DISCLAIMER:
Neon Genesis Evangelion copyright Gainax in Japan and ADVideo in America. This is just for entertainment and no monetary purpose is achieved by this work. Characters used without permission.
Although this is not my first fanfic, it is my first regarding Evangelion. Therefore, gentle reader(s), treat it as a first-time fic, ok? Thanks for your comprehension, and hope you like it!
Now, a little clarification here: As I mentioned above, this is not my first fic, but I'm going to introduce a character of my own... no, don't go!! Sheesh... ok, now that you're back, let's continue. Ahem Well, for this purpose, I'm going to use an approach I used for a previous one I'm still writing. Instead of putting Shinji and co. in strange situations, I'll... well, you'll see!
And now, without more delays... let the show begin!!!
THE NAME OF THE GAME
An NGE fic by
Commander Galos (gabinol@infosel.net.mx)
CHAPTER 2
After a dreamless night, Alyssa woke up at the insisting chime of an alarm clock. By reflex, she extended her arm to kill the annoying sound, but after a couple of tries, the notion of her not having an alarm clock entered her sleepy mind. It took her a few moments before realizing that the obnoxious sound came from the bracelets she was wearing.
"Shut up, will ya!? I'm trying to sleep!"
"I apologize," said Alexis, nonplused. "however, pilot Alyssa must get ready to get to school."
"Oh, yeah? Well, in case you have forgotten, I don't have school supplies, so there!" said Alyssa, proud of her impeccably logic argument. However, it didn't last.
"Necessary re-supplying of appropriate material has been taken care off. Material is waiting in second bedroom." Answered Alexis.
"Oh, great... " mumbled Alyssa. Still sleepy, she walked out of her room and went to the second bedroom. However, her sleepy state didn't last long upon opening the door.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
Literally becoming one with the wall, she watched panicked the motionless figure standing in the middle of the room. Before she could figure it out by herself, Alexis came with an explanation.
"I recalled the synthezoid unit to carry to this location the portable replicator from the exploration vessel. Logic indicates that such unit will be more useful in this location than guarding the Manta."
"Why didn't you tell me so??? You scared me to death here!!" fumed Alyssa after regaining some composure.
"Pilot Alyssa did not request that information." Was Alexis' answer.
"Remind me to have a LONG talk with you later..."
Not listening to Alexis' answer of acknowledgement, Alyssa took a quick bath and quickly dressed on her new school uniform. After eating the leftovers from her previous dinner, she took her school bag and prepared to go to school.
She was still tugging at the collar of her uniform when her neighbor's door opened and a thin figure exited the apartment. Curious, she turned around to have a better look. A young boy, perhaps not older than her, dark haired, rather skinny...overall, nothing to write home about, but there was something that drew her attention to him. He had a certain air of... depression, of loneliness that covered him like a heavy cloak.
"Hi!"
Shinji was still deep in his thoughts when the voice penetrated his consciousness. Looking around, he found the source of the voice: a dark-haired girl, perhaps a couple of inches taller than himself, brown eyes and a fair complexion. She had a nice smile, and was addressing him.
"Hi." Said Shinji, smiling faintly.
"So... you're my new neighbor, eh? Nice to meet you! I'm Alyssa, but my friends call me Lysa!" she then extended her arm, hand extended.
Shinji recoiled a little after the mouthful directed at him. Blinking a couple of times, he finally took the offered hand. "I... I'm Shinji, Shinji Ikari. Nice to meet you."
"Same here!" said Alyssa. She then proceeded to shake Shinji's hand enthusiastically, all the while she continued talking. "So... ready to go to school, I see. So do I! And since this is my first day, could you show me the way? I'm new in the city, and don't know my way around yet. Can you be a darling and escort me there, please??" she then used the infallible tactic all women use to get what they want: the dreaded sad puppy eyes.
Shinji got paralyzed for a few seconds. Never in his entire life anyone had been so straightforward with him, not to mention a girl! And this one had been treating him like she already knew him! It was disorienting to say the very least, so it's not surprising that he hesitated with his answer.
"Ah... well... sure..."
"Great!" with that, she took possession of his left arm and tugged him in the elevator's direction. "Well, let's go then! I don't want to be late!"
Shinji's mind went into shutdown mode, his body moving only in automatic. The whole situation had quickly gone from 'surreal' right into 'bizarre' in just a few seconds. And the day was just starting!
None said a word during the whole walk, Shinji because he was too stunned for talking, but for Alyssa, it was because she was having a small mental conversation with Alexis.
'Pilot Alyssa, query: why did you act that way with subject: Shinji Ikari?'
'Two reasons, Alexis. One, because I always like to make a good first impression! And second... because it was just plain fun to tease him! Did you see his face? I thought he was about to faint right then and there!'
'Query: what purpose does it achieve? First reason is understandable, since it allows subject: Shinji Ikari to be more open for future data-gathering activities, but second reason is outside my own programmed parameters. What purpose does -fun- achieve?'
'No real reason. No, wait... let me rephrase that. It has a purpose, and it is... it made feel good!'
Alexis didn't say a thing for a few minutes. It was until they were at the school gates that she said. 'I do not understand.'
'You are no fun, you know?' finalizing her talk with Alexis for the moment, Alyssa addressed Shinji. "Thanks! I hope to see you again soon, but now I have to register. See ya!" waving goodbye, she left to the school office.
Shaking his head to clear it, Shinji watched as the strange girl went inside the school. Sighing, he then headed to his own classroom.
* * * *
"RAISE! BOW! SEAT!"
With those words, the class rep Hikari Hokari officially started the day. She was especially concerned for one of her fellow companions, one Touji Suzuhara. It had been during the time previous to the beginning of class that she had learned that, during the last Angel attack, his sister had been injured. Even more, he blamed the Evangelion pilot for what happened, since it had been the Eva the one that had caused that.
She got out of her thoughts when the new student began presenting herself. "Hi!" began the new girl after writing her name on the blackboard. "My name is Alyssa Starr, but my friends call me Lysa. I recently moved from the States here to Tokyo-3. I hope we all can be good friends!"
"I hope so miss Starr." Said the old teacher. "Now, take whatever seat you like."
Taking a brief look around, she decided for a seat behind a bandaged albino girl who was staring outside. She had quickly decided to avoid the seat next to her new neighbor... the nerdy-looking guy next to him was giving her a look that gave her the creeps! Better to avoid that guy...
For Alyssa, it was a complete shock to know what kind of world she elected to have some peaceful time. For starters, learning that fifteen years ago (local timeframe) a meteor had destroyed Antarctica and flooded the world was a bolt from the blue, but learning that 2.5 billion people had perished in that year shocked her to the core. She gained a new respect for the people of this planet. After such a catastrophe, they still kept going.
