Chapter 14.2: [Steel, of Quiet Blades and Roaring Beasts]
Asuka tossed and turned in bed, at least as gently as she could with Shinji sleeping by her side. Kaji, for all his talk of being a good guardian, seemed to not notice the fact that Shinji had snuck off to bed with her. Or maybe he did, and simply turned a blind eye to it.
Asuka rolled her eyes. 'Great. That means he probably knows we're together too. I hope he can keep secrets.'
That was the least of the worries that ran through her mind, though, as she reflected on Hikari. Her friend. Her copilot. She was gone now, off with Misato, Daniel, and Eleanor over the weekend to go test out Unit-03 and properly make herself the Fourth Child.
She sighed quietly. She had daydreamed of replacing Shinji with Hikari, a far more adjusted, calm, and reasonable candidate for going into battle by her side, more than a few times in the past. But that was before she truly knew Shinji. Before the Angels had gone from somewhat annoying in her eyes to downright terrifying. Now… though she still was glad that it was Hikari who would be the Fourth Child, what could be waiting in store in the next few months chilled her to the core.
She turned over again, putting an arm around Shinji. She needed a rock right now. And he was as good as any, she thought, as she snuggled closer to him.
Shinji reached up and grabbed the hand of the arm around him. He was as sleepless as Asuka was. His mind whirled with concern for Hikari almost as much as Asuka's did. But he also thought back to earlier in the evening.
. . .
Asuka was taking one of her longer showers. Shinji would have been in there, seeing as they had started to get comfortable showering together, but Kaji kept such a rare thing from coming to pass tonight. So, for now, he and Shinji sat on the couch in the living room, not really paying attention to the television, when Shinji turned to Kaji with an old question on his mind. "Kaji, you work with my father often. Do you know what he's like?"
Kaji looked up for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, Shinji, I can't say that I'm sure. I figured you'd ask that of Misato."
"You spend more time with him, so I figured you might have a better idea." Shinji replied with a shrug.
Kaji shook his head. "The Deputy Commander spends more time with him than me." he paused for a moment. "What makes you ask about your father?"
Shinji sighed after a moment's thought. "I haven't seen my father properly for most of my life."
Kaji looked over. "So saying you don't know much about him would be an understatement, then?"
Shinji shook his head. "I mean, I've learned some things about my father recently. About his job. About my mother, and his relationship with her. But other than that…"
Kaji shook his head again, a forlorn look on his face. "You're wrong there. You only believe that you've learned those things about him. Nobody can understand someone else completely. I mean, who knows if we can even understand ourselves?"
Kaji sighed. "Understanding 100% of someone? It's impossible." A small smile crossed his face. "But we still dedicate so much of our lives to trying. It's what makes life interesting, after all."
Shinji frowned. That was such a defeatist way to live life. Was that really living, never trying because one assumed that they would fail? No. No. It wasn't. If anyone had taught him that, it was Asuka. "Is that true of your relationship with Misato?"
Kaji smiled sadly. "Shinji, do you know what the kanji for 'girlfriend' means?" he paused for a moment as Shinji slowly shook his head. "It means 'a woman far away'. For us, for all men, women are on the opposite shore of a river. One that can never be crossed. We can never understand them."
"Kaji… that's bullshit."
Kaji blinked as he looked over at Shinji with no small amount of surprise in his eyes as he looked at the determined, almost annoyed eyes that Shinji looked at him with.
"The only way you can never understand someone is if you never try. You'll never find out how much alike you are to someone living like that. You can be lonely right next to someone else, and never figure out that she's just as lonely unless you say what's on your mind. Until you listen to what's on hers. And sometimes it doesn't even take that. You can listen to what they don't say. You can't let fear or guilt or feelings of worthlessness stop you from trying. Otherwise, you'll never know. And then… after that, then you have to keep on earning that love that you get after. You have to be worthy."
Kaji regarded Shinji for a moment. 'Shinji… no one says that like that and doesn't know it. Especially not you. I was right. Huh. That's how you and Asuka are so synchronized, so at ease with each other. So why hide it from Misato? She wouldn't be opposed to you two dating. Unless you are afraid of something that would happen...'
Shinji continued. "You have to take the first step, or nothing ever changes. Misato told me that. Maybe…" his determined look started to fade into his usual reservedness. "Maybe you should listen to what she said."
Kaji thought back to a walk home in the dark under the starlight. 'I said those things. Yeah, I did, but… we were drunk, and it was the heat of the moment. Did… did I mean what I said? Did she?'
After a moment, Kaji chuckled. "Here I am, and you're the one giving me relationship advice?"
Shinji blushed. "Um… Sorry, Mr. Kaji. I just…" he sighed slightly. "I just want Misato to be happy. And she is happy when she comes home from being with you. At least, for a while."
Kaji sighed quietly. "It's more complicated than that, Shinji." he said, equally quietly. "We've been together before. It didn't work out. We already took that first step, and things didn't change."
Shinji sighed. "Like I said, you have to keep earning that love. One step isn't enough. You let her push you away. Misato mentioned something like that a while ago, about how she made a mistake."
Kaji leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "She told me she was done. That she wanted to break up and end it. I… I didn't fight her on that."
Shinji stared into the middle distance. "Did she mean that, though? Or was she afraid too? Liking someone, really liking them, and still not moving forward happens. It's a terrifying thing to do, to change. But… it's worth it in the end."
'Were we just afraid then, Shinji? I said the words to her, but did I mean it? I… I don't know. Heh. And here I am, listening to you. What a world.'
Kaji leaned back on the couch, exhaling as he puffed his cheeks. After a moment he looked at Shinji. "So… How long have you two been in love with each other?"
A dreamlike gleam glossed over Shinji's eyes. "Since the moment I saw her…'' he blinked and realized what he had just said, blushing pink. "I mean… uh..." he sighed. "Damn it. how long have you known?"
Kaji chuckled. "I've had my suspicions."
Shinji looked at Kaji with fear in his eyes. "Please, don't tell anyone. Don't tell Misato. We don't want her to…" he trailed off, at a loss for words.
"Separate you?" Kaji said softly.
Shinji nodded. "Yeah. We've only just realized what we have. The understanding we have of each other. We don't want to lose it."
Kaji nodded. "I understand. I won't go out of my way to tell her. If you and Asuka being together like this makes you sound like you do right now, I see no reason to take it away from you." he smiled slightly. "Besides, it'll be fun watching her try and figure it out fully. But... I will tell her if she asks me."
Shinji nodded after a moment, then Kaji got a faraway look in his eyes. "And… if you two can work out like this… maybe Misato and I can try again. Maybe… I'll ask her out when she gets back."
Shinji nodded, a small smile on his face. "Thank you, Mr. Kaji. Please… make Misato happy."
Kaji nodded. "I'll try, Shinji. I'll try."
. . .
Shinji breathed deeply as he felt Asuka against his back. Asuka had explained her and Daniel's plan (but mostly hers, she emphasized) to help Misato and Kaji get back together. It had been on the backburner as they had gotten more involved in fighting the Angels, but it looked like Kaji and Misato were on the right track regardless.
'I hope I helped. I think I did.' Shinji thought with a small smile. 'They both deserve to be happy. They both deserve what we've found.'
Matsushiro Testing Grounds
"T-5 minutes to activation test."
"Primary power is online and standing by."
"Apotheosis Node Number 2 is clear and receiving."
The chatter in the Command Truck continued as Ritsuko looked down at her checklist, nodding as the preparations became completed. "Alright. Team B, begin the operation."
Eleanor entered the initiation code at her station. "Unit-03 data uplink established. Beginning sequence steps 1 through 108."
As the activation of Unit-03 began in earnest, Misato went to Ritsuko's side, Daniel following her shortly after. She stared at the main screen, showing the dark outline of the Evangelion. "Four Evangelions." Misato muttered. "The most advanced weapons in the world." Misato paused. "We could destroy half the Earth with these things."
"But will it be enough?" Ritsuko said, equally fixated on the sight of Unit-03.
Misato glanced over at her. "Enough for what, exactly?"
Ritsuko's gaze flickered over to Misato for an instant. "To defeat the Angels, of course."
Misato remained skeptical. "So, we defeat the Angels. Then what do we do with the Evas?"
Ritsuko now fully looked over to Misato as she shrugged. "I'm sure Commander Ikari has a plan for after we've won."
Misato nodded as Ritsuko looked back to the screen, then cast a knowing look at Daniel. They knew that if Gendo, or SEELE for that matter, won, there wouldn't be much of an "after" for them to consider.
