WELCOME TO NERV INFORMATION DEPT.
NEXT COMMAND//: Profile: Ikari, Shinji
...
PROFILE: Ikari, Shinji
Age: 18
Sex: Male
Parents: Ikari, Gendo
Ikari, Yui (deceased)
Threat Evaluation: Blue-AB
Physical Matrix: 27CCAB (Rank Alpha)
Mental Matrix: 82A5B7 (Rank Beta)
Status: ANGEL, Division 1
Pilot of EVA 01
Commanding Officer: Katsuragi, Misato
FURTHER INFORMATION CLASSIFIED
...
NEXT COMMAND//: Profile: Ikari, Gendo
...
PROFILE: Ikari, Gendo
Age: 43
Sex: Male
FURTHER INFORMATION CLASSIFIED
...
NEXT COMMAND//: Profile: Ayanami, Rei
...
PROFILE: Ayanami, Rei
Age: 18
Sex: Female
Parents: CLASSIFIED
Threat Evaluation: Blue-AA
Physical Matrix: 29BBAA (Rank Alpha)
Mental Matrix: ACA6A7 (Rank Alpha)
Status: ANGEL, Division 1
Pilot of EVA 00
Commanding Officer: Katsuragi, Misato
FURTHER INFORMATION CLASSIFIED
...
NEXT COMMAND//: Profile: Langley, Asuka Sohryu
...
PROFILE: Langley, Asuka Sohryu
Age: 18
Sex: Female
Parents: CLASSIFIED
Threat Evaluation: Blue-AB
Physical Matrix: C8AAA (Rank Alpha)
Mental Matrix: BB55B6 (Rank Beta)
Status: ANGEL, Division 2
Pilot of EVA 02
Commanding Officer: Katsuragi, Misato
FURTHER INFORMATION CLASSIFIED
...
NEXT COMMAND//: Profile: Suzuhara, Toji
...
PROFILE: Suzuhara, Toji
Age: 18
Sex: Male
Parents: CLASSIFIED
Threat Evaluation: Blue-AA
Physical Matrix: BA88DA (Rank Alpha)
Mental Matrix: 696CB6 (Rank Alpha)
Status: ANGEL, Division 2
Pilot of EVA 03
Commanding Officer: Katsuragi, Misato
FURTHER INFORMATION CLASSIFIED
...
NEXT COMMAND//: Security Access, Level Cherubim
ENTER PASSWORD//: *******
...
PASSWORD INCORRECT.
ENTER PASSWORD//: *******
...
PASSWORD INCORRECT.
ENTER PASSWORD//: *******
...
PASSWORD INCORRECT.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRANCE ATTEMPTED.
HARD DRIVE WIPING...DONE.
CONNECTION TERMINATED.

"Shit! Those fucking bastards!" Nabiki Tendo slammed the
keyboard, which had up until then been resting on her lap, onto the
countertop furiously.

The desktop was cluttered with papers and dirty coffee mugs, as
well as the computer, and the floor was littered with junk as well -
everything from blaster pistols to calculators. The room was very
small - not more than nine cubic feet - and lit only by the dim glow
of the computer screen. The only other piece of furniture in the
closet-like room was a beaten-up, dingy old couch, upon which sat
another woman.

"What's up, 'Biki?" Akane asked, looking up from cleaning her
synchro-blade.

The dull-colored steel of the synchro-blade shone darkly in the
dim light. Nabiki, a tall young woman with short brown hair, stood up
from the desk chair and turned to her sister. Akane watched her
curiously.

Nabiki made a frustrated noise. "What do you think? It's that
goddamn NERV security system! I've been trying to break into
Cherubim-level access for weeks now, and I haven't even come close."

Akane put her synchro-blade down next to her and stood up, going
over to comfort her aggravated sister. "Hey, don't worry about it,
'Biki. So far as we know, no one but you has ever even gotten past
Guardian Angel. Just keep at it, okay?"

The older girl sat down heavily on the desk chair, exhaling a
long sigh. "I know, I know. But I really don't think I'll ever crack
it. And every time I try, it's all I can do to keep them from
detecting us. Sometimes..." she trailed off.

"Sometimes what?" Akane asked sharply.

Nabiki turned angrily to her younger sister. "Oh, come on
Akane! You know what I mean. We're never going to accomplish
anything with this stupid crusade against NERV. Maybe it's time we
gave up, moved on."

Akane's eyes were furious as she stared at her sister. "Well,
give up then. You can leave - you can try to forget everything
they've done to us... everything they took from us!"

Nabiki stood up. "You know I'll never forget. I'll never, ever
forget Kasumi, or Daddy, or Mother."

"Then what the hell are you doing talking about giving up?"
Akane let her anger boil over. She knew she shouldn't be yelling at
her sister - her only companion in the world, her only friend - but
there was just so much tension. "You cowardly bitch! You can't
handle a little physical discomfort for the sake of your family!"

Nabiki's eyes widened at Akane's words, and her gaze turned
arctic. "The only thing we'll ever achieve by fighting against NERV
is joining the rest of them! I know you're a fearless warrior and you
want to rush right up to your own death, but maybe I'm not ready for
mine!"

Akane opened her mouth to scream back at Nabiki, but suddenly
her mouth was dry. She sat down on the floor, feeling all the
strength drain from her body. "Oh, shit."

Nabiki stared at Akane in mortification as she realized what the
two of them had been doing. "Oh my god, Akane... I'm so sorry..."
She knelt down next to her younger sister, putting a hand on her
shoulder.

