Neon Genesis Evangelion
New Mobile Suit Report Gundam Wing
Crossover Fanfiction
Children of War
Chapter 3: Divergence
By Trek1030
Version 1.0 (Started October 2, 2001 - Finished??)
Rei lied down on her bed with her crimson eyes staring at the yellowish white of her apartment's
ceiling. She began thinking, trying to sort out these strange feelings that had begun to consume her the
past week. Whether at school or at work, at random times, waves of various sensations would pass
over her, giving Rei the shock of almost the entire spectrum of emotions. Ever since the experiment last
week, these things had been coming to her…
Ayanami Rei would normally confide in one of the few beings on this earth that she could trust,
Commander Ikari Gendo. Yet each time she approached him, visions of death clouded Rei's mind;
deaths of the people who stood in his way, deaths of those whom would not bend to his will, deaths of
innocents murdered to fulfill his plans. But Rei kept her distance not because of the haunting visions, but
because of her fear at the emotions she felt from him; that of an obsessive love wrapped in a chilling
determination, two feelings that manifested themselves so sinisterly in the commander that Rei felt utterly
confused in the man she once considered her closest friend.
The blue-haired girl continued staring at the dirty ceiling, desperate to find another kindred spirit
to help her, some one trusting who could help her through this maze of other people's emotions. She
looked forward to the next day, when she would see her fellow pilots at NERV, although the thought of
the Shinji put more fear in her heart; he was one who seemed to genuinely care for her, from the time he
piloted for her sake, to when he cried at seeing her alive after the Fifth Angel. Ayanami Rei closed her
eyes and grasped for sleep, hoping that perhaps not all she knew was to be unfurled, hoping that the
truth about him would not be as painful as the truth about his father.
A lone figure silently sat in a cold, metal swing, trembling slightly as the cold morning air bit at
him with a chilling feel. With his hand holding the chain of the swing, Heero glanced around at the empty
playground, noting the desolate playing equipment and the way that the empty swings beside him were
moving slightly in the cold morning breeze.
Closing his eyes, the lone pilot let his mind fall back to the life he had once lived; a carefree life,
a life where once he had been blithe enough to live in the moment, where he could run and laugh and
play - Heero remembered his childhood, before the serious training had begun. But with that memory
from so long ago always comes another remembrance; a dark shadow of his past which had brought
down a hard reality upon him and had driven him through this life of never-ending missions with the
haunting image of a young girl.
Long ago, in a time where Heero could still run and laugh and play like a normal child,
the young gundam pilot had done just that, spending time in the grassy knolls of a park on a
space colony. During the day, the boy would learn to put together weapons, to build bombs, and
eventually to pilot; but during the afternoons, Heero could play to his heart's content, forgetting
the dark world in which he lived. On the eve of his first mission, he played in the same park and
met a girl with a pet dog; and they played until they had to leave, Heero never learning her
name, yet the image of her face would still haunt him every day.
In the cover of darkness, young Heero crept along, planting explosives on the rows of
Leo-class mobile suits. Soon, he was running away, only turning back to see the explosion; but
that one glance was one he would never forget. The Leo suits fell the wrong way, and an
apartment building was crushed. Guilt on his heart, Heero looked for survivors, finding none;
only the cold, dead stare of a familiar girl, clutching her pet dog as they both died.
"No," Heero softly whispered in the wind as he wiped a solitary tear from his eye, "I will not
ever forget you."
A rustling noise behind him roused Heero to alertness, sending his memories to the dark
recesses of his mind once again. Pulling a 10mm pistol from a holster on his back, under his jacket,
Heero trained the weapon on the shrub from which the sound had come.
"Show yourself," Heero commanded at the hidden figure he knew was in the greenery, "or be
shot."
"Hey, Hey… you were expecting me, remember?"
Recognizing the voice, Heero sighed slightly and lowered the weapon as a stubble-faced man
walked calmly into view.
"Sorry, Alright?" the man said, "It's closer to the parking lot if I take a shortcut through the
bushes instead of walking to the path."
"Let's just get on with this, Kaji," Heero said to the spy, as he put his gun away, "So what have
you found?"
"Too much, I'm afraid," Kaji responded solemnly, with seriousness grasping at him for a
moment. Reaching into his pocket, Kaji produced a disk and handed it to Heero.
"All I've found is on this disk," the agent said to the boy, "Information on NERV, SEELE, the
JSSDF, and the Japanese Ministry of the Interior. It's surprising how many agencies have 'scenarios'
they want to follow about the Evangelions."
"How is it you haven't been caught yet?" questioned Heero, as he pocketed the disk, "You
really are the best agent we have; spying on four agencies and not getting found out."
