Author's note -
Sorry this chapter took so long guys. Been so busy I haven't had nearly enough time to write. Hopefully that is now past, and I hope I can have the next chapter done within two weeks.
Please let me know what you think of the changes I've made to episode 24 here. I hope it works, but if you can think of improvements, let me know, okay?
I'm not sure whether there's going to be one or two, possibly as many as three chapters, left to this story. I'll try to let you know next time.
Disclaimer -
All the characters contained in this story are copyright GAINAX, Project EVA, Movic, and any other company and/or division associated with the creation and/or production of Neon Genesis Evangelion. A.D.Vision holds the copyrights to the translated version of Neon Genesis Evangelion. All characters are used WITHOUT the permission of the aforementioned institutions.
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IMPACT
A sequel to "A Question Of..."
By Room3
Chapter 08 - "What's In A Name?"
"Don't worry major, I'll take good care of him," Hikari told Misato as she stroked Pen-Pen. Katsuragi smiled.
"I know you will Hikari," she replied, leaning against the living room doorframe. "It's just hard to let him go."
"But you have to, don't you?" Asuka asked from her position on the couch.
"Uh-huh," Misato replied, nodding. "I just don't have the time to take care of him anymore, what with my current workload."
"And with me and Shinji always on call, right?" the German added. The major sighed and nodded again.
"At least this way I know he'll be safe," she said. She stood up straight and walked over to where Hikari was sat on the floor. "You behave yourself for Hikari Pen-Pen," she told the penguin.
"Where's Shinji?" Horaki asked, suddenly noticing his absence.
"He went for a walk," the second-child replied, her voice sad. Her friend noticed her tone and stared at her. "It's okay Hikari," Asuka told her, noticing her expression, "she knows about me and Shinji." The former class rep's eyebrows raised slightly, but she gave no other sign of reacting.
"Well...he shouldn't feel so alone after today," Misato said, breaking the silence. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to do about Shinji and Asuka's relationship.
"Huh?" the redhead asked, looking puzzled. "Oh yeah. The new guy arrives today, doesn't he?"
"His name is Kaworu Nagisa," the major reminded her charge. "And yes, he is arriving today."
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Shinji sighed as he stood staring at the locked school gates. He'd never thought that he would actually miss school, but he did. He missed being with other people his own age.
They're all gone, he thought mournfully. Toji, Kensuke... They've all left. He sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. I hardly get to see Misato anymore. All I have left is Rei and Asuka. He turned around and lent against the gates, looking down at the pavement at his feet. Being with Asuka is great, but Rei... There's something about her. A feeling... Like she's someone I know. The third-child closed his eyes and tried to force the unsettling thoughts from his mind.
Just as he succeeded, the sound of humming broke the silence. Shinji looked up to see a boy with sandy-brown hair sat on the school wall a few metres away from him. He looked older than the third-child. As is sensing Shinji's gaze, he looked down at him and smiled.
"The song is good," the boy said. It sounded like he a bit of a lisp.
"Huh?" Shinji asked, puzzled.
"Singing brings joy and revitalises the human soul," the boy replied. "I think that song is the highest achievement of the Lilim culture. Don't you agree...Shinji Ikari?"
"How do you know my name?" the third-child enquired.
"Everyone knows your name," the boy informed Shinji. He jumped down off the wall and walked over to the gates. "I don't mean to sound rude, but you're rather ignorant of your own position."
"Oh, really?" Shinji replied, looking down. "Who are you?" he asked, looking back at the boy stood before him. Now he was closer, Shinji could see his eyes were red. The same colour as Ayanami's, he mused.
"I am like you, one of the selected children. The fifth-child," the boy told him.
"Oh. So you're name's...Kaworu, right?"
"Yes," the fifth-child replied. "I am Kaworu Nagisa."
"Um, Mr. Nagisa..."
"Call me Kaworu, Mr. Ikari," the fifth-child told Shinji, laughing as he interrupted him.
"Mr. Ikari? Oh no, you can call me Shinji," the third-child told Kaworu.
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"The fifth child has just arrived," Makato Hyugo told Major Katsuragi as her car rode on a car-train into the Geo front. The major was sat in the driver's seat, staring out through the windscreen, arms crossed behind her head. She didn't even glance at the bespectacled technician in the front passenger seat as he spoke.
"Kaworu Nagisa," she murmured. "Kaworu of the seashore. And all his past records have been erased. Just like Rei." Misato's mind was filled by memories of what she had learned a week previously about the first-child. What the hell is going on?! she wondered.
"But at least one record remains," Makato replied, unaware of what the major was thinking. "He was born on the same day Second Impact occurred."
"The committee sent him directly to us," Katsuragi stated. "There must be something else."
"The Marduk report on the fifth-child was classified," Hyugo told her. "So I hacked into the Intelligence Department's computer system."
"I can't believe you did that!"
"Oh it was worth doing," Makato replied, leaning towards her. "I've found out where Ritsuko is," he whispered to her. Misato grimaced as the technician returned to his previous posture. "So what do you want to do about the fifth-child's synch-test?"
"I don't have any tricks up my sleeve this time," the major told him. "Let's see what he can do."
"Yeah but...which Eva should we try him with first?" the technician asked. The major brought her arms down and folded them.
"Hmm. Good point," she replied. "We'll start with Unit 00's data," she added after a few moments silence. "Then we'll do the same for the other two."
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"Beginning test sequence," Maya Ibuki announced as the test-plugs were lowered into the LCL filled chamber. "Harmonics from the first-, second- and third-child are stable," she informed Fuyutski who was stood behind her, staring at the observation window.
"What about the fifth?" he asked, looking at the image of the boy on one of the ancillary monitors. There was something off putting about his expression.
"He started off a little unstable, but has started to settle down," the lieutenant advised him. The room was silent for close to twenty minutes. As she watched the data following to her console, she was amazed by what she saw. "Incredible!" she gasped.
"What is it?" Misato asked, worried.
"His synch-ratio is sixty-four percent," Ibuki told her. "And it's still rising!"
"Are you sure the data readouts are correct?" Fuyutski asked.
"All of the test systems are operating correctly sir," Makato responded.
"Do we need anything more from Shinji, Asuka and Rei?" the major asked.
"No ma'am," Ibuki replied.
"Good," Misato commented, walking over to Makato's console. She pressed a button and activated the intercom. "Rei, Shinji, Asuka, you three can take off now," she told the experienced pilots. "Kaworu, we need you to hang around a bit longer."
"Start preparing Unit 01's data," the professor ordered. "Ikari wants this test done as soon as possible."
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"There's gotta be something wrong with the systems," Makato commented almost an hour later.