Akane put her hand over her sister's, trying to blink back tears
from her eyes. "Don't be sorry; it was my fault. I'm sorry, Nabiki.
I shouldn't have said those things about you. I know you'll never
forget... what happened. I guess I just..."

Nabiki sat down on the floor next to her, hugging her tightly.
"Shh. I know. I know." She felt Akane shake with soft, silent sobs,
and she found herself wishing that she could cry, too. She hadn't
cried in a long time. She knew it wasn't healthy, but she couldn't
find the tears.

"Oh god, Nabiki..." Akane managed between crying. "It's so hard
to keep going..."

"Shh. Don't worry. It'll be alright." The soft, meaningless
words left Nabiki's throat, and left a bitter taste behind. They both
knew it would never be 'alright'. Not much ever was.

***

A Neon Genesis/Ranma 1/2 Elseworlds Saga
By Dan Riley...

Landscape of the Soul

Chapter 1
Dark City, Dark Mind
Part 1
Shattered Minds & Broken Hearts

***

no man ever does that under the first fury of despair or remorse or
bereavement he does it only when he has realised that even the despair
or remorse or bereavement is not particularly important to the dark
diceman
-William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury

***

Shinji Ikari watched as the water dripped in a small, constant
rivulet down his face; falling off his nose and chin, and from wet
strands of his dark hair. Watching the droplets falling through the
air, for a second a frozen shard of beauty in movement, falling hardly
a foot to where they met the tile, mingling with the water sliding
inexorably toward the small drain. Sometimes Shinji envied the water.

He sat curled up in the corner of the spacious shower of the
ANGEL First Division suite. The cold water sprayed down over him,
pebbling his skin with a cool caress, but Shinji didn't react to it -
not even to shiver.

Shinji rocked back and forth slightly, his dark eyes focused on
the rivulets of water inches from his eyes, feeling the tactile
sensation of the cold water running over him. Feeling the sensation
and not feeling at the same time.

Sometimes Shinji envied the water.

Shinji said nothing when he heard the curtain pulled slowly
open.

"I thought I would find you here."

Rei Ayanami's soft voice, devoid of emotion, broke the monopoly
the water had on sound. She seemed uncaring of Shinji's nudity -
indeed, after years of being around the strange girl, Shinji was quite
sure that she was uncaring of his nudity, and so treated it the same
way she did.

"Water, off." At his verbal command, the shower shut off, and
Shinji shivered as the cold liquid stopped pouring down over him,
leaving only the cold air to caress his flesh. He watched a moment
longer, until the rivulets running from his hair and chin and nose
became less constant. "We have a mission." He stated it as a fact,
rather than a question.

"Yes. We are to be in the briefing room at 02:00."

Shinji nodded, shaking a few droplets loose, as he watched the
last of the water drain away. "What time is it?"

"01:47."

"Mm." He stood up, shivering again as the water clinging to his
skin began to slide off. "You can go. I'll be there."

Rei's deep, crimson gaze never even came close to wavering from
his face. "I will see you there." She turned and left, leaving the
room silent and cold, and very empty.

Shinji walked slowly over to the edge of the shower, feeling the
cold, hard tiles beneath his bare feet, and picked up a towel. After
drying himself off, he sat down on the bench next to his clothes,
running a hand through his hair and sighing.

"A mission."

***

"A mission!" Asuka Sohryu Langley punched the bag in front of
her energetically, leaving a small indentation of her fist. "Thanks
for the good news, Toji."

Toji Suzuhara smiled slightly behind his dark shades from where
he leant against the wall, his dark leather jacket crinkling softly.
"We've gotta be there by 02:00. You better hurry."

Asuka glanced up at the clock on the wall of the gym, noting the
time. "Scheiss! What are they thinking? I don't want to go to a
briefing all sweaty after my workout! I don't even have time to take
a shower!"

Toji grinned lopsidedly. "Sorry Pretty, but your personal
convenience ain't high on Commander Ikari's list of priorities."

"Well, it should be." Asuka grabbed Toji's hand as she ran by,
towards the locker room. "C'mon, we've gotta hurry!"

***

Gendo Ikari saw the world through red-tinted glasses. He sat at
the head of the conference table in the center of the opulently
furnished briefing room, his elbows leant on the surface, white-gloved
hands folded in front of his mouth. Together with the glasses, his
hands ensured that no emotion showed on his face. As he began to
speak, he absently pushed his glasses up.

"Welcome, ANGELs. Please, take a seat."

The four young men and women sat around the conference table.

"What's up, boss-man?" Toji asked irreverently.

Gendo peered at him over the rims of his red-tinted glasses and
cleared his throat before answering.

"There's been a burst of heavy psychic activity in sector A-9.
We believe it's the Red Fang Clan; we've already lost six PR Droids."

Toji frowned. "Damn Red Fang numbskulls. You'd think they'd
learn their lesson after having their asses whooped a few-hundred
times."

Asuka laughed. "The Red Fangs never learn; you should know that
by now."

Shinji glanced at Rei. She was watching the Commander, not
giving any sign that she even noticed the prattle of the Second
Division ANGEL team. He sighed and turned to his father. "So what is
our mission?"

Gendo cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up his nose and
then returning to his inscrutable hands-in-front-of-mouth pose. "Yes.
Well. The First Division is to spearhead a direct attack on what we
believe to be the headquarters of the psychic malcontents. Meanwhile,
the Second Division is to keep an eye on the nearby Hellgate, and take
care of any Red Fangs who happen to flee in their direction."

"What?!" Asuka cried incredulously, leaning out of her seat.
"So we're supposed to just sit around and baby-sit an inactive
Hellgate? Why aren't we spearheading the assault? Toji and I both
have higher combat grades than Shinji does!"

