Trunks had put Rei on the bed in her apartment, then gotten his own and put it next to Rei's.  Trunks knew he had to act fast or she would suffer a serious injury.  Once the two beds were put together he lay down and grasped her hand: white light started to glow from their point of contact.

[Okay, here we go] Trunks thought as he and Rei began to bond

Trunks opened his eyes and saw an expanse of white in all directions: he looked around and saw, far in the distance he saw Rei, floating in mid air with her eyes closed.  Trunks flew to her but as he got within 5 feet of her, a field stopped him

"What the hell is this thing?" he asked

A spectre of the hated figure of Gendo Ikari appeared in front of Trunks with a self-satisfied smirk

"That is the A.T. Field of her heart.  I made sure that no one can get through it," it explained

"How are you here?" Trunks asked: he'd seen some weird stuff but this was strange

"I am an inner protocol designed for this kind of invasion", the form explained

Trunks growled and took a swing at 'Gendo', but his fist went through the image.  It smiled at the young warrior smugly

"Nothing will break through that field of isolation, no amount of affection can do it.  It wasn't as strong before, but after her mental dump; it solidified perfectly", the form was gloating

Trunks charged up and charged at the field, it became visible; it was indeed an A.T. Field.  He charged as much power into his charge as he could to without transforming to break the field but it still threw him onto the ground

"I told you; nothing can break through that field.  No human has the mental strength" 'Gendo's' smug voice oozed like oil

To the shock of the image of Gendo however, Trunks began to chuckle and smile: a most perplexing reaction.  The laughter nearly became insanely intoned as Trunks began rolling on the floor giving out guffaws of laughter

"Just one thing" he paused, still shaking from laughter

"Can you tell your real life counterpart what you see and hear?" Trunks asked

"Not unless he accesses me through s subconscious memory checker" the image replied

"Well, gave on this demon and know that your master's day of reckoning is at hand" Trunks cried dramatically and turned Super Saiyen 2.

The power up was emulated in the real world; while lying prone on a bed, Trunks turned SS2, although his power level only spiked for a minute before he suppressed it.  The image of Gendo reacted as if it were human: by falling over in awe and paling

"Yes, as you say: no human could penetrate the barrier but I am not human as you can plainly see.  So know this, I will destroy that barrier, I will free her and someday, our bond will be completed!" Trunks declared

"How noble" the image spat sarcastically

"Yes, I know in this world the concept of defending the honour of a lady is somewhat outdated, but it's a natural reflex for my race" Trunks retorted dryly

The projection composed itself and stared at Trunks; clearly in a match the boy would defeat his human counterpart with no problems at all; his power was beyond that of many men put together.  So if he were to be effectively hurt, then the strikes would have to be subtle and smart.

"Brute force is not enough to break the A.T. Field.  Cunning and intelligence is also needed" it hissed

"I'll let you in on a secret.  I've been alive for almost a thousand years.  I was kept on a plain of existence in which time passes slower than normal, by the time I was 15 by their standards: I was a millennia old by human standards" Trunks smirked like his father as he spoke

[This, boy, is a millennia old.  What knowledge could he hold in his head, from living with such creatures?], it wondered

The spectre began to run away: Trunks assumed it was going to hurt Rei or alert Gendo to what was going on, so he remembered back to the Old Kai's lessons on mental plane combat

[I got it!], he exclaimed

Bending his pinkie and the finger next to it down, and covering them with his thumb, Trunks pressed the remaining fingers to his head so that the tips of his middle and index finger touched his forehead.  He began to search for anything that seemed added or wrong with her mindscape.  Though the Old Kai was a good teacher, Kibito knew more than anyone about the mindscape: he had taught them both how to destroy things without hurting the person

"Come on" he gritted his teeth in frustration as he searched

Gendo wasn't sloppy in his operations that was for sure, because where ever that little mini Gendo hid, it was well concealed and it was possible that it was an external thing, like a brain implant which would be harder to destroy.

