Chapter 12 - Fifth Child, Part 1: Kaworu
NERV, late evening
The conspirators met at the same place as before
Last last to come was Ryoji Kaji who nodded at Akagi.
"Thanks, Ritsuko for manipulating the sensors to allow me entering unnoticed."
"I am manipulating quite a lot these days."
"Now we are complete." Ikari started the meeting. "Major Kaji, what are your prognoses?"
The chief of NERV´s strategical planning section smiled thinly.
"With the MAGIs´ help I´ve created some different scenarios to see how SEELE will react.
They want to get the NERV base as undamaged as possible since neither Adam nor EVA-01
must be damaged if they want to do their thing. We have a probability of about 79% that
SEELE will try to take over the MAGI via the backup systems. Larsen and I have already
taken countermeasures. And we are checking the staff for spies of SEELE."
"Hm. Good."
"The next thing might be a physical attack. SEELE controls the UN-forces within the
asian east, they also have connections to the ministery of interior so they might send
the JSSDF. And finally there are the nine EVA units of series 5, I was told that they
have managed to integrate artificial S2-engeines."
"But they have no pilots."
"That´s right, we have the pilots. So they will use a dummyplug system or a simple remote
control."
"Thanks, Major. Lieutenant-Commander Larsen, what can you add to the Major´s report?"
"The promised EVA unit four will arrive in about a week, so we will have five units ready.
And we will get severel ODIN-specialists to do further modifications at the fake
unit to speed up reactions. But there still is another point to adress: SEELE shouldn´t
know our true strenght."
"What would you suggest?"
"False reports. Doctor Akagi and Major Katsuragi could manipulate the synch test results
in a way that the Second Child nearly seems to be unable to pilot. EVA-00 could have
suffered heavy damaged to the nerv joints. And the First Child... a dead body is fast at
hand, as we showed with Major Kaji. If we manage to make SEELE believe that we only have
one usable unit left we will win time."
"Okay. - Doctor Akagi?"
"It´s possible."
"Good. Who did you select as new pilots?"
"Here... Touji Suzuhara already has got a basic training. The second candidate is Hikari
Horaki..."
"Ritsuko, I can understood chosing Touji, but why Hikari?" Misato asked.
"The data tell me that she´s mentally stable and quite strainable. Since we will have to
train them in secret we will need such virtues."
"Which units will they pilot?"
Larsen leaned forward.
"Suzuhara will pilot the soon to arrive unit while Hiraki will pilot the PALADIN-hybrid,
so she will have additional protection and a bit of help from the computer."
"Won´t you pilot EVA-04?"
"No. Our plan tells me to play a different part. Doctor Akagi, could you spare some
minutes for me tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Ikari cleared his throat. At once all fell silent.
"I think that´s enough for today. Doctor, would you accompany me into Terminal Dogma?"
Ritsuko nodded hestitantly.
***
Terminal Dogma:
The descent into Terminal Dogma had happened without one of them saying a word.
Just when the elevator doors opened, Akagi spoke to Gendo.
"Why are we here?"
"We need a body."
"You want to get one of the clones from the vat and present it as Rei to SEELE."
"Yes."
"Why this change of mind?"
"Ritsuko... I had to understand, that Yui´s lost... forever... that it is time to turn
towards other things, to walk new paths..."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes. I have done many things I am sorry for now. Probably I´ve lost Shinji. And I guess
you hate me for being the man I am."
She grabbed his arm, forced him to stop, forced him to look into her eyes.
"I do not hate you."
"Ritsuko... There are still several things to do... and afterwards... if you still want
me..."
She smiled, let go of him.
"We´ll see."
Silently they entered the room of the dummyplug.
Akagi opened the vat´s windows.
Several dozens of Reis looked at them, smiled when they recognized Ikari.
"I initiate the extraction of a clone."
"Yes."
He didn´t say another word, just watched the clones within the LCL, caught the gaze of
each of them, searching within their eyes for true life like he had seen it within
Rei´s eyes.
Without success...
Soon a naked clone cowered in front of the vat´s hatch. Lifeless eyes looked up to Ikari.
"The clone won´t survive this night out of the LCL... It doesn´t have a soul..."
"I know, Ritsuko. And now... destroy the other clones."
"Are you serious? What if something happens to Rei?"
"You have seen her tears, too, haven´t you? Rei is no longer replaceable... She has become
human... And we don´t need the dummyplug anymore. Destroy those soulless beings!"
"You are serious..."
You loked down at her remote. Just a few commands and the remembrance of Yui would be
gone.
"What about Rei? The one Rei at the infirmary?"
"She has lost her heart to Shinji, she shall live. I am also doing that for her."
Not replaceable anymore...
"That must be the Ikari-charm... Okay, I´ll do it."
"Yes."
The clones all opened their eyes widely at the very same moment, the eerie smile vanished
from their lips. Then they dissolved...
Gendo straightened.
"Lets do the exchange, Kaji is already waiting."
