Asuka lay on her bed, watching as Shinji slept in a sleeping bag on the ground next to her. "He'll be extremely confused," Misato had told her, "so I think it's best that he sleeps in your cabin. He needs someone he can trust. But..." she'd leaned closer to Asuka. "... be careful. We're pretty sure that this is the real one, but we can't forget last time."
Asuka's stomach churned as she remembered what the clone had done to the engine room crew, mere moments before she'd taken it in her arms. "But this has to really be him," she thought, closing her eyes. "He's hasn't done anything, or said anything, which makes sense after what happen-"
She gasped as Shinji sliced through her left breast with a knife, her blood pouring out of the wound onto her body and sheets. Instinctively, she reached for his throat, and the knife tore through her arm. She snatched it back, then tackled the boy, slamming him onto the ground. He headbutted her, and she fell forwards, dazed and confused.
He slid out from underneath her, and held her up by her throat. Her screams came out as grotesque squeaks as he carved a long, relatively shallow cut from her navel, around her back, and to her left thigh.
It obviously wasn't meant to kill her.
"You sick fuck," she screamed internally. "You're enjoying this!" He pulled her upright, and slammed her face into the wall, creating a dent. She took advantage of the momentum to tear free of him, and, even more dazed, staggered around and clumsily grabbed his throat. He only barely resisted, but Asuka kneed him in the groin to make sure, and the knife clattered to the deck.
Blood pouring out of her body, Asuka stared the clone in the eyes as she applied more pressure to it's throat, finding a savage satisfaction as she choked the life out of it's body.
"Asuka, wake up!"
Her eyes snapped open, and she saw Wren leaning over her. "Are you okay?!" he whispered. She turned away from him. "I'm fine," she mumbled. He sighed and planted a kiss on her shoulder. He knew better than to press the issue. "Wren?" she mumbled, still looking away from him. "Yeah?" She grunted. "Never mind. Forget it." What is it?" he asked, stroking her shoulder. "I said forget it," she growled.
Wren sighed and moved down, gently kissing the small of her back, then the curve of her spine, the smoothness of her skin only interrupted by the long scar she had gained on that hellish night. He was forced to stop when turned over, now facing him. "You sure enjoy doing that, don't you?" she whispered. "Is that a problem?" he grinned, kissing her belly. "No, it's... nice." He took her scarred breast in his mouth, and she stroked his hair. "They don't bother you? The scars?" she asked. He shook his head, and released her breast. "Not at all," he smiled, and placed his lips below her empty eye socket. She pushed him off, and pressed her lips against his.
Misato sighed as she watched the monitors. The Nerv forces were still stationary, waiting for the time to strike. She wouldn't show it to the crew, but she was terrified. "I have to be a rock. I can't let anything stop me from being the leader they need." She turned to see Ritsuko approaching. "Still here?" she asked. Misato nodded. "I want to be able to respond the second Nerv moves." Ritsuko frowned. "You'd probably be better at that if you rested for a bit. I can take over here. I'll let you know as soon as something comes up."
Misato closed her eyes. Sleep was certainly an attractive prospect. "Fine, but I'm going to stay here for just a bit longer," she grumbled. Ritsuko smiled, and the two old friends stood in silence for a few moments. "I heard about Asuka," she sighed. "So, that poor girl's on the same boat us as now, huh?" Misato stared at her. "What do you mean, us?" Ritsuko looked down. "It... it disgusts me now, but back then, being with Gend - Ikari... was the only thing that kept me going." Misato grimaced. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'm trying to warn Asuka away from it, but she won't listen. At least the guy seems nice enough." She sighed. "And at least Mari's not doing anything like that."
Ritsuko stared at Misato. "You... you don't know?" Misato's stomach sank. "Oh god... tell me. Now." Ritsuko shifted uncomfortably. "Well... I've found her... in the changing room we use for the tests... with people." Misato sighed. "People?" "Not at the same time," Ritsuko quickly explained. "Well, not that I know of... but every time I stumbled in on her, it was a different person..."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Misato mumbled. "I... I just assumed you knew..." Ritsuko said, looking down at the deck. Misato sighed and closed her eyes. "Why the hell are they acting like me? It has to be my fault... oh God..."
Mari gave a contented moan as she climaxed, and lay back on her towel, enjoying the sensation that came after sex. She looked up as her partner stood, hurriedly getting dressed. "Hey, where are you going?" she asked, disappointed. "I have to be back on duty in a few minutes, I'll see you around" the woman said as she went through the door.
Mari stared up at the ceiling, and sighed. "I'm getting rid of stress by doing this, that's all that matters." She thought of Asuka. "But wouldn't it be nice to do it, and not be abandoned as soon as they're done?"
The room felt very empty.