Neon Genesis
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise
Chapter 3 Edict and Diner/A coin on the tracks
With the crimson sun still shining her last rays of light to the vibrant clouds that seem to echo the sun colors like a prism. This beautiful sight of colors lies above the spectacle below where Rei, Touji, and Hikari all sit or stand in various ways as the smell of cooked chicken fills the air.
Hikari with the most on her mind sits on her bed unable to talk, chocked with embarrassment. Touji sits on the ground looking over Hikari's collection of Sega Saturn games. Rei has taken a more direct stance of standing and staring at everything, trying to create, and then solve a puzzle for what she sees.
"Where did you get all of this pre-impact stuff?" Touji ponders as he begins to notice more then just her is old game console.
Hikari looks around at her collection, debating on divulging her hobby. "I collect them..."
With such an odd answer given, Touji looks over at Hikari with some disbelief as he holds up a pre-impact pack of Pokémon playing card. Hikari does not talk as she lightly gets out of bed and goes to Touji. With some care, she removes them from his hand and puts them back where he got them.
As Hikari leans past Touji to put them away, Touji cannot help but stare at her long hair that drapes over her shoulders. Having never seen her with her hair down before, Touji gazes at it with awe. Hikari leans back to a kneeling position next to Touji who seems transfixed on how different Hikari looks. Feeling the creepy, yet ever noticeable feeling of being watched, Hikari looks at to Touji who quickly looks away.
"What?"
Touji deflects his gaze to the games in front of him to avoid his thoughts being unraveled. "Nothing..."
The mood around the three gets even tenser and the smell of the food seeps into the room and even the belly of Rei begins to rumble.
Kadoma calls up to everyone. "Dinners ready!"
Hikari quickly gets up and leaves Touji and Rei behind. Touji once more is transfixed on Hikari's hair as it moves freely in the air, not conformed to pig tails like how she normally wears it.
"Is something wrong with Representative Horaki's hair?" Rei asks as she looks at Touji with conjecture.
"No..." Touji mutters as he feels a weird energy, like that of a second wind after a long jog, or the feeling of winning something.
Rei's ability in observation allows her to recognize that her gaze seems to have stricken her classmate. Nevertheless, she is unable to test her hypothesis as Touji disappears from sight and to the smell of a well-cooked meal.
****
In the Kitchen Kadoma waits as Rei Ayanami is the last to seat her self. With everyone gathered Kadoma now sits down with a huge smile on her face.
"Lets eat."
Even Rei can find something to her liking as there is plenty of Rice and steamed vegetables to go around. Touji, who is usually a big eater, has butterflies in his stomach for some reason and can only eat a small amount. Hikari eats extremely slowly, unable to use chopstick with just her left hand she sits with a western fork eating in silence yet with perfect manners.
"So Touji, how long have you known my sis?"
At First Touji, just stares into space not thinking about the question before answering in a monotone voice. "We've been in the same class since fourth grade."
"And a nice guy like you hasn't asked her out yet."
Kadoma's answer causes both Touji and Hikari to turn spitting, and then chocking on what they just ate.
"Kadoma!" Hikari yells breaking the silence.
Lifting her arms up in a friendly manner, Kadoma shakes her head at her sister. "What Hikari-chan, I'm just trying to help."
"You're not helping anyone!" Hikari yells out before hiding her head in embarrassment. "It's a bad dream, it has to be!"
"How about you miss Ayanami, how long have you known Hikari-chan."
Rei looks up at Hikari's sister with confusion. "How do you define known?"
Kadoma giggles at such a seriously toned question. "Oh, I don't know... As in, when she first told you she liked some one."
"Since the day she was designated the fourth child."
The quick answer only brings a grin to Kadoma, as for her sister; a mental train wreck can describes her thoughts. "Kadoma, knock it off!"
"Okay, Okay..." Kadoma laughs at her sister. "What do you mean by fourth child?"
"I am the first child..." Rei speaks as she enjoys another tasteful bite of Kadoma's cooking. "Each Pilot is designated in order of selection hence, she is the Fourth."
"That's wonderful, so you're a pilot for NERV too." Rei nods to answer Kadoma's question. "So Ayanami, what's Hikari like at school?"
"Representative Horaki is an above average student with over fifty percent of the class in favor of her being classroom Representative."
Not thrilled with the way the answer was given, but an answer all the same, Kadoma leans in to study Rei. "You're albino right." With no response, Kadoma only smiles. "Its okay I'm a doctor."
Rei looks up at her once more, depressed that her physical characteristics stand out. "I suffer from a pigment and epidermis condition that also affects my hair, it's genetic."
"Well if I must say so, you look so cute!" Kadoma says as she smiles at Rei. "Don't you agree Suzahara?"
"Huh..." Touji looks over to Rei and thinks to him self. 'Did she just ask me to check her out. Well other then acting like a freak she's okay...' Still thinking, Touji takes a bite of food. 'But her short hair makes her look like a little kid, other then that I guess she's okay.' Touji looks up and finishes chewing his food. "Sure thing, Miss Horaki."
**** Night sneaks up on the group as they finish their meal. Touji is quick to help Kadoma clean so as not to be out numbered by his classmates. As for Rei and Hikari, they are by themselves pondering in the living room.
"I don't understand, Representative Horaki."
With a smile, Hikari looks over to Rei. "Hikari, please we are friends."
"Why would you not want Suzahara to know about your attraction to him?"
Not willing to have the current conversation above a whisper, Hikari leans in and whispers into Rei's ear so no one else can hear. "Because, I don't know if he feels the same."
"Oh..." Rei quickly refutes the logic. "Ask him..."
Rei goes to stand. Hikari fearing she might go and ask him, such a question scares her. Hikari grabs Rei by the arm dragging her down. In the process, Hikari falls into a lamp, knocking it over.
Rei lifts her head up shaken by the fall, but when she looks over to Hikari to, she sees her in substantial pain. Curled up in a ball Hikari holds her right hand, which she used to brace her fall.
"Hikari, why would you do something like that?" Rei goes over and cradles Hikari as she checks her hand to see if any blood is seeping through her bandages. Touji and Kadoma run in after they hear Hikari's moans of pain.
"What Happened!" Kadoma yells out in a panic stricken voice.
The emotions in the room seem to affect Rei as she holds Hikari in her arms. "She... Fell."
"I'm so clumsy..." Hikari whispers as she grabs Rei's hand, squeezing as hard as she can to help the pain go away.
Remembering when she was in therapy for her back after Unit Zero went berserk. Rei begins to rub Hikari's temples just as the nurse did for her whenever she was in pain.
Hikari suddenly gets tired from Rei's gesture. Both, Touji and Kadoma are speechless as Hikari falls asleep in Rei's arms.
"How did you do that?" Touji whisper to Rei as he looks at Hikari.
Kadoma already knows what happened. "That's Zen therapy." Kadoma has an epiphany as she stares at Rei. "Rei, do you think you can watch over my sister."
Rei looks up and was about to give her a standard, what for. However, something sparks in her head. "How can I help?"
"I'm never home usually, because of work and med school. I can never help Hikari when she's home, She needs some one to help her to school and to her new job at NERV." Kadoma pleads to Rei as she stands in front of her.
"I guess..."
"Really," Kadoma calls out as she rubs Rei hair again. "That would work out great."
"I would have to get it approved by headquarters first."
Rei's words do not seem to affect Kadoma as she brushes her hand on the cheek of her sister before looking up to Touji. "Can you carry her up to her room please."
With Hikari's health in his mind, Touji bends down, lifting her from Rei's lap and into his comforting arms. They walk up to Hikari's room were Touji lays her on her bed, watching as she whimpers in pain.
With the task finished, the three leave her room and turn out the lights. Once the three reach the bottom of the steps Touji looks around. "I guess we better get going."
"Thanks for staying, both of you." Kadoma says as she takes Rei's and Touji's hand. "It means a lot to me that you did stay."
Both Touji and Rei in a semi union fashion say. "Your welcome."
Kadoma walks both to the entranceway where she gives both of them a hug. "Touji, be a dear and walk Rei home, I would be worried sick if someone was not with her."
Staggered by the question Touji looks over at Rei, who does not seem to mind one way or the other, reluctantly, he nods his head.
**** The two leave and Touji once more follows Rei, this time to her apartment. Once again, Touji is uncomfortable with the silence Rei always seems to bring. "Do you live alone?" Touji's quest to strike small talks fails as Rei only nods. "Oh... Why?"