***
NERV-infirmary, early morning
Shinji had left the still sleeping Rei to return to Misato´s apartment and put on some
fresh clothes. Alas, he had fallen asleep on his bed so that it took him about three
hours to return. He had a very bad feeling when he returned to the infirmary.
His bad feeling proved right when he stepped into an empty room.
"Where is she?" he asked the next person to cross his path. It was the same doctor who
had treated his hands the day before.
The man only shook his head.
"She did not survive the night."
"What..."
Shinji´s hands were trembling. The bandages prevented him from clentching the fists.
"Two hours ago she suffered a complete failture of all internal organs. I am sorry."
"No... that cannot be... not her..."
Tears blurred his sight.
"Not Rei..."
He remembered...
... Rei on the stretcher the day he had joined NERV...
... the night before the fight with the fifth angel...
´I will protect you. Goodbye...´
... the smile on her face when he asked her for one...
´I am afraid of lonelyness... please, stay, stay with me...´
"Why... I only had stayed... It´s my fault..."
I mustn´t run away... I mustn´t run away... I mustn´t...
"You could have done nothing to prevent it."
The doctor wanted to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but Shinji dogded him, ran
away.
At the infirmary´s exit a strong hand grabbed him.
"Follow me, boy", Larsen hissed.
"Wolf... let me go..."
But the man didn´t listen to him, dragged him into an alcove where behind a panel was
a hidden elevator he pushed him into, stepped into himself, pushed the lowest button.
"Your father wanted to do this, but you were too early and with him away they called me."
"Wolf... Larsen... what... I want to..."
"Just wipe the tears from your eyes, yes?"
"Rei´s dead... What do you want from me? It´s my fault... I did not protect her..."
The elevator arrived at its destination.
"Lowest floor, Terminal Dogma. Welcome to NERV´s basement", a voice greeted them from the
shadows.
"Kaji? But... Misato said... you had returned to... Germany..."
"Just a little trick to get rid of some goons who wanted to see me dead."
Next to Kaji Rei appeared from a side corridor, wearing her school uniform.
Seeing her made Shinji forget the two adults.
"Rei, you are alive!"
He ran to her, embraced her, ignoring his wounded hands.
At first she stiffened, but then she returned the embrace.
"You have cryed for me." she whispered into his ear.
"They told me you were dead..."
"I am alive."
To prove it she kissed him softly on the lips.
At first he wanted to back out, then he returned the kiss hungryly.
I don´t want to run away...
"Shall we leave them alone?" Kaji aswed Larsen.
The cyborg made a weighting gesture.
"Better not. I think there are way too many teenager-hormons in the air."
"Ha!"
The two teenager broke their kiss.
"Rei..."
"Shinji..."
"Ähm, if you two love-birds are done with looking into each other´s eyes, I´d like to
give Shinji and Larsen a tour." Kaji laughted.
"Did you already got an overview?"
"Just after Commander Ikari brought Rei and me down here. A few rooms are locked, but
it´s still very interestant. Just wait until you´ve seem the cementary of the EVAs, a
dinosaur-exhibition is nothing compared to it."
Kaji acted like a child that had got a new toy. He signed Larsen to follow him and pushed
Shinji in front of him. Rei stayed by Shinji´s side.
The destination was a really BIG hall.
Within the hall was a large cross with a cruzified seven eyed giant without legs. From
the stumps a clear fluid was dripping that that formed a small sea below, large enough
for a boat to swim onto.
"Ui... you didn´t exaggerate, Kaji..."
"Kaji, what... is this?"
Instead of Kaji Larsen answered:
"I guess its Adam, the reason for the angels attacking us."
"Because of this being they are coming?"
"Adam is the first angel, I guess it´s something a big brother to the other angels.
And if you ask me, I´d be quite angry to if my big brother was nailed to a cross and
imprisoned within the basement. Damned..."
"But why doesn´t father let it go? So the other angels would not have a reason to attack
anymore..."
"Well, Shinji..." Kaji said. "That´s not sure. And... this cannot be Adam."
"What?" Shinji and Larsen asked.
Kaji smile embaressed.
"When I brough Adam to the Commander it was in my suitcase..."
"That much about the big brother-theory..."
"Was that the reason for the angel attacking the convoi?"
"Probably. As far as I know it Adam is still bound within bakelit, so this can´t be Adam."
He pointed at the white giant.
"Hm, why can´t Ikari just play with an open hand?"
"I guess he´s used to not to do it."
"What does this all mean?"
The two adults looked at the boy.
"Well, I guess we can also tell him the complete story." Kaji sighed.
***
Terminal Dogma
"That´s my room." Rei explained with emotionless voice.
Shinji looked around, the place resembled Rei´s apartment. It asn´t a place to call home,
but just a place to stay and rest without personality. He saw a bed, a small cupboard and
a table with a chair, in one of the corners a cardbox stood, he saw some school uniforms
on top. On the table a beaker full of water stood next to a laptop.
