Disclaimer: see part 1
Chain of Command
Part 18
Breaking the Chain
By Random1377
"Mommy… where are we going again?"
Misato paused to smile up at her daughter, "Just a little trip out of town, honey," she replied, turning back to her packing, "and I think Nozomi's going to come with us, since her family's going somewhere else, and she doesn't want to go with them."
"Why isn't Daddy going?" Reiko pouted.
"He's meeting us there," the purple-haired woman said, frowning slightly, "I told you that." Not that she was happy about this wrinkle in their plans, but she would live with it.
"I want him to come with now," her daughter said, folding her arms and compressing her lips into a determined line.
"You know something?" Misato said gently, "I do too…"
Seeing that this wasn't going to do any good, Reiko changed her line of questioning. "Is it hot in Okeynawa?"
"It's hot everywhere in Japan, baby," her mother replied, suppressing a smile, "but Okinawa is supposed to be nicer than here." –And if it's nice enough,- she added mentally, -we just won't come back…-
That this was more a scouting trip than a vacation was a detail she didn't think her little girl needed to have. Misato longed to leave Tokyo-3, and all the bad memories it evoked, far behind – further than Okinawa, if she could arrange it… like many of the pilots had.
In the month since the last battle, just about all the Children had left – or were going to leave – the city, citing various reasons. For many, there was really no reason to stay. The angels were gone… the EVAs were almost all destroyed… and all the city held was the ghosts of the deceased.
Mira had been the first to leave, heading back to France where she had an old flame she was anxious to rekindle things with. David had been next, shrugging when Misato had asked where he was going and saying simply, 'Long as the drinks are cold… I don't care. Tell Shinji I said bye.'
At the time, Shinji was still in the hospital, recovering from the last angel fight… and Misato couldn't understand why the Russian hadn't just dropped in and told him goodbye himself.
Shinji had shrugged, smiling as he said it was probably best this way.
"We'd probably both just end up pretending we were tough and making the other promise to keep in touch…"
Melissa was still in the city, but only for another week. She was waiting to leave until the band she had longed to see held their reunion tour. 'It's a simple thing, really,' she had said with a smile, 'but right now… simple sounds good, you know?'
Alejandro was still around, too… staying with Xiang as she slowly continued recovering. It hadn't really been a shock to Misato when they had announced their engagement – she had been one of the few to know of their clandestine relationship.
Touji, of course, would probably never leave… he was too stubborn, and too proud to admit that things like memories bothered him. He might leave if Hikari asked him too, but she seemed content to be wherever he was… and their wedding was coming up in three months, so they wouldn't go anywhere until then, at least.
-Rei will stay for a while too…- Misato thought, pausing in her packing again to watch her daughter trying to touch her tongue to her nose, a trick Nozomi had insisted (with a wink at Misato) was possible if you kept practicing, -she might be going out with Kensuke, but she's still Commander… and I doubt if she would just brush off her duties to go skipping town.-
She imagined that the blue-haired girl would leave eventually – she had mentioned it in passing two weeks after the attack, and Rei never mentioned anything in passing. Her second in command, Hines, had asked for some personal leave, and had left the city for a week-long trip with his family only three days prior – something he had not been able to do for years.
"I'll be nice to get away from the city for a while…"
Though Misato had not had any strong feelings for the German, she could definitely relate to that sentiment.
Angelica would be kept in the NERV hospital. Though the war was over, and most of the Children had been discharged, NERV still had the best care facility on the planet – and Misato had heard that one of the head psychiatrists felt he was on the verge of a breakthrough with the former Ninth Child.
Though what might happen when she found out her lover had died in battle, Misato did not know.
-Asuka…- the purple-haired woman thought, -I hope she and Shinji will come to see us off – they said they would…-
Of all the pilots, they were the only ones still considered 'active,' as theirs were the only two Units to survive the cataclysmic final battle. NERV still had Unit 09, but it had somehow become non-functional after the attack that had rendered Angelica catatonic. Maya theorized it was something to do with the Ninth's sync ratio at the time, which had shot up to over one hundred percent. The tech said that it was likely the Unit would never work again… but they still kept it around – NERV was hesitant to throw anything away.
As for Maya herself, she and Shigeru had tendered their resignations the day after the last attack. They were still in the city, but they never came to NERV – ever. Misato had asked Maya why one day, when she had met her by accident at a supermarket. The brown-haired woman had looked away and said, 'I don't work there anymore…' she had then changed the subject.
Asuka had stayed with Shinji as he recuperated, telling Misato that she had gone through too much to ever leave him of her own free will again. They had been married in the hospital three days after Shinji had first woken from his five-day coma – the soonest he had been able to stand. Reiko had been the ring-bearer, and Touji had been the best man.
"Mommy?" Reiko said suddenly, "Why isn't Shinji coming with us?"
Misato sighed. It was a question she had asked herself many times – and them, as well. "They're going somewhere else, honey," she replied, "somewhere they can be alone…"
The little girl cocked her head to the side, "But they're gonna have a baby…" she pointed out, "they won't be alone."
Her mother laughed. "I guess not," she said, shaking her head at her daughter's logic, "but they still want to go somewhere by themselves."
The news that Asuka was pregnant had come like a bolt from the blue… and Misato could tell by the redhead's dazed expression when she told her the news that she felt that way too.
"So… yeah… I'm gonna be a mother… eight months…"
Misato smiled. –You'll do just fine…- she thought, recalling the tears that had followed the Second Child's confession.
"What happened to Daddy's hand?" Reiko asked, changing the subject without preamble.
"He cut it, honey," her mother said with a sigh, "that's why he's staying a few days. The doctors wanted to make sure there it was all better before he went anywhere."
She frowned slightly, still struck by the oddness of the whole situation. Kaji had cut his hand on a piece of equipment in the depths of Terminal Dogma – something that had to do with angels… and the doctors had been worried about possible 'angelic contamination' as he put it.
And this was day before yesterday, so he wasn't permitted to leave just yet.
But what was he doing there? And what could be down there that had to do with angels?
-Too many questions without answers…- she thought, zipping the suitcase closed, -and we have to get to the airport, so I can't even squeeze it out of him…-
She smiled and blushed slightly as she thought of how she might elicit that information.
