NGE: Return – That which was lost has returned.
By: Rokangus
Warning: Be forewarned, this is my first Eva fic ever, and on top of that I've only seen the Evangelion series and EoE once. But having seen it, this idea appeared in my head, and the only way to get rid of it was to start writing it down. Regardless, as the summary suggests, this is an alternate timeline version of the series, so if there's something wrong with the continuity, I probably meant it to be that way.
Now, however, to the big warning. When I first started writing this, I was really excited because I thought it was a great idea. Then, trying to test the waters, I started to read some of the other Eva fics around to see if my idea had been used before. And when I did, I made two startling discoveries: a lot of people really don't like stories with new characters, and they REALLY don't like new characters who pilot Unit-04. This fic pretty much revolves around a new character who pilots Unit-04
: (
So I went back and revised things trying to make my new character as un- Mary-Sue-esque as I could. However, seeing as this is my first fic, I probably will fail on this count. However I'm doing this partly for myself, so I'm posting this prologue just to see what kind of feedback I get. However I'd be lying if I said I don't care what you say. If all the replies I get say they hate this, I'll just drop it and go crawl in a hole to die. But if it turns out people do like it, I'll continue.
And now for the Disclaimer: I don't own Eva. Anno and Gainax do. Please don't sue this poor college student.
And now for the story…
Chapter 1: That Which Once Was Lost
(NERV Second Branch – Nevada Desert)
The Second Branch of NERV was located deep underground, underneath a large dried out lakebed. In the middle of a God-forsaken wasteland, it was the perfect place for the American branch to conduct its top-secret tests and experiments away from public scrutiny. Much like its Japanese counterpart, Second Branch most certainly did not want to be known to the common public.
In the control booth adjacent to the cage designated '327', an army colonel paced the small chamber impatiently, adding to the tension in the room occupied by a pair of technicians. Though technically the First and Second Branches shared a common goal to protect humanity from the Angels, the Americans could not help but feel a little envious of the largely successful First Branch. Needless to say, the American Branch desired very badly to catch up with the Japanese with their own Evangelions; Units 03 and 04.
"Is the pilot in position yet?" the colonel barked hoarsely to one of the technicians. He was a slightly heavy-set man with a squarish face that was partially obscured by the camo hat pulled low over his eyes.
The female technician answered, "The pilot is reported to have suited up and will be inside the entry plug in a few moments."
"About damn time," the colonel replied, his tone less severe. He approached the windows to look out at the subject of today's test; Eva Unit-04.
'Ugly damn critter,' the colonel thought to himself as he stared at the gray-colored machine standing within the cage. It was hard for the man to accept that the huge monstrosity could be the hope of mankind, but his job was to follow orders not ponder the cosmos. Let the scientists explore the gravity of the situation; the colonel's only concern was that the tests worked. According to his orders, the Eva had been outfitted with a new generator of some sort; what had the scientists called it…X2 engine…S3 organ? Shaking his head sadly, the colonel waited until the figure of the pilot appeared near the entrance plank connected to the entry plug. The colonel noted with some approval that the blondish haired lad didn't waste any time climbing into the entry plug and sealing it off.
"Is the pilot ready to begin the testing?" the colonel accosted the technicians once more. This time the male technician answered.
"I'll find out right away, colonel." The technician opened up a communication channel to the entry plug and said, "Pilot, are you ready to begin today's tests?"
The youth's adolescent's voice came through loudly, yet with a slight waiver in it. "I'm ready. Awaiting my orders, sir."
The colonel nodded, "Begin the synchronization. We've wasted enough time already."
"Aye, colonel," the female technician answered, while the two began to operate the controls at a furious pace. Within the cage, the entry plug was drawn within Unit-04, and the surrounding armor closed up in its place. While the technicians kept their eyes glued to the readouts and various energy levels, the colonel kept his stony gaze locked on the Eva in front of him.
As the readouts continued to climb, the male technician's attention was drawn to an anomalous reading coming from the Eva. At first the technician doubted the information his eyes were gathering, but then reality finally sunk in, as his jaw dropped open.
"Uh…colonel? I'm getting an unusual fluctuation coming from the S2 engine…"
Annoyed with the interruption, the colonel stomped over to the technician's terminal. "What are you babbling about, Jenkins? Is there a problem?"
