New Mobile Report Gundam Wing © Bandai and Sunrise
Neon Genesis Evangelion © Hideaki Anno and Gainax

Chapter 14

"The hell are you thinking, man?" Duo questioned as Heero casually lifted himself off of the bed and stood back onto his feet.

The three boys observed as Heero stretched his arms out wide outward. Kensuke and Shinji were particularly in shock when Heero began to crack his bones back into place. Heero had noticed a pair of clean, casual clothes on the floor next to him. He slipped into them in what felt to be a split second. Finally, the rookie Eva pilot walked over to the door, stretching his neck one last time. The three other boys were speechless, simply staring at him with conflicting feelings.

"It's nothing," Heero hastily remarked, "Now leave me be."

He had left the door without even giving them any thought. The boys looked at each other, then back at the door.

"Is he always like this?" Shinji asked.

"It was never this bad. Like…At all," Duo answered, "The guy won't even take in a tiny breath of fresh air."

"Maybe you should go talk to him some?"

"Like I haven't, already?" Duo shook his head and looked down, holding a look of sadness and disappointment across his face. He proceeded out of the door, maintaining this position on his way out.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Shinji," Kensuke followed Duo out the door.

Shinji was the last one to leave the room. He looked outside momentarily, noticing the sun had been setting at this hour. He estimated that Heero had been knocked unconscious for precisely 18 hours, but within this time frame, Shinji also learned how stubborn a person that he was.

Misato took the seat across from Ritsuko, whom was intensely studying the notes on every moment that had happened the night before. After a long day of investigating the issue, Misato decided to take her friend out for some coffee on a short break in one of Tokyo-3's local cafés.

"Do you think it's any different from the incident involving our previous Berserker mode incidents?" Misato asked.

"Can you just hush about that for five minutes?" Ritsuko said, "Just the fact that another one happened last night brings back enough bad memories."

"I'm sorry…" Misato answered, staring into her coffee.

"It's so hard to simply do my job, anymore. I always get this inclination that holds me back," Ritsuko remarked while resting her head against her palm.

"Wanna talk about it?" Misato asked.

Ritsuko paused, "J-just don't worry about it."

"Well, okay then…"

While the serenity emitted by the soft café music playing in the background, the ladies were both lost in thought. Ritsuko found herself scribbling down random things into the report from last night, despite how important she knew these documents were. Misato, right across from her, was simply twirling circles aimlessly with her straw about the brew.

"Alright, fine. I'll go ahead and ask it," Ritsuko asked, slamming her pen against the table, "Why would this Eva Unit specifically target Heero?"

"That's the exact question I wanted to ask you," Misato muttered.

"The LCL pressure wasn't the only thing killing him. Why do I get that feeling?" Ritsuko asked.

"You tell me. I don't know anything," Misato replied in an irritated manner.

"You know more than you think," Ritsuko said, "There's a pattern in all of this – in every time an Eva Unit went Berserk."

Misato's eyes now widened, "Tell me what you do see?"

"The instances involving Eva Unit 00…I see last night's problem having the most relation with those instances," Ritsuko said.

"Where are you going with this, now?" Misato said.

"It would have some linkage with Rei, I believe. It just has to…" Ritsuko said, "It would either be her, or…"

"Before you go crazy, I think there has to be more evidence in this," Misato remarked, "You still haven't backed me up with any proof."

"It's just that I just can't get over the hypothesis that there's a pattern we're just not getting in all these Berserker instances. Don't you just feel that with Heero, the pattern has exploited itself more than ever?"

Misato finally took a small sip of her coffee, and set it back down on the table between her palms, "What we saw was only a prototype test. It may just be too soon to draw any conclusions."

"I helped in the making of that Eva, Misato," Ritsuko argued, "It's supposed to have minimal inhabited traits from the standard Evangelion, yet it doesn't. If the same incident repeats itself, the destructive power of the unit will lead to unspeakable consequences."
Misato pressed her hand against her forehead, clenching it tightly with her fingers, "You may be right, honestly. I suppose our best option right now would be to abort this project for Heero's safety, but more importantly the world's."

"This whole hybrid thing was probably a failure right from the start."

Kensuke pointed out over to the old, decayed apartment complex that he and Duo were standing ahead from. He explained, "That's where she lives – right over there. The apartment, in particular, shouldn't be hard at all to find."

"Alright, thanks buddy." Duo said as he began to walk forward.

"Wait, why did you want to come here in the first place?" Kensuke asked.

Duo paused and turned his head slightly, "That's my business. Sorry bro."