"Ready?" she asked the now-bouncing young girl.
"Uh huh!" Reiko said, nodding emphatically, "Can we get cotton candy??"
Misato laughed, "It's a plane, honey… not an amusement park." She winked at the crestfallen little girl, "But if you're good… we'll stop on the way and pick up some pockey for the trip, sound good?"
As her daughter practically screamed an affirmative and picked up her little carry-on bag, Misato looked around the room. –Lots of memories…- she thought, her eyes falling on the corner where Reiko's crib used to sit. –Maybe…- she thought, smiling softly, -now that this is all over… I'm not that old. We could try for one more…-
Still smiling, she hoisted the suitcase… switched off the light… and walked out the door, visions of the future dancing in her head.
**
"There's a storm coming…" Shinji mused quietly, looking out the window, "we should get going if we're gonna meet them at the airport."
"Mmmm…" Asuka hummed, snuggling closer to his side, "just a few more minutes… too comfy…"
He nodded, running his fingers idly through her long, red tresses. "I was thinking…" he began slowly, "maybe Germany… what do you think?"
"You're a sap," she said, smiling as she kissed his shoulder, "just because I'm from there doesn't mean I really want to go back… but it's sweet of you to offer…"
He leaned forward and kissed the end of her nose. "Then where would you like to go, Misses Ikari?"
She grinned. "Well I don't know, Mister Ikari," she paused to kiss him, "I hear France is nice this time of year, and Mira did offer to let us stay with her."
Shinji laughed. "I thought she was kidding…"
Asuka shook her head, her tone becoming thoughtful. "At first, I did too…" she admitted, "but the way she looked at me… Shinji, she hoped we would say yes."
"Well," Shinji said with a shrug, "they say that soldiers in a war are forced to become close – even if they don't really like each other they want to keep close to the people they fought with." His gaze became far off as he concluded, "It gives them something to hold on to, and they know that only the people that experienced what they experienced can truly understand them."
Asuka smiled, biting back her initial comment that perhaps he was reading too much into it. "France it is, then…" she said softly.
Abruptly she leaned forward and bit his side, drawing a startled yelp as she quickly scooted out of the bed. "Get up, lazy!" she said with a laugh, "Or we won't get to the airport on time!"
"ME!?" he burst out, trying to sound angry… but finding it difficult through his laughter, "I'm not the one who said, 'Oh honey… I'm soooo comfortable resting here on your manly chest, I couldn't possibly leave.'"
"Neither am I!" she laughed, pulling the blankets off the bed, "I think we both know that your chest is anything but-"
She never got to finish, as he slipped out of the bed and embraced her, kissing hr firmly.
As they parted, she lay her head on his shoulder. "Mmmmm…" she whispered, "when we get home from the airport… let's pack, ok? Tomorrow, we can go in to NERV and tell Wondergirl that we're leaving."
He nodded. "Six years…" he mused, smiling as she leaned back to meet his eyes, "after six years, it's finally all going to be over…"
She sighed as he put his right hand gently on her stomach. "Let's go say goodbye to Misato," she said softly, "and we can tell her where she can find us…"
As they began dressing, Shinji said, "You know this means our daughter will be legally French, right?"
"How do you know it's going to be a girl?" Asuka asked, quirking one eyebrow up, "last time I checked, you don't have a uterus…"
He laughed out loud, pulling on his shirt. "Just a feeling I have is all…" he said.
"Well, we're not naming it Rei," she said shaking her head emphatically, "uh-uh… so don't even think about it! I know you like her, you freak!"
Instead of the laughter she expected, he sobered. "If it's a boy," he asked quietly, "can we name him Kaworu?"
Asuka smiled gently, "We'll see, honey… now come on, let's get going."
They finished getting ready and headed out the door, agreeing that they would visit the gray-haired boy's gravesite before they left Tokyo-3.
It was to be the longest day either of them had ever known.
**
Sandelphon slowly came to consciousness, brought up from her troubled 'sleep' by the awareness that she was no longer alone.
Angels never truly slept – since they had S^2 organs, with unlimited energy at their disposal, they had no need… though Sandelphon would often drift in her LCL, allowing her senses to grow hazy and imagining that this must be what sleep was like.
"Is it time then?" the angel asked, gazing through the thick glass at the figure resting with its hand on the manual release for her tank's explosive launch system.
"Do you understand why this must be?" the figure inquired.
If she had had anything resembling a human head, Sandelphon would have nodded. "Of course…" she replied, "unless all of the messengers are gone, the Lillim cannot ascend."
"Can you… forgive me?"
"Yes…" the angel replied, "but before you do it… may I ask a favor?"
"What is it?" the figure asked.
"Before I die…" Sandelphon whispered, "will you use the word I want to hear?"
There was a moment of silence.
"Yes," came the reply, "I can do that for you… daughter…"
As Rei pulled the switch, Sandelphon whispered three final words,
"Thank you… Mother…"
Rei watched as the tank was launched into the sky, a pistol dangling loosely from her right hand.
"There was no other way," her advisor said gently, stepping out of the shadows behind her.
Rei whipped her arm around, leveling the gun at the man's chest.
"Please do not do that," she said after a moment, lowering the weapon.
Kaji smiled, lowering his hands (which he had raised automatically – he had been at gunpoint before). "Sorry," he said, "but we really do need to hurry… my sources indicated that the attack will come any time now."
Rei nodded, looking back up at the hole the tank had been propelled through. "Yes…" she acknowledged, "it is time…"
Together, they made their way from the room, pausing for a moment as Rei looked back over her shoulder… bidding a silent farewell to the creature she had come to think of as her friend… if not her child.
"Goodbye," she whispered to the now-empty room.
At her side, Kaji frowned. "Now is not the time to grow sentimental, Rei," he said softly, opening the door so she could precede him into the elevator.
"She deserved that much," the blue-haired girl said, stepping past him, "after all that we-"
Her thought went unfinished as she felt the sharp prick of a needle enter her neck.
Kaji caught her as she slumped forward, a look of infinite surprise on her face as her crimson eyes rolled closed.
"Forgive me," he whispered as he eased her down onto the floor, "but time really is short… for what we have to do, and for our race – and my girl needs a future, Rei… I hope you can understand."
