Chapter 4: What Do We Save, What Do We Destroy
Makoto had gotten her the information. He had had to do a lot of tricky work, but he had gotten them. Now, combined with the information Kaji had given her, Misato knew what to do and what not to do. However, she couldn't give this to Evans yet. She needed to do something first.
"Shinji."
Shinji opened his eyes and looked at her. She sat down on the couch next to him.
"I need your help."
Carefully, she outlined what she knew about the Human Instrumentality Project and the planned Third Impact. It was a lot to tell him, since he was fighting his own battle to try to save Rei and Asuka. However, she had no choice. Shinji was the only one that could possibly help her. After she had finished, she waited for his reply.
"You know I'll help you Misato, but I can only do so much."
"I know," she said, "I don't expect you to do more than you can. But it is vital that if Seele sends the EVA series against us, that they be destroyed. They could bring the destruction of the human race."
"The lives of the many over the lives of the few," Shinji muttered, "Is that what I have to choose?"
"What?"
Shinji looked at Misato, then decided to tell her about his dream. After he finished, Misato thought it over.
"Shinji, I won't make you choose if it means you have to sacrifice Rei or Asuka."
"I'll help," he said, "Even if I save them, I won't have done them much good if the world is destroyed."
Misato smiled. She hugged Shinji and got up.
"Asuka!" she yelled.
The redhead appeared from her room wearing her school uniform.
"Let's get to NERV. You have a sync test."
"Yeah."
She seemed rather subdued ever since the argument with Shinji. Maybe it was because she had figured out that Shinji had more backbone than she thought, and wasn't getting used to it. Rei was in Shinji's room. Shinji went over to talk with her.
"Don't do anything perverted," Asuka said with a mean grin.
Shinji stopped in the hallway. He turned his head enough so that Asuka saw his eye. There was an angry glint in it. She drew back slightly, but regained her composure and looked away. Misato and Asuka left. Shinji knocked on the door. Rei opened it, wearing the shirt that she slept in, rubbing her eyes.
"Sorry. Did I wake you?"
"No. I had already awakened."
"Can we talk?"
"Sure."
Shinji moved so Rei could walk into the living room.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked.
"I am not thirsty."
Shinji sat down on the other couch.
"What do you wish to discuss, Shinji?"
"How are you feeling about living with us?"
"It, has been interesting."
"If you mean that argument I had with Asuka, it has happened before a few times," Shinji said with a sheepish grin.
"You do not get along with Soryu?"
"I try to," he said, "But it's like she doesn't want to get along with me."
Rei did reply to that. Actually, she didn't know how to reply.
"But tell me. Do you enjoy living with others?"
"Is there a difference in living with others and living by oneself?"
"You're not alone when you live with others," offered Shinji, "You know there are others close by."
"Is this supposed to feel comforting?"
"Well," said Shinji, "You know that at least one of the people close by will help you."
"Are you implying that Soryu would not help you?"
"She depends on her pride too much," said Shinji, "She might help, but she won't let others help her."
"Why? Is it not customary to allow others to help you when you are in need of help?"
"Asuka doesn't see it that way," said Shinji, "She sees it as showing weakness, something she isn't willing to allow."
"Is that not a weakness in itself?" asked Rei, "Not asking for help when you know you need it?"
"You know, that might be a good angle to get through to her. Thanks Rei."
"You're welcome."
Misato and Asuka got out of the car. They entered NERV headquarters. Asuka went to change into her plugsuit while went to the observation deck.
"So are we ready?" she asked.
Maya nodded. "Everything's set. Do you think Asuka can do this?"
"Maybe. Hopefully. She needs to restore some confidence in herself or she'll never get over all this."
Asuka got into the simulation entry plug.
"All right Asuka. Concentrate and relax," said Maya.
Asuka nodded and closed her eyes. She was visibly concentrating very hard. That wasn't a good thing.
"Relax Asuka," said Misato.
Maya looked at the sync rate.
"Forty percent," she said, "That's not too bad."