One of the technicians nearby spoke up. "The Fourth Child is in position, and is entering the Entry Plug."
Eleanor nodded. "Acknowledged. Entry Plug loading now. Beginning Phase One connections. Transmitting handshake pulses. Neural links are reading stable. List is clear to 2550. Harmonics are at standard. We're approaching absolute borderline…" only Daniel knew the dread that was building up inside of Eleanor's chest. It was a reflection of his own.
On the large indicator board, connections clicked into place, ascending upwards like a zipper closing. They hesitated as they reached the absolute borderline, the point where an Eva would be truly activated.
As the connections flickered just below the borderline for a moment, Daniel steeled himself. 'Here we go.'
The connections jumped up above the borderline, then surged forward as alarms began to sound, and panicked voices jumbled together.
"We're reading a massive buildup of energy in the Eva! Similar buildup… above the Eva?"
Ritsuko's voice cut over the alarms. "Break the circuits! Abort the test!"
One of the technicians shouted back. "No response from the system! None of our controls are… I'm getting a massive Pattern Blue!"
Ritsuko and Misato's eyes went wide. "An Angel…" Ritsuko whispered. "How?"
The cameras above ground showed a point of white light appearing, as the ones below ground showed Unit-03 in the underground cage, its jaws yawning open as it unleashed an inhuman howl.
The world went white, and darkness rushed to claim many.
. . .
After a moment to appreciate that he was still alive, Daniel unsteadily got to his feet. He was on the side of the Command Truck now, as sparks flew from smoking, broken monitors. His Frame had helped to knit him most of the way back together, though it did nothing for the pain that radiated throughout him.
He took a step forward, looking around him with his Sight, noting the dead and dying as the cores of their souls began to fly away from their bodies. He helped who he could, but healing someone else fully was not his forte.
It was Eleanor's, however, as he noted her beginning to stand herself. She made her way over to Misato and Ritsuko, who had landed on top of each other. Her training as a Mender made quick work of the worst of the damage as she looked to Daniel. "Go. See what the situation is, and if there's anyone else we can help."
Daniel nodded wordlessly and made his way to the back door. Shoving the dented, stuck door upward was a trivial task with the strength his Interfacing granted him, as he stepped out onto solid ground. As he looked around, he caught sight of the Evas, standing there… wait. The Evas?
He whipped his head back around, and his eyes widened with horror as he registered not only Unit-03, but Unit-04, standing in front of each other silently. After a moment, they turned in unison, and slowly walked side by side down the valley, away from their position.
As Daniel recovered from the shock, he pulled out his phone, which was somehow miraculously not broken, and dialed Hyuga.
The phone clicked as the Captain picked it up. "Captain Thesman?" Hyuga said, puzzlement evident in his voice. "Can I help you?"
Daniel shook his head. "I'm at the Matsushiro testing site. Unit-03 has been contaminated by an Angel, and we've been knocked over by some sort of blast. It's out of our control. What's worse… Unit-04 is here too. It seems to be similarly possessed."
Silence held for a moment on the other end of the line, then alarms began to quietly register as Hyuga began to speak again. "The pilots are on their way, and the other Units are being prepared to sortie. Sit tight. We're sending recovery teams your way."
Daniel nodded. "Major Katsuragi's out of commission. It seems that you'll probably be in command."
Hyuga gulped on the other end of the line. "So it seems."
. . .
Shinji tightened and loosened his grip on the controls of Unit-01, trying his best to quash the fear and anxiety that was bubbling up in his chest. It didn't do much, but he continued to try regardless.
This was something pulled out of his worst nightmares. No. He doubted even his nightmares could have produced a scenario so terrifying as this. He had had news of the incident relayed to him and the other pilots by Captain Hyuga. Unit-03, with Hikari in it, taken over by an Angel, and Unit-04, possessed by the same Angel, were both now headed towards them. Misato had been knocked out in the blast made by Unit-03's activation, a point which only exacerbated the unease that he felt.
He looked into the comms screens that showed Asuka and Rei's faces. Rei's face was the image of calm and neutral. Weeks of getting to know her off of the medications allowed him to see the worry hidden behind her eyes.
Asuka was far more openly anxious, looking around the tight confines of the Eva transport with alert eyes, trying to take in something else, anything else, to fill her mind instead of thinking about the fact that one of her friends was now possibly in mortal danger.
Shinji broke the silence. "So, who will be in charge with Misato not able to command us? Wouldn't that fall to Captain Hyuga?"
Asuka nodded. "It would, normally. But this is NERV we're talking about. 'Normally' is a curse word around here."
Rei nodded, her expression never changing, her eyes never even flickering. "Pilot Soryu is correct. It is more than likely that Commander Ikari will take direct control of the operation."
Shinji sighed heavily. "Great."
Silence filled the space of a moment before Asuka replied, distaste evident in her expression. "I miss Misato already."
. . .
Central Dogma was silent, cloaked in a quiet only broken by one person. "Targets have come into visual range of Mount Nobe! Putting the feed on the main screen now."
The massive screen blinked into life, showing two massive figures overshadowed by the hellish backlight of the setting sun. Their only outstanding features were the gleam of Unit-04's metallic armor, and the bright crimson eyes that seemed to stare into everyone's souls as they walked on, hunched slightly like feral apes. A quiet gasp rippled through the command center, breaking on the rocks of silence that were the Commander and Deputy Commander.
Fuyutsuki sighed quietly. "Just as we thought would happen." he said, equally as quietly, and with sadness tinging his stoic voice.
Ikari simply grunted as he considered the sight from behind tented hands. "Transmit the termination signal. Eject Unit-03's Entry Plug."
After brief seconds of silence only broken by furious typing, First Lieutenant Ibuki's voice echoed back. "No response, Commander. Unit-03 is not acknowledging the termination signal. The ejection system is showing some sort of malfunction, and the Entry Plug has not exited the Eva."
"What is the pilot's status?" Ikari said, no inflection in his tone.
First Lieutenant Faez shook her head. "No recognizable life signs, sir. All signals were cut off at the moment of the accident. The few sensors still online are making no sense. I don't know if the Fourth Child is alive or not."
"Very well." Commander Ikari said in the voice of natural command. "From this time onward, Unit-03 is considered abandoned, and both Units have been designated as the 13th Angel."
Captain Hyuga turned, his face pale with shock. "But sir…"
Gendo continued regardless of the attempted protest. "Deploy the Evas as planned at Mount Nobe." his voice could chill metal to frosting now. "Engage and destroy the targets."
. . .
"All Units, stand by to commence engagement." Lieutenant Faez said over the comm link to the pilots. Shinji's grip tightened and loosened more quickly on his controls now that they had been deployed.
He had no idea what his father was doing. He had ordered them to deploy in a line against the Angel's advance. The only thing was that the end of the line was perpendicular to that advance, not horizontal, and stretched out to make giving any sort of support nearly meaningless.
He was no general, but Daniel's infrequent, but interesting tangents related to his history homework growing up had taught him that this would most likely end in disaster, echoes of the words 'defeat in detail' dredging themselves up to the forefront of his mind. The fact that Asuka was at the front line, closest to danger, only heightened his anxiety and fear.
"Father, why are we in this position?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "I can't offer any support to the other Units here."
Gendo's response was nearly immediate. "Remain in position and await orders, Pilot Ikari." a moment's silence passed. "Your targets are ahead of you."
Shinji looked up from the 'Audio Only' panel that his father spoke through to look into the distance. As he magnified the image, a pit opened in his stomach as he took in the sight of the two Units, walking in step with each other. Flashbacks to Israfel seemed only natural now as they slowly approached.
. . .
Daniel and Eleanor stood in one of the few command trucks that had managed to land upright, and Eleanor worked her Mending on one of the consoles in front of them. As she focused on it slowly piecing itself back together, it flickered to life.
Eleanor immediately went to work, looking at the scans made of Unit-03 in the moments just before the Angel took over. The screen showed its readings, and Daniel took out his phone again. "Captain Hyuga. I need a direct line to the pilots. I have information vital to the success of their operation concerning the makeup of the Angels."
All the pilots blinked as a new panel popped up, an audio-only one with the contact 'Daniel'. "Pilots, there are three cores you need to worry about." he said, without preamble. "On Unit-03, just before the Angel broke free, there was a reading consistent with an Angel's core coming from just beside Unit-03's regular core, where a human heart would be. If you're going to aim for something, aim there. As for Unit-04… We can only assume that the core in there will be the Angel's, and no one else's. You know where to find it. Theisman out."
