Welcome To The Machine
A/N
To fully understand characters in this story please read it's preceding story Run Like Hell. Everyone is fully OOC if not.
As always I don't own anything regarding Neon Genesis Evangelion. All rights to the owners. I'm just writing what the voices tell me to write. Oh and my voices are telling me to get on with it.
Four Weeks After The Events Of Run Like Hell
"We're sorry, but due to an emergency in Tokyo Three, all communication lines are down. Please report to the closest disaster shelter... We're sorry, but due to an emergency in Tokyo Three, all communication...CLICK"
Sighing the young teen male turned to his companion, "Well, the phones are down for some kind of emergency. Looks like we're stuck until she decides to show."
Asuka began to tap her foot becoming quickly impatient with the waiting. "Ach, I swear Shinji she's as punctual as most of the European railways. Could she at least once be on time?" the girl lamented, "I mean it's been almost three years since she saw us, a little effort would be nice."
Shinji for his part just rolled his eyes, Asuka complaining was par for the course and the Section Two agents that looked over them as well as their friends in the US took it in stride feeling sorry for Shinji as the teen had to put up with her antics twenty-four / seven.
Looking at his wife Shinji pulled her close saying, "Hime, you know this is typical Misato behavior, why are you letting it get to you?"
"Simple Baka, I'm hot, tired and sweaty. I need a bath and a good nights sleep and she's never on time," she whined before leaning close and whispering into Shinji's ear, "I'm also very horny and you won't get any if I don't get a shower and something to eat soon,understand my love?"
Showing a slight sweat drop Shinji just nodded before speaking again, " I do Asu-chan, but I still don't understand what this emergency is abou..."
As he was speaking the teen was interrupted by a series of explosions followed by a loud roar. Looking up the pair saw as a squadron of JSSDF VTOL aircraft began to back slowly from something. As they retreated the craft would ripple fire their loadout of two point seven five inch FFARs*. The unguided missiles seemingly having no effect on their intended target.
The target was soon visible as the VTOLs seemed to lead it somewhere. It was nearly twenty stories tall and bi-pedal. It's shape was a mockery of a man with a face plate the resembled a beaked skull. As Shinji and Asuka watched it took a tactical missile in the face, the detonation of it's four ton payload making no sign of injury.
Looking at each other the pair decided to make a run for it. As both were wearing their BDU's** they reached into the side pockets of their pants to get to their folding machine pistols. Not that the five point seven millimeter rounds would have any effect on this thing, but holding a weapon of some sort gave a little comfort to the two.
Looking around for a place to shelter a flash of color caught Shinji's eye. Blue, a girl with blue hair much like his sister was standing across the street in a school uniform. Turning to Asuka Shinji called that someone was nearby only to turn back and see...nothing.
It was the shriek of damaged turbines that caught the boy's attention as one of the VTOLs fell from the sky trailing smoke only to crash in the spot the girl had occupied seconds before. Shinji grabbed his companion and ran perpendicular to the direction of the wreckage's path of travel to find themselves in front of the train station they had just arrived at.
In that moment the sound of tires screeching to a halt brought their attention to a blue Renault Alpine, The passenger door was flung open and a face that neither teen had seen for almost three years appeared.
"Someone call for a cab?" Misato Katsuraki called out a smile on her face despite the drama unfolding not quite a kilometer away.
"Yes we did!" yelled Asuka as she and her husband dove into the back seat, "Now drive! Get us out of here!" she barked.
With that the Alpine's wheels spun until they gained traction and the car shot out of the parking lot and onto the avenue. Shinji made sure Asuka was not injured and then turned his attention to the Gojira wanabe that was fading into the distance.
As he watched he noticed that all military assets not just the VTOLs were pulling back. After a moments thought the coin dropped, N2, doctrine called for retreat of friendly forces prior to an N2 drop. The JSSDF were going to nuke the bastard and they were still in the casualty radius.
"Misato!" Shinji yelled, "Get us into a tunnel or behind a hill, anything! The bastards are going to use an N2 on that...that...that thing!"
Misato didn't have to be told twice, she drove for the nearest traffic tunnel and skid to a stop at the halfway point. Turning to her passenger she asked, "How do you know that they'll use an N2?"
"Standard doctrine for any western force or ally," the boy replied as if teaching a class, "pull your troops and any friendlies back to a safe distance and then launch or drop the sucker."
As the teen finished the tunnel was filled with a bright light as the aforementioned weapon detonated. The N2 or 'Non-Nuclear' warhead was the most powerful conventional weapon ever devised. Made after the use of nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons were outlawed after Second Impact, the device delivered all the blast and thermal effect as a nuke but with out the radioactive fallout and other nasty side effects.
As the blast pressure wave passed the three felt their ears pop. As soon as that happened Misato put the car in gear and they were off. Hearing noises in the back seat she saw the two teens start folding and storing their weapons. She then took notice of their clothing, both wearing Mithril BDUs. She knew it was meant to be a slap in the face of Shinji's father and NERV in general. Asuka had been transferred, 'loaned out', from the Luftwaffe to Mithril until she could be permanently integrated into NERV. She never forgave her German superiors for that 'insult' but was happy that she now was in the employ of her husbands organization. So now she would show who she was loyal to, hurt feelings on NERVs part be damned.
"So, long time no see, what's up guys?" Misato asked with a smile. She was genuinely happy to see the two after the events in Berlin three years ago. "You two do have the ID's and paperwork that we sent you?"
Pulling the laminated cards from a rather large envelope the two held them up for her inspection. After a moment Shinji spoke, "We're fine, almost getting squashed by a burning VTOL not withstanding. Misa-chan, what the fuck was that thing they were fighting?"