As for Alexis, things started fairly normal. As per her programming, she immediately linked with the computer desk and began gathering whatever information was available. At the same time, she kept a continuous scan of her surroundings (after all, it wouldn't do to have an unknown element that might endanger the life of the pilot); it was during that scan that she encountered something strange: the girl sitting in front of them. Apparently, she had recently been involved in some sort of serious accident, judging from the healing injuries she detected. However, her scan revealed that she was no normal human being. Even taking in account the fact that the girl was an albino (a rarity even in the Agency's home base), the initial scan revealed the existence of foreign elements in her biochemical structure... elements not found in the rest of the people present.
She made a mental note to investigate this girl in detail in the nearby future.
It was in that instant that she intercepted a message directed to their new neighbor. With something akin to curiosity, Alexis began to read the exchange. Evangelion pilot? What is an Evangelion? What is its purpose, its function?
It was then and there that she made the purpose to find out what was going on in this world. Apparently, this was no normal first-insertion mission...
'Finally!' stretching, Alyssa sighed. It had been a boring day. The teacher did nothing more than talk about his experiences after Second Impact, and even then, he used printed forms to leave homework! She was walking down the corridor heading towards the exit when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shinji in the company of two more of her class companions. She had learned their names during a brief commotion in class when all had surrounded Shinji, asking him questions about a thing called Evangelion. The one wearing glasses and having a camcorder was Kensuke Aida; the tall, burly one was Touji Suzuhara. She was about to dismiss the whole scene when, to her shock, Touji grabbed Shinji and hit him in the face.
Hard.
She immediately headed in that direction, intent in helping her new friend. Why, scrawny as he was, Shinji was going to end in the hospital! She arrived just in time to see the two other boys leave the area, Shinji prone in the floor, shaking.
Dropping her schoolbag, she immediately kneeled next to the hurt boy. "SHINJI!! Are you all right? What happened?"
"I'm fine..." mumbled Shinji, trying to stand up. Seeing that, Alyssa helped him. Once they were on their feet, she said.
"Don't give me that! People don't hurt people without a reason! Now tell me, why did you two fight?"
Shinji sighed, touching tenderly his jaw. He didn't know what to think or do. He barely knew this girl, but she was standing next to him, by all appearances worried for him. Despite the pain, he found himself... flattered by the attention, but at the same time scared. This was new for him. One part of him wanted to run, to get away from this place... but another one wanted to stay with this stranger... a stranger that was showing concern for his welfare.
He was still deciding what to do when a shadow fell on him. Turning around, he saw...
"Ayanami..."
Alyssa turned around too, noticing that the albino girl that was in their class as well was watching them. The eye that wasn't covered was focused on them, no emotion showing on it. It gave Alyssa goose bumps just thinking that this Ayanami girl was looking at her.
"Pilot Ikari." Began Rei." We have to go to NERV. Another one is approaching."
"In a moment." Said Shinji. Turning around to face Alyssa, he added. "Thank you for your help, but... I have to get going."
"I understand. Now go, and see you tomorrow, ok?" said Alyssa, smiling at Shinji. That caused him to blush. "And try not to get into more fights, deal?" waving, she headed towards her place, while the two pilots went in NERV's direction.
She was about halfway when, suddenly, sirens began to wail, and at the same time street signs began to display the message "head towards the nearest shelter. Follow the arrows." In a minute, the streets were empty.
"Alexis, what is going on?"
"According to actual data, it is logical to assume that Tokyo-3 is under attack. I suggest pilot Alyssa go to the nearest shelter."
An evil grin appeared in Alyssa's face when an idea formed in her mind. "And miss all the action? No way!! I want to see this up-close and personal!" she then headed towards the warehouse where the Manta was stored.
"This course of action is unadvisable. Prototype: Manta is unarmed. I suggest to send the synthezoid unit to pilot the prototype: Manta and pilot Alyssa get into a shelter..."
"Oh, shut up!" interrupted Alyssa. "I want to see this personally! End of discussion!"
* * * *
The Manta was already in full stealth mode, invisible to electronic or visual sensors. Alyssa was astonished when she got her first look at an Angel. The thing was huge! And even more surprising was that something that big was moving without collapsing under its own weight, and local weapons didn't even scratched its surface. What came as a bigger surprise was that Alexis reported that the thing was alive!
"Alexis... what IS that thing?" muttered Alyssa, not truly expecting an answer.
"Unknown. Hostile unit, designation: Angel is a life form not previously encountered by the Agency. No relevant data available at the moment. However, actual scans indicate that Hostile is surrounded by some kind of force field of unknown composition; furthermore, high-energy emissions are being detected from the eye-like object in front of Hostile."
Alyssa didn't say a thing, instead was fascinated watching the Angel. It reminded her of a cross between a legless crab and the rear of a cockroach. Unconsciously, she maneuvered the Manta next to a building to get a better look when, suddenly, one side of that building opened, revealing a huge humanoid-looking robot. Even more, when the building opened, she ended up literally face-to-face with the huge thing.
"YIIIIIIIII!!!!!"
Responding to her distress, the Manta immediately retreated a few blocks. "Wha... wha... what is that!?!?!"
"Intercepting broad-band communications directed to the new unit. Deciphering." Answered Alexis. A moment later, she had her answer. "New unit identified. Identification: Evangelion Unit 01, or Eva-01. Pilot id: Shinji Ikari."
"Shinji is in THAT thing??" Alyssa gave a new look at Eva-01, and came to a conclusion: That thing was butt-ugly! And she couldn't stop her jaw from dropping when Alexis confirmed that the Eva was using a power cable!
"A power... THAT'S RIDICULOUS!! Who makes a fighting machine that can't be independent?? Why not use a matter-antimatter reactor? Or Thorium self-regenerating power cells? Or an Elerium power core? Heck, I bet even an old cold fusion reactor would do!"
"Technological level of this planet doesn't allow the construction of aforementioned power generation technologies, even less on a portable scale." Answered Alexis.
"Oh. Yeah, I forgot..."
They resumed their watch over the two combatants. Alyssa cheered when Shinji nailed the Angel with a big rifle, all the shots hitting the target. Unfortunately, the smoke cloud generated by the impacts obscured completely the Angel. All of a sudden, Alexis warned.
"Warning! Power surge detected from Angel. Force field intensifying..."
She couldn't finish her analysis... in that instant, two ribbon-like objects emerged from the cloud and stroke Eva-01, cleanly slicing the rifle and sending the Eva stumbling on its back. A second attack sliced nearby buildings with an ease that scared Alyssa out of her mind. "What are those things??"