Gendo frowned at her. "Are you questioning my orders, Miss
Langley?"

Asuka paled and sat back down. "No, sir. Of course not."

*That's my father,* Shinji thought. *An explanation wouldn't be
enigmatic enough for him. He really believes in a 'need to know'
basis. And there isn't very much that we ever need to know.*

"Now, I want you all to be suited up in your EVAs and in your
respective launching bays within five minutes."

The four ANGELs filed out of the room, leaving Commander Gendo
Ikari by himself. He smiled slightly.

***

EVA.

Exoskeleton: Version ANGEL.

The most powerful and advanced suit of bionic armor available,
the EVAs were of necessity heavily shielded against both physical and
psionic intrusion, and increased the pilot's physical and mental
capabilities exponentially.

It looked like a loose piece of plastic clothing and a dark-
visored helmet. Shinji stood in the EVA, which hung loosely about
him, and watched as Rei pressed the pressurization button on her
wrist. Immediately her EVA, which had hung about her slight frame
like loose folds of skin, compressed with a slight hiss of expelled
air into a skintight suit of white and blue. She put her helmet on,
hiding her face behind the dark psy-resistant glass. Shinji sighed
and followed suit.

As Shinji attached his jo-sticks to his wrists, a small window
with Captain Katsuragi's head and shoulders appeared on the inside of
his visor.

"Systems check status, everyone?" Misato asked over the com
system in her business-like tone. Shinji had come to know that Misato
was two totally different people when on- and off-the-job.

"All systems are normal." Rei's soft voice floated through his
helmet.

"It looks alright." Shinji said.

"Everything checks out here," Asuka chimed in.

"Looks like we're all functioning, Misato," Toji put in
sardonically.

"Good, then we're going to commence launch in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."

As Misato said 'one', Shinji saw the bay doors of the launch bay
open, then he kicked in his flight system. He moved swiftly and
silently out of the launch bay, Rei following a moment behind.

The EVAs did not fly using boost systems or jet-packs; instead
they mechanically enhanced the pilot's inherent psychic talents, who
then through the power of the suit used a form of telekinesis to move.
It required slight mental exertion, but didn't need any fuel other
than thought.

The dark landscape of Tokyo-3 spread beneath them, the titanic
bulk of steel and glass that was NERV headquarters falling behind
them. The buildings were uniformly tall, imposing, and colored a dark
gray. Streets were dirty and crowded, and dark vapors filled the air.
The giant air filtration systems which hummed constantly in the
background weren't really sufficient to clean the air. Many of the
buildings were ruined, condemned, or crumbling. *There's a reason this place is called the Dark City.*

Misato's voice broke in over the com. "Sector 9-A is now
highlighted on your map. The target building should be marked on
Shinji's and Rei's, and the Hellgate should be marked on Asuka's and
Toji's."

Shinji spent a thought bringing up the map, and changed his
vector slightly to head toward the suspected headquarters.

Rei's image appeared on Shinji's visor; apparently it was a
personal communication. "Shall you take point or shall I?" The
question was asked without emotion. She said it the same way she
might say 'Who shall serve tea?'

Shinji sighed. "You can. I'm not looking forward to this."

"Don't let that get in the way of the mission."

"Don't worry, I can handle it."

Rei's window blinked out, and Shinji saw her speed past him,
slowing down to a constant speed about a dozen yards ahead. Her EVA
was surrounded with the slight heat-mirage effect of psychic energy
manipulation.

Asuka's voice broke in. "Toji and I are in position at the
Hellgate. Looks dead as a doorknob, and just about as dangerous."

Toji. "Don't let it get to you, Pretty. We'll have plenty of
action next time."

Now Misato. "Alright, take up guard positions. I want everyone
to start a psionic sweep of the area; look for any active auras."

Shinji complied, sending his thoughts scouting out ahead with
the power of his EVA.

Rei. "I detect a strong concentration of active auras in the
target building."

Toji. "So do I. It looks like our info was dead on."

Shinji merely cradled his thoughts around the group of auras
they were all focussed on, probing a little deeper. *They know we're
coming.* He kept silent.

Misato. "Alright, Division 1, begin the assault. I want as
little collateral damage as possible here - we don't know what might
set that Hellgate off."

Rei. "Affirmative."

With a strong burst of psychic energy, Rei rocketed toward the
building in her EVA.

***

TRANSCRIPT OF MISSION 204A
ANGEL FIRST AND SECOND DIVISIONS.

Rei: "Affirmative."

[Radio silence for a few moments. Then the sound of combat.]

Rei: "I have engaged the enemy. They are armed with pulse carbines.
EVA armor at 92%."

Misato: "Shinji, move forward and engage."

Shinji: "Yes, Captain."

Asuka: "Scheiss. Those two get all the good parts."

Misato: "Asuka, keep quiet unless it's something about the mission."

Asuka: "Fine."

Shinji: "The group I'm engaged with is routing. [there is a loud
explosion in the background.] Holy shit! What was that?"

Toji: "I'm detecting a huge energy fluctuation at Rei's location!"

Misato: "Rei, are you alright? Confirm please."

Rei: "...One of the psychics set off some sort of explosive device.
Armor down to 54%. Most of them were killed by the blast."

Misato: "Kamikaze tactics...?"

Shinji: "I've taken care of the last one in my area. Armor holding
steady at 92%. Are you sure you're alright, Rei?"

Rei: "I am unhurt. Pursuing energy signatures detected downstairs."

Misato: "Shinji, go with her."

Shinji: "Understood."

Toji: "Hey, I'm detecting spikes in the energy wavelength of the
Hellgate."