Reaching into his pocket, he extracted a small transmitter. "Begin the operation," he said softly.
As the elevator rose, he slowly began unbuttoning Rei's jacket… wincing as the stitches in his right hand protested the movement.
-For you, Reiko…- he thought sadly, -this is all for you…-
**
Makoto Hyouga was on duty when everything went to hell.
"Sensors are picking up something," one of the lesser techs said, sounding frustrated, "I think they're acting up… they've got it classified as an EVA carrier."
"Nothing scheduled to fly today," Makoto said, stretching tiredly, "I'll have the sensors checked later…" -Ten hour shifts suck,- he thought, fighting back a yawn, -least it's almost over…-
On a whim, he turned to the other tech. "Do we have a visual feed? I wanna get a tape to show Technical when I ream them for this… damn system is supposed to be the best in the world…"
-Probably a personal jet,- he mused as the other tech began typing in commands, -or maybe a hang-glider, like last…- "Oh my God…" he whispered, his jaw dropping open as the visual came up on the main screen.
"Sir!" another tech spoke up, "I've got reports of ground forces moving into the city!"
Makoto could only nod, his eyes fixed on the screen, where the unmistakable form of an EVA carrier was indeed winging its way towards Tokyo-3.
-It's less than fifteen miles out,- he thought, unbelieving, -it'll be here in less then four minutes!- "Sound the alarm!" He called out, "Seal the entrances and evacuate all non-essential personnel to the angel shelters!"
He knew this wouldn't take long, as NERV had been running mostly on a skeleton crew since the last angel had been defeated.
"What is that?" he whispered, squinting as he tried to focus on the object attached to the EVA carrier, "Can't be a mass-production Unit…" he mumbled as the alarm began sounding, "we took all of them when SEELE was destroyed…"
Suddenly, he knew what he was looking at.
"Good, Holy God…" he gasped, his eyes opening wide, "try to contact Shinji and Asuka!" he ordered frantically, "Maybe it's not too late…"
Plainly visible on the screen… dangling beneath the lazily banking carrier… was Evangelion Unit 04.
**
"Misses Kaji?" Nozomi said, trying to look everywhere at once, "What's happening?"
Misato peered around the corner. "Something bad," she said softly, not at all in the mood to try and comfort the scared girl, "something really bad… but if we can get to my work, we should be ok."
Reiko's eyes were wide. "Will Daddy be there?" she asked, looking more excited by the prospect of seeing her father at work than scared that there was an alarm sounding throughout the city.
The purple-haired woman nodded absently, tightening her grip on the little girl's hand. "Yes, honey… let's drop in and say hi to him, ok?"
"Ok!" Reiko said happily.
"Will we be ok?" Nozomi asked, her voice tinged with panic, "How far is it? Shouldn't we get to a shelter?"
"No time," Misato said, stepping out of the alley they had ducked into when the dense traffic had forced them to leave their car. –If we hadn't stopped for Nozomi,- she thought, holding her gun tightly, -we would have been at the airport. Good thing we stopped, or it would take twice as long to get there…-
They began to move down the sidewalk, Misato holding Reiko's hand, who was in turn holding Nozomi's – an odd little chain of command, going from mother… to daughter… to caregiver. The Operations Director estimated that it had been about ten minutes since they had seen the carrier release its silvery cargo, dropping it on the far side of the city.
-Pilot must be a rookie,- she thought, a trace of hope entering her mind, -overshot his drop zone.- She could hear the EVA walking slowly through the city, taking its time as it approached Headquarters. –They probably don't expect resistance,- she thought, -and they're right – who would fight an EVA? All our pilots are gone except for Asuka and Shinji, and they're probably at the airport waiting for me and- -
Her thought broke off as a figure stepped out of the alley in front of her, backlit by the sun.
Misato's gun was up before the other person even noticed she was there. "Freeze!" she commanded, "Don't move even an inch!"
"Ok, Mom…" Shinji's voice came to her, sounding startled… but amused.
"Geez, Misato…" Asuka said, stepping out of the alley, "maybe you should try decaf?"
"Shinji? Asuka?" Misato said, blinking as she recognized the two, "What are you doing here?"
"Hoping you don't shoot us, for one," Asuka said dryly, "mind pointing that thing somewhere else?"
"Sorry," Misato said, realizing she was still aiming her gun at her son's chest, "there are troops moving into the city, can't be too careful…"
"I understand," Shinji said, "that's why we're on the way to NERV. We were headed to the airport… kinda got a late start," he shot Asuka a narrow look, but she just smiled, "and we got caught in the rush to leave the city."
"Let's go then," Misato said firmly, "you saw the carrier, right?"
The two Children nodded, all traces of humor gone from their eyes.
"I don't know how," Shinji said, "I don't know why – but that was Unit 04. We need to get to-"
"Shinji!" Reiko shouted, apparently deciding she had held her tongue long enough.
Shinji let out a surprised grunt as the little girl pulled away from her mother and threw herself at him, "Carry me!" she demanded, giggling happily.
Asuka laughed as the purple-haired girl all but climbed her husband, sighing happily as he finally regained his senses and put his arms around her.
"How about saying please next time," Shinji muttered as Misato joined Asuka in her amusement.
"I don't have to!" Reiko said haughtily, "You're my Shinji! I can do what I want with you!"
"Sounds like you," Misato said, winking at Asuka
The redhead's laughter choked off as she turned a brilliant shade of red. "Be quiet…" she muttered, avoiding the older woman's eyes.
"Ummm… excuse me," Nozomi said hesitantly, "but umm… shouldn't we go?"
They all agreed that that probably would be best, and continued on their way, trying to figure out how they would get in to the undoubtedly-sealed base.
"I know how!" Reiko said unexpectedly, "Why don't we just…"
All the grownups stared at the little girl in silent wonder as she outlined her simple plan.
"I'm glad you have kids, Misato," Asuka said as they neared the base, "she's much better at tactics than you…"
"Be quiet…" the purple-haired woman muttered.
But secretly, she was glad too. She never would have considered her daughter's simple, yet effective plan.
She allowed herself a small smile.
-If we get out of this,- she thought, -I'm gonna reconsider giving her that allowance she's been asking for…-
It made her feel good to think of something so mundane, because if she was still together enough to think about whether or not to give her daughter a few hundred yen every now and then, she was together enough to get them all through this...
