Heaven is Wherever You Make It.

(See Prologue for notes.)

Chapter 3: Confusion

*The lights flicker and the chapter title turns off once again revealing the sick man behind this story: Yume*

Yume: Well it would seem that I am obligated to continue this Fic as well as attempt to make Shinji's life both a heaven and a hell. I also apologize for how short the chapters are in comparison with the first one but my guess is that you would prefer to know the next chapter sooner instead of waiting for me to write one that long again.

*From the darkness behind Yume the sound of a gun being loaded is heard. *

Yume: Heh heh I guess I'll be getting back to work now.

*He quickly ducks into a roll as a knife flies where his head used to be. As he begins running to plug the title back in several shots hit the floor behind him. *

Yume: Please forgive the interruption

*Throws the plug into the socket to see the cord get shot. *

*Kelsey walks in glaring up at the much taller Yume. *

Kelsey: What the hell are you doing Yume? Get back to work!

Yume: Not now short-stuff.

*Pulls a radio out of his pocket*

Yume: Division 6 switch to alternative power for title

*A low squeaking sound is heard form the darkness as the title slowly flickers to life and Yume runs out of the room carrying a screaming Kelsey with him. *

Kelsey: HE STILL DON'T OWN EVA!!!

Chapter 3: Confusion

Darkness that all that could be registered by the mind. Utter and complete desolation as the person tried to find something to guide them. There was nothing, nothing to see nothing to touch nothing to hear (save their own heartbeat and breathing). Absolutely nothing. 'What is this? Where am I?' The being slowly noticed the entire area that they occupied began to get brighter. He noticed his hands, arms and the rest of his upper body, although he could still not see his legs but he knew they were there. The boy called Shinji Ikari looked around trying to see where he was. There was nothing to assist him with that answer. 'What's going on?' Shinji turned to look around but saw nothing, no ground, no ceiling/sky, nothing. 'This is strange. Suddenly he was felt another presence near him.

He turned to see himself in his plugsuit. 'So it is you Shinji Ikari.' 'Yeah it's me.' 'And yet again we find ourselves confronted with the same question.' 'We are?' Suddenly an image flashes before the first Shinji soon more images appear in a rapid succession. 'Oh THAT question.' 'Yes, That question.' The first Shinji looks down. 'I still don't know why. That's all there is to it and you damn well know it.' 'I suppose you're right. But answer me another question.' The first Shinji seemed to get angry with the one in the plugsuit. 'As long as you don't try to rephrase 'Why I altered Third Impact to this.' then I will answer it.' The Shinji in the plugsuit frowned a bit but continued on with his question. 'Who is this?' An image of Rei appears followed by others all pictures of Rei. 'That's Rei Ayanami, the pilot of Unit 00, as well as the former clone of my mother.' Both Shinji's nodded. The first spoke up. 'Why does that matter?' 'You already know that answer. Remember though Time is an unstoppable force and waits for no one even if they controlled Third Impact for a time.' With that the image of Rei disappeared and the Shinji who was dressed in a plugsuit also disappeared. As a sound became audible a light humming sound.

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

Ritsuko looked at the consol that was recording and displaying the synch results of the three Eva pilots. "Ok you guys. We got all the information that we needed you can all go now." Slowly Shinji looked up as he opened his eyes after the prolonged synch test. "Is that all Ritsuko? Can't I have a little while to go out and try some tactics?" Ritsuko looked at Shinji as if to consider his proposal. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt an elbow stabbing her in the ribs. She looked at Misato who mouthed 'Let him go out.' "Very well Shinji you can go out for a ten minute run in the Geo Front." Asuka screamed from her plug as she heard the news. "WHAT? WHY DOES HE GET TO GO OUT AND I DON'T?" Ritsuko just glared at Asuka. "Until you get a synch ratio over 95% and we install an S2 unit in your Eva you can't." Asuka glared at the doctor while muttering something under her breath.

Shinji looked around the Geo Front it never ceased to amazed him that it was so beautiful. As Eva Unit 01 walked through the area surrounding Nerv Headquarters he looked up at the roof where the artificial light came from. Misato spoke up. "Shinji that's enough return to base." Shinji nodded and began to walk towards the fifth catapult. As Shinji was being lowered into the Eva cage the main screen in Central Dogma began to flicker and alarms began to go off. Misato whipped her head around and looked at the main screen in surprise. "What's going on?" Maya looked up at her commanding officer. "The Magi report an explosion as well as a large object above Tokyo III." "I see what's its pattern." "We can't tell most external sensors in that area is off line." There was a very uncomfortable silence as all eyes watched the commander. Gendo stood and looked down at the control room. "Prepare Unit 00 for launch Unit 01 will act as backup until otherwise instructed." The Command center exploded as chaos ensued the announcement of orders.

Soon Rei was in the Entry Plug of Unit 00 and was beginning activation. "Rei we don't have much information on the target only that it should be in that area on the map." As Misato told Rei about the mission a green area on the map Rei was looking at lit up. "You are to go up and observe the target and await further instructions, Unit 01 will provide backup." Rei nodded. "Understood." Shinji was already waiting at the catapults that would launch the two mechs to the surface. "Are you ready Ayanami?" Rei nodded and waited as she was sent to the surface to inspect the new enemy.