"High-speed vibration tentacles." Reported Alyssa. "Glow is caused by air being overheated by the vibration. Composition of tentacles falls into the ultra-dense category, sustained by energy lines running down the core of them. Suggested course of action: Stay away from them."
"No shit..." muttered Alyssa, not minding her language. She couldn't do anything else but watch as Eva-01 desperately made a retreat, the Angel's ribbons slicing left and right. During one of those attacks, the power cable was severed.
"Power cable to Evangelion Unit 01 severed. Unit has a power backpack, however, it won't last more than five minutes." Reported Alexis.
In that moment, the Angel grabbed Eva-01 by its right ankle, and with frightening ease, it launched the Eva into a nearby hill.
"SHINJI!!" without thinking about it, Alyssa directed the Manta towards Unit 01. She got worried when, upon arrival, noticed that the Eva wasn't moving. A quick scan revealed the cause.
In the space between the middle and annular fingers of the Eva's left hand, were Touji and Kensuke, by all appearances frozen by their near-death experience. It had been pure luck what saved them from being crushed by the Eva's hand. And they could still end up splattered if the Eva moved its hand.
Alyssa's mind was still blank, not knowing what to do when Alexis reported. "Angel approaching. Evangelion only has two minutes forty seconds worth of energy. Battle situation suggests the imminent destruction of Evangelion unit and the two civilians, followed by the total obliteration of Tokyo-3. Suggested course of action: evacuate the area immediately. Query: does pilot Alyssa want me to initiate escape protocols?"
The last two sentences brought Alyssa out of her stupor. Run away? Leave her only friend on this world to die just like that?? One thing she had learned from her parents was that, under NO circumstance, one doesn't abandon friends, no matter how grim things look. Clinching her jaw, she spoke in a cold tone of voice.
"Alexis... drop stealth mode and give outer shield full reflective properties. From this moment on, I take full command of the Manta." Looking directly at the Angel, she added. "We're going to buy them some time to escape, no matter what."
"Pilot Alyssa, this course of action..."
"Don't. Say. A. Word." Interrupted Alyssa. Taking a deep breath, she only added one more word. "ENGAGE!"
In Central Dogma, everybody was worried. The Angel had proven to be too tough, and since Shinji was still inexperienced in the use of the Eva, that worried them all even more. When the Angel cut the umbilical cable, Misato went frantic. But when the cameras showed the presence of Touji and Kensuke, she became even more worried.
"Those are Shinji's schoolmates! What are they doing there? Why aren't they in the shelters??" inquired Misato.
"That doesn't matter now." Said Ritsuko. "Killing the Angel is our first priority."
Misato watched helplessly at the image displayed on the holographic screen. She understood why Shinji didn't move: He did, and his friends would be history. But if he didn't move, everybody would end up dead. Reaching a decision, she gave the order.
"Open the entry plug! Let those two enter, and as soon as they're inside, close the plug!"
"CAPTAIN!" said Ritsuko. "You are overstepping your authority! I can't allow you to do that!"
Misato ignored Ritsuko's observation, instead she said. "Open the plug!"
Maya was about to do it when something suddenly registered on the sensors. "Sempai! An energy spike appeared suddenly in front of Eva-01! The MAGI are analyzing it now..."
"Where is it?" asked Ritsuko, immediately moving to Maya's terminal.
"Right... THERE!" said Aoba, pointing to the display.
All eyes focused on the display. On it, a small ovoid that reflected the sunrays was floating above Eva-01. All of a sudden, the strange object speeded towards the Angel, immediately moving in erratic patterns in front of it. The Angel began to weave its tentacles in an attempt to get rid of the small nuisance, but the thing moved too fast even for it. The scene transfixed the whole bridge crew until a chime from a lateral display called their attention. The clock on it showed that only a minute and a half remained on the Eva's batteries. That unfroze Misato back into command mode.
"Open the entry plug, NOW!"
"Yes captain! Opening entry plug!" reported Makoto.
Grabbing a microphone, Misato addressed Shinji. "Shinji! As soon as the hatch is clear, let your friends in and head towards exit 25! We'll think of another strategy as soon as you're safe!" Silence was her only answer. "Shinji! Shinji!! SHINJI!!!"
Shinji was scared. No, he was completely frozen by fear. The Angel had been too strong, too fast. He only wanted to run... run far, far away from everything. It was too painful to stay there. Heck, he didn't know why he was there in the first place! He absolutely hated piloting this thing! When he saw on the screen the terrified faces of Touji and Kensuke amid the fingers of the Evangelion, he became even more afraid. He had almost killed his companions! When Misato talked to him, he barely heard her. His mind was in turmoil, not knowing what to do. He scarcely noticed the presence of the mirror-like object that was distracting the Angel. It was only when the plug became dark that he came out of his stupor.
"Hey, is this water?" said Touji, splashing loudly when he entered the entry plug.
"My camera! My camera!!" exclaimed Kensuke.
When the light came back, the two schoolmates saw Shinji, shaking on his seat. It was then that they heard Misato's voice. "Shinji! Head towards exit 25! Let's retreat and think of something else!"
"You heard her rookie!" said Touji from behind Shinji. "Let's get out of here!"
Both he and Kensuke waited anxiously for Shinji to react. What they didn't expect however was said reaction being Shinji murmuring, raising his voice after each repetition.
"I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I MUSTN'T RUN AWAY!!"
"Neural connections breaking!" reported Maya.
"Logical. You introduced two foreign objects into the matrix, so it was expected." Said Ritsuko, scoffing.
"Progressive knife activated!" reported Makoto a moment later.
"Oooh, that kid!" puffed Misato.
"One minute before deactivation!" reported Aoba.
Alyssa was having the time of her life! Granted, she was scared, but that was normal under the circumstances. No, the prevalent emotion for her in that moment was euphoria... she was excited by the knowledge that she was facing an enemy that, by all purposes and intents, could finish her off in an eye blink... and she was winning! It was so easy to do: just let instinct take over the piloting, and she was moving with surprising ease around the Angel's tentacles!
"Civilians have been introduced inside Evangelion Unit." Reported Alexis. "I strongly suggest we retreat from the area."
"Awww, do we have to?" pouted Alyssa, avoiding another strike. "This is too much fun!"
"Pilot Alyssa has achieved objective: buy time for endangered people to get to safety. Evangelion Unit has been ordered to retreat. Actual distraction tactics have accomplished said objective. I repeat: let's retreat from the area."
"Party pooper..." mumbled Alyssa. "Ok, you're right; let's..." she was interrupted by Alyssa's new report.
