The End, Or the Beginning?
Chapter 3: Awakening
Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
In the depths of NERV HQ the awesome power of Evangelion are held, in their cages. Their unresponsive husks awaiting the pilots to be mobile once again, to feel once again. The human souls inside gasps for contact with their children.
"Preparing to inject entry plug" the brown haired technician reported as she worked the controls at her station. "Plug inserted. Filling plug with LCL" she sighed at having to do this again. Maya turned her gaze to her sempai, the blond scientist Ritsuko Akagi. She noted that she was pretty scruffy looking and had been depressed for most of the day. 'Of course she's depressed she just got out of prison' she thought before turning back to her work.
"Begin neural connections" Ritsuko commanded in a low voice. 'Why am I doing this?' she thought to herself 'once my purpose is no longer needed he will get rid of me.' "How do you feel Rei?" Ritsuko asked as she opened a comm channel to Eva Unit-02.
A small image of Rei appeared on the screen she seemed calm as usual "It feels, strange." Rei looked a little confused but those were typical when in someone else's Eva "it feels…like Soryu."
"Don't worry you'll get used to it" Ritsuko tried to reassure her. "How is her synch ratio Maya?"
Maya turned to the consol "she's holding steady at…33%. Wait now it's 29." She punched a few controls and a loud siren began to whale. "Oh no, her synch ratio is back flowing, borderline lost. Unit-02 is rejecting Rei!"
"No, unit-02 is activating!" Ritsuko yelled studying the data that flew out of the magi, "eject the entry plug and cut the power." 'It's happening again!' she began to type commands into the magi.
"The signals not responding, we can't eject the plug!" Maya yelled frantically over the loud noise of the sirens. "Unit-02 is breaking free of the left arm restraint!" She looked out the window and saw the giant red mecha pulling its arm up bringing with it half the wall it was attached to. "We have to open the Bakelite tubes" Maya waited for the nodded ok from Ritsuko then flooded the cage with Bakelite.
The purple liquid poured out of holes in the walls and formed a crystallized prison around Unit-02. The unit didn't slow it continued to pull at the wall forcing its other arm free from its metallic prison. Its four eyes were glowing bright red with rage, someone had entered that was not welcome and it wanted her out. After freeing its fist Unit-02 pounded against the walls then grabbed its own head in both hands and started thrashing about. Suddenly it shut down…the internal batteries had run out and the mecha was no longer fuelled.
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Rei settled herself into the entry plug of the giant red mecha which belonged to Asuka. Her hand unconsciously brushed through her blue hair as she sat down and activated the controls. 'This does not feel right' she thought her mind was still centred on what was happening with the Third Child. She didn't know why but she had the urge to protect and to comfort him 'What is this feeling?'
The plug filled with LCL and she could feel the familiar liquid enter her lungs, causing her to croak a little. Now adjusted to the yellow liquid she set to work on synchronising with the Eva. She felt the familiar sensation she could feel the Eva respond to her thoughts. 'There will be no trouble' she knew this for a fact, but she didn't know how.
After a while a voice came over the speakers and an image of Dr Akagi appeared in the left corner of Reis' screen. Rei barely heard the question but she answered anyway "It feels strange. It feels like…Soryu." Ritsuko answered something about getting used to it but Rei didn't listen.
Her thoughts trailed off once again to the brown haired Shinji Ikari and his current state of mind and body. Rei searched all recent memories trying to find something to explain why she felt so strange when thinking of this boy. Something flashed in her memory, something she had not seen before. 'Must be from the previous me' she thought as she saw herself smiling at the boy from inside an entry plug.
Another flash sent her to the apartment in which she lived. She was lying on the floor and Shinji was on top of her. He seemed worried, afraid and nervous. She then realised that her previous self was naked, this is what made him nervous this is what made her face go red.
'How can I help him? Is this feeling I feel…love? Do…I love Ikari? What is love?' Rei thought to herself, but the strange feeling she felt before was getting stronger. She could feel another presence peeping into her thoughts and then it happened. The walls around her turned from a view of the outside world to blood red. Unknown forces caused Rei to hunch forward and grab her throat trying to stop a non-existent hand from strangling her.
