SIXTH - DELIBERATE MISTAKES
Chapter Three
White Scars
Only a whisper it was, but Shinji heard it, and was by Asuka's side in a second, hesitantly laying a hand on her shoulder. "Asuka….what…" And then his eyes took in what Asuka's brain had already processed.
The room was more furnished than the rest of the apartment. Naturally, there was a bed, the sheets and blankets strewn about it in a chaotic mess, two pillows laying upon the bed, two more tossed off, one to either side. A night table was next to the bed, a lamp upon that, providing whatever light the room had, as the overhead light was off, and the blinds were drawn shut. By the door was a dresser, Avery's school uniform and trench coat hanging from the top drawer, the hook of the clothes hanger over the edge of the drawer.
Avery himself sat upon the bed, cross-legged, his back to them. He was topless, his hair unbound. He was brushing it out, slowly, pulled over his left shoulder to give him easier access to it's length……which left his back bared to them….and what was scribed upon it.
Hideous white scars covered every inch of Avery's back, jagged, twisted scars that had no individual end or beginning, all blending together to form a latticework of remembered pain. As they stared, they realized that the scars did indeed end, trailing off at the base of his arms and neck…..but they also hugged his sides, wrapping around him, hinting that his front was similarly marked.
It was a long moment before they could stop staring, and an even longer moment still, before Avery's voice could make the journey from their ears to their brains.
"I will ask again. What do you require from me, Second, Third Child?" Avery's voice was calm, but there was the barest hint of annoyance within it……and possibly, discomfort. He tossed his hair back, then gathered it up again, and pulled it over his right shoulder, and resumed brushing it.
"….we….I mean, Misato, wanted to know if you would like to have breakfast with us over at our place," said Asuka, quickly regaining her composure. "She also wants you to walk with us to school, so you won't have any trouble finding it."
"That is acceptable. You may leave now. I will come once I have braided my hair and dressed," said Avery, jerking his head sharply, as he ripped the brush through a patch of tangled hair.
Asuka turned to leave, grasping Shinji's elbow, but the Third Child stood his ground, finding his voice for a question he wasn't even sure he should ask. "…….Avery……what happened to you?"
Avery stopped his brushing, and tilted his head, staring at them from over his shoulder. "These…" He gestured at his back, his meaning obvious. "…..they are my legacy, from life itself……." His voice oozed sarcasm, bitter sarcasm. "Now leave."
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"Geez, what's with you two? You look like someone just did a dance on your graves." Shinji and Asuka flopped into their chairs, both still a bit pale. "And where's Avery?"
"Avery's coming…..we caught him in the middle of dressing," said Asuka, her eyes meeting Misato's. "Misato…….we sort of barged in on him while he was dressing, and……."
"You saw his scars, didn't you?" asked Misato. They both nodded, and she continued. "I won't even ask how that happened…."
"What happened to him, Misato?" asked Shinji, his voice soft. "…..do….do you know?"
Misato stared at Shinji, her eyes boring into his, seeing the hollow, frightened look in his eyes, weighing a decision on her tongue. "Shinji…..I do know…….I have access to all your files, after all………." *At least, what isn't classified* she thought, remembering the blank spots in Rei's file. "…and I could tell you….WOULD tell you, if it was something small…..but this……this is big…and private." She shook her head. "No, if he wants to tell you, he will, but until then…….I can't say a thing." She stared at them, each in turn. "And PLEASE don't ask him about it more than once, if you do….at all. This is his business, and his past."
Shinji sighed slightly…..relieved, or disappointed, he couldn't say. As she was sitting slightly behind him, he did not see the small nod Asuka gave Misato, a slow, understanding nod.
*I do understand…..that he'd want to keep his past to himself* thought Asuka. *Maybe there's more to the little jerk than we first thought* Inwardly, she trembled, as the twisted pattern of Avery's back played itself across her mind's eye again. But she was Asuka, tough as tempered steel, and her tremble was inward only.
Soft, insistent knocking upon the apartment's door broke them from their thoughts. "Shinji, get the plates, I'll get the door," said Misato, putting on her best, cutest face. "Avery! I'm glad you came. Come on in, Shinji's just about to finish breakfast."
Avery tilted his head, looking past her, into the apartment beyond, but made no move to enter. "Did you tell them?" he asked, his voice soft, but firm.
