R equiem.
Chapter 2: "Do you mind..?"
Disclaimer: Same verse, just like the first.
Thanks for the great feedback so far. Hopefully, I'll be able to make the following chapters as good, if not better. And now, on with the show. and a happy and healthy new year to all!
"O.K., Shinji, we're about ready to start. How're you doing in there?"
"I feel like an electric porcupine in a spider's web", I groused. Wires and needles stuck out in every direction from my body, feeding constant telemetry updates to waiting graphs. Oh, I knew it had to be done, but why couldn't they find a way to make it a bit more comfortable? "IT" was testing the growth of my Tele-empathic powers. It was something that had been brought about during the big 3I. According to Ritsuko, My brain couldn't have handled all that traffic in its previous state, so it changed. Radically. My abilities to receive thought and sensory data was still growing, and it was felt that I would soon start to manifest other abilities as well. So GEHIRN (the downsized research-not-combat version of NERV) was always charting my evolution. Yeah, that's right; I was the promised next step in man's evolution. My deceased dear old dad and his fellow senile friends were on the right track, but a very wrong train. I was well compensated for my troubles, though. Ritsuko's dry chuckle brought me around. "We'll try and wrap it up quick, ok? " "Yes, mother", I japed. "After dealing with you children and Misato?! Perish the thought!" She then turned to a different monitor. "Maya, if you're ready, let's go with those images we selected." "Hai, Sempai". "Maya, I still haven't broken you of that habit, have I? "Producing a bright blush from the pert brunette. "Ok, Shinji, on my mark; 3-2-1-MARK!" I leaned back and closed my eyes, sending my mind questing for a particular thought signature. Ah, there! "First image - a super-deformed unit 01." "Correct. Next image." "A can of Yebisu" I then laughed "followed by a drooling Misato!" "On the money, Shinji. Next." "Hey that one's of you, doc, and.."HOLY SHIT!!" I lurched forward, tensed and rubbing my head. I was doing an excellent imitation of a tomato. "Shinji, what's happened? Pulse and respiration elevated, psychograph's lit up like a Christmas tree! Are you ok?" "Yeah, but right now I really need a cold shower. I also feel this incredible urge to brush and floss my teeth to get rid of some non-existent hair." I'd received a full sensory suite with that one. "Maya, you kinky thing you! A little warning next time, ok? "I sighed, partially in exasperation, but also out of frustration.
On the monitor, Maya looked like she was going to melt through the floor from mortification. Ritsuko was trying hard, and failing, to keep from howling with laughter. "Why Shinji, and here I thought every man's fantasy was a threesome" She teased, then more seriously, "Ok, I think that's enough for now. That additional sensory data you received was unexpected at this point, so we'll work on developing a finer mental screening process. I think we'll keep you on the dampers for a while, to ensure you can sleep at night." The dampers she referred to were actually some common anti-epileptic medications. By suppressing neural activity, they damped down my sensitivity threshold to a level I could live with. I was able to keep a good block up during the day, but when I tired, I became more susceptible to mental "noise". "O.k. Maybe next time we'll work on the projective side, also. In the meantime, anyone for lunch? That is, after someone gives me some help getting this stuff off me!" We adjourned to a nearby café, splitting some excellent Ten-don and Pork katsu. A few pitchers of beer went down nicely as we swapped stories and reminisced. "Shinji, are you going to that broadcast about the angel wars and 3rd impact?" "Yeah, I was thinking of popping in and adding my 2 cents. So?" "Asuka's going to be there, you know." I chuckled, feeling a sense of warmth knowing both Maya and Ritsuko were concerned about me. "I mended fences with her quite some time ago. In fact, her hubbie's one of my best buds." I saw surprise on both their faces. I'd have to tell them about it some time. I saw Ritsuko frowning. "Something else I should know, Ritz Chan?" "Misato's slated to be there, too." A look of pain crossed my face at the memories those words triggered. For about a week after we woke up on that beach, I had been tending to Asuka. We had happened on an emergency shelter which was well stocked with food and medical gear. During this time, people had started to come back. This set up a disorienting and painful "noise" in my head, which soon got to the point where my mind shut down in self defense. Fortunately, we