Darkness of the Dawn

I don't own anything having to do with Evangelion GAINAX does.

@@@- (My notes); ****- Flashback/Dream

Chapter 2:

Asuka looked up at the sky and smiled. She always loved these bright sunny days in Nevada. They reminded her of the sky in Tokyo III. Suddenly her features darkened as she remembered her life back during the Angel Wars. There was the failure, the pain, and the humiliation. All caused in her mind by one person that she hated with every fiber of her being, Shinji Ikari. That spineless, worthless, no good excuse for a male. He was the reason she failed. He let that angel invade her mind and allowed that DOLL to save her. It was all his fault everything was his fault. She was a bit happier when she remembered that according the reports she had read after recovered for her brief battle with the Production Series Evas, Shinji and Unit 01 were destroyed in a weird explosion caused by Third Impact. Even though the details were sketchy and poor at best they were enough to make her certain that he was gone. Now SHE was the best Eva pilot, Wonder-bitch could never stand up against her vast superiority. As she walked to the Eva cages that housed the rebuilt Unit 02 she had a smile that would scare most people.

There was darkness. Then she remembered she was being shot at by unseen forces that were surrounding her. She guessed she was dead and this was it. Then she felt that something on her forehead was cool and damp. Suddenly Rei's eyes fluttered open. She looked around and found she was in a very poor shelter although it did have a roof and walls. As she cautioned a few glances around the room her eyes shot back to the "ceiling" which wasn't a ceiling but a face a ghastly demonic face. A BIG demonic PURPLE face, with a horn coming out of its head. "U-U-unit 01?" Rei began to try and back away from the grim visage that was facing her, only to find she was cornered. She was sure that the look on that Eva's face was close to the ones she had seen the Eva have before it went berserk in the past. Needless to say even the normally passive and near emotionless Rei Ayanami was very scared, since she could find no way out of her current situation, she did the one thing she could do and that was cringe in fear and pray to any higher power that might be listening.

Shinji walked towards his shelter, in his hand was a pile of somewhat clean clothes he had found before. As he got closer to the makeshift hut that was his home he heard a faint sound. After he managed to get a few steps closer to his house he recognized the sound as being a faint crying. He quickened his pace eventually breaking into a run and running into the shelter. After he entered he saw a very odd and very disturbing scene: Rei was in his bed pressed up against the wall, crying still adorn in her shredded clothes. Shinji approached cautiously, "Rei? Are you ok?" After hearing his voice Rei jumped towards him and grabbed him. Holding him as if he was the only thing saving her from an eminent death. "SHINJI HELP IT'S TRYING TO GET ME!" Shinji was very confused at this point. He held her away from his body and tried to look her in the eyes, "What's after you Rei? What's wrong? CALM DOWN!" Rei began to point behind her Shinji followed the direction of her finger to the face of Unit 01. "Calm down Rei it's only Unit 01 and it's shut down." Rei wasn't convinced she started to try and run with Shinji to a safe distance from the horror she knew was behind her. Shinji didn't move. "Rei you need to calm down, nothing is going to hurt you Unit 01 is with me." Rei began to struggle again trying to pull herself from his grasp. She suddenly felt a sharp pain at the base of her neck then everything was covered by darkness again.

Shinji shook his head as he pulled his left hand away from Rei's neck. 'She seems to be really afraid of Unit 01 I guess it would be easier if I moved the Eva a little distance away, then maybe I could talk to her.' Shinji knelt down and lifted Rei up carrying her back to the bed and lying her down on it again. Shinji then proceeded the long and hard task of climbing up the armor of the Eva in order to move it. Every so often during his progress up the Eva he checked to see if Rei was still asleep and ...... ok then would continue again. Finally he reached the cockpit and activated the Eva and moved it back to the spot he had hidden it in earlier that day.

As Shinji returned he noticed a very alert and very tense looking Rei. "Hello Ayanami." Rei jumped up from the bed and spun around staring at Shinji as if he was a murderer, for all she knew he could be. Shinji looked at her then at the ground, "Sorry." "Well, it would seem he still apologizes a lot." Rei visibly calmed down and looked at Shinji. Shinji walked over and handed her the clothes he had found earlier and turned to leave deciding to give her a bit of privacy. After Rei had dressed he walked back into his "home" and sat down near the bed Rei was sitting on. "So what brings you here to my little island?" Rei looked up at him she could tell he was much taller than he used to be, she herself only came up to his chest at most. "I... I... I was sent to find you, Pilot Ikari." Shinji seemed to get a bit angry with this. "Were you sent for ME? Or Unit 01?" Rei hung her head slowly in shame, he had seen right through her lie. "Well Ayanami? What's the answer?" "My mission is to retrieve Unit 01." Rei finally stated ashamed. "And the pilot?" Rei seemed very afraid at this point, "Commander Ikari stated that the pilot's life was not relevant." Shinji nodded, "Figures. I'm actually surprised that he is still in command, mother and I figured he would have been fired for his role in Third Impact." Rei tilted her head slightly and looked at Shinji, "Your mother? According to Nerv Archives she was absorbed into Unit 01 much like you were during your battle with the Fourteenth Angel." "Oh she was but she isn't dead, at least her mind and soul aren't. She is Unit 01. I bet the Commander never told you that did he?" Rei shook her head and looked at Shinji slightly bewildered.

