Neon Genesis Evangelion
Seraphim
Chapter 6: Fear and Loathing on Earth
Misato tapped a pencil on her desk out of nervous habit, and looked from the report to the palm computer in her hand. "Are you sure this is all you could get out of him?"
Kensuke and Yoshi sat on the other side of the desk, looking tired and hungry. They nodded. "Again, Misato, yes. That's it. He had a hole in his arm when we found him. All he ever says when we try and question him is that stream of babble in the report."
She looked at it again, and then looked at Shinji, who sat on the couch. He shrugged, and said, "I guess that's as far as we're going to get in questioning him, if he's delirious."
She nodded. "You're right. No sense in pushing it. Are you all right, Kensuke? I knew he didn't leave you any choice. If you want to stop, then I'll understand."
He shook his head. "No way. We still have to find out what he was after. We don't even know who he is. We can't find records of his fingerprints anywhere. Not that we would, since they've apparently been burned off."
"Okay, okay. That's enough about it, then." She looked back to Shinji. "How's Rei?"
"The doctor determined she passed out because of fatigue. Asuka and Hikari are with her right now. She won't say what happened." He continued his favored pose of crossing his arms over his chest and frowning at his lap. "He suggested that she take a couple of days off. Maybe not pilot her Eva on the next mission."
"There's not a hope in hell of that happening."
Yoshi resisted the urge to yawn. "Do you think I should run another synch test and look at her psych pattern?"
Misato chewed on the tip of her thumb for a moment, and then tossed the palm computer to Kensuke. "See what you can get out of this. I want to know who he is. I don't care if his fingerprints are burned off. There's got to be some way of figuring out who he is and what he's after."
Kensuke nodded, and he and Shinji left. Yoshi stretched. "So, about that test?"
"No, Yoshi. I think the best way to find out what's going on with Rei is to just ask."
"But Rei won't even talk to Shinji about it. Why do you think she-- ?"
"No. Not Rei. It's time I finally asked the one person who can help us answer a lot of the questions that we've never found the answers to."
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean Dr. Akagi?"
There was a knock at the door. "Come in."
Kitari walked in. "Commander Katsuragi? Have I caught you at a bad time?"
She shook her head. "No, Mr. Kitari. What is it?"
Yoshi unconsciously backed away from the man as he approached Misato's desk. There was just something about him that made Yoshi nervous, ever since the last Angel battle. When he realized he was backing away, he regained control of himself, and headed for the door. "I'll be in my office if you need me for anything, Commander."
She nodded to him, and turned back to Kitari. "Now what was it you wanted?"
"I just came by to remind you that I'll be needing a copy of the report on last night's intrusion."
"Of course you'll get one. I'm having Dr. Iwano finish up the investigation right now. You'll get a report as soon as he's ready."
He nodded. "Of course. You certainly keep your subordinates busy. I also heard a rumor that the young man I saw with Lieutenant Ikari was the one responsible or apprehending the intruder. I'm not completely familiar with NERV's personnel, but I don't remember seeing him in any of the security profiles."
Misato cursed under her breath. "He's. a specialist we just brought in."
"He seems a bit young. Wasn't he one of the candidate children before the Impact?"
"Mr. Kitari, I'm very busy, so if you could excuse me?"
"I'd just like to remind you, Commander, that it's against the terms of your charter to withhold information from the UN."
She resisted the urge to growl, but stood up. "And I'd like to remind you that you're just an observer here, Mr. Kitari. I run this place, and you'll get your reports when we've completed our tasks, as per the terms of our charter. Now unless there is anything else you need, please get out."
Kitari stared at her with his perpetually calm and self-assured gaze. "I'm sorry to bother you. I guess I should have realized how busy you've been lately. Good day, Commander."
After he left, Misato collapsed back in her chair. She cursed herself. She'd fallen into that one. He set her up to get pissed off. She thought about what he'd said. He must have done some digging into their attempts to upgrade the Evas. It wasn't as if she was going to keep it a secret permanently. She was planning on telling them about it when they had proof they could do it. Otherwise there would be pressure to keep NERV under their thumb, because they were afraid.
She had to find a way to change everything Gendo Ikari had done, as a way to redeem NERV, and the Evangelions. Maybe she could even redeem herself.
She hated to admit it, but there was only one way to do that now that she could think of. She had to ask for her help.
And hopefully Ritsuko wouldn't try to kill her for it.
Shinji left Kensuke in cafeteria after leaving Misato's office. Being named her lieutenant gave him a lot more paperwork to go through than just the usual reports. He sat behind his desk, but didn't touch a single paper. He stared at the stacks, thinking about Rei. What was happening to her? It had something to do with that Angel. They'd all heard it scream. Was there something else to it? Had it only screamed, or was that all he'd heard?
"Hey." He looked up. Asuka stood in the doorway. "So is this what a lieutenant does? Hell, now I pity that you got the promotion."
He smiled. "Hey. I thought you were with Rei and Hikari?"
She walked in, and leaned against his desk. "Touji volunteered to take my place. She still won't say what happened. We've stopped asking her about it."
"I think she learned how to be so stubborn from you."
She sat in his lap, and smacked her palm against his forehead. "You dork. Why the hell are you making jokes when I'm trying to be serious?" He shrugged. She kissed him. "You idiot."
"Yeah, I know." He leaned his head back.
"Oh, will you stop thinking about it for a little while? You can't take responsibility for everything, you jerk."
"Yeah. But you're feeling the same thing, aren't you, Asuka? That if we let them win, if we let them get to her like this, then everything we've done and gone through won't mean a thing?"
She frowned. "No. Because I'm not going to lose to them. And I know you won't, either. You're too stubborn to let that happen."
"You're sounding rather optimistic."
"Well of course! Without me you'd just spend all your time moping about a problem instead of getting around to it."
"Hey, that's not tru--!" She cut him off with another kiss. She pulled back for a second to grin and say, "I swear, that's the only way I can get you to shut up, sometimes." She kissed him again.
They looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Yoshi stood in the doorway. "I hope I'm not interrupting some sort of conference between a lieutenant and a pilot, am I?"
Asuka hopped off of Shinji's lap. "Japanese have no concept of privacy, I swear."
Shinji scratched at his head. "Um, sorry, Dr. Iwano. I know I should be working. We were talking about Rei, really. I mean, we were, but."
He shook his head. "It's none of my business, Shinji, and I'd rather keep it that way. I just wanted to let you know that Misato and I have to go off base for a couple of hours."
"What for?"
"To. talk to a consultant. I'll tell you more about it when we get back."
"So who's supposed to run everything if another Angel attacks?"
Asuka stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me?"
"I'll see you later, Lieutenant, Shinji." He disappeared from the doorway.
Shinji sat back in his chair. "Oh, hell. This is the big 'can the young officer handle it?' test of manhood, isn't it?"
Asuka growled. "Don't give me that crap!"
He jumped, and looked at her. "Huh? Wait, I didn't mean--!"
"You know damn well you can handle it. I don't even know why I'm telling you that. You'll pull it off. And do you know why?"
"My incredibly dumb luck?"
She smiled, despite herself. Why the hell did she fall in love with him? He'd grown up so much from the boy he'd been, but he could still act like a confused, stupid male. "Yeah. I guess I can't hold it against you. Males are just naturally this dense." She pulled him out of his seat. "Now come and buy me lunch, Lieutenant."
"But I've still got-"
"Don't complain. You're getting paid more now; you can afford it."
Yoshi stared out the window of Misato's car. He'd gotten better at ignoring the way she drove. His hands hardly shook at all. He just wished he'd been able to take a nap during the drive. "You think he'll be able to handle it? I know he's grown pretty resourceful, but if an Angel attacked."
"Then he'd take care of it." She was thankful for any sort of conversation. It helped her to avoid thinking about what she was about to do. "He knows the procedures. I'm sure he'll do fine. And there's no indication that we have to worry about an attack right now, anyway."
