Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, support official release
HQ, Unknown Chamber
Above the Geo-Front, a lone drone flies across the city; the carnage engraved into it as the city was bathed in Sachiel's blood. The drone plays a feed of Tokyo-03's center to hidden locations across the Earth, showing a large mass of blood with no buildings to see, to the inner Geo-Front.
"The attack of the 4th Angel and its defeat, and the acquisition of Shinji Ikari as the Third Child…"
"The activation of Unit-01…"
"The Project is going smoothly… or at least that is what I would like to say." A voice spoke up above the 7th large black monoliths in a circle with Gendo Ikari sitting at a table in the center. The monoliths read "SEELE SOUND ONLY" and each are numbered from 1 to 12.
"Colossal expense necessary to repair Unit-01 aside, the appearance of this mystery ship is a cause for concern." A monolith with the words "SEELE 05" stated; the commander of NERV could feel the glares the monoliths are sending him. SEELE is the most powerful committee in the U.N. responsible for the funds and resources that make up NERV, the Geo-Front, and the EVAs. Everything to help NERV fight the Angels.
"Agreed, the appearance of this third party was not written in the Dead Sea Scrolls." SEELE 04 replied to his colleagues. "This will be a problem."
Tokyo-03 - Ground Zero
"Unit-01's recovery has been completed." Maya, in an orange radiation-like suit, reports to Dr. Akagi and Captain Katsuragi. "It's being sent down to Cage 6."
"Full system check will begin at 10:00 hours." Ritsuko stated, typing on a computer beside several instruments that Misato only knew were "for science".
"What do you think that thing was?" Misato asked, referring to the mysterious giant that killed the Angel as she looked through a pair of binoculars.
"I am not sure, the MAGI couldn't find any signs of spatial anomalies." Maya answered. "Whatever it was, it doesn't want to be found."
"Our absolute confidence in this combat performance… it must have been misplaced…" Misato murmured softly, lowering her binoculars.
"There is also the fact Ikari let a John Doe pilot Unit-01 rather than the Third Child." SEELE 01 spoke up, irritated at the fact that things aren't going to plan. "What were you thinking to let such an action occur, Ikari?"
"The Third Child was not willing to cooperate, alternative measures needed to be taken." Gendo defended, his tone and body language not changed in the slightest. "With Unit-00 in Cryo-Suspension and its pilot still in critical condition, there was no other choice but to let the John Doe pilot Unit-01."
"Regardless, the Third Child was meant to pilot Unit-01 and defeat the Angel, this sudden development cannot be overlooked." SEELE 07 stated.
"Not to mention Unit-02 and the Second Child in Germany are under deployment qualification exams." SEELE 02 groaned in irritation. Exams and tests to him, and possibly all of SEELE, meant nothing if the EVA or the pilot cannot fight.
"Construction of Unit-03 and Unit-04 is progressing as planned." SEELE 03 stated, with an American-like accent in his voice. He oversaw the NERV 2nd Branch in Nevada, U.S. "It is your responsibility, Ikari, to make proper use of NERV and the EVA series. We hope you do not fail to disappoint us any further."
"Indeed." SEELE 06 finally speaks up. "Defeating the Angels is but one step complete the Human Instrumentality Project."
Gendo glances down at his desk and on it is a booklet which read in bold "TOP SECRET HUMAN INSTRUMENTALITY PROJECT 27TH INTERIM REPORT."
"Its proceedings are the mutilated goal of SEELE." SEELE 01 reminds the Commander, who all but agreed silently.
"What about the John Doe?" SEELE 08 asked.
"Should the Third Child continue to refuse, he will be made Unit-01 permanent pilot." SEELE 01 said.
"I understand, sir. Everything shall go according to SEELE's scenario." Gendo stated, calm and collected as he vanished.
"... so it has arrived, just as you said it would." SEELE 01 uttered.
At the center of the circle, a new SEELE monolith appears. This one with the number "0".
"Yes… the time of the Gospel draws near…" SEELE 00 told them.
Adam looks outside the hospital, hand to the window. It was hot, it must have been at best the middle of the day or just past 12. His head perks up at the sound of wheels rolling. He turns to see the bandaged blue-haired girl from before being rolled away. When she passes by him, her single red stares emotionlessly at him.
Adam thought the girl looked familiar, and then remembers the girl he saw back in the city. But how is that possible?
"This is too weird." Adam mutters as he massages his forehead.
Tokyo-03
The sound of roaring engines came to life as a military plane-like boat sped across the red sea above the remnants of Tokyo-03. "Angels really do know how to leave its mark when destroyed after the loss of an A.T. Field." Ritsuko quipped, reading off her computer page as Maya and Misato sat around her, staring out the plane's windows.
"The blood is a lake of Hell on its own…" Misato murmured, gripping the silver cross necklace in her hands. "It fills me with that sick feeling of Second Impact. Our EVA wasn't even able defeat the Angel… and that alone makes me wonder if humanity will have a future."
Suddenly, Ritsuko gets a message on her computer and reads it. "It seems our pilot has awakened."