---------------------

Asuka walked into the Prib-Now box with a cocky smirk gracing her lips. "Well how much higher above Wonder-girl, and Jock-boy am I now? Thirty? Forty points?" Misato looked down at her charts with a sigh. "Well since Rei has been gone for a few months and we haven't gotten any new data on her than what we had from her last test you are 30.01 points above Rei. In Touji's case though since he recently got better physical rehab and we finally finished rebuilding Unit 03." Misato shook her head, 'Although I don't like it no matter how much Ritsuko tries to reassure me.' "You are only 19.29 points above him." Asuka smiled, "Of course I am. After all I am the best Pilot in the world." (@@@ Just a note Misato isn't the Director of Operations, after Fuyutsuki's death, she was promoted to Vice Commander. Although she still likes to be around the pilots.) Misato decided to try and show the girl some humility. "Now Asuka I must agree; 79.92 points on your synch ratio is impressive. BUT it still isn't the best there is." "What do you mean no one has ever scored higher than I have not that dumb stooge, or that little doll for that matter." "But Shinji did achieve a score of 91.92 points before the defeat of the Seventeenth Angel, that's not including his highest score of 459.28 points." Asuka seemed to darken at this comment, "Well Misato that worthless BAKA is dead so I'm number one, I'm glad that spineless wimp is dead. DAMN GLAD." Misato seemed taken aback by what the Second Child had just said. "You... you don't mean that Asuka." "LIKE HELL I DON'T! HIM DYING IN THIRD IMPACT IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME besides being chosen to pilot Eva." "If it wasn't for Shinji we would probably all have died in Third Impact, SHOW SOME GRATITUDE YOU LITTLE BITCH." Misato screamed as the doors opened.

Suddenly everyone's head looked towards the door as it opened. They were all very surprised to see the Supreme Commander standing in the door. "I assume Vice-commander, that you were informed of the proceedings with Major Ayanami's mission to Japan." "No sir, we haven't received any word from her as of yet." Asuka looked at her commanding officers her mouth slightly opened from the shock of being ignored. "Why did Wonder-girl go to Japan? Is she finally conceding defeat and going to live as a hermit?" "On the contrary Asuka." Asuka directed her attention to Misato, as Gendo left the room. "Rei found substantial evidence that Unit 01 was on the island of Japan, as well as, with a smaller chance the Third Child, Shinji Ikari." Asuka turned running out of the room the anger she was feeling was clearly showing on her face. Misato looked down, "Hmm maybe I was a bit too blunt."

---------------------

Shinji just shook his head. "I don't think so Ayanami. No, Unit 01 and myself will not be following you back to Nevada." Rei seemed a bit hurt that he could turn her down so easily, she found a bit of comfort in the fact that he hadn't said that in response to a request for a dinner. "No one there needs me Ayanami. After all they have you and Asuka." Rei shook her head. "That is untrue Ikari, you are very, much needed to come back. I don't know why but the Eva's have been receiving more and more maintenance lately, I think something is going to happen, but the Commander has not yet told us what. I don't think Asuka, Touji, and myself will be enough to stop this new threat." Shinji seemed a bit disturbed, "What do you mean Touji? He's a pilot now?" Rei nodded; yes he is the designated pilot of Unit 03. "They rebuilt Unit 03?" "Yes." Shinji seemed to look down deep in thought. Images of all the people he had known back in Tokyo-III began to flash through his mind, then he saw images of them all dead in one way or another. 'As much as I hate to admit it I couldn't live with myself if anything like that happened. Well mom what do you think? You think you got enough fight left in you?' Shinji waited, then he got his answer.

"Very well Ayanami we will but, only on several conditions." Rei smiled a bit, it wasn't a big smile, it was barely noticeable but Shinji caught it. "I don't see why we couldn't meet your conditions." Shinji smiled a bit as well, "Ok. First, I will be the sole pilot of Unit 01, no one else is to ever pilot it unless I'm dead." Rei nodded. "Second, I will be given my own choice of living quarters." Rei nodded again. "Finally, you have top stop calling me 'Ikari', or 'Pilot Ikari', from now on just plain 'Shinji' will do fine." Rei smiled again and nodded. "Ok so now what do I need to do?" Rei looked around a bit disturbed. "What's wrong Ayanami?" Rei stood up and walked outside frantically looking for something. "What are you doing Rei?" "I need to find my bag; it had some papers incase you agreed to return." Shinji nodded and walked back into the shelter and picked up the bag in question. "This one Ayanami?" Rei looked up and walked back to Shinji, taking the bag and examining it. "Yes, this is it." Both turned and walked back inside.

Shinji had finally signed all the paper work. "Welcome back to Nerv. Due to your previous battle record you have been given the rank of Major." Shinji looked up quickly. "I'm a Major?" "Yes, I am also a Major." Shinji smiled a bit at this. Now the only thing left is to get back to the shore where I landed and call for the ships to come back and pick us up." "Ships?" "Yes, we will have an escort back to America, seeing as our cargo is so valuable." Shinji nodded then smiled. "I am adding one more thing to my list of conditions." Rei looked at him a bit nervously. "Uh... I guess it would be ok." Shinji's smile widened. "Good, there will be no boats involved in the transporting of Unit 01." Rei suddenly regretted agreeing to Shinji so quickly. "But Shinji we won't be able to use the planes they wouldn't have enough fuel to return to America." Shinji's smile only widened. "I will get us there trust me." Rei didn't like the mischievous glint in his eyes, but she had no other choice, but to agree. Slowly Rei nodded her head. Shinji smiled at her, "Excellent, you had better get to bed Ayanami. We have a big day tomorrow." Rei looked around and did indeed notice it was getting late, the sun had already gone down and the darkness was setting in. Again she only nodded as Shinji got up to leave. Slowly as Rei fell asleep a small smile crossed her lips.

(To Be Continued)

@@@ Sorry for the lateness of my updates to my fics, I have been very busy lately, but I hope to update this one again as well was my other fic. Although I have been reading the reviews for "Dreams" and it would seem my readers have a taste for sugar, although I still say it is too WAFFy I might continue it if some people send me some ideas. Other than that please REVIEW, and yes I do read them over.