Misato was much too much the soldier to be surprised by this. In truth, she had expected the question. "No Avery, I didn't," she said, lowering her voice. "This will be your decision if you want hem to know. It isn't my place to talk about your past without your permission."
"Then tell them," Avery said, refusing to meet Misato's eyes. "They have a need to know, now."
"You're sure?" asked Misato, confident that he was, but wanting to be positive.
"I am," he stated, simply. "I will leave now."
This too, wasn't very surprising to Misato. "It's not something you really want to remember, is it?"
Avery stared at her for a moment, his expression carefully blank. "It is not that. I do not care if I hear of my past again. It is MY past, it does not go away if I do not think about it. I am simply not hungry. My appetite is erratic even when I feel well."
"Then, if it doesn't bother you, why not at least wait until we're done, and Asuka and Shinji can walk with you to school", questioned Misato.
"I will find my own way. The help you offer is appreciated, but unnecessary." He turned to leave. "I do not need anyone's help." Avery then strode off. Misato simply shook her head, and closed the door.
"Sorry about that, but it looks like it's just us today, after all." Misato brushed her hair back, running her fingers through the strands, as she decided her next words. "Avery……he did say that I could tell you what happened to him, if you still want to know."
"Course we do!" said Asuka, with the wide-eyed look of a child awaiting a scary bedtime story.
"Shinji?" asked Misato.
"Yeah….I know that we shouldn't pry…..but I do want to know what did that to him.." said Shinji.
"Then bring the food in now," motioned Misato. "This is something you'll need to be sitting down to hear."
Shinji obliged her, setting the breakfast dishes down, and pulling out his seat. He then waited for Misato to begin, absently sipping his juice.
"Ok……you see….." she sighed, leaning against the wall. "Do you two know why Section 2 keeps such a close eye on you three all the time? Think about it, your job is to fight the Angels, and those things are giant monsters. We've always seen them coming, and, even if one of them surprised us, what good could a few humans do?" She turned her head, staring off to the side. "So then, if that's the case, what do we need Section 2 for? What do they protect you from, if not the Angels?"
Both of them could only guess, but it was Asuka, more educated in the harsh realities of the world, who spoke up. "Other…..people?"
Misato nodded. "It may be hard to believe, but not everyone is thankful for what you kids do. NERV gets threats on your lives almost weekly…….but don't be too worried about it, these people will never get close to any of you. Most of them are from religious cults and sects that believe the Angels are here to 'cleanse' mankind, or to save us….the rest are just your garden variety psychopaths, or people who believe that they'll only make something of themselves, or become someone by killing someone important or famous…..the kind of people who assassinate celebrities or political figures. Again, I wouldn't worry too much, most of these people don't have the intelligence or resources to get past Section 2. I might bitch about them a lot, but they really are the best at what they do, which is keeping sickos away from you kids……" Misato trailed off, leaning her head back, looking up, at the ceiling. "But….even before the Angels appeared, there were people like that…….the Second Impact may have killed half the world's population…..but it all wasn't directly because of the flooding or the climate changes……..and it doesn't mean that the survivors were unaffected, either. Humans have always seen doomsday in harmless things like stars or comets…….but an event like the Second Impact, something that killed so many people…..a good number of cults sprang up after the Second Impact, convinced the world was ending."
"So….?" said Asuka, not sure where this was leading.
"So, not all of the cults were harmless, Asuka. Some of the threats we get are from some of the them…….there are a lot of people who believe the world SHOULD have ended with the Second Impact…..and a good number that are actively trying to end the world as we know it," stated Misato, her voice soft. "Don't ask me how a person could become so twisted about inside. But there are many people who have just given up on life….and are trying to force the rest of the world to do the same. After the Second Impact, the UN created a division of their peace-keeping forces to watch these kind of people, to make sure that they never got their hands on any type of power, nuclear or otherwise, that could help them accomplish their goals."
"Avery's father headed a branch of this group, the branch that was responsible for planning and executing attacks on any groups that were actively hostile, any group that threatened lives, civilian or otherwise. They were a sort of anti-terrorist unit, except 'terrorist' is too narrow a definition for these kind of people."
Both Shinji and Asuka furrowed their brows at this. "What do you mean, Misato?" asked Asuka. "These guys sound like terrorists."