"That Shinji, Asuka, is an Angel,"Misato answered in a voice they rarely heard, "It's what Asuka and Rei have been training to battle while piloting their EVA's."
"So, I've been trained all my life to fight those?" Asuka answered in a flat voice, "That's why they always told me that I was important to the whole world ?"
"Yes Asuka, that's why you were trained to pilot unit 02", came the answer. Misato sighed, Shinji, you were originally intended to train also but you..."
"Disappeared?" the boy interrupted, "Why am I not surprised? Just tell me, is my former father involved in this in any way?"
Misato felt a headache coming her way, "He's the commander of the Tokyo Three NERV facility I'm sorry to say. It's where units 00 and 01 are stationed and where the Angels are presumed to attack."
"I see, so who operates this unit 01?" Shinji asked, ignoring the news concerning his father.
"No one it seems, there has not been any pilot candidate that has been able to sync with let alone operate it," came the honest answer.
Asuka sensing her husbands unease turned to him, "What's wrong koi?"
"That unit 01, why do I have the feeling that that bastard has me in mind to pilot it?" turning to Misato he realized something, "When I was guarding Asuka in Berlin there was talk about them finding this 'Third Child', that was me wasn't it? You knew, Misato, you fucking knew!"
"No, I didn't, not until you two left and I read that letter", Misato replied, "Someone in Berlin suspected you, said you looked a little too much like Ikari Yui. They got your finger prints and DNA from a coffee cup. Someone decided to leave you be for the time being, said that it would distract you from watching over Asuka. They said one more thing, something I've hated ever since."
"What did they say?" was Shinji's response.
"They said that your mental state was too strong, you were supposed to be the opposite of what you are now. No friends, no interests, no confidence. You were supposed to be a very shy emotionally starved insecure teen," Misato answered as her teeth clenched.
"And me?" Asuka asked in a soft voice.
"I...I don't know dear, I don't know and I'm afraid of what I'd do if I found out," came the answer.
Asuka just nodded, then she latched onto Shinji, burying her face into his chest. Shinji, for his part, just held her close and stroked her hair. As he felt her calm down he kissed her head then turned his attention back to their driver.
"My sister, how's she doing?" he asked.
"Fine, she's awake and walking around in the medical center. Her boyfriend has been a great help getting her to move around and go to her therapy sessions," Misato replied.
"That's good then, I hear that Gendo has taken care of her like a daughter? I hope he's been a better father to her than he was to me," was all Shinji said.
The three continued in silence for a bit until Misato reached for her cell phone. As soon as the other end answered she began speaking.
"Makoto, it's me. Yeah, I got them. We had a bit of trouble when they dropped that N2 but we're fine. Look, send a train to the Konoha stop. We'll be there in about five minutes out. Talk to ya soon...oh and tell Kaji not to go ballistic on Shinji when he sees him. Ta ta."
As she closed her phone she looked into the mirror to see the two quietly necking in the back seat, "Ahem, while I know that you two are a married couple, I expect you to conduct yourselves in a discreet fashion. I'm fully aware of your actions while on your own, S2 was very detailed in their reports to me while you were away," Misato lectured, smiling as she saw Asuka pale, "and Asuka, Kaji knows to. He's a more than a little upset that the girl he sees as his daughter would act the way you have," now she was almost laughing as Asuka tried to hide behind Shinji.
Shinji spoke at this point, "What about Kaji going ballistic when he sees me?"
Misato just grinned, "Simple, you defiled his little girl and he's not happy about it."
"Well he can't say anything, we're married, so there," Asuka called out trying to defend her mate.
"Not all the time you weren't, Shinji-kun's mother told us all about why you two got married," Misato shot back.
"Oh", was all the girl could come back with. She and Shinji knew when they'd been beat. Just then the car had stopped in front of a large door that had begun to slowly open. As soon as it had opened fully Misato drove up a ramp and onto a rail car. Before the door could start to close they were on their way and the train and car were plunged into the dark of a tunnel.
Now that she could fully devote her attention to the teens in her back seat Misato began to turn around, only to be stopped by a soft female moan of pleasure. 'Oh fuck no, they are not doing that in here with me are they!?' thought Misato. Turning on the dome light she was surprised to see Asuka with her back to Shinji and the boy massaging her neck and shoulders.
Looking up Asuka gave a little smirk before crying out, "What? Jeez Misato, get your mind out of the gutter," Asuka then turned to her lover and said, "Yeah Shinji-kun, right there baby. Ohhh gawd you're sooo goood!"
Inside Asuka was laughing her ass off, it was part of her and Shinji's games that they loved to play on unsuspecting people. The idea was make suggestive sounds in the dark or behind the back of someone, then act indignant when they turned to confront them only to find Shinji or Asuka rubbing the shoulders of their partner. It was fun and now they had trapped Misato, revenge for the crap that she'd done when they first started dating.
Before said woman could react the train emerged into the underground lair of NERV itself. Both teens sat up and pushed themselves against the cars windows. "Wow! A real geo-front!" they both called out.
Misato smiled, her kids were being just that for the moment, kids. One of them, she knew would have to fight that thing on the surface, she just didn't know who. Asuka was the safe bet but Shinji was the one that actually had combat experience. At this point she just didn't know who was going to fight, all she did know was it wouldn't be Rei.
Once the Alpine left the train and parked Misato told the pair to don their ID cards. They were to wear them at all times while in the complex, no exceptions. They then entered the facility itself, Misato walking with a purpose and the young couple following.
