Flight
Written by: Advantage
=================================
When Shinji Ikari opened his eyes once more, he found himself in a crowded place.
A cold hand touched his arm and he jumped to look into Rei Ayanami's face.
"Rei...what?"
"Welcome back Shinji," Said the new Rei, her brown eyes blinking at him with the accompanying smile.
Shinji looked around the place and gasped some at where he was.
The place looked like a gigantic airport terminal, with hundreds of people crowding the seats, standing, or watching the TV. The place looked like it had been built yesterday, and brilliant streamers hung from the roof with adjoining art pieces. The windows outside were dark in a night, but the lights of moving airport traffic betrayed the fact that there were things going on outside.
"Where are we?" Shinji asked as he slowly looked around.
"Tanis," Replied Rei and smiled, "Don't worry, it's only temporary. You're not dead."
"Well that's a relief. Temporary?"
Rei nodded, "The monolith and its builders are remaking the Earth Shinji...."
Shinji nodded slowly at this logic and then looked over his shoulder, "Where's everyone else?"
"They're here." Said Rei, "Misato's gone off to look for her father. She saw some of the arctic expedition walking to get some breakfast."
"Breakfast?"
"It's five in the morning, Shinji, the sun's going to start rising in a half hour."
Shinji looked outside at the darkness. No sign of any sun now...
"Who are all these people?" Asked Shinji, "How did we get here?"
Rei shrugged a little and said, "I don't know how we got here. Everyone else here in the airport is...well...everyone on Earth."
"Everyone?"
"...Every living person that has been alive just before the second impact. But I can't seem to find Dr. Akagi anywhere...or the commander or second-in-command. I think they were taken care of..."
Shinji nodded a degree again at this, then looked back outside out the window.
Then he heard a voice that made him sit up straighter and turn to it's source almost immediately. That voice-
"Shinji!"
"Mom!?"
Shinji spun and saw a lab-coated woman approaching with a broad smile...
Shinji's excitement multiplied and he sat up and stepped through the luggage to collide with his mother in an embracing hug.
"Oh mom I missed you!" Wined Shinji in his mother's breast.
"It's all right..." She said and smiled down at her son, "I'm here....nothing to worry about....Shinji...."
"Yes?" He sobbed.
"I'm proud of you." She replied and her grin grew again, "Very proud."
Shinji sniffed, then asked, "But...How did....you...."
Yui Ikari traced one of her hands around the back of his son's neck, while the other went to his heart, "I was right here, all the time."
"You mean," He looked up, "It was you in the cockpit?"
Yui looked into her son's eyes and then nodded slowly, "I was inside Eva...ever since that test...."
Shinji's eyes widened, "Then Dad-"
"Yes...he knew." She replied, "He thought we could be together again if he detonated the third impact..."
"But...then..."
"Yes Shinji I know...." She blinked and passed a breath, "It's over now, though,"
Shinji's eyes started to water again and he hugged his mom once more.
Yui Ikari then looked up into a face very similar to her own.
"Rei..."
Shinji stirred and then turned to look at Rei Ayanami, standing there with her mouth slightly agape.
"You," Rei said, "You're...the person inside the plug....You're...me...."
Shinji looked from Rei to his mother and made the same realization.
Yui Ikari moved Shinji aside some with a calm face and stared at her younger clone. After a tense moment she made a small smile, "So, it seems Gendo got a little impatient."
"You know who I am?" Rei asked.
"Yes, like I knew Shinji came back," Said Yui and smiled, "I can't...begin to apologize for some of the things my husband and I put you through Rei....but...let me be the first to welcome you to humanity."
"You mean, you're not-"
"No." Replied Yui and shrugged, "I can get used to a little me running around...but blue hair?"
Shinji laughed nervously, and then broke out laughing with Rei and his mother joining in a little afterward.
As Shinji regained his breath Rei approached him and then gave him another gripping hug.
"Ack! Rei-"
"Thank you for this life, Shinji..." She said and adjusted her grasp, saying, "I want to stay with you...and everyone..."
Shinji's eyes turned to face Rei. Somehow...someway-
"Yo! Ikari!"
"Huh?"
Shinji turned around to see Touji and Kensuke standing there, the former with his arms crossed and the latter agape.
"What?" Asked Shinji.
"I didn't know you and Ayanami were so close."
"Aht! Er...."
Touji smirked, "Hey, when we get outta here, your secret's safe with me, kay?"
Shinji looked at Touji, and then smiled, "Okay."
"Hey," Touji said and snapped a pair of fingers, "How about you come and meet my sister!"