"They are and they aren't……..you see, terrorists are usually tied to some political or religious doctrine, and, while some of these groups claimed to be Christians, and said they were doing God's work, the only thing any of them truly worshiped was Death. And, while terrorists strike at targets and people that oppose whatever doctrine they follow, to these people, everyone and anyone opposed their doctrine of end all human life, as the Second Impact should have done. For them, there was no victory, no end until Earth was bare of human life." Misato pulled a chair out, and twisted it around, sitting down and straddling it, he arms resting on the back, her head on her arms. "Now, Avery's father wasn't particularly good at his job….don't get me wrong, he was competent, but he wasn't really outstanding, there were undoubtedly more skilled men and women who could have taken his post. But he WAS determined. He hounded these groups, again and again, until all the members of a cult were dead or arrested. One by one, he shut these cults down, and the other cultists saw this, watched as their brothers were killed……and I think you don't have to be told that they didn't like what they saw."
Nervously, Shinji swallowed. He had an idea of where this was leading.
"One of these groups, 'Bringers of End', or 'Crimson Rebirth', or some name like that, managed to get a man inside the UN, who was able to divert all of the security protecting the Black family away on some contrived emergency, long enough for the cultists to do their work." Misato trembled, as she remembered. "I've seen pictures of Avery's parents…..Near as the UN figured, the cultists completely surprised them, Avery and his family didn't even have time to run. They could have killed them all, then and there, but these people didn't want to just kill them. This was meant to be a message, a warning of what would happen to anyone who tried to stop them." Misato's eyes bored through them. "They tortured that family, Avery, his mother and father, for hours, beating them, cutting them, burning them…..every horrible way mankind has developed to cause pain to another, they did to Xavier and Serena Black. They even……raped both of them, just to cause them pain. And Avery saw all of this, saw his parents being maimed, being violated, heard them scream in agony and shame…..and saw them die."
"Keep in mind that, up until the moment of his parents' deaths, the cultists hadn't laid a finger on Avery. They had always meant to eventually kill his parents, but they meant for Avery to live, as he is now……They carved those scars into his body, giving him blood transfusions to keep him all…..all to create a living example of what would happen to anyone who crossed them."
"That is what they found, when the police arrived at Avery's house. Two corpses, and a horribly mutilated, but alive, boy. The cultists, to a man, escaped that night." Misato's eyes softened. "And now you know."
"…God….." whispered Asuka. "And I thought….."
"Thought what?" asked Shinji.
"….nothing. It's not important," mumbled Asuka. It really wasn't nothing, but she wasn't ready to let anyone, much less Shinji, know about HER parents. Still, she could guess the words behind Misato's knowing look. *We both lost our parents……..he might have even had a worse time of it than I did………..but I didn't let it break me, I got stronger…….I became the BEST! I honestly think Avery died that day…….stupid weakling…*
"Misato……the people who did…..that to Avery. What happened to them?" asked Shinji.
"It's almost funny, in a morbid sort of way, but their horrible 'message' had exactly the opposite effect of what they had intended. People within the UN, friends of Avery's family, they all heard the stories, saw what happened to a supposedly 'protected' family, and they realized, as the cultists hoped they would, that it could happen to any one of them, at any time." Misato sighed. "And if they had been your normal sort of terrorists, after some political change or the freedom of one of their leaders, the UN might have backed down, or given them what they wanted. But these were people who desired the extermination of human life itself. If the UN buckled, if they let these people have their way, then their families would die anyway, in the great 'cleansing' the cultists desired."
Misato smiled, a bitter, bitter smile. "The UN eradicated the group that did this, and any other 'apocalypse group' they could find, hostile or not. Nowadays, they keep a very close eye on any of the remaining groups, and any of them that acquire power, political or military, are dealt with. The hostile groups are slaughtered, the very few non-violent groups are broken up, put in mental institutions, or allowed to continue existing, but under harsh sanctions and safeguards." Misato slumped back into her chair, and exhaled a deep breath. "This might seem like overkill, but the cultists showed the UN what kind of people they are, and what they were capable of. No one wants something like what happened to Avery's family happening to their own."