"AH HA!" he exclaimed as he found it.  It hid in a small part of her mindscape that was associated with the emotion of love.

"Amure" Trunks said and began to emit waves

These waves were much like the body's natural painkillers and were sent pleasure nerves, giving a dulled but pleasant sensation to Rei's mind and ergo her body so as not to hurt her

"AAGGHH" the little image of Gendo had transmitted a bit of information through a small device in Rei's cerebral cortex but it was destroyed before it sent more

************

Goten was fuming: Trunks was acting out of Rei's best interests but it still put him in an awkward position later from questions arising from his fascinated classmates about his strange words and behaviour.  Asuka had tried to set him to rights but Goten was going to give (or attempt to give) Trunks an ass kicking about it.  Asuka and the others followed behind him as fast as they could, but Goten was undoubtedly faster than they were.

"How could he be so irresponsible?" Goten fumed

"What, would not have done the same for me if that was me on the floor?" Asuka countered

"Yes, but I would be more tactful about it.  If Trunks does one thing without thought, its things like that. He's just like his father" Goten sighed

"What and that's a bad thing?" Asuka asked

[Only if your father is someone like Vegeta] Goten thought dryly

It seemed to Goten that Trunks had inherited his father's 'protect-the-mate-at-all-costs' mentality: it could be helpful or a hindrance depending on the situation: this was a situation in which it was a hindering factor

"He better be unconscious" Goten muttered as he landed and opened the door.

As it turned out, Trunks was indeed unconscious, and Super Saiyen 2.  Goten was confused, at that level, the mere energy Trunks would be giving off should of nearly demolished the room and his power level should have been pretty easy to sense.  So where was all the power and energy going?

"Wow, check out the light" Shinji gasped and pointed at Trunks and Rei's point of contact.

[A bond beacon, this is good] Goten assured himself and sat down: the others were content to watch this miracle of Saiyen bio-physics, Asuka was more curious about the outside look of this whole process; because she'd taken the trip

*************

Ritsuko was in the Nerv coffee lounge having an extra black one of her favourite coffees when Misato, ever the bubbly one, came and sat down beside her

"Hiya Ritsuko" she crowed and smiled

"Hi Misato" Ritsuko replied and had another sip of coffee

"What's wrong?  You look miserable" Misato asked

Ritsuko darted her eyes around to make sure that no one was watching or listening to them in person, she had worked out that the powers that be would know a good portion of what she did, but not the name or what he was but she figured that Misato needed to know as she was the pilots direct superior

"Misato, do not react to what I say to you, please" she began

"Why?" Misato answered

"The alien that blew up the 4th Angel was Trunks.  Last night he came to my place and asked me a few questions.  He then cut his hand on a knife and gave it to me, saying something about trust" Ritsuko allowed her friend a moment to absorb that

"What?" Misato was dumbstruck

"Trunks, the young man who has obvious feelings for my little sister, can destroy Angels as a hobby" she said.

Misato froze in place and blinked, her cup nearly falling out of her hands

"What?" she stammered

"My sister's boyfriend, has the power to wipe us all out in his fingers" Ritsuko wasn't to sure how much plainer she could make that

"What about his buddy?" she asked

"Who?" Ritsuko wasn't sure whom Misato meant

"Goten!" she said through clenched teeth

"Well, it wouldn't surprise me if they had that much in common" she replied

Misato was up like a shot and nearly at the door before Ritsuko realised her friend was going to make a mistake that could cost her dearly.  So with the practiced moves of a sprinter, Ritsuko caught up with Misato and without thinking, pushed her against a wall

"Are you crazy?  If you barge in you could get hurt and you don't want that" Ritsuko spoke through grit teeth

"But Asuka would be in danger" Misato would normally scream, but was to terrified to do that at work

"I highly doubt that.  Form what I've observed; if Goten is like Trunks, then if anyone hurt Asuka, then they will end up on the wrong end of his fists," Ritsuko explained