. . .
As the Angelic Units slowly marched on, Commander Ikari gave his command. "Unit-02, engage the targets."
Asuka raised an Eva-scale rocket launcher, sighting in the core area of Unit-04. "Alright, you bastard." she muttered. "This is for taking Hikari."
With a backblast that shattered windows kilometers away, a trio of rockets with the power to sink capital ships screamed towards Unit-04. The first two shots impacted harmlessly on its AT Field. The third, however, broke through, exploding across the right side of its chest, taking a sizable amount of armor with it.
Asuka nodded as a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Good. It looks like the Angel's AT Field is weaker due to being spread across two Units. I can work with that." she said, only dimly noting Shinji and Rei's reactions as the silver Unit turned towards her, howling as it leaped impossibly high into the air, arcing down to land right in front of her, reaching towards her head.
Asuka battered at the Angel with her missile launcher, pushing aside its hands, but the Angel continued to charge regardless, closing in and headbutting Unit-02 in the forehead. The impact sent Unit-02 toppling onto its back, arms instinctively raised to block whatever attack came next.
The Angel leaped again, landing on top of Unit-02 as it clawed at Asuka, its head jutting forward and its jaw snapping wildly.
'The hell? This thing's trying to bite me?' Asuka continued to struggle as the Angel pushed the rocket launcher closer and closer to Asuka's chest. "Shinji! Asuka! I need some help here, now!"
"Unit-00, move to assist Unit-02. Unit-01, remain in position and await further instruction." Gendo said coolly.
But Gendo's voice was a distant thing to Shinji as he began to move immediately after hearing Asuka shout in surprise. He covered ground with a speed only a giant's stride could offer, and was nearby Rei in a moment, as they headed towards Unit-04 at a run.
Gendo's brow furrowed only slightly. "Unit-01, return to your previous position. Do not advance without further orders." he said glacially. "Unit-00, avoid close combat and engage to destroy the target."
Shinji's voice overpowered Rei's assent to her orders. "Father, Asuka needs our help! I won't stand by and be useless! Rei, aim at Unit-03, try and hit the secondary core Daniel mentioned!"
The slightest edge of venom began to creep into Gendo's voice. "Do not countermand my orders, Pilot Ikari. Return to your previous position and do not act without instruction from me to do so. Rei, engage the Angel."
Rei halted within hundreds of meters of the grappling Units, raising her Pallet Rifle to aim at Unit-04. It was still on top of Unit-02, seeming to try at eating the Eva as much as it tried to regularly attack it. Rei only hesitated for a moment as she opened fire, peppering Unit-04's back with bullets as she tried to aim for center mass.
The distraction Rei provided lasted only a moment, however, as Unit-03, now in easy sight of the Units, seemed to stretch its arms impossibly far, one grabbing at her right hand and rifle, jostling it skywards, and the other hand closing around Unit-00's head, squeezing slowly. Rei fought through the pain of feeling like her own skull was being compressed as she turned to try and fire at Unit-03's legs and lower torso.
Unit-04's struggle to eat Asuka's face came to a sudden end as reared up, coming down to sink its teeth deep into Asuka's right arm. Asuka howled at the sudden pain. "Get off me, goddamn you!"
She reached towards her right shoulder pylon, grabbed the Progressive Knife that deployed, and stabbed into the Angel's neck and shoulder. The blade went deep, forcing it to open its mouth and rear back with a howl.
Asuka's shout of triumph died quickly as she looked at her arm, slowly becoming aware of the burning sensation that had begun to spread throughout it. Purple slime seeped and dripped from the Angel's forearm, seeming to melt the lighter panels of the Unit's armor.
The slime seemed to seep through her own armor, penetrating the flesh of Unit-02's left arm. Her arm felt like it was on fire, and Unit-02's arm twitched and thrashed beyond Asuka's control.
The readouts on Maya's console went insane as her eyes widened. "The Angel's invading Unit-02's left arm! It's using some sort of nervous infection attack!"
Gendo's voce was hard as steel. "Sever the arm."
Maya spun in her chair to look at the Commander. "Sir, Asuka's still fully synchronized. If we don't sever the neural links, she'll-"
"Sever the arm. Now."
Maya swallowed. "Yes, sir. Severing arm now." she turned back to her console and gave the digital command.
Unit-02's shoulder was surrounded by a ring of explosions as its left arm flew to the side and rolled to a stop. Asuka's scream of pain almost matched the Angel's howl as she felt the whole experience through her own left arm, clutching at it to reassure herself that her own arm was still attached. She fought the massive waves of nausea and dizziness that swept over her as much as she fought the instinct to curl up defensively, and tried to make Unit-02 roll away from the Angel.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Shinji stood and considered the situation before him. He had two options. Both his friends were in danger, and he could only help one of them. The decision tore at him. He had to do something, anything, or more of his friends would run the risk of dying without his help.
In a moment that seemed to stretch forever, he made his decision, running towards Unit-04 and Asuka. He dropped his Pallet Rifle and grabbed at the Unit's shoulder pylons, throwing the Angelic Unit bodily into the side of one of the hills nearby, the impact throwing up clouds of dirt as he picked up his rifle and charged at the Unit, spraying it down with fire.
Unit-04 threw up its arms, a weak AT Field springing into existence as Shinji continued to charge, his father's voice muffled and distant as his heart pounded and his focus made the silver Unit sharp and clear amid the blurry surroundings.
Shinji stopped firing a moment before he slammed into the Unit, raising his rifle and slamming the butt into Unit-04's jaw, shattering it with a gurgling howl and a spray of blood. He let go of the rifle, letting it clatter to the side as he drew a Prog Knife from one of his pylons, taking it in both hands and aiming at the core, plunging the knife towards his target.
Before he could strike, the Angel did as Angels do, that being the seemingly impossible, as another pair of arms took the place of Unit-04's pylons, clamping down on Shinji's throat as the regular pair of arms gripped at Shinji's own arms.
"Asuka!" Shinji choked out as his arms shuddered from the struggle to drive the knife home. "Help Rei! Get Hikari!"
Asuka got Unit-02 unsteadily to its feet, looking over at Unit-01's struggle. Her mind roiled with conflict on whether to listen to Shinji and help Rei or to go save the man she loved. She chose the former with no small amount of reluctance, as she picked up her Prog Knife and charged around the back of Unit-03, jumping into the air and landing on its back, wrapping her legs around the Unit's torso as she cut at the webbing that trapped Hikari's Entry Plug in place. "Give my friend back, you bastard!"
Unit-03 howled, releasing its improbable grip on Unit-00 as it drew its arms back towards itself. It was too slow, as Asuka finally cut through the webbing, dropping her knife as she deftly caught the Entry Plug and released her grip on Unit-03 as it turned to her, whatever attack it had planned cut short by the hail of bullets aimed at its back by Unit-00.
As it turned back towards Rei with a growl, Asuka dashed toward the support line, delicately holding the Plug in her remaining hand. Gendo's voice continued to contain the venom he had directed at Shinji. "Unit-02, drop the useless Entry Plug and return to combat, now."
Asuka shook her head. "I'm almost to the line!" she skidded to a stop at the support line, setting down the Plug as gently and quickly as she could, then dashed back towards the fight, relief at the thought that Hikari was safe lightening the load on her shoulders as she ran.
As Asuka ran, Shinji struggled to keep his vision from tunneling completely, as his muscles and throat screamed at him from the sympathetic connection to his Eva's struggle to bury the Prog Knife in Unit-04's chest. Unit-04 gurgled at him as its pulped lower jaw bubbled and cracked, slowly making itself whole. He had to end this, and he had to do it now. Hikari still needed help. Hikari still needed his help.
This thought, the will to do what needed to be done, the will to save the people he loved, pushed his Prog Knife ever closer to Unit-04's core. An AT Field briefly sprang into existence, but the knife cut through it easily as it came ever closer to Unit-04's chest. The knife tip sparked and hissed as it hit the armor still present on the Eva's chest, the dull gleam of its core peeking out of a corner of exposed flesh.
Shinji shouted wordlessly as he strained, pulling the knife back for just a moment before slamming it home into the core. It shattered with an audible crack, Unit-04's howling slowly quieting as its arms fell from Shinji's arms and neck.