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Then why did you ask me?"
"I don't know. I've just got a bad feeling, I guess. I'm not saying I don't think he could handle it. I'm worried that handling it might cost us something."
"Every action has a risk, Yoshi." She pulled the car into the parking lot of the hospital. It was tall, and bland, and very grim. The sun didn't seem to reach this place. Half a kilometer down the road, she'd noticed that the sky seemed. dimmer than it should be. Now it was practically overcast, even with no clouds in the sky above them. It brought back brief memories of her own time in a place like this.
"Come on, let's get this over with."
The inside of the hospital was as bland and oppressive as the outside. Yoshi wondered aloud if this sort of place was really the best environment for mental healing. Misato only shrugged, and told the receptionist that they were here to see Ritsuko Akagi. They waited until a doctor approached them.
He was a clean man in his early forties, with graying hair and a thick mustache. He looked too much like every other doctor in the place. They must mass-produce them somewhere.
He shook their hands. "Miss. Katsuragi, welcome to Tetsaru Hospital. I'm Dr. Tekeno. You're here to see Miss. Akagi, right? Just follow me."
He led them through the sterile halls, which seemed far more expansive than the exterior of the building implied. Yoshi quietly followed, trying to avoid looking directly into any of the small windows on the doors.
"So, you were a friend of Miss Akagi before she came here, is that right?" Dr. Tekeno spoke without looking at them, totally at home here.
Misato tried not to stammer. "Um, yes, we. I mean I was. I haven't seen her since she was brought here."
"Yes, well, I understand. She tends to be a bit cryptic in her sessions, especially when she mentions you. I think we've made progress with her, recently. She's finally appeared to let go of the delusion that she should be dead."
"Is her. problem a common one?" Misato immediately wondered why she asked that.
"Well, given the. incident that happened four years ago, it's come to be an odd phenomenon. I can't say I remember much of it, myself. I mean it's a little hard to not believe something happened, am I right? Something happened, obviously. I'd just like to see someone give a straight explanation for it."
Misato ignored Yoshi's slightly amused glance. It was true that most people hadn't been completely aware that Third Impact had occurred. They, like the doctor, were aware that something happened. They just couldn't be sure of what. It hadn't been a completely bad thing. Many people became. happier. They found more contentment in their lives. Many others quit their jobs, returned to their families, and basically went out and followed their desires. There were reports that the vast majority of the population had found a sort of renewed meaning to life.
There were only a small percentage of people that actually remembered Instrumentality, and the visions they witnessed inside it. The outward effects were much the same: renewed appreciation for life, old prejudices and hatreds dropped, and some people were just happier with themselves.
And then there were those who ended up here. Not everyone could withstand having their deepest fears and weaknesses exposed and brought to life. If one thought about it for too long, it made less and less sense that anyone at all survived it with their sanity intact. No one was ready for it, but it was this pathetic handful of people that would never be meant to endure it. They had fallen victim to their own self-loathing and fear. They represented the ultimate failure of Instrumentality.
Dr. Tekeno stopped them at a security gate to empty their pockets. In the hallway beyond, all the doors were the same. They were blank, whitewashed plates of steel, boxes holding in the crazy and unstable people.
"This is where we keep all of the patients with problems related to the. phenomenon," he said. He led them down to the end of the hall, and looked through the small window in the door on the right. "This is her. It's a real pity, I think. Smart girl like her shouldn't have ended up here."
Misato peered in through the window. Ritsuko sat on the edge of a bed in the far corner. Most of the light came from a single window above the bed. The room itself was just as white as the halls. She looked just like Misato had remembered her, except that her hair was no longer dyed. Her eyes had the same dead look they held when she was carried away.
"Can we see her?"
"Of course." He knocked on the door. "Ritsuko? You've got some visitors." She didn't look up. He shrugged. "Sorry, I'm not sure how responsive she'll be. You'll be monitored, so don't worry too much." He unlocked the door.
Yoshi tried to look at Misato's face, but she stared straight forward, and stepped into the room. He walked in after her, and jumped as the door closed behind him. Misato stood in the middle of the room, watching Ritsuko. She didn't seem to notice, or if she did, she just didn't care. Yoshi fidgeted, and stood off to the side, hopefully in a place where he wouldn't be caught in direct fire.
He jumped again when Ritsuko looked up at him.
The corner of her mouth twisted into a smile, and she looked at Misato. "I was wondering when you'd stop by. Although I have to admit I thought it'd be a little sooner."
"Hello to you too, Ritsuko." Misato unconsciously felt for her gun, and remembered she didn't have it.
"So are you here to kill me, or to ask about the Evas? That's the only reason you'd even bother with me." Misato didn't answer her. "So did Ikari send you, or Keel?"
"NERV is under my control now, Ritsuko. And for you information, no one's seen Ikari since the Impact."
"Then who's he?"
Yoshi straightened, and cleared his throat. "Um, Yoshi Iwano, ma'am. I'm glad to meet you. I-"
She stood, and walked over to the dresser by the bed. She reached into the top drawer, and pulled out a floppy disk. "This is what you want to know, right?"
Yoshi stood frozen for a moment. He was standing in the presence of a legend, albeit an insane legend, and she was acting just as he had imagined she would.
"Cut the crap, Ritsuko," Misato's voice slapped him back into reality. "What are you doing?"
Ritsuko ignored her, and handed the disk to Yoshi. "This is everything I could steal from Ikari. The Magi had it buried away only where I'd find it. You'll be able to do whatever you want to the Evas with that."
Yoshi stared at it. "I, uh."
"Not the most articulate choice for my replacement, are you? Get out." Yoshi nodded, and headed for the door. Misato started to follow. Ritsuko stopped her, and closed the door after Yoshi. "No, I still have a few things to say to you."
He'd only been lucky, so far. It had been a completely quiet day, and he was almost through with today's paperwork. He looked over at Touji, who was sprawled out in the chair on the other side of the desk. "Don't you have anything to do other than bug me?"
He shrugged. "Kensuke's already thrown me out of Dr. Iwano's office. Asuka drove me away from Rei and Hikari. and Misato's not here to give me something to do. so, no."
"All right. what do you want to do about dinner?"
"What, you're not cooking?"
"Funny."
A nock came at the door, and it opened without waiting for Shinji to answer. Kitari walked in, smiling. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Ikari, but I'm not interrupting anything, I hope?"
He frowned at the man. "No. Is this important?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Most people wait for a reply before barging in," Touji muttered.
Kitari ignored him. "I just wanted to congratulate you on holding things together while the Commander was gone. You might not be so lucky is it happens again."
"Yeah, well, aside from the extra paperwork, it's no big deal."
He smirked. "Really? Well, I was just stopping by to ask you about our conversation the other day."
Shinji looked at the paperwork in front of him, and robotically filled it out. "What about it?"
"To see if you'd given any more thought to what I asked."
"Why should I?"
Before Kitari could speak, Touji stood up. "Yes, Mr. Suzihara?"
"Why don't you leave him alone? It's none of your business why we fight, is it? As long as we keep saving your butt, you should be happy."
Kitari seemed unaffected. "What about when it is over, Mr. Suzihara? What then? Would you stay?"
"Yes."
"Hm. A direct answer. Why?"
Shinji looked up. "Touji, you don't-"
He raised his hand. "No, Shinji. I want to answer him." He looked back at Kitari, and met his eyes. "You want to know why I'd stay, even if there were no more Angels to fight?"
"Indulge me, please."
"Because I'm the only one who can. If I didn't, someone else would have to."
"Hm. How noble."
"Are you making fun of me? Damn it, we--!"
"Touji!" Shinji stood up. "That's enough. Mr. Kitari, would you please leave?" If he didn't, Shinji felt he wouldn't want to stop Touji.
"Answer my question, first. It's just a courtesy, right? I don't mean to be rude. I just want to understand why you would, even if it all fades away."