"What?" Misato didn't understand

"Trunks's behaviour could be down to personality, or as is my theory, it is instinct for his race.  If so, then Asuka and Rei are in good hands" Ritsuko was adamant of this

"And what if you're wrong; what if they're violent and intent on hurting them or worse?" Misato was of course referring to rape

"There is more chance in it happening to them in the streets.  And it would of happened to Rei.  The day Trunks arrived.  Section 2 were to slow, but they told me what happened: someone came from nowhere and obliterated the offender; to find any trace of him they needed a molecular scanner" Ritsuko gave a shortened version of the event

"He, he killed someone?" she was still poking holes in the scientist's argument

"If he hadn't of done it, Section 2 would of but they would have been to late to stop him raping Rei.  And personally I'm glad Trunks wasted him, one less scumbag on the streets" Ritsuko was starting to doubt Misato was going to believe her at all

"I still don't trust them" Misato wouldn't budge

"Fine.  But a word to the wise: look before you leap" Ritsuko gave up and went back to work

***************

In his cavern like office Gendo Ikari sat listening to the fragments of speech from Ritsuko's lab when she made her discovery but he still didn't know what it was about and Ritsuko was too good a hacker to leave any computer information in the open or within easy access of any little shit with a computer.  And most of the physical evidence was either in her private safe or had been destroyed.  And Gendo was unhappy about it

[She is undermining my authority, and that is a foolish move] he thought as he picked up his phone and dialled a number

"Hello Mr. Aida.  I wish to call in that favour.  Bring your son to my office at the end of the school day" he said and hung up

Gendo smirked: he had kept the technician's son out of prison for computer crimes a year ago, because the boy's skills were almost as good as Ritsuko's and he thought that in the future his talents may come in handy.  And now his foresight was beginning to pay off.

A few hours later, Mr. Aida brought his son Kensuke to the office of one Commander Ikari.  The boy had heard all sorts of stories about this man: some say he was merely a shrewd man with bitterness over his wife's death.  Others said he was the devil incarnate with his own bent agenda in life.  Kensuke couldn't, however, give two shits because all he needed to know was that if he screwed this favour up; then he was off to big boy's school.

"Well young Mr. Aida; it seems as if my foresight over your talents have proved right" Gendo said

"What can I do for you sir?" the boy asked respectfully

"Have your skills improved as a hacker since last year?" Gendo enquired casually

"I haven't been near a computer with the right grunt to drive a DOS game let alone hack a network" Kensuke was lying through his teeth

"Don't insult my intelligence lad.  I don't care if you broke a bond condition; you weren't caught and that proves to me that you are capable of what I want you to do" Gendo said

"Okay, what do you need done?" Kensuke asked

"I want you to hack a special firewall designed by my chef scientist: it is equivalent to a Class AA military firewall.  There're also several encrypted files and anti-hacking programs you need to get around" Gendo wetted Kensuke's appetite

"Well I am intrigued" although he tried to seem detached, Kensuke was salivating like a dog over a roast dinner: Gendo was now speaking his language

"And as a bonus my young computer hacker.  If you succeed then you will have your record expunged and a place for you at the JSSDF Special Forces Academy may be open to you" Gendo could have asked Kensuke to kill a man for this kind of chance

"Well I accept your kind offer commander.  What information am I looking for?" Kensuke began to talk shop

"Anything on someone called Trunks; any test results in the last 3 days and sample comparisons.  Basically any kind of scientific info you can get your hands on" Gendo explained

Before he left to receive his orders and equipment from a Nerv official, Kensuke asked one last question

"What do I do after I've finished with the computer information and passed it onto you?" he asked

"Do as you wish, if you can discredit Trunks with anything you find, by all means do so.  But if I find out that you've hacked more than what I've asked," Gendo paused and pulled out a gun and primed it

"Then your old man will be making funeral arrangements" Gendo dropped the fake civility and used his cold voice; it chilled Kensuke to the bone

"Well I won't argue with you or that .357 Magnum in your hand", the boy had a good military wit

"Go" Gendo commanded and turned around in his chair to attend some matters on his large desk which were not for his eyes