Shinji took a deep breath as he stood up from the now silent Unit, as Unit-02 made its way to his side. Shinji looked at the screen of Asuka's face as they both panted from the efforts they had made. Wordlessly, Shinji tossed Asuka his Prog Knife, Unit-02 deftly catching it as he picked up the Pallet Rifle that he had smashed into the Angel's jaw.
Checking that the rifle still worked, and finding satisfaction that it did, Shinji looked back at Asuka. "We need to help Rei and destroy the Angel core in Unit-03 that Daniel talked about. I'll help Rei keep it distracted. You go for the core."
Asuka nodded. "Let's do it."
Shinji and Asuka broke into a run towards the two Evas, Shinji stopping short to join Rei in peppering Unit-03 with rifle fire. Its AT Field seemed to have grown stronger with Unit-04's 'death' as it howled at the both of them, sending its arms extending towards the two Units, both of them dodging the attacks with ease.
Asuka drove towards the Unit at a sprint, prepping the knife as she eyeballed where exactly she needed to put the knife to shatter the Angel's core without harming the Eva's. Her focus was razor-sharp, and as Shinji and Asuka ceased their fire for a moment, she reached the Unit, swinging the Prog Knife up at where the core would be. "This is for Hikari!" she shouted, driving the knife in at a shallow angle, trusting that what Daniel had told them was right.
As she heard the crack of a core shattering, the Units all watched Unit-03 spasm for a moment, howling as it processed being stabbed. The howl quieted, and Unit-03 went slowly to its knees, its head bowing as the Angel died.
Asuka panted like she had run a marathon, and not unduly. She opened a connection to Shinji, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "We've won." 'I love you,' her eyes said wordlessly.
'I love you, too,' Shinji's own eyes said back. "Yeah." he replied aloud. "We won. We saved Hikari."
Asuka rolled her eyes as her synch score began to be lowered, the pain in her arm receding. "Of course we did, Shinji! We're some of the greatest Eva pilots on Earth. It was almost a foregone conclusion."
She smiled. "And as much as I love piloting, I'm looking forward to getting out of this Entry Plug." 'And being by your side again.'
. . .
A cheer went up in Central Dogma, as Fuyutsuki shook his head in wonderment and Gendo regarded the screen silently.
Hyuga turned to Maya, hope in his eyes. "Ibuki, what's the status of Unit-03's core?"
Maya turned to look at him, a bright look in her eyes. "The original core of Unit-03 is undamaged. The Angel's core was the only one destroyed!"
Another cheer went up as Hyuga turned to Faez. "What's the status of those relief crews we sent for the test crew?"
Faez turned to look at Hyuga. "They'll be there in a little over 10 minutes."
As Hyuga continued to take control of the situation, Fuyutsuki sighed. "They did it. They even salvaged both of the Units, too." he said, with no small amount of wonderment. "Amazing."
Gendo said nothing as he continued to stare at Unit-01.
Decontamination teams sprayed down the cooled Entry Plug of Unit-03 with the harshest chemicals they could, ensuring that the slime that the Angel produced that they hadn't collected samples of was completely gone.
After ensuring that the Angel's excretions were neutralized, two men in bulky decontamination suits stepped forward, noting that the Entry Plug was still sealed. Hopefully, such a thing meant that the pilot was unharmed. Or at least still in one piece.
Medical teams stood by as the two men opened the hatch, LCL flowing out. An empty black and white Plugsuit washed out with the LCL, coming to rest at one of the men's feet.
He picked it up, a look of puzzlement in his eyes. "Wait a minute. Why's her Pluguit off? Where is the pilot that's supposed to wear it?"
. . .
As Central Dogma swirled with activity around them, Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki looked over at Commander Ikari. "It appears that their training from Major Katsuragi is paying dividends, Ikari." he said quietly. "Your son has proved himself far more capable than we first thought."
"He's proved himself more disobedient than we thought as well." Gendo shot back, equally quiet. "Both he and the Second Child disobeyed express orders, regardless of their outcome. This insubordination cannot be tolerated. Thankfully, the solution to this problem is already almost in place."
Fuyutsuki's brow rose slightly. "The Dummy System?"
"Precisely. I think this operation shows the need for such a system. We will accelerate its development." Gendo said in a voice that brooked no arguement.
"Provided that Doctor Akagi survived the initial contact with the Angel." Fuyutsuki replied warningly. "We won't be able to tell that until the relief teams arrive at their position. I'm surprised that you didn't warn her about the nature of this Angel, given what the Dead Sea scroll warned us of about it."
Gendo's shoulders moved only slightly in a shrug. "She is not irreplaceable, Sensei. Only useful. Others can complete the project should she not survive."
Fuyutsuki blinked at his commander's willingness to sacrifice not only the head of Project E and the Science Division, but also his mistress. "Your concern is touching, Gendo." he said dryly.
Gendo stood, not looking at Fuyutsuki. "And your sentimentality is much the same, Sensei. Have the Second and Third Children arrested and confined on charges of insubordination. I'm done tolerating their childishness."
Shinji and Asuka returned home with a gleam of triumph in their eyes.
Asuka was especially giddy now, not bothering to hide the smile that had plastered itself across her face. Not only had she gotten the thrill of combat, but she also got it with her boyfriend, and saved one of their friends in the process. They had worked in almost the same amount of synchronicity as they did with Israfel, and she was looking forward to going home and celebrating, in every way possible, with the man she loved.
She pulled up a screen showing Shinji's face, a rare completely happy smile that was slowly becoming more common sending Asuka silently over the moon as she simply looked at him. "So, Shinji," she said, "how does it feel to be the partner of the best pilot in the world?"
Shinji chuckled. "Well, Asuka, I'm still only second fiddle to you, even with how much I've improved."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Chin up, Shinji. Being second best in this business is no small thing, especially when I'm the one at the top."
Shinji nodded. "That's good to hear."
Asuka huffed. "Of course it is, Shinji! Now, I expect an absolutely glorious dinner for my victory celebration tonight."
Shinji's smile became wry. "Your victory celebration? I believe I can recall-"
Asuka shut off the link, giggling to herself. "Sorry, but I can't seem to hear anything over how awesome I am!" she said in a singsong voice.
The Entry Plug hummed and vibrated as it was extracted from the neck of the Eva and settled on the access catwalk. As the Plug drained, she coughed up the LCL from her lungs that went with it, opening the hatch and swinging onto the catwalk.
Her usual welcoming party was absent. They had been replaced by security who was far more serious. And far more heavily armed. Her confusion was evident on her face as the lead guard spoke. "Pilot Soryu, Commander Ikari has charged you with insubordination. You're under arrest and will be confined until a proper sentence is determined. Come with us."
Asuka was silent for a moment as confusion became anger. "Son of a-"
. . .
Daniel and Eleanor sat against one of the overturned trucks and waited patiently for the recovery teams to pick them up. The Children had done their jobs, it seemed, and even managed to keep the Units intact.
Eleanor looked over at Daniel, who was now, for the most part, nearly spotless. "They're going to ask a lot of questions if we turn up like this." she said, matter-of-factly.
Daniel sighed, then nodded. "Yeah, yeah. You're right." he grimaced at what exactly Eleanor was thinking of. "This is going to suck."
Eleanor nodded. "At least we can fix it later."
Daniel sighed, saying nothing as he got to work on his body with his Frame. He felt a burning sensation deep within his soul as his right forearm slowly developed a fracture running across the bones, wincing as his shoulder slid out of its socket as bruises began to form up and down the right side of his body. Eleanor made similar bruises appear up and down her front and back and cradled a leg that became broken. They dulled the pain as much as they could, but they still had to be convincing.
"Better?" Daniel said through gritted teeth as he heard the faint sound of the choppers beginning their approach.
"Better." Eleanor said through similarly gritted teeth. Daniel's left hand found Eleanor's right, and they held hands as they waited for the oncoming rescue.
. . .
Shinji fumed as he was led down the hallways of the Geofront towards the cells, Plugsuit still dripping and leaving a trail of sticky footprints in his wake. 'Leave it to Father to make an absolute triumph into this mess.' he seethed silently as he walked. 'Insubordination. As if saving my friends and being a decent pilot, along with actually killing the Angel, should count. What of it if we didn't quite follow his orders? I won't stand aside and watch my friends get killed. Simple as that.'
His guards shoved him into an open cell, slamming the door shut behind him. He turned and banged against the steel door once, then walked over to the cot on one wall, sliding onto it with a heavy sigh. 'I don't even get the chance to wash myself off.' he thought, as he made out the small toilet and sink combination in the corner. 'Wonderful.'