"The Magi confirm there are no data errors," Maya added.
"But how can he have the same synch-ratio with all three Eva's?!" Hyugo exclaimed. "It's impossible!"
"Nevertheless it's happened," Misato stated, staring into the test chamber. "We must accept that fact and begin an investigation into why it is so." She opened the intercom. "Okay Kaworu, we're all done now. You can go," she told the fifth-child, her voice full of fake cheer.
"I want you to run a complete check on all the harmonics test systems," Fuyutski ordered Lieutenant Ibuki as the sole test-plug was lifted from the LCL in the chamber beyond the observation window. "And have the Magi run an analysis on the his data."
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"Has the fifth-child made contact with Rei?" Gendo asked. He was sat at his desk in his office, chin resting on his interlocked fingers as usual.
"Yes," Fuyutski replied. "Shinji introduced him to Rei and Asuka before the synch-test."
"And how did he perform?" Ikari enquired.
"Surprisingly well," Kouzou informed him. "He had the same score with all three sets of data."
"That should not be possible," the commander commented.
"I know," the professor responded. "The Magi are currently analysing all the data we've gathered on him so far."
"And what's the status of the Eva's?"
"Repairs are running according to schedule," Kouzou told him. "Unit 00 is in the final stages of regeneration and Unit 02 should pass the systems test this time."
"Good."
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"That new guy really gives me the creeps," Asuka muttered as she sat beside Shinji on the grassy hill, staring out over the abounded city. The third-child turned his attention away from the clouds floating above them and looked at her.
"Really?" he asked. His girlfriend turned her head towards him and nodded. "I like him," he commented.
"You would," the German snorted. She lay back, putting her arms behind her head. "You miss Toji and Kensuke don't you?" she asked him softly.
"Uh-huh," he nodded. "I used to like being alone. But now... I can't stand it. I never thought I'd be friends with them, or miss having friends around." The second-child rolled onto her side, propping her head on her closed hand and smiling down at him.
"I love it when you get all sensitive," she told him, running the back of her left hand down his cheek. The boy blushed slightly and smiled back at her. He reached up and took hold of her hand as she pulled it away from his face. Their fingers intertwined and they stared into each other's eyes. A few moments later, the redhead leaned over and kissed him. All sense of time faded as their lips touched and the world around them dropped away.
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"The Nerv organisation was established to exercise the wishes of Seele," the booming voice from the monolith numbered 10 said, echoing throughout the dark chamber.
"It was intended to act out the scenario we had created," 04 added.
"However, it appears to have become dominated by a single, zealous individual," the voice of 05 commented.
"Yes it has," 02 agreed. "We must take it back into our own dominion."
"We must restore Nerv and the Eva series to their proper role," Keele's voice replied. Despite the distortion placed on his voice, weakness could be heard. He was tired, and had grown dissatisfied with the way Seele was forced to act. "Ikari, you will take responsibility for betraying Seele!"
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"I'm afraid there's not much time left for accomplishing our goal," Gendo Ikari said. He was standing on the catwalk in Evangelion Unit 01's cage, staring up at the robot's face. No one else was present, and his voice echoed in the large metallic room.
"However, the Lance of Longinus, which would have impeded the realisation of our plan, is now gone forever," he added, am image of the red weapon floating through the vacuum of space appearing in his mind. "The last Angel shall soon appear, and with its destruction our wishes may be born soon Yui," he continued, his voice softening. "Please have patience."
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The fifth-child... Rei Ayanami wondered, as she stared at the ceiling of her apartment. She was led on her bed, and as usual was dressed in her school uniform. What did he mean?
----FLASHBACK--------------------------
Rei had been riding one of the numerous escalators within headquarters. Normally, she would have just spent the last several hours within her tube in Terminal Dogma, but Commander Ikari had told her that that was no longer necessary. She had missed the peace it gave her and thus had spent the time wandering around the facility. As she had reached the top of the escalator, she saw a figure dressed in a white shirt and black trousers stood before her.
At first she had thought it was Shinji, but then she'd noticed the figure was taller than the third-child. When the face came into view, she had recognised him as the fifth-child, to whom she had been introduced to prior to the synch-test. She had stepped off the escalator and, finding that he was blocking her way, had stood in front of him. After a few moments, she had frowned and looked at him.
"What is it?" she had asked of him.
"Rei Ayanami," he had replied. "You are the same as I am."
"What do you mean?" she had enquired, but he had walked away, smiling. Something about the way he had been looking at her had bothered her, so she had not attempted to get an answer from him.
----END OF FLASHBACK-------------------
In what way are he and I alike? the first-child wondered. She blinked and looked over at the pair of broken glasses she still had on her dresser. Why do I exist? For what purpose? She stood up and walked over to the dresser and picked up the spectacles.
"Why do I still hold onto this?" she muttered as she stared at the lenses. Carefully, she unfolded one arm, then bent it back against the hinge until it snapped off and dropped it. Then she did the same to the other arm. Looking at the now arm-less glasses she blinked, wondering what she was going to do next.
She wrapped her hands around each lens, closed her eyes and twisted her arms until the backs of her fingers were touching. Opening her eyes, she stared at the mangled mess she now held. After a moment's contemplation, she picked up the arms and dropped the remains in the black bag of rubbish Shinji had left by her refrigerator on his previous visit.
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"And we still don't know who or what he is?" Katsuragi muttered to herself as she stared at the data on the fifth-child being displayed on her screen, frowning. She was sat at the desk in her bedroom, leaning forward as she stared intently at the monitor. She straightened up and arched her back to relieve the discomfort her previous position had caused. If the Magi haven't come up with any answers by now, then something weird's going on, she thought.
"Who in the hell is this boy?!" she murmured. The sound of the front door being opened distracted her. She looked at the clock beside the computer and frowned again. She stood up and left her room.
"It's about time you two got back," the major scolded from the hall doorway, startling the two teenagers, who were completely wrapped in their own world.
"S...sorry Misato," Shinji said, apologetically.
"We just lost track of time, that's all," Asuka told her guardian firmly. Misato sighed. She really wasn't in the mood to fight with the redhead.
"Whatever," she replied. "Just don't be late again. Remember, the JSSDF are patrolling the city," she reminded them. She wandered into the kitchen and took a can of beer from the fridge. She took a swig and sighed as she felt the liquid run down her throat.
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The major was up early the next day, and met Makato at their arranged meeting place before the morning mist had lifted. She stopped her car by him and walked over to the bridge railing, where he was stood.
"Well? Did you get the data on him?" Misato asked the technician softly.
"Yeah. This is it," he replied, pulling a few folded sheets of paper from his back pocket. "I sort of borrowed it from Lieutenant Ibuki without asking."