"That´s Kaji-san´s, so I have a connection to the outer world while I stay here." Rei
said, reading the look on his face.
He sighed.
"I am sooo glad that you are alright."
She took his arm and pulled him along to the bed; following the pull he sat down next
to her. Rei leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Uhm... Rei..."
It´s a sign of affection... don´t you understand...?
"I know, you were afraid, you were in pain with fear... You look tired. Lets rest."
About half an hour later Larsen and Kaji returned from their sightseeing tour and discovered
the two teenagers laying on the bed sleeping deeply, but fully clothed, resting in each other´s
arms.
"Just be careful that they do nothing stupid", Larsen whispered.
Kaji grinned.
"That this has to happen to me, Ryoji Kaji once a super-spy, now a babysitter..."
***
EVA-testing center, noon
"Thanks, Asuka, it´s over!"
Ritsuko tooks a print-out of last hour´s synch test session and put an other piece of
paper into the file.
"So, Misato, now are playing the game, too."
"It´s the right way."
"Do you think Asuka to be able to keep her mouth shut?"
"Hm, good question."
"Asuka?"
"Hm?"
"Go, have a shower and come back then."
"Okay."
"How can this girl be in such a good mood?" one of the operators mumbled. "The readings
were worse than ever before."
"Probably she´ll be chewed out now."
"I wouldn´t want to be there."
***
NERV, conference room, twenty minutes later
"And, how are the results?" the redhead asked.
"Very good."
Akagi showed her the papers, there was a diagram with several lines in different colours.
"The grey line shows the result of the test you had before the psycho ray hit you, the
red line is from today´s test, you can see that you´ve nearly reached your old niveau
again. The dark blue line is Shinji´s, the bright blue´s Rei´s, with some additional
training you will be able to surpass Shinji again soon."
"Good, but I am satisfied with what I´ve got now, if I manage to increase to ability,
it´s okay, if I don´t..."
Asuka smiled.
"How are you?" Misato asked.
"I haven´t felt better for a long time."
"Ah, yes..."
At first Shinji, now Asuka... Maybe it´s because of my cooking? Or did Ritsuko put some
psycho drugs into the LCL?
"But there are even more lines, the black one and the yellow one here... What do they
show?"
"Well, Asuka, since the Commander came to the conclusion that the three of you, Shinji,
Rei and you, can´t stay on duty all the time he gave free a ressources to train two
additional pilots." Ritsuko explained.
"What? Are we going to be replaced?"
"No, they will act as your backup so you won´t stay on duty all the time. But listen,
to get the money the Commander had to do some exxageration."
"Eh...?"
"Your official synch rate is lower than showed on the report, to show how tired you are
from being on duty all the time."
"Why mine? Why not Shinji´s or Rei´s?"
"We have a... problem with Rei... I´ll tell you at home."
"But we have the old man... and..."
"The lieutenant´s place is elsewhere. EVA-04 still isn´t ready. So we reactivated the
Fourth Child."
"Oh, no, not Touji... please, not Touji, not that pervert!" Asuka begged.
Misato giggled.
"And we´ve recruited a Sixth Child."
"Sixth? Shouldn´t it be the Fifth? Or do you could in Japan otherwise?"
"Of course not, Asuka. But we were informed by the committee this very morning that they
will send us the Fifth Child which is already on its way to Tokio-3."
"So there will be three new pilots altogether. And EVAs?"
"Hm, that still will take some time."
"Ah! Nobody touches my EVA-02, understood?!"
Misato and Ritsuko sweatdropped.
"And who are the other two?"
"Number five´s name is Kaworu Nagisa. And number six is..."
Misato pressed a hidden button under the table and remotely open the door to the next
room.
"Hello, Asuka!" Hikari Horaki shouted.
"You???"
***
Misato´s apartment, early afternoon
Asuka sat in her room and stared at the wall.
At first the surprise of Hikari being my backup... that´s way better than Touji or that
other guy... than the message about what happened to Wondergirl... Rei... if that could
happen to her, it might also happen to me... or Shinji...
The apartment´s door closed shut.
"I´m home!" Shinji shouted.
Asuka jumped to her feet and ran out of the room.
He does need somebody now. He was there for me, now I have to be there for him...
Shinji was standing at the corridor when a red flash came running towards him and embraced him.
"Shinji-I-am-so-sorry-I-have-just-heard-the-bad-news-what-has-happened-to-Rei-and-I..."
"But, Asuka, everything´s alright, Rei is..." he started explaining, caught by surprise.
Misato appeared in the corridor and place a hand over his mouth, dragging him away from
Asuka at the same time.
"Asuka, Shinji´s still digesting the news, he needs rest, - don´t you, Shin-chan?"
"Mblblmbl."
"Yes, yes, my poor Shinji. But auntie Misato´s here..."
She dragged him into his room and whispered into his ear:
"Asuka hasn´t been initiated into our secret, so act the right way!"