Shinji glanced at the picture on his desk. It was the same one in Misato's office. He looked back to Kitari. "Because it's my choice. I'm not like you, Kitari. I don't believe what we've done here, and what we've gone through is meaningless. Like Touji said, we're the only ones who can do it. It has to be our choice, and we have to make it. I can't run away from that. I did once, and others paid for it. I won't do that again."
Kitari looked at him, but didn't smile. Shinji tried to hide his confusion. The man seemed totally blasé to everything, except this. His face was blank. He nodded.
"I see."
The alert went off. Touji looked up. "Oh, hell. So much for getting through the day without a problem."
Shinji entered the control room with Kitari close behind him. The message on the screen in front of him had been expected, unfortunately.
Maya turned to him. "Sir, there's been an energy reading detected close to the same area where the last Angel was encountered. The pattern has registered blue."
"I know," he said. "I can see it. How much time do we have?"
"One hour, sir," Shigeru said.
"Has Misa--, er, Commander Katsuragi been contacted?"
"So far neither the Commander or Dr. Iwano have been reached. Orders, sir?"
Shinji took a deep breath. He glanced back at Kitari. The man watched from the corner, his expression still. "Keep trying to contact them. Tell them to let us know where the hell they're running off to, next time. Do we have anything on the Angel?"
"All the sensors are maxed out. It's huge. We have a camera view."
The screen changed. It stood there, waiting just like the one before. It stood tall and straight, and resembled an Evangelion. Its body was covered in dark, purple and black armor. It turned, and its gaze met the camera. Shinji felt a shudder move though his body.
"Sir, what are your orders?"
It was watching him. He knew it. It was waiting, but there was no other choice.
"Launch Eva Units 00, 02 and 03. Keep trying to contact the Commander and Dr. Iwano."
"I'm not here about the Evas, Ritsuko. Or about what happened between us." Misato began to think of how she could get out of here without seriously hurting her.
She stepped back from the door, and sat back down on her bed. She looked out the window. "That young man seemed nice. Have you slept with him?"
Misato grit her teeth. "I'm here about Rei. Just tell me what's happening to Rei."
"What is happening to Rei?" She stared out the window.
Misato sighed, and tried to calm herself. "The Angels have reappeared, Ritsuko. But there's something. wrong with them. They're not like the others. There was only supposed to be seventeen Angels. Now that they've come back, something's been happening to Rei. She thinks."
Ritsuko looked at her, waiting.
"She thinks that the part of her that was an Angel is still alive."
"Adam."
"Yes."
She looked back out the window. "You hate the Angels, Misato. Why would you try to help Rei?"
"She's not an Angel, damn it! I know Rei, now. Who she is. What she wants to be. She's not like what she used to be. We know her."
"We? Oh, right. Shinji. Have you slept with him, too?"
Misato struggled to restrain herself. This was how Ritsuko always did it. It turned into a game, to see if she could take her taunts. "I'm not here to play games, Ritsuko. The Angels are back. What does it have to do with Rei being the First Child?"
She spook without looking back. "You're as stubborn as ever. I don't know, honestly. Rei, the part of her that was human, and the part of her that was Adam, merged with Lilith in the Impact, to create Instrumentality. What did you think would happen? It would all go away? All the Angels would burn up? Vanish?" She waited for an answer. Misato stayed silent. She continued, "Typical. You're always such a damn optimist. The Eva series were designed to be the apostles of a new age, to replace the Angels so that Humanity would not be destroyed, but recreated."
"That still doesn't answer-"
"I'm getting to it. Fine. Rei was the First Child. Put the pieces together, Misato. It's right in front of you. Adam is not dead. Not all of it. If Rei still carries a piece of it, then the Angels are being drawn to her. There must be another way. Something we don't know about."
Misato stood there, listening and thinking. Another way. Wasn't that what Karou had said to her? In her dream? He told her there was another way. They were the same.
"You're right, I guess." She looked up. Ritsuko continued to look out the window. "Um. thank you, Ritsuko. I know that I. well, I know everything that happened was hard for you."
"I'm supposed to be dead, you know?"
Asuka looked at the blip on her monitor. The Angel just stood there, waiting. Just like the last one. Why were they being so. passive? They are Angels. They're supposed to be attacking, not waiting to be attacked. It just didn't make any sense to her.
"All right," Shinji's voice came over the radio. "You're going to have to fan out. Touji, try to get behind that thing. Rei and Asuka will position themselves on either side. Asuka will move in. Touji and Rei are to provide back up. Got it?"
"At least you're learning who's really in charge around here," Asuka said.
Shinji tried not to roll his eyes. "Just do it."
They moved into position around the Angel. It was surrounded, and yet still it did nothing. Asuka tried to stay calm. This didn't make any sense. Why wouldn't it attack?
It watched them move. It studied them. It felt their fear.
It looked to the one holding her. Him. The mother and the father. The one who would give it purpose.
Now it was time.
Shinji took a breath, and readied himself. He wondered if this was what Misato felt. She'd told him about it, once. How she hated sending them out, how it was unfair that all she could do was stand here and watch while they fought. He was beginning to feel the same. Those were his friends out there. The ones he loved and cared about more than anything. Sometimes it felt like they were holding him together.
"Ready, at-"
"Shinji, it's moving!"
"What?"
The Angel rushed forward, aiming for Unit 00. It moved fast, for an Angel. As fast as an Eva.
"Asuka, intercept it! Touji, after that thing!"
Units 02 and 03 moved, chasing after it. Rei stayed in position, aiming her rifle directly at it. She fired. The bullets tore into its body, causing it to stumble. It skidded, and stopped, raising its AT field. The bullets exploded against the field.
Asuka and Touji moved into range, and fired. The Angel lurched forward from the force of the assault. Its AT field weakened.
Asuka grinned. "We've got it. Touji, cover me. I'm going in."
"Just do it, already!"
Unit 02 armed its knife, and ran forward. The Angel turned its head as Unit 02 leaped at it, and brought the knife down in both hands. Light flashed as it struck the AT field. Asuka brought the knife down, slicing the field in half. Unit 02's leg shot out, and kicked the Angel's legs out from under it. Asuka plunged her knife. The Angel's arm came up, and the knife dug into it.
The Angel's flesh reached out, and wrapped around the knife. Asuka tried to pull it out once, and started to let go. The flesh moved faster, wrapping around Unit 02's wrist and hand. Asuka cried out.
Rei adjusted her sights. "Asuka, pull back."
"I can't! It's grabbed on to me!"
The Angel rose, taking a hold of Unit 02 with both hands. Asuka looked up, and met its eyes.
You are not the one I am here for. Go, demon.
All four Evangelion pilots froze. They'd heard it. Again. It had spoken to them.
Yoshi grumbled. This was taking way too long. Misato never talked about Dr. Akagi. Well, except for the time he bothered to ask. but otherwise she never mentioned her. Not even when she was drunk.
He wandered back to the security gate to get his things. He could wait for her outside. This place made him anxious. He retrieved his things, and looked at his cell phone. He blinked. Who the hell would have a reason to call him that many times?
Before he could find out, the phone ringed again. He answered it. "Dr. Iwano. What? When?"
He ran back to Ritsuko Akagi's cell.
Misato sighed. "Please, Ritsuko. I don't-"
"So tell me about Shinji."
"You're not going to get at me by using him. You hear me, Ritsuko? Cut it out."
She turned and looked at her. "Aw, what's wrong? Don't like me making fun of your precious boy?"
"Stop it."
Ritsuko stood. "How much do you remember before the Impact, Misato?"
She shook her head. "What does that matter?"
"Just answer the question." Misato met her eyes. She wasn't trying to taunt her anymore.
"I. don't think about it a lot. Not much, I guess."
"Try."
"I remember. Shinji. And Asuka. She'd just been put into the hospital. Shinji was still hurt about Kaoru. You were. you know where you were. And I was. I tried."
"Tried what?"