After a while of aimlessly wandering about Asuka could not contain herself, "Don't tell me your sense of direction has failed you again nee-chan."
"No, it's not that, it's, well I've never been in this section before and it's not like there's signs to where we need to go," came back the weak reply from the purple haired woman.
Shinji then stopped in front of an elevator, "Well, why don't we take this to a level you do know your way around?"
Before Misato could answer the doors parted and out stepped a bottle blond woman in a lab coat and swimsuit. "Really captain, after three years you should know your way around by now. Are these our pilots?" she asked looking the teen pair over.
"What do you mean 'pilots', plural?" Shinji began to ask.
"Yes Rits, well at least Asuka-chan here, Shinji-kun is just her bodyguard as you should know," replied Misato.
"We shall see about that Misato, we shall see. Now come along, we're wasting time," was all the blond said before re-entering the elevator.
On the ride Shinji looked at the new woman and said, "Since you seem to know us, it would be polite to introduce yourself to me and my wife."
"Wife?" Ritsuko asked Misato.
"Long story, now kids, this is Dr Akagi Ritsuko head of Project E and our resident expert of the EVA series," Misato said as she introduced the good doctor.
Ritsuko looked at the pair, "So, you're Ikari Shinji, you remind me of your father."
"The name is Sagara and I doubt you've met my father. Ikari is no longer my name and I do not wish to be associated with that bastard Ikari Gendo...SMACKKK!"
Before Ritsuko could follow up with another slap to Shinji's face for insulting her lover she felt cold steel at the back of her head, "Hurt Shinji one more time and I can guarantee that your brains will be on the wall and NERV will be looking for your replacement, understand? Bitch,"Asuka ground out as she pressed her Five SeveN pistol against the doctors skull.
"Yes, I do," came the reply as Ritsuko tried not to piss herself as the girl withdrew her weapon. Shinji turned to look at her and frowned.
"Looks like the bastard wasted no time in replacing my mother, a little young for him aren't you?" getting no reply he continued, "You should control yourself better, doctor, that's a bad temper you have, hitting a child like that. One more thing, if you ever try to hit me or Asuka again being shot will be your last worry. I'll fucking break your arm and then break your neck, capice?"
Something in the boys tone and demeanor told the doctor that he was fully capable of carrying out his promise. Ritsuko had never felt fear like this before and it was fear of a five foot five inch fifteen year old boy that most likely weighed no more than one hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet. She noticed that while not muscular, Shinji was whip cord toned and from what she was told, combat experienced. The reports had said that he was as cold blooded as some of Section Twos most ruthless agents, the boy was a wolf among the sheep. The girl was not any better from that stand point, Ritsuko recalled the reports of her shooting attackers without remorse and remaining calm during Section Two's debriefings.
'Great', the woman thought, 'just my luck to piss off the only two teens in Japan that would not hesitate to kill or cripple me.'
Before the situation could get worse the lift had stopped and the doors opened into a dark chamber. Walking along a grated catwalk the small group stopped. Turning to look around Shinji saw what he thought was a face. As he began to speak the lights flashed on illuminating a very large humanoid machine.
"That...is the ugliest arm-slave I've ever seen in my life," was all the boy could say, turning to Asuka he continued, I've seen the one mom helped design for dad and that was bad, but this is beyond ugly," he finished as he turned to Ritsuko with a self satisfied smirk.
Turning to Misato he said, "I presume that this is that bastards doings?"
Before the woman could answer a voice rang out from hidden speakers, "Correct! And you Shinji will pilot it," Ikari Gendo called out in confidence before dropping his voice to something quieter, "It's been a long time...son."
"You must be mistaken Ikari-san, you abandoned your son years ago. I am now Sagara Shinji, son of Sousuke and Kaname Sagara. I don't know you anymore," came Shinji's bitter reply, "If I recall, you said I was useless to you when you left me at my uncle's house. What possible use am I to you now?"
Gendo looked at his son and felt the cuts the boys words inflicted on his heart. He wanted to tell him it was not his choice, it was his mothers wishes that he was left behind, how much he had argued and pleaded that that course was not right. In the end however the man had caved in to the woman he loved. He was guilty as the boy charged so it was moot to try to explain.
Steeling himself the commander of NERV replied to his son, "That is in that past and neither here nor there. You will pilot Unit 01 or you can prove me right, waste all that training and walk away a useless coward."
"You sonofabitch!" Shinji exploded, "How dare..."
Hearing the hurt in his voice Asuka placed her hand on his shoulder to show him she was there beside him and to stop him from saying of doing something that he would regret. Turning to the now visible NERV commander she asked, "What do you mean Shinji pilots this? It takes years of training to get an EVA to move let alone fight, why not me? Where's unit 2, if you sent for me then it should be here."
"Shinji is the Third Child, unit 01 was designed and built for him to pilot," was Gendo's reply.
Shinji just stared at the monstrosity in front of him, after a couple of minutes he turned to his former father, "This is the robot that killed mother, isn't it? You want me to pilot the thing that took my mother away? Now I know you're insane!" he yelled out.
Gendo's voice was still calm and confident despite the shock at his son's reaction to his words, "Yes, it is the same mecha that was involved in your mother's accident. But it is also necessary that you pilot it, no one else can. Shinji, it will only work for you."
"And I'm to do what with this? Fight that thing, that Angel on the surface?" Shinji's voice began to rise despite Asuka's efforts to calm him down.
At this point Misato spoke up, "Shinji, if you don't pilot that thing it will destroy Tokyo Three first and then run unchecked until all of humanity is extinct. We need you to pilot this, I...I didn't think it would be you but Asuka's EVA is not here and Rei is still bed ridden. You are the only one that can do this, please. Look, forget the commander, forget NERV, do this to protect your wife and your sister," finished Misato who was hoping that she had gotten through with the startled teen.