She stops in her tracks and almost knocks Touji into herself. Rei feels challenged by the question, "Why not?"
"I don't know, I mean, I don't know if I could live out on my own."
Rei looks over to Touji who seems to be looking into the air, not bothered by the topic. "Why is that?"
"I would be lonely..." Touji says as he looks over to Rei with some sadness at the picture in his mind.
The idea that Touji brought up is entirely true for Rei as she continues to walk head down. Rei was alone; the subject hurt, she looked at Touji as he looks at the building lights, not seeing how much pain Rei is in. Like a bad habit, Rei processes the thought and then regurgitates it, feeling even more alone and even emptier. With her frail mind wedged in an unvarying circle, Rei's thought process brakes down as she reaches a painful conclusion.
"I am alone..."
Touji stops when he hears Rei speak with a scared yet human like tone. Turning to Rei, watching her as her legs shake with fright, Touji cannot help but feel something is horribly wrong.
"Are you okay?"
Rei's mind is not waved from her thoughts, as her reality comes crashing down.
"I'm alone..."
With pain in her heart Rei can only stand unsure of her self, her thoughts reach out first to Gendo, but then to Shinji, yet neither stand in front of her to comfort her. Feeling out of place, and uncertain about what to do. Touji watches as Rei's mind boils over. All of her barriers and decorum falls apart like a house of cards.
Finally, in a last ditch effort her body begins its natural defense to such feelings, by increasing her heart rate, then it begins to pump adrenalin in to her body. With the body now in overdrive, dopamine levels increase in her brain and her pores open up all over her body causing her face to become red. Before Touji's eyes, he watches the final step take place. The formation of a tear builds in Rei's eyes. It only takes a second for gravity to take over as it falls down her cheek, striking the ground in silence.
"Why am I crying?"
Rei's question goes unanswered, as Touji stares at the girl, he thought she had no emotions. Nevertheless, Rei's sobbing continues, as she looks around dazed by her body's out burst of emotion.
"What's wrong?" Touji asks as he tries his best to unravel the mystery of her tears.
"I'm alone..."
These words strike down on Touji with a cold reminder to what he had said. Touji however is unable to respond, stuck in a predicament he has never faced before. Rei also has the same problem as her newfound emotion struck her as if a pack lioness would an injured elk. Rei finds no reason for her emotion other then it hurts her. It is a pain she has always felt yet could always ignore, until now.
Her mind gives in to her bodies need for another's touch. Rei flings herself at Touji, falling in to him, gripping his arms unable to speak, she only can cry as she rests her head on his shoulder. Touji reaction is also that of nature as he embraces Rei holding her and comforting her. Touji does not know how but he feels that just being in front of her is all she need. In the same light Touji cannot help but feel at fault as Rei drains nearly ten years of built up emotion on to his shoulder.
****
Hikari wakes up late once more but this time she doesn't care as much. As she stares off at her alarm clock, she does not remember going to bed. However she does remember the roller coaster of embarrassment her sister put her through at length last night. Rolling out of Bed, Hikari walks down stares into the kitchen where she sees a note.
"Hikari-chan!" Hikari stops and shakes her head before reading on in the letter. "Miss Misato called and said that she would send Asuka to pick you up for your tests by noon. I made you a lunch and it's in the refrigerator. Also, be careful and don't hurt that arm!"
Hikari smiles at the letter for a moment. "I had a great time yesterday and so did Touji and Rei-chan! Love, Kadoma"
After looking up at the time, Hikari goes to get ready for the day ahead.
****
Not to long after, Shinji and Asuka walk side by side towards Hikari's house.
"You know Shinji, I could have done this alone." Asuka mutters as she swings her bag over her shoulder.
Ready to answer, Shinji looks toward Asuka. "I know, it's just that I had nothing better to do."
"You could have found out where Moe is at." Asuka snickers. Shinji however has no clue what Asuka is talking about.
"Moe?"
Asuka shakes her head as she laughs at Shinji's ignorance. "Touji, Shinji, You could of found out where he was, stupid."
"I don't know, he just didn't show up, maybe he was sick." Even Shinji shakes his head at his own suggestion.
As the two come into sight of Hikari's house, they are taken back to see Rei, sitting on the sidewalk outside, her head buried in her arms.
"Wonder girl?" Asuka shouts as she walks over looking down at Rei. "We were wondering where you were."
"No you weren't, I was..." Shinji's words fade as he looks at Asuka's stare of death. "Right, shut up..."
Still silence is all Asuka receives. "Hey!"
"Why do you hate me?"
Even Shinji steps back from Rei's silent, yet piecing call to Asuka. The target of the question, Asuka, only shakes her head. "Because you think your better then us, and you suck up to the commander all the time."
"That's not nice..." Shinji's word fall on deaf ear as Asuka feels she needs to continue.
"I'm not even finished." Asuka bellows as she bends down to Rei's ear. "Let's not forget that you walk around like a doll, you would kill yourself if ordered to."
"I said knock it off Asuka!" Shinji yells, not willing to hear another word.
"What are you two arguing about now?" Hikari stands outside her door in her school uniform and arm in a sling. She majestically walks over with no sign of pain. Both Shinji and Asuka part to show Rei on the curb. "Hey Rei..."
"Rep... Repre..." Rei's words seem to fade to sniffs and stutters.
Not realizing that Rei was upset both Shinji and Asuka look down at her in disbelief.
"Rei...." Shinji whispers to afraid to find the truth.
Asuka however shows a little more courage. "Ayanami, why are you crying?"
Rei looks up to Asuka for using a demeaning tone, Once Rei's face becomes clear, all see the puffy blood shot eyes of a girl who has cried all night and into the day. A girl who has realized she has lived a life of lies and loneliness. Rei only stares into Asuka's eyes as if conveying her grief and pain to her.
Terror is all that Asuka can feel, as she looks into the eyes a different person. The Rei she knew is dead, as she stares into Rei's blood colored eyes. Down to the very depths and Asuka can't help but want to look away from the girl who still cries as she stares at her. Finally Asuka releases an overwhelming feeling of concern.
"Rei..."
Shinji who was transfixed on Rei looks up at Asuka, as she speaks a tone of undivided care spilling out from her lips. With only one word said, Shinji finally sees a side of Asuka he has never seen before.
Hikari bends down to Rei with great distress. "What's wrong Rei? What happened?"
Rei looks back down to the small puddle of tears she has formed at the base of her feet. It takes Rei a minute just to speak a few words.
"I'm alone."
Before Hikari can say a word, Shinji speaks out as if feeling the same thoughts Rei is. "You're never alone..." Rei, Hikari, and Asuka look up at Shinji who seems to be in a trance as he stares at Rei's feet. "You have so much Rei, don't say you have nothing else, remember. Because I will protect anyone, including you."
Rei allows Shinji's words to sink in like medicine to a cold. Hikari on the other hand has the urge to jump up and applaud; Shinji's speech seemingly touched her heart as she wipes a tear from her eye. "That was so sweet Shinji." Hikari words seem to break him from his daze; he looks up to even see Asuka with a smile.
"I'm impressed Shinji." Asuka says as she rethinks his words. "I never new you had it in you."
Shinji can only bow his head and smile at the complements, however, Shinji still feel that Rei is in pain inside.
Rei finally stands with some help from Hikari. Her composure regained, the four Evangelion pilot's, saviors to the world, yet outcasts by her people, walk as one.
**** At NERV Headquarters, the Pilots arrive a tad late. Nevertheless, none mind as the Evangelion Crew Chiefs and Technicians are not ready for them.
Shinji changes alone, witch is natural for him as he quietly folds his cloths and closes his locker with a smile. He releases the air in his Plug Suit and looks down at him self with confidence. In his mind Shinji thinks he must vindicate himself to Hikari, as if everything that transpired less then a week ago was his fault. Shinji makes his way to the service- elevator to get to the cage. As he gets there, he sees Hikari already dressed in her Plug Suit modified for her injury, the entire right sleeve was cut off.
"Hikari..." Shinji says with a whisper.
Still in thought, Hikari stares at her right hand, she only looks up when Shinji stands beside her.
"I guess this is the right place, if you're here."
Shinji merely nods in confirmation. "Is Rei alright?"
Finally, the elevator comes down and the door opens before Hikari answers. "I don't know Shinji..."
"I see you found your way..." Asuka voice seems distant from to other pilots who stand next to each other. "Why the long faces?"
Both Shinji and Hikari speak. "Rei..." There action shies both away from continuing.