Misato stared into space, remembering. "I tried to stop Instrumentality. I made Shinji and Asuka pilot the Evas. But. something went wrong. It didn't."
"You failed. Remember?"
She nodded. Her hand went to her breast. "Why don't I have clear memories of it?"
"No one really does. No one except me. I remember being shot. I died. You were shot, also. Although you may still have had some life left in you."
Misato shook her head, and turned away. "No. That can't be right. I know we didn't stop it, but that's not right! We didn't die! How else would we still be alive?"
"That's what I've been thinking about it. I blame Shinji, personally."
She turned back to her. "So that's what this is? You are just trying to-"
"No. Think about it, you idiot. Why do you think it was his Eva that achieved self-awareness? His Eva moved under its own power, again and again. It reacted to him. His mother was merged into Unit 01. Why do you think all that happened? Because Ikari wanted it that way? Because it had to be that way?"
Misato stared at her. "Shut up, Ritsuko. I'm warning you, right now."
"Or what? You'll hit a crazy lady? A crazy lady whose supposed to be dead? That'd be a laugh, wouldn't it? Two dead women fighting."
She felt her nails digging into the palms of her hands. "Now, Ritsuko. Stop it."
"We were supposed to be dead. Instrumentality didn't bring back the dead. It was all his fault. If he'd never been born, it wouldn't have happened. Gendo Ikari used his own son to make it happen. He should never have been born."
Misato lashed out, and slapped her. It was all she could do to keep herself from using her fists.
Ritsuko looked at her, half grinning, and grabbed her jacket. "Don't you get it? He's the reason it failed! He stopped it! Do you even realize what he is?"
Misato pushed her off, and raised her fist.
"Misato! Misato, get out here!" Yoshi pounded on the door.
"Young man, you can't-"
"Open this door!"
"But, I-"
"You see this badge? Now open the damn door!"
The lock clicked open. Misato stared at her. She was crazy, but also frightening. She truly believed everything she'd said. Maybe it was true.
She turned her back, and walked out. It didn't matter. What mattered was that they were alive, now. What mattered was keeping it that way.
When she walked out, Yoshi was red-faced. "What's wrong?"
He held up his cell phone. "It's. it's attacking! Another Angel is attacking!"
Asuka slammed her other fist into the Angel's head. She kept hitting it, but it wouldn't let go. The Angel grabbed Unit 02's neck, and lifted her up. She struggled for breath.
Die for the final time, demon.
"Let her go!" Rei clubbed the Angel from behind with her rifle. It turned, and slammed its shoulder into Unit 00. She stumbled back from the blow. The Angel dropped Unit 02, and turned its full attention on Rei.
There you are. Now I will have purpose.
"Asuka, stay down!" Touji rushed forward, firing. The Angel turned back to him. The bullets weren't even phasing it, now. It was too close. It picked up Unit 02, using it as a shield. Asuka screamed.
"Damn you!" Touji pulled out his knife, and kept charging.
Shinji tried to stop him. "Touji, stop!"
The Angel lifted Unit 02 above its head, and threw it. The Eva flew into Unit 03, knocking them both to the ground.
Rei reached up, and stabbed her knife into the Angel's side. It looked down at her, and grinned.
Don't fight me. You must give me purpose.
Shinji watched, feeling himself grow sick. "Damn it. What are Units 02 and 03's status?"
"Pilot Soryu's vital signs are still active, but she's unconscious. Unit 03 is pinned beneath Unit 02."
Kensuke walked up behind him, looking at the screen. "Shinji, what's happening out there?"
"I. damn it! I can't just sit here." He turned to Kensuke. "I'm sorry, Kensuke. I shouldn't have stayed here." He spoke to the operators. "Prepare to launch Unit 01."
"But Lieutenant, you can't just abandon-"
"Just do it!" He was already running to the hangar.
The Angel bent down, and pulled Unit 00 to its feet. Rei tried to pull the knife out, but the Angel's body wouldn't let go of it. She tried harder.
Why do you fight it? You must give me purpose. Why do you fight me?
She struggled against its grip. It couldn't possibly be this strong. "I'm. not that. I'm not an."
You are the one. You hold him within you. Give me my purpose.
"I'm not an Angel. I'm not one of you!"
1 Give me purpose. Give me purpose!
The Angel threw Unit 00 to the ground. It perched over her, and started to pull at the Eva's armor. Rei screamed as she felt its fingers dig into the armor, cracking and pulling it away. The Angel dug its hands into the Eva's flesh, pulling and tearing. Rei couldn't move. The pain screamed inside of her.
2 Where are you? Come out, please. Give me pur-
Unit 01 slammed into the Angel, knocking it away. "Get off of her!"
It slid along the ground, digging a wide furrow in its wake. It looked up, and Unit 01 was already upon it, firing its rifle. Shinji shot its face. It got up, anyway, and lurched forward.
I must have purpose. Get out of my way!
It slammed its fists into Unit 01. Shinji shoved his shoulder into it, and kept firing into its gut.
"I won't let you hurt them, damn it! Just stay away!" The rifle clip emptied. He raised the rifle, and smashed it down on the Angel's head. It looked up at him, and its face twisted into a snarl.
Then you will die.
It lunged at him, bashing Unit 01's chest.
All who would prevent purpose must die.
It beat at him relentlessly.
All the demons must die.
Shinji tired to ignore the pain. His hand reached down and pulled out his pistol.
Die!
He brought the pistol up, put the barrel to the Angel's head, and fired. It fell off him, and rolled on the ground. Unit 01 rose up, and turned again to fire at the Angel. It looked at him, and flickered in space. In an eye blink, it disappeared.
"What the--? Where'd the target go?"
"We're not sure, sir, it just-behind you!"
Unit 01 turned around. The Angel was making its way back to Unit 00. Shinji leaped at it, and locked his arm around its neck. He pulled its arm behind its back, and struggled to hold it.
"No, damn you! You can't take her!"
I will have purpose.
"Shut up! I'll kill you before you hurt them! You hear me? I'm sick of you monsters! Just leave us alone!"
Asuka opened her eyes. Touji was yelling in her ear.
"Asuka, wake up, you stupid German!"
"What? What's going on?"
"You're on me, and Shinji's fighting the Angel. Get up!"
She looked. Unit 01 had the Angel in a headlock. She squeezed her eyes tight, and opened them again. "What. that idiot! Shinji, what are you doing?"
The Angel looked up to the sky, and roared. The sound echoed inside Asuka's brain. She grabbed her ears, but didn't look away. An aura of light began to surround both the Angel and Unit 01. It grew brighter.
"Shinji! Let go of it! Shinji?"
The light became blinding. Asuka looked away. The roar drowned out all other senses. The world became a scream of darkness.
Then it stopped. Asuka looked up. The Angel was gone. Unit 01 stood frozen.
"What's going on? Where's the target? Command, where the hell is the Angel?"
"The target has disappeared!"
"Disappeared? Shinji, did you hear that?" There was no answer. Shinji?"
Touji spoke up. "What's Unit 01's status?"
"Damn it, Shinji, answer me!"
"Unit 01 has gone silent. Lieutenant Ikari. he's."
Touji growled. "What, damn it?"
"Lieutenant Ikari isn't in Unit 01. He's disappeared along with the target."
Asuka looked up at the frozen Eva. "Shinji? Shinji!"
Asuka screamed.
End Part 6
Author's Notes: Ah, welcome to "strange plot twist number 21342230000!" Things just keep getting weirder and weirder, huh? Gee, I wish this would all make some damn sense! Where the hell did Shinji go? Is he dead? Alive? Did the Angel take him? What's the deal!!?? Heheheh. I ain't tellin'. Not until next chapter, anyway. Some fun, huh? Well, happy Halloween to ya. Just think of this as my own little "trick or treat." Until next chapter, the complaint department is at loneshark707@hotmail.com. Unless you wanna bash me publicly, in which case just leave something on fanfiction.net. Tag!