"Your sister...is she okay now?"
"Heck yeah, she's as fit as she was before....er...who's that?"
Shinji turned around to look at his mother, bearing a confused look.
"Er....oh, this is my mom, guys." Smiled Shinji.
"Your mom?" Kensuke asked.
"Dang. Dead ringer for Ayanami that's for sure." Touji remarked.
"Let's not brood on that," Yui said and looked at her son, "Well, go on."
"Um...." Shinji responded, then smiled, "Thanks mom."
And so he left with Rei and the other two to go visit Touji and Kensuke's repaired family.
-------------------
Misato had wandered a great way through the airport terminals, even meandering through security before she at last found them.
The expedition of former Antarctica scientists looked in very good health. Indeed, many of them had taken off their jackets and winter gear as they sat in the lit airport waiting for the gates to open.
Misato had not seen any of these faces for fifteen years, yet, she could remember some of them. The names were gone, only one remained.
"Hey, isn't that Misato?" asked one of them.
Three scientists looked up and Misato approached and asked, "Um...hello..."
"You're Katsuragi's girl aren't you?" Asked one of the three.
"Hey, it is!" Said another and stood up, "You've grown up...."
"Yeah," Laughed Misato, then, "Um...is my dad-"
"Misato?"
Misato turned sharply.
Standing in between the cluster of seats, with his short dark hair still cut, was Dr. Katsuragi. He was bandaged here and there from some injuries, but otherwise he looked just as old as he did that long time ago- wait, no, for him the clock had been advanced fifteen years. He wasn't quite grandfatherly, but was close.
Misato didn't say anything, but walked- then strode- and finally collapsed in her father's arms.
In the hug neither of them didn't say anything, just held one another there in a love forgotten for almost an eternity.
Until Misato opened up by apologizing, "I'm sorry for everything..."
"Hey, take it easy..." Said the older man, "I should be apologizing, I'm the one who dragged you down there, remember? I'm...glad, that you lived your life the way you did."
"You mean-" She pulled back to look into his face, "You saw?"
"Well, having Tanis here unable to go to was a little frustrating. I don't know where I was Misato...but..." He smirked, "It isn't important anymore, anyway."
"Daddy..." she said and hugged him again.
"It's all right Kiddo, I'm not going anywhere now." He said, "Hey, how about this, if you want, why don't you stick around until the gate opens."
Misato's eyes snapped open and she said, "Oh...I can't..."
"Eh? Oh, wait, that guy-"
"No it...." She parted again, this time from his arms to look at his face better, "It's Shinji...I left him all alone..."
"Shinji? Oh...don't tell me you have kids...."
Misato blushed as he cracked up and she replied, "No as a matter of fact!"
"What's all this shouting?" asked a voice.
Misato whirled to see Kaji approaching.
"Kaji?" She asked.
The older youth gave a wave and looked at Dr. Katsuragi, then said, "Huh, you're right, he does look like me."
"Did she say that?" Asked the Dr.
Misato blushed under the stares, then turned to Kaji, "What are you doing here?"
"Well considering the monolith or whatever yanked us off the planet...." He scratched the back of his head, "Actually I was looking for my brother. Since...well...."
Misato didn't say anything, but her father pointed further down the terminal, "Probably down that way I think. There's some guy who looks a lot like you."
"Thanks." Kaji said and then turned to Misato, "Hey..."
"Hey..."
They couldn't find words for a moment, so they didn't ignore Dr. Katsuragi as he said, "For heavens sake Misato go with him."
"But...Dad...there's so much I want to say..." Misato replied.
"Save it. We'll be home in a few hours, anyway. Besides, if you can survive fifteen years, you can sure as anything survive another fifteen minutes. Hey, tell you what, you go with your boyfriend to find his brother, then come back to get me. I'd like to meet this Shinji character."
"Okay," Misato replied after a pause, gave her dad a hug, and then walked with Kaji down the isles.
"You told him about Shinji?" asked Kaji.
"We have to go back for him sometime." Misato replied, then said, "I'd like all of us to be together when the gates open again."
----------------
Asuka had only been a distance away, and looked up as Shinji and Rei approached with Kaji and Kensuke.
"Hey, there they are!" Hikari cheered and sat up from her seat to go see Touji. Asuka stood up too, and walked for the arriving teenagers.
"See? This is my sis." Touji said.
Shinji looked down at the little black-haired girl, who looked up and gave him a small wave.
"Uh- hi..." Shinji replied.
Asuka stepped forward and all those in the group looked up at her.
"Uh...Shinji...."
"Yes Asuka?" He asked.