"I'm not sure…Ms. Adams will you take a look at this?" the technician named Jenkins said running a nervous hand over his balding head, "I've never seen anything like this before…"
However, before the other technician could render her own opinion, there was a resounding crash, followed by the blare of klaxons and alarms. Looking up from their displays, the colonel and two technicians watched in horror as Unit-04 thrashed wildly at it's restraints like a wild beast. And above all of this, the scream of the young pilot could be heard, like the tortured wail of a ghost.
"Shut the damn thing down!" the colonel roared over the incredible noise, "Stop it before it brings the entire facility down around us!"
"I can't!" screamed Adams, the female technician, "Unit-04 has gone berserk, it's rejecting all commands!"
Meanwhile, Jenkins stared dumbly at his readouts, "The readings on the S2 engine are off the charts! If it isn't shut down soon, it'll…"
The technician never had a chance to finish his warning. Suddenly the chamber was filled with blinding light as whatever catastrophe Jenkins had been warning about came true. Outside the facility, the explosion of light breached through the surface of the dry lake in a terrific explosion that spread outwards in all directions. When the light disappeared, all that was left of Second Branch was a massive crater in the Nevada desert.
Silence was complete for all of ten seconds. Then in the center of the crater a second, smaller explosion of light flashed. When it disappeared, Unit-04 landed with a loud crash on the ruined surface of the crater. But rather than the brightly shining machine it had been only a handful of seconds before, the Eva was now tarnished and battered; it's arms hung loosely at it's sides, and several hunks of armor were missing. The thing might have appeared to be dead, save for the furious red light that poured out of its eyes.
The ghastly apparition took a halting step forward, as if greatly exhausted before collapsing face first into the dirt, and the red light vanished from the eyes as if it was never there.
***
(NERV Headquarters – Tokyo-3)
Sub-commander Kouzou Fuyutsuki stood just behind and to the side of his superior, Commander Ikari on a moving walkway within the Geo-front. While both men wore a face of cool calmness, Fuyutsuki's voice betrayed his internal apprehension.
"Second Branch destroyed? Completely? This is a grave blow…"
"It is of no consequence," Gendo interrupted, "It effects neither SEELE's scenario, nor our own."
"Has the American government announced what the cause of this horrible accident was?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"Of course not, but it is clear to see that it was their own stupidity," Gendo replied coldly, "They were testing Unit-04 with the S2 organ recovered from the fourth angel when something went wrong. The entire Second Branch then disappeared with all hands without a trace."
"My God," Fuyutsuki murmured, "All those people gone…all the equipment and research…Units 03 and 04…"
"Do not worry about the Evas, Sub-commander, the American Units are being delivered into our custody as soon as the shipment arrives from the American continent," Gendo informed his surprised friend.
Bewildered, Fuyutsuki asked, "But…how?"
"Unit-03 was stored off site during the incident, so it came to no harm. With Second Branch obliterated, the UN decided to entrust it to Third Branch, also here in Japan," Gendo replied evenly.
Kouzou saw the wisdom of this. Rather than put First branch at risk, the American Eva would stay at the site in Matsushiro, in case of an accident. Fuyutsuki had regained his composure by now and asked, "So this means we must select the Fourth Child?"
"It has already been done," Gendo said, surprising the Sub-commander once more, "As soon as Unit-03 is within our custody, the Fourth will begin his training." With that Gendo handed a dossier with the Fourth Child's information to Fuyutsuki.
Fuyutsuki finished reading the information as the two commanders stepped off the moving walkway. Then as they continued to walk onwards towards the Commander's office, another thought occurred to Kouzou.
"You said Evas…you don't mean to say…"
"That Unit-04 was also recovered?" Gendo asked, giving Fuyutsuki a sidelong glance, "It was recovered, although with some rather extensive damage. The pilot was also recovered alive…though with complications."
"Complications? What do you mean?"
Commander Ikari handed Kouzou a second dossier, letting the contents within speak for themselves. The Sub-commander was silent for several seconds, overwhelmed by the implications of the reports. "He and Unit –04 are also being given over to us?"
Gendo nodded. "He will be arriving at the Geo-front in a matter of hours. I meant to ask you sooner, but I would like you to see the American pilot in order to ascertain his ability to pilot Eva."
"I see…" Fuyutsuki replied, uncertain as to whether or not he wanted to interview the sole survivor of the Second Branch. Then an odd smile crossed Kouzou's face as an equally odd thought crossed his mind. "You said the Fourth child was already selected?"