"What about her." Asuka mutter as she looks down the hall. "She was right behind me."
"Let's wait for her..." Shinji suggest with some courage in his voice.
Hikari seconds his notion with a smile. "That's so thoughtful, Shinji." She then turns to Asuka who looks like she doesn't care. "He's right, we should wait for her."
"Whatever." Asuka mumbles as she leans against the back wall of the elevator.
A few minutes go by before Rei finally comes around the corner, still with a crestfallen look. She looks up however when Hikari waves and shouts. "Come on Rei!"
Her words seem to lighten Rei's heavy shoulders as she makes her final steps into the elevator. With all four pilots inside Shinji, presses a button, closing the door and sending the elevator upwards. Inside all stand in silence, yet all with something on their minds. Surprisingly, Rei is the first to speak out of the four.
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
Trying to put more thought into their answers Shinji and Hikari ponder for a moment. Asuka on the other hand heeds no such thought. "Then move in with someone."
With a simplistic answer given, Rei pussyfoots around the idea trying her best not to think into it. Her experience of using her logic to solve a problem has all but torched any hope of handling the problem successfully. Rei stands like a gutted building on the verge of collapse.
"But how... With who..."
With the initiative taken Hikari and Shinji rethink their answers. Asuka once more dives into the question this time with more of a demeaning tone. "I know you like the commander a lot, stay with him."
"Never." Treachery is all that comes to her mind when she thinks about her creator, the bastard that baptized her with his sins, and taught her the now crushed and defeated logic Rei has relied on for all of her life. Rei defining conclusion to her problem, help defined last night with only one other soul. "I hate him!"
With clenched fists, Rei stands shouting the words Shinji only dreams of screaming out. With anger released, another new and foreign emotion fills Rei's mind. Hikari finally reacts by gently taking Rei's hand.
The cold touch of another startles Rei as Hikari begins to speak to her. "It's okay Rei, remember we are all right here."
The elevator comes to a stop and all four pilots are stirred back to silence. They look out to see each Eva in order of the pilot's designation.
****
Unknown to them as they slowly leave the elevator Gendo Ikari stands over watching them from the observation deck. From behind him, the door opens and Fuyutsuki walks in, arms at his back. He comes to Gendo's side and stares down at the pilots. Seconds pass as they watch each pilot make their way to their Evangelions.
"So, and then there were four." Fuyutsuki utters with little care.
Not sharing his comrade's optimism Gendo's eyes follow the fourth child as she stands in front of her Evangelion. "Only if I could share in your cup of hope." Gendo only receives a blank stare from Fuyutsuki. "I ran a diagnostic check on RSLS"
Gendo's words seem to strike as a surprise to Fuyutsuki. "The Randomized Stable Lottery System, but why?" Fuyutsuki looks down to the fourth child. "Do you think she's a problem?"
"The system is made to select a pilot from our Stable at random. But each time a new pilot is selected it changes the variables to the equation."
"I know the 707 project Gendo, I helped build it." Fuyutsuki interjects to allow Gendo to push the small talk for later and get to the point.
"After the incident with Unit Three didn't go as scheduled, I reset the RSLS to its setting before the fourth was selected." Gendo stops as he watches Hikari slowly reaching out and touching her Evangelion before entering it.
"And..." Fuyutsuki whispers as he to watches the nervous actions of the new pilot.
"Each time it generated the same pilot from the Stable," Gendo mutters under his breath. "And it wasn't her."
Feeling that even if someone new about the RSLS project, it would be impossible to hack into the single PC that sits in the corner of Gendo's office. "You're saying someone manipulated the system to select this pilot from the Stable."
"I don't know." Gendo speaks with honesty as he watches each of the Entry Plugs slide into their Eva's. "All I know is that we have just been dealt a card face down."
"If it was on purpose, all it changed was Seele's scenario." Fuyutsuki chuckles on how fruitless the thought is. "She's like a coin on the train tracks."
Gendo focuses his eyes on a screen in front of him. "Two years ago a bullet train derailed killing nearly five hundred." Fuyutsuki stands confused as he watches Unit Zero's crew chiefs return to the Eva, with the Entry Plug being ejected. "Do you know why?"
With his tale told, Gendo begins to leave as Fuyutsuki stares in disbelief to see Rei has failed to activate. "I remember the tragedy but not what caused it."
A sickening chuckle comes from Gendo just before he leaves. "There was a coin on the track."
The comment forces Fuyutsuki to turn and stare at Unit Three. "A Trojan horse maybe."
****
Inside Unit Three Hikari closes her eyes in her inactive plug waiting forever before Misato comes over on a Vid screen. "Sorry about the wait, Unit Zero had trouble and I had to call in Code Three."
"Code Three, Ma'am?" Hikari wonders, as she still feels sick in the LCL.
"Code one means no problems, Code two means minor problems but launch-able, Code Three means grounding emergency." Misato looks away from Hikari as Maya turns to speak to her.
Hikari listens in on the conversation between Maya and Misato.
"Cage reports that Unit Zero's pilot is extremely upset."
Misato shakes her head. "Rei upset? You're joking."
"No ma'am, Ritsuko said that she is suffering from emotional distress."
A male voice can be heard in the back ground as well. "Ma'am, the city is clear and in battle formation!"
Misato finally turns back to Hikari. "Okay we are going to be launching you to the surface for your activation test."
Once more Hikari hears a male voice come over her communications. "Units Two and One are on cats Ten and Four, ready for launch."
Staring at her only window of life, in Hikari's cocoon of LCL and stainless steel, the closed inactive Entry Plug seems hollow and scary.
"Launch Eva's Two and One." Misato orders her Battle staff. "Move Evangelion Unit Three to the Launch pad."
"Roger."
First, she hears a loud roar of engines as Units Two and One launch. Hikari then feels a jolt as her Eva begins to move to the catapults.
The Eva stops with a second jolt. She watches as Misato listens to Hyuga speak.
"Eva's Two and One are on the surface going to WB-43 and 107 for pick up."
Once more Misato turns to face Hikari's Vid screen. "Okay, are you ready Hikari." Not knowing what to expect from a launch Hikari gives a nervous grin. "Evangelion Unit Three Launch!" Hikari braces her self but the launch is not immediate. Just as Hikari relaxes, her Eva skyrockets to the surface.
Hikari screams all the way up until she reaches the surface with a split second stop. Hyperventilating from the ride, Hikari stares at Misato in the Vid screen. "That was scary."
Misato only smiles as she turns away from her once more. "Have Units Two and One get ready."
Maya voice is next being heard. "A-10 nerve connections ready, all systems on stand by."
"Hikari, ready for activation?" Misato voice adds a little comfort to Hikari who sits freighted in her seat. "Okay start A-10 nerve connection."
Hikari begins to whisper to her self. "Be a good soul... please be a nice soul." Hikari still remembers what Rei told her about the Eva's, hoping that maybe she can get some mutual aid from her Evangelion.
Colors begin to flash as the Vid screen disappears; Hikari sits with her eyes closed still whispering her two lines.
"Set the Language interface for Japanese."
Maya's voice begins to become dominant, "Zero point Seven... Zero point Eight... approaching absolute borderline, Zero point Nine... Absolute borderline cleared all pulses normal... Harmonics are... Perfect?"
Misato voice is the next to be heard by Hikari. "What's wrong?"
Maya speaks out in total shock. "Syncro-graph reads a sync of 66.4 percent!"
"My god!" Misato Shouts, Hikari cringes at the topic still unable to open her eyes. "Hikari your doing.... Hikari... You can open your eyes know."
Slowly Hikari opens them with fear evident in her every move. Finally open, she stares down the barrels of two Eva Rifles being held by Units Two and One.
"AHHHH!" Hikari yells with fear, she raises her arms up in defense of her own body but little does she realize the consequences.
In both Units Two and One, alarms go off as an AT Field Shock waves strikes both of their AT Fields neutralizing them instantly. Both Evangelions are catapulted into the air by the shock wave knocking them almost thousand feet back and through every standing building in their path.
Curled in a ball inside Unit Three, Hikari receives a deafening silence from the once noisy Control Center.
"My God..." Misato swallows what seems like her last bit of saliva as she stares at what happened. "Shinji, Asuka are you okay."
"Yes ma'am." Shinji says as Unit One stands
"Yes..." Asuka stands Unit Two back up to look at Unit Three still in shock.
Hikari finally looks once more to see what is wrong. "Is everything all right?" Once more all Hikari receives, is total silence. She looks over to see her Vid screen empty apparently muted as well. "What happened to all of those buildings!" Hikari cries out with concern.