"Evangelion Unit is deploying force field of similar characteristics to the one surrounding Angel. Both fields are canceling each other. Evangelion unit has deployed a weapon that shares similar vibrational qualities as the Angel's tentacles. Transmissions define this weapon as a 'Progressive Knife'.
"Evangelion Unit is moving towards Angel. Manta is in the projected interception path. Observation: move Manta out of the way."
"YIPES!" Alyssa maneuvered the Manta just in time before Eva-01's Progressive Knife impacted the Angel's core. A shower of sparks came out of it. Once more, Alyssa became a passive observer, gasping when the Angel, in a last-ditch attempt, impaled Eva-01 with its tentacles. Time slowed to a crawl for the last seconds of the drama... until finally, everything became calm.
"Energy emissions from both Angel and Evangelion Unit have ceased." Reported Alexis. "Both units have stopped functioning."
Upon hearing that, Alyssa felt too weary, the adrenaline rush that fueled her wearing off. Sighing tiredly, she just said. "Go back to stealth mode... let's go home."
"The unidentified object disappeared from our sensors." Reported Makoto.
"What do you think that was, Rits?" asked Misato, leaning against the railing that surrounded Central Dogma."
"I don't know. I'll run an analysis of the readings we obtained; perhaps the answer is there." Answered the doctor. Mentally, she added. 'Whatever that was, it wasn't part of the Angel, nor something we did. Damn, I hate mysteries...'
"Well, at least it appears that that object is on our side." Commented Misato, sighing. "It distracted the Angel."
"We can't be sure of its intentions, Captain." Said Ritsuko. "For all we know, it could be waiting for the right moment to attack Shinji." Further comments were stalled by a voice coming from the upper dais.
"Retrieve the Eva. Begin analysis of the Angel and whatever data we have from that thing." Ordered Gendo. "I want a report tomorrow."
"Yes sir." Said Ritsuko, leaving Central Dogma.
"What do you think that thing is?" asked Fuyutzuki, his voice low enough so that only Gendo could hear him.
Gendo Ikari assumed his normal position before giving an answer. "A nuisance. Call Security, I want to know where that thing went. Tell them to keep their eyes and ears open for anything regarding that object. Investigate whatever rumor has a basis that might lead us to its whereabouts."
"Consider it done." Said Fuyutzuki. As an afterthought, he added. "And what will we do if we find it?"
Gendo's only answer was a smirk.
* * * *
The next day was a rainy one. All outdoors activities have been cancelled, and all the students on homeroom 2-A were talking among themselves before class started. Alyssa felt a little sleepy, despite she slept all night. She didn't expect that piloting like that could be so tiring! After leaving her umbrella near the door, she took a look around. There was the girl Shinji had called Ayanami... there was Hikari, talking with a couple of friends... in the corner were the two guys Shinji had saved... a couple of blinks later brought home to Alyssa the fact that one of them had been the one that hit Shinji the day before. She hadn't recognized them because of all the excitement, but now...
A grim smile appeared on Alyssa's lips. 'All right... payback time!!' Straightening her back, she walked in that direction, intent on giving them a piece of her mind. She was only a couple of seats in front of Touji and was about to start screaming at them for their bullying her friend when she heard Kensuke's words.
"I think you should call him and apologize."
"Yeah, right..." said Touji, his left cheek resting on his left hand. "But how? He didn't come today... and you saw how he broke down inside the Evangelion."
"Precisely because of that." Said Kensuke, all the while revising his camcorder. "He saved our lives. The least you could do is apologize for hitting him."
"That's right!" both boys turned in the direction of the voice, only to look at an upset Alyssa. "You had no right hitting Shinji yesterday! For what I heard, it wasn't his fault your sister got hurt!" she then pointed in Kensuke's direction, almost touching his nose; Kensuke crossed his eyes watching the accusing finger. "And he's right about Shinji saving your sorry hide! If it weren't for Shinji, you and this... this... NERD would be a smear on that hillside!"
"How did you know that?" asked Kensuke, his eyes still crossed. "I didn't saw you there."
"Th...Th... That's not of your business!" stammered Alyssa, caught in her tongue slip. Immediately, she deflected the attention back to Touji. "The point is: what are you going to do, huh?"
Producing a piece of paper from his breast pocket, Kensuke waved it in front of both Alyssa and Touji. "This is his phone number. Why don't you call him?"
After seeing Alyssa giving him the Evil Eye, Touji just took the piece of paper and left the classroom, heading to the nearest phone. Once alone, Kensuke addressed Alyssa, turning on his camcorder and pointing it in her direction. "So... what is Shinji to you? Just friend, boyfriend or... something else?"
Upon hearing that, Alyssa's expression darkened. Placing her left hand on the camera's lenses, she said, her voice cold enough to lower the temperature of the immediate area. "Don't ruin the only good thing you've done today. If you want to remain healthy, you won't say that ever again, understood?"
Kensuke nodded franticly, scared. The look in her eyes promised a LOT of bodily harm... to him, to be more exact.
Satisfied, Alyssa returned to her seat. Once comfortable, she began a mental conversation with Alexis. 'Did you do it?'
'Affirmative. The data contained on the unit's disk has been erased, and the batteries were drained.'
'Good! That will give him a good lesson!'
'Query: why did pilot Alyssa intervened in subject Shinji Ikari's battle? There was no logical reason to sustain such action.'
Alyssa thought for a moment, pondering the question. Yes, there was no real reason for her to get involved, so why did she do it? 'Well... I'm not sure. I mean, it could have been so easy to run and leave them to their fate, but... somehow, that didn't seat well with me. You see, my parents always taught me to always value a life above anything else. Objects can be replaced, but not a life.
'I guess... seeing them so helpless... I don't know. It just felt -right- to assist them.'
'Query.'
'Yes, Alexis?'
'What am I? According to your definition, I'm an object, and therefore replaceable. But I am also part of an object that can be defined as 'living'. Therefore, according to that same definition, that makes me alive as well, and by analogy, irreplaceable.'
That question stopped Alyssa's mental processes cold in their tracks. Granted, by all means, Alexis was just a very complex computer program, a manufactured object, and hence replaceable. But when a thing begins to question its own existence, can it still be considered an object?
'I don't know, Alexis. I don't know.'
TO BE CONTINUED.
Author's notes:
Well, here it is. The second installment of NoG. Yes, I know, I didn't introduced Misato and Alyssa, but that would have made the chapter too cluttered. I apologize for that! SORRY, SORRY, I'M NOT WORTHY!!!
Next on NoG...
Misato meets her new neighbor! (No, really!)
Alyssa gives Shinji a piece of her mind for running away!
Alexis meets Rei! (sorta...)
The attack of the 5th angel!
All that and more, so... BE THERE!!