**
Kaji sighed in frustration. "Well," he mused, "it was a long-shot…"
He knelt and scooped Rei back into his arms, turning away from the failed experiment behind him.
-I suppose this leaves only one alternative,- he thought grimly.
He had been sure that the Lance of Longinus (the true one) and Units 01 and 02 would be enough for his plans… but it had not gone well – due to Unit 01, he was sure.
"Overprotective woman," he muttered to himself, "can't you see what I'm trying to do?"
Yui Ikari had played a major part in the development of the EVAs… and Kaji was certain that it was her presence that had stymied his attempt. If not directly in this endeavor, then at the very least by somehow stopping the installation of the crucial S^2 engine in Unit 01. He had hoped that one would be enough, and that using the Lance to link the Units would bridge the two.
He had been most disappointed to find that this was not the case.
Shaking his head, he headed out of the EVA cages. "I hoped it wouldn't come to this…" he whispered to the limp form cradled in his arms, "but I don't have any other choice…"
-Soon it will all be over,- he thought, -God forgive me…-
Somehow, he doubted He would…
**
"Hurry up!" Asuka said, holding her hand out to Shinji, "Didn't you hear Misato? They're probably gonna flood this whole floor with Bakelite!!"
Shinji took her hand, squirming his way out of the tight area and muttering, "I'm hurrying."
Reiko looked happier than her mother had ever seen her… and rightly so – it took a genius, a fool, or a child to come up with the movie-esque idea of climbing through the ventilation shafts.
"NERV Headquarters," Asuka said grandly, "home of the Evangelions – mankind's last defense against the evil, invading angels… compromised by a four-year old girl."
Misato laughed as they hurried towards the EVA cages. "Well," she said, "I doubt the designers had to contend with the imagination of a movie-loving daughter of an Operations Director."
"Don't try and take credit," Asuka laughed, feeling her spirits climbing with every step, "she gets her brains from her father."
"And her taste in movies from her Aunt," Shinji grinned, laughing himself as Nozomi blushed.
The EVA cages were fairly deep in the complex, and they decided to hold off on further discussion until they reached the locker room. As they arrived, they heard Makoto's voice.
"Target is thirty minutes out," he announced, "it's moving slowly. Ground troops are almost here, commencing Bakelite injection to upper levels in four minutes, all personnel clear the area."
"Good timing," Misato panted as Shinji and Asuka began to strip out of their clothes.
"Should we tell them we're here?" Shinji asked, throwing his shirt absently to the side.
Asuka sighed and shook her head, grinning as she spotted Nozomi's wide eyes fixed on her husband, "You have no idea how to make an entrance, honey…"
"Target is confirmed as Evangelion Unit 04," Makoto's voice came over the speaker system.
"SEELE must have faked its destruction and stashed it away somewhere," Misato said thoughtfully, "you guys will have to get the pilot out, and then destroy it."
"Where are you going?" Asuka asked as the woman took Reiko by the hand and headed for the door, "Aren't you going to coordinate for us?"
"I promised my little girl she could see her Daddy," Misato replied with a smile, "and I need to make sure he's not still at his desk, merrily working away will the world goes to hell all around him." She turned to the youngest of the Horaki family, "You stay here, ok? We're pretty deep in Headquarters… you'll be safe here."
"I, ummm… know where the command room is," Nozomi said hesitantly, pulling her eyes away from the handsome, almost naked man in front of her and blushing deeply, "can I go there? I don't wanna be all alone…"
Misato nodded, "Ok… I forgot that your sister's marrying a pilot… will you be ok getting there by yourself?"
Nozomi nodded, forcing a smile. "I-I think so…" she said hesitantly, "everyone's being so brave… I think I can do this…"
The purple-haired woman smiled reassuringly. "I have promises to keep, or I'd go with you… sorry."
"It's ok," the younger woman said, moving past her to the door, "I'll be fine."
"She's a good kid," Shinji said as the door closed.
"Yeah," Misato said drawing her pistol. –Just in case,- she thought. "She's the only person I trust with my little girl… so…" she trailed off. "Wasting time," she said with a shake of her head, "good luck you two… make me proud…"
As she walked out, the two Children finished undressing.
"I think your plugsuit looks better," Shinji said, quickly pulling his out of the locker (since they were the only two pilots left, the locker rooms had been consolidated), "mine just looks stupid…"
"I think the blue accentuates your eyes," Asuka said with a grin, "not as well as it accentuates your ass, though…"
"Funny," the Third said absently, "I always fancied myself an autumn… and your ass is much better, too… I think I got the short end of the stick somehow…"
"Well that's true,," the redhead laughed, pressurizing her suit. "You ready, baby?" she asked a moment later.
Pressurizing his suit, he nodded. "Yeah, let's get this taken care of…" he smiled, "this is the last time, honey… let's show them how we do it!"
She grinned, "Why Shinji," she said, feigning amazement, "I never knew you were so forceful… you're getting me all hot and bothered."
"Well then we better hurry up and smash Unit 04," he said seductively, "and take care of that for you…"
She stuck her tongue out, pushing the door to the cages open. "Perv."
"Hey," he said, "you started… what is it?" he asked as she stopped short, almost causing him to run into her.
"Shouldn't there be ummm… EVAs in here?" she asked quietly.
"What?" he asked, stepping past her.
Instead of the familiar forms of Unit 01 and Unit 02, there was a sprawling mass of organic matter. The vaguely humanoid outlines against the wall were covered with a twisted, red coating… and their forms were oddly soft, as if whatever was all over them had partially eaten them.
A long, formerly lance-shaped bridge ran between the units, impaling them at the cores… which were both dark and dead looking.
Shinji looked at his wife.
"Call me crazy," he mumbled, his voice shaking, "but I don't think we can pilot those."
"Well, you are crazy…" she returned, gazing up at the mutated mecha, "but you're right, these things aren't going to work today…" she narrowed her blue eyes thoughtfully, "or ever again I'd say…"
"What now?" asked, taking her hand.
With a sigh, she turned away from the twisted hulks. "I guess we head back to the command bridge…"
"Why?"
Asuka smiled sadly. "So we can get a front row seat…" she said softly, "don't want to miss the big show, do you?"