"And that is the ironic part, because the cultists wanted Avery to be a living reminder of what they would do to people who tried to stop them, and, he is that. But he is also a reminder to the UN to never take the cultists lightly……..and….that one act by a handful of men and women broke whatever power the cultists had, permanently."
Misato leaned her head to the side, resting her cheek on her palm. "And I'd guess, after a story like that, you two aren't very hungry?"
"Not really…..," mumbled Asuka. "We'll eat it later, just save it…..c'mon Shinji."
"Mm?" asked Shinji, himself a bit subdued. "Oh yeah, school…." He glanced at the clock. "We won't have to run, at least…..that's a change." He rose, and ducked into his room to retrieve his schoolbag, while Asuka slipped on her shoes, and waited for him to do the same.
"Bye, Misato. We'll see you when we get back!" said Asuka, some of her usual energy coming back to her. With Shinji trailing behind her, she set off.
Both were quiet during the walk, their energies devoted to their thoughts, or just generally brooding over things that had been raised by the story. Asuka, in particular, was rolling memories about in her mind, as she slowed her pace to walk at Shinji's side. "Shinji?" she asked, tapping him on his shoulder to rouse him back to the outside world. "You're thinking about what Misato told us, aren't you?" Shinji nodded, not turning his head from the path before them. "Don't brood over it too much, it's just not worth it. I took some history courses in college, German history courses…..and when they covered the Holocaust….I couldn't stop thinking about the things I had learned in class. Horrible things have a way of worming inside your head, and consuming you…..so DON'T let yourself get depressed, or else!" Somewhat forcefully, she reached out and turned his head to the side, demanding that he look her in the eyes. "Got it?!" she snapped.
"I'll try Asuka, I'll try!" he sighed, twisting his head out of her grasp. "What do you care, anyways?" he snapped.
"Nothing at ALL, Third Child!" Asuka snapped back, her eyes narrowing. "But you could at LEAST be civil to someone who's trying to help you!" Angry now, she swatted him upside his head, and stormed off in a huff. "I TRY to help a loser like you, and that's the thanks I get? Go on and MAKE yourself miserable, Ikari, see if I, or ANYONE ELSE, cares! Bastard stupid baka…….." Asuka's voice faded into the distance, as her angry strides quickly distanced herself from Shinji.
The Third Child himself, was left rubbing his bruised skull, and wondering what he had done to set off the violent powder keg that was Asuka.
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Shinji reached school with plenty of time to spare. He halfway entertained thoughts of making amends to Asuka, but a smoldering glare from her told him in no uncertain terms to back off. Unsurprisingly, Rei was already there, and he waved at her, getting a blank stare in return, as usual. Avery too, was there, having taken a seat in the far back row, his arms crossed across his upper chest, his chin resting on his wrists, ignoring the many looks he was receiving, as more and more students filtered into class.
"Hey Shinji," waved Kensuke, as Shinji took his seat. "We got a new kid today….how long you think he'll last before his family gets sick of this place and takes off?"
"Until he dies….." mumbled Shinji, his dark mood still clinging to him.
"Eh?" said Touji. "Whatsamatter with you, Shinji?"
*It's not worth it…….* Shinji sighed. "Nothing, just some things that were on my mind……" He glanced over to Avery, then to Kensuke. "And that's a new pilot, Kensuke…..so I'd expect he'll be here for as long as I am."
"ANOTHER pilot? That was awful quick…..seems just like yesterday that…." Kensuke flushed, realizing what he was about to say.
"Don't worry about it, Ken. You guys gotta stop worrying about that….what happened with me happened, and it's over. So stop being so damn careful around me, got it?" While it was said with a smile, Touji's words were firm. "Right then, you were saying?"
"That it was just a little while ago that NERV was bringing in Unit-03, and we were all wondering who the new pilot would be. They sure shipped him out here quick," he said, gesturing towards Avery.
"Yeah Shinji, where's he from? He doesn't look local….." commented Touji.
"Somewhere in America…..I don't know where….but he got in two days ago. Misato's got him living next door to us," said Shinji. Both Touji and Kensuke glanced at Avery, their expressions envious.
"Lucky guy," sighed Kensuke. "You Eva pilots get all the breaks, the mecha and the women."
For the first time since that morning, Shinji smiled. "Somehow, I don't think he would agree with you."