"I'm sorry that I made you do something like that," Katsuragi told him, taking the paper. There was a short pause as she read the information. "What is this?!" she gasped
"Yeah," Makato responded, smiling a little. "It's now wonder that Maya can't talk about this. It's not even theoretically possible."
"Yeah. It's getting more and more mysterious," the major commented, folding the papers and passing them back to Hyugo. "How can he set his synch-ratio at any level he chooses?" She sighed and shook her head, leaning forward and resting her chin on the cold metal of the railing. "I guess it's time to go maverick again," she muttered, looking over at the bespectacled man next to her.
"You better get going," she told him. He nodded and returned the paper to his pocket.
"I'll see you later," Makato said, wandering slowly to the far end of the bridge.
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"It's you again," Ritsuko Akagi said a few moments after the door to her cell closed. She was once again sat on the wooden chair. Her arms were crossed on her lap and her head was bent forward. "How surprising!"
"I have a question for you?" Misato told her former friend.
"Our conversation is being monitored you know," the doctor pointed out.
"I don't care," Katsuragi replied. "The fifth-child? I need to know. What is he?" Akagi sighed and leant back in the chair, rubbing her hands on her tear-stained face.
"He's probably the last Angel," she informed Misato.
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"I have learned much from these Lilim," Kaworu said as he stared intently at the heavily shielded doors that led to the central shaft, "but it is time." He stepped off the catwalk on which he was stood and floated towards the doors. Stopping before the doors, he tilted his head to one side and the doors slowly opened, the sound of creaking filling the chamber as the mechanism tried to hold the doors closed.
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"What the hell's going on?!" Misato demanded as she ran into the control room. She'd been on her way there when the alarms had started sounding.
"The central shaft's open," Shigeru replied, typing commands into his console.
"Close it!" the major ordered.
"I'm trying. But something's interfering with the signal," the longhaired technician informed her.
"AT Field detected in Central Dogma!" Makato shouted, staring in disbelief at his console.
"Is it one of the Eva's?" Katsuragi asked, looking over his shoulder.
"No. The blood pattern is Blue!" Hyugo replied. "It's definitely an Angel!"
"An Angel!?" the major gasped. Was Ritsuko right? she wondered. There's only one place it can be going.
"Seal off Terminal Dogma!" she ordered. The three technicians began typing furiously at the consoles.
"We can't!" Maya exclaimed. "The signal's not getting through!"
"Dammit! What's the status of Unit 01?"
"Eva Unit 01 is fully operational," Ibuki replied, checking that it had not been damaged by the intruder. The major leaned over Shigeru's console and pressed a quick sequence of buttons.
"Shinji!" Misato shouted into the intercom.
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"What the hell's going on?!" Asuka wondered aloud. She and the third-child were sat next to each other in one of the rest areas.
"I don't know Asuka," the boy replied.
"Shinji!" a voice yelled over the intercom. Both pilots put jumped at the sound. "Get your butt into Unit 01 now!"
"Was that Misato?" the German asked, standing up.
"Uh-huh. She sounded worried," Shinji replied. The second-child grabbed his hand.
"Come on," she said, pulling him to his feet. "You heard her."
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"God have mercy," Professor Fuyutski muttered; as usual he was stood beside the seated commander. "Seele has sent an Angel to us." The alarms were still blaring through the command centre. Why the hell don't they turn those damn things off?! he wondered.
"The old man wants to advance his schedule, using us as his tools," Ikari told Kouzou. "I didn't expect him to be so brash."
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"The last Angel has intruded into the Central Dogma," the voice emanating from the monolith numbered 02 informed the others. "It is now descending."
"Exactly as we planned," 08 commented, almost cheerful at the current turn of events. His tone unsettled the chairman of the secret organisation.
"Ikari, you were our good friend, our comrade and understanding collaborator," Keele's voice stated. "However, this shall be your final act. Now you must use Unit 01."
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"The target has passed the second barrier sir," Makato Hyugo announced, monitoring the Angel's progress down the central shaft.
"Is Unit 01 ready for launch?" Gendo Ikari enquired.
"No sir," Maya replied. "We're having trouble positioning the entry-plug for insertion."
"I want Unit 01 launched immediately!" the commander informed her firmly. "Under all circumstances the last Angel must be kept from entering Terminal Dogma."
"You don't think the Angel sabotaged Unit 01, do you?" Fuyutski whispered into Ikari's ear.
"Let us hope not," Gendo muttered back. "Right now Unit 01 is our only hope for survival."
"Sir! The entry-plug has been inserted into Unit 01!" Maya cried out, bringing the commanders' attention back to their current situation.
"Good," Gendo responded.
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"Kaworu's an Angel!?" the third-child whispered as the target data was sent to his heads-up display. "He...he can't be!"
"I'm sorry Shinji but he is," Misato told him over the intercom as softly as she could, trying to help the boy overcome his anxiety.
"But..."
"Shinji, if you don't stop him, he'll destroy us all," the major told him firmly. It took a moment for Shinji to realise the significance of his guardian's word.
"Asuka," he muttered under his breath.
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Who'd've thought that new kid would turn out to be an Angel?! Asuka mused as she watched Evangelion Unit 01 released from its cage. Poor Shinji, he really liked the guy. She sighed as the robot disappeared from her field of view. I hope he's gonna be okay.
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"Unit 01 is now descending via access route 2," Shigeru announced, watching the robot's progress. Major Katsuragi wandered over to Makato's console.
"If Unit 01's signal is cut off or disappears, or if any other change should occur for the worst..." she whispered to him.
"I know," the bespectacled technician responded. "I'll initiate the self-destruct for this entire facility," he told her, mentally preparing the commands, his hands poised over the keyboard. "It's better than letting Third Impact take place."
"I'm sorry," Misato said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"It's all right. Dying beside you wouldn't be a bad way to go out."
"Thank you," the major replied, a little embarrassed. She took her hand off his shoulder and placed it in her pocket.
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This is mankind's fate, Kaworu Nagisa, the seventeenth Angel mused. The thread of human hope is spun with the flack of sorrow. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
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"What in the hell is that?!" Misato yelled as the command centre shook.
"It's another AT Field!" Hyugo cried, interpreting the data his console was displaying. "The strongest we've ever detected!"
"It's shutting out everything," Aoba added. "Light, magnetism, sub-atomic particles."
"It's blocking everything out?!" the major gasped.
"Yes ma'am," Lieutenant Ibuki answered. "We've lost communication with the pilot."
God dammit! What the hell's going on? Katsuragi wondered.
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"Final safety has been penetrated," the longhaired technician announced a few minutes later.
"He's reached it," Makato commented. "Heaven's door is opening."