A silent moment followed, before Asuka leapt forward to give him a great hug.
Gasps and blushing followed, with complaining and grumbling from Rei.
"Hey!" Declared the blue hared girl.
Shinji was blushing to his ears and saying, "Uh...Asuka...this is a little sudden..."
"Thank you Shinji, I'm sorry...." She whispered to his ear before kissing the side of his head.
More blushing and the reddening of faces with Rei declaring, "You can't do that!"
Touji realized humor and irony in this situation and burst out laughing- so hard he collapsed to the floor at the ensuing argument.
"I don't get it." Kensuke said.
Hikari shook her head, "Neither do I."
----------------
Kaji looked up as they came to the end of the row and cast his eyes about the place.
"Do you see him?" asked Misato.
"Not yet...." Replied Kaji and continued to scan the groups of people.
Misato blinked her eyes and then spotted a coffee stand some distance away.
"Um, I'm going to get some coffee...." Misato suggested.
Kaji nodded and the former captain of NERV walked over to the coffee stand and paid for something to drink.
"Hey, put that on my tab," Said a man beside her and put some yen down on the counter.
"Thanks Mr...." Misato asked.
The other man tipped replied, "Well, first time introductions always make me jitter- I'm Keito Ryoji..."
"Ryoji....ah!" Misato gasped, then grabbed the man's arm and hauled him out of the coffee stand.
"Woa!! Wait," Replied Keito and snatched his own coffee before following Misato out of the group.
Kaji didn't notice at first, then turned and winced at Misato dragging the man out of the coffee stand.
"Gee, who's this?" asked Kaji.
"Kaji, this is Keito Ryoji. He's your brother, right?"
"Huh?" Asked both men at once and looked at one another.
Kaji's face distorted to shock, "You mean-"
"You're Kaji?" asked the other one.
Both men laughed and Misato asked, "What's so funny?"
"You're alive!" Said Keito, "I can't believe it...."
"Well...." Kaji said and then fell silent.
"Oh-Oh...right," Said Keito, "It's....been a while hasn't it."
"....There's nothing I can really say, is there?"
"Other than sorry?" Asked Keito, "Yeah....well I guess we're all afraid of dying one way or the other. Well, if it's any consolation- I probably would have done the same thing...."
Kaji looked up at his younger brother, "I wish I wasn't so selfish..."
"So what? Everyone else dies for the benefit of mankind? Get over it, we're going home anyway." Keito replied, "Listen, Kaji, how about this- you make it up to me by setting me up with your friend here."
"What?" Misato asked.
"Er...sorry, no can do." Kaji replied.
"Hmm...some brother."
"Now wait just a minute!" Protested Misato and walked over to take Kaji's arm in hers, "I'm staying with this man, okay! So don't get any ideas."
Kaji made a smile at this, then looked at his brother who, to his surprise, was also grinning.
"Heh, now how much did you bet that she'd do that?" Asked Keito.
"Bet....oh...." Kaji blushed and exchanged glances with Misato.
"bet?" She asked and released his arm, "With who?"
"Myself." Kaji replied and took out a cigarette, "Didn't think I would win..."
"Hey-" Said the brother, "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Smoke."
"Why not?"
"You die. Cancer's not fun. I've met some guys here in limbo who would have died of cancer if they weren't brought back."
Kaji looked at the cigarette and Keito shrugged, "Your choice. You wanna die before me?"
"Well, I AM the older brother." Kaji replied, then shrugged and pocketed the cigarette, "I'll think about it. Maybe I should do some resolutions after this 'rebirth' and all."
Laughter echoed among the three, and then Misato caught a glimpse of the outside.
The sun was staring to glow on the horizon.
"Oh my god, we have to find Shinji..." Misato said.
"Huh? Oh, okay. Say, you doing anything?"
"Who's Shinji?" asked Keito.
-------------------
The massive group of teenage friends migrated back to where Yui was standing, where she turned from a conversation with another mom and said, "Ah! More friends..."
"Yeah Mom..." Shinji smiled, "Uh...this is Asuka-"
He turned to the red head, who was exchanging glares with Rei.
As a matter of cosmic coincidence, the other mom Yui was talking to was none other than-
"Asuka?" Asked the Mom.
"Mom?" Asked Asuka to her mother's voice then shoved aside Shinji and Rei to go to her mom, "Momma!!!!"
Touji burst out laughing again and Kensuke shook his head.
"Are you okay Touji?" Asked Hikari when Touji went down again.
"Ahhh....I just need a hand up."
Asuka parted from her mother's breast, "Why did you go away? What...where..."