"Yes…why?"
"Technically wouldn't this American child be the Fourth?" Fuyutsuki asked, "After all, he was selected before we selected a pilot for Unit-03."
Gendo snorted derisively, "Save the semantics debate for later, Sub- commander. Our priority is to bring Unit-03 on line as soon as possible in order to combat the Angels. If Unit-04's pilot is salvageable, all the better, but if not, then he can be replaced."
"And besides," Commander Ikari added, "When you meet the American, you may find the title 'Fourth Child' something of a misnomer…"
***
Late at night, after the American equipment had arrived successfully, Fuyutsuki found himself deep within the Geo-front, down in the dark hallways that NERV intelligence used to detain everyone from criminals to any individual unlucky enough to wander into the Geo-Front without proper authorization.
However, the person Kouzou was supposed to see wasn't really either of those things; just an unknown factor.
Looking at the dossier once more as he walked down the dim halls to the prisoner's cell, Fuyutsuki read up the basic information on the American child. One Jordan Reynolds, age 15, born in Michigan, yet grew up in Nevada.
'Quite a change,' Fuyutsuki thought to himself. He continued to read on: light brown hair, bordering on blond, green eyes, medium height and build. Fuyutsuki was surprised that the dossier didn't give exact measurements but shrugged it off as the usual American inefficiency.
Reaching the door of the cell, Kouzou motioned for the guard to unlock it for him. With that done, Sub-commander Fuyutsuki stepped inside the cell and got his first look of the American pilot. And nearly did a double take in surprise!
Alarmed, Fuyutsuki looked back at the pilot's dossier. It read age fifteen, just as it had before. Looking back at the figure hunched over in the chair, Kouzou saw that his eyes had not been deceiving him. The pilot was facing away from him, with his hands cuffed together and bound to the metal chair preventing the American from standing. He was slouched over as if from great fatigue, but it was evident from the shape of the broad shoulders to the long wisps of dark blond hair that this was no fifteen year-old child. The man seated before him could be no younger than in his mid-twenties at least. Now Fuyutsuki understood why the physical information had been so sketchy, it was surely useless now. And he further understood Gendo's cryptic words earlier.
When you meet the American, you may find the title 'Fourth Child' something of a misnomer.
While Fuyutsuki struggled to find his voice, the American became aware of the open door and the new source of light. He lifted his head up and Kouzou became aware of the long strands of facial hair that hung off the man's face like tangled vines.
"Go 'way," the man whispered in slurred English "I don't feel like talkin' now."
"Are you Jordan Reynolds?" Fuyutsuki asked in Japanese, not catching the American's comment, which had been spoken at barely a whisper.
The American tensed at the sound of Fuyutsuki's voice. "I can't understand a word you're saying, mister," the man said in an irritated tone, "I don't understand Japanese."
Fuyutsuki chided himself. Of course the arrogant Americans would never try to teach their young to learn any other useful foreign languages. They just expected everyone else to learn English. Fortunately, English was one of the few languages Kouzou had learned as a Professor earlier in his life. Kouzou asked again, this time in English.
"Forgive me. I asked if you were Jordan Reynolds, pilot of Unit-04."
The man sighed in what must have been great relief, despite Fuyutsuki's thick accent. "At last, someone I can understand…yes, I'm Jordan Reynolds. Why do you want to know?"
"Are you aware of the events surrounding your present situation?" Fuyutsuki countered with a question of his own.
Jordan turned his head giving Fuyutsuki a view of one of his green eyes through the strands of unkempt hair; the unbridled intensity of the gaze caused Kouzou's breath to catch in his throat. In the chair, Jordan let out a wheezing chuckle.
"If by that you mean that my 'situation' is pretty fucked up, then yes, I am aware," Jordan replied.
"Then you must know why you are being kept here?"
Jordan looked away. "Because you never know." The Eva pilot then began to laugh in a self-depreciatory manner.
Catching Jordan's meaning, Fuyutsuki frowned. "That is one way to put it, I suppose. In any case, I am NERV Sub-commander Kouzou Fuyutsuki. And despite what you may think, I am here to see if we can get you and Unit-04 back into action as soon as possible."
"How is Unit-04?" Jordan asked suddenly, his interest suddenly soaring.