Shinji can be seen sleeping on one of the chairs in the lobby. After Adam was extracted and taken to the hospital, Shinji refused to leave his side even when the staff asked him to leave.
Adam enters the lobby wearing spare clothes given to him by the hospital staff. He is wearing a plain white shirt, khaki pants, and black shoes. According to them, his clothes were ruined by the LCL and couldn't be used anymore.
He soon sees Shinji and walks towards him. He proceeds to lightly tap Shinji's face. "Hey, wake up."
Shinji slowly opens his eyes and lets out a loud yawn. "Umm… morning…" Shinji groans as he wipes his eyes of dust.
We wait in the lobby as Shinji proceeds to apologize for some reason, but Adam tells him that there is nothing to apologize about. Just then, Misato walks towards the boys and proceeds to explain to Adam the aftermath of the fight, and how a mysterious entity had killed the 4th Angel as they exited the hospital.
As they make their way to an elevator, and the doors open to reveal Commander Ikari. Both father and son stare at each other, neither spoke a word or made a move as Misato watched them with concern. Shinji's eyes narrow as his father stares with a cold look before shifting to Adam, who merely responds with a look of total confusion before the elevator doors close.
"Well… he's a ray of sunshine." Adam quipped.
"ALONE!?" Misato exclaimed, staring at the Resident manager before herself, Shinji and Adam. Once they arrived back at the surface, they were told to meet up with the Resident Manager who monitors the civilians in Tokyo-03.
"Yes, ma'am. He's been assigned quarters here at VER HG in Block 6." He states, turning to Shinji. "Correct?"
Shinji calmly nods, earring a concerned look from Misato. She couldn't believe what she was hearing; a 14-year-old staying alone without parental supervision.
Shinji turns to Misato, and smiles. "Don't worry, Misato. I like being alone; it helps me think…"
Misato then frantically turns to Adam for an opinion.
"Don't look at me, it's up to Shinji where he wants to live." Adam told her. "Besides, I lived in a boarding school for most of my life, so I'm used to living alone by myself."
MIsato gives Adam a dejected look before turning back to Shinji. She pitied the kid. Left alone at a young age, unsupervised, kind of like herself after- Misato quickly shoves those memories in the back of her mind and glances at the Resident Manager. "Is there a way I can have Shinji…?"
"YOU DID WHAT!?" Ritsuko yelled through the phone, with Misato on the other line.
"I said I'm having Shinji and Adam stay with me at my place. I got authorization from above." She states, before sheepishly adding, "don't worry, I won't make any moves on them!"
"OF COURSE, YOU WON'T!" Misato pulls the phone away from her ear as Ritsuko yells loudly enough for the boys to hear. "JESUS, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!? YOU CAN BARELY TAKE CARE OF YOURSEL-!" She hangs up.
"Jeez, learn to take a joke Rits." Misato muttered.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Adam whispers to Shinji.
Not an hour later did the trio leave the Geo-Front to the surface, silently passing through the road. "Alright, we're throwing a party tonight!" Misato pronounced, making Shinji look at her in confusion.
"Why?" Shinji asked, holding his bag on his lap. He would have put it in the trunk, but considering Misato's driving he wouldn't want to risk his bag flying out of the trunk if it suddenly flew open.
"Well, I am having new roommates for starters," Misato smiles at him "and your friend could use something to eat."
"Oh." Was Shinji's only reply, looking back out the windows they exited the tunnel. After a few minutes, the pair arrives at a convenience store to buy food. Shinji glances at Misato's basket, 'Beer? Coffee and chips?' He thought as Misato as Misato walked through the aisles. Shinji sees Adam holding a basket as well, 'pizza rolls, root beer, and... ice cream?' After a bit, Misato and Adam walk up to the cashier and pay for the snacks.
A few minutes pass and the group drive through Tokyo-03 and upwards to a large hill. "Why are we here for?" Shinji asked.
"Oh, you know." Misato gives the boys a grin as they slow down, coming to a stop before an observation platform. "To see something special."
"Can we make it fast, I don't know how long I'll last." Adam told her as he continued to take a bite of his ice cream.
They exit the Renault, standing before the city in the distance. The city has large diamond-like spaces on a very open flat area surrounded by smaller buildings by the far lake. "You know this city," Misato looks at her watch with a smile on her face, "it looks so lonely and silent, doesn't it?"
Adam stares at Misato, what is she planning?
The sound of a whirling machine can be heard coming from the metal surface. Plates and machines suddenly move and open to reveal large buildings rising from the GeoFront ceiling. Ports by the lake extend to the JDSSF Navy with cranes and other spires finally locking onto the surface. Shinji gasps at the art-lie city before him, while Adam is a bit surprised at the sudden shift of the city.
"It's incredible, huh? Like weeds sprouting out of the ground." Misato said as she looked at the rising buildings. "This is Tokyo-03 at its finest, the super fortress built for fighting Angels!" Misato exclaims with glee, like a child is just given a piece of candy. "And this city, and those in it were protected today because of you boys."