Just as he was going to answer there was a strong tremor in the cages shaking a large light fixture from it's anchoring. As it fell towards the boy and girl a tearing of metal was heard as one of unit 01's arms broke free and acted as a shield for the pair. Looking at the machine for a minute Shinji thought about how selfish he was being because of his grudge against a man who had no place in his life, it was his duty to protect. He had once sworn that upon entry into Mithril's forces, it was why he went through hell, to protect, first Asuka and now if this was true, the planet.
Standing up he turned to his former father, "I'll pilot this thing but understand, Asuka and I are under NERV's employ, we expect to be well paid for our efforts."
Hearing that Ritsuko began to speak, "Listen here you little shit, you are in no posit..."
"Agreed, I understand that you and Asuka are captains in your organization, here you will retain that rank, paid as such and be given a bonus for every combat sortie you undertake," came Gendo's response interrupting Risuko's attempt to dress down the teen.
"One more thing," Shinji called out, these ID's, I take it that they're not normal identity cards? What do they allow?"
Gendo smirked behind his hands, his son was hooked and time to reel him in, "Not only do they identify you as NERV employees, it will also act as a debit card linked to your pay and as a driving licence. I understand you two own a car and a couple of motorcycles, this will allow you to drive them or any other vehicle you purchase in Japan. It is also a permit to carry weapons, the permits you have on your person at the moment are not recognized in Japan with the exception of your Mithril documents," the man explained.
Nodding in satisfaction Shinji called in reply "Alright commander, you have yourselves two pilots."
Misato grew concerned, "Shinji, are you sure about this?"
"No," came the reply, "but we really don't have a choice now, do we? Relax, between my arm-slave training and watching what Asuka was taught I should be fine. Now how do I get into this thing?"
After a few moments of debate and argument with Ritsuko Shinji now found himself sitting in an entry plug wearing nothing but his socks and underwear. Ideally he would be wearing a plug suit but no one thought to have one made for him prior to his arrival. Grumbling to himself and getting comfortable Shinji looked around the mecha's cockpit. It was very comfortable, the pilots seat it seemed was fitted just for him and there were two control yokes for his hands.
Falling on ingrained habit Shinji began to call to the units AI, "Begin start up sequence, set bi-lateral angel to three point six..."
A girlish giggle interrupted him as Asuka appeared in a holographic image at his left hand, "Koi, what are you doing? This is an EVA, not an AS."***
"I was trying to get this thing to start up, I take it that the AI in this thing is not what I'm used to?" Shinji replied.
"Yes my love, first there is no AI, not like you're used to, second, it won't begin to work let alone move until they pump in the Link Connection Liquid. You remember that stuff don't you?" Asuka teased.
How could he not remember that stuff, the first time he saw it he thought they were trying to drown his charge and he reacted like his dad Sousuke would have. He pulled his pistol and threatened the lead technician. After a dressing down from Misato and a beating from Asuka the boy had to apologize to the team and then listen as they explained what the liquid was designed to do.
"Yes dear, I remember, boy do I remember," was all Shinji could say.
Asuka laughed at that and the told him to get ready as the pumping was about to start. Shinji dutifully took a deep breath of LCL when it rose above his head and waited out the burning sensation in his lungs. He found that he could talk but it was distorted by the liquid, software in the comm system would rectify that as well as make incoming transmissions intelligible.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him, "Asuka, why are you on comms let alone in the command center?"
"Simple, I'm your adviser. Misato is the Tactical Officer and until my unit arrives I'm the Combat Coordinator. I'm your extra set of eyes since I can see your fight from different cameras I get to tell you what to do for a change," she replied in a bratty tone, sticking her tongue out for good measure, "Now let the techs do their job and get you launched okay?"
Then after a moment she added softly, "I love you, you better come back to me okay?"
Shinji just nodded, "I intend to, Asuka, I love you too," Speaking to the techs he said, "Let's get this moving, my wife hates it when I'm away for too long."
At the Shinji heard the techs on the command deck call out readings as the EVA began to move on it's carrier to one of the lift points. It would be taken to the closest access point to the Angel that had recovered from the N2 mine. Feeling the carrier slow to a stop Shinji felt himself getting locked onto the vertical rails of the lift shaft. The teen remembered from intel briefs that this was a mag-lev system. As he braced for a high gee loading on his body Shinji had an idea. He would have to take this thing by surprise so he decided to take a risk. The short briefing he had been given showed him how similar and dissimilar the EVA was from his M9 Gernsback. In his mind Shinji felt he could do it.
"Asuka," he called, "I have an idea, have them release the locks just before I hit the surface okay?"
Asuka looked at Misato in panic, what he was proposing was suicide. The momentum would shoot him no telling how high and if he landed wrong the fight was as good as done.
"Shinji, that's...that's insane. The risk of you landing wrong is..."
"I know what I'm doing," the teen interrupted,"No offense baby but you've only done simulator training. I have more time in arm-slaves, especially being air dropped, than you so trust me, unlock the EVA at the last five hundred feet. Remember what you told me? I'm the same way at the moment and well..."
Asuka blushed a little before looking at Makoto, "Do it, I'll take the blame if Baka-Shinji dies out there."
As Shinji rode the lift he could feel the locks open. Looking up he saw daylight ahead as he readied himself for zero-gee. The command crew watched with breath held as the EVA and it's pilot rocketed up the nearly four kilometer vertical track. As the carrier stopped the EVA continued into the sky. Just as Shinji had cleared the tower a beam shot from the Angel melting a hole the building he had emerged from.