"Asuka…" he said, holding her in place as she started for the door, "it's not over yet…"
"Did I say it was?" she asked, her smile becoming a bit more genuine, "Come on… maybe we can help somehow, I dunno…"
They left the ruined EVAs behind, heading quickly towards the command center, unsure of what they might be able to do, but unwilling to stand idle while those they knew fought.
Because that's what heroes do.
**
"Do we have anything we can throw at it?" Makoto asked dismally, "Anything at all?"
"No sir…" the other tech replied, "but Unit 09 has been launched underwater, as you instructed."
"Good," Makoto said with a sigh, "at least Angelica will be safe…"
"And we won't? Don't be such a pessimist! Geez, I didn't get all dirty crawling through those shafts for this!"
Makoto spun around. "Asuka! Shinji! How did you get here?"
"You really don't want to know," Shinji said with a grimace, "let's just say that NERV isn't as secure as one might hope."
Makoto smiled, relief evident on his face. "Thank God you two are here… we can get you to the cages in… what?" he trailed off as the two shook their heads, then slumped a bit as they explained the situation with the EVAs. "Great," he muttered, "well, it was nice working with you two…"
"Don't be so negative!" Asuka said suddenly, "I won't have that under my command!"
Shinji and Makoto both blinked as the redhead walked up to the tech and folded her arms.
"Has our base been compromised?" she asked, her tone level, "Is Unit 04 here yet?" Makoto shook his head, his mouth gaping open as the Second Child leaned closer to him, shouting, "Are we going to kill fifteen angels, lose four of our own pilots, save the whole Goddamn world and then roll the fuck over?!?!"
"N-no, ma'am!"
"Damn right!" Asuka said, ascending to the command Dais, "The chain of command is unbroken," she declared calmly, addressing the entire room, "Commander Ayanami is absent, Second in Command Hines is absent… so the duty falls to me – since I was chosen by the Commander as her stand-in, should she be injured." She looked around, meeting the eyes of everyone on the command deck, "Are there any objections?"
Seeing that there were none, she nodded, taking the command seat. "Now get me all the information we have on Unit 04's capabilities – I'm assuming it's S^2 active, so we'll need…"
Shinji watched in wonder as his wife rattled off a string of orders, never once showing any doubt that they would be obeyed. And slowly, the command room became what it was supposed to be – the heart of NERV, with everyone doing their appointed tasks, and the Commander overseeing it all with an air of cool, collected determination.
It took his breath away.
"Mister Ikari?"
Shinji turned around. "Nozomi?" he asked, "What are you doing hiding back there?"
"I… didn't want to be in the way," the girl said, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
Shinji smiled, then held his arms out to her. "It's ok, you won't be…" he said quietly.
Nozomi flushed, but stepped closer, hugging the pilot tightly. –I'm not going to cry…- she thought, -I'm not…-
Shinji continued to watch Asuka, smiling gently as she proved that she was well suited to the job… and holding his sister's babysitter close to him as she quietly broke the promise she had made to herself.
**
The citizens of Tokyo-3 had grown used to the sounds of the angel alarm… but this was the first time in six years that the enemy had reached the inner city.
Those that couldn't make it to a shelter hid where they could, watching with wide eyes as the silver EVA picked its way through the city, oddly appearing to be watching its step. The soldiers were a new wrinkle, too… hard-looking men carrying assault rifles, marching through the city.
"Attention."
A woman's voice began sounding over the announcement system in the city, and had anyone been watching their TV, they would have seen the image of a young redhead, wearing a skintight red bodysuit.
"This is Asuka Langley Ikari, Acting Commander of NERV," the woman said calmly, "we are currently under attack by forces unknown, and request immediate assistance. I am broadcasting this message on all frequencies in the hopes that it will reach someone with the ability to lend us a hand."
Her voice grew hard. "To the soldiers preparing to attack this installation," she said coldly, "we will not surrender… we will defend ourselves to the fullest extent of our abilities – including the use of Evangelions – and we strongly recommend that you pull back now. Attention…"
The young woman repeated her message, her tone remaining calm and confident… a testament to strength of spirit and depth of character.
And like an answered prayer, someone replied…
**
"Picking up an incoming signal, Commander," Makoto said, his voice uncertain, "it's coming from… the Geofront?"
"Let's hear it…" Asuka said calmly as she finished her third recital of her message.
"Souryu…" a woman's voice inquired, sounding cracked and unused, "that you?"
"Identify yourself," the Redhead said quietly. –Who is that…?- she thought, frowning, -Sounds familiar…-
There was a moment of silence.
"I'll give you a hint," the voice replied, "I know your boyfriend pretty damn well."
Suddenly, the main screen changed from the image of the slowly advancing Unit 04, to the drawn, haggard face of the Ninth Child.
"Angie!" Asuka gasped, "You're awake!"
"Yeah," the brunette admitted, looking like she'd rather not be, "I heard you whining about needing help…" She smiled weakly, "I guess the idea of you asking for a handout was so weird, it snapped me out of it…"
The redhead grinned. "Well," she said, "we've got ourselves a bit of a problem…" She quickly outlined the situation, fighting the hope that threatened to surge up in her chest. –She just woke up,- she reminded herself, -she's weak… disoriented… and her muscles are probably atrophied… don't get too cocky…-
"Understood," Angelica said, her voice sounding better the more she used it, "where is Kaworu? I want to talk to him…"
"He's gone…" Asuka said levelly, knowing the other girl would recognize a lie from her (she never could lie to her friends), "he died fighting the last angel." Which was true, she reasoned… no need for the brunette to know the whole truth now – or ever, when it came right down to it.
The Ninth Child slumped in her seat, biting her lower lip. "I see…" she whispered, forcing her emotions down deep inside of herself, lest they should overwhelm her, "well, then I guess I better go save the day, then," she said quietly, "I won't let his sacrifice be for nothing…"
"Unit 04 is almost here," Makoto announced, "still no data on the pilot… but we are picking up a steady transmission to the Unit," he looked up at Asuka, "we're trying to hack into it – to see if we can find out who's piloting, and what instructions they're being given."
"Outstanding," Asuka said, holding Angelica's eyes with hers, "so you ready?" she asked softly, a smile quirking around her lips, "Or do you want me to come hold your hand for you?"