"Then the Angel has finally reached its goal," Misato muttered. She leant forward. "Get ready," she whispered into the bespectacled technician's ear. He merely nodded, steeling himself for the inevitable. Another alarm distracted him.
"What's going on?" the major asked.
"It's another AT Field!" Hyugo replied, perplexed. The major looked at him.
"A field as strong as the first one has appeared around Terminal Dogma," Shigeru added.
"He's right," Maya confirmed. "It's breaking through the other AT Field."
"What is it? Another Angel?" Misato asked, her mind running in circles.
"I don't know. I can't confirm it!" Shigeru informed her, trying to run an analysis. "God! It just disappeared!"
"Disappeared?!" the major gasped. "The Angel?!"
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Down in Terminal Dogma, the being that had been known as Kaworu floated across the lake of LCL towards the white figure that was nailed to a red cross.
"Adam. That from which we came," he mused. "Must one who is born from Adam return to Adam? Even though it would destroy man?" He stopped and looked at the being's face, hidden though it was by a gigantic mask.
"Wait! This isn't..." he trailed off. "Lilith?! I see. I understand now. The Lilim. Lilith." A deafening thud echoed through the chamber and a massive hand grabbed him. The hand moved, turning him round to face the one it belonged to.
"You're late Shinji," the seventeenth Angel said.
"I trusted you Kaworu," the third-child said, his shaking voice a clear indication of the turmoil his emotions were in.
"I know you did. It is my destiny to live forever, though my survival will bring final destruction to the human race," the being Unit 01 held told him. "However, it is possible for me to be killed and whether I live or die makes no great difference. In truth, death may be the only absolute freedom there is."
"What are you saying?" Shinji asked, perplexed. "I don't understand what you are talking about Kaworu."
"This is my wish," the Angel told him. "Please, destroy me. Otherwise you will be destroyed." For a moment there was silence and stillness. Sensing Shinji's doubt, Kaworu spoke again. "Only one life form can be chosen to evade the destruction and seize the future. And you are not the existence that should die." Another consciousness impinged on his senses. Looking up, he saw Rei Ayanami stood on a ridge of the roof above. He smiled.
"You need the future," the former fifth-child told Shinji. "It is what you live for. Thank you Shinji. My life was meaningful...because I had a chance to meet you."
Shinji closed his eyes to hold back the tears. His mind ran in circles. I don't want to kill Kaworu...but if I don't, Asuka will die! The realisation he could loose the girl he loved catalysed something within him.
A moment later, Unit 01 squeezed it's hand and the being known as Kaworu Nagisa died.
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Why am I here? Why did I come? Rei Ayanami wondered as she stood beside Gendo Ikari. They were on the catwalk of Unit 01's cage, watching the purple Eva's hand being washed clean off the blood that stained it. She shifted uncomfortably in the orange waterproof jacket she wore. Why did I feel the need to be here?
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"Kaworu said his life had meaning because he'd met me," Shinji told his guardian. He was sat on the floor of his room beside his bed, arms wrapped around his knees and his head down. "I've never...felt such kindness before. He...he was like me. He was like Ayanami. I liked him, I did." He sighed and looked at the major. "Kaworu should have survived. He was much better than I am. Kaworu should have survived! Not me! He deserved to live."
"No!" Misato told him firmly from her position in the open doorway of his room. "The one who deserves to survive is the one who has the will to make it happen. He wished for death. He ignored his will to survive and chose to die for a false hope. Your survival is not a mistake Shinji."
"Misato, how can you be so cruel?" the boy asked, lowering his head again. Katsuragi sighed.
"Shinji, I..." she started, but trailed off. "I'll see you later." She closed the door and backed away from it.
"How is he?" a voice from behind her asked gently. The major turned round and saw Asuka stood behind her.
"As well as can be expected," she told the second-child softly. "I have to go back to headquarters, there's a lot of paperwork that needs doing. I probably won't be back until the early hours." She walked passed the German, pausing to rest her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Go talk to him Asuka. Maybe you can help him," she said. "God knows I can't!" The redhead nodded and slipped into Shinji's room.
"Good luck Asuka," the major muttered as the door closed behind her.
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Shinji Ikari looked up as he heard the door open, expecting it to be Misato. He was mildly surprised when Asuka walked in. Her expression made it all to clear how concerned she was.
"Oh Asuka. I didn't want to kill him!" he told her, feeling tears well up within him. "I didn't! But if I hadn't, he would've killed you."
"You did the right thing Shinji," the German told him softly, bending down in front of him. "You have to remember, no matter what he looked like, he was an Angel." She gently ran her hand through his hair. "You did what you had to." The boy lowered his head.
"But Kaworu..."
"You have to stop thinking of him as Kaworu," Asuka told him, pulling his chin up and staring into his eyes. "He was an Angel. He was our enemy."
"But...he was my friend," Shinji told her, standing up. He began pacing.
"No he wasn't," the girl told him. She got on to his bed and leant against his headboard. "He did what he did for a reason. Everything we knew about him was a lie."
"He said he wanted to die," Shinji told her, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "He said that I should not be the one to die," he said, the tears he'd been holding back running free.
"Shh. It's okay Shinji," the redhead replied, leaning forward and placing her hand on his shoulder. She felt the sobs rack his body and the tears fell from his eyes. Feeling that he needed contact, she pulled him onto the bed so he was sat between her legs. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and rested her head between his shoulder blades. "Just let it out Shinji. Just let it out."
--------------
Misato opened the front door to the apartment as quietly as she could and slipped in. I can't believe it took me this long to get that paperwork done, she mentally complained. It was now well past three in the morning. She closed the door and crept towards her bedroom. The apartment was in darkness. Seeing light coming from beneath Shinji's door she stopped by it.
I guess he couldn't sleep, she thought. She knocked gently on the door. "Shinji, are you still awake?" the major called quietly. "I'm coming in, okay?" she added, opening the door. She averted her eyes and blinked as the sudden light blinded her. She inhaled sharply, shocked by the scene that greeted her.
Shinji and Asuka were both asleep, side by side, on the boy's bed. They were fully clothed and Shinji had his back to the girl. Her arms were wrapped around his waist. Misato felt like shouting at them, demanding to know what they were up to, but chose not to.
They haven't done anything, she thought. Best to leave them be. She smiled to herself as she reached into the room and flipped the light off. They look so peaceful, she thought as she slid the door closed.
To be continued...
Next Chapter -
The military takes action
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Well, what do you think? Please contact me with your comments. I'll try to answer any questions in the author notes for the next chapter.
If you want to discuss something with me, please send me an e-mail. My address is CEO_Room3@Hotmail.com. I'll do my best to respond to all correspondence.