Kensuke glanced at Avery again, who was still hunched over, his chin resting on his wrists, staring blankly forward. "Doesn't look too friendly, does he?"
"Issat a trench coat, Ikari?" asked Touji, pointing at the black mass draped over the back of Avery's chair. Shinji nodded. "Geez, you hardly ever see someone with one o those."
"He's carrying the whole dark and brooding thing a bit far, don't you think?" asked Kensuke.
"I don't know him well enough to say, really," said Shinji. "I did only meet him yesterday….but he is pretty quiet."
"Looks like the females of our class aren't immune to the effect, though," said Kensuke, nodding to a cluster of girls talking together, occasionally giggling, and glancing Avery's way. "I'll never understand why girls like the whole 'long-haired angsty' thing," he griped, turning back to his computer.
For a moment, the girls huddled together closer, then one girl walked over, heading towards Avery. "Looks like Kari drew the short straw this time, Ken," commented Touji. Both Shinji and Kensuke turned to watch.
The girl in question stood by Avery's desk for a moment or two, expecting him to turn and look at her, as was the natural human reaction. Avery, however, continued staring forward, almost drawing himself in tighter. Undaunted, Kari attempted to strike up a conversation with him, again meeting with no success, or even a response. Kari grew more and more flustered by the minute, until, finally, Avery raised his head, and regarded her for a moment. When he spoke, it was only a few words, but Kari flushed, glared at him, and stormed off. Avery returned to his former position, again staring forward.
*Wonder what he said?* thought Shinji.
"Uh oh, looks like they're calling in the big guns," commented Touji, pointing to where Kari was talking to, more like ranting to, Hikari, and by association, Asuka. "Poor bastard, if he gets on Asuka AND Hikari's bad side on the first day, there won't be enough left of him to feed the birds."
"Should be interesting to watch, though," said Kensuke, as Hikari rose from her seat.
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Avery tilted his head, absently watching as the Second Child, and another female crossed the room, coming to stand before him. After a moment, when he did not acknowledge their presence, Asuka moved to stand directly in his line of sight, forcing his attention. "Do you require something, Second Child?" he asked, noting the annoyed expression that crossed Asuka's face.
"This is our class representative, Avery…" she said, indicating Hikari. "Hikari Horaki…..and you can try to be nice to her, can't you?"
"Hello Avery…..," said Hikari, her expression halfway between a smile and a frown. She had heard Asuka's stories about him, of course, but wanted to see him with an open mind.
"Greetings, Representative Horaki," said Avery, in his dull monotone, not turning to face her. "Why are you speaking to me?"
"Because, Avery, we'd like to know just why you were so rude to Kari," said Hikari. "She was just trying to be friendly…..just like we are now…."
"I had no desire to speak with her. I merely told her that," said Avery. "Would it have been better had I lied to her, and pretended to listen to her speak?"
"No……but it really wouldn't have been the end of the world if you had been polite to her about it," said Hikari, growing a bit perturbed. "They, everyone, just wants to make you feel welcome."
"I do not care if I am welcome here. That does not affect my being here at all," Avery turned to look at the two girls. "Are you finished with me yet? May I be left alone, now?"
Hikari flushed. "Fine, jerk. I guess Asuka really was right about you, after all. You are antisocial."
Avery turned away from them, returning to his previous stance. *What you think of me does not matter, Representative Horaki. I am who I am, regardless of the opinions of others..*
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The day passed, as would any other day. The minor excitement generated by Avery's arrival dissipated, helped in part by Kari and Asuka's complaint about his personality. Avery himself did little to disprove the claims, stating merely his name when asked by the teacher to introduce himself, and then sitting down again. At lunch he remained in the classroom, absently nibbling from a box lunch, and working on the homework assigned in the first half of the day. At the end of school, he was the one of the first out of the door, his pace quick, as if he had somewhere to be.
"Wonder where he's heading in such a hurry?" asked Touji, as they stood at the gates, Avery's form shrinking in the distance. "That ain't the way to your place, Ikari."
"Yeah….he's probably got a test or something at NERV today…," said Shinji.
"Oh well. Not anything that concerns us. C'mon, Shinji, we got ourselves a month of nothing to get you caught up on."
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"Major Katsuragi. I have a matter to discuss with you."
From the tone of the voice, Misato first though that Rei had come to see her. But, as she looked up from her computer, she met the steady gaze of Avery. "Hello, Avery. How was school for you?"