"We'll worry about that later when we have time." Said Ms. Langly and looked out the window.
Across the airport and illuminating the ground was the glow from the sun, just below the horizon. The airplanes were revealed in their orange outlines, and vague figures of flight technicians were abuzz around the place to simulate the notion of the airport.
"Well, this is the biggest reunion I've ever been to," Said Ms. Langly.
"The same," Replied Yui, "Even though my husband's not here...but it's perhaps for the best-"
Then Touji announced, "Hey! It's Misato-san!"
"With friends!" Added Hikari and waved.
Misato waved back, with Kaji beside her, another man beside him, and an elderly man leading a team of about eighty or ninety other arctic-suited figures.
"What's all this about?" asked Ms. Langly.
Misato looked puzzled for a moment, then asked, "Er...who starts?"
Yui spoke up first, "Excuse me, I'm Yui Ikari..."
She shook hands with an astounded Misato, who replied, "Shinji's mother?"
"Yep." Replied Shinji.
"And you're Shinji?" Asked the older man that looked surprisingly like Kaji.
"Um...Yeah..."
Then an announcement came over Tanis Airport's broadcast system.
Shinji, Asuka, and Rei looked up, but it was Asuka who identified the voice, "It's Hal..."
"...Attention, all passengers will please begin boarding at the assigned gates. I repeat, all passengers please begin boarding at the assigned gates."
"Egad!" Said Dr. Katsuragi, "Shesh, we're supposed to be back at our gate! Gotta go," He reached over to give Misato a kiss, "I'll say Hi to mom if I see her."
"Bye dad!" Misato waved.
Kaji exchanged a few words with his brother, a hug, and then waved as he watched his brother go with Dr. Katsuragi back for the terminal.
"Well," Touji realized as he looked at his own ticket, "I'm at that gate."
"Me too." Kensuke replied.
Hikari nodded and looked up at Shinji, "Well....see you Ikari, on the other side."
Shinji made a weak smile in reply and said, "Bye Hikari."
They left, returning to where they came.
Asuka returned to her mother and also learned that this was the gate that she would be leaving from.
Most of NERV was here, at least the final survivors. Even the operators were starting to board. Shinji and the known people about him were some of the last to board at the terminal.
"I wonder how Pen-Pen is doing..." Misato asked, "I hope they found a place for him."
Shinji didn't say anything, but grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder as he approached the gate to Tanis.
Already most of the people had gone through the gates to the airplanes- if they were airplanes, but Tanis would once more be empty until those who would died and would return to earth would come, and also the souls destined to heaven would probably come here too.
Shinji's thoughts- as well as everyone else's, hesitated when they reached the doorway.
The monolith was once more standing in their path, as well as the space man.
"Hello." Greeted Shinji.
"hello Shinji Ikari," Said David Bowman, "This will be our last meeting...perhaps for the rest of your natural life. When you return to this place we may meet again, but not before.
"Before you left for your world I wished to say a personal goodbye...and thanks, to all of you, for helping in rebuilding the Earth. Even though most of humanity will not know who was responsible, they will know that someone- somewhere, stepped out of line to change destiny."
Shinji smiled at this thought, and then saw the space suited man extend a hand.
Shinji brought his forward and clasped the hand in return, giving it a firm grasp and a shake of a final parting.
"Farewell Shinji Ikari," Were David Bowman's last words in Tanis, "We look forward to seeing you among the stars..."
When David Bowman released his grip Shinji felt as if he had heard the voice of God.
Perhaps he had, or something close to it, and watched as the star-child retreated into the Monolith's empty expanse before the gigantic obelisk faded into the color of air, and then disappeared entirely.
"Wow...." Ms. Langly said, "What was that all about?"
Shinji was looking at the hand that had touched immortality. Perhaps he would never know, or wasn't supposed to know the extent of the benevolent power that ended the nightmare.
"Shinji," Said Rei's voice as her hand traced down to his, then clasped it, "Let's go."
"...Yes..."
Shinji started forward, leading the precession forward through the terminal gate. Asuka caught up and also took Shinji's other hand, and together all three Evangelion pilots approached the end of the long hallway and into the light.
When they arrived at the light, they once more faded into the ethereal and their consciousness' took flight, leaving the ground behind and ascending into the sky....
Dawn had approached, as the sun began to break on the hills surrounding Tanis.
Life had begun once again.
=======================================
Disclaimer: Evangelion is a work of Gainax Studios, and a powerful work it is.
Just as so, everything of 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001 are property of Arthur C. Clarke, one of the greatest Science fiction authors known to mankind.