He watched as Kensuke shrugged and began walking away. As soon as he was out of his sight, Duo proceeded. He had wandered around for only a few moments, when suddenly he already stumbled upon one apartment door that already looked peculiar compared to the others. This one had an overflowing mailbox and had traces of trash on the floor below him. There were even a few scratches on the door.

"It shouldn't be hard to find?" Duo remembered his friend saying, "But who would even live here?"

Duo raised his hand towards the door and tapped it gently with his knuckle. He had heard an immediate creak from this door! It was already open by about two centimeters. He had jumped in shock, only surprised to learn that this door wasn't even locked to begin with.

He knocked on the door twice to let anyone in here know that he was there. Afterwards, he opened the door and tiptoed in very silently.

"Hello?" Duo asked once quietly, "Rei? Are you in here?" He had gotten no response. He took his first steps into this apartment. He couldn't believe his eyes. This apartment was completely dull and nearly empty! He felt completely detached from the world by just being in here. The only things he found notable were a very old bed in one corner of the room, and a cabinet with a cracked mirror lying on top of it.

He walked very slowly entering this room. There was something about this room that gave him the chills, but he didn't know about it. He could consider this room to be too ordinary, but that was anything but the word to describe it. It was almost like walking through a graveyard, where the souls of millions of the dead would speak to him one after the other.

Duo paused when he noticed a closed case lying on top of the cabinet. He blinked. His eyes had not deceived him – it was probably the most interesting thing lying in this entire room. Looking at this case made him curious already. Reaching out his hands, he had opened the case gently with the tips of his thumbs. However, the results were rather underwhelming – it was a pair of broken glasses[1].

"Wow, now this is just…" Duo paused when suddenly he felt his left hand get slapped hard by someone! "Ow, I can take a hint and I'm sorr…" Duo paused again when he noticed the one that hit him was none other than Rei. He calmed down completely, "Oh, hey Rei… I-I'm sorry for barging in like this."

She stared at him, probably just observing why Duo would be lurking in her home at this time. She finally spoke in her soft voice, "It's fine."

Duo regained his regular position. He had cleared his throat, and began to speak, "Yeah, um… You had quite a hard time last night with what happened. We had no idea at all what on Earth that was. I just came to ask if you were alright."

"Yes, I am perfectly fine," Rei replied.

Duo appeared to be puzzled, "Are you sure? They had to rush Heero to the NERV infirmary, while they told us you were alright within minutes the moment we took you there and now you're already home?"

"Yes."

"No." Duo insisted.

"Yes. I'm fully recovered from all that happened."

"Can you at least tell me what was it you were feeling last night? Muscle cramp? Headache? Or even food poisoning?" Duo asked.

Rei didn't answer this time. She replied with a blink, and sat down on her bed, bringing her hands together and interlocking her fingers on her lap.

"Well? Can't you tell me?" Duo asked.

"I'm afraid I cannot." Rei responded, now staring blankly ahead of her, "I cannot remember anything."

"If you say so…" Duo shook his head, now even more disappointed, "Gee, can't I get an answer to anything today?" He looked back down at Rei, whom was now looking at him. He returned a calm look to mask his irritation, "I'm sorry. I'm just getting so…Ugh, with everything these days."

When Rei wouldn't respond for a second time, she returned to staring blankly towards the wall in front of her. Duo had already started for the door. Before exiting, he looked back to glance at Rei one final time.

"See ya," He murmured.

"Farewell."

Shinji didn't know how to approach him at all. Behind this door, he would find Heero somewhere out in this balcony. What to say, or what to do, he did not know. He knew already another just like him, only this person was much different in so many ways.

Simultaneously, he realized he had been holding his tape recorder and had his earphones attached to his head. Turning it off, he yanked off his headphones. Shinji gulped, still wary of this first real encounter with Heero.

He slowly opened the door, and just as he predicted, Heero had been standing right there – crossing his arms over the railing of the setting sun.

"Um…" Shinji paused, "Hello."

Heero turned his head with only one of his eyes catching Shinji. He turned his head away instantly. Shinji didn't seem to find this rude at all for some reason. He simply stored the tape recorder in his pocket and head over to the part of the railing beside Heero.

"You listen to that tape recorder a lot, I've noticed," Heero remarked, "What is on it?"

Shinji had no idea how to respond to this question, and in fact Heero was probably one of the first to even ask ever. He gulped again. He had only felt his hand reach into his pocket again, grasping onto the tape recorder and headphones. Pulling them out, he reached them towards Heero.

"W-why don't you take a look for yourself? I'd really like you to borrow it for a while, and please tell me what you think of it," Shinji said nervously.