Shinji was gasping for air.
"You want me to lie?"
"No, just act normally. I don´t like it, too."
"How...?"
"Well, like... like before you were assimilated by EVA-01, sad face, slumbed shoulders...
Lets go, Shinji, everything´s at stake!"
"Yes..."
***
Evening
Shinji had left the apartment depressed and was walking aimless around.
I hate lying... not at Asuka... I would go and visit Asuka... Wolf or Kaji... or father
would let me enter Terminal Dogma... but it would mean turning my back on Asuka...
He found himself stand a the shore of a small lake.
On a tree´s branch a greyhaired boy of Shinji´s age sat, humming a melody. When he saw
Shinji standing below the tree, he stopped.
"A song is good."
Shinji looked up to him.
"Hm?"
"A song supplies us with joy, it´s is the highest culture that Lilims generated. Don't
you think so, Shinji Ikari?
"You know my name?"
"Everyone knows your name."
With these words the boy jumped down from the tree and landed next to Shinji. His eyes
were red.
"Is that so? Well, who are you?"
"I'm Kaworu. Kaworu Nagisa, just like you are, I am one of the arranged children. I am
the Fifth Child."
"The Fifth Children? You, Nagisa-kun?"
"Just call me "Kaworu," Ikari-kun."
"Alright, call me Shinji."
Kaworu laughed.
"See you at tomorrow´s tests."
"Yes, I´m looking forward to it."
***
NERV testing center, the next day
"Is there any mistake in this reading?" Fuyutsuki asked, thinking about the conspiracy.
"The testing systems are operating normally." Makoto Hyuga answered.
"No data error detected by Magi." Ritsuko said, frowned and looked at the screen that showed
the picture of unit two´s entryplug´s interior. It showed Kaworu Nagisa wearing a red plugsuit
similiar to Asuka´s, looking very relaxed.
"It's surprising that this boy syncronizes with unit two before replacing the core."
Sweat was on Fuyutsuki´s brow.
What kind of cuckoo´s egg is this boy?
"Yet, I can't believe. I mean, it's impossible on the system."
"Yes, Maya. The MAGI will analyse the cause. Lets hope they will get a result we like."
Akagi told her assistant.
"Nevertheless that's the fact..." Misato mumbled. "We have to face it."
***
Changing room
Shinji sat on the bench, head supported by his hands.
I can´t return to Misato´s apartment and play this... game... any further... Asuka has
earned to be told the truth, but Misato ordered me to keep the secret... And I can´t go
to Rei, it´d be like laughing about Asuka...
A shadow fell over him.
"Hm?"
It was Kaworu who smiled at him friendly.
"Hey, did you wait for me?"
"Uhn, no, I mean..."
"Are you finished?"
"Yes, tests are over, I wanted to shower before going home... but in a way I don´t want
to go home..."
"You have a place to return, a place where you belong, a home. You are glad about that
fact, that´s good."
"Yes?"
"I´d like to talk, may I go with you?"
"Eh?"
"I mean shower, aren´t you going to shower?"
"Yes."
"But alone?"
"No, you can go with me, the LCL can be a pain when it dries."
***
Shower
"You are extremely avoiding the contact with other people, do you fear other people?
Being ignorant of others, you will ever be neither betrayed nor hurt, though you will
never escape from feeling sadness." Kaworu explained.
"But there are people who are important to me."
"Yes? That´s good. But why aren´t you with them?"
"Because... because..." He looked at the clock. "Oh, that late! We should go to sleep,
tests are scheduled tomorrow morning."
"Probably. They gave me a room here at headquarters... The human heart is made of glass,
it can be hurt easily. I sense that you´ve been hurt before, yes?"
"I... how do you come to know this?"
Kaworu smile.
"It´s my gift to sense such things. You mustn´t be hurt, I sorry."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because I like you. It´s not easy to find a friend."
"So we are... friends?"
"If you want to."
***
NERV-HQ, Kaworu´s room
Shinji was laying on a thin mattress next to Kaworu´s bed.
No Asuka I have to lie to... nobody telling me what to do...
Kaworu sighed.
"Are you sure that you want to sleep on the floor? We might change places."
"No, that´s not necessary. You let me sleep here, that´s enough for me."
"What´s on your mind?"
"Hm?"
"You carry a burden, something you can tell noone except a complete stranger."
"Ah..."
"I am listening."
"I've experienced many things after I came here. But I was at my teacher's before.
Those were silent and calm days, I did nothing but exist. It was okay with me,
I had nothing to do."
"You dislike other people?"
"There are not many I like or even carry for... There´s my father, but I... hate him...
or not, I am not sure... Misato, she took me in and I am grateful, but... Wolf and Kaji,
they´re quite okay, but I don´t know if they truely understand me... It´s very confusing...
Asuka and Rei... I really like them, one like a sister, the other... I don´t know the
reason I am telling you all of this."
At first Kaworu laughed, then he sighed.