Asuka: "Visual confirmation: it's opening alright."

Misato: "Shit! The two of you, prepare for battle."

Asuka: "Yes! Finally."

Toji: "Sorry, Pretty, but this doesn't look like something to
celebrate about."

[Roars in the background; impacts and explosions. Asuka cursing.]

Asuka: "There's way too many of them! We've never faced such a
concentrated attack before."

Shinji: "Strange. There's no sign of the psychics anywhere on this
floor. The energy readings say they should be here."

Rei: "Are we to withdraw and aid Division 2?"

Misato: "Yes. Shinji, Rei-"

Gendo: [cutting in.] "No. Remain in the building. Priority here is
exterminating the psychics."

Misato: "...Alright, scratch previous order. Shinji, Rei, keep
looking."

Asuka: "Armor integrity is falling fast; I'm down to 39%. We need
some help out here!"

Toji: "Aargh! Damn."

Asuka: "Toji!"

Misato: "Shit! Sir..."

Gendo: "No. Division 1 is to continue its current activities."

Shinji: "Aah! They're phasing out of the ceiling! They've got N^2
grenades!"

Rei: "Detonation imminent..."

Misato: "Oh my god..."

[BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!]

END TRANSCRIPT

***

Misato tore the headphones off, throwing them on the floor
violently, as everyone in the command room looked in awe at the blank
white viewscreen - a sign of N^2 interference.

She turned to stare furiously at Commander Ikari, who sat in his
usual inscrutable pose. Only he seemed calm - even the normally
unperturbed Fuyutsuki seemed surprised, standing behind him and to his
left. *Damn cold son-of-a-bitch! His son probably just died, and I
bet he's smiling behind those damn hands of his!*

"Well Commander, I hope you're happy."

"Captain Katsuragi," he spoke from behind his white-gloved
hands. "You are bordering on insubordination. Kindly save your
judgement until the final data is in, and the pilots are confirmed
either living or dead."

Misato stared at him furiously, her mouth working silently,
until Shigeru spoke up suddenly from his station.

"Captain! We've got vital signs confirmed for pilots 02 and 03!
Toji's is very weak, but Asuka seems merely unconscious."

Instantly, Misato was at his side. "What about Shinji and Rei?"

"They were closer to the center of the blast, so it will take
another moment for the interference there to clear up."

Misato turned to look at the Commander. "Should we send
retrieval drones to pick up Asuka and Toji?"

"Wait for confirmation on Shinji and Rei."

Misato frowned, but turned back to gaze intently at Shigeru's
screen.

"Life-signs confirmed for pilots 00 and 01!" Shigeru breathed
after a long moment of tense waiting. "Looks like everyone's
alright."

Gendo nodded. "Good. Dispatch retrieval drones. Fuyutsuki."
He stood up and left the room, the gray-haired doctor following
behind.

Misato slumped down into the nearest chair. "Thank god. They
all survived this one."

***

"Looks like you all managed to survive another one," Ritsuko
said, shaking her head as she powered down the scanning machine after
checking Shinji, Asuka, and Rei. "The three of you escaped with
hardly a scratch."

"But what about Toji?" Asuka asked worriedly as she slipped off
of the examination table. "Is he alright?"

Ritsuko paused before switching off the power. "...Toji was hit
much harder by the blast than you three. His armor was down to 12%
when it happened."

Asuka gasped softly. "Will he... live?"

Shinji watched Ritsuko carefully as she answered.

"Yes. His life isn't in any real danger - he's just going to
need some time to recuperate."

She wasn't telling the whole truth.

Rei calmly put her shoes on, then slipped out of the room.
Shinji watched her go. *She was so calm, even right before the
explosion. I knew she was... but even so...* He slipped through the
door after her.

Asuka grabbed hold of Dr. Akagi's hand, looking up at the blonde
woman imploringly. "You're sure he'll be all right?"

Ritsuko opened her mouth, then caught sight of Asuka's eyes, and
hesitated. "...Yes, Asuka. He's going to be fine."

***

Shinji hurried to catch up to Rei as she walked down the hall
toward her apartment. Her wolf-like mane of blue hair bobbed slightly
as she walked.

He caught up to her. "Rei."

She turned to look at him, her crimson eyes slightly curious.
"Yes?"

Now that he had caught up to her, he wasn't entirely sure what
to say. "Ah - are you alright?"

"I am fine. Dr. Akagi detected no serious injuries."

"Well, I knew that... I sort of meant, you know, mentally."

She looked at him, her head tilted curiously, as the two of them
continued walking down the hall. "I am not entirely sure what you
mean... I am sane."

Shinji shook his head. "That's not what I meant. I... I guess
I just wanted to know if you wanted to... you know, talk about it."

Rei cocked her head a little further. "Why? Do you wish to...
'talk about it'?"

Shinji was taken aback by her question. "Well... yeah... yeah,
I guess I do..."

"You may talk to me if you wish."

Shinji didn't know why, but he felt like he wanted to speak to
Rei. Although he had known the strange, silent girl for years, he
hadn't really talked to her much more than their position required.
In fact, no one had. No one except his father. It had often bothered
him; the strange relationship that his father and Rei shared, one
which was absent between his parent and himself.

"Dr. Akagi wasn't telling the truth about Toji." He started
with a grim thought, one that had been bugging him since he left the
examination room.

"I know."

Shinji glanced at her, a bit surprised. *I should've expected
her to know more than she let on.* "Do you think he'll be okay?"

"I don't know. I believe he shall survive."

Shinji nodded. He didn't know why, but when Rei said it, he
believed it. "That's good."