Neon Genesis Evangelion copyright Gainax in Japan and ADVideo in America. This is just for entertainment and no monetary purpose is achieved by this work. Characters used without permission.
Although this is not my first fanfic, it is my first regarding Evangelion. Therefore, gentle reader(s), treat it as a first-time fic, ok? Thanks for your comprehension, and hope you like it!
Now, a little clarification here: As I mentioned above, this is not my first fic, but I'm going to introduce a character of my own... no, don't go!! Sheesh... ok, now that you're back, let's continue. Ahem Well, for this purpose, I'm going to use an approach I used for a previous one I'm still writing. Instead of putting Shinji and co. in strange situations, I'll... well, you'll see!
And now, without more delays... let the show begin!!!
THE NAME OF THE GAME
An NGE fic by
Commander Galos (gabinol@infosel.net.mx)
CHAPTER 2
After a dreamless night, Alyssa woke up at the insisting chime of an alarm clock. By reflex, she extended her arm to kill the annoying sound, but after a couple of tries, the notion of her not having an alarm clock entered her sleepy mind. It took her a few moments before realizing that the obnoxious sound came from the bracelets she was wearing.
"Shut up, will ya!? I'm trying to sleep!"
"I apologize," said Alexis, nonplused. "however, pilot Alyssa must get ready to get to school."
"Oh, yeah? Well, in case you have forgotten, I don't have school supplies, so there!" said Alyssa, proud of her impeccably logic argument. However, it didn't last.
"Necessary re-supplying of appropriate material has been taken care off. Material is waiting in second bedroom." Answered Alexis.
"Oh, great... " mumbled Alyssa. Still sleepy, she walked out of her room and went to the second bedroom. However, her sleepy state didn't last long upon opening the door.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
Literally becoming one with the wall, she watched panicked the motionless figure standing in the middle of the room. Before she could figure it out by herself, Alexis came with an explanation.
"I recalled the synthezoid unit to carry to this location the portable replicator from the exploration vessel. Logic indicates that such unit will be more useful in this location than guarding the Manta."
"Why didn't you tell me so??? You scared me to death here!!" fumed Alyssa after regaining some composure.
"Pilot Alyssa did not request that information." Was Alexis' answer.
"Remind me to have a LONG talk with you later..."
Not listening to Alexis' answer of acknowledgement, Alyssa took a quick bath and quickly dressed on her new school uniform. After eating the leftovers from her previous dinner, she took her school bag and prepared to go to school.
She was still tugging at the collar of her uniform when her neighbor's door opened and a thin figure exited the apartment. Curious, she turned around to have a better look. A young boy, perhaps not older than her, dark haired, rather skinny...overall, nothing to write home about, but there was something that drew her attention to him. He had a certain air of... depression, of loneliness that covered him like a heavy cloak.
"Hi!"
Shinji was still deep in his thoughts when the voice penetrated his consciousness. Looking around, he found the source of the voice: a dark-haired girl, perhaps a couple of inches taller than himself, brown eyes and a fair complexion. She had a nice smile, and was addressing him.
"Hi." Said Shinji, smiling faintly.
"So... you're my new neighbor, eh? Nice to meet you! I'm Alyssa, but my friends call me Lysa!" she then extended her arm, hand extended.
Shinji recoiled a little after the mouthful directed at him. Blinking a couple of times, he finally took the offered hand. "I... I'm Shinji, Shinji Ikari. Nice to meet you."
"Same here!" said Alyssa. She then proceeded to shake Shinji's hand enthusiastically, all the while she continued talking. "So... ready to go to school, I see. So do I! And since this is my first day, could you show me the way? I'm new in the city, and don't know my way around yet. Can you be a darling and escort me there, please??" she then used the infallible tactic all women use to get what they want: the dreaded sad puppy eyes.
Shinji got paralyzed for a few seconds. Never in his entire life anyone had been so straightforward with him, not to mention a girl! And this one had been treating him like she already knew him! It was disorienting to say the very least, so it's not surprising that he hesitated with his answer.
"Ah... well... sure..."
"Great!" with that, she took possession of his left arm and tugged him in the elevator's direction. "Well, let's go then! I don't want to be late!"
Shinji's mind went into shutdown mode, his body moving only in automatic. The whole situation had quickly gone from 'surreal' right into 'bizarre' in just a few seconds. And the day was just starting!
None said a word during the whole walk, Shinji because he was too stunned for talking, but for Alyssa, it was because she was having a small mental conversation with Alexis.
'Pilot Alyssa, query: why did you act that way with subject: Shinji Ikari?'
'Two reasons, Alexis. One, because I always like to make a good first impression! And second... because it was just plain fun to tease him! Did you see his face? I thought he was about to faint right then and there!'
'Query: what purpose does it achieve? First reason is understandable, since it allows subject: Shinji Ikari to be more open for future data-gathering activities, but second reason is outside my own programmed parameters. What purpose does -fun- achieve?'
'No real reason. No, wait... let me rephrase that. It has a purpose, and it is... it made feel good!'
Alexis didn't say a thing for a few minutes. It was until they were at the school gates that she said. 'I do not understand.'
'You are no fun, you know?' finalizing her talk with Alexis for the moment, Alyssa addressed Shinji. "Thanks! I hope to see you again soon, but now I have to register. See ya!" waving goodbye, she left to the school office.
Shaking his head to clear it, Shinji watched as the strange girl went inside the school. Sighing, he then headed to his own classroom.
* * * *
"RAISE! BOW! SEAT!"
With those words, the class rep Hikari Hokari officially started the day. She was especially concerned for one of her fellow companions, one Touji Suzuhara. It had been during the time previous to the beginning of class that she had learned that, during the last Angel attack, his sister had been injured. Even more, he blamed the Evangelion pilot for what happened, since it had been the Eva the one that had caused that.
She got out of her thoughts when the new student began presenting herself. "Hi!" began the new girl after writing her name on the blackboard. "My name is Alyssa Starr, but my friends call me Lysa. I recently moved from the States here to Tokyo-3. I hope we all can be good friends!"
"I hope so miss Starr." Said the old teacher. "Now, take whatever seat you like."
Taking a brief look around, she decided for a seat behind a bandaged albino girl who was staring outside. She had quickly decided to avoid the seat next to her new neighbor... the nerdy-looking guy next to him was giving her a look that gave her the creeps! Better to avoid that guy...
For Alyssa, it was a complete shock to know what kind of world she elected to have some peaceful time. For starters, learning that fifteen years ago (local timeframe) a meteor had destroyed Antarctica and flooded the world was a bolt from the blue, but learning that 2.5 billion people had perished in that year shocked her to the core. She gained a new respect for the people of this planet. After such a catastrophe, they still kept going.