"Maybe I was born to meet you..."
NERV, late evening
The conspirators met at the same place as before
Last last to come was Ryoji Kaji who nodded at Akagi.
"Thanks, Ritsuko for manipulating the sensors to allow me entering unnoticed."
"I am manipulating quite a lot these days."
"Now we are complete." Ikari started the meeting. "Major Kaji, what are your prognoses?"
The chief of NERV´s strategical planning section smiled thinly.
"With the MAGIs´ help I´ve created some different scenarios to see how SEELE will react.
They want to get the NERV base as undamaged as possible since neither Adam nor EVA-01
must be damaged if they want to do their thing. We have a probability of about 79% that
SEELE will try to take over the MAGI via the backup systems. Larsen and I have already
taken countermeasures. And we are checking the staff for spies of SEELE."
"Hm. Good."
"The next thing might be a physical attack. SEELE controls the UN-forces within the
asian east, they also have connections to the ministery of interior so they might send
the JSSDF. And finally there are the nine EVA units of series 5, I was told that they
have managed to integrate artificial S2-engeines."
"But they have no pilots."
"That´s right, we have the pilots. So they will use a dummyplug system or a simple remote
control."
"Thanks, Major. Lieutenant-Commander Larsen, what can you add to the Major´s report?"
"The promised EVA unit four will arrive in about a week, so we will have five units ready.
And we will get severel ODIN-specialists to do further modifications at the fake
unit to speed up reactions. But there still is another point to adress: SEELE shouldn´t
know our true strenght."
"What would you suggest?"
"False reports. Doctor Akagi and Major Katsuragi could manipulate the synch test results
in a way that the Second Child nearly seems to be unable to pilot. EVA-00 could have
suffered heavy damaged to the nerv joints. And the First Child... a dead body is fast at
hand, as we showed with Major Kaji. If we manage to make SEELE believe that we only have
one usable unit left we will win time."
"Okay. - Doctor Akagi?"
"It´s possible."
"Good. Who did you select as new pilots?"
"Here... Touji Suzuhara already has got a basic training. The second candidate is Hikari
Horaki..."
"Ritsuko, I can understood chosing Touji, but why Hikari?" Misato asked.
"The data tell me that she´s mentally stable and quite strainable. Since we will have to
train them in secret we will need such virtues."
"Which units will they pilot?"
Larsen leaned forward.
"Suzuhara will pilot the soon to arrive unit while Hiraki will pilot the PALADIN-hybrid,
so she will have additional protection and a bit of help from the computer."
"Won´t you pilot EVA-04?"
"No. Our plan tells me to play a different part. Doctor Akagi, could you spare some
minutes for me tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Ikari cleared his throat. At once all fell silent.
"I think that´s enough for today. Doctor, would you accompany me into Terminal Dogma?"
Ritsuko nodded hestitantly.
***
Terminal Dogma:
The descent into Terminal Dogma had happened without one of them saying a word.
Just when the elevator doors opened, Akagi spoke to Gendo.
"Why are we here?"
"We need a body."
"You want to get one of the clones from the vat and present it as Rei to SEELE."
"Yes."
"Why this change of mind?"
"Ritsuko... I had to understand, that Yui´s lost... forever... that it is time to turn
towards other things, to walk new paths..."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes. I have done many things I am sorry for now. Probably I´ve lost Shinji. And I guess
you hate me for being the man I am."
She grabbed his arm, forced him to stop, forced him to look into her eyes.
"I do not hate you."
"Ritsuko... There are still several things to do... and afterwards... if you still want
me..."
She smiled, let go of him.
"We´ll see."
Silently they entered the room of the dummyplug.
Akagi opened the vat´s windows.
Several dozens of Reis looked at them, smiled when they recognized Ikari.
"I initiate the extraction of a clone."
"Yes."
He didn´t say another word, just watched the clones within the LCL, caught the gaze of
each of them, searching within their eyes for true life like he had seen it within
Rei´s eyes.
Without success...
Soon a naked clone cowered in front of the vat´s hatch. Lifeless eyes looked up to Ikari.
"The clone won´t survive this night out of the LCL... It doesn´t have a soul..."
"I know, Ritsuko. And now... destroy the other clones."
"Are you serious? What if something happens to Rei?"
"You have seen her tears, too, haven´t you? Rei is no longer replaceable... She has become
human... And we don´t need the dummyplug anymore. Destroy those soulless beings!"
"You are serious..."
You loked down at her remote. Just a few commands and the remembrance of Yui would be
gone.
"What about Rei? The one Rei at the infirmary?"
"She has lost her heart to Shinji, she shall live. I am also doing that for her."
Not replaceable anymore...
"That must be the Ikari-charm... Okay, I´ll do it."
"Yes."
The clones all opened their eyes widely at the very same moment, the eerie smile vanished
from their lips. Then they dissolved...
Gendo straightened.
"Lets do the exchange, Kaji is already waiting."