Asuka's Vid screen comes up. "You tossed me and Ikari like rag dolls..." Asuka stops when Ritsuko vid screen appears in her Eva.
"Asuka, stop all communication!"
Before Hikari can speak, Asuka's vid screen disappears. All alone once more, Hikari just sits in her cold Entry Plug awaiting her fate. Hikari stares off at Unit One and Two as they stand there in utter silence. Spontaneously, Hikari wishes to be closer to her. She is startled once more, as Unit Two raises its rifle to its shoulder, Unit One steps back. Hikari then hears the crashing sound of her Eva taking its first step. Uneven, Hikari straightens the Eva's footing to be more normal.
Finally, Misato appears in front of the Vid screen. "Listen up Hikari, we need you to stand perfectly still, don't move a muscle, okay."
"I'm sorry about those buildings..." Hikari calls out.
"It's okay..."
Once more Hikari is rewarded with complete and utter silence, only the hum of her Eva as company. She watches Unit Two lower its Rifle which comforts her. Once more Hikari's nerves get the best of her, as she looks around the city from her towering height. Gradually her nerves calm down as she looks over to the now empty Vid screen.
"Umm... Miss Katsuragi... Is Rei doing all right?" Hikari waits for almost a minute before Misato appears once more.
"She's all right, Hikari..."
Holding Misato's attention, Hikari quickly spits out her next question. "Am I in trouble for destroying those buildings?"
"No, that's not the problem..."
"Did I fail my test?" Hikari asks quickly so not to lose her.
"Not at all..." Misato stops and looks to her left. "In fact you passed better then anyone could have even hoped for..."
Once more Misato leaves, once more in silence. However, Hikari begins to play with her communications menu before she finally sees a small box that reads Eva-01, double tapping it Shinji appears in mid conversation.
"No, Misato I'm not going to do it, I'm not going to attack her! Even if it is just a stupid test."
"That's an order Shinji!" Misato yells out, both are unaware of Hikari's ease dropping.
"I said no! Shinji yells out. "I'm not going to attack Hikari!"
Hikari becomes teary eyed as Shinji defends his stance for her.
Misato yells back frustrated at Shinji. "You won't hurt her, the MAGI..."
"I don't give a damn what the MAGI says, I'm not attacking Hikari!"
'Why does she want me to be attacked?' Hikari thinks to herself as she smiles that Shinji does not give in.
With a sigh of defeat, Misato voice seems to become distant. "Asuka attack Unit Three."
"But..." Hikari faintly hears Asuka's voice in the background.
"That's an order."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hikari springs to life hearing Asuka accept the order. She stares at Unit Two as it drops its Eva rifle. Hikari unwilling to fight moves Unit Three back. But she is still in a state of shock since her best friend would accept such an order.
"Asuka how could you!"
Just as Unit Two jumps into the air, Three springs into action, raising its left arm to Unit Two which is coming down with its Progressive Knife. Asuka inside can't believe her eyes as her Unit stops in mid air above Unit Three. Her Eva levitates with the octagon lines of Threes AT Field.
"That's enough!" Misato Shouts her voice startles Hikari forcing her to release her grab on Unit Two dropping it to he ground. "Retrieve all Evangelions, now!"
After about twenty minutes, Units Three, Two and One are back in the cages. Hikari can't help but be thankful for Shinji. He kept his morals to the end, he thought with his heart, not his mind. She races out of her Entry Plug to Shinji; she even pushes past Misato to get to him. As soon as Shinji reaches the loading platform Hikari hugs him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much!" Hikari yells out. "Thank you for not attacking me!"
Shinji admires the girl in front of him. He looks up to see a fuming Misato, her stares quickly sucks the life from Shinji.
Hikari pulls away from Shinji smiling, but once she turns to Misato, her leadership nature takes over. "How could you!" Misato stops flabbergasted at Hikari's surprise attack. "Forcing Shinji and Asuka to attack me!" With no clue on how she knows such a thing, Hikari cries as she takes hold of Shinji's arm. "All he did was stick to his morals, and you yelled at him!"
"I'm sorry..." Misato stands, disarrayed and confused.
"Just don't do it again please, it scared me." Hikari takes Shinji and leaves Misato who can't help but stand in confusion as she has just been out ordered by a fourteen year old.
Asuka comes running over to Hikari in a panic.
"Hikari I'm so sorry!" She runs over not knowing her friend heard her petty defense. "I didn't want to do it."
"But you did it!" Hikari yells, visibly shaken from the attack. "You could of said no!"
Still unaware, Asuka puts up her defense. "But I was ordered to, I hand no choice!"
Shocked that Asuka would dare use that as an excuse angers her. "Ordered!" Hikari points to Shinji. "He was ordered to but he said no!"
Realizing that Hikari knows what went on, she bows her head. "I didn't want to do... I had to because asshole Shinji didn't!" Asuka finishes her sentence pointing at Shinji in rage.
"How dare you blame Shinji for this!" Hikari stands in near tears as she watchers her friendship being torn apart.
Feeling outnumbered and betrayed Asuka losses sight on who she's talking too. Asuka lashes out in her final defense against her friend, not thinking of the consequences. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were so close to Ikari! First Suzahara and now Shinji, what are you going to do, whore yourself out to all of the three stooges....
A slap strikes Asuka's face, Hikari's left hand remains in its finished swing. Asuka clenches her fists and runs off in tears. Hikari collapses to the ground crying. Shinji goes over to Hikari who cries into her one good hand, as soon as Shinji kneels down to be eye level with her, Hikari grabs him and begins to cry on his shoulder.
"What did I do wrong!" Hikari's words stutter between tears.
"It's, okay..." Shinji can think of nothing less to do or say, but sit there and hold her tight. The feeling in itself brings him warmth as Hikari lays her head on his shoulder with her eyes closed. The Two just sit there in the empty halls of the Pilots wing. Even as Hikari calms down she does not move, the feeling of her protector being by her side helps her. Obviously confused, Shinji stares at the girl in his arms with a transfixed gaze.
Shinji leans back and begins to stroke Hikari's head as a thought comes to mind. 'I've felt this before, its warm... its peaceful, so distant yet so strong... is this what it is like to be close to someone?'
****
Shinji and Hikari seem bonded for the rest of the day. Even when Hikari has her sling removed and a mobile-splint placed on her hand with only a bandage to cover her wound he stays by her side. Hikari then goes and sees Doctor Akagi as she schedules an out-patient surgery to see if they can return her hand to its one hundred percent efficiency. When all the tests are done, it nears seven o'clock. They both stand outside of NERV staring at the sunset.
"I'm sorry..." Shinji finally speaks with a whisper.
"For what?" Hikari's scratchy voice asks, still flushed from crying.
"I promised you that everything would be all right... and so far I almost cut off your hand, made you miss school, and got you in a fight with your best friend..." Shinji looks down in disappointment.
Seeing such a sad face on Shinji hurts Hikari as if it was her fault. "No, no Shinji... its not your fault... none of it is!" She goes and puts her hands on Shinji's shoulder. "Don't blame your self, Shinji. You have been great to me, you have protected me with all your heart and I'm grateful." Shinji looks up and the two seem to sigh as a sense of peace fills the air.
"Do you need me to walk you home..." Shinji whispers with a smile.
Hikari shakes her head and smiles back. "I will be fine, you should get back home..."
"Hikari..." Shinji utters in a high-pitched tone. "Thank you."
Shinji's heroic and selfless acts bring Hikari so much happiness that she wipes her eyes of one final tear before kissing Shinji on the cheek and rushing off for her home.
Shinji can only stand there in shock, as he cradles the wet mark on his check where Hikari kissed him.
****
By the time Hikari reaches her house, her mind has gone from a train wreck to an outright emotional hurricane of duress. Her mind sways from Touji to Shinji, seeing how they are so alike yet so different. The damage is done and her mind is in shambles when the final thought comes to mind. 'I like them both...' Hikari slaps her cheeks. 'No, I can't be falling for Shinji and Touji... no I...'
Hikari looks up to see Rei Ayanami, just as tearful as before, sitting at her doorstep. Words are not needed as Hikari and Rei stare at each other. Rei looks up to Hikari with a lost exasperation, the look you see in a child that has lost a loved one to a death. Hikari walks up to Rei as she stands to be at eye level.
"May I please stay here tonight?"
With a simple smile, Hikari takes Rei by the shoulder, and unlocks her door letting her in.
To be continued....