As for Alexis, things started fairly normal. As per her programming, she immediately linked with the computer desk and began gathering whatever information was available. At the same time, she kept a continuous scan of her surroundings (after all, it wouldn't do to have an unknown element that might endanger the life of the pilot); it was during that scan that she encountered something strange: the girl sitting in front of them. Apparently, she had recently been involved in some sort of serious accident, judging from the healing injuries she detected. However, her scan revealed that she was no normal human being. Even taking in account the fact that the girl was an albino (a rarity even in the Agency's home base), the initial scan revealed the existence of foreign elements in her biochemical structure... elements not found in the rest of the people present.
She made a mental note to investigate this girl in detail in the nearby future.
It was in that instant that she intercepted a message directed to their new neighbor. With something akin to curiosity, Alexis began to read the exchange. Evangelion pilot? What is an Evangelion? What is its purpose, its function?
It was then and there that she made the purpose to find out what was going on in this world. Apparently, this was no normal first-insertion mission...
'Finally!' stretching, Alyssa sighed. It had been a boring day. The teacher did nothing more than talk about his experiences after Second Impact, and even then, he used printed forms to leave homework! She was walking down the corridor heading towards the exit when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shinji in the company of two more of her class companions. She had learned their names during a brief commotion in class when all had surrounded Shinji, asking him questions about a thing called Evangelion. The one wearing glasses and having a camcorder was Kensuke Aida; the tall, burly one was Touji Suzuhara. She was about to dismiss the whole scene when, to her shock, Touji grabbed Shinji and hit him in the face.
Hard.
She immediately headed in that direction, intent in helping her new friend. Why, scrawny as he was, Shinji was going to end in the hospital! She arrived just in time to see the two other boys leave the area, Shinji prone in the floor, shaking.
Dropping her schoolbag, she immediately kneeled next to the hurt boy. "SHINJI!! Are you all right? What happened?"
"I'm fine..." mumbled Shinji, trying to stand up. Seeing that, Alyssa helped him. Once they were on their feet, she said.
"Don't give me that! People don't hurt people without a reason! Now tell me, why did you two fight?"
Shinji sighed, touching tenderly his jaw. He didn't know what to think or do. He barely knew this girl, but she was standing next to him, by all appearances worried for him. Despite the pain, he found himself... flattered by the attention, but at the same time scared. This was new for him. One part of him wanted to run, to get away from this place... but another one wanted to stay with this stranger... a stranger that was showing concern for his welfare.
He was still deciding what to do when a shadow fell on him. Turning around, he saw...
"Ayanami..."
Alyssa turned around too, noticing that the albino girl that was in their class as well was watching them. The eye that wasn't covered was focused on them, no emotion showing on it. It gave Alyssa goose bumps just thinking that this Ayanami girl was looking at her.
"Pilot Ikari." Began Rei." We have to go to NERV. Another one is approaching."
"In a moment." Said Shinji. Turning around to face Alyssa, he added. "Thank you for your help, but... I have to get going."
"I understand. Now go, and see you tomorrow, ok?" said Alyssa, smiling at Shinji. That caused him to blush. "And try not to get into more fights, deal?" waving, she headed towards her place, while the two pilots went in NERV's direction.
She was about halfway when, suddenly, sirens began to wail, and at the same time street signs began to display the message "head towards the nearest shelter. Follow the arrows." In a minute, the streets were empty.
"Alexis, what is going on?"
"According to actual data, it is logical to assume that Tokyo-3 is under attack. I suggest pilot Alyssa go to the nearest shelter."
An evil grin appeared in Alyssa's face when an idea formed in her mind. "And miss all the action? No way!! I want to see this up-close and personal!" she then headed towards the warehouse where the Manta was stored.
"This course of action is unadvisable. Prototype: Manta is unarmed. I suggest to send the synthezoid unit to pilot the prototype: Manta and pilot Alyssa get into a shelter..."
"Oh, shut up!" interrupted Alyssa. "I want to see this personally! End of discussion!"
* * * *
The Manta was already in full stealth mode, invisible to electronic or visual sensors. Alyssa was astonished when she got her first look at an Angel. The thing was huge! And even more surprising was that something that big was moving without collapsing under its own weight, and local weapons didn't even scratched its surface. What came as a bigger surprise was that Alexis reported that the thing was alive!
"Alexis... what IS that thing?" muttered Alyssa, not truly expecting an answer.
"Unknown. Hostile unit, designation: Angel is a life form not previously encountered by the Agency. No relevant data available at the moment. However, actual scans indicate that Hostile is surrounded by some kind of force field of unknown composition; furthermore, high-energy emissions are being detected from the eye-like object in front of Hostile."
Alyssa didn't say a thing, instead was fascinated watching the Angel. It reminded her of a cross between a legless crab and the rear of a cockroach. Unconsciously, she maneuvered the Manta next to a building to get a better look when, suddenly, one side of that building opened, revealing a huge humanoid-looking robot. Even more, when the building opened, she ended up literally face-to-face with the huge thing.
"YIIIIIIIII!!!!!"
Responding to her distress, the Manta immediately retreated a few blocks. "Wha... wha... what is that!?!?!"
"Intercepting broad-band communications directed to the new unit. Deciphering." Answered Alexis. A moment later, she had her answer. "New unit identified. Identification: Evangelion Unit 01, or Eva-01. Pilot id: Shinji Ikari."
"Shinji is in THAT thing??" Alyssa gave a new look at Eva-01, and came to a conclusion: That thing was butt-ugly! And she couldn't stop her jaw from dropping when Alexis confirmed that the Eva was using a power cable!
"A power... THAT'S RIDICULOUS!! Who makes a fighting machine that can't be independent?? Why not use a matter-antimatter reactor? Or Thorium self-regenerating power cells? Or an Elerium power core? Heck, I bet even an old cold fusion reactor would do!"
"Technological level of this planet doesn't allow the construction of aforementioned power generation technologies, even less on a portable scale." Answered Alexis.
"Oh. Yeah, I forgot..."
They resumed their watch over the two combatants. Alyssa cheered when Shinji nailed the Angel with a big rifle, all the shots hitting the target. Unfortunately, the smoke cloud generated by the impacts obscured completely the Angel. All of a sudden, Alexis warned.
"Warning! Power surge detected from Angel. Force field intensifying..."
She couldn't finish her analysis... in that instant, two ribbon-like objects emerged from the cloud and stroke Eva-01, cleanly slicing the rifle and sending the Eva stumbling on its back. A second attack sliced nearby buildings with an ease that scared Alyssa out of her mind. "What are those things??"