=======================================
Written by: Advantage
=================================
When Shinji Ikari opened his eyes once more, he found himself in a crowded place.
A cold hand touched his arm and he jumped to look into Rei Ayanami's face.
"Rei...what?"
"Welcome back Shinji," Said the new Rei, her brown eyes blinking at him with the accompanying smile.
Shinji looked around the place and gasped some at where he was.
The place looked like a gigantic airport terminal, with hundreds of people crowding the seats, standing, or watching the TV. The place looked like it had been built yesterday, and brilliant streamers hung from the roof with adjoining art pieces. The windows outside were dark in a night, but the lights of moving airport traffic betrayed the fact that there were things going on outside.
"Where are we?" Shinji asked as he slowly looked around.
"Tanis," Replied Rei and smiled, "Don't worry, it's only temporary. You're not dead."
"Well that's a relief. Temporary?"
Rei nodded, "The monolith and its builders are remaking the Earth Shinji...."
Shinji nodded slowly at this logic and then looked over his shoulder, "Where's everyone else?"
"They're here." Said Rei, "Misato's gone off to look for her father. She saw some of the arctic expedition walking to get some breakfast."
"Breakfast?"
"It's five in the morning, Shinji, the sun's going to start rising in a half hour."
Shinji looked outside at the darkness. No sign of any sun now...
"Who are all these people?" Asked Shinji, "How did we get here?"
Rei shrugged a little and said, "I don't know how we got here. Everyone else here in the airport is...well...everyone on Earth."
"Everyone?"
"...Every living person that has been alive just before the second impact. But I can't seem to find Dr. Akagi anywhere...or the commander or second-in-command. I think they were taken care of..."
Shinji nodded a degree again at this, then looked back outside out the window.
Then he heard a voice that made him sit up straighter and turn to it's source almost immediately. That voice-
"Shinji!"
"Mom!?"
Shinji spun and saw a lab-coated woman approaching with a broad smile...
Shinji's excitement multiplied and he sat up and stepped through the luggage to collide with his mother in an embracing hug.
"Oh mom I missed you!" Wined Shinji in his mother's breast.
"It's all right..." She said and smiled down at her son, "I'm here....nothing to worry about....Shinji...."
"Yes?" He sobbed.
"I'm proud of you." She replied and her grin grew again, "Very proud."
Shinji sniffed, then asked, "But...How did....you...."
Yui Ikari traced one of her hands around the back of his son's neck, while the other went to his heart, "I was right here, all the time."
"You mean," He looked up, "It was you in the cockpit?"
Yui looked into her son's eyes and then nodded slowly, "I was inside Eva...ever since that test...."
Shinji's eyes widened, "Then Dad-"
"Yes...he knew." She replied, "He thought we could be together again if he detonated the third impact..."
"But...then..."
"Yes Shinji I know...." She blinked and passed a breath, "It's over now, though,"
Shinji's eyes started to water again and he hugged his mom once more.
Yui Ikari then looked up into a face very similar to her own.
"Rei..."
Shinji stirred and then turned to look at Rei Ayanami, standing there with her mouth slightly agape.
"You," Rei said, "You're...the person inside the plug....You're...me...."
Shinji looked from Rei to his mother and made the same realization.
Yui Ikari moved Shinji aside some with a calm face and stared at her younger clone. After a tense moment she made a small smile, "So, it seems Gendo got a little impatient."
"You know who I am?" Rei asked.
"Yes, like I knew Shinji came back," Said Yui and smiled, "I can't...begin to apologize for some of the things my husband and I put you through Rei....but...let me be the first to welcome you to humanity."
"You mean, you're not-"
"No." Replied Yui and shrugged, "I can get used to a little me running around...but blue hair?"
Shinji laughed nervously, and then broke out laughing with Rei and his mother joining in a little afterward.
As Shinji regained his breath Rei approached him and then gave him another gripping hug.
"Ack! Rei-"
"Thank you for this life, Shinji..." She said and adjusted her grasp, saying, "I want to stay with you...and everyone..."
Shinji's eyes turned to face Rei. Somehow...someway-
"Yo! Ikari!"
"Huh?"
Shinji turned around to see Touji and Kensuke standing there, the former with his arms crossed and the latter agape.
"What?" Asked Shinji.
"I didn't know you and Ayanami were so close."
"Aht! Er...."
Touji smirked, "Hey, when we get outta here, your secret's safe with me, kay?"
Shinji looked at Touji, and then smiled, "Okay."
"Hey," Touji said and snapped a pair of fingers, "How about you come and meet my sister!"