Then she heard it…a heart beat. Then a voice "leave him alone! He is Asukas' you will not take him away from her!"
The voice was strong and sounded like the Second Child herself Rei tried to severe the connection between her and the Eva, but failed. Her thoughts drifted again as she fell unconscious and the pain disappeared. 'Eva Unit-02 does not approve of my feelings for Ikari, why? Shinji does not belong to anyone why say he is Soryus'?
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A strange feeling. Warmth. Something gripping lightly to her hand. The warmth of another. Such warmth she had never experienced. Someone was holding her hand and she…liked it. Did she actually like being held? Or was it just the sensation of being alive?
Asukas' eyes opened, not by choice. A hand had pulled her eye lid open and now it was bringing a small black shaft up. "OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW" she screamed as the brightest light she had ever seen blinded her vision. The hand holding her eye open dropped away surprised by the response. Asuka felt the black shaft hit her chest and bounce to the floor. The hand holding hers tightened a little then relaxed again.
"Oh my god" Keiko was shocked when she saw the young redhead staring directly at her. "Y-you're awake!" she smiled at Asuka then her gazed turned to a figure sleeping in the chair next to the bed. Keiko walked over and calmly shock the boy with one hand "Shinji, Shinji Asukas' awake."
Asuka noted the figure sitting next to the bed and she didn't believe her eyes, as the nurse shook him repeating his name she realised she wasn't dreaming. Shinji Ikari was sitting in a chair next to her bed and… 'Is he the one holding my…' she followed his arm to his hand which gripped lightly on hers. "Shinji" her whisper was soft and still bewildered.
She frowned when every attempt by the nurse to wake him failed miserably; she studied his face and came to the conclusion that this was his first sleep in days. "H-how long has he been here?" she asked weakly. The nurse stopped shaking the boy and walked around to the other side of the bed.
"He has been here seven days" Keiko smiled at the shocked girl as Asuka looked sweetly at Shinjis' sleeping form. "Asuka Langley Soryu?" Keiko asked bringing the redheads attention to her, she nodded in reply. Keiko held out her hand for a hand shake "Keiko Yomata, it's an honour to finally meet you properly."
Asuka smiled and took the nurses hand with her free one and shook as best she could, which wasn't much. "L-let him…let him sleep" she said concern in her voice; Keiko just nodded then left the room. Asukas attention turned back to Shinji and she smiled once again, a smile she never thought she'd use. 'He really does care' she closed her eyes and fell asleep knowing she wasn't alone and she hoped she would never be again.
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"A-another pilot?" Fuyutsuki Sub-Commander of NERV asked questionably "it would take ages to find the Sixth Child."
Commander Ikari sat in his trademark position at his trademark desk in his trademark command office. A small sly smile grew on his face, unnoticed by his friend "the Sixth has been found and is awaiting transportation; she will arrive in two days." The commander of course had this all planned out from the beginning, he had been given the all go on the activation of Unit-6 the newest Eva with a successful S2 engine.
A phone rang and Fuyutsuki answered it the conversation lasted for only a few seconds then he hung up "the Second Child is awake." He was relieved for the safety of the young girl, though he was part of the reason she was there he felt completely responsible. If he had of talked the commander into doing something earlier she would not have been there.
The older man watched as Gendo Ikari just sat there his back to him not even flinching. His only response to the whole matter was a cold "I see." 'What are you planning Ikari?' Fuyutsuki thought 'what have you got up your sleeve?'
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Shinji woke slowly; his eyes were adjusting to the small amount of light in the room. He could remember vaguely drifting to sleep, it felt good to sleep. Even if it was only four or five hours out of three days. His hand still clutched to Asukas hand and he felt her warmth, he noted she felt warmer then other times. 'I'd better go, Misato will begin to worry' he thought as he stood up. He still held her limp hand in his 'I don't want to leave, what if she wakes up? I have to…I have to let go.'