"Unit 09," Angelica replied quietly, smiling at the redhead, "engaging the enemy…"
Asuka watched tensely as the white mecha made its way up from the bottom of the small lake on the Geofront to the surface, using its wings to get it there once it had come out from under water. Unit 04 was nearly directly overhead, and Asuka imagined the silver machine would either come down one of the launch tubes or just cut a hole in the ground with the progressive sword it was carrying – depending on how much the enemy knew about them.
"Too much," the redhead muttered to herself as Unit 09 reached the streets above, standing motionless as it waited for the other Unit to make the first move, "they know too much about us…"
She didn't have time to analyze the situation further just then, as Unit 04 caught sight of the other EVA.
"Here it comes!" Angelica said grimly, bracing her Unit as the silver mecha abruptly charged.
Watching the engagement onscreen, Shinji couldn't help but flinch as the titans collided, sending both sprawling to the street. –She's rusty,- he thought, watching Unit 09 picked itself up, its movements much slower than he'd ever seen, -come on, Angie… pick it up…-
It was a strange fight. Neither of the Units seemed willing to actually harm the other one.
-They both must be scared of hurting the other pilot,- Asuka thought, frowning slightly, -we can't afford that right now… she's gotta finish this so she can take care of the ground forces…- As she opened her mouth to issue the order to destroy the other EVA – regardless of the cost – new information entered into the equation.
"Signal analysis complete," Makoto announced, "definitely a dummy plug!"
"Did you catch that, Angie?" Asuka asked, "It's got no pilot – don't hold back!!"
"Roger that…" the Ninth Child said softly.
There were several gasps from those gathered in the command room as the white mecha suddenly reared back and slammed both of its fists into Unit 04's chest. The silver machine stumbled back, dropping its progressive sword and struggling to maintain its balance.
"You know what gets me?" Angelica said, her voice almost conversational… except for the cold, hard edge it held, "Is how anyone could think that a fucking machine could ever match up to a human…"
Shinji let out a low whistle as Unit 09 unfurled its wings, bringing them up and over its shoulders to slam into the sides of the other Unit.
"Now then," the Ninth Child said calmly, keeping Unit 04 pinned with her machine's powerful wings, "let me show you how to use this…"
Several of the technicians on the command bridge were violently ill as the white EVA slowly stooped down, retrieved Unit 04's lost progressive weapon… and proceeded to use it to savagely cut the silver EVA into its component pieces. The fight (if it could even be called that) lasted more than five minutes, and the white EVA didn't let up until the streets of Tokyo-3 were running with blood.
"Class dismissed," Angelica said coldly, bringing her now-crimson EVA to its feet and dropping the progressive sword on the remains of her opponent.
"Nicely done," Asuka commented, her tone neutral as she studied the other woman's features on the main screen, "remind me not to piss you off in the kitchen…"
"Incoming message," Makoto announced, his voice ecstatic, "there's a United States warship that's been running maneuvers not too far from here… and they have a full brigade of soldiers on board. They estimate five hours until they can reach us – but with no EVA to worry about, the Bakelite should hold out at least ten…" he was smiling broadly, "we're gonna be ok!"
The redhead nodded, but kept her eyes on the monitor, where their unexpected savior was about to speak.
"Asuka…" the Ninth Child said quietly, ignoring the bloody mass at her feet, "about Shinji and me… I just wanted to-"
"You know what, Angie?" Asuka cut her softly, meeting the brunette's eyes through the monitor, "Don't. Just let it go, ok?" She smiled, "Done is done…" she whispered, "there's no going back… so how about we move forward?"
"Thank you…" the other woman said, wiping her eyes.
"Hey…" the redhead said with a sudden, broad grin, "I'm gonna be a mother…"
And just like that… the tension was gone.
Shinji smiled as the two friends began an animated conversation about menial things, completely unaware of the fact that everyone on the command deck was watching them with amazement… or not caring, if they were aware of it. The Third Child knew that things would be ok now. If Asuka had enough compassion in her heart to forgive him and Angelica, then truly – all was right with the world.
Of course, Shinji had no way of knowing what was happening far beneath his feet – where the true struggle for mankind's future was about to unfold…
**
In the heart of Terminal Dogma, the most heavily guarded door in all of NERV slowly slid open, allowing two people to enter, one carrying the other. They crossed the large, open space until they got to the huge, red cross… where the second angel was hanging by two immense spikes.
Kaji set the limp girl down on the floor in front of the cross, like some sort of odd sacrifice to an ancient and forgotten god.
"I wish there was another way," he said softly, unwinding the bandages from his hand to reveal the form of the first angel, Adam.
"Yeah," a voice said behind him, "me too… now if you don't mind, step away from the Commander… slowly, please."
Kaji rose to his feet, turning to find Kensuke standing near 'Heaven's Door', as the techs liked to call it. "Mister Aida," he said calmly, ignoring the gun in the man's hand, "what a surprise."
"For me too," the younger man said, his tone flat, "imagine my bafflement at seeing you carrying my – naked – commanding officer through the halls. I figured that that was something I should check out."
"Mmmm…" Kaji hummed, nodding sagely, "and you were just on a routine inspection of the most classified area in NERV…"
Kensuke smiled faintly. "You should know that my assignment is to watch over the Commander," he said matter-of-factly, "she told me not to follow her… but that would be against my original orders, now wouldn't it?" His smile disappeared, "It took me a while to find her again after she disappeared into that elevator… it was mostly luck that I happened to be in the hallway across from the one leading here when you appeared."
"Luck," Kaji mused, "that's one way of putting it, I guess…"
"Tell me why you're doing this," Kensuke said quietly, "after all the trouble you went through to destroy SEELE… why would you continue with their plans?"
"Ever read the Bible?" the pony-tailed man inquired, lowering and folding his arms in spite of the gun pointed his way, "I find the book of Revelations to be very interesting. The last days of man… plagues… fires… catastrophes…" he shook his head, "but what the Bible doesn't talk about is the real danger facing man."
"And that is?"
"Stagnation," Kaji replied, "we've reached the top, my young friend… there's nowhere else to go but down."
"First off," Kensuke said quietly, "so what? Second off, when did you decide that you knew what was best for all of us?"