"Your sister...is she okay now?"
"Heck yeah, she's as fit as she was before....er...who's that?"
Shinji turned around to look at his mother, bearing a confused look.
"Er....oh, this is my mom, guys." Smiled Shinji.
"Your mom?" Kensuke asked.
"Dang. Dead ringer for Ayanami that's for sure." Touji remarked.
"Let's not brood on that," Yui said and looked at her son, "Well, go on."
"Um...." Shinji responded, then smiled, "Thanks mom."
And so he left with Rei and the other two to go visit Touji and Kensuke's repaired family.
-------------------
Misato had wandered a great way through the airport terminals, even meandering through security before she at last found them.
The expedition of former Antarctica scientists looked in very good health. Indeed, many of them had taken off their jackets and winter gear as they sat in the lit airport waiting for the gates to open.
Misato had not seen any of these faces for fifteen years, yet, she could remember some of them. The names were gone, only one remained.
"Hey, isn't that Misato?" asked one of them.
Three scientists looked up and Misato approached and asked, "Um...hello..."
"You're Katsuragi's girl aren't you?" Asked one of the three.
"Hey, it is!" Said another and stood up, "You've grown up...."
"Yeah," Laughed Misato, then, "Um...is my dad-"
"Misato?"
Misato turned sharply.
Standing in between the cluster of seats, with his short dark hair still cut, was Dr. Katsuragi. He was bandaged here and there from some injuries, but otherwise he looked just as old as he did that long time ago- wait, no, for him the clock had been advanced fifteen years. He wasn't quite grandfatherly, but was close.
Misato didn't say anything, but walked- then strode- and finally collapsed in her father's arms.
In the hug neither of them didn't say anything, just held one another there in a love forgotten for almost an eternity.
Until Misato opened up by apologizing, "I'm sorry for everything..."
"Hey, take it easy..." Said the older man, "I should be apologizing, I'm the one who dragged you down there, remember? I'm...glad, that you lived your life the way you did."
"You mean-" She pulled back to look into his face, "You saw?"
"Well, having Tanis here unable to go to was a little frustrating. I don't know where I was Misato...but..." He smirked, "It isn't important anymore, anyway."
"Daddy..." she said and hugged him again.
"It's all right Kiddo, I'm not going anywhere now." He said, "Hey, how about this, if you want, why don't you stick around until the gate opens."
Misato's eyes snapped open and she said, "Oh...I can't..."
"Eh? Oh, wait, that guy-"
"No it...." She parted again, this time from his arms to look at his face better, "It's Shinji...I left him all alone..."
"Shinji? Oh...don't tell me you have kids...."
Misato blushed as he cracked up and she replied, "No as a matter of fact!"
"What's all this shouting?" asked a voice.
Misato whirled to see Kaji approaching.
"Kaji?" She asked.
The older youth gave a wave and looked at Dr. Katsuragi, then said, "Huh, you're right, he does look like me."
"Did she say that?" Asked the Dr.
Misato blushed under the stares, then turned to Kaji, "What are you doing here?"
"Well considering the monolith or whatever yanked us off the planet...." He scratched the back of his head, "Actually I was looking for my brother. Since...well...."
Misato didn't say anything, but her father pointed further down the terminal, "Probably down that way I think. There's some guy who looks a lot like you."
"Thanks." Kaji said and then turned to Misato, "Hey..."
"Hey..."
They couldn't find words for a moment, so they didn't ignore Dr. Katsuragi as he said, "For heavens sake Misato go with him."
"But...Dad...there's so much I want to say..." Misato replied.
"Save it. We'll be home in a few hours, anyway. Besides, if you can survive fifteen years, you can sure as anything survive another fifteen minutes. Hey, tell you what, you go with your boyfriend to find his brother, then come back to get me. I'd like to meet this Shinji character."
"Okay," Misato replied after a pause, gave her dad a hug, and then walked with Kaji down the isles.
"You told him about Shinji?" asked Kaji.
"We have to go back for him sometime." Misato replied, then said, "I'd like all of us to be together when the gates open again."
----------------
Asuka had only been a distance away, and looked up as Shinji and Rei approached with Kaji and Kensuke.
"Hey, there they are!" Hikari cheered and sat up from her seat to go see Touji. Asuka stood up too, and walked for the arriving teenagers.
"See? This is my sis." Touji said.
Shinji looked down at the little black-haired girl, who looked up and gave him a small wave.
"Uh- hi..." Shinji replied.
Asuka stepped forward and all those in the group looked up at her.
"Uh...Shinji...."
"Yes Asuka?" He asked.