"Asuka" he whispered through dry cracked lips, "I-I have to go now. I'll be back…I promise, just don't die on me. Fight." He leaned over pausing only for a second before placing a soft kiss on her forehead "don't give up." He let go of her hand and turned around, his hand felt warm still as he realised her hand was now gripping his.
"Don't you DARE leave me alone Third Child!" Asuka opened her eyes and frowned at Shinji who had his back to her "did you here me Baka?" She was taken completely by surprise as the boy turned abruptly and wrapped his arms around her, pulling both teens into a tight embrace. "What are you do…" Asuka was about to hit Shinji over the back of his head but instead she placed her arms around his waist and hugged him back.
"Asuka" Shinji whimpered as he held on to the girl tightly, not wanting to let go he feared she would disappear and he would wake up. He could feel the tears stream down his face, this time he didn't deny them as they were tears of joy. She had come back, even if the redhead hated him like she had said he was glad she was back. They sat there for a long time, just holding onto each other not wanting to move.
"Shinji" Asuka snapped the boy out of thought, she could feel his tears dripping onto her shoulder and it was sweet that he cried for her, but it was annoying her. "Shinji, I'd like to stay dry you know!" She tried to fain being angry but at this point of time she couldn't even remember one mean thing to say or to call him.
Shinji let go and pulled back from the redhead and wiped the tears from his eyes "s-sorry." He sighed as he realised he had slipped back into that old habit, and like they say 'old habits die hard'.
Asuka winced as he pulled out of the embrace then wiped away his tears, she felt cold now the warmth of another was gone. She missed it already. She grabbed Shinjis' arm and pulled him back hugging him tightly. It took Shinji a minute to register before he joined the embrace "I didn't say to stop hugging me, Baka. Just stop crying" Asuka said with her annoyed tone but she felt better as he responded. 'I think I like this…is it because I'm alive? Or is it because of…him?' she smiled weakly at the thought.
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Crowds of people walked slowly by, passing each other without stopping, without noticing each other. In amongst the busy airport occupants a fourteen year old girl waited. She had long blonde hair and brown eyes, she looked American in origin. She sighed heavily as she held her single bag tightly in her left hand and a small passport in her left.
This was her first time in Japan, funny she would be living here for who knows when. She smiled slightly as she thought of how cute Japanese boys are, she was thinking in particular of one. He was here age and in the same profession. The girl dropped her bag and pulled a small file from the top pocket. She flicked through the pages passing over the dossiers of two females. One had blue hair and red eyes and the other had red hair and blue eyes. The first was Japanese the second was German.
Finally she came to the last page designated 'The Third Child' a page and half of information was listed under the heading. Ikari, Shinji pilot to Evangelion Unit-01, test-type. She grinned as her eyes made contact with the image provided of a brown haired boy, he wasn't smiling but she still thought he was cute. His blue eyes was enough to make her feel funny, she felt like she'd seen them before.
"Excuse me miss" The girls eyes shot up from the file and studied the two bulky looking men in black suits. "Would you happen to be Lena Andrews?" one of the men asked his eyes were covered by black sunglasses.
Lena Andrews the Sixth child nodded to the two men from NERV section 2. They motioned for her to follow them; she picked up her bag and placed the file back into its pouch. "I can't wait to meet you Third Child" she whispered as she was directed through the traffic and into the doors of a black sedan.
To be continued……
A/N: Ok thus ends chapter three! If you haven't noticed Asuka and Shinji are exhibiting some OOCNESS but don't worries Asuka will return to her bitchy self, for a little while at least. So who is the new pilot? Does this Lena have a dark and sinister past like all our other cast and crew or will she be NORMAL!!!!!! AHHHHHHH such a thing in Evangelion is never heard of. Or never thought of….oh crap the spooks from Gainax are coming for me….NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! So this is why we never have a normal person in NGE, Gainax deals with anyone who even thinks it ^_^ I'll be back Gainax HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ^_^
Oi sorry I'm going crazy again ^_^
PS: thanx to ma Mamma for da pre-readin as usual and to Denisu_d for all of his helpful hints, without him I wouldn't have da formatting down….thanx ^_^