving it away from the control room window and across the vast room before pinning it to the far wall
"Ma'am," Maya called out in alarm, "the sync score from Unit 01 is at 120 and rising fast!"
Unit 01 hammered repeated at the Angel as Shinji called out, "Misato! Activate elevator 3!"
The radio crackled from the damage that the Angel had done, but Misato realized what Shinji intended, and yanked down the switch.
Immediately, the Angel and Evangelion were pulled into the air as the platform under their feet shot upwards. Unit 01 pinned the angel against the wall the whole way up, so that the the track ripped at its side.
"Shinji, can you hear me? You're on battery, so you only have five minutes!" Misato transmitted, but there was only static for response – the Angel had smashed through the main communications cables, so they were cut off from their antennas and sensors.
Finally, the elevator reached the city level, and the Angel broke free from Unit 01 and darted back to gain room.
'Close with it!' Inia called, and they charged. Shinji's world focused on this monster that dared attack the people he cared about. The anger was familiar, but the focus, and the righteousness that tinged it, was new. But not completely foreign.
Together, the two teens drove Unit 01 to keep attacking, cracking down the Angel's AT field with each blow.
"Is this safe?" Misato asked Ritsuko. Unit 01's sync score was oscillating between 350 and 400.
Ritsuko shrugged, "I don't even know if its real. Telemetry to Unit 01 is all messed up. If it is real, there is the danger that he will be completely absorbed into Unit 01."
Misato gritted her teeth and nodded. She clutched at the cross on her chest for a moment. There was nothing she could do right now - she had no eyes on the battle, and limited communications. She just had to have faith in Shinji. Faith did not come easily to her.
The Angel pushed back at the Evangelion, and stabbed out with one of its cutting ribbons. The weapon hit an array of orange hexagons in front of unit 01 and stopped, giving the Evangelion enough time to grab the strand and yank.
The Angel tilted forwards, but didn't budge otherwise.
'Together, pull!' Shinji commanded.
"Ma'am – the sync score just spike to over 500!" A tech pronounced
"That's not physically possible!" Ritsuko countered, and ran over to check the reading on the tech's terminal.
"I would have thought that anything over 100% is impossible," Misato commented. She felt like a bystander. Just like during Second Impact. Useless.
Ritsuko looked aver at her friend like she was an idiot. "We tell the pilots that a certain synchronization is 100% because we don't want them exceeding that. But 400% is perfect synchronization. The Eva and the pilot become one: you physically CAN'T exceed that.
"Ma'am, it's at 600 percent and holding."
"Unit 01 is pounding the crap out of the angel!" Makoto pointed to the main view screen. The Evangelion was punching through the Angels AT field with each blow. As the Angel tried to retaliate, the Eva again grabbed the cutting ribbon, but this time it had its progressive knife in the the other hand, and it used that to slice them off, before following up by shivving the Angel in the side. As the Angel tried to retreat, the Evangelion punched it to the ground again, and as the alien tried to right itself, brutally chopped at its torso with the knife, cutting away flesh to reveal the core. The Angel lashed out at with its remaining ribbon, grazing Unit 01's left hand, forcing it to drop the progressive knife.
But that didn't stop the Evangelion. With a roar, Unit 01 used it's bleeding left hand to pin the Angel to the ground, before repeatedly punching it in the core with the other.
WHAM
WHAM
WHAM
CRUMP
The core shattered moments before the Evangelion ran out of power.
/\ PoC /\
"Can we retrieve Shinji?" Misato demanded as Unit 01 was wheeled in. Asuka was standing in the background, still in her her plug suit. She had her arms wrapped around herself, clutching her shoulders to prevent her arms from falling off. She knew it wasn't real, that it had just been Unit 02 that had sustained the injuries, but it still felt like if she let go, that her arms would fall to the floor.
Ritsuko looked up from micro-managing Maya. "I don't know. He has almost certainly been absorbed." She paused, before adding casually, "There are a couple of things I can try to decouple him, but you should start looking for a replacement pilot. Just in case."
Misato had to use all her will power to keep her hands by her side, so that she wouldn't punch the scientist.
SMACK.
Ritsuko turned in shock to Asuka, her hand going to her cheek "You get him back! He's not some disposable piece of machinery, he's a human being!" Asuka turned and ran back to entryway where she had been lurking, not quite in the room, but not quite outside, either.
Misato was just turning to follow, to see if there was anything she could do for her other charge, when Maya called out in surprise, "Sempai – the sync ratio from Unit 01 is down to 120 and holding."
"Does that mea..."