Seraphim
Chapter 6: Fear and Loathing on Earth
Misato tapped a pencil on her desk out of nervous habit, and looked from the report to the palm computer in her hand. "Are you sure this is all you could get out of him?"
Kensuke and Yoshi sat on the other side of the desk, looking tired and hungry. They nodded. "Again, Misato, yes. That's it. He had a hole in his arm when we found him. All he ever says when we try and question him is that stream of babble in the report."
She looked at it again, and then looked at Shinji, who sat on the couch. He shrugged, and said, "I guess that's as far as we're going to get in questioning him, if he's delirious."
She nodded. "You're right. No sense in pushing it. Are you all right, Kensuke? I knew he didn't leave you any choice. If you want to stop, then I'll understand."
He shook his head. "No way. We still have to find out what he was after. We don't even know who he is. We can't find records of his fingerprints anywhere. Not that we would, since they've apparently been burned off."
"Okay, okay. That's enough about it, then." She looked back to Shinji. "How's Rei?"
"The doctor determined she passed out because of fatigue. Asuka and Hikari are with her right now. She won't say what happened." He continued his favored pose of crossing his arms over his chest and frowning at his lap. "He suggested that she take a couple of days off. Maybe not pilot her Eva on the next mission."
"There's not a hope in hell of that happening."
Yoshi resisted the urge to yawn. "Do you think I should run another synch test and look at her psych pattern?"
Misato chewed on the tip of her thumb for a moment, and then tossed the palm computer to Kensuke. "See what you can get out of this. I want to know who he is. I don't care if his fingerprints are burned off. There's got to be some way of figuring out who he is and what he's after."
Kensuke nodded, and he and Shinji left. Yoshi stretched. "So, about that test?"
"No, Yoshi. I think the best way to find out what's going on with Rei is to just ask."
"But Rei won't even talk to Shinji about it. Why do you think she-- ?"
"No. Not Rei. It's time I finally asked the one person who can help us answer a lot of the questions that we've never found the answers to."
He raised an eyebrow. "You mean Dr. Akagi?"
There was a knock at the door. "Come in."
Kitari walked in. "Commander Katsuragi? Have I caught you at a bad time?"
She shook her head. "No, Mr. Kitari. What is it?"
Yoshi unconsciously backed away from the man as he approached Misato's desk. There was just something about him that made Yoshi nervous, ever since the last Angel battle. When he realized he was backing away, he regained control of himself, and headed for the door. "I'll be in my office if you need me for anything, Commander."
She nodded to him, and turned back to Kitari. "Now what was it you wanted?"
"I just came by to remind you that I'll be needing a copy of the report on last night's intrusion."
"Of course you'll get one. I'm having Dr. Iwano finish up the investigation right now. You'll get a report as soon as he's ready."
He nodded. "Of course. You certainly keep your subordinates busy. I also heard a rumor that the young man I saw with Lieutenant Ikari was the one responsible or apprehending the intruder. I'm not completely familiar with NERV's personnel, but I don't remember seeing him in any of the security profiles."
Misato cursed under her breath. "He's. a specialist we just brought in."
"He seems a bit young. Wasn't he one of the candidate children before the Impact?"
"Mr. Kitari, I'm very busy, so if you could excuse me?"
"I'd just like to remind you, Commander, that it's against the terms of your charter to withhold information from the UN."
She resisted the urge to growl, but stood up. "And I'd like to remind you that you're just an observer here, Mr. Kitari. I run this place, and you'll get your reports when we've completed our tasks, as per the terms of our charter. Now unless there is anything else you need, please get out."
Kitari stared at her with his perpetually calm and self-assured gaze. "I'm sorry to bother you. I guess I should have realized how busy you've been lately. Good day, Commander."
After he left, Misato collapsed back in her chair. She cursed herself. She'd fallen into that one. He set her up to get pissed off. She thought about what he'd said. He must have done some digging into their attempts to upgrade the Evas. It wasn't as if she was going to keep it a secret permanently. She was planning on telling them about it when they had proof they could do it. Otherwise there would be pressure to keep NERV under their thumb, because they were afraid.
She had to find a way to change everything Gendo Ikari had done, as a way to redeem NERV, and the Evangelions. Maybe she could even redeem herself.
She hated to admit it, but there was only one way to do that now that she could think of. She had to ask for her help.
And hopefully Ritsuko wouldn't try to kill her for it.
Shinji left Kensuke in cafeteria after leaving Misato's office. Being named her lieutenant gave him a lot more paperwork to go through than just the usual reports. He sat behind his desk, but didn't touch a single paper. He stared at the stacks, thinking about Rei. What was happening to her? It had something to do with that Angel. They'd all heard it scream. Was there something else to it? Had it only screamed, or was that all he'd heard?
"Hey." He looked up. Asuka stood in the doorway. "So is this what a lieutenant does? Hell, now I pity that you got the promotion."
He smiled. "Hey. I thought you were with Rei and Hikari?"
She walked in, and leaned against his desk. "Touji volunteered to take my place. She still won't say what happened. We've stopped asking her about it."
"I think she learned how to be so stubborn from you."
She sat in his lap, and smacked her palm against his forehead. "You dork. Why the hell are you making jokes when I'm trying to be serious?" He shrugged. She kissed him. "You idiot."
"Yeah, I know." He leaned his head back.
"Oh, will you stop thinking about it for a little while? You can't take responsibility for everything, you jerk."
"Yeah. But you're feeling the same thing, aren't you, Asuka? That if we let them win, if we let them get to her like this, then everything we've done and gone through won't mean a thing?"
She frowned. "No. Because I'm not going to lose to them. And I know you won't, either. You're too stubborn to let that happen."
"You're sounding rather optimistic."
"Well of course! Without me you'd just spend all your time moping about a problem instead of getting around to it."
"Hey, that's not tru--!" She cut him off with another kiss. She pulled back for a second to grin and say, "I swear, that's the only way I can get you to shut up, sometimes." She kissed him again.
They looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Yoshi stood in the doorway. "I hope I'm not interrupting some sort of conference between a lieutenant and a pilot, am I?"
Asuka hopped off of Shinji's lap. "Japanese have no concept of privacy, I swear."
Shinji scratched at his head. "Um, sorry, Dr. Iwano. I know I should be working. We were talking about Rei, really. I mean, we were, but."
He shook his head. "It's none of my business, Shinji, and I'd rather keep it that way. I just wanted to let you know that Misato and I have to go off base for a couple of hours."
"What for?"
"To. talk to a consultant. I'll tell you more about it when we get back."
"So who's supposed to run everything if another Angel attacks?"
Asuka stared at him. "You've got to be kidding me?"
"I'll see you later, Lieutenant, Shinji." He disappeared from the doorway.
Shinji sat back in his chair. "Oh, hell. This is the big 'can the young officer handle it?' test of manhood, isn't it?"
Asuka growled. "Don't give me that crap!"
He jumped, and looked at her. "Huh? Wait, I didn't mean--!"
"You know damn well you can handle it. I don't even know why I'm telling you that. You'll pull it off. And do you know why?"
"My incredibly dumb luck?"
She smiled, despite herself. Why the hell did she fall in love with him? He'd grown up so much from the boy he'd been, but he could still act like a confused, stupid male. "Yeah. I guess I can't hold it against you. Males are just naturally this dense." She pulled him out of his seat. "Now come and buy me lunch, Lieutenant."
"But I've still got-"
"Don't complain. You're getting paid more now; you can afford it."
Yoshi stared out the window of Misato's car. He'd gotten better at ignoring the way she drove. His hands hardly shook at all. He just wished he'd been able to take a nap during the drive. "You think he'll be able to handle it? I know he's grown pretty resourceful, but if an Angel attacked."
"Then he'd take care of it." She was thankful for any sort of conversation. It helped her to avoid thinking about what she was about to do. "He knows the procedures. I'm sure he'll do fine. And there's no indication that we have to worry about an attack right now, anyway."