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise
Chapter 3 Edict and Diner/A coin on the tracks
With the crimson sun still shining her last rays of light to the vibrant clouds that seem to echo the sun colors like a prism. This beautiful sight of colors lies above the spectacle below where Rei, Touji, and Hikari all sit or stand in various ways as the smell of cooked chicken fills the air.
Hikari with the most on her mind sits on her bed unable to talk, chocked with embarrassment. Touji sits on the ground looking over Hikari's collection of Sega Saturn games. Rei has taken a more direct stance of standing and staring at everything, trying to create, and then solve a puzzle for what she sees.
"Where did you get all of this pre-impact stuff?" Touji ponders as he begins to notice more then just her is old game console.
Hikari looks around at her collection, debating on divulging her hobby. "I collect them..."
With such an odd answer given, Touji looks over at Hikari with some disbelief as he holds up a pre-impact pack of Pokémon playing card. Hikari does not talk as she lightly gets out of bed and goes to Touji. With some care, she removes them from his hand and puts them back where he got them.
As Hikari leans past Touji to put them away, Touji cannot help but stare at her long hair that drapes over her shoulders. Having never seen her with her hair down before, Touji gazes at it with awe. Hikari leans back to a kneeling position next to Touji who seems transfixed on how different Hikari looks. Feeling the creepy, yet ever noticeable feeling of being watched, Hikari looks at to Touji who quickly looks away.
"What?"
Touji deflects his gaze to the games in front of him to avoid his thoughts being unraveled. "Nothing..."
The mood around the three gets even tenser and the smell of the food seeps into the room and even the belly of Rei begins to rumble.
Kadoma calls up to everyone. "Dinners ready!"
Hikari quickly gets up and leaves Touji and Rei behind. Touji once more is transfixed on Hikari's hair as it moves freely in the air, not conformed to pig tails like how she normally wears it.
"Is something wrong with Representative Horaki's hair?" Rei asks as she looks at Touji with conjecture.
"No..." Touji mutters as he feels a weird energy, like that of a second wind after a long jog, or the feeling of winning something.
Rei's ability in observation allows her to recognize that her gaze seems to have stricken her classmate. Nevertheless, she is unable to test her hypothesis as Touji disappears from sight and to the smell of a well-cooked meal.
****
In the Kitchen Kadoma waits as Rei Ayanami is the last to seat her self. With everyone gathered Kadoma now sits down with a huge smile on her face.
"Lets eat."
Even Rei can find something to her liking as there is plenty of Rice and steamed vegetables to go around. Touji, who is usually a big eater, has butterflies in his stomach for some reason and can only eat a small amount. Hikari eats extremely slowly, unable to use chopstick with just her left hand she sits with a western fork eating in silence yet with perfect manners.
"So Touji, how long have you known my sis?"
At First Touji, just stares into space not thinking about the question before answering in a monotone voice. "We've been in the same class since fourth grade."
"And a nice guy like you hasn't asked her out yet."
Kadoma's answer causes both Touji and Hikari to turn spitting, and then chocking on what they just ate.
"Kadoma!" Hikari yells breaking the silence.
Lifting her arms up in a friendly manner, Kadoma shakes her head at her sister. "What Hikari-chan, I'm just trying to help."
"You're not helping anyone!" Hikari yells out before hiding her head in embarrassment. "It's a bad dream, it has to be!"
"How about you miss Ayanami, how long have you known Hikari-chan."
Rei looks up at Hikari's sister with confusion. "How do you define known?"
Kadoma giggles at such a seriously toned question. "Oh, I don't know... As in, when she first told you she liked some one."
"Since the day she was designated the fourth child."
The quick answer only brings a grin to Kadoma, as for her sister; a mental train wreck can describes her thoughts. "Kadoma, knock it off!"
"Okay, Okay..." Kadoma laughs at her sister. "What do you mean by fourth child?"
"I am the first child..." Rei speaks as she enjoys another tasteful bite of Kadoma's cooking. "Each Pilot is designated in order of selection hence, she is the Fourth."
"That's wonderful, so you're a pilot for NERV too." Rei nods to answer Kadoma's question. "So Ayanami, what's Hikari like at school?"
"Representative Horaki is an above average student with over fifty percent of the class in favor of her being classroom Representative."
Not thrilled with the way the answer was given, but an answer all the same, Kadoma leans in to study Rei. "You're albino right." With no response, Kadoma only smiles. "Its okay I'm a doctor."
Rei looks up at her once more, depressed that her physical characteristics stand out. "I suffer from a pigment and epidermis condition that also affects my hair, it's genetic."
"Well if I must say so, you look so cute!" Kadoma says as she smiles at Rei. "Don't you agree Suzahara?"
"Huh..." Touji looks over to Rei and thinks to him self. 'Did she just ask me to check her out. Well other then acting like a freak she's okay...' Still thinking, Touji takes a bite of food. 'But her short hair makes her look like a little kid, other then that I guess she's okay.' Touji looks up and finishes chewing his food. "Sure thing, Miss Horaki."
**** Night sneaks up on the group as they finish their meal. Touji is quick to help Kadoma clean so as not to be out numbered by his classmates. As for Rei and Hikari, they are by themselves pondering in the living room.
"I don't understand, Representative Horaki."
With a smile, Hikari looks over to Rei. "Hikari, please we are friends."
"Why would you not want Suzahara to know about your attraction to him?"
Not willing to have the current conversation above a whisper, Hikari leans in and whispers into Rei's ear so no one else can hear. "Because, I don't know if he feels the same."
"Oh..." Rei quickly refutes the logic. "Ask him..."
Rei goes to stand. Hikari fearing she might go and ask him, such a question scares her. Hikari grabs Rei by the arm dragging her down. In the process, Hikari falls into a lamp, knocking it over.
Rei lifts her head up shaken by the fall, but when she looks over to Hikari to, she sees her in substantial pain. Curled up in a ball Hikari holds her right hand, which she used to brace her fall.
"Hikari, why would you do something like that?" Rei goes over and cradles Hikari as she checks her hand to see if any blood is seeping through her bandages. Touji and Kadoma run in after they hear Hikari's moans of pain.
"What Happened!" Kadoma yells out in a panic stricken voice.
The emotions in the room seem to affect Rei as she holds Hikari in her arms. "She... Fell."
"I'm so clumsy..." Hikari whispers as she grabs Rei's hand, squeezing as hard as she can to help the pain go away.
Remembering when she was in therapy for her back after Unit Zero went berserk. Rei begins to rub Hikari's temples just as the nurse did for her whenever she was in pain.
Hikari suddenly gets tired from Rei's gesture. Both, Touji and Kadoma are speechless as Hikari falls asleep in Rei's arms.
"How did you do that?" Touji whisper to Rei as he looks at Hikari.
Kadoma already knows what happened. "That's Zen therapy." Kadoma has an epiphany as she stares at Rei. "Rei, do you think you can watch over my sister."
Rei looks up and was about to give her a standard, what for. However, something sparks in her head. "How can I help?"
"I'm never home usually, because of work and med school. I can never help Hikari when she's home, She needs some one to help her to school and to her new job at NERV." Kadoma pleads to Rei as she stands in front of her.
"I guess..."
"Really," Kadoma calls out as she rubs Rei hair again. "That would work out great."
"I would have to get it approved by headquarters first."
Rei's words do not seem to affect Kadoma as she brushes her hand on the cheek of her sister before looking up to Touji. "Can you carry her up to her room please."
With Hikari's health in his mind, Touji bends down, lifting her from Rei's lap and into his comforting arms. They walk up to Hikari's room were Touji lays her on her bed, watching as she whimpers in pain.
With the task finished, the three leave her room and turn out the lights. Once the three reach the bottom of the steps Touji looks around. "I guess we better get going."
"Thanks for staying, both of you." Kadoma says as she takes Rei's and Touji's hand. "It means a lot to me that you did stay."
Both Touji and Rei in a semi union fashion say. "Your welcome."
Kadoma walks both to the entranceway where she gives both of them a hug. "Touji, be a dear and walk Rei home, I would be worried sick if someone was not with her."
Staggered by the question Touji looks over at Rei, who does not seem to mind one way or the other, reluctantly, he nods his head.
**** The two leave and Touji once more follows Rei, this time to her apartment. Once again, Touji is uncomfortable with the silence Rei always seems to bring. "Do you live alone?" Touji's quest to strike small talks fails as Rei only nods. "Oh... Why?"
She stops in her tracks and almost knocks Touji into herself. Rei feels challenged by the question, "Why not?"