He settled into the silence for a moment, until his ears perked up as he heard something approaching. No, someone approaching. Angrily.
"Verfluchtes Arschloch! Kommandant Ikari ist eine Idiot! Ich werde mit meiner EVA auf seinem Haus herumtanzen! Zum Teufel mit euch allen! Lasst mich los, ihr verdammter abschaum! Lasst mich los oder ich reiß eure Arme ab! Wisst ihr nicht wer ich bin?! Ihr seid Idioten! Ihr seid ALLE Idioten! Und Kommandant Ikari! SIE SIND DER GRÖßTE IDIOT!"
Shinji shook his head as he smiled slightly. He knew who that voice belonged to, and exactly why she was so angry. His lessons in German over the last few months began to come to him, and he found himself impressed with how verbose the tirade was.
As a door next to his cell slammed closed, the rant muffled, then stopped after a while. He got up after Asuka was done, and made his way to the wall. He thought for a moment, then nodded as he knew exactly what to do to help her know he was there.
He began to tap on the wall, a familiar beat drilled into them over the course of weeks finding its way easily to the surface of his mind. Tap-tap, tap-tap, tap, tap tap tap, tap, tap tap, tap-tap, tap tap…
. . .
Asuka settled down against the wall, a slick sound piercing the newly found silence as her still dripping Plugsuit squeaked all the way down. Her throat was sore, but it was worth it. It had been a while since she had really let loose on anyone, really, and German was just the language to do that in. That she was too angry to articulate her thoughts in Japanese was a quiet aside, really.
She sighed. Now, though, she was alone. Alone in a dark, cold, concrete room, deprived of warmth and love and light. She was really alone in the dark.
As her thoughts began to spiral down into a similar mental darkness, she pulled herself up mentally. 'This isn't Leliel. Not even close. You aren't going to die, you aren't going to never see anyone again. Breathe, Asuka. Be brave. You can do this.'
As she breathed deeply, she almost missed the tapping that had begun behind her. 'What is that? It sounds… Yes! I know that beat!'
She smiled as she tapped the beat back to Shinji, who she knew was right next to her. She wasn't alone. Shinji was with her, as much as he could be. Relief washed over her. She had no desire to feel like she was alone again. Ever. She needed Shinji. And he needed her, she thought, a smile coming to her face. 'We still need each other. And now, I wouldn't have it any other way.'
. . .
White light turned red and blue as Misato struggled out of her tunnel vision and back towards consciousness. As she woke up, she felt someone holding her hand, the grip large and comfortably warm. As she cracked open her eyes, the blurry images that followed slowly resolved into a familiar face. "Kaji?" she mumbled, as he squeezed her hand gently in response.
"Katsuragi… you're all right." he said, relief evident in his voice as he squeezed her hand again.
"S' good to see you too." She squeezed back as much as she could. That it amounted to little was no concern as she tried to focus on him after he became blurry again. "Y' have nice hands. I forgot about that. I… 've missed waking up to your face."
Kaji smiled. "Maybe we should start doing that again. Without having to have you on a gurney to do it." Kaji shook his head. "You took one hell of a knock on the head when you went flying. Your left arm is fractured in a couple of places, too."
Kaji sighed. "You really shouldn't get blown up again, Misato. What would I do without…" Kaji paused again, his voice hitching slightly.
Before he could continue, Daniel and Eleanor walked up to them, coming to rest on either side of Misato as Daniel held a water bottle up to Misato's lips. "Here, drink this. It should help a little."
As Misato sipped at the water, things slowly began to become clearer, and Misato's head stopped ringing so much. She tried sitting up, but Eleanor put a hand on her shoulder. "I wouldn't. Not until the paramedics clear you, of course."
Misato nodded. "Okay. Will do." She blinked as she recognized how much her speech had cleared up, not to mention her head, and lay back down on the gurney, then looked at Kaji.
Daniel nodded to Kaji. "We've got to go. Our transport's going to be in the air soon. See you around."
Kaji nodded, and the Theisman's departed, leaving Kaji and Misato alone again.
After a moment, Kaji squeezed Misato's hand again, and Misato reciprocated, her grip much stronger than before. "Don't die on me, Misato. I… I still haven't…"
She blinked. Was he about to say what she thought he would? Her pulse raced as her mind whirled. Was he ready for that? Was she ready for that? "Ryoji…" she began.
Kaji placed a finger over Misato's lips, silencing her. "Not now, Misato. Not here. What I want to say deserves a far more romantic spot than this."
Misato shook her head, pulling Kaji's finger away from her lips. "No, Kaji. We've waited long enough. I've almost died today. I've almost died a lot of times. And… I've been thinking about that night when we walked home. A lot."
Her gaze became filled with determination, and no small amount of fear. "So, no, Ryoji Kaji. It shouldn't wait anymore. I love you. And I know you love me too. I'm done running away from that."
Kaji's eyes grew wide. Did she… Did she mean it? 'Yes.' he realized. 'Yes, she does. And I do too.'
Another hand joined his grip on Misato's hand. "I… I love you, Misato Katsuragi."
Misato smiled. Kaji had almost forgotten how he treasured that smile. But then more pressing matters made their way to the forefront of his mind.
Kaji sighed, putting the best approximation of a wry smile on his face that he could. "As much as I'd love to go out and celebrate this latest development, you've probably got a hell of a lot of paperwork waiting for you."
Misato blinked, then jumped. The test! Alarms had gone off, Ritsuko had been shouting about something going wrong, she distinctly remembered the words 'Pattern Blue', and then… darkness. "So... what happened?"
Kaji shook his head. "Well, an Angel infected Unit-03 somehow. It looked like it also got Unit-04, too. I guess what happened in Nevada was an Angel attack instead of an accident. Shinji, Asuka, and Rei destroyed the Angel. Managed to keep the Evas it possessed mostly intact, too. Thing is… Shinji and Asuka got arrested for insubordination. Because Shinji attacked and Asuka saved the Entry Plug for Unit-03."
Misato's mind raced. Insubordination? For doing their jobs? "That's… absurd." she said. "And the Entry Plug? Is Hikari alright?"
Kaji shook his head. "Ms. Horaki is… currently MIA."
Puzzlement fell across Misato's face as she paused for a moment to process the wild improbability of what he had just said. "MIA? In her own Entry Plug? But… how?"
Kaji shrugged. "Good question. My guess…" he looked around to ensure they wouldn't be heard, then leaned a little closer to Misato, lowering his voice. "I think Mrs. Horaki got involved. Did something to save her by pulling her into the core with her."
Misato was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I guess that would make sense based on what we know." she sighed. "That still means we're down three pilots instead of one or two. Does Ritsuko have any ideas?"
Kaji shook his head. "She's still out cold. It looks like she got it worse than you did. She's on her way to HQ now, and she'll probably start puzzling something out when she wakes up."
"In the meantime," he said, as he squeezed Misato's hand again with a wry smile, "you're riding home with me."
As Misato's eyes grew wide and only somewhat dreamy, Kaji chuckled. "All the way to Tokyo-3. NERV Medical will want to check you out, too."
Misato shook her head, sighing slightly. "Oh, you tease."
As Kaji and Misato made their way to the tilt-jet transport, Misato's smile faded as she considered the implications. 'Damn it, Gendo, what's your game? Locking up Shinji and Asuka? That makes no damn sense, and you know it.'
Her smile returned for a moment. 'But if you've got a bug up your ass about your pilots doing their jobs? Well, I can't say that I'm sad about that.'
In the Pribnow Box observation room, Gendo stood silently, staring at Unit-02 as it waited inside the Box proper. Unit-02 was equally silent as it seemed to stare back at him. "Begin the test." he said, without any inflection, to Maya.
Maya turned back to him, a skeptical look in her eyes. "Sir… I really think we should wait until Doctor Akagi is awake and has vetted the system. I'm not certain we can stabilize all the emotional factors of-"
"Begin the test. Now."
Maya nodded after a moment. "Yes sir."
She turned back, glancing at Unit-02 for a moment. 'Forgive me, Mrs. Soryu.' She looked down at her monitor and began to type out her commands. "Beginning Dummy Plug System test. Simulated neural pulses are active, and the core is receiving them. Approaching absolute borderline. 0.6… 0.8… 0.95…"
In the Box, Unit-02's eyes flashed green, as a deep growl ground its way out from between closed jaws.