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Then why did you ask me?"
"I don't know. I've just got a bad feeling, I guess. I'm not saying I don't think he could handle it. I'm worried that handling it might cost us something."
"Every action has a risk, Yoshi." She pulled the car into the parking lot of the hospital. It was tall, and bland, and very grim. The sun didn't seem to reach this place. Half a kilometer down the road, she'd noticed that the sky seemed. dimmer than it should be. Now it was practically overcast, even with no clouds in the sky above them. It brought back brief memories of her own time in a place like this.
"Come on, let's get this over with."
The inside of the hospital was as bland and oppressive as the outside. Yoshi wondered aloud if this sort of place was really the best environment for mental healing. Misato only shrugged, and told the receptionist that they were here to see Ritsuko Akagi. They waited until a doctor approached them.
He was a clean man in his early forties, with graying hair and a thick mustache. He looked too much like every other doctor in the place. They must mass-produce them somewhere.
He shook their hands. "Miss. Katsuragi, welcome to Tetsaru Hospital. I'm Dr. Tekeno. You're here to see Miss. Akagi, right? Just follow me."
He led them through the sterile halls, which seemed far more expansive than the exterior of the building implied. Yoshi quietly followed, trying to avoid looking directly into any of the small windows on the doors.
"So, you were a friend of Miss Akagi before she came here, is that right?" Dr. Tekeno spoke without looking at them, totally at home here.
Misato tried not to stammer. "Um, yes, we. I mean I was. I haven't seen her since she was brought here."
"Yes, well, I understand. She tends to be a bit cryptic in her sessions, especially when she mentions you. I think we've made progress with her, recently. She's finally appeared to let go of the delusion that she should be dead."
"Is her. problem a common one?" Misato immediately wondered why she asked that.
"Well, given the. incident that happened four years ago, it's come to be an odd phenomenon. I can't say I remember much of it, myself. I mean it's a little hard to not believe something happened, am I right? Something happened, obviously. I'd just like to see someone give a straight explanation for it."
Misato ignored Yoshi's slightly amused glance. It was true that most people hadn't been completely aware that Third Impact had occurred. They, like the doctor, were aware that something happened. They just couldn't be sure of what. It hadn't been a completely bad thing. Many people became. happier. They found more contentment in their lives. Many others quit their jobs, returned to their families, and basically went out and followed their desires. There were reports that the vast majority of the population had found a sort of renewed meaning to life.
There were only a small percentage of people that actually remembered Instrumentality, and the visions they witnessed inside it. The outward effects were much the same: renewed appreciation for life, old prejudices and hatreds dropped, and some people were just happier with themselves.
And then there were those who ended up here. Not everyone could withstand having their deepest fears and weaknesses exposed and brought to life. If one thought about it for too long, it made less and less sense that anyone at all survived it with their sanity intact. No one was ready for it, but it was this pathetic handful of people that would never be meant to endure it. They had fallen victim to their own self-loathing and fear. They represented the ultimate failure of Instrumentality.
Dr. Tekeno stopped them at a security gate to empty their pockets. In the hallway beyond, all the doors were the same. They were blank, whitewashed plates of steel, boxes holding in the crazy and unstable people.
"This is where we keep all of the patients with problems related to the. phenomenon," he said. He led them down to the end of the hall, and looked through the small window in the door on the right. "This is her. It's a real pity, I think. Smart girl like her shouldn't have ended up here."
Misato peered in through the window. Ritsuko sat on the edge of a bed in the far corner. Most of the light came from a single window above the bed. The room itself was just as white as the halls. She looked just like Misato had remembered her, except that her hair was no longer dyed. Her eyes had the same dead look they held when she was carried away.
"Can we see her?"
"Of course." He knocked on the door. "Ritsuko? You've got some visitors." She didn't look up. He shrugged. "Sorry, I'm not sure how responsive she'll be. You'll be monitored, so don't worry too much." He unlocked the door.
Yoshi tried to look at Misato's face, but she stared straight forward, and stepped into the room. He walked in after her, and jumped as the door closed behind him. Misato stood in the middle of the room, watching Ritsuko. She didn't seem to notice, or if she did, she just didn't care. Yoshi fidgeted, and stood off to the side, hopefully in a place where he wouldn't be caught in direct fire.
He jumped again when Ritsuko looked up at him.
The corner of her mouth twisted into a smile, and she looked at Misato. "I was wondering when you'd stop by. Although I have to admit I thought it'd be a little sooner."
"Hello to you too, Ritsuko." Misato unconsciously felt for her gun, and remembered she didn't have it.
"So are you here to kill me, or to ask about the Evas? That's the only reason you'd even bother with me." Misato didn't answer her. "So did Ikari send you, or Keel?"
"NERV is under my control now, Ritsuko. And for you information, no one's seen Ikari since the Impact."
"Then who's he?"
Yoshi straightened, and cleared his throat. "Um, Yoshi Iwano, ma'am. I'm glad to meet you. I-"
She stood, and walked over to the dresser by the bed. She reached into the top drawer, and pulled out a floppy disk. "This is what you want to know, right?"
Yoshi stood frozen for a moment. He was standing in the presence of a legend, albeit an insane legend, and she was acting just as he had imagined she would.
"Cut the crap, Ritsuko," Misato's voice slapped him back into reality. "What are you doing?"
Ritsuko ignored her, and handed the disk to Yoshi. "This is everything I could steal from Ikari. The Magi had it buried away only where I'd find it. You'll be able to do whatever you want to the Evas with that."
Yoshi stared at it. "I, uh."
"Not the most articulate choice for my replacement, are you? Get out." Yoshi nodded, and headed for the door. Misato started to follow. Ritsuko stopped her, and closed the door after Yoshi. "No, I still have a few things to say to you."
He'd only been lucky, so far. It had been a completely quiet day, and he was almost through with today's paperwork. He looked over at Touji, who was sprawled out in the chair on the other side of the desk. "Don't you have anything to do other than bug me?"
He shrugged. "Kensuke's already thrown me out of Dr. Iwano's office. Asuka drove me away from Rei and Hikari. and Misato's not here to give me something to do. so, no."
"All right. what do you want to do about dinner?"
"What, you're not cooking?"
"Funny."
A nock came at the door, and it opened without waiting for Shinji to answer. Kitari walked in, smiling. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Ikari, but I'm not interrupting anything, I hope?"
He frowned at the man. "No. Is this important?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Most people wait for a reply before barging in," Touji muttered.
Kitari ignored him. "I just wanted to congratulate you on holding things together while the Commander was gone. You might not be so lucky is it happens again."
"Yeah, well, aside from the extra paperwork, it's no big deal."
He smirked. "Really? Well, I was just stopping by to ask you about our conversation the other day."
Shinji looked at the paperwork in front of him, and robotically filled it out. "What about it?"
"To see if you'd given any more thought to what I asked."
"Why should I?"
Before Kitari could speak, Touji stood up. "Yes, Mr. Suzihara?"
"Why don't you leave him alone? It's none of your business why we fight, is it? As long as we keep saving your butt, you should be happy."
Kitari seemed unaffected. "What about when it is over, Mr. Suzihara? What then? Would you stay?"
"Yes."
"Hm. A direct answer. Why?"
Shinji looked up. "Touji, you don't-"
He raised his hand. "No, Shinji. I want to answer him." He looked back at Kitari, and met his eyes. "You want to know why I'd stay, even if there were no more Angels to fight?"
"Indulge me, please."
"Because I'm the only one who can. If I didn't, someone else would have to."
"Hm. How noble."
"Are you making fun of me? Damn it, we--!"
"Touji!" Shinji stood up. "That's enough. Mr. Kitari, would you please leave?" If he didn't, Shinji felt he wouldn't want to stop Touji.
"Answer my question, first. It's just a courtesy, right? I don't mean to be rude. I just want to understand why you would, even if it all fades away."