"Yes. He would be difficult to replace."

"That's not really what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

"I would be sad if Toji died. He's a... well, not really a
friend, but a comrade. And Asuka would be devastated."

Rei seemed to consider this for a moment. "...Why would she be
devastated?"

Shinji glanced at her. Maybe she really was unaware of certain
things. "Well, because they're lovers. People are sad when someone
they're in a relationship with dies, and Asuka is very emotional."

Again, Rei considered. "Lovers... Yes, I think that Langley's
efficiency would be damaged if Suzuhara died."

Shinji was taken aback by her calmly logical statement.
"Well... yes, I guess it would... but that wasn't really what I
meant..."

"I find it difficult to discern what you mean. I do not
understand the concept of relationships well."

Shinji paused to think. How to explain something as simple as a
relationship? "Well... You and I are in a relationship."

Rei stopped to look at him, her head tilted. "Are we...
lovers?"

Shinji blushed, and waved his hands negatingly. "No! Th-that's
not the only type of relationship! Our relationship is that we are
pilots together - this causes us to act and feel certain ways toward
each other."

"Do you mean cooperation?"

"Well, that's part of it. I was talking more about
camaraderie... friendship."

"Are we friends, then?"

Shinji studied the question from different sides. "Well, I'd
like to think so. I believe that I am your friend, at least."

Then they had come to Rei's apartment. The door was small and
simple, a reflection of the rooms inside, identical to his. Asuka and
Toji shared a slightly larger suite. Rei opened the door and stepped
inside, Shinji watching. She turned and looked at him for a moment.

"I am your friend, Ikari."

She closed the door behind her, leaving Shinji alone in the
hallway. He sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and set off
for his own apartment.

***

NEWS REPORT, 06:30 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018
NERV PUBLIC RELATIONS

//The details of this morning's events in Sector A-9 have just been
released to the press.//

//It appears that two opposing psychic clans engaged in a large-scale
psychic battle near an unstable Hellgate. A group of Heaven's Dragon
psychics were apparently attacked by a large force of Red Fang
members, who purposefully did something to open the Hellgate. The
four young ANGEL pilots were dispatched in an effort to stop the
battle, and ended up being caught in the blast as energy poured out of
the Hellgate. Both groups of psychics were eradicated.//

//NERV has stated that all four pilots survived with little more than
bruises, and that the rebel force was eradicated.//

//That's all for the news at half past the hour. Stay tuned for
07:30, with updated information from NERV on the events in Sector A-
9.//

"Okay, we're off the air."

"Damn public relations lies. Leaves a sour taste in my mouth every
time."

"Just don't say that too loudly, or you'll have to deal with something
worse than a sour taste."

***

Gendo turned to Fuyutsuki. "It appears that the migration was
successful. Servant has reported to me that all the expected arrivals
have reported."

The older man nodded slowly, his hands folded behind his back.
"It looks like everything is going according to plan." He didn't
sound entirely happy about it.

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"Those passed by long ago; these are two-hundredth. But
thinking doesn't change anything."

"No; we're in too deep."

Fuyutsuki sighed. "I still don't like it. What right have we
to-"

Gendo cut him off. "Best keep that train of thought to
yourself. Not only is it ridiculous and counter-productive, SEELE
won't like it."

"No, I suppose they won't."

"We have to bow and scrape to them a little longer."

"Seems like we've had to do it forever already." He leaned over
Gendo's desk and picked up a small plastic vial containing a minute
sample of greenish liquid. "So, this is what it boils down to..."

"Yes. We'll have our next pilot soon."

Gendo Ikari sat back. "I want you to call Dr. Akagi up here."

***

dark

dark water deep ocean bottom currents

strong currents pulling pulling me down got to get out got to
get up got to breathe

Toji came awake as though out of deep waters, the world around
him coming slowly and reluctantly into focus. It seemed like every
cell of his body reverberated with dull, throbbing pain. He could
tell that he was on some serious painkillers, too. That didn't seem
good.

His arm was itchy. Really itchy, but even so he was almost to
tired to itch it.

Finally the itch outgrew the lethargy, and he reached over to
itch his arm.

He didn't have an arm.

***

Ranma Saotome looked up at the dark city stretching up to meet
the equally dark skyline, and wrinkled his nose at the polluted air.
At the city limits stood a sign, rising from the infertile ground at a
slant. It proclaimed 'Welcome to Tokyo-3', but Tokyo-3 was crossed
out, replaced by 'hell', written in red spray-paint.

Ranma could not help but smirk at the sign. "I suppose then
that I am walking into the bowels of Hell... ironic, and poetic too."

He looked back the way he had came, not only with his eyes, but
with his second sight. They were gaining ground on him. The Mirror
Shard Clan was close to eradicated now - he was one of the last, and
it appeared he was on everyone's hit list.

He looked back at the dark city before him, and began a steady
jog toward it.

"Though I walk through the shadow..."

He passed into the shadow of the city's buildings, and faded
away like a shadow himself.

Ranma Saotome was in Tokyo-3.

***

End part 1: Dark City, Dark Mind




Part 2: Try, Try Again

***

"Miss Langley?"

Asuka looked up from her seat on the plush sofa in the waiting
room of the NERV-HQ Surgery Ward. "Yes?" Anxiety was clear in her
voice, as well as in the way she wrung her hands absently.

Maya Ibuki almost couldn't stop herself from going over and
hugging the girl to comfort her; that was the type of person she was.
As it was, all she could do was say "He's ready for visitors. He's
still unconscious, but you can see him if you want to." Professional
detachment and all that.

Immediately, Asuka stood up. "How did it go?"