"Okay Asuka," said Misato, "Let's keep it going for a little while longer."
For the next ten minutes, Asuka continued trying to get her sync rate higher. It stayed the same. Even though this was good, Asuka still wasn't satisfied.
"Forty percent? Ha! That's a joke!"
"You're combat-ready," said Misato, "That's what's important."
"Oh really? And what is Shinji's sync rate these days?"
"We're testing that tomorrow," said Misato, "As well as Rei's."
"Humph! Wondergirl doesn't even have an EVA to pilot. Why is she still here?"
"She's the backup," said Misato, "In case something happens."
"In other words she is the one who replaces me if I can't pilot. Well that'll never happen Misato!"
Misato shook her head. Sometimes there was no way to talk to Asuka. She was unwilling to let others help her, and that could lead her to her doom.
"The draining of the lake is proceeding according to schedule," said Kozo.
"Seele will attack when the lake is completely drained," said Gendo, "With the EVA units, we will be able to win the battle."
"What if they use the MP EVAs?"
"They will not risk the destruction of Unit 01. They cannot afford that."
"You gamble too much on assumptions Gendo," he warned.
"We will get through this," said Gendo, "And the Human Instrumentality Project will be carried out."
"If you say so," said Kozo.
Asuka sipped her drink. Rei had finished eating and was reading in the living room. Shinji was watching TV with Misato. She was the only one without anything to do. They were excluding her. Why? Because she was better than them. Yeah, that was it. But how long would that last? Shinji would definitely overtake her sync rate, and maybe Rei too. She couldn't let that happen. She had to try even harder next time. There was no way she would allow herself to be outscored by them.
The next day, Shinji, Rei, and Misato went to NERV for the tests. Asuka was left alone at home to contemplate her thoughts. Shinji had grown a real backbone. He was no longer afraid of her, and that was starting to scare her. Had she sunk so low that Shinji wasn't even afraid of her now? Who was she supposed to turn to? Nobody. The world didn't care about her. It only paid her heed because she was the best at everything. But that wasn't good enough anymore. It demanded even more out of her. Even more than she could supply. She had been beaten, and there was no way for her to forget the shame.
Shinji and Rei were both concentrating, but their faces didn't show too much strain. Both were relaxed.
"These are pretty high sync rates," said Maya.
Misato looked over the woman's shoulder and saw that it was true. Shinji had an eighty-nine percent, while Rei had a sixty-two percent. A lot higher than Asuka's. Maybe they shouldn't tell her that.
"Why do you think they have such high sync rates?" asked Misato.
"There isn't a lot of background thought," said Maya, "It looks like they're pretty relaxed. Asuka had been pretty tense and that might have attributed to the low sync rate."
"Okay. Are we done?"
"Yes," said Maya, "They can go home now."
The two pilots changed and Misato drove them back home. They found Asuka lounging on the couch.
"Well, back already," she said tersely.
"Asuka, we need to talk," said Misato.
"What?" she demanded.
Shinji led Rei into his, well, it was now technically her room. He closed the door.
"It's about your sync rate."
"What? They beat me and now you think you don't need me?"
"No," said Misato, "We want to try to improve it. But you have to do that yourself. We can only offer you advice."
"I don't want your help!" Asuka screamed, "I don't need it!"
She ran towards her room. Shinji suddenly stepped out of his room and blocked her path.
"Get out of my way!" she screamed.
"No."
That caused a silence to fall.
"What did you say!" she screamed.
"I said no," replied Shinji in his calm voice.
Asuka completely blew up there. She slapped Shinji across the face. Shinji's head turned from the force of the impact, but otherwise did not react. He turned his head back to face her. Again, there was a hint of anger in his eyes. But there was also pain. He stared at her for a very long time before he spoke.
"Asuka."
End of Chapter 4
If any of you think I'm a bastard for leaving you hanging, I understand. But I need to get this chapter up, and that means a cliffhanger. The next chapter will probably be up in about a week, maybe a little bit later, maybe a bit sooner.