***
NERV-infirmary, early morning
Shinji had left the still sleeping Rei to return to Misato´s apartment and put on some
fresh clothes. Alas, he had fallen asleep on his bed so that it took him about three
hours to return. He had a very bad feeling when he returned to the infirmary.
His bad feeling proved right when he stepped into an empty room.
"Where is she?" he asked the next person to cross his path. It was the same doctor who
had treated his hands the day before.
The man only shook his head.
"She did not survive the night."
"What..."
Shinji´s hands were trembling. The bandages prevented him from clentching the fists.
"Two hours ago she suffered a complete failture of all internal organs. I am sorry."
"No... that cannot be... not her..."
Tears blurred his sight.
"Not Rei..."
He remembered...
... Rei on the stretcher the day he had joined NERV...
... the night before the fight with the fifth angel...
´I will protect you. Goodbye...´
... the smile on her face when he asked her for one...
´I am afraid of lonelyness... please, stay, stay with me...´
"Why... I only had stayed... It´s my fault..."
I mustn´t run away... I mustn´t run away... I mustn´t...
"You could have done nothing to prevent it."
The doctor wanted to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but Shinji dogded him, ran
away.
At the infirmary´s exit a strong hand grabbed him.
"Follow me, boy", Larsen hissed.
"Wolf... let me go..."
But the man didn´t listen to him, dragged him into an alcove where behind a panel was
a hidden elevator he pushed him into, stepped into himself, pushed the lowest button.
"Your father wanted to do this, but you were too early and with him away they called me."
"Wolf... Larsen... what... I want to..."
"Just wipe the tears from your eyes, yes?"
"Rei´s dead... What do you want from me? It´s my fault... I did not protect her..."
The elevator arrived at its destination.
"Lowest floor, Terminal Dogma. Welcome to NERV´s basement", a voice greeted them from the
shadows.
"Kaji? But... Misato said... you had returned to... Germany..."
"Just a little trick to get rid of some goons who wanted to see me dead."
Next to Kaji Rei appeared from a side corridor, wearing her school uniform.
Seeing her made Shinji forget the two adults.
"Rei, you are alive!"
He ran to her, embraced her, ignoring his wounded hands.
At first she stiffened, but then she returned the embrace.
"You have cryed for me." she whispered into his ear.
"They told me you were dead..."
"I am alive."
To prove it she kissed him softly on the lips.
At first he wanted to back out, then he returned the kiss hungryly.
I don´t want to run away...
"Shall we leave them alone?" Kaji aswed Larsen.
The cyborg made a weighting gesture.
"Better not. I think there are way too many teenager-hormons in the air."
"Ha!"
The two teenager broke their kiss.
"Rei..."
"Shinji..."
"Ähm, if you two love-birds are done with looking into each other´s eyes, I´d like to
give Shinji and Larsen a tour." Kaji laughted.
"Did you already got an overview?"
"Just after Commander Ikari brought Rei and me down here. A few rooms are locked, but
it´s still very interestant. Just wait until you´ve seem the cementary of the EVAs, a
dinosaur-exhibition is nothing compared to it."
Kaji acted like a child that had got a new toy. He signed Larsen to follow him and pushed
Shinji in front of him. Rei stayed by Shinji´s side.
The destination was a really BIG hall.
Within the hall was a large cross with a cruzified seven eyed giant without legs. From
the stumps a clear fluid was dripping that that formed a small sea below, large enough
for a boat to swim onto.
"Ui... you didn´t exaggerate, Kaji..."
"Kaji, what... is this?"
Instead of Kaji Larsen answered:
"I guess its Adam, the reason for the angels attacking us."
"Because of this being they are coming?"
"Adam is the first angel, I guess it´s something a big brother to the other angels.
And if you ask me, I´d be quite angry to if my big brother was nailed to a cross and
imprisoned within the basement. Damned..."
"But why doesn´t father let it go? So the other angels would not have a reason to attack
anymore..."
"Well, Shinji..." Kaji said. "That´s not sure. And... this cannot be Adam."
"What?" Shinji and Larsen asked.
Kaji smile embaressed.
"When I brough Adam to the Commander it was in my suitcase..."
"That much about the big brother-theory..."
"Was that the reason for the angel attacking the convoi?"
"Probably. As far as I know it Adam is still bound within bakelit, so this can´t be Adam."
He pointed at the white giant.
"Hm, why can´t Ikari just play with an open hand?"
"I guess he´s used to not to do it."
"What does this all mean?"
The two adults looked at the boy.
"Well, I guess we can also tell him the complete story." Kaji sighed.
***
Terminal Dogma
"That´s my room." Rei explained with emotionless voice.
Shinji looked around, the place resembled Rei´s apartment. It asn´t a place to call home,
but just a place to stay and rest without personality. He saw a bed, a small cupboard and
a table with a chair, in one of the corners a cardbox stood, he saw some school uniforms
on top. On the table a beaker full of water stood next to a laptop.