As Shinji reached his apogee he realized something, "Asuka, where are the weapons on this thing? I can't find the fire controls."
"There...there are no on board systems Shinji except for a progression knife," at this Misato interrupted the girl, "Uhmm, Misato said the knife hasn't been fitted yet, so just think fast and be careful."
"That's it? Think fast and be careful?"Shinji exclaimed.
"Did I tell you I loved you?" was the weak answer.
Now on his way down Shinji bit back the sharp retort he had readied as he floated weightlessly in the LCL, "Yes you did, if I fail just know that I love you too."
"You won't and you'll think of something, I'll make it up to you," was all Asuka could say.
By now Shinji was on the ground and playing hide and seek with the Angel. As he ducked behind a building movement below him caught his eye, a child was standing where he would have stepped had he not stopped. Taking a gentle step back he saw an older kid, a boy maybe his age run up and grab her. Shinji called in to have rescue crews recover them and get the pair to safety.
Once it was clear Shinji called on his training, he was an SRT member like his father. SRT were the sneak thieves in the night, Weber had once called themselves new age ninjas. Now here he was, sitting in a giant robot, facing a monster from who knows where, unarmed and in an unknown city.
Just what he had been trained to work with. His first action was a rush towards his target, grabbing it's left arm he continued his rush until he was behind and to the side. A thrust from his free hand into the Angel's elbow was rewarded with a howl of pain as the joint was shattered and the arm hung uselessly in the air. Side stepping his opponent the teen threw a jab to the base of the skull, a killing move but the Angel dodged at the last moment.
Turning to face it's abuser the Angel's eyes flashed and Shinji felt the beam as it hit his EVA in the chest. To the boy it felt as if he'd been hit by a flame thrower as he backed away and into cover. All the time he was screaming in pain. Asuka was almost in tears at hearing her love in this much pain. She heard Misato explain to Shinji that the higher a person could synchronize with an EVA the more they would feel what the machine 'felt'. To Asuka it was little comfort, she should have told him about that fact but it had slipped her mind.
She along with the others were astounded by Shinji-kun's sync ratio,it was higher than hers by a few points and almost as high as the First Child, Rei. Shinji just made some crude remark about sync rates and pain thresholds. All he wanted was for this to be over, unknowingly mirroring Asuka's feelings as well.
Shinji moved in to make another attempt and catching his opponent off guard he was able to break the other arm. However to his surprise the Angel had healed himself and turned the tables on the boy. Gripping unit 1's arms in it's hands the alien being squeezed until Shinji felt as if his own arms had been crushed into dust before feeling the sharp jolt of pain as he felt his right arm was torn away in a single tug.
Backing away in pain Shinji blindly tried to find a way to overcome this setback, he wouldn't call it a defeat until he was dead and buried. As he gained some space he was taken by surprise as the Angel charged him this time grabbing the EVA's head in both hands. Shinji struggled to get free as the pressure on his head increased. At the same time he could hear the frantic calls of the techs as one by one systems began to fail. At this point a rod appeared from the Angels head and began to bash into the head of unit 01.
Asuka flinched with each blow, her Shinji-kun's cries of pain echoing throughout the command deck. Turning she gazed at the stoic figure of Gendo Ikari. She was surprised at his expression, contrary to his earlier actions and bearing the man was visibly shaken. Although he had his hands in front of his mouth and his eyes covered by his glasses the look of concern was there as was the body language. The man was barely holding himself together and it did not look as if it was a failed mission that was the cause. He really was worried for the boy, she wondered why that would be when it was he that abandoned the boy years ago. 'Maybe he's afraid of losing a second chance', thought the red head.
In the background the bridge bunnies calls were getting frantic,..." ego regressing past borderline..." "...o good, brain wave activity slowing, get..." "Pilot is in cardiac arrest, doctor, without a plug suit we can't shock him..." "...y this, increase oxygen saturation, that shou..." Asuka had tuned all that out while she was in deep thought, the calls just noise in the background, but for now her concern was Shinji. Turning her attention to the command crew one of the techs, the girl, Maya, she remembered, uttered the dreaded words, "Unit 01 has gone silent, no readings from the pilot all inputs flat lined."
As the steady tone that indicated no heat or brain activity sounded on the command deck sounded a very small voice was heard. "No, oh no, please no" Asuka whispered as she looked at the blank screen, somehow they had lost the signal into the plug, "NO! SHINJI! You promised!"
Misato was at Asuka's side in an instant desperately trying to calm the girl down. "It'll be okay, he'll be fine," she told the girl, not believing her words, she just needed Asuka to calm down, "Asuka, Asuka, listen to me. Shinji will come through this, he's always out fought and out thought every one and everything he's come across. He'll be okay, he'll keep his word to you I promise."
Shinji at the moment was in a world of light and warmth. 'Am I dead?' he thought, 'Is this how I end? At least I told her I loved her.' Shinji's only regret was that he and Asuka didn't get a chance at parenthood. It was something they both wanted but decided that it would have to wait until they were a bit older. That last thought touched something or someone that was bound to the EVA. Shinji's last vision before passing out was that of his long dead mother.
Unbeknownst to the boy an entity made it's presence known. It reached out and touched his mind and was surprised, her son was married had become a soldier and already completed school with a degree. He was very strong both in mind and body the entity found. He had been taken in by a young couple who raised him to be strong. Her plans it seemed had been for naught and a mistake to begin with.