"It's fun," Kaji smiled, chuckling a bit, "besides, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm
working for the only agency that doesn't want a Third Impact. Anyways, so what have you found out?"
"The Epyon is down in Central Dogma. That suit is dangerous; I can't possibly comprehend
what Ikari is planning on using that suit for."
"This meeting's taking too long, Heero. I'm late for work, you're late for school," Kaji said,
checking his watch, "I'll see what I can find out about what the Epyon is doing here. 'Til then, does
KNIGHTS have any update to my orders?"
"Just one," Heero responded, "Find what scenario Ikari is using; He seems to be deviating from
our original suspicions. We are still unclear about what Treize's scenario actually involves."
And so, the two spies left, leaving the playground no longer a place of innocence, but an empty
façade of youth standing in the cold.
As he prepared breakfast, Ikari Shinji's mind was somewhere else entirely, not really caring just
how burnt the food might get. The food on the stove sizzled as Shinji stared on, not really looking at the
food, but rather lost in his own thoughts.
He had awoke early this morning; sleep had never been a comforting friend to the boy, eerie
dreams and nightmares his familiar acquaintances. Yet Shinji's slumber in the last week had been unlike
anything he had ever known. Images were trapped in a dull, gray mist, hiding away from his sight, yet
hinting at their true nature by the hazy silhouettes in the encompassing fog. As the Third Child would
reach out, the shadows would dissipate into the air as if his thoughts had not been fully unsheathed, and
could not be reached on his own.
The shadowy figures of his mind would encircle him, irradiating emotion from their bodies; the
unseen images giving off feelings associated with them, yet all but the very basic emotions of love and
hatred could penetrate the fog and come into Shinji's unconscious. Only one thing would clarify itself in
the dreams: a haunting voice, one Shinji had never heard before, with a deep, disturbing tone underlying
its confusing speech, calling to him cryptically, "clarity is in the system…"
Shaking it from his mind, Shinji sent the remembrances of the dream to the back of his mind,
returning to the task at hand. Some things weren't really good to think about this early in the morning,
disturbing things in life included; though the Third Child never would have realized that the days to come
would be more disturbing than anything he had experienced before.
The endless babbling from the sensei could bore many students to death; well, at least to sleep.
And that's just what happened; it was another perfect day outside, the sunlight falling through the
windows in a cruel tease to the students trapped within the confines of Tokyo-3 High School. Letting
their minds do what their bodies could not, many of the students chose to leave the room and enter into
the world that is their unconscious mind, in a phenomenon known as "sleep".
With the old man's lecture taking on its second hour, Shinji leaned against his hand on his desk,
desperately trying to stay awake, momentarily slumbering only to wake up a few seconds later. The
nightmares and visions would come during the day, whenever his mind would be free to wander and
think on it's own. Thankfully, an Instant Message popped up on Shinji's computer screen, saving the
Third Child from his own mind. After discreetly looking around, the boy clicked the answer button and
read the message and was sobered up, shocked at who had sent it, before sending a reply.
AyanamiRei Ikari, may I talk with you?
IkariShinji Sure. What do you need?
AyanamiRei Not now, not like this.
IkariShinji Then where can we talk, and when?
AyanamiRei Join me today at lunch, at the bench near the school entrance.
Ikari Shinji I'll see you there.
Ending the conversation, anxiety building up, Shinji wondered to himself what Rei could want to
speak with him about. Never before had she just asked to talk; usually their conversations had been
spontaneous, only occurring at the moments they were together and it was usually concerning something
at that moment.
Turning to look at the classroom's clock, Shinji saw it was still another hour until lunch, and his
vision wandered across the classroom. Ayanami had returned to staring out the window, not a trace
showing that their electronic conversation had ever taken place. Putting that aside in his mind, Shinji
looked over the rest of the room: only two students were absent, Toji and Heero. Shinji didn't put much
thought into it, not knowing why either one was gone, not very concerned since this was just school.
The next half-hour droned on as if time was slowing for the suffering students. Only one event
broke the monotony, though no one really cared that Heero was four hours late for school, not even the
sensei who hadn't even noticed the boy silently walk through the doorway and to his seat. Heero still
hadn't been able to change his schedule; his work for KNIGHTS now taking up his free time from
NERV. He grumbled in his seat as he filled with resentment at being treated like a child.
Lunch came as a new salvation for the weary students. As the bell rang, students dug out their
lunches, some leaving the room, some staying at their seats. Shinji passed through the doorway, hurrying
to meet with the blue-haired girl, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. The accompanying voice
talked to him in a light-hearted voice, inquiring his destination.