"That´s Kaji-san´s, so I have a connection to the outer world while I stay here." Rei
said, reading the look on his face.
He sighed.
"I am sooo glad that you are alright."
She took his arm and pulled him along to the bed; following the pull he sat down next
to her. Rei leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Uhm... Rei..."
It´s a sign of affection... don´t you understand...?
"I know, you were afraid, you were in pain with fear... You look tired. Lets rest."
About half an hour later Larsen and Kaji returned from their sightseeing tour and discovered
the two teenagers laying on the bed sleeping deeply, but fully clothed, resting in each other´s
arms.
"Just be careful that they do nothing stupid", Larsen whispered.
Kaji grinned.
"That this has to happen to me, Ryoji Kaji once a super-spy, now a babysitter..."
***
EVA-testing center, noon
"Thanks, Asuka, it´s over!"
Ritsuko tooks a print-out of last hour´s synch test session and put an other piece of
paper into the file.
"So, Misato, now are playing the game, too."
"It´s the right way."
"Do you think Asuka to be able to keep her mouth shut?"
"Hm, good question."
"Asuka?"
"Hm?"
"Go, have a shower and come back then."
"Okay."
"How can this girl be in such a good mood?" one of the operators mumbled. "The readings
were worse than ever before."
"Probably she´ll be chewed out now."
"I wouldn´t want to be there."
***
NERV, conference room, twenty minutes later
"And, how are the results?" the redhead asked.
"Very good."
Akagi showed her the papers, there was a diagram with several lines in different colours.
"The grey line shows the result of the test you had before the psycho ray hit you, the
red line is from today´s test, you can see that you´ve nearly reached your old niveau
again. The dark blue line is Shinji´s, the bright blue´s Rei´s, with some additional
training you will be able to surpass Shinji again soon."
"Good, but I am satisfied with what I´ve got now, if I manage to increase to ability,
it´s okay, if I don´t..."
Asuka smiled.
"How are you?" Misato asked.
"I haven´t felt better for a long time."
"Ah, yes..."
At first Shinji, now Asuka... Maybe it´s because of my cooking? Or did Ritsuko put some
psycho drugs into the LCL?
"But there are even more lines, the black one and the yellow one here... What do they
show?"
"Well, Asuka, since the Commander came to the conclusion that the three of you, Shinji,
Rei and you, can´t stay on duty all the time he gave free a ressources to train two
additional pilots." Ritsuko explained.
"What? Are we going to be replaced?"
"No, they will act as your backup so you won´t stay on duty all the time. But listen,
to get the money the Commander had to do some exxageration."
"Eh...?"
"Your official synch rate is lower than showed on the report, to show how tired you are
from being on duty all the time."
"Why mine? Why not Shinji´s or Rei´s?"
"We have a... problem with Rei... I´ll tell you at home."
"But we have the old man... and..."
"The lieutenant´s place is elsewhere. EVA-04 still isn´t ready. So we reactivated the
Fourth Child."
"Oh, no, not Touji... please, not Touji, not that pervert!" Asuka begged.
Misato giggled.
"And we´ve recruited a Sixth Child."
"Sixth? Shouldn´t it be the Fifth? Or do you could in Japan otherwise?"
"Of course not, Asuka. But we were informed by the committee this very morning that they
will send us the Fifth Child which is already on its way to Tokio-3."
"So there will be three new pilots altogether. And EVAs?"
"Hm, that still will take some time."
"Ah! Nobody touches my EVA-02, understood?!"
Misato and Ritsuko sweatdropped.
"And who are the other two?"
"Number five´s name is Kaworu Nagisa. And number six is..."
Misato pressed a hidden button under the table and remotely open the door to the next
room.
"Hello, Asuka!" Hikari Horaki shouted.
"You???"
***
Misato´s apartment, early afternoon
Asuka sat in her room and stared at the wall.
At first the surprise of Hikari being my backup... that´s way better than Touji or that
other guy... than the message about what happened to Wondergirl... Rei... if that could
happen to her, it might also happen to me... or Shinji...
The apartment´s door closed shut.
"I´m home!" Shinji shouted.
Asuka jumped to her feet and ran out of the room.
He does need somebody now. He was there for me, now I have to be there for him...
Shinji was standing at the corridor when a red flash came running towards him and embraced him.
"Shinji-I-am-so-sorry-I-have-just-heard-the-bad-news-what-has-happened-to-Rei-and-I..."
"But, Asuka, everything´s alright, Rei is..." he started explaining, caught by surprise.
Misato appeared in the corridor and place a hand over his mouth, dragging him away from
Asuka at the same time.
"Asuka, Shinji´s still digesting the news, he needs rest, - don´t you, Shin-chan?"
"Mblblmbl."
"Yes, yes, my poor Shinji. But auntie Misato´s here..."
She dragged him into his room and whispered into his ear:
"Asuka hasn´t been initiated into our secret, so act the right way!"
Shinji was gasping for air.