Ristuko frowned. She had no idea what was going on, and that bothered her more than anything else had in a very long time. "It means we can eject the plug."
Everybody watched in trepidation as the entry plug was removed from Unit 01. Misato stood directly in front of the stairs going up to the entry plug. Ritsuko tried to watch everything in fascination, even though she had all the data spooling to the main computer, for later analysis.
Asuka sat in the entryway, hugging herself. She wanted to come closer, but if anything went wrong, she didn't want to be there.
Finally, the entry plug opened, and out stepped Shinji.
Asuka relaxed. He was ok.
But he immediately turned to look back inside the entry plug, as a teenage girl stepped out afterwords, holding his hand and smiling at him.
Asuka's world collapsed, and she turned and ran.
/\ PoC /\
"That explains the high sync score – there were two pilots in there." Ritsuko beamed, as the universe made sense again.
Misato on the other hand was not so pleased. "Wait, why was Pilot Sestina in there? And because she was, it prevented Shinji from becoming one with the Evangelion?"
Shinji helped Inia down the ladder, though he himself felt like he had run a marathon. He could barely force his legs to move.
"Ah, crap. Medic! We need medical staff over here right away!" Misato waved a medic who had been helping splint a worker's broken arm over to the pilots.
"I don't know." Ritsuko replied contemplatively, answering Misato's previous question, "Maybe the two of them somehow joined as one, or maybe they split the synchronization between the two of them. It is a fascinating question, but I just don't have enough data to answer it as yet."
"They appear dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion," The medic pronounced, "I'll send up a pair of gurneys to take them to medical." Taking pilots to medical had become almost routine. The poor kids came back beat up, physically or emotionally, almost every time.
Misato made sure that both pilots were comfortable on their gurneys as they were wheeled away before turning back to Ritsuko. "Could there be some sort of cross-contamination between the two of them? They seemed very.. close."
"Maybe it was just love at first sight?" chimed in Maya.
Misato gave her a look, "Have you met Shinji? He's shy to the point of being antisocial. And I know that he's never met pilot Sestina before a couple of days ago." Misato paused pensively, "though he has a gallant streak a mile wide. Like how he's always been so supportive of Asuka. Maybe her being injured in the the Thirteenth angle incident triggered that in him."
"I will check on cross contamination. The problem is that I don't know how deeply they were synchronized. The monitors we have are all calibrated for one person, and the assumption that a second person would most likely hinder, or at best, slightly help the primary pilot. But is that what happened here? In that case there is very good likelihood of contamination. Or did they somehow, against all reason, share the synchronization? If that happened, they will be minimally effected by the experience." Ritsuko's eyes gleamed as she scribbled questions on her note pad.
"Just so that we are clear, the pilots are under my authority. And they are not to be experimented on, or tested excessively. Understood?"
"Yes, yes," Ritsuko deflated slightly, "You're right, we have to keep them combat ready. But we will also need to keep an eye on them, see if they experience any disorientation or synesthesia.
/\ PoC /\
Monolith 01 lit up, "explain yourself, Ikari"
Lights flickered on over the other monoliths, all surrounding Gendo, who stood with his hands clenched behind his back. He was in the conference room with the rest of the SEELE committee, reporting on the latest Angel. As the end of the prophesy drew close, the old men were becoming increasingly anxious.
"There is nothing to explain. The Angels are becoming more aggressive, and this latest one had penetrated deeper into the geofront than anticipated, but it was stopped without deviating from the scenario."
"And what of the dual piloting of the Evangelion?" Asked Monolith 03 querulously.
"What of it?" Gendo asked blandly.
"Why were we not informed of this development?"
"We were still in the experimental stage. Had this not been an emergency situation, we would not have deployed the dual configuration." Gendo replied calmly. There was no way in hell he was gong to admit that he had been completely blindsided by his son's little stunt. When swimming with sharks, you always had to keep your cool. And bring chum to distract them. "Gentlemen, I have a lot of work to do to prepare for the next Angel. If you have any further questions, vice commander Fuyutsuki will be more than happy to answer them."
And he turned and walked out of the room. The committee knew that everything was going according to the plan, and that it was in large part due to his efforts. There was no need to waste further time with them. All in all, this had turned out much better than he had feared. The Scrolls had described this angel as the 'angel of might', and he had been expecting severe damage to Tokyo-3 and to NERV. And that would have led the old men of SEELE to cause trouble. But this was almost normal.
Fuyutsuki-sensai would be able to deal with the details.
/\ PoC /\
Asuka was laying bed. She wasn't certain what time it was, but it was dark. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep. She hadn't slept yet tonight.
It was happening again.