"The surgery went by without a hitch. He should be out of the
hospital within a few days, due to those new machines which
psychically enhance his healing rate." Maya herself was still
marveling at the remarkable devices.

Asuka nodded, and followed Maya nervously into the patient's
room.

Toji lay on the pristine hospital bed, obscured partly by
various mechanical apparatus and IV tubes. Everything but his head
was covered by a soft white sheet. His eyes were closed, giving him
the appearance of peaceful sleep, softening the cynical lines of his
face.

"Toji..." Asuka breathed, kneeling down next to his bedside.
Maya watched for a moment, then backed silently out of the door,
closing it and leaving the couple alone.

Asuka reached under the sheet and took hold of Toji's hand.

***

A screech broke the silence, causing Maya to look up from her
console worriedly. "What in the world--?"

Ritsuko no more than glanced up. "Miss Langley must have
discovered Mr. Suzuhara's new limbs."

Maya turned to look at her boss, somewhat horrified. "You
didn't tell her?"

Ritsuko shook her head, speaking calmly. "The three unharmed
ANGELs had to appear at the press conference this morning - it would
have been difficult to control what Langley said if she knew how badly
Suzuhara was hurt."

Maya started to stand up. "I should go help her..."

Ritsuko waved her down. "I'm sure within another moment Miss
Langley will be out here causing a ruckus. Luckily, all the reporters
have already gone."

Sure enough... "RITSUKO!! What the hell did you do to Toji?!"

Dr. Akagi stood calmly and turned to face a dangerously angry
Asuka Sohryu Langley. She fairly glowed with rage; quite an
impressive sight, though it didn't seem to impress Ritsuko.

"Do you have a complaint, Miss Langley?"

"Complaint my fucking ass! You chopped his goddamn arm off!!"

"Please, Miss Langley, your language. We did not chop his arm
off."

Maya watched in awe as her boss rode smoothly over Asuka's
righteous anger.

"Then what is that damn metal... thing attached to his
shoulder?" Asuka was on the verge of tears.

Ritsuko sighed. "Mr. Suzuhara was damaged more by the explosion
than we at first thought. The intense psychic energy had the effect
of weakening the cellular bonds of his exposed flesh, due to the
decomposition of his EVA's armor. His left arm and leg literally
dissolved a few hours after he was brought to the medical wing. We
had no choice but to attach cybernetic prosthesis limbs."

"Oh my god, on his leg too..." Asuka seemed overwhelmed by this
new information and sank down to the floor, there in the medical
office.

Ritsuko leaned down and put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't
worry, Asuka, he'll be fine. And those limbs are so advanced that
they will function at 96% of the efficiency of his real arm."

A few tears slid silently from Asuka's wide eyes. "But... But
they're so... cold..." She shivered.

Ritsuko helped her up, and led her zombie-like into another
patient's room. Maya watched the door until a moment later, Dr. Akagi
came out, closing the door softly behind her. She glanced at Maya,
and spoke softly. "I gave her a mild sedative - she should sleep for
an hour or two. I want you to watch over her and Mr. Suzuhara; I have
to go make a report to Commander Ikari."

Maya nodded silently, watching her boss leave the room. *Is
that what being a doctor means? Alternating cold and warmth...?* She
wasn't sure that she could handle the cold part.

Shaking her head, Maya Ibuki settled down to go back to her
work.

***

Shinji Ikari looked up as a slight shadow suddenly obscured his
small tray of food. He sat in the Cafeteria, deep within NERV-HQ, and
he wasn't used to being disturbed while he ate. That Shinji Ikari
belonged alone seemed a given in the daily life of NERV. Certainly
his father followed that unspoken rule religiously.

Rei Ayanami stood over him, dressed in a soft pastel-blue T-
shirt and matching skirt. She had a tray of food in her hands, and
seemed uncharacteristically unsure of herself. Her crimson eyes held
hesitation.

"Uh, h-hello, Rei..." Shinji found himself suddenly self-
conscious.

As if suddenly deciding on something, Rei sat down across the
table from Shinji. "Hello, Ikari." Her soft voice held no hint of
the strange show of emotion, almost making Shinji believe it had been
his imagination.

For a few moments the two sat silently, poking at their food.
Then Shinji spoke up.

"So... what brings you here? I don't think you usually eat in
the cafeteria."

"No, I do not." She looked at her food as she spoke, seeming to
hesitate. "Was I mistaken in believing that friends often eat
together?"

For a moment, Shinji didn't know what she was talking about.
Then, their conversation of the previous day came back. "Oh! No, no,
you weren't mistaken. Is that why you came here to eat?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Shinji looked at his food, not really sure what to say. "Well,
um..."

Rei took a bite of food with her chopsticks, chewed, swallowed,
then spoke. It had an eerily pre-planned feeling to it; as though,
lacking experience in the social arena but knowing what was expected,
she mechanically went through the motions without really understanding
them. "So, how is the weather?"

"Um, what?"

Rei blinked. "I was attempting to make small-talk. Did I do
something wrong?"

Shinji shook his head, and couldn't keep himself from smiling.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong."

But Rei appeared even more confused. "Did I make a joke? You
seem amused."

"No, you didn't make a joke, it's just... where did you learn to
make 'small-talk'?"

"From Commander Ikari. I asked him yesterday how to go about
being a friend. He told me that friends make small talk. Are you
sure I have not done something wrong?"

"No, you haven't done anything wrong. I suppose my father is
probably not the perfect person to get social advice from... on the
other hand, neither am I." He turned to her, smiling a bit
lopsidedly. "How about if we make our social blunders together?"