Maya suppressed a shudder. 'I don't blame you for being angry, Mrs. Soryu. I would be too if I had something artificial like that controlling me.'
"Unit-02 is activated, sir." she said out loud, a nervous tone evident in her voice. "Um… there's a lot of noise in the signal. I'm not entirely sure how stable it's going to be."
"Raise the right arm, and make a fist." Gendo said calmly, without even glancing at her.
Maya tapped at the keys, and Unit-02 robotically raised its arm, its hand curling into a fist. All precisely as ordered.
A small smile was the only thing Gendo responded with. It would work perfectly fine.
. . .
"You'll have to be careful in the future, Rei."
Rei said nothing for a moment as she stood inside Commander Ikari's office. She fixed her look on the glowing pieces of amber that hid his eyes as she responded. "Sir?"
"I understand that you have begun to grow closer to the other pilots. I watched as you allowed your relation to the pilots to affect you far more than usual in the course of this combat. You must not allow such things to make you hesitate. Hesitation means failure for us. And failure is unacceptable. Instant and complete obedience is the only way to ensure that you do not fail. Your part in things requires nothing less."
'So I must cast aside everything I have come to love so that your plans may come to pass?' Rei thought incredulously. 'I can not allow that anymore. I am done simply existing and obeying, Gendo Ikari. I want to live. Truly live, now.'
Such thoughts never showed openly. "Yes, sir." she said, a bland expression schooled into existence on her face.
The twin pieces of amber dipped ever so slightly. "Very good. Again, you will not allow your closeness to the pilots to interfere with my orders to you. You are a vital part of our plans."
'And yet, so easily replaced when broken.' "Yes, sir."
"You are the key to Instrumentality and salvation for mankind from men like Kihl. That is the purpose you were created for, Rei. Not to endanger yourself by rescuing ultimately replaceable pilots."
'How ironic.' Rei thought with derision, a rarely used, but appropriate emotion. 'You have determined my purpose, and yet, your "ultimately replaceable" pilots allowed me to experience something greater: determining my own purpose. Asuka has taught me that I can choose. Shinji has taught me to care about others more than myself. I may welcome the end of my pain, but not at the cost of the lives of those I love. They will not abandon me. I will not abandon them either, Commander.'
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed, Rei."
. . .
Shinji and Asuka were led down the hallway side by side, their guards keeping a close eye on them.
Asuka jiggled the handcuffs she and Shinji wore, before rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time. "I'm touched by how much trust your father's put in us." she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Shinji's expression was hard, a mirror of his father's usual glare staring ahead. "It's not as though we can overpower any of the guards without getting shot."
Shinji sighed after a moment of silence. "Two days in cells where we're not even allowed to wash off before seeing him. He can gag on stale LCL and unwashed teenager all he wants, then."
He continued as Asuke snickered beside him. "What's so important that we're in there for two days? Where's Misato? And why is no one telling us anything?"
Asuka shook her head. "If I knew, then you wouldn't need to ask. Besides, maybe he'll tell us what's happened. We saved Hikari and beat the Angel. If that doesn't count for something..."
Shinji shook his head. "I doubt it will with my father, somehow."
Asuka nodded silently as they were led to the door of Gendo's office. As the black doors swung open, the guards ushered them inside, shutting them in. 'Oh, joy. We get a private audience.' the pilots both thought, as they stepped forward until they were about 10 meters from Commander Ikari's desk.
Shinji's father was seated there, a shadow with glowing pieces of unblinking amber for eyes that regarded the two of them with no hint of expression.
Silence filled the office, and neither of the pilots had any desire to give Commander Ikari any sort of explanation or apology.
After almost unbearable moments of silence, Gendo finally spoke. "This is not the first time your orders have been disobeyed in combat. This has become unacceptable. Since we can no longer rely on either of you to follow orders, vital instructions for the preservation of humanity, we have outfitted an automated Dummy System on Unit-01 and 02, to eliminate the need for Children as pilots."
Gendo went silent for a moment, as the horrible realization dawned on the two Children, their eyes widening as Gendo spoke with absolute authority.
"As such, your services are no longer needed. You are no longer pilots. Leave. Now."
. . .
Fuyutsuki waited in the hallway as Gendo finished his meeting with the Second and Third Children, watching as the door opened, and the Children stumbled out, Shinji catching Asuka from dropping to her knees on the floor as they walked, hobbled really, away from Gendo Ikari.
He entered the office, stopping at his usual place by Gendo's side, and waited. As usual, the elder Ikari didn't speak a word.
Fuyutsuki broke the silence. "Is this wise, Ikari? The Dummy Plugs have barely been tested in the field, let alone against a real Angel. Are you sure about replacing two of our best pilots, after they successfully killed an Angel?"
Gendo was still as a statue. "Their actions require punishment, Sensei. It is only natural. And the Dummy Plugs will be adequate support for Rei in Unit-01. She will be infinitely more reliable. Also, we have the blessing of Unit-04, returned to us mostly intact. After we have cleansed it of Angelic contamination, we can institute a Fifth Child to pilot it as well."
Gendo paused for a moment before continuing. "And should we need our 'best pilots' back, regaining them will not be difficult. Soryu's self-image is tied, completely and utterly, to her status as a pilot. She requires this to feel fulfilled. That makes her easy to manipulate. She will stay close to here to have a chance at reclaiming her position. The Third is almost as simple as that. His desire for my praise, and the meager praise of Major Katsuragi, the Second Child, and his other companions, will overcome any ill feelings he will have for the moment. They will come when we call. It is as simple as that, Sensei."
"I wouldn't be so sure, Ikari." Fuyutsuki replied warningly. "Not with how the boy looked at you."
Gendo shook his head slightly. "As I have said, his ill will is balanced by the desire for my approval. I have made it so. And as you saw by his actions towards the Second Child, he is likely infatuated with her as well. Another lever, should we require it. She will act, and he will act with her."
Gendo's stoic expression didn't even crack. "They have no power here, Sensei." he said, utterly factually. "Only we do."
. . .
Rei walked home, alone, and felt the almost alien sensation of disgust.
It was a hostile feeling, one that she had no love for, as much as she turned it over in her mind to study it, fascinated with emotion as she had become. And right now, only one person held her attention with such a feeling. Commander Ikari.
He had hurt her friends. He had hurt the people she loved more than anything in the world right now. She couldn't show it to him, of course. But it was there, seething beneath a carefully cool exterior.
She was almost afraid of it, really. But the feeling drove her to do… something. Anything. But what could she do? She was a part of larger things, things she could not stop.
Or could she?
She thought back to her friends. She had heard what had happened to them after their meeting. She ached for them. For the ones who had taught her about choice.
Choice. She had… a choice. Far from what Commander Ikari thought, she had become cognizant of choice. She knew what would happen if she chose to go along with the Scenario as Gendo Ikari had proposed it. She would cease to feel the pains of existence and be reunited with Lilith, and Gendo Ikari would be reunited with his wife, as humanity ascended to a new state of being.
But she had come to recognize the cost. That joy and love and rage and sorrow and all other emotion the world had would be swept away. And that the people who felt these things, who made wonders almost too great for her to ever know with them, would be gone along with them.
So as she reached her home, and entreated the Theisman's for a hug that had become needed more and more as the days went by, she felt resolve beginning to build within her. A resolve for what, she did not know yet, but resolve it was nevertheless.
. . .
Shinji and Asuka finally returned home, stale and exhausted, their Plugsuits reeking of unwashed time.
Shinji held Asuka as she vibrated, stress and uncertainty and outright terror evident as she clung to him for what seemed like dear life. "Shinji," she said, after a moment of silence, "I am so, so glad that you're here because if it wasn't for me holding on to you right now, I would be losing my goddamn mind."
Shinji comforted her as much as he could through their Plugsuits, standing in the middle of the room. "It's going to be okay."
Saying that felt utterly hollow to him after everything that had happened. He struggled with what to say next.
Asuka pulled back from their embrace, panic in her eyes. "Is it, Shinji? All I've accomplished, all I've strived for, all I've ever existed to be, was an Eva pilot. Now? Now, the biggest part of me is gone, and I have no idea what to do and everything's stopped making sense and the world is-"
Shinji put a finger to Asuka's lips, and she stopped talking, reeling back as she breathed in the musk that came with them with a look of utter disgust. "Okay, before you go any further, Shinji, we need to get out of these and get in the shower. I am… utterly wrung out and rank, and I'm sure you feel the same."