Asuka rolled over and punched her pillow.
/\ PoC /\
It wasn't until that evening that Shinji was released from the hospital and allowed to return home.
"How are you doing?" Misato asked, "Asuka is pretty anxious about you as well."
Asuka glared at Shinji "No, I knew that the mighty Shinji would be fine," and slammed her door shut.
Shinji was too tired to worry about anything. He just staggered to his room and fell into bed.
"Asuka," Misato called through the door, "You aren't being fair. Shinji has gone to great lengths to support you, and now he needs our support. Please help him as he recovers from his ordeal."
Asuka fumed, 'his ordeal. He was in there with that girl. It was supposed to be the two of us piloting the Evangelion together. But instead, out of nowhere, this... girl shows up.' Asuka didn't know what to say. So many thoughts were bubbling inside her, fighting to get out. Shinji had betrayed her. Just like everybody else. And that girl, with her bleached blond hair. Who came out of nowhere. If he had made a pass at Hikari, that she could have understood. She would have been furious, but that would have at least made sense. But this girl appeared out of nowhere. It was like an ax falling from the sky.
She should just die.
/\ PoC /\
"Ok, lets see how well this goes." Ritsuko commented and hit the switch to begin the test. It was a regular harmonics test, except they were using the actual entry plugs. And Shinji and Inia were both synchronizing with unit 01.
'Inia, can you hear me?' Shinji sent.
'Yes. But is it ok to be communicating in here? I do not trust that Ritsuko woman.' Inia had had enough of being a lab rat in her previous world. Being a child soldier was far preferable. That way, only the enemy was trying to kill you. And you had a fair chance of killing them first.
'I don't think that she can detect us talking like this.' Shinji made sure that the entry plug camera was covered by the band aid he had brought specifically for that purpose and reached out to hold Inia's hand.
"Shinji – something is blocking the camera. Can you see if there is something on it?" Maya radioed.
"Sorry." Shinji replied. He left the band aid where it was.
"Well, you will be happy to know that at least your sync score is good: it's holding stead at 120 percent with both of you. That's pretty good."
'You know, we can't keep them from finding out,' Inia sent.
'I just don't want to be observed like a bug on a microscope slide.' Shinji replied. He finally had something good in his life, and he knew that his father would find some way to destroy it if he found out.
The two of them continued the sync test like that.
/\ PoC /\
It had been a week since the fourteenth angel, and some things had returned to normal. Dinner at the Misato residence was not one of them. Physically, the damage had faded from view, but Asuka disappeared into her room as soon as she got back from school on the days they didn't have Harmonics testing.
"Hello, sorry I'm late!" Shinji pronounced cheerfully as he rushed in the door, "I'll go make dinner." It was almost 6. He had been coming home late all week.
"None for me – I'm going out for dinner." Misato replied as she walked out of her room, putting an earring in.
"With Mr Kaji again?"
"So what's wrong with that?" she asked defensively. She felt vaguely guilty for spending all her free time with him. She suspected that it was disrupting her ability to pay attention to her charges. But this was the first time in so long that she was actually happy. And Shinji was very responsible – he could take care of Asuka for a little while while she took some time for herself.
"Nothing at all. I'm glad your happy." Shinji replied. It made spending all his time with Inia easier. Besides, any other response would be hypocritical of him.
Misato nodded and grabbed her pocket book as she headed out the door. "I'll be back by 9."
"Uhm, Asuka?" Shinji asked through the door, "what do you want me to make?"
"Dinner," came the terse reply.
Shinji considered if he should ask for elucidation, but she sounded pretty angry. 'I really should talk to her about us.' But that was one topic he wasn't yet brave enough to face. He could battle giant aliens bent on world destruction, but he wasn't ready to confront one teenage girl and tell her... what? That he was breaking up with her? She already knew that. Explain why? She wouldn't believe him. Apologize? She would just yell at him.
/\ PoC /\
"Asuka, Dinner is ready." Shinji repeated. There was no response again. "Come out. We need to talk." Shinji called through the door. It was time to face the music.
The door slammed open and the redhead glowered out. "WHAT."
"Look, I don't know what you were expecting..."
"I was expecting that my boyfriend would stay faithful to me. That he wouldn't go off chasing after the first petty girl he saw."
"I'm not chasing after pretty girls."
"Then what do you call that Sestina? You're spending all your time with her."
"We're friends. Like the two of us are friends." Shinji wussed out.
"No, we aren't. You don't get to be 'friends' with two girls like that."
"We aren't dating. She's just a friend. I also care for you, I don't want you to be angry." Shinji whined.