"High-speed vibration tentacles." Reported Alyssa. "Glow is caused by air being overheated by the vibration. Composition of tentacles falls into the ultra-dense category, sustained by energy lines running down the core of them. Suggested course of action: Stay away from them."
"No shit..." muttered Alyssa, not minding her language. She couldn't do anything else but watch as Eva-01 desperately made a retreat, the Angel's ribbons slicing left and right. During one of those attacks, the power cable was severed.
"Power cable to Evangelion Unit 01 severed. Unit has a power backpack, however, it won't last more than five minutes." Reported Alexis.
In that moment, the Angel grabbed Eva-01 by its right ankle, and with frightening ease, it launched the Eva into a nearby hill.
"SHINJI!!" without thinking about it, Alyssa directed the Manta towards Unit 01. She got worried when, upon arrival, noticed that the Eva wasn't moving. A quick scan revealed the cause.
In the space between the middle and annular fingers of the Eva's left hand, were Touji and Kensuke, by all appearances frozen by their near-death experience. It had been pure luck what saved them from being crushed by the Eva's hand. And they could still end up splattered if the Eva moved its hand.
Alyssa's mind was still blank, not knowing what to do when Alexis reported. "Angel approaching. Evangelion only has two minutes forty seconds worth of energy. Battle situation suggests the imminent destruction of Evangelion unit and the two civilians, followed by the total obliteration of Tokyo-3. Suggested course of action: evacuate the area immediately. Query: does pilot Alyssa want me to initiate escape protocols?"
The last two sentences brought Alyssa out of her stupor. Run away? Leave her only friend on this world to die just like that?? One thing she had learned from her parents was that, under NO circumstance, one doesn't abandon friends, no matter how grim things look. Clinching her jaw, she spoke in a cold tone of voice.
"Alexis... drop stealth mode and give outer shield full reflective properties. From this moment on, I take full command of the Manta." Looking directly at the Angel, she added. "We're going to buy them some time to escape, no matter what."
"Pilot Alyssa, this course of action..."
"Don't. Say. A. Word." Interrupted Alyssa. Taking a deep breath, she only added one more word. "ENGAGE!"
In Central Dogma, everybody was worried. The Angel had proven to be too tough, and since Shinji was still inexperienced in the use of the Eva, that worried them all even more. When the Angel cut the umbilical cable, Misato went frantic. But when the cameras showed the presence of Touji and Kensuke, she became even more worried.
"Those are Shinji's schoolmates! What are they doing there? Why aren't they in the shelters??" inquired Misato.
"That doesn't matter now." Said Ritsuko. "Killing the Angel is our first priority."
Misato watched helplessly at the image displayed on the holographic screen. She understood why Shinji didn't move: He did, and his friends would be history. But if he didn't move, everybody would end up dead. Reaching a decision, she gave the order.
"Open the entry plug! Let those two enter, and as soon as they're inside, close the plug!"
"CAPTAIN!" said Ritsuko. "You are overstepping your authority! I can't allow you to do that!"
Misato ignored Ritsuko's observation, instead she said. "Open the plug!"
Maya was about to do it when something suddenly registered on the sensors. "Sempai! An energy spike appeared suddenly in front of Eva-01! The MAGI are analyzing it now..."
"Where is it?" asked Ritsuko, immediately moving to Maya's terminal.
"Right... THERE!" said Aoba, pointing to the display.
All eyes focused on the display. On it, a small ovoid that reflected the sunrays was floating above Eva-01. All of a sudden, the strange object speeded towards the Angel, immediately moving in erratic patterns in front of it. The Angel began to weave its tentacles in an attempt to get rid of the small nuisance, but the thing moved too fast even for it. The scene transfixed the whole bridge crew until a chime from a lateral display called their attention. The clock on it showed that only a minute and a half remained on the Eva's batteries. That unfroze Misato back into command mode.
"Open the entry plug, NOW!"
"Yes captain! Opening entry plug!" reported Makoto.
Grabbing a microphone, Misato addressed Shinji. "Shinji! As soon as the hatch is clear, let your friends in and head towards exit 25! We'll think of another strategy as soon as you're safe!" Silence was her only answer. "Shinji! Shinji!! SHINJI!!!"
Shinji was scared. No, he was completely frozen by fear. The Angel had been too strong, too fast. He only wanted to run... run far, far away from everything. It was too painful to stay there. Heck, he didn't know why he was there in the first place! He absolutely hated piloting this thing! When he saw on the screen the terrified faces of Touji and Kensuke amid the fingers of the Evangelion, he became even more afraid. He had almost killed his companions! When Misato talked to him, he barely heard her. His mind was in turmoil, not knowing what to do. He scarcely noticed the presence of the mirror-like object that was distracting the Angel. It was only when the plug became dark that he came out of his stupor.
"Hey, is this water?" said Touji, splashing loudly when he entered the entry plug.
"My camera! My camera!!" exclaimed Kensuke.
When the light came back, the two schoolmates saw Shinji, shaking on his seat. It was then that they heard Misato's voice. "Shinji! Head towards exit 25! Let's retreat and think of something else!"
"You heard her rookie!" said Touji from behind Shinji. "Let's get out of here!"
Both he and Kensuke waited anxiously for Shinji to react. What they didn't expect however was said reaction being Shinji murmuring, raising his voice after each repetition.
"I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away, I MUSTN'T RUN AWAY!!"
"Neural connections breaking!" reported Maya.
"Logical. You introduced two foreign objects into the matrix, so it was expected." Said Ritsuko, scoffing.
"Progressive knife activated!" reported Makoto a moment later.
"Oooh, that kid!" puffed Misato.
"One minute before deactivation!" reported Aoba.
Alyssa was having the time of her life! Granted, she was scared, but that was normal under the circumstances. No, the prevalent emotion for her in that moment was euphoria... she was excited by the knowledge that she was facing an enemy that, by all purposes and intents, could finish her off in an eye blink... and she was winning! It was so easy to do: just let instinct take over the piloting, and she was moving with surprising ease around the Angel's tentacles!
"Civilians have been introduced inside Evangelion Unit." Reported Alexis. "I strongly suggest we retreat from the area."
"Awww, do we have to?" pouted Alyssa, avoiding another strike. "This is too much fun!"
"Pilot Alyssa has achieved objective: buy time for endangered people to get to safety. Evangelion Unit has been ordered to retreat. Actual distraction tactics have accomplished said objective. I repeat: let's retreat from the area."
"Party pooper..." mumbled Alyssa. "Ok, you're right; let's..." she was interrupted by Alyssa's new report.