Sorry this chapter took so long guys. Been so busy I haven't had nearly enough time to write. Hopefully that is now past, and I hope I can have the next chapter done within two weeks.
Please let me know what you think of the changes I've made to episode 24 here. I hope it works, but if you can think of improvements, let me know, okay?
I'm not sure whether there's going to be one or two, possibly as many as three chapters, left to this story. I'll try to let you know next time.
Disclaimer -
All the characters contained in this story are copyright GAINAX, Project EVA, Movic, and any other company and/or division associated with the creation and/or production of Neon Genesis Evangelion. A.D.Vision holds the copyrights to the translated version of Neon Genesis Evangelion. All characters are used WITHOUT the permission of the aforementioned institutions.
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IMPACT
A sequel to "A Question Of..."
By Room3
Chapter 08 - "What's In A Name?"
"Don't worry major, I'll take good care of him," Hikari told Misato as she stroked Pen-Pen. Katsuragi smiled.
"I know you will Hikari," she replied, leaning against the living room doorframe. "It's just hard to let him go."
"But you have to, don't you?" Asuka asked from her position on the couch.
"Uh-huh," Misato replied, nodding. "I just don't have the time to take care of him anymore, what with my current workload."
"And with me and Shinji always on call, right?" the German added. The major sighed and nodded again.
"At least this way I know he'll be safe," she said. She stood up straight and walked over to where Hikari was sat on the floor. "You behave yourself for Hikari Pen-Pen," she told the penguin.
"Where's Shinji?" Horaki asked, suddenly noticing his absence.
"He went for a walk," the second-child replied, her voice sad. Her friend noticed her tone and stared at her. "It's okay Hikari," Asuka told her, noticing her expression, "she knows about me and Shinji." The former class rep's eyebrows raised slightly, but she gave no other sign of reacting.
"Well...he shouldn't feel so alone after today," Misato said, breaking the silence. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to do about Shinji and Asuka's relationship.
"Huh?" the redhead asked, looking puzzled. "Oh yeah. The new guy arrives today, doesn't he?"
"His name is Kaworu Nagisa," the major reminded her charge. "And yes, he is arriving today."
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Shinji sighed as he stood staring at the locked school gates. He'd never thought that he would actually miss school, but he did. He missed being with other people his own age.
They're all gone, he thought mournfully. Toji, Kensuke... They've all left. He sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. I hardly get to see Misato anymore. All I have left is Rei and Asuka. He turned around and lent against the gates, looking down at the pavement at his feet. Being with Asuka is great, but Rei... There's something about her. A feeling... Like she's someone I know. The third-child closed his eyes and tried to force the unsettling thoughts from his mind.
Just as he succeeded, the sound of humming broke the silence. Shinji looked up to see a boy with sandy-brown hair sat on the school wall a few metres away from him. He looked older than the third-child. As is sensing Shinji's gaze, he looked down at him and smiled.
"The song is good," the boy said. It sounded like he a bit of a lisp.
"Huh?" Shinji asked, puzzled.
"Singing brings joy and revitalises the human soul," the boy replied. "I think that song is the highest achievement of the Lilim culture. Don't you agree...Shinji Ikari?"
"How do you know my name?" the third-child enquired.
"Everyone knows your name," the boy informed Shinji. He jumped down off the wall and walked over to the gates. "I don't mean to sound rude, but you're rather ignorant of your own position."
"Oh, really?" Shinji replied, looking down. "Who are you?" he asked, looking back at the boy stood before him. Now he was closer, Shinji could see his eyes were red. The same colour as Ayanami's, he mused.
"I am like you, one of the selected children. The fifth-child," the boy told him.
"Oh. So you're name's...Kaworu, right?"
"Yes," the fifth-child replied. "I am Kaworu Nagisa."
"Um, Mr. Nagisa..."
"Call me Kaworu, Mr. Ikari," the fifth-child told Shinji, laughing as he interrupted him.
"Mr. Ikari? Oh no, you can call me Shinji," the third-child told Kaworu.
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"The fifth child has just arrived," Makato Hyugo told Major Katsuragi as her car rode on a car-train into the Geo front. The major was sat in the driver's seat, staring out through the windscreen, arms crossed behind her head. She didn't even glance at the bespectacled technician in the front passenger seat as he spoke.
"Kaworu Nagisa," she murmured. "Kaworu of the seashore. And all his past records have been erased. Just like Rei." Misato's mind was filled by memories of what she had learned a week previously about the first-child. What the hell is going on?! she wondered.
"But at least one record remains," Makato replied, unaware of what the major was thinking. "He was born on the same day Second Impact occurred."
"The committee sent him directly to us," Katsuragi stated. "There must be something else."
"The Marduk report on the fifth-child was classified," Hyugo told her. "So I hacked into the Intelligence Department's computer system."
"I can't believe you did that!"
"Oh it was worth doing," Makato replied, leaning towards her. "I've found out where Ritsuko is," he whispered to her. Misato grimaced as the technician returned to his previous posture. "So what do you want to do about the fifth-child's synch-test?"
"I don't have any tricks up my sleeve this time," the major told him. "Let's see what he can do."
"Yeah but...which Eva should we try him with first?" the technician asked. The major brought her arms down and folded them.
"Hmm. Good point," she replied. "We'll start with Unit 00's data," she added after a few moments silence. "Then we'll do the same for the other two."
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"Beginning test sequence," Maya Ibuki announced as the test-plugs were lowered into the LCL filled chamber. "Harmonics from the first-, second- and third-child are stable," she informed Fuyutski who was stood behind her, staring at the observation window.
"What about the fifth?" he asked, looking at the image of the boy on one of the ancillary monitors. There was something off putting about his expression.
"He started off a little unstable, but has started to settle down," the lieutenant advised him. The room was silent for close to twenty minutes. As she watched the data following to her console, she was amazed by what she saw. "Incredible!" she gasped.
"What is it?" Misato asked, worried.
"His synch-ratio is sixty-four percent," Ibuki told her. "And it's still rising!"
"Are you sure the data readouts are correct?" Fuyutski asked.
"All of the test systems are operating correctly sir," Makato responded.
"Do we need anything more from Shinji, Asuka and Rei?" the major asked.
"No ma'am," Ibuki replied.
"Good," Misato commented, walking over to Makato's console. She pressed a button and activated the intercom. "Rei, Shinji, Asuka, you three can take off now," she told the experienced pilots. "Kaworu, we need you to hang around a bit longer."
"Start preparing Unit 01's data," the professor ordered. "Ikari wants this test done as soon as possible."
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"There's gotta be something wrong with the systems," Makato commented almost an hour later.
"The Magi confirm there are no data errors," Maya added.