Sometime later, Misato, Shinji and Adam arrive at an apartment complex. They left the car in the parking lot and proceeded to walk upstairs. As we arrive, we notice several boxes with the name "Shinji Ikari on the side of the front door, "looks like your things have already arrived. I just moved in myself so I haven't had time to clean."
Misato works on the lock for a moment, before opening the open and turning on the lights. "Well, come on in!" Misato smiled, making Shinji give her a smile in return.
"Umm… pardon my intrusion then-" Shinji is cut off by Misato's slight glare.
"Shinji, you know this is your home now. Yours, too." Misato states, walking to the kitchen as Shinji and stood for a moment before looking at each other.
"Welp, it's better than nothing so… I'm home?" Adam said.
"I… I'm home."
Misato smiles at the two boys, "welcome home!"
'What the fuck happened here!?' Adam thought as he looked around at the apartment. There is trash everywhere! On the counter, on the table, floors, heck there even trash on the ceiling! Unopened boxes and documents for NERV laid scattered in one corner of the living room.
"Oh, the place is a bit messy but make yourself right at home!" Misato yelled from her room.
'If she calls this a "little" I hate to see what a large mess looks like.'
"By the way, can you put the food and drinks in the fridge counter please?" Misato asked.
"Y-Yeah sure!" Shinji called out, walking over from the trash to the tras-eer fridge. He opens the fridge, only to find… more beer!? There is beer as far as the eye can see inside the fridge with only a small space dedicated to her snacks.
"Alright, let's eat! Misato exclaimed happily, taking a beer as Shinji nods. Adam takes a plate and empties the bag of pizza rolls before he puts them in the microwave. Misato jugs her beer down in no time flat, having changed out of her work outfit and is now wearing a yellow tank top and shorts.
"Let's eat…" Shinji asked softly, taking up his fork. He silently eats Misato's microwave food, watching as she jugs another beer down. "Umm…"
Misato finishes her third beer before gasping happily. "Oh man, that is so good!" She cheered, before looking at Shinji with delight. "This is what makes life worth living for!"
Shinji lets out a small chuckle slip out of his lips. "Is it now?" He asked, "I hope it's better than," he gestures to their instant food. "This."
"Hey, I'll have you know that instant foods are pretty good!" Misato states, defending her go-to meal.
'Yeah, to some slob.' Shinj thought.
A ding can be heard, and Adam walks to the table with his plate of pizza rolls. "You're going to eat all that?" Shinji asked, slightly surprised by the amount of pizza rolls.
"I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, so excuse me for being hungry." Adam tells him as he eats his pizza rolls.
Adam turns to Misato and sees her… outfit and looks up and down.
Misato notices this and a smirk slowly forms on her face. "What? Like what you see?" Misato teases as she leans towards us, making her cleavage more visible.
Shinji blushes and Adam… Adam is smiling. "You know I do, gorgeous. Wanna go to your room later?"
Misato staggers at the sudden question. "Wh-what…?"
"Or do you want Shinji also? Make this a threesome? Because personally, I'm fine with it." Adam told her.
Misato blushes and Shinji looks like he is about to explode. Adam laughs at their reaction and proceeds to get stuff thrown at him.
The scene cuts to Shinji and Misato playing Rock, Paper, and Scissors to decide who gets to do the chores around the apartment.
"Remind me again why you're not part of this?" Shinji asks Adam.
Adam is seen writing something on a calendar. "Because I wasn't the one who disrespected instant meals and also because I volunteered to write down the scores." He gestures at the white next to him, "so far, you're losing."
Adam is right, most of his is on the white board, with Misato having to do laundry. Shinji, on the other hand, has to wash dishes, make dinner (real food), and make sure the apartment stays clean. Overall, it isn't much but it is still a lot for someone his age.
After that whole ordeal, Adam went to go take a bath. So far, nothing seemed odd. Until, he sees something he did not expect to find. "The hell?" He asked as he watched it flap its wings to get the water off. It's a penguin with a red mohawk of sorts along with three sharp fingers on its flippers and duck-like webbed feet. It also wears some sort of metal backpack which ends with a metal collar on its neck, reading "PEN" with the exponent of "2" on the side.
Both stare at each other or so before Adam shrugs. "Eh, ain't the weirdest thing I've seen all day." He lets the penguin pass before entering the bathroom.
He could hear Shinji screaming on the other side.
Adam chuckles as he submerges most of his body into the tub, his eyes staring up at the wall. "Can't believe this is my life…" He says to himself, soaking in the warm water. "I wonder… if I can actually change things for the better."
A few hours later, Adam laid in his new bed on the ground with Shinji taking the mattress. He didn't mind, you have appreciated the smaller things in life. A knock catches his attention, making him glance back at the door. "Guys? It's me." Misato opens the door, wearing nothing but a towel and hair. "I just wanted to say you were amazing out there today. You should be happy, you know? Goodnight, boys."
Author Notes
As always, leave a comment/review.
Peace~