Kensuke took the hint and left the office.  A Section 2 guard took him to a room filled with a hacker's wildest dreams.  Every kind of PC and peripheral he could want or need was there.  And he had the agent bring his personal collection of CD's with programs to the room.  It could take a few hours but the rewards were great

"Okay.  On your marks, get set, and; let's hack this bitch" he said and sat down to prepare to hack into the greatest mainframe known to man: the Magi

***************

Trunks was still in the mindscape of his mate: with no idea on how to break the barrier totally.  He had however been plotting on maybe not totally destroying the barrier but poking holes in it.  Because if he was right, then with small snippets and bits of information allowed through the holes, then the rest would crumble.  He knew ultimately that only Rei could destroy it.  There wasn't anything stopping him from helping though

"Okay.  Here it goes" he said to himself and stood up

Trunks faced the bubble that encased Rei; her eyes were still closed

"Rei, I hope you can hear me", he muttered

He took a deep breath and before he could think, Trunks passed the line of trying to help someone and trying to love someone

"I Love You!" Trunks yelled it as loud as he could, pronouncing each word carefully and concisely.

It took a few seconds before he got a reaction, but he got one.  Little bits of the field began to break open and crack, only a few small holes and a little shaking of the mindscape.  Rei also fluttered her eyes open and saw Trunks.  Little did he know that what he just did allowed her to regain some fragments of the memories that Gendo had taken from her, but only intuitions not full accounts.

"I know you", she said

[Better get out so she can wake up] Trunks thought and looked at Rei

"I'll see you in a second" he called and blew her a kiss

Shinji nearly jumped out of his skin when Trunks suddenly rose up from the bed and Hikari laughed at him as he shot across the room and into a wall, nearly through it too.

"Ugh, what an experience that was" Trunks said and rubbed his head

"Well, if you weren't down and out like this I'd be whooping you ass.  You compromised our mission and our friends today Trunks.  Don't ever do it again," Goten scolded

"Yeah okay" his friend replied nonchalantly and looked a Rei; she was slowly coming out of her sleep and her eyes fluttered open, just like in the mindscape

"Where am I?" she asked, a little disorientated

"You are at your home" Trunks answered

Rei looked up at him and stared at him; green to red, red to green.  After a few minutes of, comfortable, silence between the two: Rei made a request

"You four; please leave.  I wish to speak to Trunks alone" she said

Goten and Asuka, being the only two who knew what could be going through either party's head, ushered the other two out with threats of violence and death

After what seemed like an eternity; someone spoke

"If you're angry; I'll go" it was Trunks: he was assuming he'd offended her

"I'm not angry, just confused.  My life was a simple one.  Exist to pilot Eva and save the world.  My life had an equilibrium", she said

"Rei, I-" Trunks was cut off by Rei

"Let me finish.  It had equilibrium, past tense.  You came and you have thrown the balance.  At first I was, angry.  However we began to 'bond' as you say.  I felt things that I'd never felt before" Rei looked into his eyes as she spoke

"How do you feel?" Trunks asked

"Like something is, unfinished" she replied, then Rei acted on an impulse

Trunks's eyes widened as Rei kissed him, but soon fell into the moment.

***************

Gendo, Ritsuko and Fuyutski were in the office dealing with some finances when a Section 2 agent came in; he had been running.

"What's wrong Corporal?" Gendo asked

"Sir, you should see this", the agent said, panting as he relayed the video feed from Rei's apartment to the office screen

Fuyutski nearly burst out laughing when Gendo spat the coffee out all over the monitor

"GET ME KATSURAGI!" Gendo bellowed

[I don't think it'll help] Ritsuko chuckled to herself as Gendo demanded details and other information.

However as the research by Ritsuko had discovered; once that bond was forged; it couldn't be broken.

[The protocol may be dead, but the implant is still functioning] Gendo had been stewing over the events of a few hours ago.

"This will be interesting" Fuyutski said as Gendo stormed out

*****************