"But how can he have the same synch-ratio with all three Eva's?!" Hyugo exclaimed. "It's impossible!"
"Nevertheless it's happened," Misato stated, staring into the test chamber. "We must accept that fact and begin an investigation into why it is so." She opened the intercom. "Okay Kaworu, we're all done now. You can go," she told the fifth-child, her voice full of fake cheer.
"I want you to run a complete check on all the harmonics test systems," Fuyutski ordered Lieutenant Ibuki as the sole test-plug was lifted from the LCL in the chamber beyond the observation window. "And have the Magi run an analysis on the his data."
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"Has the fifth-child made contact with Rei?" Gendo asked. He was sat at his desk in his office, chin resting on his interlocked fingers as usual.
"Yes," Fuyutski replied. "Shinji introduced him to Rei and Asuka before the synch-test."
"And how did he perform?" Ikari enquired.
"Surprisingly well," Kouzou informed him. "He had the same score with all three sets of data."
"That should not be possible," the commander commented.
"I know," the professor responded. "The Magi are currently analysing all the data we've gathered on him so far."
"And what's the status of the Eva's?"
"Repairs are running according to schedule," Kouzou told him. "Unit 00 is in the final stages of regeneration and Unit 02 should pass the systems test this time."
"Good."
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"That new guy really gives me the creeps," Asuka muttered as she sat beside Shinji on the grassy hill, staring out over the abounded city. The third-child turned his attention away from the clouds floating above them and looked at her.
"Really?" he asked. His girlfriend turned her head towards him and nodded. "I like him," he commented.
"You would," the German snorted. She lay back, putting her arms behind her head. "You miss Toji and Kensuke don't you?" she asked him softly.
"Uh-huh," he nodded. "I used to like being alone. But now... I can't stand it. I never thought I'd be friends with them, or miss having friends around." The second-child rolled onto her side, propping her head on her closed hand and smiling down at him.
"I love it when you get all sensitive," she told him, running the back of her left hand down his cheek. The boy blushed slightly and smiled back at her. He reached up and took hold of her hand as she pulled it away from his face. Their fingers intertwined and they stared into each other's eyes. A few moments later, the redhead leaned over and kissed him. All sense of time faded as their lips touched and the world around them dropped away.
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"The Nerv organisation was established to exercise the wishes of Seele," the booming voice from the monolith numbered 10 said, echoing throughout the dark chamber.
"It was intended to act out the scenario we had created," 04 added.
"However, it appears to have become dominated by a single, zealous individual," the voice of 05 commented.
"Yes it has," 02 agreed. "We must take it back into our own dominion."
"We must restore Nerv and the Eva series to their proper role," Keele's voice replied. Despite the distortion placed on his voice, weakness could be heard. He was tired, and had grown dissatisfied with the way Seele was forced to act. "Ikari, you will take responsibility for betraying Seele!"
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"I'm afraid there's not much time left for accomplishing our goal," Gendo Ikari said. He was standing on the catwalk in Evangelion Unit 01's cage, staring up at the robot's face. No one else was present, and his voice echoed in the large metallic room.
"However, the Lance of Longinus, which would have impeded the realisation of our plan, is now gone forever," he added, am image of the red weapon floating through the vacuum of space appearing in his mind. "The last Angel shall soon appear, and with its destruction our wishes may be born soon Yui," he continued, his voice softening. "Please have patience."
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The fifth-child... Rei Ayanami wondered, as she stared at the ceiling of her apartment. She was led on her bed, and as usual was dressed in her school uniform. What did he mean?
----FLASHBACK--------------------------
Rei had been riding one of the numerous escalators within headquarters. Normally, she would have just spent the last several hours within her tube in Terminal Dogma, but Commander Ikari had told her that that was no longer necessary. She had missed the peace it gave her and thus had spent the time wandering around the facility. As she had reached the top of the escalator, she saw a figure dressed in a white shirt and black trousers stood before her.
At first she had thought it was Shinji, but then she'd noticed the figure was taller than the third-child. When the face came into view, she had recognised him as the fifth-child, to whom she had been introduced to prior to the synch-test. She had stepped off the escalator and, finding that he was blocking her way, had stood in front of him. After a few moments, she had frowned and looked at him.
"What is it?" she had asked of him.
"Rei Ayanami," he had replied. "You are the same as I am."
"What do you mean?" she had enquired, but he had walked away, smiling. Something about the way he had been looking at her had bothered her, so she had not attempted to get an answer from him.
----END OF FLASHBACK-------------------
In what way are he and I alike? the first-child wondered. She blinked and looked over at the pair of broken glasses she still had on her dresser. Why do I exist? For what purpose? She stood up and walked over to the dresser and picked up the spectacles.
"Why do I still hold onto this?" she muttered as she stared at the lenses. Carefully, she unfolded one arm, then bent it back against the hinge until it snapped off and dropped it. Then she did the same to the other arm. Looking at the now arm-less glasses she blinked, wondering what she was going to do next.
She wrapped her hands around each lens, closed her eyes and twisted her arms until the backs of her fingers were touching. Opening her eyes, she stared at the mangled mess she now held. After a moment's contemplation, she picked up the arms and dropped the remains in the black bag of rubbish Shinji had left by her refrigerator on his previous visit.
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"And we still don't know who or what he is?" Katsuragi muttered to herself as she stared at the data on the fifth-child being displayed on her screen, frowning. She was sat at the desk in her bedroom, leaning forward as she stared intently at the monitor. She straightened up and arched her back to relieve the discomfort her previous position had caused. If the Magi haven't come up with any answers by now, then something weird's going on, she thought.
"Who in the hell is this boy?!" she murmured. The sound of the front door being opened distracted her. She looked at the clock beside the computer and frowned again. She stood up and left her room.
"It's about time you two got back," the major scolded from the hall doorway, startling the two teenagers, who were completely wrapped in their own world.
"S...sorry Misato," Shinji said, apologetically.
"We just lost track of time, that's all," Asuka told her guardian firmly. Misato sighed. She really wasn't in the mood to fight with the redhead.
"Whatever," she replied. "Just don't be late again. Remember, the JSSDF are patrolling the city," she reminded them. She wandered into the kitchen and took a can of beer from the fridge. She took a swig and sighed as she felt the liquid run down her throat.
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The major was up early the next day, and met Makato at their arranged meeting place before the morning mist had lifted. She stopped her car by him and walked over to the bridge railing, where he was stood.
"Well? Did you get the data on him?" Misato asked the technician softly.
"Yeah. This is it," he replied, pulling a few folded sheets of paper from his back pocket. "I sort of borrowed it from Lieutenant Ibuki without asking."