"Evangelion Unit is deploying force field of similar characteristics to the one surrounding Angel. Both fields are canceling each other. Evangelion unit has deployed a weapon that shares similar vibrational qualities as the Angel's tentacles. Transmissions define this weapon as a 'Progressive Knife'.
"Evangelion Unit is moving towards Angel. Manta is in the projected interception path. Observation: move Manta out of the way."
"YIPES!" Alyssa maneuvered the Manta just in time before Eva-01's Progressive Knife impacted the Angel's core. A shower of sparks came out of it. Once more, Alyssa became a passive observer, gasping when the Angel, in a last-ditch attempt, impaled Eva-01 with its tentacles. Time slowed to a crawl for the last seconds of the drama... until finally, everything became calm.
"Energy emissions from both Angel and Evangelion Unit have ceased." Reported Alexis. "Both units have stopped functioning."
Upon hearing that, Alyssa felt too weary, the adrenaline rush that fueled her wearing off. Sighing tiredly, she just said. "Go back to stealth mode... let's go home."
"The unidentified object disappeared from our sensors." Reported Makoto.
"What do you think that was, Rits?" asked Misato, leaning against the railing that surrounded Central Dogma."
"I don't know. I'll run an analysis of the readings we obtained; perhaps the answer is there." Answered the doctor. Mentally, she added. 'Whatever that was, it wasn't part of the Angel, nor something we did. Damn, I hate mysteries...'
"Well, at least it appears that that object is on our side." Commented Misato, sighing. "It distracted the Angel."
"We can't be sure of its intentions, Captain." Said Ritsuko. "For all we know, it could be waiting for the right moment to attack Shinji." Further comments were stalled by a voice coming from the upper dais.
"Retrieve the Eva. Begin analysis of the Angel and whatever data we have from that thing." Ordered Gendo. "I want a report tomorrow."
"Yes sir." Said Ritsuko, leaving Central Dogma.
"What do you think that thing is?" asked Fuyutzuki, his voice low enough so that only Gendo could hear him.
Gendo Ikari assumed his normal position before giving an answer. "A nuisance. Call Security, I want to know where that thing went. Tell them to keep their eyes and ears open for anything regarding that object. Investigate whatever rumor has a basis that might lead us to its whereabouts."
"Consider it done." Said Fuyutzuki. As an afterthought, he added. "And what will we do if we find it?"
Gendo's only answer was a smirk.
* * * *
The next day was a rainy one. All outdoors activities have been cancelled, and all the students on homeroom 2-A were talking among themselves before class started. Alyssa felt a little sleepy, despite she slept all night. She didn't expect that piloting like that could be so tiring! After leaving her umbrella near the door, she took a look around. There was the girl Shinji had called Ayanami... there was Hikari, talking with a couple of friends... in the corner were the two guys Shinji had saved... a couple of blinks later brought home to Alyssa the fact that one of them had been the one that hit Shinji the day before. She hadn't recognized them because of all the excitement, but now...
A grim smile appeared on Alyssa's lips. 'All right... payback time!!' Straightening her back, she walked in that direction, intent on giving them a piece of her mind. She was only a couple of seats in front of Touji and was about to start screaming at them for their bullying her friend when she heard Kensuke's words.
"I think you should call him and apologize."
"Yeah, right..." said Touji, his left cheek resting on his left hand. "But how? He didn't come today... and you saw how he broke down inside the Evangelion."
"Precisely because of that." Said Kensuke, all the while revising his camcorder. "He saved our lives. The least you could do is apologize for hitting him."
"That's right!" both boys turned in the direction of the voice, only to look at an upset Alyssa. "You had no right hitting Shinji yesterday! For what I heard, it wasn't his fault your sister got hurt!" she then pointed in Kensuke's direction, almost touching his nose; Kensuke crossed his eyes watching the accusing finger. "And he's right about Shinji saving your sorry hide! If it weren't for Shinji, you and this... this... NERD would be a smear on that hillside!"
"How did you know that?" asked Kensuke, his eyes still crossed. "I didn't saw you there."
"Th...Th... That's not of your business!" stammered Alyssa, caught in her tongue slip. Immediately, she deflected the attention back to Touji. "The point is: what are you going to do, huh?"
Producing a piece of paper from his breast pocket, Kensuke waved it in front of both Alyssa and Touji. "This is his phone number. Why don't you call him?"
After seeing Alyssa giving him the Evil Eye, Touji just took the piece of paper and left the classroom, heading to the nearest phone. Once alone, Kensuke addressed Alyssa, turning on his camcorder and pointing it in her direction. "So... what is Shinji to you? Just friend, boyfriend or... something else?"
Upon hearing that, Alyssa's expression darkened. Placing her left hand on the camera's lenses, she said, her voice cold enough to lower the temperature of the immediate area. "Don't ruin the only good thing you've done today. If you want to remain healthy, you won't say that ever again, understood?"
Kensuke nodded franticly, scared. The look in her eyes promised a LOT of bodily harm... to him, to be more exact.
Satisfied, Alyssa returned to her seat. Once comfortable, she began a mental conversation with Alexis. 'Did you do it?'
'Affirmative. The data contained on the unit's disk has been erased, and the batteries were drained.'
'Good! That will give him a good lesson!'
'Query: why did pilot Alyssa intervened in subject Shinji Ikari's battle? There was no logical reason to sustain such action.'
Alyssa thought for a moment, pondering the question. Yes, there was no real reason for her to get involved, so why did she do it? 'Well... I'm not sure. I mean, it could have been so easy to run and leave them to their fate, but... somehow, that didn't seat well with me. You see, my parents always taught me to always value a life above anything else. Objects can be replaced, but not a life.
'I guess... seeing them so helpless... I don't know. It just felt -right- to assist them.'
'Query.'
'Yes, Alexis?'
'What am I? According to your definition, I'm an object, and therefore replaceable. But I am also part of an object that can be defined as 'living'. Therefore, according to that same definition, that makes me alive as well, and by analogy, irreplaceable.'
That question stopped Alyssa's mental processes cold in their tracks. Granted, by all means, Alexis was just a very complex computer program, a manufactured object, and hence replaceable. But when a thing begins to question its own existence, can it still be considered an object?
'I don't know, Alexis. I don't know.'
TO BE CONTINUED.
Author's notes:
Well, here it is. The second installment of NoG. Yes, I know, I didn't introduced Misato and Alyssa, but that would have made the chapter too cluttered. I apologize for that! SORRY, SORRY, I'M NOT WORTHY!!!
Next on NoG...
Misato meets her new neighbor! (No, really!)
Alyssa gives Shinji a piece of her mind for running away!
Alexis meets Rei! (sorta...)
The attack of the 5th angel!
All that and more, so... BE THERE!!