"School is the same as it is in America. I wish to be moved," he said.
"To another school?" asked Misato, not sure of Avery's meaning.
"To another place of residence. I understand you wish to keep an eye upon me, as you are my guardian while I exist within Japan, but that is unnecessary."
Misato shook her head. "I'm sorry, Avery, but I just can't do that. The arrangements are for your own good."
Avery crossed his arms over his chest. "I wish to be alone, Major Katsuragi. Your intent to take care of me and insure my well-being is understood, but it is not something I desire." Avery's eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a distinctly cold overtone. "I have no desire to be a part of the unit you have cobbled together with the Second Child and the Third Child. I do not need anyone to protect me or ensure I live correctly. I will be fine without yourself or anyone watching over me from day to day." Avery's posture eased, and his voice softened. "I wish to be alone, Major Katsuragi," he restated. "….I ask that you understand that desire of mine…….please?"
"And if I order you to live there?" asked Misato, her voice edged in steel. "What then Avery?"
"I will abide by your orders, Major Katsuragi. You are my commanding officer. I have no power to oppose your decisions.," Avery uncrossed his arms, sinking them into the pockets of his coat. "I have read of what happened with the Third Child. I will not leave Tokyo-3, if that is your fear."
Misato sighed. This was going to be a tough decision. She was worried about this child, as much as she feared for Shinji and Asuka. With Shinji, it had been easy, she had just bullied him into putting up with her, and admitting that he wanted to remain where he was. The same strong-arm tactics would probably work on Avery…..but still……if he wanted to be alone, maybe she should let him be alone. If he changed his mind, they could always move him back. It wasn't as though Tokyo-3 was seeing a massive number of people moving into it. "Fine. We'll find you a private residence somewhere, and have you moved in there tonight."
"The First Child has a private residence within the city, correct?" asked Avery. When Misato nodded, Avery continued his thought. "If possible, I do not wish to be in the same building as her. I do not wish for her to be put up to checking on me, or anyone else, for that matter. I desire solitude…….and that is the only request I will make of you."
*Not like I'd put you up in that hellhole for anything, kid.* thought Misato. "I won't send anyone to bother you, Avery. You've made it clear you want to be left alone, and I'll honor that request. You won't see any of us unless you have to."
"Very well. I will wait at my current residence for the moving company." Avery departed then, without another word.
Misato watched him go, then picked up her cell phone. "Hello, Ritsuko? Yeah, it's me. It looks like we're going to have to move Avery again….Yeah, he wants to be somewhere alone, go figure."
"He didn't take well to your pseudo-mothering, did he?" said Ritsuko, her tone dry. "I told you so, didn't I?"
"Shut up, Ritsuko…" mutter Misato.
"It's the truth, isn't it? Avery's not like Shinji, he's not going to just passively let you take care of him like that.," Ritsuko commented. "Avery isn't a hedgehog like Shinji…..but whatever he his, he's simply numb."
"Whatever….," said Misato, a hint of crossness in her voice. "Can you get him moved out tonight?"
"Sure, the moving companies will be happy for the extra work. Where are you going to move him?" asked Ritsuko.
"I should have that figured out by the time they get off their lazy asses and get Avery's stuff packed up. I'll call you back when I find somewhere, ok?"
"I'll talk to you then," replied Ritsuko, clicking her phone off. Slipping it back into the pocket of her lab coat, she turned to face the two men she had been speaking to previously. "I apologize Commander. That was Major Katsuragi calling about changing the Sixth Child's living arrangements." Ritsuko smirked. "It seems I was right about him reacting badly to being taken into Major Katsuragi's surrogate family."
"How long until he can be moved, Dr. Akagi?" asked Fuyutsuki.
"Tonight. I kept the moving company on call in case of this possibility. It's not that big of a problem, even if Eva-06 was battle ready, Avery will not be that useful in a fight," said Ritsuko. "I imagine Major Katsuragi will have little trouble getting him housing."
"How soon until we are ready to activate Unit-06?" asked Gendo, his voice echoing throughout the room.
"Within the week, easily. We will probably be using the underground test facilities, for the ease of containment in the event we lose control." Ritsuko paused a moment, in thought, then continued. "If……another Angel should happen to infect this Unit, as happened to Unit-03, we should have two or more of the pilots within the facility, to stop the Angel before it reaches Terminal Dogma."