"I'm sorry that I made you do something like that," Katsuragi told him, taking the paper. There was a short pause as she read the information. "What is this?!" she gasped
"Yeah," Makato responded, smiling a little. "It's now wonder that Maya can't talk about this. It's not even theoretically possible."
"Yeah. It's getting more and more mysterious," the major commented, folding the papers and passing them back to Hyugo. "How can he set his synch-ratio at any level he chooses?" She sighed and shook her head, leaning forward and resting her chin on the cold metal of the railing. "I guess it's time to go maverick again," she muttered, looking over at the bespectacled man next to her.
"You better get going," she told him. He nodded and returned the paper to his pocket.
"I'll see you later," Makato said, wandering slowly to the far end of the bridge.
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"It's you again," Ritsuko Akagi said a few moments after the door to her cell closed. She was once again sat on the wooden chair. Her arms were crossed on her lap and her head was bent forward. "How surprising!"
"I have a question for you?" Misato told her former friend.
"Our conversation is being monitored you know," the doctor pointed out.
"I don't care," Katsuragi replied. "The fifth-child? I need to know. What is he?" Akagi sighed and leant back in the chair, rubbing her hands on her tear-stained face.
"He's probably the last Angel," she informed Misato.
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"I have learned much from these Lilim," Kaworu said as he stared intently at the heavily shielded doors that led to the central shaft, "but it is time." He stepped off the catwalk on which he was stood and floated towards the doors. Stopping before the doors, he tilted his head to one side and the doors slowly opened, the sound of creaking filling the chamber as the mechanism tried to hold the doors closed.
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"What the hell's going on?!" Misato demanded as she ran into the control room. She'd been on her way there when the alarms had started sounding.
"The central shaft's open," Shigeru replied, typing commands into his console.
"Close it!" the major ordered.
"I'm trying. But something's interfering with the signal," the longhaired technician informed her.
"AT Field detected in Central Dogma!" Makato shouted, staring in disbelief at his console.
"Is it one of the Eva's?" Katsuragi asked, looking over his shoulder.
"No. The blood pattern is Blue!" Hyugo replied. "It's definitely an Angel!"
"An Angel!?" the major gasped. Was Ritsuko right? she wondered. There's only one place it can be going.
"Seal off Terminal Dogma!" she ordered. The three technicians began typing furiously at the consoles.
"We can't!" Maya exclaimed. "The signal's not getting through!"
"Dammit! What's the status of Unit 01?"
"Eva Unit 01 is fully operational," Ibuki replied, checking that it had not been damaged by the intruder. The major leaned over Shigeru's console and pressed a quick sequence of buttons.
"Shinji!" Misato shouted into the intercom.
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"What the hell's going on?!" Asuka wondered aloud. She and the third-child were sat next to each other in one of the rest areas.
"I don't know Asuka," the boy replied.
"Shinji!" a voice yelled over the intercom. Both pilots put jumped at the sound. "Get your butt into Unit 01 now!"
"Was that Misato?" the German asked, standing up.
"Uh-huh. She sounded worried," Shinji replied. The second-child grabbed his hand.
"Come on," she said, pulling him to his feet. "You heard her."
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"God have mercy," Professor Fuyutski muttered; as usual he was stood beside the seated commander. "Seele has sent an Angel to us." The alarms were still blaring through the command centre. Why the hell don't they turn those damn things off?! he wondered.
"The old man wants to advance his schedule, using us as his tools," Ikari told Kouzou. "I didn't expect him to be so brash."
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"The last Angel has intruded into the Central Dogma," the voice emanating from the monolith numbered 02 informed the others. "It is now descending."
"Exactly as we planned," 08 commented, almost cheerful at the current turn of events. His tone unsettled the chairman of the secret organisation.
"Ikari, you were our good friend, our comrade and understanding collaborator," Keele's voice stated. "However, this shall be your final act. Now you must use Unit 01."
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"The target has passed the second barrier sir," Makato Hyugo announced, monitoring the Angel's progress down the central shaft.
"Is Unit 01 ready for launch?" Gendo Ikari enquired.
"No sir," Maya replied. "We're having trouble positioning the entry-plug for insertion."
"I want Unit 01 launched immediately!" the commander informed her firmly. "Under all circumstances the last Angel must be kept from entering Terminal Dogma."
"You don't think the Angel sabotaged Unit 01, do you?" Fuyutski whispered into Ikari's ear.
"Let us hope not," Gendo muttered back. "Right now Unit 01 is our only hope for survival."
"Sir! The entry-plug has been inserted into Unit 01!" Maya cried out, bringing the commanders' attention back to their current situation.
"Good," Gendo responded.
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"Kaworu's an Angel!?" the third-child whispered as the target data was sent to his heads-up display. "He...he can't be!"
"I'm sorry Shinji but he is," Misato told him over the intercom as softly as she could, trying to help the boy overcome his anxiety.
"But..."
"Shinji, if you don't stop him, he'll destroy us all," the major told him firmly. It took a moment for Shinji to realise the significance of his guardian's word.
"Asuka," he muttered under his breath.
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Who'd've thought that new kid would turn out to be an Angel?! Asuka mused as she watched Evangelion Unit 01 released from its cage. Poor Shinji, he really liked the guy. She sighed as the robot disappeared from her field of view. I hope he's gonna be okay.
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"Unit 01 is now descending via access route 2," Shigeru announced, watching the robot's progress. Major Katsuragi wandered over to Makato's console.
"If Unit 01's signal is cut off or disappears, or if any other change should occur for the worst..." she whispered to him.
"I know," the bespectacled technician responded. "I'll initiate the self-destruct for this entire facility," he told her, mentally preparing the commands, his hands poised over the keyboard. "It's better than letting Third Impact take place."
"I'm sorry," Misato said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"It's all right. Dying beside you wouldn't be a bad way to go out."
"Thank you," the major replied, a little embarrassed. She took her hand off his shoulder and placed it in her pocket.
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This is mankind's fate, Kaworu Nagisa, the seventeenth Angel mused. The thread of human hope is spun with the flack of sorrow. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
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"What in the hell is that?!" Misato yelled as the command centre shook.
"It's another AT Field!" Hyugo cried, interpreting the data his console was displaying. "The strongest we've ever detected!"
"It's shutting out everything," Aoba added. "Light, magnetism, sub-atomic particles."
"It's blocking everything out?!" the major gasped.
"Yes ma'am," Lieutenant Ibuki answered. "We've lost communication with the pilot."
God dammit! What the hell's going on? Katsuragi wondered.
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"Final safety has been penetrated," the longhaired technician announced a few minutes later.
"He's reached it," Makato commented. "Heaven's door is opening."