"Your Eva? I don't understand…"
"Sub-commander, that Eva is solely responsible for why I am even here right now," Jordan said with bristling intensity, "So it shouldn't be too much to understand that I have a bit of an attachment for it, okay?"
"Unit-04 is currently under repairs, Pilot Reynolds. Rest assured once we have run the proper tests to make sure you are still capable of piloting your Eva, you will be placed back in active duty."
Jordan let his head hang again. "Run all the tests ya like. Just let me know if you're going to use me or not…"
Fuyutsuki nodded; without saying anything further he left the cell as the guard closed and locked it once more. Reaching for a phone, the Sub- commander dialed a number and waited for an answer. When someone picked up on the other line, he began to speak.
"Tell Dr. Akagi that the…American is ready for her when she is…no, that is all. Good day."
Turning to leave, Fuyutsuki struggled to make sense of the many mysteries that he had suddenly become privy to. 'The Hell this doesn't concern us, Gendo,' Fuyutsuki thought to himself as he left the brig, 'There is more at work here than we realize. I only hope that Dr. Akagi can make more sense of it than I can.'
***
Inside the cell, Jordan was alone with his thoughts once more. He was glad the Sub-commander had kept this meeting short. There were too many things he just didn't want to divulge yet. And the pain of too many burdens still rested on him.
'My country discarded me like a bag of vomit because they couldn't explain me. And that scared the shit out of them. So they dump me with these poor bastards. But will these people discard me too? Throw me away like I have been my whole life?'
Letting his chin sink down to his chest, Jordan let the tears flow, as they had far too many times in the recent past.
***
Well there it is. Please, please, please, post feedback. Even if you didn't like it, tell me how I can make it batter. Like I said, I want people to enjoy this, so please be honest. If characters didn't seem right, tell me. If I omitted something big that needs to be there, tell me, and I'll try to work my story around it.
Obviously there are a lot of crazy things going on, but don't worry, these mysteries will come to light in due time, just as they do in the Eva series. Sorry also for lack of mention of any of the other children, but don't worry they'll be there, and much the same as in the series. My plan was to keep this on as similar a timeline to the original series with the exception of the return of Unit-04. That in and of itself will change the turn of events, but not too drastically at first. Thanks again for any and all feedback!
By: Rokangus
Warning: Be forewarned, this is my first Eva fic ever, and on top of that I've only seen the Evangelion series and EoE once. But having seen it, this idea appeared in my head, and the only way to get rid of it was to start writing it down. Regardless, as the summary suggests, this is an alternate timeline version of the series, so if there's something wrong with the continuity, I probably meant it to be that way.
Now, however, to the big warning. When I first started writing this, I was really excited because I thought it was a great idea. Then, trying to test the waters, I started to read some of the other Eva fics around to see if my idea had been used before. And when I did, I made two startling discoveries: a lot of people really don't like stories with new characters, and they REALLY don't like new characters who pilot Unit-04. This fic pretty much revolves around a new character who pilots Unit-04
: (
So I went back and revised things trying to make my new character as un- Mary-Sue-esque as I could. However, seeing as this is my first fic, I probably will fail on this count. However I'm doing this partly for myself, so I'm posting this prologue just to see what kind of feedback I get. However I'd be lying if I said I don't care what you say. If all the replies I get say they hate this, I'll just drop it and go crawl in a hole to die. But if it turns out people do like it, I'll continue.
And now for the Disclaimer: I don't own Eva. Anno and Gainax do. Please don't sue this poor college student.
And now for the story…
Chapter 1: That Which Once Was Lost
(NERV Second Branch – Nevada Desert)
The Second Branch of NERV was located deep underground, underneath a large dried out lakebed. In the middle of a God-forsaken wasteland, it was the perfect place for the American branch to conduct its top-secret tests and experiments away from public scrutiny. Much like its Japanese counterpart, Second Branch most certainly did not want to be known to the common public.
In the control booth adjacent to the cage designated '327', an army colonel paced the small chamber impatiently, adding to the tension in the room occupied by a pair of technicians. Though technically the First and Second Branches shared a common goal to protect humanity from the Angels, the Americans could not help but feel a little envious of the largely successful First Branch. Needless to say, the American Branch desired very badly to catch up with the Japanese with their own Evangelions; Units 03 and 04.
"Is the pilot in position yet?" the colonel barked hoarsely to one of the technicians. He was a slightly heavy-set man with a squarish face that was partially obscured by the camo hat pulled low over his eyes.