The boy had disowned his family name, shunned his father, the one person that had argued against her plans and course of action. He held so much hate for her husband, his father. Ikari Yui realized that everything she thought was right was so very wrong and now her son was dying. Dying in the very thing that should have kept him safe. In that moment the soul that had been Yui Ikari made a decision, her son would live, she would fight, just so he could live.
As the command crew sat in silence, the readouts confirmed their worst nightmares while they had to listen to the cries of a girl that had just been made a widow. No amount of button pushing was going to get unit 01 moving again and so they sat. Sat and listened to Asuka crying her heart out while waiting for their demise as the battle to save humanity had failed.
It was Asuka that noticed that unit 01 had reactivated, it's eyes glowing once again while signals sprang to life. As Unit 01 stood it's remaining arm had regenerated and it reared back and roared. The cigarette dropped from Ritsuko's mouth as the EVA charged into it's target. The Angel put up it's AT field but that was quickly cancelled out by unit 01's own AT field. Grabbing the Angel's right arm the EVA yanked down ripping the appendage from the Angel's body.
Still roaring in defiance unit 01 began to beat the Angel with the bloody end of it's own arm into submission. As the Angel staggered back the EVA placed the arm to the stump of it's own right arm, as the end of the alien touched the EVA it assimilated it into it's body and 'regrew' it's arm. Then it started hammering both hands against the red core of the Angel as the hardened crystal began to shatter and crack the Angel made a last desperate move. Wrapping itself around unit 01 it began to self destruct.
The explosion was tremendous, bigger than the earlier N2 blast. The pyre of smoke and flame that marked the Angel's last stand rose into the stratosphere in a cross shaped cloud.
Rescue crews were dispatched to recover the body of the pilot. As there were no readings from the plugs sensors it was safe to assume he had died in action. Asuka went along to be with her Shinji while Misato stayed back and went over the results of the battle. Nobody had the nerve to tell the girl that it was the EVA that made the kill, the machine had entered what was called a berserker mode. It was basically a self preservation action and last resort of the biomechs.
As the command staff conferred the news they got from Asuka was welcome. Shinji was alive, while he was pulled from the plug unconscious, he was most certainly alive. Asuka was beside herself in joy and Misato was hugging Ritsuko tightly. It was a relief that their untrained and unprepared pilot was still among the living. Shinji was rushed to NERV's medical center and taken to the ER.
It was not so easy on the boy as everyone initially thought, he went into cardiac arrest while enroute and had to be shocked twice to get his heart started. That caused Asuka to cry again, the EMT told her that she needed to talk to the boy, let him know she was nearby. It worked, his heart rate began to get stronger. At that point his EEG was showing low activity but once Asuka started speaking that began to climb also.
It was at the ER that the young couple were separated and only until Shinji was stabilized and sent to his own room upstairs. It was there that Misato had found them, Asuka sitting in a chair with her head resting on the boys chest. She was also holding his hand in hers. Misato came in and had a few words before leaving with the promise of a meal for the girl.
It was almost twelve hours after he arrived in the ER that Shinji woke up. The first thing he saw after looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling was a head of red. Asuka was lightly snoring on his chest but woke as he began to stir.
"Welcome back," was all she said before launching herself at him in order to capture his lips with hers.
They stayed that way for some time, kissing and touching one another. All to make sure that their partner was real and not a dream. As soon as she was satisfied Asuka sat up and slapped Shinji across the face.
With a tearful "That's for making me cry", Asuka buried her face into Shinji's chest to hide her sobs. When he asked why she was crying so hard her answer was painfully blunt, "You died, three times. Once in unit 01. The second time in the ambulance on the way here and the last time in the ER."
Shinji was shocked into silence, there was nothing he could really say to her except for one thing, "I'm sorry," he quietly said to her, "I'm sorry for leaving you that many times and I'm sorry that I made you cry."
Asuka put her finger to his lips, "Never apologize for something that's not your doing. You had no choice in the matter, your former father could have had my unit brought out here or they could have at least had some form of weapon for you to use," she told him.
"You know," Shinji began, "I don't remember dying the second or third times but I do remember the first. I remember being in a space that was all white and warm, and my last thought was regretting not getting a chance to become a parent with you. That's what I'm really sorry for, that we have to wait until all this is over."
Asuka was quiet for a bit, what Shinji had told her was something that had passed in her mind when she was told he was presumed dead. Now her husband was voicing that regret and she had to respond to it.
Taking his hand and kissing the back of it she spoke, "If more pilots are trained I'll take time off so I can be a mother, but you'll have to help with the baby when your not working or away on assignments, okay?"
Shinji just kept quiet but nodded his head in agreement with her idea. They would still have a chance to be parents in the near future. Asuka found it a bit ironic. Years ago, when she entered puberty and began having her 'monthly visitor' she swore that she would never have kids. Now, just a few years later it was one of the things she wanted with all her heart, to be a mother with Shinji at her side.
The pair just held hands in comfortable silence for a long while. Misato found them that way when she came to check on the pair. She also had something of a surprise for them. If Shinji was up to it she'd take them to see Rei as her room was just down that hall.
"Aren't you two cute," she called out making the teens jump.
"Fuck Misato, give us both heart attacks why don't you?" was all Asuka could get out while scowling at her adopted big sister / mother figure.
Shinji was just a casual "What she said," before asking a couple of questions regarding the battle after he had passed out.
Misato frowned at first replying that she had no real answer for him he needed to ask Ritsuko for that information, but she did have a surprise for the pair. Producing a wheel chair she and Asuka helped Shinji into it. Being the brat she is the girl sat in her husbands lap and demanded that Misato push them both to wherever this surprise lay.
