Asuka sat in the narrow entry plug, her face void of any emotion. The cold trigger clasped in her hand still and unmoving, like her. Her eyes strained to the centre of the crosshair in front of her, willing the triangle to surround the circle. It finally did, and she squeezed the trigger gently, almost lovingly. The holographic prism in front of her Evangelion shattered under the heavy volley, 20 kilometers away. Asuka smiled. Training completed.

She climbed out of the entry plug, cracking her knuckles and neck. This soothed her aching bones. She had spent 5 hours in that damned plug, trying to regain what little memory of her training was left. Dr. Akagi was pleased, as she had informed her well through the 3rd hour. Her combat skills were returning, and that was all that mattered to Commander Ikari. She had overheard him telling Misato that her amnesia was a good thing, as she could be trained into a 'perfect soldier', negated of emotion or feelings. Misato strongly opposed, but there was nothing she could do against her superior. Asuka didn't mind. She somehow felt that she didn't want to remember her past life, and this was an opportunity to live once more. She would be that 'perfect soldier'. Better than the two other pilots, the blue haired hermit and that boy. The feeling was familiar.

That boy… Shinji Ikari.

He had tried to talk to her, against the orders issued by Commander Ikari. He had tried to explain to her something that involved them. He had found her in the hospital, as she was packing to leave for her new apartment on the east of the geo-front. He had talked fast, and all poor and confused Asuka could catch was 'sorry', 'love' and 'remember', before he was dragged away by security. Asuka could not understand why he was such a threat to her, and why he was barred from any contact with her except on the battle field. She could not understand, and she didn't want to. She now resembled a puppet, not unlike Rei Ayanami. They were both dolls in Commander Ikari's toy-box now. She hardly spoke, unless spoken to. She ate in silence, in her apartment, alone. She stopped going to school, instead spending every day in sync training and alert practice. She was a walking, talking mechanical being, receiving orders and following them without question. Only one thing separated her from the first child, Rei Ayanami – her determination to be the best.

She walked past Dr. Akagi and Misato, not looking at them. She headed for the showers, where she stripped off her plug suit and stood under the welcomed cold shower. She closed her eyes and begin to think, as baths always made her do. Sometimes she thought too much.

--------------------

Gendo Ikari sat behind his desk, scanning through a pile of papers. Every report was satisfactory. The 'perfect soldier' was doing well. His newfound plan was under way. Soon he would reach his ultimate goal in life, sooner than expected, after the sudden stroke of luck which was the Second Child's unfortunate accident. He smiled silently to himself, wallowing in his fortune. He shifted the papers to a corner of his desk. A photo fell out from within the file. Somehow he had missed it. It was a picture of Asuka with Shinji, in their school uniform, sharing a bowl of noodles together. It was the only picture of the two of them in an affectionate pose, as all others had been confiscated and destroyed. But this one was special. This one had to be kept in record. It was procedure. As it was a sensitive piece of evidence that could seriously damage Gendo's plans, he had ordered it to be kept in his private storage hall, where everything important or sensitive was kept. Only he had access to it, as it was hidden deep beneath the geo-front, in a room quite close to the remains of the first Evangelion. He returned the photo into the middle of the stack of papers, sealing the pile in a thick envelope. The door burst open.

"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" The hollow chamber filled with the voice of a young boy, clad in a school uniform.

The Commander looked up, unperturbed. It was his son, Shinji Ikari. It was his rebellious puppet, The Third Child.

"What do you think you're trying to do to us?! I can't see her, I can't speak to her…" he continued, "Father, don't do this to me. Why do you hate me so much as to destroy every bit of happiness I have ever felt?!"

"My decision to separate you from the Second Child was not out of spite, Shinji." Gendo replied in his usual emotionless voice. There was no love, only ice. "It was for the sake of the Second Child. She is in a very sensitive state." Gendo began to wonder how he got to his office.

"But I have to speak to her… I have to see her… I have to let her know how sorry I am…" his voice trailed off. It was getting too personal.

"But you do see her." Commander Ikari replied simply.

"From a distance… too far a distance…"

"And it will stay that way." his father replied pointedly, his eyes barring into Shinji's. He spoke with a tone that said, plainly, no more arguments.

Shinji turned around and faced the door.

"Then I must leave. I cannot take all this shit…" he begin to walk out.

"If you leave, you will never see her again."

Shinji stopped for a moment, his right fist clenching and unclenching spasmodically. The room was silent, only the soft sounds of muscle constricting in Shinji's fist could be heard. He walked on. Gendo knew he had won.

--------------------

Asuka stared ahead as the elevator doors opened to reveal Rei Ayanami, clad in her school uniform. She walked in, not giving a thought. They rose silently, as the meter clicked off each floor. Neither said a word for a long time.

"You are an obstruction."

Asuka's eyes widened. The one called Rei was speaking to her, and her first sentence had been an insult. She felt a familiar anger rise in her throat.

"I beg your pardon?" she replied, containing her anger.

"You are an obstruction. Your progress to become the ultimate soldier of the commander's will become a hindrance to me." Rei replied calmly.

"A hindrance to you?" Asuka replied through clenched teeth. "Are you jealous or something?"

"Jealousy is but a stranger to me. I'm merely stating that your sudden change in roles will void my very existence." Ayanami's voice was barely a whisper. "But I will make sure I am the commander's weapon in the end."

Asuka took a step forward and grasped Ayanami's shoulder. Rei spun around from the force, only to receive a slap on her right cheek. She didn't flinch. A bell rung somewhere as the cold, metal doors of the elevator slid apart. Asuka walked out backwards, unable to shift her gaze from Rei. She was too angry to say anything. Rei held her bruise with one hand, staring at Asuka without emotion.

"There is one fundamental difference between you and me, Second Child."

Asuka stared.

"I can be replaced…"

The doors closed. All Asuka could here was her own breathing. Her mind raced as she tried to understand what she had just been told. She stood staring at the elevator doors for a long time, her heart pounding madly. She did not notice the boy behind her, afraid to approach.

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Author's note:
Ack! How do I carry on from here?!
I know! Kill off Sinji!!! P