The female technician answered, "The pilot is reported to have suited up and will be inside the entry plug in a few moments."
"About damn time," the colonel replied, his tone less severe. He approached the windows to look out at the subject of today's test; Eva Unit-04.
'Ugly damn critter,' the colonel thought to himself as he stared at the gray-colored machine standing within the cage. It was hard for the man to accept that the huge monstrosity could be the hope of mankind, but his job was to follow orders not ponder the cosmos. Let the scientists explore the gravity of the situation; the colonel's only concern was that the tests worked. According to his orders, the Eva had been outfitted with a new generator of some sort; what had the scientists called it…X2 engine…S3 organ? Shaking his head sadly, the colonel waited until the figure of the pilot appeared near the entrance plank connected to the entry plug. The colonel noted with some approval that the blondish haired lad didn't waste any time climbing into the entry plug and sealing it off.
"Is the pilot ready to begin the testing?" the colonel accosted the technicians once more. This time the male technician answered.
"I'll find out right away, colonel." The technician opened up a communication channel to the entry plug and said, "Pilot, are you ready to begin today's tests?"
The youth's adolescent's voice came through loudly, yet with a slight waiver in it. "I'm ready. Awaiting my orders, sir."
The colonel nodded, "Begin the synchronization. We've wasted enough time already."
"Aye, colonel," the female technician answered, while the two began to operate the controls at a furious pace. Within the cage, the entry plug was drawn within Unit-04, and the surrounding armor closed up in its place. While the technicians kept their eyes glued to the readouts and various energy levels, the colonel kept his stony gaze locked on the Eva in front of him.
As the readouts continued to climb, the male technician's attention was drawn to an anomalous reading coming from the Eva. At first the technician doubted the information his eyes were gathering, but then reality finally sunk in, as his jaw dropped open.
"Uh…colonel? I'm getting an unusual fluctuation coming from the S2 engine…"
Annoyed with the interruption, the colonel stomped over to the technician's terminal. "What are you babbling about, Jenkins? Is there a problem?"
"I'm not sure…Ms. Adams will you take a look at this?" the technician named Jenkins said running a nervous hand over his balding head, "I've never seen anything like this before…"
However, before the other technician could render her own opinion, there was a resounding crash, followed by the blare of klaxons and alarms. Looking up from their displays, the colonel and two technicians watched in horror as Unit-04 thrashed wildly at it's restraints like a wild beast. And above all of this, the scream of the young pilot could be heard, like the tortured wail of a ghost.
"Shut the damn thing down!" the colonel roared over the incredible noise, "Stop it before it brings the entire facility down around us!"
"I can't!" screamed Adams, the female technician, "Unit-04 has gone berserk, it's rejecting all commands!"
Meanwhile, Jenkins stared dumbly at his readouts, "The readings on the S2 engine are off the charts! If it isn't shut down soon, it'll…"
The technician never had a chance to finish his warning. Suddenly the chamber was filled with blinding light as whatever catastrophe Jenkins had been warning about came true. Outside the facility, the explosion of light breached through the surface of the dry lake in a terrific explosion that spread outwards in all directions. When the light disappeared, all that was left of Second Branch was a massive crater in the Nevada desert.
Silence was complete for all of ten seconds. Then in the center of the crater a second, smaller explosion of light flashed. When it disappeared, Unit-04 landed with a loud crash on the ruined surface of the crater. But rather than the brightly shining machine it had been only a handful of seconds before, the Eva was now tarnished and battered; it's arms hung loosely at it's sides, and several hunks of armor were missing. The thing might have appeared to be dead, save for the furious red light that poured out of its eyes.
The ghastly apparition took a halting step forward, as if greatly exhausted before collapsing face first into the dirt, and the red light vanished from the eyes as if it was never there.
***
(NERV Headquarters – Tokyo-3)
Sub-commander Kouzou Fuyutsuki stood just behind and to the side of his superior, Commander Ikari on a moving walkway within the Geo-front. While both men wore a face of cool calmness, Fuyutsuki's voice betrayed his internal apprehension.
"Second Branch destroyed? Completely? This is a grave blow…"
"It is of no consequence," Gendo interrupted, "It effects neither SEELE's scenario, nor our own."