"We are going to try to make mistakes?"

"That's not really what I meant..."

"I am not very good at being a friend, am I?"

"Being a friend isn't something you can be good or bad at... you
kind of just are. Don't worry though, since neither of us are used to
it, we'll try to get through it together." Shinji found the remote
girl's slightly bumbling attempts to socialize strangely endearing,
and found himself in a more amiable mood than usual. It seemed even
Rei had caught on to the mood.

"Alright. Thank you, Ikari." Rei took another bite of food, a
bit more naturally this time.

"Oh, and Rei... if we are going to be friends, you really should
call me 'Shinji' instead of 'Ikari'."

She looked at him, and he thought he detected a trace of warmth
in her strange eyes. "Alright... Shinji."

The two settled in to eat their lunches amid a fairly
comfortable silence.

***

Akane bent the blinds that covered the window, looking out into
the dark alleyway outside. She brushed her fingers absently along the
hilt of her synchro-blade, a sign of anxiety. Outside, muted gray
rain beat a steady rhythm on the concrete.

*Where is she? It's not like her to be late.*

She turned back to the room - even smaller than the living room
of her apartment, this room really was no larger than a closet. There
was a single, faded armchair, one door, one window, and a rack of
firearms. Akane was armed with a pulse blaster as well as her
synchro-blade.

She sank into the chair with a sigh.

*Dammit, Nabiki. God, I hope nothing's happened.*

A small clanking noise outside caught her ears, sending her
instantly to full alert. Sliding her synchro-blade out of its sheath,
she switched it on, activating the psychic aura which would
synchronize with whatever object it touched, allowing it to cut
through materials that it would not normally be able to. With a
slight electronic hum, the blade was surrounded with that tiny heat-
mirage effect that was a signature of psychic power.

Akane slipped over to the window, shifting the blinds to peer
out.

The rain had worsened somewhat, casting a gloomy gray shade over
the world. The alley appeared empty.

Then there was a knock on the door.

"Nabiki?" Akane hissed. "Is that you?"

The door burst open as a levitating hulk of machinery leveled an
appendage which seemed made up entirely of bristling weaponry at the
startled young woman. With a shout, Akane rolled desperately to the
side, grunting as she came up against the far wall, just as the metal
hulk unleashed a furious barrage of pure energy which devastated the
wall behind where Akane had stood.

The PR Droid, noticing that its target had escaped destruction,
advanced slowly, the hum of its antigrav repulsors filling the tiny
room. It waved its arsenal of an arm before it as it floated forward,
and this was the first thing Akane saw from her hiding place behind
the armchair.

So it was the first thing she cut off.

The synchro-blade sliced through the Droid's appendage easily,
and Akane turned and slashed again, cutting a deep gash into its main
body armor. The metal monster seemed unperturbed by its wounds
however, and a plate in its chest slid open to reveal the muzzle of
another energy weapon.

Akane dived through the hole in the back wall caused by the PR
Droid's earlier barrage, rolling to come up in a ready stance as the
thing advanced through the opening.

"Aaaagh!" With a cry, Akane charged the PR Droid, slicing down
with all her might at the sensor cluster that served as the thing's
head. That levitating monster stood for everything that was NERV -
everything she hated, everything that had hurt her.

With a resounding *crack!*, the synchro-blade sliced cleanly
through the sensor cluster, and continued, cleaving the PR Droid in
half. Akane stood, breathing hard, over the two halves of shorting
machinery, her synchro-blade still held ready.

"Look out Akane!!"

Instinctively, she threw herself to the ground, covering her
head as explosions, dangerously nearby, rocked her body. Looking up,
she saw Nabiki leap through a nearby window, tailed by a cloud of
shattered glass. Her sister came up in a tight roll, coming to rest
with her pulse blaster aimed over Akane's head.

"Don't move!!"

Akane pressed herself as close to the ground as she could
manage, wincing as the hot energy streamed frighteningly close above
her unprotected head.

Turning, Akane saw another PR Droid, the armor over its core
system blasted and melted, crash to the ground. Her sister's
marksmanship never failed to amaze her.

Akane stood up slowly, shaking her head and rubbing a scrape on
her forearm. It was only then that she noticed the steady rain
soaking through her thin clothing. Funny how things receded into the
background during combat.

Nabiki stood up as well, holstering her pistol and coming to
stand next to her sister.

"Are you okay?"

Akane nodded, switching off her synchro-blade. "Yeah. So what
happened?"

She shrugged. "A security system that wasn't on the blueprint
caught sight of me. I had to deal with two or three of those." She
waved at the smoking hulk that she had taken out.

Akane shook her head. "You have to learn to not trust
blueprints completely. They always leave at least one trap out."

"We've been over this before, and I'm too tired to listen to it
again. The mission's a bust, anyway. What say we head home?"

Akane looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. End
simulation."

Nabiki took off her CR helmet, and as she was unlacing the
gloves glanced at Akane, who was doing the same thing.

"You weren't as effective as usual against that Public Relations
Droid back there. Is something bothering you?"

Akane sighed as she shook her hair out after pulling off her
helmet. "Yeah. For the last couple of hours I've just had this
feeling like... I don't know, there's something we should be doing or
someone we should be meeting." She glanced as her sister. "I sound a
little crazy, don't I?"

Nabiki laughed, tossing her gloves on the floor. "Akane, we're
two young women taking on a force that controls a city by our little
lonesome. We are a little crazy."

Akane stuck her tongue out. "You know what I meant, 'Biki."

"Of course I did. But life wouldn't be very fun if I didn't
tease you now and again, now would it?"

"I suppose not."