Misato just rolled her eyes and held her tongue, if Asuka wanted to be a little bratty right now she'll allow it, the last day had been stressful to everyone but mostly to the young teen in front of her.
After a short ride down a couple of hallways they arrived at a door with a couple of Section Two agents by the door. The men stood aside as Misato pushed the teens inside. As she entered she noticed the pair at and on the bed, they had been sharing a kiss and had jumped apart like scared rabbits.
In a cheerful voice Misato called out, "Look who came to visit guys, Rei, your brother is here to see his sister and to kill the guy that's been making out with her!"
At that point Shinji walked up to the bed. As he sat down on it next to Rei he took her into his arms and whispered, "Hey little sister, I'm here now. I'll take care of you like a big brother should," as he held her he gently kissed her head. At the same time Rei hugged him as tight as she could, praying that this was not a dream.
Asuka hugged her next, "Rei, I'm your sister in law Asuka. I'm very happy to meet you, welcome to our family."
Rei smiled at Asuka and told the girl how happy she was to finally meet everyone. Kensuke walked over to his girl and sat next to her on the bed. "So, you're Rei's big brother, you don't seem any older than her, what gives?"
Shinji laughed at the boy and told him the best they could figure out was Rei was conceived before Shinji was born so she's the youngest of the three pilots. That being said, she was also the one with the most experience since Asuka had to flee Berlin and all Shinji could do was pilot an AS. Hearing this Kensuke was almost hero worshiping the teen, with Shinji telling Aida that being a child soldier was not a good thing.
Kensuke, being how he is ignored what Shinji had said about the job of a soldier not being all that great had and Shinji had enough. Turning around to look at the boy he snapped, "You think I enjoy doing what I do?", he asked the other boy getting a look of surprise in return, "Tell me Aida-san, do you remember your first kill? Your second? How about your tenth? Take a look at my wife, she's had to do the same as I and I know that it still makes her sick to think about it. I remember the first ten or so like my dad, and after that it's all a blur. But, I can tell you this, it's something that you never get used to but you do it anyway, like my old man says, it's just a job, but it's a shitty and fucked up job. So tell me, Aida-san, when did you make your first kill?"
Everyone in the room was silent, Asuka was looking down holding Shinji's hand, her kill total was less than ten and she could see everyone when she closed her eyes, she knew that she and Shinji had PTSD, the degree of which varied, hers was not so bad, Shinji would wake some nights screaming. Kaname had confided in her and Shinji had confirmed it, Sausuke was a basket case for the first years as a family until he sought help. Even today the man had flash backs of sorts if he was caught off guard. Kensuke on the other hand looked ashamed. He had never thought beyond the cool factor in firing a weapon and now his girlfriends brother had told him that at age fifteen he had killed more than a few people and his fourteen year old wife had also killed others. It was a sobering experience to say the least.
"Wow, I'm sorry Sagara-san. I never thought about the consequences, just how cool it would be to shoot a real gun or pilot an AS. Forgive me," Kensuke said to Shinji and by extension Asuka.
"Look, I'll admit, piloting an AS and hitting the range is fun and all but those actions are for one purpose, to kill and destroy an enemy force," Shinji tried to explain to the otaku, "The chance of Rei going into combat has lessened now that I and Asuka are here but you need to understand something, the three of us are in military service and you're the outsider looking in. Pray that that's all you'll be," Shinji told the other boy.
Seeing the look on his face Asuka in one of her kinder moves put her hand on Kensuke's shoulder, "The longer you are around us the greater the chance you'll get sucked in. Never think that what we do in a fight is fun or cool. Kensuke, people die when they engage Shinji and I, people die," Asuka finished her bit and hoped that what they said had sunk in.
Kunsuke looked at the two and said something that surprised everyone in the room, "Suppose I want in, suppose I want to protect Rei like you do with Asuka," Kensuke stated, "How do I go about it? What and who do I need to know?"
Shinji looked to Misato for help seeing the older woman stand and walk over to the four teens, "Kensuke, what you are asking is something none of us have any power to grant, she began to explain, "For better or worse these three are pilots and Shinji is a Mithril contractor. Neither Mithril or NERV would consider you as a guard for Rei. No buts, I know your argument but Shinji and Asuka were protector and protected long before they became...close. You and Rei are a couple and that can work against you in a time of stress."
At that point Shinji looked the boy into the eyes and spoke, "Look, no matter how much you want to do this I'll fight it for as long as I can," seeing the look in the otaku's face he plowed on, "You're still innocent, a couple of years ago two of our friends crossed the line and killed to protect us. Those boys were sick for days once the reality of their actions set in. My employer made me pay for their mental treatment as punishment for taking them in," pausing to get the boys attention Shinji leaned into the boys face until their noses almost touched, "Aida-san, those two guys were thirteen, they will never,ever be the same as they were before they pulled the trigger. It's only because of the entire group of friends and their treatment that they are not walking head cases. You never want to willingly do what I do, the only reason I was trained was the fact that there was a threat to Asuka and I was the only one that could get close to her and not draw attention. Trust me, you do not want to enter our world."
"But what if I do? As I said, I want to be able to protect Rei and this is not a spur of the moment thing, I've been thinking about it and I've mentioned it to Ikari-san," Kensuke explained drawing a pained look from Shinji.
Sighing as he new that the other boy would not take no for an answer Shinji just looked at him and gave his answer, "If and only if you are taken into the program I will train you," seeing the boys eyes light up Shinji decided to cool his jets a bit, "Understand this, I am a member of SRT, Mithrils Tier One asset. We are only behind the SEAL Teams in training and equipment. If you are brought in you will be trained to SRT standards, and before anyone asks, Asuka has qualified to be rated for SRT so if I'm not drilling you then she will be and Kensuke, Asuka is a lot less kinder than I."