Shinji glanced at the picture on his desk. It was the same one in Misato's office. He looked back to Kitari. "Because it's my choice. I'm not like you, Kitari. I don't believe what we've done here, and what we've gone through is meaningless. Like Touji said, we're the only ones who can do it. It has to be our choice, and we have to make it. I can't run away from that. I did once, and others paid for it. I won't do that again."
Kitari looked at him, but didn't smile. Shinji tried to hide his confusion. The man seemed totally blasé to everything, except this. His face was blank. He nodded.
"I see."
The alert went off. Touji looked up. "Oh, hell. So much for getting through the day without a problem."
Shinji entered the control room with Kitari close behind him. The message on the screen in front of him had been expected, unfortunately.
Maya turned to him. "Sir, there's been an energy reading detected close to the same area where the last Angel was encountered. The pattern has registered blue."
"I know," he said. "I can see it. How much time do we have?"
"One hour, sir," Shigeru said.
"Has Misa--, er, Commander Katsuragi been contacted?"
"So far neither the Commander or Dr. Iwano have been reached. Orders, sir?"
Shinji took a deep breath. He glanced back at Kitari. The man watched from the corner, his expression still. "Keep trying to contact them. Tell them to let us know where the hell they're running off to, next time. Do we have anything on the Angel?"
"All the sensors are maxed out. It's huge. We have a camera view."
The screen changed. It stood there, waiting just like the one before. It stood tall and straight, and resembled an Evangelion. Its body was covered in dark, purple and black armor. It turned, and its gaze met the camera. Shinji felt a shudder move though his body.
"Sir, what are your orders?"
It was watching him. He knew it. It was waiting, but there was no other choice.
"Launch Eva Units 00, 02 and 03. Keep trying to contact the Commander and Dr. Iwano."
"I'm not here about the Evas, Ritsuko. Or about what happened between us." Misato began to think of how she could get out of here without seriously hurting her.
She stepped back from the door, and sat back down on her bed. She looked out the window. "That young man seemed nice. Have you slept with him?"
Misato grit her teeth. "I'm here about Rei. Just tell me what's happening to Rei."
"What is happening to Rei?" She stared out the window.
Misato sighed, and tried to calm herself. "The Angels have reappeared, Ritsuko. But there's something. wrong with them. They're not like the others. There was only supposed to be seventeen Angels. Now that they've come back, something's been happening to Rei. She thinks."
Ritsuko looked at her, waiting.
"She thinks that the part of her that was an Angel is still alive."
"Adam."
"Yes."
She looked back out the window. "You hate the Angels, Misato. Why would you try to help Rei?"
"She's not an Angel, damn it! I know Rei, now. Who she is. What she wants to be. She's not like what she used to be. We know her."
"We? Oh, right. Shinji. Have you slept with him, too?"
Misato struggled to restrain herself. This was how Ritsuko always did it. It turned into a game, to see if she could take her taunts. "I'm not here to play games, Ritsuko. The Angels are back. What does it have to do with Rei being the First Child?"
She spook without looking back. "You're as stubborn as ever. I don't know, honestly. Rei, the part of her that was human, and the part of her that was Adam, merged with Lilith in the Impact, to create Instrumentality. What did you think would happen? It would all go away? All the Angels would burn up? Vanish?" She waited for an answer. Misato stayed silent. She continued, "Typical. You're always such a damn optimist. The Eva series were designed to be the apostles of a new age, to replace the Angels so that Humanity would not be destroyed, but recreated."
"That still doesn't answer-"
"I'm getting to it. Fine. Rei was the First Child. Put the pieces together, Misato. It's right in front of you. Adam is not dead. Not all of it. If Rei still carries a piece of it, then the Angels are being drawn to her. There must be another way. Something we don't know about."
Misato stood there, listening and thinking. Another way. Wasn't that what Karou had said to her? In her dream? He told her there was another way. They were the same.
"You're right, I guess." She looked up. Ritsuko continued to look out the window. "Um. thank you, Ritsuko. I know that I. well, I know everything that happened was hard for you."
"I'm supposed to be dead, you know?"
Asuka looked at the blip on her monitor. The Angel just stood there, waiting. Just like the last one. Why were they being so. passive? They are Angels. They're supposed to be attacking, not waiting to be attacked. It just didn't make any sense to her.
"All right," Shinji's voice came over the radio. "You're going to have to fan out. Touji, try to get behind that thing. Rei and Asuka will position themselves on either side. Asuka will move in. Touji and Rei are to provide back up. Got it?"
"At least you're learning who's really in charge around here," Asuka said.
Shinji tried not to roll his eyes. "Just do it."
They moved into position around the Angel. It was surrounded, and yet still it did nothing. Asuka tried to stay calm. This didn't make any sense. Why wouldn't it attack?
It watched them move. It studied them. It felt their fear.
It looked to the one holding her. Him. The mother and the father. The one who would give it purpose.
Now it was time.
Shinji took a breath, and readied himself. He wondered if this was what Misato felt. She'd told him about it, once. How she hated sending them out, how it was unfair that all she could do was stand here and watch while they fought. He was beginning to feel the same. Those were his friends out there. The ones he loved and cared about more than anything. Sometimes it felt like they were holding him together.
"Ready, at-"
"Shinji, it's moving!"
"What?"
The Angel rushed forward, aiming for Unit 00. It moved fast, for an Angel. As fast as an Eva.
"Asuka, intercept it! Touji, after that thing!"
Units 02 and 03 moved, chasing after it. Rei stayed in position, aiming her rifle directly at it. She fired. The bullets tore into its body, causing it to stumble. It skidded, and stopped, raising its AT field. The bullets exploded against the field.
Asuka and Touji moved into range, and fired. The Angel lurched forward from the force of the assault. Its AT field weakened.
Asuka grinned. "We've got it. Touji, cover me. I'm going in."
"Just do it, already!"
Unit 02 armed its knife, and ran forward. The Angel turned its head as Unit 02 leaped at it, and brought the knife down in both hands. Light flashed as it struck the AT field. Asuka brought the knife down, slicing the field in half. Unit 02's leg shot out, and kicked the Angel's legs out from under it. Asuka plunged her knife. The Angel's arm came up, and the knife dug into it.
The Angel's flesh reached out, and wrapped around the knife. Asuka tried to pull it out once, and started to let go. The flesh moved faster, wrapping around Unit 02's wrist and hand. Asuka cried out.
Rei adjusted her sights. "Asuka, pull back."
"I can't! It's grabbed on to me!"
The Angel rose, taking a hold of Unit 02 with both hands. Asuka looked up, and met its eyes.
You are not the one I am here for. Go, demon.
All four Evangelion pilots froze. They'd heard it. Again. It had spoken to them.
Yoshi grumbled. This was taking way too long. Misato never talked about Dr. Akagi. Well, except for the time he bothered to ask. but otherwise she never mentioned her. Not even when she was drunk.
He wandered back to the security gate to get his things. He could wait for her outside. This place made him anxious. He retrieved his things, and looked at his cell phone. He blinked. Who the hell would have a reason to call him that many times?
Before he could find out, the phone ringed again. He answered it. "Dr. Iwano. What? When?"
He ran back to Ritsuko Akagi's cell.
Misato sighed. "Please, Ritsuko. I don't-"
"So tell me about Shinji."
"You're not going to get at me by using him. You hear me, Ritsuko? Cut it out."
She turned and looked at her. "Aw, what's wrong? Don't like me making fun of your precious boy?"
"Stop it."
Ritsuko stood. "How much do you remember before the Impact, Misato?"
She shook her head. "What does that matter?"
"Just answer the question." Misato met her eyes. She wasn't trying to taunt her anymore.
"I. don't think about it a lot. Not much, I guess."
"Try."
"I remember. Shinji. And Asuka. She'd just been put into the hospital. Shinji was still hurt about Kaoru. You were. you know where you were. And I was. I tried."
"Tried what?"