were found by a U.N Medivac team. They had homed in on a distress beacon activated by our entrance to the shelter. So, one catatonic Shinji and a near-frantic German red-head were airlifted to the nearest functional hospital. By some quirk, Ritsuko and Maya were doing yeomen's service there. Ritsuko took immediate charge of us both. I was out for a long time. When I came to my senses, I found out from Maya that Asuka had gone back to Germany. That hurt. A lot. But even worse was that Misato had gone there as well, and had run out on me without a word of explanation, not even a note! This betrayal would have shattered me, if it hadn't been for Ritz, Maya, Makoto and Shigeru. They took me in and became my second surrogate family. Our relationship remained very close to this day. I never did find out why she deserted me like that. Ritsuko knew, but wouldn't say anything. All I knew was that their final conversation was stormy, to say the least. I made a decision. "Ritsuko, I think I will. I need some answers, and I'm not going to get any by avoiding Misato." "I figured you were going to say that." She put her arms around my shoulders and gave a squeeze. "We're here if you need us. You know that." "Yes. And thanks. You're very special to me, both of you." Hugs, kisses and additional alcohol were exchanged. Then, we parted company. It was New Genesis Eve, the kick off for a world- wide week long celebration of Man's return from collective oblivion. I drove to a secluded spot in the hills overlooking Tokyo-2. The Sun was sinking down, and the evening breeze stirred the grass where I sat. I dug a bottle out of a cooler and waited for the stars to come up. Then, Fireworks flared over head. Music and cheers floated out from the city below. It was Party time! A great time to be with loved ones. I stood and let my past flow by, pondering what was and what might have been. I then raised my bottle and made a toast, one popular with the British in particular.
"To absent friends", I said and drank deeply. I then threw the bottle against a rock, shattering it.
Things were about to get interesting.
Chapter 2: "Do you mind..?"
Disclaimer: Same verse, just like the first.
Thanks for the great feedback so far. Hopefully, I'll be able to make the following chapters as good, if not better. And now, on with the show. and a happy and healthy new year to all!
"O.K., Shinji, we're about ready to start. How're you doing in there?"
"I feel like an electric porcupine in a spider's web", I groused. Wires and needles stuck out in every direction from my body, feeding constant telemetry updates to waiting graphs. Oh, I knew it had to be done, but why couldn't they find a way to make it a bit more comfortable? "IT" was testing the growth of my Tele-empathic powers. It was something that had been brought about during the big 3I. According to Ritsuko, My brain couldn't have handled all that traffic in its previous state, so it changed. Radically. My abilities to receive thought and sensory data was still growing, and it was felt that I would soon start to manifest other abilities as well. So GEHIRN (the downsized research-not-combat version of NERV) was always charting my evolution. Yeah, that's right; I was the promised next step in man's evolution. My deceased dear old dad and his fellow senile friends were on the right track, but a very wrong train. I was well compensated for my troubles, though. Ritsuko's dry chuckle brought me around. "We'll try and wrap it up quick, ok? " "Yes, mother", I japed. "After dealing with you children and Misato?! Perish the thought!" She then turned to a different monitor. "Maya, if you're ready, let's go with those images we selected." "Hai, Sempai". "Maya, I still haven't broken you of that habit, have I? "Producing a bright blush from the pert brunette. "Ok, Shinji, on my mark; 3-2-1-MARK!" I leaned back and closed my eyes, sending my mind questing for a particular thought signature. Ah, there! "First image - a super-deformed unit 01." "Correct. Next image." "A can of Yebisu" I then laughed "followed by a drooling Misato!" "On the money, Shinji. Next." "Hey that one's of you, doc, and.."HOLY SHIT!!" I lurched forward, tensed and rubbing my head. I was doing an excellent imitation of a tomato. "Shinji, what's happened? Pulse and respiration elevated, psychograph's lit up like a Christmas tree! Are you ok?" "Yeah, but right now I really need a cold shower. I also feel this incredible urge to brush and floss my teeth to get rid of some non-existent hair." I'd received a full sensory suite with that one. "Maya, you kinky thing you! A little warning next time, ok? "I sighed, partially in exasperation, but also out of frustration.