"You want me to lie?"
"No, just act normally. I don´t like it, too."
"How...?"
"Well, like... like before you were assimilated by EVA-01, sad face, slumbed shoulders...
Lets go, Shinji, everything´s at stake!"
"Yes..."
***
Evening
Shinji had left the apartment depressed and was walking aimless around.
I hate lying... not at Asuka... I would go and visit Asuka... Wolf or Kaji... or father
would let me enter Terminal Dogma... but it would mean turning my back on Asuka...
He found himself stand a the shore of a small lake.
On a tree´s branch a greyhaired boy of Shinji´s age sat, humming a melody. When he saw
Shinji standing below the tree, he stopped.
"A song is good."
Shinji looked up to him.
"Hm?"
"A song supplies us with joy, it´s is the highest culture that Lilims generated. Don't
you think so, Shinji Ikari?
"You know my name?"
"Everyone knows your name."
With these words the boy jumped down from the tree and landed next to Shinji. His eyes
were red.
"Is that so? Well, who are you?"
"I'm Kaworu. Kaworu Nagisa, just like you are, I am one of the arranged children. I am
the Fifth Child."
"The Fifth Children? You, Nagisa-kun?"
"Just call me "Kaworu," Ikari-kun."
"Alright, call me Shinji."
Kaworu laughed.
"See you at tomorrow´s tests."
"Yes, I´m looking forward to it."
***
NERV testing center, the next day
"Is there any mistake in this reading?" Fuyutsuki asked, thinking about the conspiracy.
"The testing systems are operating normally." Makoto Hyuga answered.
"No data error detected by Magi." Ritsuko said, frowned and looked at the screen that showed
the picture of unit two´s entryplug´s interior. It showed Kaworu Nagisa wearing a red plugsuit
similiar to Asuka´s, looking very relaxed.
"It's surprising that this boy syncronizes with unit two before replacing the core."
Sweat was on Fuyutsuki´s brow.
What kind of cuckoo´s egg is this boy?
"Yet, I can't believe. I mean, it's impossible on the system."
"Yes, Maya. The MAGI will analyse the cause. Lets hope they will get a result we like."
Akagi told her assistant.
"Nevertheless that's the fact..." Misato mumbled. "We have to face it."
***
Changing room
Shinji sat on the bench, head supported by his hands.
I can´t return to Misato´s apartment and play this... game... any further... Asuka has
earned to be told the truth, but Misato ordered me to keep the secret... And I can´t go
to Rei, it´d be like laughing about Asuka...
A shadow fell over him.
"Hm?"
It was Kaworu who smiled at him friendly.
"Hey, did you wait for me?"
"Uhn, no, I mean..."
"Are you finished?"
"Yes, tests are over, I wanted to shower before going home... but in a way I don´t want
to go home..."
"You have a place to return, a place where you belong, a home. You are glad about that
fact, that´s good."
"Yes?"
"I´d like to talk, may I go with you?"
"Eh?"
"I mean shower, aren´t you going to shower?"
"Yes."
"But alone?"
"No, you can go with me, the LCL can be a pain when it dries."
***
Shower
"You are extremely avoiding the contact with other people, do you fear other people?
Being ignorant of others, you will ever be neither betrayed nor hurt, though you will
never escape from feeling sadness." Kaworu explained.
"But there are people who are important to me."
"Yes? That´s good. But why aren´t you with them?"
"Because... because..." He looked at the clock. "Oh, that late! We should go to sleep,
tests are scheduled tomorrow morning."
"Probably. They gave me a room here at headquarters... The human heart is made of glass,
it can be hurt easily. I sense that you´ve been hurt before, yes?"
"I... how do you come to know this?"
Kaworu smile.
"It´s my gift to sense such things. You mustn´t be hurt, I sorry."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Because I like you. It´s not easy to find a friend."
"So we are... friends?"
"If you want to."
***
NERV-HQ, Kaworu´s room
Shinji was laying on a thin mattress next to Kaworu´s bed.
No Asuka I have to lie to... nobody telling me what to do...
Kaworu sighed.
"Are you sure that you want to sleep on the floor? We might change places."
"No, that´s not necessary. You let me sleep here, that´s enough for me."
"What´s on your mind?"
"Hm?"
"You carry a burden, something you can tell noone except a complete stranger."
"Ah..."
"I am listening."
"I've experienced many things after I came here. But I was at my teacher's before.
Those were silent and calm days, I did nothing but exist. It was okay with me,
I had nothing to do."
"You dislike other people?"
"There are not many I like or even carry for... There´s my father, but I... hate him...
or not, I am not sure... Misato, she took me in and I am grateful, but... Wolf and Kaji,
they´re quite okay, but I don´t know if they truely understand me... It´s very confusing...
Asuka and Rei... I really like them, one like a sister, the other... I don´t know the
reason I am telling you all of this."
At first Kaworu laughed, then he sighed.
"Maybe I was born to meet you..."