The two left the CR room, which was the largest (though still
not large) in their apartment, their arms amicably around one
another's shoulders.

"So who's this mystery guy we're supposed to meet?"

"I don't know. But I think his name's Saotome."

***

Gendo Ikari looked over the rim of his red-tinted glasses at
Fuyutsuki.

"There has been a significant increase in overall psychic
ambience in the city over the last two days?"

The gray-haired doctor nodded. "Yes. Six percent. The Magi
estimate that this means at least twenty psychics entered the city
sometime yesterday or early this morning."

"Hmm..." Gendo tapped his nose absently. "Magi, take that 6%
increase in ambience and divide it by the highest-recorded psychic
potential."

The Magi's soft, feminine voice - the voice of doctor Ritsuko
Akagi's mother - answered a moment later. "1.35677."

Gendo nodded slightly. "So we've got either twenty normal
psychics, or one the likes of which has never been recorded."

Fuyutsuki frowned slightly. "Is there something which leads you
to believe that it is only one extremely powerful psychic?"

"Not in particular. But I try to know everything I can about a
potential enemy. Speaking of which, has Sohjiro reported in yet?"

Fuyutsuki shook his head. "He is now eight hours and twenty-six
minutes overdo."

Gendo stood up. "Inform Servant that I wish to have Sohjiro
sent to me the moment he reports. I will be in sub-level 9."

Fuyutsuki bowed slightly. "Yes, sir."

***

who...?

who... am I?

I... am...

I am...

I am
Toji Suzuhara Asuka where are you where am I what is going on I
cant feel my arm I dont have one god what happened to me what happened

I am

"Toji?"

Asuka is that you where am I wheres my arm my leg my god my leg
too please god let me be dreaming I am dreaming everything is dream
mausoleum of hopes and dreams father father I have

"Toji? Maya, I think he's waking up!"

father father I have mother mother MOTHER WHAT DID THEY DO TO ME
OH MY GOD MY ARM LEG GONE GONE COLD GOD DAMN MOTHER ASUKA

"He's having some kind of seizure!! Hold him down, I've got to
sedate him!"

"Toji..."

theyre taking me asuka dont let them dont let them asuka god
cold cold against shoulder hip gone where to where where does it go
when its gone dont let them take me mother asuka

"I've never seen anything like this before..."

"Oh Maya... tell me he'll be alright... please god..."

world fades nothingness embraces

***

Shinji sat under the cold spray of the shower, feeling the water
slide over him, watching the rivulets fall from his face. As always,
the beauty of their fall fascinated him - the short bright life of
movement through air to end in moments when inexorably the tile met
them head on, death and dissolution, the one into the many... like
returning to Eden...

And he, sensations on the outside, external, never coming in
never approaching his self his inside the part of him that was him

Rei Ayanami

That was inside.

There wasn't much else.

His father.

He had never been inside never wanted to never wanted to see

His mother she was gone didn't know him he wanted to know her
sometimes he dreamt she was inside but that was only dream not life,
in life nothing could get inside nothing wanted to even he wasn't
really inside

But there was Rei.

She hadn't been there before but now she was he half wanted her
out half wanted her deeper

Half she doesn't belong inside there's no room inside for
anything but you and even you aren't in only watching watching from
outside like everyone

but she was

Half wanting her another inside another to know to touch to see
to feel to be deeper inside in

she hadn't been there but now she was

now she was.

"She is."

Shinji looked up, feeling the water break over the crest of his
head, flowing around him, dissolute. Maybe that could be inside too.

father

no not him not ever him

"Water off."

Shinji stood up, feeling the water run over his muscles nothing
but water, and it was inside him or at least more than before. And
that scared him the inside-ness frightened him more than the dark
after or the light before, but it also felt...

healthy.

As he toweled himself off he thought.

***

Rei lay awake on her bed.

***

Sohjiro looked down at the city below him. It was dark, dusk
bringing on new layers of darkness and shadows, darkest before the
stars emerge.

He liked it that way.

The clouds gathering on the horizon, dark and angry, likely
meant a thunder storm that night.

He liked that too.

The wild fury of Nature, howling and cracking with light and
sound and power. Sometimes he rode the lightning on the wings of the
night.

He tossed his long, smooth mantle of dark hair behind him.
Dark, shadowed hair, like night in the void, shades of black on black.
At his side was his sword.

Soon he would have to report to the NERV humans. He hated
having to deal with them, hated being subservient to anyone but
especially humans.

After, though...

Free to ride the night.

He smiled at the thought.

But work to do before then. He would have to report soon.

But not yet.

He leapt easily from the roof of the building he stood on to
another, across the street, feeling the night air slide past his body,
allowing him passage. Gravity had little hold on him, especially at
night.

Indulgence... He had not in a long time.

He longed to slay, to feel blood run down his sword like in
times long past.

Not yet.

But soon.

He leapt from building to building through the city on his dark
errand, the night parting before him and closing behind, as if
welcoming one of its own.

***

Ranma Saotome watched the servant of darkness from the shadows
of a higher building's rooftop.

An example?

Yes.

It seemed to fit.

The dreams would start soon.

***

End part 2: Try, Try Again

End chapter 1: Dark City, Dark Mind


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Well, I don't want to sound hackneyed, and say 'this is my first
fanfic and I would really appreciate comments and criticisms etc.',
but, well... this is my first fanfic, and I would appreciate comments
and criticism... *sigh* Guess I sound hackneyed, don't I? -_^

So, if you've got something to say, you can send it to me
at feithecontact@secondimpact.com.

Landscape of the Soul can be found at my website,
come.to/feithecontact.