"I don't know, I mean, I don't know if I could live out on my own."
Rei looks over to Touji who seems to be looking into the air, not bothered by the topic. "Why is that?"
"I would be lonely..." Touji says as he looks over to Rei with some sadness at the picture in his mind.
The idea that Touji brought up is entirely true for Rei as she continues to walk head down. Rei was alone; the subject hurt, she looked at Touji as he looks at the building lights, not seeing how much pain Rei is in. Like a bad habit, Rei processes the thought and then regurgitates it, feeling even more alone and even emptier. With her frail mind wedged in an unvarying circle, Rei's thought process brakes down as she reaches a painful conclusion.
"I am alone..."
Touji stops when he hears Rei speak with a scared yet human like tone. Turning to Rei, watching her as her legs shake with fright, Touji cannot help but feel something is horribly wrong.
"Are you okay?"
Rei's mind is not waved from her thoughts, as her reality comes crashing down.
"I'm alone..."
With pain in her heart Rei can only stand unsure of her self, her thoughts reach out first to Gendo, but then to Shinji, yet neither stand in front of her to comfort her. Feeling out of place, and uncertain about what to do. Touji watches as Rei's mind boils over. All of her barriers and decorum falls apart like a house of cards.
Finally, in a last ditch effort her body begins its natural defense to such feelings, by increasing her heart rate, then it begins to pump adrenalin in to her body. With the body now in overdrive, dopamine levels increase in her brain and her pores open up all over her body causing her face to become red. Before Touji's eyes, he watches the final step take place. The formation of a tear builds in Rei's eyes. It only takes a second for gravity to take over as it falls down her cheek, striking the ground in silence.
"Why am I crying?"
Rei's question goes unanswered, as Touji stares at the girl, he thought she had no emotions. Nevertheless, Rei's sobbing continues, as she looks around dazed by her body's out burst of emotion.
"What's wrong?" Touji asks as he tries his best to unravel the mystery of her tears.
"I'm alone..."
These words strike down on Touji with a cold reminder to what he had said. Touji however is unable to respond, stuck in a predicament he has never faced before. Rei also has the same problem as her newfound emotion struck her as if a pack lioness would an injured elk. Rei finds no reason for her emotion other then it hurts her. It is a pain she has always felt yet could always ignore, until now.
Her mind gives in to her bodies need for another's touch. Rei flings herself at Touji, falling in to him, gripping his arms unable to speak, she only can cry as she rests her head on his shoulder. Touji reaction is also that of nature as he embraces Rei holding her and comforting her. Touji does not know how but he feels that just being in front of her is all she need. In the same light Touji cannot help but feel at fault as Rei drains nearly ten years of built up emotion on to his shoulder.
****
Hikari wakes up late once more but this time she doesn't care as much. As she stares off at her alarm clock, she does not remember going to bed. However she does remember the roller coaster of embarrassment her sister put her through at length last night. Rolling out of Bed, Hikari walks down stares into the kitchen where she sees a note.
"Hikari-chan!" Hikari stops and shakes her head before reading on in the letter. "Miss Misato called and said that she would send Asuka to pick you up for your tests by noon. I made you a lunch and it's in the refrigerator. Also, be careful and don't hurt that arm!"
Hikari smiles at the letter for a moment. "I had a great time yesterday and so did Touji and Rei-chan! Love, Kadoma"
After looking up at the time, Hikari goes to get ready for the day ahead.
****
Not to long after, Shinji and Asuka walk side by side towards Hikari's house.
"You know Shinji, I could have done this alone." Asuka mutters as she swings her bag over her shoulder.
Ready to answer, Shinji looks toward Asuka. "I know, it's just that I had nothing better to do."
"You could have found out where Moe is at." Asuka snickers. Shinji however has no clue what Asuka is talking about.
"Moe?"
Asuka shakes her head as she laughs at Shinji's ignorance. "Touji, Shinji, You could of found out where he was, stupid."
"I don't know, he just didn't show up, maybe he was sick." Even Shinji shakes his head at his own suggestion.
As the two come into sight of Hikari's house, they are taken back to see Rei, sitting on the sidewalk outside, her head buried in her arms.
"Wonder girl?" Asuka shouts as she walks over looking down at Rei. "We were wondering where you were."
"No you weren't, I was..." Shinji's words fade as he looks at Asuka's stare of death. "Right, shut up..."
Still silence is all Asuka receives. "Hey!"
"Why do you hate me?"
Even Shinji steps back from Rei's silent, yet piecing call to Asuka. The target of the question, Asuka, only shakes her head. "Because you think your better then us, and you suck up to the commander all the time."
"That's not nice..." Shinji's word fall on deaf ear as Asuka feels she needs to continue.
"I'm not even finished." Asuka bellows as she bends down to Rei's ear. "Let's not forget that you walk around like a doll, you would kill yourself if ordered to."
"I said knock it off Asuka!" Shinji yells, not willing to hear another word.
"What are you two arguing about now?" Hikari stands outside her door in her school uniform and arm in a sling. She majestically walks over with no sign of pain. Both Shinji and Asuka part to show Rei on the curb. "Hey Rei..."
"Rep... Repre..." Rei's words seem to fade to sniffs and stutters.
Not realizing that Rei was upset both Shinji and Asuka look down at her in disbelief.
"Rei...." Shinji whispers to afraid to find the truth.
Asuka however shows a little more courage. "Ayanami, why are you crying?"
Rei looks up to Asuka for using a demeaning tone, Once Rei's face becomes clear, all see the puffy blood shot eyes of a girl who has cried all night and into the day. A girl who has realized she has lived a life of lies and loneliness. Rei only stares into Asuka's eyes as if conveying her grief and pain to her.
Terror is all that Asuka can feel, as she looks into the eyes a different person. The Rei she knew is dead, as she stares into Rei's blood colored eyes. Down to the very depths and Asuka can't help but want to look away from the girl who still cries as she stares at her. Finally Asuka releases an overwhelming feeling of concern.
"Rei..."
Shinji who was transfixed on Rei looks up at Asuka, as she speaks a tone of undivided care spilling out from her lips. With only one word said, Shinji finally sees a side of Asuka he has never seen before.
Hikari bends down to Rei with great distress. "What's wrong Rei? What happened?"
Rei looks back down to the small puddle of tears she has formed at the base of her feet. It takes Rei a minute just to speak a few words.
"I'm alone."
Before Hikari can say a word, Shinji speaks out as if feeling the same thoughts Rei is. "You're never alone..." Rei, Hikari, and Asuka look up at Shinji who seems to be in a trance as he stares at Rei's feet. "You have so much Rei, don't say you have nothing else, remember. Because I will protect anyone, including you."
Rei allows Shinji's words to sink in like medicine to a cold. Hikari on the other hand has the urge to jump up and applaud; Shinji's speech seemingly touched her heart as she wipes a tear from her eye. "That was so sweet Shinji." Hikari words seem to break him from his daze; he looks up to even see Asuka with a smile.
"I'm impressed Shinji." Asuka says as she rethinks his words. "I never new you had it in you."
Shinji can only bow his head and smile at the complements, however, Shinji still feel that Rei is in pain inside.
Rei finally stands with some help from Hikari. Her composure regained, the four Evangelion pilot's, saviors to the world, yet outcasts by her people, walk as one.
**** At NERV Headquarters, the Pilots arrive a tad late. Nevertheless, none mind as the Evangelion Crew Chiefs and Technicians are not ready for them.
Shinji changes alone, witch is natural for him as he quietly folds his cloths and closes his locker with a smile. He releases the air in his Plug Suit and looks down at him self with confidence. In his mind Shinji thinks he must vindicate himself to Hikari, as if everything that transpired less then a week ago was his fault. Shinji makes his way to the service- elevator to get to the cage. As he gets there, he sees Hikari already dressed in her Plug Suit modified for her injury, the entire right sleeve was cut off.
"Hikari..." Shinji says with a whisper.
Still in thought, Hikari stares at her right hand, she only looks up when Shinji stands beside her.
"I guess this is the right place, if you're here."
Shinji merely nods in confirmation. "Is Rei alright?"
Finally, the elevator comes down and the door opens before Hikari answers. "I don't know Shinji..."
"I see you found your way..." Asuka voice seems distant from to other pilots who stand next to each other. "Why the long faces?"
Both Shinji and Hikari speak. "Rei..." There action shies both away from continuing.
"What about her." Asuka mutter as she looks down the hall. "She was right behind me."