"Where ya going, Shinji?" Kensuke asked, noticing the boy start to walk down the wrong
direction, "The roof of the school is this way."
"I'll join you later," Shinji responded, a slight hint of urgency in his voice. Carefully choosing his
words to spare both him and Rei unnecessary embarrassment, Shinji explained to Kensuke, "I have…
something to take care of."
"Alright," Kensuke dismissed, his mood still happy from anticipation for his meal, "You'll know
where I'll be. Come soon, I got some stuff to ask you about NERV."
Shinji walked down the hallway of the school as Kensuke walked in the other direction. After
moments of echoing footsteps and chatter from other students, Shinji reached the building's door.
Walking through, the boy noticed the pleasant weather and smiled slightly, enjoying it. Just where she
had said, Rei waited for him at the bench just a few meters to Shinji's right. Shinji walked over and took
a seat next to the albino girl.
"Hello Ayanami," Shinji spoke warmly, facing her, "What did you need to talk about?"
"Ikari…" Rei said, struggling to find the proper words, yet speaking bluntly, "… do you care for
me?"
Eyes growing wide from shock, and abruptly moving a bit away from the girl, Shinji froze, not
managing any sort of coherent response. Sensing this change in demeanor, Rei look at the Third Child
oddly; though her icy mask still shown, Ayanami's mind raced. The fear of losing another in her life
grew, the fear of another shard of her reality flying away. Quickly, she reacted, sliding closer to the boy
despite the overwhelming waves of fear and confusion she felt from him, looking him in the face with her
crimson eyes.
"Please tell me," she pleaded, unable to hide her anxiety. Until she had gained the ability to sense
others, Rei had never had to deal with this bleak emotion. "… did you ever really care about me?"
"Ayanami…" Shinji replied, looking to the floor, unable to keep eye-contact and reluctant
"Why?… Why are you asking me this?"
"Because I needed to know the truth…" the girl replied, dejectedly. Turning away from Shinji,
Rei closed her eyes and lowered her gaze.
"What truth?" Shinji pondered out loud, briefly thinking about his own confusion at his life.
"The truth about this life I live… You are a part of my life; I thought you and the Commander
were the only people who care about me," Rei said, reading into the massive amount of confusion in
Shinji's mind. Getting up to leave, she added, "…perhaps I was wrong…"
"Wait!" Shinji almost yelled, grasping Rei's wrist as she stood. Not knowing what to expect, the
girl sat back down and turned to the boy.
"Ayanami," Shinji began, "I'm not sure to what degree… but yes, I do."
"But are you not… confused or unsure?"
"Of course I am… things have been so strange lately; I guess I need some time to myself to sort
through some things. Your question just added to it."
"I see," Rei responded, not knowing what to feel.
"I hope this helps you, Ayanami," Shinji responded, standing up. Looking back at the girl, he
said with a small, self-deprecating chuckle, "at least one of will have some understanding of life."
Rei said nothing as Shinji walked away. She merely sat and looked out at the clear, blue sky
taking in what Shinji had said. She thought again about the conversation she had that morning with
Suzuhara Toji, whom she had run into on the way to school and had given her another confusing
experience with his own emotions. Even had Rei not the ESP, the girl would still have noticed the sense
of sorrow in the boy's voice and sense of duty he had as Toji spoke about what he had to do….
Thoughts of doubt still racing through his mind, Suzuhara Toji kept a solemn look on his face as
he once again looked down at himself. This was the final step, no turning back now; though there never
really was a chance to before. Dark gray, black, and blue hung loosely from his athletic form, forming a
strange uniform that seemed to have been made for an adult. Reaching for the small control until in his
clothing's wrist, Toji activated the switch; with a sickly, slurping sound, the baggy uniform around him
slid against his body, fitting him perfectly, like a second set of skin. Toji closed his eyes and shuddered
as he once more realized he was in a plug-suit.
"It's just like Shinji's…" Toji trailed off to himself, noting the eerie resemblance to his friend's
suit. The boy trembled a bit as remembered when he had seen Shinji's plug suit, when he and Kensuke
had decided to watch an Angel battle, and had inadvertently gotten into the plug. The image of Shinji
sobbing in his chair after screaming and attacking the Angel still haunted Toji's mind.
"Of course it is," a voice responded from behind him. Turning to face the intruder and new smell
of burning tobacco, Toji saw that Kaji had just walked into the locker room.
"Kaji-san," Toji addressed the older man, "I don't suppose anyone has told him yet, Shinji, I
mean."
Kaji shook his head "no" as he took another hit of his cigarette. Sighing, he looked to the floor
before raising his eyes to look at the teen before him.
"I guess no one has the heart to; we all know what he's been going through, and only God
knows how he's gonna react to this."