The boy stared at his hand, then directly towards Shinji's eyes. Shinji was struggling to remain calm as he was doing this. Why am I giving it to this guy? He kept reciting to himself in his own thoughts. This tape recorder had been a part of him, and now he's handing it over so suddenly to a boy he's only encountered twice, including right now. He was prepared to take it back and stuff it in his pocket, but he was too late. He had felt Heero's hand on top of his, and the tape recorder had been off of his palm.

Heero had silently observed this object that Shinji had given him. After about a minute, he slowly slipped the object into his pocket and returned to leaning against the balcony railing. He had finally whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Shinji responded. Shinji had joined Heero on the railing, looking outward towards the sunset by standing about a meter to his left. Shinji commented, "It's beautiful out here, isn't it?"

"Very," Heero replied.

"You think so, too?" Shinji said, surprised at this statement.

"Of course."

Shinji was surprised to get this kind of response from Heero, whom was retaining his usual very serious and stern expression. He knew deep at heart that he was afraid of Heero from the beginning, as he felt the growing fear within him since the moment he met him at the bus stop. However, perhaps he was misjudging him? Did he have a heart of some sort?

"Mind if I ask you something, Heero?" Shinji asked.

"Shoot."

"Are you ever afraid?" Shinji said, turning his head towards Heero.

Heero didn't respond. He had only looked down.

Shinji immediately clarified, "Of death?"

"No," Heero responded, "Everyone will face it, including I."

"Oh…" Shinji said, "I, um…" He hesitated greatly in what he was about to say. Heero had finally turned his head more towards him, probably signaling that he was curious to know. Shinji finally said it, "I really wish I could be as brave as you. I've been told by Duo how the two of you encountered some of the most dangerous things that no regular human would just do."

"And you haven't?" Heero responded.

Shinji jumped, "Excuse me?"

"I know all about you, Shinji. You're the pilot of Eva Unit 01, and you've done so much in defending this world from these Angels," Heero said.

"Oh… So you did know about me before I even learned about you…" Shinji said under his breath. He had collapsed to the ground, sitting on the hard floor and leaning against the railing.

"Yes, and I never understood why it's I that's preparing for the next battle instead of you," Heero said.

"But I won't… I can't…" Shinji said, with an even more quiet tone in his voice.

Heero got off of the railing and looked down at Shinji with a mild glare. Shinji looked back up, appearing very frightened seeing Heero in this kind of manner.

"I really expected much more from you, Shinji Ikari. It's you that's the hero of this realm, not I," Heero said. He started his way towards the entrance back into the building and kept his focus entirely on that.

Shinji immediately rose to his feet and dashed after Heero. He had yelled, "Wait! Don't go yet!" Heero paused in his movement. Shinji spoke, "I'm really more than just a coward. I am an idiot, don't you see? I can't even impress my father anymore or even the people around me. Don't you see? I'm worthless and unwanted! You're almost everything that I want to be – strong, brave, and powerful! Even my own father admires you way more than me! If you would just know what I've been through these past months, you would know that I-…!"

"Will you just shut up?!" Heero snapped. Shinji backed away in fear, almost falling into tears. Heero clenched his fists and shut his eyes tightly. He threw his fist into the wall, breaking out a crumb or two out of the thick concrete and even leaving a small dent in it! Shinji paid no attention to his great strength, but instead to the fact that Heero was so enraged.

"H-Heero…" Shinji whispered, placing his hand on the back of Heero's shoulder.

"You don't know about what I've been through, only what I have become as a result of what I've been through," Heero explained, "I am, too, afraid…"

Shinji's eyes widened while trying to wipe his watery eyes, "What?"

"I am," Heero said. He had turned back towards Shinji, "I cannot believe in myself with this task, but I do believe in you."

"B-but why?" Shinji said.

Heero gave no response. He went inside, leaving Shinji outside all alone. Shinji turned around, noticing the sun was almost out of sight. Taking a seat on the bench right next to the door, he covered his face with his hands and looked down.

This boy, whom he now realizes that he had been idolizing, turned out to be much less than he had hoped for. He had shared the demeanor of Rei, but potentially held a much darker and dreadful life that he had not known of. How he was able to endure so many moments of great pain? This was a trait that he would beg to have. Heero was strong, but he was weak. Shinji was drowning in envy. At the same time, Heero was denying his bravery. Why would someone actually believe in him?

Misato and Ritsuko, meanwhile, have returned to NERV Headquarters. Misato knew their first order of business – to shut down all operation of the Custom Eva Unit 00 until further notice and inspection by the science branch of NERV. It had already been after sundown, and the halls of NERV Headquarters were somewhat more quiet than during the usual hours.

"Alright. But I still don't see how the Commander will take this," Ritsuko remarked as they were going about the hallways.

"He seems more passionate about this than I expected. That's a gimme," Misato remarked, "He put me in charge of this to start with, but I'll end it as soon as possible the very moment I get the chance to."