Z98
Makoto had gotten her the information. He had had to do a lot of tricky work, but he had gotten them. Now, combined with the information Kaji had given her, Misato knew what to do and what not to do. However, she couldn't give this to Evans yet. She needed to do something first.
"Shinji."
Shinji opened his eyes and looked at her. She sat down on the couch next to him.
"I need your help."
Carefully, she outlined what she knew about the Human Instrumentality Project and the planned Third Impact. It was a lot to tell him, since he was fighting his own battle to try to save Rei and Asuka. However, she had no choice. Shinji was the only one that could possibly help her. After she had finished, she waited for his reply.
"You know I'll help you Misato, but I can only do so much."
"I know," she said, "I don't expect you to do more than you can. But it is vital that if Seele sends the EVA series against us, that they be destroyed. They could bring the destruction of the human race."
"The lives of the many over the lives of the few," Shinji muttered, "Is that what I have to choose?"
"What?"
Shinji looked at Misato, then decided to tell her about his dream. After he finished, Misato thought it over.
"Shinji, I won't make you choose if it means you have to sacrifice Rei or Asuka."
"I'll help," he said, "Even if I save them, I won't have done them much good if the world is destroyed."
Misato smiled. She hugged Shinji and got up.
"Asuka!" she yelled.
The redhead appeared from her room wearing her school uniform.
"Let's get to NERV. You have a sync test."
"Yeah."
She seemed rather subdued ever since the argument with Shinji. Maybe it was because she had figured out that Shinji had more backbone than she thought, and wasn't getting used to it. Rei was in Shinji's room. Shinji went over to talk with her.
"Don't do anything perverted," Asuka said with a mean grin.
Shinji stopped in the hallway. He turned his head enough so that Asuka saw his eye. There was an angry glint in it. She drew back slightly, but regained her composure and looked away. Misato and Asuka left. Shinji knocked on the door. Rei opened it, wearing the shirt that she slept in, rubbing her eyes.
"Sorry. Did I wake you?"
"No. I had already awakened."
"Can we talk?"
"Sure."
Shinji moved so Rei could walk into the living room.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked.
"I am not thirsty."
Shinji sat down on the other couch.
"What do you wish to discuss, Shinji?"
"How are you feeling about living with us?"
"It, has been interesting."
"If you mean that argument I had with Asuka, it has happened before a few times," Shinji said with a sheepish grin.
"You do not get along with Soryu?"
"I try to," he said, "But it's like she doesn't want to get along with me."
Rei did reply to that. Actually, she didn't know how to reply.
"But tell me. Do you enjoy living with others?"
"Is there a difference in living with others and living by oneself?"
"You're not alone when you live with others," offered Shinji, "You know there are others close by."
"Is this supposed to feel comforting?"
"Well," said Shinji, "You know that at least one of the people close by will help you."
"Are you implying that Soryu would not help you?"
"She depends on her pride too much," said Shinji, "She might help, but she won't let others help her."
"Why? Is it not customary to allow others to help you when you are in need of help?"
"Asuka doesn't see it that way," said Shinji, "She sees it as showing weakness, something she isn't willing to allow."
"Is that not a weakness in itself?" asked Rei, "Not asking for help when you know you need it?"
"You know, that might be a good angle to get through to her. Thanks Rei."
"You're welcome."
Misato and Asuka got out of the car. They entered NERV headquarters. Asuka went to change into her plugsuit while went to the observation deck.
"So are we ready?" she asked.
Maya nodded. "Everything's set. Do you think Asuka can do this?"
"Maybe. Hopefully. She needs to restore some confidence in herself or she'll never get over all this."
Asuka got into the simulation entry plug.
"All right Asuka. Concentrate and relax," said Maya.
Asuka nodded and closed her eyes. She was visibly concentrating very hard. That wasn't a good thing.
"Relax Asuka," said Misato.
Maya looked at the sync rate.
"Forty percent," she said, "That's not too bad."