On the monitor, Maya looked like she was going to melt through the floor from mortification. Ritsuko was trying hard, and failing, to keep from howling with laughter. "Why Shinji, and here I thought every man's fantasy was a threesome" She teased, then more seriously, "Ok, I think that's enough for now. That additional sensory data you received was unexpected at this point, so we'll work on developing a finer mental screening process. I think we'll keep you on the dampers for a while, to ensure you can sleep at night." The dampers she referred to were actually some common anti-epileptic medications. By suppressing neural activity, they damped down my sensitivity threshold to a level I could live with. I was able to keep a good block up during the day, but when I tired, I became more susceptible to mental "noise". "O.k. Maybe next time we'll work on the projective side, also. In the meantime, anyone for lunch? That is, after someone gives me some help getting this stuff off me!" We adjourned to a nearby café, splitting some excellent Ten-don and Pork katsu. A few pitchers of beer went down nicely as we swapped stories and reminisced. "Shinji, are you going to that broadcast about the angel wars and 3rd impact?" "Yeah, I was thinking of popping in and adding my 2 cents. So?" "Asuka's going to be there, you know." I chuckled, feeling a sense of warmth knowing both Maya and Ritsuko were concerned about me. "I mended fences with her quite some time ago. In fact, her hubbie's one of my best buds." I saw surprise on both their faces. I'd have to tell them about it some time. I saw Ritsuko frowning. "Something else I should know, Ritz Chan?" "Misato's slated to be there, too." A look of pain crossed my face at the memories those words triggered. For about a week after we woke up on that beach, I had been tending to Asuka. We had happened on an emergency shelter which was well stocked with food and medical gear. During this time, people had started to come back. This set up a disorienting and painful "noise" in my head, which soon got to the point where my mind shut down in self defense. Fortunately, we were found by a U.N Medivac team. They had homed in on a distress beacon activated by our entrance to the shelter. So, one catatonic Shinji and a near-frantic German red-head were airlifted to the nearest functional hospital. By some quirk, Ritsuko and Maya were doing yeomen's service there. Ritsuko took immediate charge of us both. I was out for a long time. When I came to my senses, I found out from Maya that Asuka had gone back to Germany. That hurt. A lot. But even worse was that Misato had gone there as well, and had run out on me without a word of explanation, not even a note! This betrayal would have shattered me, if it hadn't been for Ritz, Maya, Makoto and Shigeru. They took me in and became my second surrogate family. Our relationship remained very close to this day. I never did find out why she deserted me like that. Ritsuko knew, but wouldn't say anything. All I knew was that their final conversation was stormy, to say the least. I made a decision. "Ritsuko, I think I will. I need some answers, and I'm not going to get any by avoiding Misato." "I figured you were going to say that." She put her arms around my shoulders and gave a squeeze. "We're here if you need us. You know that." "Yes. And thanks. You're very special to me, both of you." Hugs, kisses and additional alcohol were exchanged. Then, we parted company. It was New Genesis Eve, the kick off for a world- wide week long celebration of Man's return from collective oblivion. I drove to a secluded spot in the hills overlooking Tokyo-2. The Sun was sinking down, and the evening breeze stirred the grass where I sat. I dug a bottle out of a cooler and waited for the stars to come up. Then, Fireworks flared over head. Music and cheers floated out from the city below. It was Party time! A great time to be with loved ones. I stood and let my past flow by, pondering what was and what might have been. I then raised my bottle and made a toast, one popular with the British in particular.
"To absent friends", I said and drank deeply. I then threw the bottle against a rock, shattering it.
Things were about to get interesting.