"Let's wait for her..." Shinji suggest with some courage in his voice.
Hikari seconds his notion with a smile. "That's so thoughtful, Shinji." She then turns to Asuka who looks like she doesn't care. "He's right, we should wait for her."
"Whatever." Asuka mumbles as she leans against the back wall of the elevator.
A few minutes go by before Rei finally comes around the corner, still with a crestfallen look. She looks up however when Hikari waves and shouts. "Come on Rei!"
Her words seem to lighten Rei's heavy shoulders as she makes her final steps into the elevator. With all four pilots inside Shinji, presses a button, closing the door and sending the elevator upwards. Inside all stand in silence, yet all with something on their minds. Surprisingly, Rei is the first to speak out of the four.
"I don't want to be alone anymore."
Trying to put more thought into their answers Shinji and Hikari ponder for a moment. Asuka on the other hand heeds no such thought. "Then move in with someone."
With a simplistic answer given, Rei pussyfoots around the idea trying her best not to think into it. Her experience of using her logic to solve a problem has all but torched any hope of handling the problem successfully. Rei stands like a gutted building on the verge of collapse.
"But how... With who..."
With the initiative taken Hikari and Shinji rethink their answers. Asuka once more dives into the question this time with more of a demeaning tone. "I know you like the commander a lot, stay with him."
"Never." Treachery is all that comes to her mind when she thinks about her creator, the bastard that baptized her with his sins, and taught her the now crushed and defeated logic Rei has relied on for all of her life. Rei defining conclusion to her problem, help defined last night with only one other soul. "I hate him!"
With clenched fists, Rei stands shouting the words Shinji only dreams of screaming out. With anger released, another new and foreign emotion fills Rei's mind. Hikari finally reacts by gently taking Rei's hand.
The cold touch of another startles Rei as Hikari begins to speak to her. "It's okay Rei, remember we are all right here."
The elevator comes to a stop and all four pilots are stirred back to silence. They look out to see each Eva in order of the pilot's designation.
****
Unknown to them as they slowly leave the elevator Gendo Ikari stands over watching them from the observation deck. From behind him, the door opens and Fuyutsuki walks in, arms at his back. He comes to Gendo's side and stares down at the pilots. Seconds pass as they watch each pilot make their way to their Evangelions.
"So, and then there were four." Fuyutsuki utters with little care.
Not sharing his comrade's optimism Gendo's eyes follow the fourth child as she stands in front of her Evangelion. "Only if I could share in your cup of hope." Gendo only receives a blank stare from Fuyutsuki. "I ran a diagnostic check on RSLS"
Gendo's words seem to strike as a surprise to Fuyutsuki. "The Randomized Stable Lottery System, but why?" Fuyutsuki looks down to the fourth child. "Do you think she's a problem?"
"The system is made to select a pilot from our Stable at random. But each time a new pilot is selected it changes the variables to the equation."
"I know the 707 project Gendo, I helped build it." Fuyutsuki interjects to allow Gendo to push the small talk for later and get to the point.
"After the incident with Unit Three didn't go as scheduled, I reset the RSLS to its setting before the fourth was selected." Gendo stops as he watches Hikari slowly reaching out and touching her Evangelion before entering it.
"And..." Fuyutsuki whispers as he to watches the nervous actions of the new pilot.
"Each time it generated the same pilot from the Stable," Gendo mutters under his breath. "And it wasn't her."
Feeling that even if someone new about the RSLS project, it would be impossible to hack into the single PC that sits in the corner of Gendo's office. "You're saying someone manipulated the system to select this pilot from the Stable."
"I don't know." Gendo speaks with honesty as he watches each of the Entry Plugs slide into their Eva's. "All I know is that we have just been dealt a card face down."
"If it was on purpose, all it changed was Seele's scenario." Fuyutsuki chuckles on how fruitless the thought is. "She's like a coin on the train tracks."
Gendo focuses his eyes on a screen in front of him. "Two years ago a bullet train derailed killing nearly five hundred." Fuyutsuki stands confused as he watches Unit Zero's crew chiefs return to the Eva, with the Entry Plug being ejected. "Do you know why?"
With his tale told, Gendo begins to leave as Fuyutsuki stares in disbelief to see Rei has failed to activate. "I remember the tragedy but not what caused it."
A sickening chuckle comes from Gendo just before he leaves. "There was a coin on the track."
The comment forces Fuyutsuki to turn and stare at Unit Three. "A Trojan horse maybe."
****
Inside Unit Three Hikari closes her eyes in her inactive plug waiting forever before Misato comes over on a Vid screen. "Sorry about the wait, Unit Zero had trouble and I had to call in Code Three."
"Code Three, Ma'am?" Hikari wonders, as she still feels sick in the LCL.
"Code one means no problems, Code two means minor problems but launch-able, Code Three means grounding emergency." Misato looks away from Hikari as Maya turns to speak to her.
Hikari listens in on the conversation between Maya and Misato.
"Cage reports that Unit Zero's pilot is extremely upset."
Misato shakes her head. "Rei upset? You're joking."
"No ma'am, Ritsuko said that she is suffering from emotional distress."
A male voice can be heard in the back ground as well. "Ma'am, the city is clear and in battle formation!"
Misato finally turns back to Hikari. "Okay we are going to be launching you to the surface for your activation test."
Once more Hikari hears a male voice come over her communications. "Units Two and One are on cats Ten and Four, ready for launch."
Staring at her only window of life, in Hikari's cocoon of LCL and stainless steel, the closed inactive Entry Plug seems hollow and scary.
"Launch Eva's Two and One." Misato orders her Battle staff. "Move Evangelion Unit Three to the Launch pad."
"Roger."
First, she hears a loud roar of engines as Units Two and One launch. Hikari then feels a jolt as her Eva begins to move to the catapults.
The Eva stops with a second jolt. She watches as Misato listens to Hyuga speak.
"Eva's Two and One are on the surface going to WB-43 and 107 for pick up."
Once more Misato turns to face Hikari's Vid screen. "Okay, are you ready Hikari." Not knowing what to expect from a launch Hikari gives a nervous grin. "Evangelion Unit Three Launch!" Hikari braces her self but the launch is not immediate. Just as Hikari relaxes, her Eva skyrockets to the surface.
Hikari screams all the way up until she reaches the surface with a split second stop. Hyperventilating from the ride, Hikari stares at Misato in the Vid screen. "That was scary."
Misato only smiles as she turns away from her once more. "Have Units Two and One get ready."
Maya voice is next being heard. "A-10 nerve connections ready, all systems on stand by."
"Hikari, ready for activation?" Misato voice adds a little comfort to Hikari who sits freighted in her seat. "Okay start A-10 nerve connection."
Hikari begins to whisper to her self. "Be a good soul... please be a nice soul." Hikari still remembers what Rei told her about the Eva's, hoping that maybe she can get some mutual aid from her Evangelion.
Colors begin to flash as the Vid screen disappears; Hikari sits with her eyes closed still whispering her two lines.
"Set the Language interface for Japanese."
Maya's voice begins to become dominant, "Zero point Seven... Zero point Eight... approaching absolute borderline, Zero point Nine... Absolute borderline cleared all pulses normal... Harmonics are... Perfect?"
Misato voice is the next to be heard by Hikari. "What's wrong?"
Maya speaks out in total shock. "Syncro-graph reads a sync of 66.4 percent!"
"My god!" Misato Shouts, Hikari cringes at the topic still unable to open her eyes. "Hikari your doing.... Hikari... You can open your eyes know."
Slowly Hikari opens them with fear evident in her every move. Finally open, she stares down the barrels of two Eva Rifles being held by Units Two and One.
"AHHHH!" Hikari yells with fear, she raises her arms up in defense of her own body but little does she realize the consequences.
In both Units Two and One, alarms go off as an AT Field Shock waves strikes both of their AT Fields neutralizing them instantly. Both Evangelions are catapulted into the air by the shock wave knocking them almost thousand feet back and through every standing building in their path.
Curled in a ball inside Unit Three, Hikari receives a deafening silence from the once noisy Control Center.
"My God..." Misato swallows what seems like her last bit of saliva as she stares at what happened. "Shinji, Asuka are you okay."
"Yes ma'am." Shinji says as Unit One stands
"Yes..." Asuka stands Unit Two back up to look at Unit Three still in shock.
Hikari finally looks once more to see what is wrong. "Is everything all right?" Once more all Hikari receives, is total silence. She looks over to see her Vid screen empty apparently muted as well. "What happened to all of those buildings!" Hikari cries out with concern.