"Okay Asuka," said Misato, "Let's keep it going for a little while longer."
For the next ten minutes, Asuka continued trying to get her sync rate higher. It stayed the same. Even though this was good, Asuka still wasn't satisfied.
"Forty percent? Ha! That's a joke!"
"You're combat-ready," said Misato, "That's what's important."
"Oh really? And what is Shinji's sync rate these days?"
"We're testing that tomorrow," said Misato, "As well as Rei's."
"Humph! Wondergirl doesn't even have an EVA to pilot. Why is she still here?"
"She's the backup," said Misato, "In case something happens."
"In other words she is the one who replaces me if I can't pilot. Well that'll never happen Misato!"
Misato shook her head. Sometimes there was no way to talk to Asuka. She was unwilling to let others help her, and that could lead her to her doom.
"The draining of the lake is proceeding according to schedule," said Kozo.
"Seele will attack when the lake is completely drained," said Gendo, "With the EVA units, we will be able to win the battle."
"What if they use the MP EVAs?"
"They will not risk the destruction of Unit 01. They cannot afford that."
"You gamble too much on assumptions Gendo," he warned.
"We will get through this," said Gendo, "And the Human Instrumentality Project will be carried out."
"If you say so," said Kozo.
Asuka sipped her drink. Rei had finished eating and was reading in the living room. Shinji was watching TV with Misato. She was the only one without anything to do. They were excluding her. Why? Because she was better than them. Yeah, that was it. But how long would that last? Shinji would definitely overtake her sync rate, and maybe Rei too. She couldn't let that happen. She had to try even harder next time. There was no way she would allow herself to be outscored by them.
The next day, Shinji, Rei, and Misato went to NERV for the tests. Asuka was left alone at home to contemplate her thoughts. Shinji had grown a real backbone. He was no longer afraid of her, and that was starting to scare her. Had she sunk so low that Shinji wasn't even afraid of her now? Who was she supposed to turn to? Nobody. The world didn't care about her. It only paid her heed because she was the best at everything. But that wasn't good enough anymore. It demanded even more out of her. Even more than she could supply. She had been beaten, and there was no way for her to forget the shame.
Shinji and Rei were both concentrating, but their faces didn't show too much strain. Both were relaxed.
"These are pretty high sync rates," said Maya.
Misato looked over the woman's shoulder and saw that it was true. Shinji had an eighty-nine percent, while Rei had a sixty-two percent. A lot higher than Asuka's. Maybe they shouldn't tell her that.
"Why do you think they have such high sync rates?" asked Misato.
"There isn't a lot of background thought," said Maya, "It looks like they're pretty relaxed. Asuka had been pretty tense and that might have attributed to the low sync rate."
"Okay. Are we done?"
"Yes," said Maya, "They can go home now."
The two pilots changed and Misato drove them back home. They found Asuka lounging on the couch.
"Well, back already," she said tersely.
"Asuka, we need to talk," said Misato.
"What?" she demanded.
Shinji led Rei into his, well, it was now technically her room. He closed the door.
"It's about your sync rate."
"What? They beat me and now you think you don't need me?"
"No," said Misato, "We want to try to improve it. But you have to do that yourself. We can only offer you advice."
"I don't want your help!" Asuka screamed, "I don't need it!"
She ran towards her room. Shinji suddenly stepped out of his room and blocked her path.
"Get out of my way!" she screamed.
"No."
That caused a silence to fall.
"What did you say!" she screamed.
"I said no," replied Shinji in his calm voice.
Asuka completely blew up there. She slapped Shinji across the face. Shinji's head turned from the force of the impact, but otherwise did not react. He turned his head back to face her. Again, there was a hint of anger in his eyes. But there was also pain. He stared at her for a very long time before he spoke.
"Asuka."
End of Chapter 4
If any of you think I'm a bastard for leaving you hanging, I understand. But I need to get this chapter up, and that means a cliffhanger. The next chapter will probably be up in about a week, maybe a little bit later, maybe a bit sooner.
Z98