A silent moment followed, before Asuka leapt forward to give him a great hug.
Gasps and blushing followed, with complaining and grumbling from Rei.
"Hey!" Declared the blue hared girl.
Shinji was blushing to his ears and saying, "Uh...Asuka...this is a little sudden..."
"Thank you Shinji, I'm sorry...." She whispered to his ear before kissing the side of his head.
More blushing and the reddening of faces with Rei declaring, "You can't do that!"
Touji realized humor and irony in this situation and burst out laughing- so hard he collapsed to the floor at the ensuing argument.
"I don't get it." Kensuke said.
Hikari shook her head, "Neither do I."
----------------
Kaji looked up as they came to the end of the row and cast his eyes about the place.
"Do you see him?" asked Misato.
"Not yet...." Replied Kaji and continued to scan the groups of people.
Misato blinked her eyes and then spotted a coffee stand some distance away.
"Um, I'm going to get some coffee...." Misato suggested.
Kaji nodded and the former captain of NERV walked over to the coffee stand and paid for something to drink.
"Hey, put that on my tab," Said a man beside her and put some yen down on the counter.
"Thanks Mr...." Misato asked.
The other man tipped replied, "Well, first time introductions always make me jitter- I'm Keito Ryoji..."
"Ryoji....ah!" Misato gasped, then grabbed the man's arm and hauled him out of the coffee stand.
"Woa!! Wait," Replied Keito and snatched his own coffee before following Misato out of the group.
Kaji didn't notice at first, then turned and winced at Misato dragging the man out of the coffee stand.
"Gee, who's this?" asked Kaji.
"Kaji, this is Keito Ryoji. He's your brother, right?"
"Huh?" Asked both men at once and looked at one another.
Kaji's face distorted to shock, "You mean-"
"You're Kaji?" asked the other one.
Both men laughed and Misato asked, "What's so funny?"
"You're alive!" Said Keito, "I can't believe it...."
"Well...." Kaji said and then fell silent.
"Oh-Oh...right," Said Keito, "It's....been a while hasn't it."
"....There's nothing I can really say, is there?"
"Other than sorry?" Asked Keito, "Yeah....well I guess we're all afraid of dying one way or the other. Well, if it's any consolation- I probably would have done the same thing...."
Kaji looked up at his younger brother, "I wish I wasn't so selfish..."
"So what? Everyone else dies for the benefit of mankind? Get over it, we're going home anyway." Keito replied, "Listen, Kaji, how about this- you make it up to me by setting me up with your friend here."
"What?" Misato asked.
"Er...sorry, no can do." Kaji replied.
"Hmm...some brother."
"Now wait just a minute!" Protested Misato and walked over to take Kaji's arm in hers, "I'm staying with this man, okay! So don't get any ideas."
Kaji made a smile at this, then looked at his brother who, to his surprise, was also grinning.
"Heh, now how much did you bet that she'd do that?" Asked Keito.
"Bet....oh...." Kaji blushed and exchanged glances with Misato.
"bet?" She asked and released his arm, "With who?"
"Myself." Kaji replied and took out a cigarette, "Didn't think I would win..."
"Hey-" Said the brother, "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Smoke."
"Why not?"
"You die. Cancer's not fun. I've met some guys here in limbo who would have died of cancer if they weren't brought back."
Kaji looked at the cigarette and Keito shrugged, "Your choice. You wanna die before me?"
"Well, I AM the older brother." Kaji replied, then shrugged and pocketed the cigarette, "I'll think about it. Maybe I should do some resolutions after this 'rebirth' and all."
Laughter echoed among the three, and then Misato caught a glimpse of the outside.
The sun was staring to glow on the horizon.
"Oh my god, we have to find Shinji..." Misato said.
"Huh? Oh, okay. Say, you doing anything?"
"Who's Shinji?" asked Keito.
-------------------
The massive group of teenage friends migrated back to where Yui was standing, where she turned from a conversation with another mom and said, "Ah! More friends..."
"Yeah Mom..." Shinji smiled, "Uh...this is Asuka-"
He turned to the red head, who was exchanging glares with Rei.
As a matter of cosmic coincidence, the other mom Yui was talking to was none other than-
"Asuka?" Asked the Mom.
"Mom?" Asked Asuka to her mother's voice then shoved aside Shinji and Rei to go to her mom, "Momma!!!!"
Touji burst out laughing again and Kensuke shook his head.
"Are you okay Touji?" Asked Hikari when Touji went down again.
"Ahhh....I just need a hand up."
Asuka parted from her mother's breast, "Why did you go away? What...where..."