As Rei reached the surface she looked at the digital map that showed her Eva and Unit 01 were positioned on the outsides of the designated area. The blue giant reached into a nearby armament building and pulled out a pallet gun. Nearby the purple arm of Unit 01 had retrieved a progressive axe. Misato watched as the two Evas prepared to enter the designated area. "Ok remember do not attack unless otherwise ordered, is that understood?" Both pilots nodded and continued to look for the target, Unit 00 was in the lead followed by Unit 01.

Misato turned to Makato. "What about Unit 02 why isn't she going out?" "Well major it seems that the Eva still needs more time for repair." Soon a loud crash that was heard from the employee lounge was followed by a string of loud germen curses. "At least Asuka is taking it well. Any readings yet?" "Negative ma'am we aren't getting anything yet and the Magi refuse to render a decision until more information is provided." "I see are you two seeing anything?"

Unit 00 walked along the streets of the battle field of Tokyo III looking left and right as it walked. Unit 01 followed covering Unit 00 from the rear. Shinji looked ahead at Unit 00 and smiled as he looked at it, the way it moved so gracefully. He felt himself blush slightly as he stared at the Unit that Rei piloted. 'Oh man I just realized I never got to thank her for getting me a present, hell I didn't even get a chance to open it.' Shinji remembered back to that morning when he woke up after his party.

*FLASHBACK*

There was a crash and suddenly Shinji found himself moving rapidly back and forth. "Wake up Third Child, you need to make breakfast." Suddenly Asuka pulled Shinji off his bed and dropped him on the floor. "Huh? What?" Asuka turned and walked out of the room. Shinji lied on t5he floor for a few minutes trying to figure out where he was and what he was doing there. He finally realized that he was on the floor and the only reason that he could find for it was a certain loud and violent redhead. He got up and brushed himself off. "Why do I have to live with her? I mean it has been a long time since our synch training together so why does she still lives her with Misato?" Shinji decided that it was too early and his head was pounding too much for him to be thinking. He finally walked out of his room and into the kitchen where he was met with a heavily drinking Misato who seemed to be trying to ignore the loud girl next to her with very little success.

Shinji had finally made breakfast and had left the table when Asuka started to tell Misato how much he needed to grow up. So he decided to just leave. He found himself looking at Rei's old ID card on his desk, as he thought about the mysterious girl pictured there. 'I wonder why she is always so secluded I mean she never really talks to anyone except the commander and me.' He reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out the picture of his mother. He couldn't help but marvel at how much Rei looked like his mother with of course the exception of the color of their eyes and hair. As he placed the picture of his mother back, he noticed the paper that listed his bank account information, 'I still can't believe that I have so much money.' He closed the drawer and looked at the clock and realized that he was going to be late for school if he didn't leave soon. He grabbed his bag and his lunch and left without telling Asuka, something he would later regret.

*Real Time*

Shinji shook himself out of his daze when he began to feel a pressure on his neck. He turned the Eva around after having made sure that it wasn't on his body that he felt the pressure. As he scanned the area he looked up and noticed an odd shape in the sky as he zoomed in on the object he realized that there were no jets that had four feathered wings or that had large tails with fur on the end. The thing he realized that was most out of place was the large red orb located in the center of the creature's body. "Ayanami I may have spotted the target." Unit 00 turned around and looked to where Unit 01 was looking. "Headquarters Units 00 and 01 have a possible sighting awaiting orders."

Ritsuko looked at the screen that was conveying what the Evas saw and turned to Misato. "Well Misato what do you think we should do?" Misato turned and looked at Ritsuko. "We attack of course. Unit 00 go to the nearest armament building and retrieve the Positron Rifle I am sending you. Unit 01 will cover you."

Rei willed her Eva to quickly retrieve the weapon and she took aim with it as Shinji used Unit 01's A.T Field to cover Unit 00. "Unit 00 aiming at target and waiting for computer confirmation of trajectory." As the indicators lined up Rei tensed as she readied to pull the trigger. Suddenly the target banked to the left and left the area of Unit 00's sight. "Target lost, it is currently out of visible range." Soon Rei heard a large crash to her and Shinji's left both turned and jumped back as a large explosion nearly hit them. "Rei watch out!" Unit 01 pushed Unit 00 out of the path of the next shot from the angel. Shinji could only remember the burning he felt as it intensified. Suddenly it stopped. Shinji began to assess the damage he had received. He could only find a few scorch marks on the Eva's armor. He was interrupted from his inspection as he heard a loud pained scream. He turned and watched as the angel was ripping Unit 00's arm from its socket, while at the same time using it's free claw (I guess you would call it a claw picture one of the cheap claws in those machines were you use around $5 to win a $.50 toy, only a lot larger and a LOT thicker.) to rip at Unit 00's chest plate. "AYANAMIIIIIIIIII!"

[To Be Continued...]

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Yume: "That felt good my first cliff hanger. I hope it goes over well."

Kelsey: "What about that time I tripped you while you were checking the A.C.?"

Yume: "Not where I was hanging where the audience is left with questions about the next chapter."

Kelsey: "Oh."

*Suddenly the chapter's title goes dark and the squeaking sound stops as two hamsters crawl away from the title.*

Yume: "I'm surprised those hamsters lasted this long."

*Kelsey smacks Yume with a bag of "Hamster Grains"*

Kelsey: "You are such a n evil SOB you know that Yume?"

Yume: "Of course.")