"Well, it's too late for that."
Which is when their cell phones went off.
/\ PoC /\
"We're not certain what the capabilities of this new Angel are." The four pilots were assembled in the main control room, looking at the monitor showing something that most closely resembled a giant, glowing butterfly. Misato was again in charge. "You will sortie as usual. Asuka you will be on the left flank, Shinji and Sestina, you will be in unit 01, on the right. Rei, you will stay close to base as backup. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the pilots ran to their respective units.
"Do you find it freaky how Shinji and Inia never talk to each other when they are in the Evangelion?" Maya asked as the Evangelions were moved over to the elevators.
"Maybe they don't have anything to talk about. Or maybe they just don't really like each other." Shigeru commented as he adjusted the sensors focused on the Angel.
"They spend hours together in sync testing, and they somehow coordinate themselves well enough to double their synchronization score."
"Maybe they're telepaths." Shigeru replied off hand.
Maya paused, before calling over to Ritsuko, "Sempai? Is that possible?"
"Damned if I know. Pay attention to what you are doing – we'll figure out the mystery of Shinji and Inia later."
"Maybe they bonded and became one during the fourteenth angel incident."
"Negative – we determined there was no cross contamination. Now do your job, and stop shipping the pilots!" Ritsuko snapped.
"Yes, ma'am. Asuka's sync score has become borderline." Maya replied, "But she's still high enough for good functionality."
"I'm in position. Now what?" Asuka pronounced, "the Angel is directly above me, but it is out of range."
"Hold and see."
"Ma'am – there is an energy spike from the Angel!"
"YEAAH!" two screams echoed out.
"A beam of some sort has hit Evangelion 02. We are not reading any thermal or kinetic effect."
"What's happening to Asuka? Why is she screaming?" Misato demanded.
"Misato!" Shinji radioed in a panic, "Inia just passed out."
"Plot Sestina's vitals read as nominal," Maya replied.
"Aaag!" Asuka opened fire with her pallet rifle, spraying the air with rounds that rained down on the surrounding hills.
"Asuka retreat to the elevator!"
/\ PoC /\
Asuka saw her mother again. She was cradling her favorite doll from when she was a child, and singing lullabies to it.
"Mama?"
"There, there Asuka, it will all be all right," She reassured the rag doll, stroking it's back.
"Mother. I am over here," Asuka pleaded, but her mother ignored her, instead talking to the doll.
/\ PoC /\
"Asuka?" There was just sobbing coming over the radio. Misato switched channels, "Shinji, grab Unit 02 and drag it out of the beam."
As Unit 01 darted forward and made contact with the red Evanglion, it spasmed, stopping with Unit 02 clenched in its arms.
/\ PoC /\
Shinji stood in the background, watching as Asuka tried to get close to Kaji, "You know, you're the only man I need." she proclaimed, looking intently at him. She didn't say it, but Shinji felt her fear and anxiety bleeding out
Kaji laughed and ruffled her hair. "You should look for someone your own age."
The scene faded into Misato's apartment, and now a disembodied Shinji was watching Asuka try to strike up a conversation with a Shinji seated on the couch. He recognized the scene - it was last Tuesday, and he had been in a rush to finish his homework so that he could visit Inia. He barely said two words to Asuka. After he left, she sat on her bed and curled her knees into her chest, not moving.
/\ PoC /\
"Neither Evangelion is responding. Pilot Sestina appears to be unconscious, and Ikari and Sohryu are awake, but non-responsive." Ritsuko informed Misato.
"Commander, permission to requisition the particle cannon" Misato turned and look up at the commander's throne, almost out of reach of regular people. Kind of like the Angel.
"Negative. Order Rei to retrieve the spear of Longinus."
"Is that really necessary?" asked vice commander Fuyutsuki.
"It is the only weapon that will guaranty a kill before the other Evas are permanently damaged."
/\ PoC /\
Asuka watched as Misato spent all her time joking with Shinji. Not that she wanted Misato to act that way with her, but Misato was totally ignoring her.
Kaji ignored her, talking only to Misato.
Shinji ignored her. He didn't think she knew, but he was spending all his time with that Sestina girl.
Asuka curled into fetal ball.
/\ PoC /\
"Direct hit!" The spear pieced right through the core of the angel, which detonated
/\ PoC /\
The parade of images flashing through Shinji's mind stopped, and he realized he was still floating in his cockpit. He was muzzy headed, and overwhelmed by the intensity of emotions that he had experienced second hand.
'I need to help Asuka.'
He clutched his knees to his chest as he dispassionately watched Inia's body lolling, strapped into her pilot chair.