"This may just be a death trap for you, though," Ritsuko commented.

Misato paused in the middle of the hallway. She glanced over to her friend, whom was surprisingly being serious about the statement. Ultimately, Misato could already understand Ritsuko with utmost sympathy. With all of the time locked in a dark room, she could probably understand her more than anyone else at this point[2].

"Could it be any worse than what you have gone through?" Misato said with a little smirk, "If so, then I'm ready for the worst to come.

Ritsuko returned a slight smile. However, her smile faded when suddenly there were some running footsteps coming from across the hallway! Misato looked where she was facing and found two NERV personnel headed towards the two!

"Major Katsuragi! Major Katsuragi!" One of them had shouted.

"Report!" Misato ordered him.

They arrived to the two ladies, both panting in exhaustion from their running. The other member was holding a folder in their hands, in which he handed to Misato immediately.

"You're needed in the Command Center, pronto," The staff member said, "It's nothing like we've seen before."

"Alright, lets see what it is," Misato opened the folder and read the documents from within it. Ritsuko had looked over her shoulder shortly afterwards to read the report.

After they have both skimmed it for just a little, Misato's eyes had widened and her soul had sunk! She read the first words out loud that caught her attention.

"Oh my god…" Misato murmured, "The planet Mars suddenly vanishing from our solar system?"

"Maybe their telescopes were just broken that day?" Ritsuko asked.

"But no, this doesn't just come from anywhere," Misato commented, "The report wasn't filed by NERV, it came straight from the Japan Strategic Self Defense Force[3]. It's an omega-level threat judging by the circumstances!"

Ritsuko paused upon hearing Misato mentioning the JSSDF. It appeared as though the words spoken by Misato had shaken her. Misato question, "What?"

Ritsuko said, "A disappearance of a whole planet, though?" Trying to avoid the side subject.

"That's what's really bothering me about this," Misato implored with her finger pointed out towards the paper, "Look at this: Unidentified object of incredible size seen hovering around the area at the very moment of the vanishing."

"Dear lord!" Ritsuko jumped, "Now we have a problem on our hands."

"No doubt about it," Misato said, "Let's just get a closer look at it!"

Heero had stood under the moonlight. In what appeared to be the remnants of the Lake Ashinoko, he found the area to be rather peaceful at this very hour at nighttime. It had been exactly what he needed. Though, it didn't feel like it was enough. He was burdened with a heavy amount of stress and much more. There were answers to questions that he desired. He wanted much more than just detachment from the current world.

Looking across the lake, he noticed the moon's perfect reflection in the water – almost as beautiful as the moon directly above. There had been various traces of destruction scattered across this lake, indicating that terrible battles between Evangelion and Angels had occurred here at one point. He was only grateful that this place had retained some of its beauty.

He blinked. Suddenly, there was now a person standing on the lake! He couldn't identify it due to being a considerable distance away from it, but there was someone there. It appeared to be very light, almost the exact tint of the moon! Immediately, he prepared for an encounter.

He had looked away for a split second, only to absorb this most sudden sight of a random person. But when he had looked back, the figure was gone. Had his eyes deceived him in the first place? He wouldn't ever know. The once peaceful air had now turned into tension. Heero was again thrown into a mental anguish, in which he didn't even know the source from.

"Heero Yuy," A voice from behind now spoke, now breaking the atmosphere of peace and tranquility that once roamed the area.

He had turned around, and noticed two men in black suits and in sunglasses standing beside a car. Both of them had their sights locked onto Heero. Their serious expressions indicated that they meant business. Heero had turned around, taking his attention away from the fragrance of the moon. One of the men had spoken:

"You're needed."

[1] The pair of broken glasses that Rei Ayanami keeps is a symbol throughout the show. As seen is episode 4, it is revealed the glasses belonged to Commander Ikari originally. By rescuing her from a disaster involving Eva Unit 00, these glasses remind her of that very moment which Ikari alone had saved her. The object serves as a bonding artifact between Rei and those she deeply cares about, particularly Gendo and Shinji Ikari.

[2] The later episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion reveal Misato's dark history. In spite of her well-known lively personality, she holds a dreadful, isolated past following the events of Second Impact. She had changed drastically through various events preceding that of the original Evangelion storyline.

[3] The Japan Strategic Self Defense Force (JSSDF) is a military organization within the Evangelion universe. It's role is rather minor, overall, but is notorious for the creation of N2 mines to counter the Angels as seen in episode 1. It was formed as a result of post-Second Impact conflicts. They are considered to be a powerful ally to NERV, but their most defining roll is seen through the movie, The End of Evangelion.