"Has the American government announced what the cause of this horrible accident was?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"Of course not, but it is clear to see that it was their own stupidity," Gendo replied coldly, "They were testing Unit-04 with the S2 organ recovered from the fourth angel when something went wrong. The entire Second Branch then disappeared with all hands without a trace."
"My God," Fuyutsuki murmured, "All those people gone…all the equipment and research…Units 03 and 04…"
"Do not worry about the Evas, Sub-commander, the American Units are being delivered into our custody as soon as the shipment arrives from the American continent," Gendo informed his surprised friend.
Bewildered, Fuyutsuki asked, "But…how?"
"Unit-03 was stored off site during the incident, so it came to no harm. With Second Branch obliterated, the UN decided to entrust it to Third Branch, also here in Japan," Gendo replied evenly.
Kouzou saw the wisdom of this. Rather than put First branch at risk, the American Eva would stay at the site in Matsushiro, in case of an accident. Fuyutsuki had regained his composure by now and asked, "So this means we must select the Fourth Child?"
"It has already been done," Gendo said, surprising the Sub-commander once more, "As soon as Unit-03 is within our custody, the Fourth will begin his training." With that Gendo handed a dossier with the Fourth Child's information to Fuyutsuki.
Fuyutsuki finished reading the information as the two commanders stepped off the moving walkway. Then as they continued to walk onwards towards the Commander's office, another thought occurred to Kouzou.
"You said Evas…you don't mean to say…"
"That Unit-04 was also recovered?" Gendo asked, giving Fuyutsuki a sidelong glance, "It was recovered, although with some rather extensive damage. The pilot was also recovered alive…though with complications."
"Complications? What do you mean?"
Commander Ikari handed Kouzou a second dossier, letting the contents within speak for themselves. The Sub-commander was silent for several seconds, overwhelmed by the implications of the reports. "He and Unit –04 are also being given over to us?"
Gendo nodded. "He will be arriving at the Geo-front in a matter of hours. I meant to ask you sooner, but I would like you to see the American pilot in order to ascertain his ability to pilot Eva."
"I see…" Fuyutsuki replied, uncertain as to whether or not he wanted to interview the sole survivor of the Second Branch. Then an odd smile crossed Kouzou's face as an equally odd thought crossed his mind. "You said the Fourth child was already selected?"
"Yes…why?"
"Technically wouldn't this American child be the Fourth?" Fuyutsuki asked, "After all, he was selected before we selected a pilot for Unit-03."
Gendo snorted derisively, "Save the semantics debate for later, Sub- commander. Our priority is to bring Unit-03 on line as soon as possible in order to combat the Angels. If Unit-04's pilot is salvageable, all the better, but if not, then he can be replaced."
"And besides," Commander Ikari added, "When you meet the American, you may find the title 'Fourth Child' something of a misnomer…"
***
Late at night, after the American equipment had arrived successfully, Fuyutsuki found himself deep within the Geo-front, down in the dark hallways that NERV intelligence used to detain everyone from criminals to any individual unlucky enough to wander into the Geo-Front without proper authorization.
However, the person Kouzou was supposed to see wasn't really either of those things; just an unknown factor.
Looking at the dossier once more as he walked down the dim halls to the prisoner's cell, Fuyutsuki read up the basic information on the American child. One Jordan Reynolds, age 15, born in Michigan, yet grew up in Nevada.
'Quite a change,' Fuyutsuki thought to himself. He continued to read on: light brown hair, bordering on blond, green eyes, medium height and build. Fuyutsuki was surprised that the dossier didn't give exact measurements but shrugged it off as the usual American inefficiency.
Reaching the door of the cell, Kouzou motioned for the guard to unlock it for him. With that done, Sub-commander Fuyutsuki stepped inside the cell and got his first look of the American pilot. And nearly did a double take in surprise!
Alarmed, Fuyutsuki looked back at the pilot's dossier. It read age fifteen, just as it had before. Looking back at the figure hunched over in the chair, Kouzou saw that his eyes had not been deceiving him. The pilot was facing away from him, with his hands cuffed together and bound to the metal chair preventing the American from standing. He was slouched over as if from great fatigue, but it was evident from the shape of the broad shoulders to the long wisps of dark blond hair that this was no fifteen year-old child. The man seated before him could be no younger than in his mid-twenties at least. Now Fuyutsuki understood why the physical information had been so sketchy, it was surely useless now. And he further understood Gendo's cryptic words earlier.