"We'll worry about that later when we have time." Said Ms. Langly and looked out the window.
Across the airport and illuminating the ground was the glow from the sun, just below the horizon. The airplanes were revealed in their orange outlines, and vague figures of flight technicians were abuzz around the place to simulate the notion of the airport.
"Well, this is the biggest reunion I've ever been to," Said Ms. Langly.
"The same," Replied Yui, "Even though my husband's not here...but it's perhaps for the best-"
Then Touji announced, "Hey! It's Misato-san!"
"With friends!" Added Hikari and waved.
Misato waved back, with Kaji beside her, another man beside him, and an elderly man leading a team of about eighty or ninety other arctic-suited figures.
"What's all this about?" asked Ms. Langly.
Misato looked puzzled for a moment, then asked, "Er...who starts?"
Yui spoke up first, "Excuse me, I'm Yui Ikari..."
She shook hands with an astounded Misato, who replied, "Shinji's mother?"
"Yep." Replied Shinji.
"And you're Shinji?" Asked the older man that looked surprisingly like Kaji.
"Um...Yeah..."
Then an announcement came over Tanis Airport's broadcast system.
Shinji, Asuka, and Rei looked up, but it was Asuka who identified the voice, "It's Hal..."
"...Attention, all passengers will please begin boarding at the assigned gates. I repeat, all passengers please begin boarding at the assigned gates."
"Egad!" Said Dr. Katsuragi, "Shesh, we're supposed to be back at our gate! Gotta go," He reached over to give Misato a kiss, "I'll say Hi to mom if I see her."
"Bye dad!" Misato waved.
Kaji exchanged a few words with his brother, a hug, and then waved as he watched his brother go with Dr. Katsuragi back for the terminal.
"Well," Touji realized as he looked at his own ticket, "I'm at that gate."
"Me too." Kensuke replied.
Hikari nodded and looked up at Shinji, "Well....see you Ikari, on the other side."
Shinji made a weak smile in reply and said, "Bye Hikari."
They left, returning to where they came.
Asuka returned to her mother and also learned that this was the gate that she would be leaving from.
Most of NERV was here, at least the final survivors. Even the operators were starting to board. Shinji and the known people about him were some of the last to board at the terminal.
"I wonder how Pen-Pen is doing..." Misato asked, "I hope they found a place for him."
Shinji didn't say anything, but grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder as he approached the gate to Tanis.
Already most of the people had gone through the gates to the airplanes- if they were airplanes, but Tanis would once more be empty until those who would died and would return to earth would come, and also the souls destined to heaven would probably come here too.
Shinji's thoughts- as well as everyone else's, hesitated when they reached the doorway.
The monolith was once more standing in their path, as well as the space man.
"Hello." Greeted Shinji.
"hello Shinji Ikari," Said David Bowman, "This will be our last meeting...perhaps for the rest of your natural life. When you return to this place we may meet again, but not before.
"Before you left for your world I wished to say a personal goodbye...and thanks, to all of you, for helping in rebuilding the Earth. Even though most of humanity will not know who was responsible, they will know that someone- somewhere, stepped out of line to change destiny."
Shinji smiled at this thought, and then saw the space suited man extend a hand.
Shinji brought his forward and clasped the hand in return, giving it a firm grasp and a shake of a final parting.
"Farewell Shinji Ikari," Were David Bowman's last words in Tanis, "We look forward to seeing you among the stars..."
When David Bowman released his grip Shinji felt as if he had heard the voice of God.
Perhaps he had, or something close to it, and watched as the star-child retreated into the Monolith's empty expanse before the gigantic obelisk faded into the color of air, and then disappeared entirely.
"Wow...." Ms. Langly said, "What was that all about?"
Shinji was looking at the hand that had touched immortality. Perhaps he would never know, or wasn't supposed to know the extent of the benevolent power that ended the nightmare.
"Shinji," Said Rei's voice as her hand traced down to his, then clasped it, "Let's go."
"...Yes..."
Shinji started forward, leading the precession forward through the terminal gate. Asuka caught up and also took Shinji's other hand, and together all three Evangelion pilots approached the end of the long hallway and into the light.
When they arrived at the light, they once more faded into the ethereal and their consciousness' took flight, leaving the ground behind and ascending into the sky....
Dawn had approached, as the sun began to break on the hills surrounding Tanis.
Life had begun once again.
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Disclaimer: Evangelion is a work of Gainax Studios, and a powerful work it is.
Just as so, everything of 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001 are property of Arthur C. Clarke, one of the greatest Science fiction authors known to mankind.
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