Asuka's Vid screen comes up. "You tossed me and Ikari like rag dolls..." Asuka stops when Ritsuko vid screen appears in her Eva.
"Asuka, stop all communication!"
Before Hikari can speak, Asuka's vid screen disappears. All alone once more, Hikari just sits in her cold Entry Plug awaiting her fate. Hikari stares off at Unit One and Two as they stand there in utter silence. Spontaneously, Hikari wishes to be closer to her. She is startled once more, as Unit Two raises its rifle to its shoulder, Unit One steps back. Hikari then hears the crashing sound of her Eva taking its first step. Uneven, Hikari straightens the Eva's footing to be more normal.
Finally, Misato appears in front of the Vid screen. "Listen up Hikari, we need you to stand perfectly still, don't move a muscle, okay."
"I'm sorry about those buildings..." Hikari calls out.
"It's okay..."
Once more Hikari is rewarded with complete and utter silence, only the hum of her Eva as company. She watches Unit Two lower its Rifle which comforts her. Once more Hikari's nerves get the best of her, as she looks around the city from her towering height. Gradually her nerves calm down as she looks over to the now empty Vid screen.
"Umm... Miss Katsuragi... Is Rei doing all right?" Hikari waits for almost a minute before Misato appears once more.
"She's all right, Hikari..."
Holding Misato's attention, Hikari quickly spits out her next question. "Am I in trouble for destroying those buildings?"
"No, that's not the problem..."
"Did I fail my test?" Hikari asks quickly so not to lose her.
"Not at all..." Misato stops and looks to her left. "In fact you passed better then anyone could have even hoped for..."
Once more Misato leaves, once more in silence. However, Hikari begins to play with her communications menu before she finally sees a small box that reads Eva-01, double tapping it Shinji appears in mid conversation.
"No, Misato I'm not going to do it, I'm not going to attack her! Even if it is just a stupid test."
"That's an order Shinji!" Misato yells out, both are unaware of Hikari's ease dropping.
"I said no! Shinji yells out. "I'm not going to attack Hikari!"
Hikari becomes teary eyed as Shinji defends his stance for her.
Misato yells back frustrated at Shinji. "You won't hurt her, the MAGI..."
"I don't give a damn what the MAGI says, I'm not attacking Hikari!"
'Why does she want me to be attacked?' Hikari thinks to herself as she smiles that Shinji does not give in.
With a sigh of defeat, Misato voice seems to become distant. "Asuka attack Unit Three."
"But..." Hikari faintly hears Asuka's voice in the background.
"That's an order."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hikari springs to life hearing Asuka accept the order. She stares at Unit Two as it drops its Eva rifle. Hikari unwilling to fight moves Unit Three back. But she is still in a state of shock since her best friend would accept such an order.
"Asuka how could you!"
Just as Unit Two jumps into the air, Three springs into action, raising its left arm to Unit Two which is coming down with its Progressive Knife. Asuka inside can't believe her eyes as her Unit stops in mid air above Unit Three. Her Eva levitates with the octagon lines of Threes AT Field.
"That's enough!" Misato Shouts her voice startles Hikari forcing her to release her grab on Unit Two dropping it to he ground. "Retrieve all Evangelions, now!"
After about twenty minutes, Units Three, Two and One are back in the cages. Hikari can't help but be thankful for Shinji. He kept his morals to the end, he thought with his heart, not his mind. She races out of her Entry Plug to Shinji; she even pushes past Misato to get to him. As soon as Shinji reaches the loading platform Hikari hugs him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much!" Hikari yells out. "Thank you for not attacking me!"
Shinji admires the girl in front of him. He looks up to see a fuming Misato, her stares quickly sucks the life from Shinji.
Hikari pulls away from Shinji smiling, but once she turns to Misato, her leadership nature takes over. "How could you!" Misato stops flabbergasted at Hikari's surprise attack. "Forcing Shinji and Asuka to attack me!" With no clue on how she knows such a thing, Hikari cries as she takes hold of Shinji's arm. "All he did was stick to his morals, and you yelled at him!"
"I'm sorry..." Misato stands, disarrayed and confused.
"Just don't do it again please, it scared me." Hikari takes Shinji and leaves Misato who can't help but stand in confusion as she has just been out ordered by a fourteen year old.
Asuka comes running over to Hikari in a panic.
"Hikari I'm so sorry!" She runs over not knowing her friend heard her petty defense. "I didn't want to do it."
"But you did it!" Hikari yells, visibly shaken from the attack. "You could of said no!"
Still unaware, Asuka puts up her defense. "But I was ordered to, I hand no choice!"
Shocked that Asuka would dare use that as an excuse angers her. "Ordered!" Hikari points to Shinji. "He was ordered to but he said no!"
Realizing that Hikari knows what went on, she bows her head. "I didn't want to do... I had to because asshole Shinji didn't!" Asuka finishes her sentence pointing at Shinji in rage.
"How dare you blame Shinji for this!" Hikari stands in near tears as she watchers her friendship being torn apart.
Feeling outnumbered and betrayed Asuka losses sight on who she's talking too. Asuka lashes out in her final defense against her friend, not thinking of the consequences. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were so close to Ikari! First Suzahara and now Shinji, what are you going to do, whore yourself out to all of the three stooges....
A slap strikes Asuka's face, Hikari's left hand remains in its finished swing. Asuka clenches her fists and runs off in tears. Hikari collapses to the ground crying. Shinji goes over to Hikari who cries into her one good hand, as soon as Shinji kneels down to be eye level with her, Hikari grabs him and begins to cry on his shoulder.
"What did I do wrong!" Hikari's words stutter between tears.
"It's, okay..." Shinji can think of nothing less to do or say, but sit there and hold her tight. The feeling in itself brings him warmth as Hikari lays her head on his shoulder with her eyes closed. The Two just sit there in the empty halls of the Pilots wing. Even as Hikari calms down she does not move, the feeling of her protector being by her side helps her. Obviously confused, Shinji stares at the girl in his arms with a transfixed gaze.
Shinji leans back and begins to stroke Hikari's head as a thought comes to mind. 'I've felt this before, its warm... its peaceful, so distant yet so strong... is this what it is like to be close to someone?'
****
Shinji and Hikari seem bonded for the rest of the day. Even when Hikari has her sling removed and a mobile-splint placed on her hand with only a bandage to cover her wound he stays by her side. Hikari then goes and sees Doctor Akagi as she schedules an out-patient surgery to see if they can return her hand to its one hundred percent efficiency. When all the tests are done, it nears seven o'clock. They both stand outside of NERV staring at the sunset.
"I'm sorry..." Shinji finally speaks with a whisper.
"For what?" Hikari's scratchy voice asks, still flushed from crying.
"I promised you that everything would be all right... and so far I almost cut off your hand, made you miss school, and got you in a fight with your best friend..." Shinji looks down in disappointment.
Seeing such a sad face on Shinji hurts Hikari as if it was her fault. "No, no Shinji... its not your fault... none of it is!" She goes and puts her hands on Shinji's shoulder. "Don't blame your self, Shinji. You have been great to me, you have protected me with all your heart and I'm grateful." Shinji looks up and the two seem to sigh as a sense of peace fills the air.
"Do you need me to walk you home..." Shinji whispers with a smile.
Hikari shakes her head and smiles back. "I will be fine, you should get back home..."
"Hikari..." Shinji utters in a high-pitched tone. "Thank you."
Shinji's heroic and selfless acts bring Hikari so much happiness that she wipes her eyes of one final tear before kissing Shinji on the cheek and rushing off for her home.
Shinji can only stand there in shock, as he cradles the wet mark on his check where Hikari kissed him.
****
By the time Hikari reaches her house, her mind has gone from a train wreck to an outright emotional hurricane of duress. Her mind sways from Touji to Shinji, seeing how they are so alike yet so different. The damage is done and her mind is in shambles when the final thought comes to mind. 'I like them both...' Hikari slaps her cheeks. 'No, I can't be falling for Shinji and Touji... no I...'
Hikari looks up to see Rei Ayanami, just as tearful as before, sitting at her doorstep. Words are not needed as Hikari and Rei stare at each other. Rei looks up to Hikari with a lost exasperation, the look you see in a child that has lost a loved one to a death. Hikari walks up to Rei as she stands to be at eye level.
"May I please stay here tonight?"
With a simple smile, Hikari takes Rei by the shoulder, and unlocks her door letting her in.
To be continued....