Kensuke looked Shinji in the eye, steeling himself he just ground out, "Bring it on then Sagara-san, I won't back down and I...am...not afraid."
Shinji and Asuka just looked at the boy for a second before Shinji made his reply, "Oh, you will be Kensuke, you will be."
Shortly after that encounter the trio bid themselves goodbye and went on their way. Shinji had been cleared to go home but the teens had no idea where they would be staying. There was housing in NERV itself, some of the higher ranking staff such as the commander and vice commander lived there but Misato decided that it would not be suitable for Shinji and Asuka.
After some thought she made a couple of calls before returning to the teens, "Good news," she called out, I found a place for you to live."
"Really? Where's it?" Asuka asked hope for a place like the one they had in the States.
"Well you have to share the place with a roommate but the rent is paid for, you just have to do some chores to earn your keep," Misato replied.
"Where and with who Misato," came Shinji's tired response. He was in no mood to play games at the moment the events of the last day taking it's toll on him.
Misato's smile faltered for a moment before if lit up again, "Well, it's with me of course. It's kind of hard to get your own home as you have to be twenty to sign a contract and your emancipation papers are a little suspect if you ask me."
"Uhmm...no?" Asuka's response surprised the purple haired woman, she had been sure that the kids would accept the offer, the apartments in NERV were little better than rooms in a barracks. Well, the ones that are assigned to junior and mid level officers.
Speaking of which, the two in front of her were captains, the same rank as herself, so she wouldn't be able to pull rank on them and just order them to live with her. As she racked her brain for a way to convince them Shinji spoke up.
"Fine, we'll live with you," came his tired voice. Looking at Asuka he just said, "What, knowing her all our shit is at her place anyway. Besides, I'm too fucking tired to care."
With those words the trio set out for a blue Renault Alpine and home.
Footnotes:
FFAR; Folding Fin Artillery or Aerial Rocket, Also known as the 70mm Hydra, standard unguided weapon of Western armed forces and their allies. It is two and three quarters of an inch in diameter and can be fitted with a variety of warheads and fuzes. Depending on the launcher it can be carried on a single rail to a 19 shot pod.
BDU; Battle Dress Uniform, A set of clothing designed for a combat environment in either a single drab color or a camouflage pattern. Shinji and Asuka's BDUs are in a single olive green shade and tailored more like the old fatigue uniforms the US issued prior to the 1980's.
AS; Arm Slave, A bi-pedal mech that is approximately 20-30 feet tall and fitted for one pilot. It carries a range of internal weapons as well as a mono-molecular edged fighting knife and upscaled firearm of some sort. The pilot is also aided by an on board AI to handle the more taxing duties. Shinji is qualified to pilot the standard Mithril unit an M9 Gernsback that is fitted with custom gear designed for Mithril
SRT; Special Response Team, Mithril's tier one special warfare unit. Shinji was trained by SRT at age 10 by his adopted father and others to prepare him for his job as Asuka's bodyguard. While harsh the training is designed more to recondition Mithril members that had had SAS, SEAL or Spetznatz training prior to joining the private military company Mithril. Asuka was trained while she and Shinji were living in California before being called to Japan. There was a nearby US Navy complex that due to a number of agreements allowed the teens to use the training facilities with other non-US personnel. Maybe someday I'll post a one shot showing Asuka being put through the wringer, remember, she's a member of the Luftwaffe though in name only as she's spent her entire life being trained by NERV.
A/N
Well this is the entry to the next step in the pairs journey. They've finally arrived in Japan and reunited with Misato as well as confronting one of Shinji's deamons. The have also welcomed in a new member of their family and had to deal with Kensuke's obsessive nature for any and all things military. And yes along the way I've rewrote canon.
Asuka is not the "I refuse to cry" girl she was in canon. She can and does show emotion and while she is not above hitting Shinji she does it only when he needs it. Baka is not the insult it is in canon and she uses it as a sign of love. The two also address each other as koi quite a bit as it's a Japanese term of endearment. Shinji will also call Asuka 'hime' from time to time as he sees her as a princess, this goes back to when they were small children when they spent time together.
Shinji is more emotionally stable than his canon self, in fact if this Shinji met the canon one he would be sick at what he became and would kick the shit out of the wimp. This Shinji here is not infallible, he will make mistakes and he can and will fall prey to his emotions. He hates his father Gendo for his abandonment, at this time I don't know if he will ever reach out to the man if he ever finds out the truth about his mothers plans.
At the same time Gendo is slowly sliding into darkness. He sees Rei as his daughter more then Shinji as his son. This comes from Shinji taking his adopted fathers last name and identifying with him more than Gendo. Gendo will not put put the pilots at risk but he still is not above manipulating them and Shinji is the easiest.
Rei is more open and alive, she has Kensuke to thank for that. However, she still is the Ice Princess to outsiders. To her family and close friends she's warm and open, to outsiders and most of her classmates she's cold and distant, much like her canon self. Her relationship with Kensuke has not gone beyond making out as she is still quite innocent in some ways and Kensuke is scared shitless of Gendo and Section Two. At some point in the story that all will change as the boy does spend nights with Rei and he's the only male outside of Toji and now Shinji that she's close to.
The next chapter will deal with getting settled in, Kaji trying to cut Shinji's balls off and getting settled into high school. Misato's brilliant idea for her little sister and brother in law to make friends. Oh and Kensuke fucks up in a rather stupid way.