Shinji nodded after a moment, and they made their way into the washroom. As they stripped off their suits and prepared the shower, a moment of silence came over them as they washed each other in the warm, relaxing water.
"Shinji?" Asuka said after a moment, visibly far more relaxed than she was even only moments ago. "Was there something you wanted to say?"
Shinji sighed after a moment, pausing from washing Asuka's back. "I hate him." he said quietly. He shook his head. "Even after everything he's done to me, I haven't hated him more than at this very moment. When he hurt the one I loved more than anything."
Shinji sighed after a moment. "I know… how much being a pilot meant to you. But I never needed you just as a pilot. I don't love you just because you're a pilot. I need you… I love you because of who you are. Brave and smart and vibrant and so, so alive that I feel like it's a miracle you could love someone like me. Even when I don't-"
Asuka turned, putting a much cleaner finger to Shinji's lips. "Don't do that, Shinji. Don't say that about yourself. You… you're just like me." she said, quietly. "I understand you because of what made us, and I love you because you are so gentle, so caring. Even when you don't love yourself, you love others."
Asuka gave a slightly choked chuckle. "I have no idea how you do that. But you do. And… it's a miracle you decided to love me."
She looked down. "Even after all I've done to you."
Shinji sighed. "Well," he said after a moment, "even after all this, we… we get to decide what to do next. Not Commander Ikari, not NERV, not Misato. Us."
Asuka smiled. "There's my silver lining. I wondered where it went."
Shinji smiled back. "It's always there. I'm always there. Always."
They shared a tender kiss in an artificial rain.
. . .
As Shinji and Asuka finished dressing, they heard the beep of the front door opening and stood from the couch as they saw Daniel and Rei enter the living room.
It was silent for a moment as they regarded Daniel, his right leg in a brace and his right arm in a cast. Bruises covered his right side, and a black eye had only begun to recede.
Daniel spoke after a moment. "I can guess at what happened."
Shinji and Asuka simply nodded.
Daniel sighed heavily. "For what it's worth… I'm sorry."
After another moment's silence, he limped forward, his arms outstretched in an invitation.
Shinji and Asuka stepped forward, and Daniel enveloped them both in a hug. They stayed there for a measure of time that they didn't care to count.
Daniel raised his head for a moment. "It's going to work out somehow. I don't know how. But it will. I can promise you that."
He looked over at Rei, standing apart from them with a longing in her eyes that told Daniel everything he needed to know. He gently took Shinji's arm from his side and made space for her without a word.
Rei stepped forward and put her arms around her friends. They stood there, taking in each other's love and support, not caring that time slipped away around them.
After what felt like not long enough, Daniel broke the embrace, stepping back to take all of them in. "Misato and Kaji will be home soon. We ran into them at the hospital as we were on our way out." A wry smile came to his face as he looked at Asuka. "I think they've gone ahead and fallen for each other again, despite our efforts."
Asuka chuckled softly. "I don't even think we needed to really do anything, Daniel. Besides getting out of the way."
Daniel nodded. "So it seems." he paused, sighing. "I can tell we're all worn thin after the last few days. We're all tired and hungry and somewhat miserable."
He looked over all of them. "So, what say you and I get started on dinner, Shinji? We'll eat together. Like a family."
Silence fell over them, then Shinji nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. A dinner with family."
Rei looked puzzled. "But none of us are related to each other. We are not family."
Daniel looked at her patiently. "Rei, none of you may be related to me, but you are brothers and sisters to me regardless. Family is who you decide it will be. Relationships by blood do not need to be a prerequisite."
Rei nodded and looked down. "Family…"
Asuka nodded. "Yes, Rei. We are a family. However strange and messed up a family we may be. Because we love each other. And we're there for each other. Always."
It was silent for a moment. Rei regarded them, a smile slowly coming to her. "Yes. I like this family."
Daniel smiled softly. "Alright. I'll go get Eleanor, and we can go ahead and get set up."
Misato and Kaji walked into the apartment, hand in hand, and took in the smell of Shinji's cooking. A smile came to Misato's face. "Man, I am ready for whatever Shinji's cooking."
Kaji nodded. "I think all of us are, really."
As they walked into the kitchen, they saw to their surprise that another table and set of chairs had joined theirs, as Eleanor and Rei sat at the now elongated table.
Daniel had joined Shinji and Asuka in the kitchen, the smell of good cooking filling the air and making Misato and Kaji's mouths water.
Misato shook her head as she took in everything. "I didn't know there was something special going on. Is this to celebrate the Angel kill?"
The silence, and the looks that Shinji and Asuka gave her, said more than any words could, and her eyes slowly widened. "No. No, there's no way…"
Asuka sighed, resignation filling her eyes. "Yeah. Commander Asshat fired us. Said that he put in a Dummy System or whatever to take our place. So no, this isn't really a victory celebration, Misato. But… it is a family dinner."
Misato's eyebrows rose. "A family dinner? We're a family?" she paused for a moment as she considered things.
Shinji shook his head as he stepped towards her. "Misato… This is the closest thing I have to a family that I want right now. And… we need each other. So, yeah. This is a family dinner."
Misato smiled. "Aw… I'm glad you feel that way, Shinji. Even if it did come with… well, all of this."
Daniel looked over at them. "Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. We're almost ready."
. . .
As dinner was served, and everyone began to dig in, a comfortable silence filled the air. Misato and Kaji sat together with Rei on one side, while Daniel, Eleanor, Shinji, and Asuka sat across from them. It was as good as they could ask for at the moment. For now, the world could wait a little while.
Most of the adults made do around casts and bandages, Misato rubbing a bandage wrapped over her forehead gently, while Daniel's right hand had an uncertain grip on a fork.
After a moment, a strange feeling swept over Daniel and Eleanor, making them pause for the briefest of seconds. Something had happened. Something having to do with Interfacing.
While they tried to maintain a cool exterior over the feeling of being on edge, the doorbell rang.
Misato stood. "Hold on, guys. I'll go see what's up."
She made her way to the door, and everyone was quiet as they strained to listen.
"Oh, hello sir," Misato said. "Can I help you?"
A sigh came from whoever she was speaking to, and a man's voice answered. "Yes, actually. My car broke down a fair ways away from here, and… well, my phone's out of battery."
A pause. "You're actually the first person that's answered so far. May I come in and charge my phone for a moment?"
Another pause. "Sure." Misato said. "Come in. you caught us in the middle of dinner."
A sigh of relief. "Thank you, ma'am."
Silence, as steps came down the entryway. Misato emerged into the dining room, a somewhat tall, thin man behind her. He wore a long, black coat and hat, which he took off to reveal blond hair set above a thin face with dark hazel eyes that darted around the room, settling on each of them in turn.
Daniel and Eleanor looked over at him as he made his way to an outlet in the kitchen. "Daniel." Eleanor said through their link. "I can't see his soul. He's hiding it, and hiding it well."
Daniel acknowledged her observation as he chewed slowly on his food. "I think I know who he's here for. See anything Interfacing-wise surrounding me?"
She looked over at him for a moment. "No. I'm seeing something on everyone else, though. Including me. They all lead to him."
"Alright. Be ready to sever those connections then. I think I know what he is. And I need to take care of him now."
Daniel stood, plate in hand. "I'm going for seconds, if that's alright with you, Shinji? It is your cooking after all."
Shinji nodded with a smile. "Go ahead."
Daniel smiled back at him, and made his way to one of the dishes, conveniently next to the man. His senses were on overdrive, and he hadn't even enhanced them. He quietly began to heal himself, the bruises slowly disappearing as bones and muscles knitted themselves back together. He needed to be ready for what he was sure was next.
As he dished up, he glanced over at the man, seeming to fiddle with something inside of his coat. As he saw the gleam of metal for the briefest of moments, he acted.
His right arm came up, batting away the gun that had come out of the man's coat, the only sound that gave away its firing two hollow cracks as the projectiles meant for Daniel punched through the far wall.
Daniel turned, charging at the man as he turned to face Daniel, raising the gun. One hand darted out to catch the wrist of the man's gun hand, shoving it back towards his body, the barrel pointed to the assassin's chin, as another hand grabbed an upper arm.
They struggled back and forth for a moment, before Daniel walked the man over to the wall between the washroom and the living room entry, slamming him back against it.
The others at the table stood, drawing back from the sudden, violent conflict, as Daniel wrestled the gun away from the man, and swung a right hook across his face.