Kaji smiled. "So what?" he repeated wonderingly, "It doesn't bother you that we'll never get any better? That we'll always be fighting and killing each other over petty squabbles and silly lines drawn on a map? The angels were messengers from God… telling us that our time is up. The more I read SEELE's plans and secret documents, the more I realized they were right – this is the only path for us."
Kensuke frowned, "Did it ever occur to you that the angel's were sent to deliver a different message?"
"What might that be?" Kaji asked, quirking an eyebrow up.
"That we should appreciate what we have," the Section Two man replied, lowering his gun, "that we have great lives – or the potential to have great lives, if we can just get past our doubts and fears and seize it."
"You sound like Fuyutsuki," Kaji grinned, "but even he had the wisdom to see that that was a flawed ideal."
"No," Kensuke argued, "he was blinded by his own desires and longings – I read his psyche report."
"You know quite a bit," Kaji said approvingly.
"Section Two is an intelligence division as well," Kensuke pointed out, "I need to know about everyone I work with… including you."
Kaji smiled. "Well, spare me your analysis," he said dryly, "I'm sure it reads something to the effect that I'm a stalwart seeker of truth, but that I had a tendency to take things to the extreme – being unable to let an idea go once I set my mind to it." The other man nodded, and Kaji concluded, "Then you must know I won't give this up."
"Why have the attack?" Kensuke asked, realizing that this line of conversation was getting him nowhere.
"I had to create a distraction," Kaji explained, "if everyone was busy with an outside attack, no one would notice what was going on in the EVA cages… but I didn't bank on the Lance not working with the EVAs – the clones of the first and second angels. Besides," he added with a shrug, "the soldiers were instructed to use non-lethal force."
"Well, it's all over now," Kensuke said levelly, "the soldiers will never get past the Bakelite, Unit 04 is destroyed… and you've got nowhere to go. Why not just give it up?"
"It's not over," Kaji said with a sad smile, "I've still got the originals."
"You wouldn't…" the Section Two agent breathed, stunned.
"I don't have a choice," the other man replied reluctantly, "that's why I took her with me. I knew that if the merger of the two Units failed, I would have to do it with the real thing."
"I'm not going to let you," Kensuke said flatly, bringing his gun back up, "even if… even if I have to shoot her, I won't let you go through with this madness!"
Kaji smiled. "Well," he said quietly, "I don't think it'll come to all that…"
Kensuke opened his mouth to ask what Kaji meant, but it became obvious as the pony-tailed man abruptly stuck his right hand out, revealing a small tazer and pulling the trigger before Kensuke could react.
As the younger man's unconscious body hit the ground, Kaji discarded the weapon. "Sorry about that," he whispered, "but really, this is the only way…" He walked over and kicked Kensuke's gun, sending it skittering across the floor and off the edge.
Sighing, Kaji looked down at the Section Two agent. "I doubt you'll ever be able to forgive me for what I'm going to do. I know you love her… but after this, you'll never be away from her again…"
He walked back to Rei's still form and knelt. –You can understand, can't you?- he thought, -You wanted instrumentality too… of course, you never quite understood what it meant…-
Shaking his head, he frowned. "Then again… I never let you understand exactly what it was," he said softly, "I doubt you would have approved…"
Kaji laid his hand on Rei's breast, feeling power leap from his palm. "Sorry…" he whispered again.
As he began to push forward, a small voice spoke behind him.
"Daddy?"
Slowly, he turned around, thinking he must be hearing things… but there was Reiko, her clothes showing a few rips and bearing a long smudge of dirt on her cheek – but unmistakably his little girl.
"Why are you touching Aunt Rei like that?" Reiko asked softly.
"Indeed," Misato said, stepping around in front of her daughter, "do tell us, honey." She motioned for Reiko to get behind her, but the little girl simply stared at her father, as if she was trying to puzzle it out.
"It's… complicated, honey…" Kaji said, noticing that his wife was holding her service pistol at her side.
"Is she sick?" Reiko asked, cocking her head to the side.
"No," Misato said quietly, looking from the unconscious form of Kensuke Aida up to the huge being on the cross, "she's not sick, baby…"
"Honey," Kaji said, licking his lips absently, "Daddy's trying to do something… something that will make all of our lives better… can you understand that?"
Reiko walked up to him, blissfully unaware of the immense power in his hand, and embraced him. "I like our lives," she said happily, "I like it best when you and Mommy and Shinji and me all eat dinner together…"
Misato watched her husband's eyes widen as their daughter went on.
"I like it when you come home and kiss Mommy… and I like it when you're a bear and chase Mommy around the house…" she pulled away, smiling at him as she added, "but I know you're not really a bear… it's all pretend…"
"You hear that honey?" Misato asked softly, her hand opening and allowing the gun to clatter to the floor, "Reiko thinks you're not really a bear… is she right?"
He looked from her face to the gun lying on the floor. "I don't know anymore, honey…" he whispered, "maybe I am…"
"You don't have to be," the purple-haired woman said gently, "it's not too late…"
"You don't understand!" he shouted, startling the girl still clinging to his side, "Mankind is doomed if I don't do this! We'll never get any better! We'll never climb higher than this!"
Misato met his eyes levelly. "Is what we have so bad?" she asked, "Your daughter seems to be happy… what more could you possibly want?"
"A future…" he replied, "I want it better for her than it was for us…"
Abruptly, Reiko began to cry, finally getting past the shock of hearing her father shouting.
Misato walked over and knelt by them, pulling the little girl into her arms. "You want a better future for her?" she asked quietly, stroking the girl's hair gently, "Then be there to share it with her – with us. That's all we want, honey… not all this," she gestured from Rei to the creature on the cross, struggling to find the right word, "nonsense."
She closed her eyes, embracing her daughter tightly. "I know I can't stop you – I read the SEELE documents, too… all you have to do is lean forward and it's over, but think about it. Think about our daughter – all she wants is her Daddy, honey… that's all."
Kaji looked down at the pale girl lying on the floor, struggling with his desire to do what he felt he must… and the longing to see his daughter happy.
"D-daddy?" Reiko said, wiping her eyes and pulling away from her mother, "Can we go home now?"
Looking into her dirt-smudged, beautiful face, Kaji knew what he needed to do.