Misato stared into space, remembering. "I tried to stop Instrumentality. I made Shinji and Asuka pilot the Evas. But. something went wrong. It didn't."
"You failed. Remember?"
She nodded. Her hand went to her breast. "Why don't I have clear memories of it?"
"No one really does. No one except me. I remember being shot. I died. You were shot, also. Although you may still have had some life left in you."
Misato shook her head, and turned away. "No. That can't be right. I know we didn't stop it, but that's not right! We didn't die! How else would we still be alive?"
"That's what I've been thinking about it. I blame Shinji, personally."
She turned back to her. "So that's what this is? You are just trying to-"
"No. Think about it, you idiot. Why do you think it was his Eva that achieved self-awareness? His Eva moved under its own power, again and again. It reacted to him. His mother was merged into Unit 01. Why do you think all that happened? Because Ikari wanted it that way? Because it had to be that way?"
Misato stared at her. "Shut up, Ritsuko. I'm warning you, right now."
"Or what? You'll hit a crazy lady? A crazy lady whose supposed to be dead? That'd be a laugh, wouldn't it? Two dead women fighting."
She felt her nails digging into the palms of her hands. "Now, Ritsuko. Stop it."
"We were supposed to be dead. Instrumentality didn't bring back the dead. It was all his fault. If he'd never been born, it wouldn't have happened. Gendo Ikari used his own son to make it happen. He should never have been born."
Misato lashed out, and slapped her. It was all she could do to keep herself from using her fists.
Ritsuko looked at her, half grinning, and grabbed her jacket. "Don't you get it? He's the reason it failed! He stopped it! Do you even realize what he is?"
Misato pushed her off, and raised her fist.
"Misato! Misato, get out here!" Yoshi pounded on the door.
"Young man, you can't-"
"Open this door!"
"But, I-"
"You see this badge? Now open the damn door!"
The lock clicked open. Misato stared at her. She was crazy, but also frightening. She truly believed everything she'd said. Maybe it was true.
She turned her back, and walked out. It didn't matter. What mattered was that they were alive, now. What mattered was keeping it that way.
When she walked out, Yoshi was red-faced. "What's wrong?"
He held up his cell phone. "It's. it's attacking! Another Angel is attacking!"
Asuka slammed her other fist into the Angel's head. She kept hitting it, but it wouldn't let go. The Angel grabbed Unit 02's neck, and lifted her up. She struggled for breath.
Die for the final time, demon.
"Let her go!" Rei clubbed the Angel from behind with her rifle. It turned, and slammed its shoulder into Unit 00. She stumbled back from the blow. The Angel dropped Unit 02, and turned its full attention on Rei.
There you are. Now I will have purpose.
"Asuka, stay down!" Touji rushed forward, firing. The Angel turned back to him. The bullets weren't even phasing it, now. It was too close. It picked up Unit 02, using it as a shield. Asuka screamed.
"Damn you!" Touji pulled out his knife, and kept charging.
Shinji tried to stop him. "Touji, stop!"
The Angel lifted Unit 02 above its head, and threw it. The Eva flew into Unit 03, knocking them both to the ground.
Rei reached up, and stabbed her knife into the Angel's side. It looked down at her, and grinned.
Don't fight me. You must give me purpose.
Shinji watched, feeling himself grow sick. "Damn it. What are Units 02 and 03's status?"
"Pilot Soryu's vital signs are still active, but she's unconscious. Unit 03 is pinned beneath Unit 02."
Kensuke walked up behind him, looking at the screen. "Shinji, what's happening out there?"
"I. damn it! I can't just sit here." He turned to Kensuke. "I'm sorry, Kensuke. I shouldn't have stayed here." He spoke to the operators. "Prepare to launch Unit 01."
"But Lieutenant, you can't just abandon-"
"Just do it!" He was already running to the hangar.
The Angel bent down, and pulled Unit 00 to its feet. Rei tried to pull the knife out, but the Angel's body wouldn't let go of it. She tried harder.
Why do you fight it? You must give me purpose. Why do you fight me?
She struggled against its grip. It couldn't possibly be this strong. "I'm. not that. I'm not an."
You are the one. You hold him within you. Give me my purpose.
"I'm not an Angel. I'm not one of you!"
1 Give me purpose. Give me purpose!
The Angel threw Unit 00 to the ground. It perched over her, and started to pull at the Eva's armor. Rei screamed as she felt its fingers dig into the armor, cracking and pulling it away. The Angel dug its hands into the Eva's flesh, pulling and tearing. Rei couldn't move. The pain screamed inside of her.
2 Where are you? Come out, please. Give me pur-
Unit 01 slammed into the Angel, knocking it away. "Get off of her!"
It slid along the ground, digging a wide furrow in its wake. It looked up, and Unit 01 was already upon it, firing its rifle. Shinji shot its face. It got up, anyway, and lurched forward.
I must have purpose. Get out of my way!
It slammed its fists into Unit 01. Shinji shoved his shoulder into it, and kept firing into its gut.
"I won't let you hurt them, damn it! Just stay away!" The rifle clip emptied. He raised the rifle, and smashed it down on the Angel's head. It looked up at him, and its face twisted into a snarl.
Then you will die.
It lunged at him, bashing Unit 01's chest.
All who would prevent purpose must die.
It beat at him relentlessly.
All the demons must die.
Shinji tired to ignore the pain. His hand reached down and pulled out his pistol.
Die!
He brought the pistol up, put the barrel to the Angel's head, and fired. It fell off him, and rolled on the ground. Unit 01 rose up, and turned again to fire at the Angel. It looked at him, and flickered in space. In an eye blink, it disappeared.
"What the--? Where'd the target go?"
"We're not sure, sir, it just-behind you!"
Unit 01 turned around. The Angel was making its way back to Unit 00. Shinji leaped at it, and locked his arm around its neck. He pulled its arm behind its back, and struggled to hold it.
"No, damn you! You can't take her!"
I will have purpose.
"Shut up! I'll kill you before you hurt them! You hear me? I'm sick of you monsters! Just leave us alone!"
Asuka opened her eyes. Touji was yelling in her ear.
"Asuka, wake up, you stupid German!"
"What? What's going on?"
"You're on me, and Shinji's fighting the Angel. Get up!"
She looked. Unit 01 had the Angel in a headlock. She squeezed her eyes tight, and opened them again. "What. that idiot! Shinji, what are you doing?"
The Angel looked up to the sky, and roared. The sound echoed inside Asuka's brain. She grabbed her ears, but didn't look away. An aura of light began to surround both the Angel and Unit 01. It grew brighter.
"Shinji! Let go of it! Shinji?"
The light became blinding. Asuka looked away. The roar drowned out all other senses. The world became a scream of darkness.
Then it stopped. Asuka looked up. The Angel was gone. Unit 01 stood frozen.
"What's going on? Where's the target? Command, where the hell is the Angel?"
"The target has disappeared!"
"Disappeared? Shinji, did you hear that?" There was no answer. Shinji?"
Touji spoke up. "What's Unit 01's status?"
"Damn it, Shinji, answer me!"
"Unit 01 has gone silent. Lieutenant Ikari. he's."
Touji growled. "What, damn it?"
"Lieutenant Ikari isn't in Unit 01. He's disappeared along with the target."
Asuka looked up at the frozen Eva. "Shinji? Shinji!"
Asuka screamed.
End Part 6
Author's Notes: Ah, welcome to "strange plot twist number 21342230000!" Things just keep getting weirder and weirder, huh? Gee, I wish this would all make some damn sense! Where the hell did Shinji go? Is he dead? Alive? Did the Angel take him? What's the deal!!?? Heheheh. I ain't tellin'. Not until next chapter, anyway. Some fun, huh? Well, happy Halloween to ya. Just think of this as my own little "trick or treat." Until next chapter, the complaint department is at loneshark707@hotmail.com. Unless you wanna bash me publicly, in which case just leave something on fanfiction.net. Tag!