As one, the others reeled back, the pain of the punch catching most of them entirely off guard as they cried out in pain.
Daniel hesitated for a moment as he looked over, and the man kicked with unnatural strength, sending Daniel crashing back into the fridge, the appliance rocking from the impact.
Daniel shook his head, strength flowing into him as he reached for the edge of his cast, ripping it in half in a single motion and shaking off the other half, before ripping off the brace on his leg. He reached out, and a handle seemingly made of crystal appeared, and as he grabbed it, liquid crystal surrounded his hand, dripping down and becoming a blade extending down past his knuckles.
As he moved to strike, the man stood and raised a hand. "Stop!" he said in a commanding voice.
Daniel paused. The others looked on in utter confusion. "Daniel, what the hell is going on?" Asuka said, her eyes wide and full of shock.
"Yeah, Daniel. This is too freaky. How did you do that?" Misato said, keeping an eye on the man as she reached for her pistol, wincing to find it not at her side.
Daniel stayed silent, regarding the man in front of him as he produced a small blade, appearing to flow like quicksilver as he made it. "Their lives are now tied to mine. My pain is their pain." He lowered the blade to the back of his arm, slicing across it.
The others winced as they instinctively reached for their arms where the man had cut his.
"And just as they feel what I feel, if I die… they die with me." The man gave a small smile as he said this, and a tense, fearful silence fell over the rest of the room. He continued after a moment to stare intently at Daniel. "You have interfered in a great work, Worldstrider. I am here to ensure that you do not do so again. The only way they will not die… is if you allow me to kill you."
Daniel stood silently for a moment, regarding the man in front of him. "I know who you are. You're a Silent Gardener." he shook his head as the man blinked in surprise at Daniel's knowledge of his title. "You don't leave anyone the wiser of your abilities. Mainly because most all of them are dead afterward. So really, I wouldn't take you at your word."
The Silent Gardener's face was frozen in shock. "How?" he nearly whispered.
Daniel let the mark on his brow glow at last, and the Gardener's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute… of course."
Daniel said nothing to him, glancing over at Eleanor. "Now."
With a gesture, Eleanor grasped at the invisible ties that bound them to the Gardener, severing them with a quick, violent motion. As his eyes widened at this sudden development, Daniel charged, thrusting and slashing in a flurry of strikes. The Gardener dodged around them desperately, stepping into the living room with Daniel hot on his heels.
Daniel closed in with a burst of speed, grabbing the collar of the Gardener's shirt as they stood in the middle of the living room, nearly lifting him off the ground. Then, Daniel bent his legs and jumped, and with a twist in the air, as his blade became a knuckle duster, he and the Gardener fell to the ceiling, much to the amazement of Misato, Kaji, and the Children.
With the Gardener landing flat on his back, Daniel touched down on top of him, planting a knee on his chest, and threw a superpowered left hook across his face.
Daniel felt a spike of pain run through the side of his own head, clutching at it involuntarily as the Gardener shoved him off, the Expression fading away as Daniel hit the floor, his blade disappearing. The Gardener fell beside him with only a little more grace and looked up at the group as the both of them got to their feet, somewhat unsteadily.
Then he looked at Daniel. "We are linked now, fallen one." he said, more than a little venom in his voice, as a mark finally began to glow above his own brow, two hands cupping the air beneath a rose with exaggerated thorns. "Our pain is shared now, and if we die, we will do so toge-"
He was interrupted by a punch to the gut, and he doubled over as Daniel fought to not do the same. Daniel straightened up after a moment, looking down on the Gardener with determination in his eyes. "That was for threatening my family."
As the Gardener straightened up, wheezing for breath, Daniel shook his head. "You think I haven't felt everything you could dish out before. It's touching, really." He then railed into the Gardener with a series of blows, unrelenting in its slow, determined pace. With another hit across the face, both Daniel and the Gardener stumbled back from each other.
As Daniel straightened up, prepared to enter the fray again, a lash of water wrapped itself around the Gardener's legs, as Eleanor jerked it back, sweeping the Gardener off his feet and onto his back.
She marched forward, one step becoming much heavier than the other, as a boot of what seemed to be intricate machinery whirled into existence on her left leg.
As the Gardener propped himself up, Eleanor's boot came down on his chest hard, pushing him back down as he and Daniel shared a wheeze. Parts of the boot whirled and shifted, and four arms came down across the Gardener's chest and arms, collapsing in to bind him tightly. Eleanor raised her foot off, the sole of the boot seeming to separate as part of the trap.
Eleanor stepped back, and gestured again, cutting the connection between Daniel and the Gardener. The fight, as it was, was now over.
The Gardener lay still as Daniel approached him, looming over his prone form before crouching down. "So," he said, in as conversational a tone as he could while nearly gasping for breath, "you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me stopping that attempted theft in Terminal Dogma, isn't that right? You know what's down there as much as I do." he paused for a moment. "Here's the thing, however."
He leaned closer. "I will not allow whatever it is you want to do in this world to come to pass. It is under my protection. Under my power. And, seeing as you're likely about to teleport away," he said, as a ring around the Gardener's finger glowed and he seemed to begin to turn to mist, "tell your compatriots this. I may have fallen in your eyes, but I am not helpless because of it."
He stood up and, true to what he said, the Gardener became mist, fading away and leaving the room in stunned silence.
Asuka was the first to break it. "Daniel… what the hell is going on?"
Shinji nodded. "I had no idea you could do that. What are you?"
Kaji slowly walked forward, instinctively placing himself in front of the Children. "And what, exactly, are you doing here?"
Daniel looked at them, then sighed. "I suppose this was inevitable, really. Now that the Scions, his handlers, are here, this world is in danger. In ways you have never imagined before."
He turned, raising his hands. "Neither I nor Eleanor means you any harm. But now that you've seen this, it would be cruel to wipe your memories of it and leave you ignorant of what could come next. So… let us explain. Please."
Silence entered the apartment again, the atmosphere tense. Then, Shinji nodded. "Okay."
Slowly the others nodded, and Daniel sighed quietly in relief. "Alright then. Follow us."
. . .
Daniel and Eleanor led the group into their apartment, into the room that had been hidden in their master bedroom. As they climbed down the steps, Daniel brushed a hand against the wall, the sensation that rippled through the group causing them to pause for a moment. "Don't worry. I've just given us time to explain." he said as they continued on.
As they entered the stone room, Daniel and Eleanor walked out in front of the group, turning to face them. Daniel sighed after a moment. "I wish I could have been more honest with you all from the beginning. But our powers, who we are, if improperly displayed before things are ready, can cause… complications."
"'Complications' seems like a little bit of an understatement, Daniel." Misato said. "To be able to do that, to use… what? Magic? Nanomachines? What makes you do what you do?"
Daniel nodded. "We'll get there, I promise. But first, who we are. I am Colonel Daniel Theisman, and this is Colonel Eleanor Theisman. We are members of the Worldstrider Corps. And we are not from this universe."
Asuka's eyes widened. "So… you're aliens then?"
Daniel chuckled slightly. "No, Asuka, we're as human as you are."
"But the point still stands," Eleanor said, "we are not native to this universe. We come from outside it. From the rest of Reality."
"'The rest of Reality'?" Rei said, tilting her head slightly, confusion in her eyes.
Daniel nodded. "Yes, Rei. This universe is not the sum total of existence. There is… so, so much more. And we'll begin our explanation by showing you some of what lies beyond."
As he said this, the room slowly darkened until they were left in pitch black. Silence filled the air, as the group waited for Daniel and Eleanor to begin.
Then, in an instant, they stood in another place entirely. Their breath was taken away by the sight of a void, not dark and empty, but filled with an almost riotous amount of color. Nebula-like structures swirled around, floating like clouds above, in front of, and below them as strange, alien animals seemed to swim and glide through it.
Scattered around them, similarly multihued, massive spheres hung, as hundreds, thousands, perhaps even millions of smaller, more ephemeral spheres orbited them, appearing and disappearing in ripples, like water disturbed by a rock. The sight was nothing short of majestic, nay, awe-inspiring.
As the group looked around themselves, eyes wide in wonder, they soon looked back at Daniel and Eleanor, standing in front of them on nothing at all.
Daniel finally spoke. "Behold. Reality."
Next Time on Apotheosis Echo...
Reality is more than the Children could have ever imagined. So too are those that they consider friends, family. Where do they come from? What source do their mystical powers spring from? And who are the Scions? Next Episode: A Box Called the Universe.