"Then the Angel has finally reached its goal," Misato muttered. She leant forward. "Get ready," she whispered into the bespectacled technician's ear. He merely nodded, steeling himself for the inevitable. Another alarm distracted him.
"What's going on?" the major asked.
"It's another AT Field!" Hyugo replied, perplexed. The major looked at him.
"A field as strong as the first one has appeared around Terminal Dogma," Shigeru added.
"He's right," Maya confirmed. "It's breaking through the other AT Field."
"What is it? Another Angel?" Misato asked, her mind running in circles.
"I don't know. I can't confirm it!" Shigeru informed her, trying to run an analysis. "God! It just disappeared!"
"Disappeared?!" the major gasped. "The Angel?!"
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Down in Terminal Dogma, the being that had been known as Kaworu floated across the lake of LCL towards the white figure that was nailed to a red cross.
"Adam. That from which we came," he mused. "Must one who is born from Adam return to Adam? Even though it would destroy man?" He stopped and looked at the being's face, hidden though it was by a gigantic mask.
"Wait! This isn't..." he trailed off. "Lilith?! I see. I understand now. The Lilim. Lilith." A deafening thud echoed through the chamber and a massive hand grabbed him. The hand moved, turning him round to face the one it belonged to.
"You're late Shinji," the seventeenth Angel said.
"I trusted you Kaworu," the third-child said, his shaking voice a clear indication of the turmoil his emotions were in.
"I know you did. It is my destiny to live forever, though my survival will bring final destruction to the human race," the being Unit 01 held told him. "However, it is possible for me to be killed and whether I live or die makes no great difference. In truth, death may be the only absolute freedom there is."
"What are you saying?" Shinji asked, perplexed. "I don't understand what you are talking about Kaworu."
"This is my wish," the Angel told him. "Please, destroy me. Otherwise you will be destroyed." For a moment there was silence and stillness. Sensing Shinji's doubt, Kaworu spoke again. "Only one life form can be chosen to evade the destruction and seize the future. And you are not the existence that should die." Another consciousness impinged on his senses. Looking up, he saw Rei Ayanami stood on a ridge of the roof above. He smiled.
"You need the future," the former fifth-child told Shinji. "It is what you live for. Thank you Shinji. My life was meaningful...because I had a chance to meet you."
Shinji closed his eyes to hold back the tears. His mind ran in circles. I don't want to kill Kaworu...but if I don't, Asuka will die! The realisation he could loose the girl he loved catalysed something within him.
A moment later, Unit 01 squeezed it's hand and the being known as Kaworu Nagisa died.
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Why am I here? Why did I come? Rei Ayanami wondered as she stood beside Gendo Ikari. They were on the catwalk of Unit 01's cage, watching the purple Eva's hand being washed clean off the blood that stained it. She shifted uncomfortably in the orange waterproof jacket she wore. Why did I feel the need to be here?
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"Kaworu said his life had meaning because he'd met me," Shinji told his guardian. He was sat on the floor of his room beside his bed, arms wrapped around his knees and his head down. "I've never...felt such kindness before. He...he was like me. He was like Ayanami. I liked him, I did." He sighed and looked at the major. "Kaworu should have survived. He was much better than I am. Kaworu should have survived! Not me! He deserved to live."
"No!" Misato told him firmly from her position in the open doorway of his room. "The one who deserves to survive is the one who has the will to make it happen. He wished for death. He ignored his will to survive and chose to die for a false hope. Your survival is not a mistake Shinji."
"Misato, how can you be so cruel?" the boy asked, lowering his head again. Katsuragi sighed.
"Shinji, I..." she started, but trailed off. "I'll see you later." She closed the door and backed away from it.
"How is he?" a voice from behind her asked gently. The major turned round and saw Asuka stood behind her.
"As well as can be expected," she told the second-child softly. "I have to go back to headquarters, there's a lot of paperwork that needs doing. I probably won't be back until the early hours." She walked passed the German, pausing to rest her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Go talk to him Asuka. Maybe you can help him," she said. "God knows I can't!" The redhead nodded and slipped into Shinji's room.
"Good luck Asuka," the major muttered as the door closed behind her.
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Shinji Ikari looked up as he heard the door open, expecting it to be Misato. He was mildly surprised when Asuka walked in. Her expression made it all to clear how concerned she was.
"Oh Asuka. I didn't want to kill him!" he told her, feeling tears well up within him. "I didn't! But if I hadn't, he would've killed you."
"You did the right thing Shinji," the German told him softly, bending down in front of him. "You have to remember, no matter what he looked like, he was an Angel." She gently ran her hand through his hair. "You did what you had to." The boy lowered his head.
"But Kaworu..."
"You have to stop thinking of him as Kaworu," Asuka told him, pulling his chin up and staring into his eyes. "He was an Angel. He was our enemy."
"But...he was my friend," Shinji told her, standing up. He began pacing.
"No he wasn't," the girl told him. She got on to his bed and leant against his headboard. "He did what he did for a reason. Everything we knew about him was a lie."
"He said he wanted to die," Shinji told her, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "He said that I should not be the one to die," he said, the tears he'd been holding back running free.
"Shh. It's okay Shinji," the redhead replied, leaning forward and placing her hand on his shoulder. She felt the sobs rack his body and the tears fell from his eyes. Feeling that he needed contact, she pulled him onto the bed so he was sat between her legs. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and rested her head between his shoulder blades. "Just let it out Shinji. Just let it out."
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Misato opened the front door to the apartment as quietly as she could and slipped in. I can't believe it took me this long to get that paperwork done, she mentally complained. It was now well past three in the morning. She closed the door and crept towards her bedroom. The apartment was in darkness. Seeing light coming from beneath Shinji's door she stopped by it.
I guess he couldn't sleep, she thought. She knocked gently on the door. "Shinji, are you still awake?" the major called quietly. "I'm coming in, okay?" she added, opening the door. She averted her eyes and blinked as the sudden light blinded her. She inhaled sharply, shocked by the scene that greeted her.
Shinji and Asuka were both asleep, side by side, on the boy's bed. They were fully clothed and Shinji had his back to the girl. Her arms were wrapped around his waist. Misato felt like shouting at them, demanding to know what they were up to, but chose not to.
They haven't done anything, she thought. Best to leave them be. She smiled to herself as she reached into the room and flipped the light off. They look so peaceful, she thought as she slid the door closed.
To be continued...
Next Chapter -
The military takes action
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Well, what do you think? Please contact me with your comments. I'll try to answer any questions in the author notes for the next chapter.
If you want to discuss something with me, please send me an e-mail. My address is CEO_Room3@Hotmail.com. I'll do my best to respond to all correspondence.