When you meet the American, you may find the title 'Fourth Child' something of a misnomer.
While Fuyutsuki struggled to find his voice, the American became aware of the open door and the new source of light. He lifted his head up and Kouzou became aware of the long strands of facial hair that hung off the man's face like tangled vines.
"Go 'way," the man whispered in slurred English "I don't feel like talkin' now."
"Are you Jordan Reynolds?" Fuyutsuki asked in Japanese, not catching the American's comment, which had been spoken at barely a whisper.
The American tensed at the sound of Fuyutsuki's voice. "I can't understand a word you're saying, mister," the man said in an irritated tone, "I don't understand Japanese."
Fuyutsuki chided himself. Of course the arrogant Americans would never try to teach their young to learn any other useful foreign languages. They just expected everyone else to learn English. Fortunately, English was one of the few languages Kouzou had learned as a Professor earlier in his life. Kouzou asked again, this time in English.
"Forgive me. I asked if you were Jordan Reynolds, pilot of Unit-04."
The man sighed in what must have been great relief, despite Fuyutsuki's thick accent. "At last, someone I can understand…yes, I'm Jordan Reynolds. Why do you want to know?"
"Are you aware of the events surrounding your present situation?" Fuyutsuki countered with a question of his own.
Jordan turned his head giving Fuyutsuki a view of one of his green eyes through the strands of unkempt hair; the unbridled intensity of the gaze caused Kouzou's breath to catch in his throat. In the chair, Jordan let out a wheezing chuckle.
"If by that you mean that my 'situation' is pretty fucked up, then yes, I am aware," Jordan replied.
"Then you must know why you are being kept here?"
Jordan looked away. "Because you never know." The Eva pilot then began to laugh in a self-depreciatory manner.
Catching Jordan's meaning, Fuyutsuki frowned. "That is one way to put it, I suppose. In any case, I am NERV Sub-commander Kouzou Fuyutsuki. And despite what you may think, I am here to see if we can get you and Unit-04 back into action as soon as possible."
"How is Unit-04?" Jordan asked suddenly, his interest suddenly soaring.
"Your Eva? I don't understand…"
"Sub-commander, that Eva is solely responsible for why I am even here right now," Jordan said with bristling intensity, "So it shouldn't be too much to understand that I have a bit of an attachment for it, okay?"
"Unit-04 is currently under repairs, Pilot Reynolds. Rest assured once we have run the proper tests to make sure you are still capable of piloting your Eva, you will be placed back in active duty."
Jordan let his head hang again. "Run all the tests ya like. Just let me know if you're going to use me or not…"
Fuyutsuki nodded; without saying anything further he left the cell as the guard closed and locked it once more. Reaching for a phone, the Sub- commander dialed a number and waited for an answer. When someone picked up on the other line, he began to speak.
"Tell Dr. Akagi that the…American is ready for her when she is…no, that is all. Good day."
Turning to leave, Fuyutsuki struggled to make sense of the many mysteries that he had suddenly become privy to. 'The Hell this doesn't concern us, Gendo,' Fuyutsuki thought to himself as he left the brig, 'There is more at work here than we realize. I only hope that Dr. Akagi can make more sense of it than I can.'
***
Inside the cell, Jordan was alone with his thoughts once more. He was glad the Sub-commander had kept this meeting short. There were too many things he just didn't want to divulge yet. And the pain of too many burdens still rested on him.
'My country discarded me like a bag of vomit because they couldn't explain me. And that scared the shit out of them. So they dump me with these poor bastards. But will these people discard me too? Throw me away like I have been my whole life?'
Letting his chin sink down to his chest, Jordan let the tears flow, as they had far too many times in the recent past.
***
Well there it is. Please, please, please, post feedback. Even if you didn't like it, tell me how I can make it batter. Like I said, I want people to enjoy this, so please be honest. If characters didn't seem right, tell me. If I omitted something big that needs to be there, tell me, and I'll try to work my story around it.
Obviously there are a lot of crazy things going on, but don't worry, these mysteries will come to light in due time, just as they do in the Eva series. Sorry also for lack of mention of any of the other children, but don't worry they'll be there, and much the same as in the series. My plan was to keep this on as similar a timeline to the original series with the exception of the return of Unit-04. That in and of itself will change the turn of events, but not too drastically at first. Thanks again for any and all feedback!