"We will leave the preparations up to you, Dr. Akagi," replied Gendo, effectively dismissing her. Ritsuko nodded, and left the room.
"All according to your plan….," commented Fuyutsuki.
"It was not difficult. The Sixth Child is not so different from the Third Child…..his reactions were easy to predict," said Gendo, a small smirk upon his face.
"And the activation test?" asked Fuyutsuki. "How shall we proceed?"
"We shall have the Second and Third Children standing by, even if there is not chance of a second infection. There needs to be a show for the rest of NERV," said Gendo.
"The unexpected will keep them on edge, is that it?" asked Fuyutsuki.
"They must be ready," said Gendo. "The possibility of events outside of our contingencies exists. We all must be ready for anything.
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For the second time in two days, the movers were busy within the apartment next to Misato's, only this time, they were emptying the apartment of furniture, instead of filling it with such.
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"You suppose he's going back to America?" asked Shinji.
"Who knows?" commented Asuka, lounging back on the couch. "It's possible, but if he can't handle being here, then it's good he's leaving. He'd crumble in a battle, and that's when he'd be needed the most."
"I suppose Misato will know…," said Shinji. *Probably why he was headed to NERV this afternoon…*
Asuka sighed, pillowing her head on her hands. She fidgeted for a little, finding a comfortable position, then settled back. "Doesn't really matter, anyways. This doesn't affect us much. If he's leaving, they'll find someone else."
"Yeah, I suppose….," muttered Shinji, turning away from Asuka. * I wonder…..I mean…I know she doesn't care about Ayanami…….but would you be that callous if it was me leaving…..* Frowning at his thoughts, Shinji turned back to his work, wanting something to occupy his thoughts.
Time passed, and Shinji finally polished off the last of his make-up work, expelling his weariness in a long sigh. *I'm glad that's over with…..* thought Shinji, stretching his arms out, flexing his tired body. "Asuka?" he said. "You ready for me to fix dinner?" He waited a moment, expecting a harsh reply, or a slap to the back of his head. When neither of these was forthcoming, he turned, glancing about the apartment for his roommate.
His eyes did not have far to look. She lay where his eyes had last left her, sprawled out on the couch. Her breath came in a slow, steady rhythm, convincing Shinji she was sound asleep.
*She's really beautiful when she's asleep.* thought Shinji. Not a new thought, by any means, as she and Shinji had been forced to share sleeping arrangements during the synch training for the fight with the Seventh Angel. As was the general human nature, her face relaxed in slumber, the hard, driven lines of an Eva pilot softening. *She actually looks like an average girl* thought Shinji, with a soft, simple smile. Asuka and Misato may have put him through hell on a daily basis, but he would be lost without them. *Amazing how two of the three people I care the most about could be so difficult…….though, honestly, Rei's not any easier to deal with……..She's just a different kind of difficult, I guess.*
A soft knocking upon the apartment's door roused Shinji from his thoughts. Sighing slightly, as it was late, and he didn't like dealing with random people, much less at this late hour, Shinji opened the door to find Avery standing there, his eyes staring down the hall, as if waiting upon someone, or something. Upon hearing the door open, he turned to face Shinji.
"Third Child….," he said in greeting. "Is Major Katsuragi within the residence?"
"No, she hasn't come back from work yet," said Shinji, shaking his head in the negative. "Avery, are you going back to America?"
"No. I am merely moving to another location, via my own request. I will be remaining within Tokyo-3," he said, his voice distant. "When do you expect Major Katsuragi in?"
Shinji shrugged. "No idea. Her hours aren't really ever normal…….she could be in any time. You….want to wait on her here?," he offered, gesturing vaguely to the inside of the apartment.
"No. I must depart now if I wish to acquire transportation to my new residence…." Avery's voice dropped a few decibels, so that Shinji actively had to try to hear Avery's voice. "Tell Major Katsuragi…..I am grateful to her for granting my request……..and that I appreciate her attempt to make me feel welcome here, unnecessary as the gesture was."
"Sure, I'll tell her when she gets in," said Shinji.
"Very well. Goodbye, Third Child," said Avery, departing.
CONTINUED