"Of course…" he whispered quietly, pulling his hand away from Rei's chest and resting it carefully on the floor. "Honey?" he asked quietly, "Take Reiko home, ok? I'll give the troops the order to pull back…"
"Come with us," Misato said, rising to her feet and holding out her hand.
"I have… something I have to do," he said, "Adam is still here… I have to make sure this ends now…"
She paled as he looked from his hand to the wall, where a fire ax was hanging by two pegs. "I'll… send a medical team," she said, feeling sick, "give me five minutes." She wished with all of her heart that there was another way… but she knew the temptation would grow the longer he was bound to the angel.
"Take Rei…" he replied, unable to meet his wife's eyes, "there's a spare set of clothes in her office…"
Misato nodded and took off her jacket, laying it over the unconscious Commander and picking her up off the floor. "We'll visit you in the hospital," she said quietly, "I love you, honey…"
He swallowed. "I love you too…" he replied, knowing he didn't deserve it, "Reiko… go with your Mommy… I'll see you soon…"
The little girl nodded and followed her mother, looking back in confusion as her father stood and took the ax off the wall. "What's Daddy doing?" she asked curiously as he knelt on the floor, smiling at her as they opened the door.
"Daddy's gotta do something," Misato whispered, her voice hoarse, "we'll see him later. Come on…"
Kaji let out a ragged sigh as the door slid shut, and he looked up at the crucified angel. "Sorry," he said quietly to the silent behemoth, "believe me… this is going to hurt me a lot more than it hurts you…"
He let out a small chuckle at his little joke, then sobered. Silently he took off his belt, making a makeshift tourniquet and pulling it tight on his right forearm.
"I don't know if I can make up for all I've done," he said to himself, watching the seconds tick by on his watch, "but this is the only way I know how to start…"
After four and a half minutes had passed, he raised the ax with his left hand. –Let's hope you guys are on time,- he thought, smiling as he imagined them arriving too late… finding him dead from blood-loss. After all, a tourniquet can only do so much.
"No use putting it off," he mumbled, "if they get here before I do it, they might try and stop me…"
Even as the words left his lips, the door slid open, revealing a young paramedic with a medical kit. "Don't do it, sir!" the man cried.
-Time's up!- Kaji thought.
As he swung the ax down, he offered a small, whispered plea to God… asking only that he be allowed to see his daughter again…
**
Rei's eyes slowly opened, and she sat up quickly, clutching her head as the rapid movement made it pound.
"What… happened…?" she whispered, trying to recall what had occurred after she had pulled the lever, sending Sandelphon to her death.
"Everything's ok now," Kensuke's gentle voice said from her side, "it's all over…"
"Kaji?" Rei whispered, remembering the brief flare of pain and the swift fall into unconsciousness.
"He's in another room," her lover said, putting his hand over hers, "he was injured, and… he's in custody pending a full investigation."
"I see…" Rei said, leaning back in her bed and focussing on Kensuke's face, "what happened?"
Kensuke sighed and outlined the attack to her, filling in the details he hadn't witnessed with the information Shinji, Asuka, and Misato had given him on the command deck.
"So… Adam…" the Commander whispered, "gone." She sighed, looking out the hospital room window, "We have lost, then…"
"No," Kensuke corrected her, squeezing her hand, "we won." She tried to protest that he didn't understand, but he cut her off. "Do you love me?" he asked quietly.
She looked into his eyes for a long moment before nodding.
"Do you need more than that?"
"Kensuke… I…"
"Rei, listen," he said levelly, "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that love conquers all… I've never been quite that sappy…" he smiled, raising her hand to his lips and kissing it gently, "but it is a good start. The human race is doing ok… sure, we might not ever get better as a species – but we can use what we have to be happy. There's no reason to be greedy…"
"But Kensuke," she said quietly, "there will always be war… and sadness… and-"
"Yes," he cut her off softly, "but all those things… all those hardships… they make the good parts that much better. If you hadn't had that bad… ummm… first time," he blushed, wishing there were better words to describe what he meant, "would it have been as good when we… when…" he trailed off.
She considered this for a moment, and opened her mouth to speak, but he hurried on before she could.
"What I'm saying is that you can't have the good without the bad," he said, holding her eyes with his, "if you never saw a rainstorm… every sunny day would be just like the last, and you would never appreciate it's beauty." He slowly leaned forward and kissed her, "Besides… you can have fun on a rainy day too," he whispered gently, "things aren't as bad as you think…"
Rei smiled, bringing his hand up and kissing it as he had kissed hers. "Thank you," she whispered.
"I love you Rei," he said seriously.
"I love you too, Kensuke…" she replied, "but I am still not sure that-"
"Shhh…" he interrupted, "sometimes you shouldn't say anything… remember?"
She smiled and nodded. –I am still not sure we won,- she finished mentally, -but the way you look at me… I am willing to pretend…-
Nothing more was said, and Rei finally closed her eyes and drifted off again, her body still working off the effects of the tranquilizer. Kensuke watched her sleep, wondering if she would ever see how good life could be… how the right word, or a simple smile, or the loving look in someone else's eyes could take you higher than Heaven.
Outside, a light rain began to fall, cleansing the Earth with its gentle touch… wiping away the dirt and dust that built up in any big city, and reminding the people that lived there that life was worth living. Because no matter how hard it rains, no matter how dark the night grows… no matter how bleak things look – the sun will always come back out…
Always…
The End
Author's notes: well, there you have it. I'm still toying with an epilogue, but I haven't decided for sure… I think the ending stands pretty well on its own. Why have Kaji turn out that way? Well… having children changes a person, not always for the better. Like he said, the more he read SEELE's documents, the more he became convinced that mankind was doomed… and the thought of his little girl suffering any hardship was more than he could take. He did redeem himself in the end, though, so at least it wasn't all dark.
Technical notes: this story was begun on approximately January 14, 2002, and completed on about February 13, 2002. It weighs in at approximately 73,850 words, equaling about 230 pages. These totals include all four lemon side-stories and the epilogue, and takes into account all disclaimer information, notes, and pre-reader thanks.
Huge thanks to my sole pre-reader, Ryoma. It's been a wild ride, hasn't it? Thanks for seeing me though it and keeping me on track, I owe you one. ^_^
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com