"I know," Suzuhara responded sadly, "but this is something I have to do. I know from Shinji
about the suffering he goes through when he pilots; but I know why I'm piloting… it's all for her."
"You are one hell of a big brother, Toji. There aren't too many people who would do this kind
of thing for a family member."
"Thanks."
"We should be going now," Kaji said, taking a step toward the door. "Come on, I'll show ya
toward the simulation plugs."
Out of the locker room the two stepped; both men edging closer to the darkness each of their
destinies housed.
"Fourth Child has just commenced with harmonics test," Fuyutsuki reported, stepping into the
Commander's office, and closing the door behind him. Turning to face the commander, Fuyutsuki's face
fell as he once more laid his eyes upon a woman who's presence he dreaded because of what always
followed her; composing himself, the Sub-commander greeted her.
"Lady Une," he said with an air of contempt, "I was expecting you to show up soon."
"The ongoing work of Master Treize is my life," she responded, "and I am getting reports that
his scenario is beginning to be played out."
"Yes," Commander Ikari spoke up, steepling his hands in front of his face, "we must begin
preparing."
"Let's begin this meeting," Fuyutsuki said, walking toward the desk. With a heavy heart, he
spoke once more, trying not to listen to his conscience as he mentioned their plans.
"If all goes to plan," the older man said coldly, not wanting to look at the two heartless people in
the room, "the Sacrifice of the Child will be next…"
Nearly two days passed without any unusual incidents; the Children of humanity's war lived on
as any normal child would, repressing the angst that follows every child through the teen years, though
the torment that follows these children is beyond compare.
Ikari Shinji's mind spoke to him without words; driving him toward some unknown goal. It
beckoned him as though it was a deep, buried voice, long forgotten. Silence in his mind would allow the
voice to call; so Shinji spoke more to those around him, if only to silence the calling. He did it with a
small sickening smile plastered on his face, determined to hide the inside from the out. And it worked.
Until night came and it was time for Shinji's consciousness to rest within his mind. Then the voices grew,
beckoning him to return to some system, to make himself feel complete once more.
Ayanami Rei grew with each passing day; new emotions and feelings adding to her existence.
From her usual seat at school, she stared out the window like before; however, this time, she pondered
such things as beauty, love, and happiness. Though outside appearances and mannerisms remained the
same, Rei felt reborn from within. But along with positive emotions must come the negative ones. Fear
overwhelmed Rei from the day that she spoke with Shinji; fear that such changes in her could cause
unwanted repercussions. So Rei forced herself to act as she had always before; but this time, beneath
her emotionless actions, Rei's mind expanded with the knowledge of that which comprises a person's
humanity: emotion.
Sohryu Asuka Langley lived each day as she had before, oblivious to the subtle behavioral
changes of the other Children. Asuka's mind had always been a complex, distraught place; like Shinji
and Rei, Asuka passed the days while repressing that which troubled her mind. Though for the German
girl, repression came easy, merely having years of experience to help in her distorted view of the world.
The three Children of Evangelion dealt with themselves; meanwhile, the lone Heero Yuy stayed
silent, planning within his mind. Conforming to the expectations of him, Heero lived through the days; all
the while planning and strategizing for what may come. He constantly reminded himself of his purpose in
Tokyo-3 and the organization for which he worked. The secret organization KNIGHTS worked behind
the shadows of all, forever preserving the survival of the human race; a mission, which Heero had
accepted years ago.
As swiftly as the two days of peace had descended, it left the lives of the children of Tokyo-3.
On the third day, darkness fell, forever changing the world.
"Do you have any idea of when you'll be back, Misato?"
Misato stood in the doorway of the apartment they shared, Shinji close-by, seeing his guardian
off.
"I'm not sure," she responded, looking at her young ward, "If all goes well, I should be back by
midnight at the latest."
"What's so important that you have to leave Tokyo-3?" Shinji asked, feeling a bit disenchanted
at not being told.
"We've been over this already, Shinji," Misato said, disguising the torment in her voice. There
was no real orders classifying the Fourth Child from Shinji, but Misato just couldn't find the heart to tell
him. She just couldn't bare what the news would do to Shinji; though she knew that he would eventually
have to find out. In her mind, Misato vowed to be sure if Toji truly was the Fourth Child; then would be
the time to break the news to Shinji. Not now. "I can't tell you. But if all goes well, you'll find out
eventually."
"Alright…" Shinji consigned, giving up. "Anyways… you should be going now. Didn't you say
you had to leave by 7?"
"Oh yeah…" Misato stepped through the doorway, momentarily stopping to turn back and
wave, saying, "Bye, Shin-chan!"